Digital Commons Network^™

Pediococcus Pentosaceus Osteomyelitis: A Case Report And Scoping Review, Mariana Rodriguez, Jessica Sima, Stephanie Campbell, Amanda L. Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Pediococcus pentosaceus (Pep) is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium widely utilized in food fermentation and recognized for its probiotic properties. While generally considered non-pathogenic, it can act as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. Its intrinsic resistance to glycopeptides, with additional reported resistance to tetracycline and novobiocin, limits empiric treatment options and poses a diagnostic challenge when encountered in clinical cultures and deemed to be pathogenic.

We present the case of a male living with type two diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral artery disease and obesity admitted with a non-healing infected diabetic foot ulcer of the great toe. Magnetic resonance imaging …

Antigen 85b Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: From Immunodominant Antigen To Vaccine Candidate, Vivek Chauhan, Gaytri Mahajan, Rakesh Kumar, Shrikanth S. Gadad, Subhash Chauhan, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), continues to pose a significant global health challenge despite the existence of effective treatments. The only licensed TB vaccine, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), offers inconsistent and generally limited protection against adult pulmonary TB. As a result, the pursuit of more effective TB vaccines has intensified over the past two decades, prompting the evaluation of several immunodominant Mtb antigens as vaccines. Among these, antigen 85B (Ag85B) has emerged as a promising candidate due to its critical roles in mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis, host cell adhesion, and the induction of immune responses. Ag85B has been incorporated …

Frailty As A Framework To Understand Tuberculosis Severity, Recovery, And Sequelae, Yoscelina Estrella Martinez-Lopez, Benjamin W. Black, Jessica Lee, Brian J. Buta, Lisa Y. Armitige, William A. Fountain, Rafael Samper, Aanand D. Naik, Joanne Turner, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) causes profound systemic illness, and many survivors experience long-term sequelae associated with disability and premature mortality. Current TB severity indicators capture isolated aspects of disease and may not reflect the integrated physiological impact of infection on the host. Frailty, a multidimensional syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, predicts adverse outcomes and guides clinical management in geriatrics. We propose frailty as an integrative framework for understanding the systemic effects of TB across the life course, encompassing disease severity, recovery, and long-term sequelae. We discuss biological mechanisms through which Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection may erode physiological …

Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Antigen 85B (Ag85B), an immunodominant protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), induces robust T-cell-mediated immunity in host cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant BCG strains overexpressing Ag85B (BCG85B) confer significant protection against tuberculosis in mouse models. This study hypothesized that enhanced protection by recombinant BCG85B results from modulation of host immune gene expression by the Ag85B antigen. To test this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on splenocytes from mice immunized with the wild-type BCG (BCG-WT) and BCG85B strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the splenocytes of BCG85B-immunized mice indicated upregulation of immune-related KEGG pathways, including Th1/Th2 and Th17 differentiation, NF-kappa …

The 2025 Measles Outbreak In Texas, Tamer Oraby, Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: In 2025, Texas experienced its largest measles outbreak in decades, reporting 762 cases by mid-August. Measles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable infection transmitted mainly among unvaccinated individuals and capable of causing severe outcomes.

Methods: We investigate counterfactual measles control scenarios based on daycare and school closures and reactive vaccination of infants and children, including mixed interventions. We analyze the 2025 Texas outbreak using an age-structured multi-stage SEIR model formulated as a system of ordinary differential equations. The model is fit to case data using Bayesian inference to estimate the effective reproduction number and generate posterior predictive trajectories under …

Exploring The Paradoxical Association Between Chest Ct Pulmonary Involvement And Olfactory Dysfunction In Covid-19 Patients: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, Abdolkarim Ghadimi-Moghadam, Saed Askari, Mohammad Amin Ghatee, Alireza Mortazavi, Saeed Javdansirat, Ali Ghadimi Moghadam, Hassan Vafapour, Zaker Salehi, Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi, Lembit Sihver

Informatics and Engineering Systems Faculty Publications

Background and Aims: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is common in COVID-19, yet its relationship with pulmonary involvement remains inconsistent. We evaluated the association between CT-based lung involvement and OD in laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study (Yasuj University of Medical Sciences hospitals; December 26, 2021–May 22, 2022), OD was assessed using the CCCRC protocol and pulmonary involvement was categorized using a CT lung involvement score. Associations were examined using chi-square testing (categorical) and ANOVA where appropriate (α = 0.05).

Results: Among 120 patients (60 male/60 female; mean age 43.17 ± 14.76 years), 71 (59.2%) had hyposmia, and none had …

A Perfect Storm In Advanced Aids: Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome From Pneumocystis Jirovecii And Mycobacterium Avium Complex Coinfection, Abdel Martinez, Abelardo Rodriguez, Conrad Chouinard, Fatimah Bello

School of Medicine Publications

Advanced HIV infection is associated with profound immunosuppression, predisposing patients to opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). PJP can cause severe respiratory disease, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), while disseminated MAC may contribute to systemic illness and pulmonary complications. Concurrent infection with both pathogens is uncommon but may precipitate severe pulmonary failure. A man in his 40s presented with unintentional weight loss, fatigue, oral thrush, and progressive dyspnea. On arrival, oxygen saturation was 86% on room air, requiring high-flow nasal cannula. Laboratory evaluation revealed profound immunosuppression (CD4 7 cells/mm3, HIV RNA 123,000 …

Clinicopathologic Spectrum Of Renal Disease In Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Post-Covid-19 Vaccination, Naya Williams, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Both SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination have been associated with renal complications. In the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection, kidney injury is primarily attributed to a complex interplay of systemic immune dysregulation and vascular damage. Severe infection triggers a cytokine-mediated inflammatory response characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in systemic hemodynamic instability, increased capillary permeability, and renal hypoperfusion, ultimately leading to acute tubular injury. In addition, virus-induced endothelial activation promotes a prothrombotic state, microvascular injury, and further impairment of renal perfusion. Collectively, these processes converge to produce acute kidney injury (AKI) and, in severe or prolonged cases, may contribute …

Comparative Analysis Of Traditional And Deep Learning Time Series Architectures For Influenza A Infectious Disease Forecasting, Edmund Fosu Agyemang, Hansapani Rodrigo, Vincent Agbenyeavu

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Influenza A remains a major cause of respiratory mortality worldwide, motivating accurate forecasting to support timely preparedness and resource allocation. This study presents a comparative evaluation of two traditional seasonal time series baselines, ARIMA and Holt–Winters exponential smoothing (ETS), and six deep learning (DL) architectures (Simple RNN, LSTM, GRU, BiLSTM, BiGRU, and a Transformer) for forecasting monthly Influenza A case counts in the United States. Data from January 2009 to December 2023 were analyzed, using January 2009 to December 2022 for training and January 2023 to December 2023 for out-of-sample testing. Models were tuned using a validation split and assessed …

Rapid Recovery Of Peripheral Oxygen Saturation In Hypoxic Covid-19 Patients With Ivermectin/Doxycycline/Zinc Multidrug Therapy, Sabine Hazan, Adriana C. Vidal, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Anoja W. Gunaratne, Sibaish Dolai, Robert L. Clancy, Peter A. Mccullough, Thomas J. Borody

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Several combination therapies for the early outpatient treatment of COVID-19 were proposed by independent research groups at the onset of the pandemic during 2020 and 2021. In this observational study, we report on the outcomes of an off-label triple combination therapy, consisting of ivermectin, doxycycline, and zinc, with adjunct vitamin C and D3 supplementation, which was used on high-risk COVID-19 patients. These patients refused an initial recommendation to seek inpatient care, despite a high-risk presentation compounded with one or more comorbidities and/or severe hypoxia. Telemedicine was used to administer personalized treatment to patients at home, who did not have access …

Challenge-Based Ex Vivo Immune Profiling Reveals Stimulus-Dependent Peripheral Immune Reprogramming In Alzheimer's Disease, C. A. Naranjo-Galvis, Jovanny Zabaleta, Ney Alliey Rodriguez, Luisa Matilde Salamanca-Duque

School of Medicine Publications

Altered immune function is increasingly recognized as a contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, it remains unclear whether peripheral immune alterations reflect constitutive inflammation or stimulus-dependent changes in immune responsiveness. Addressing this distinction is critical for understanding immune dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we applied a challenge-based ex vivo immune profiling approach to characterize functional immune responsiveness in patients with AD and in cognitively healthy older adults. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were exposed to defined innate, antigenic, and mitogenic stimuli, and cytokine and β-amyloid (Aβ) responses were quantified in culture supernatants. Diagnosis-by-stimulus interaction effects were assessed using generalized …

From Skin To Spleen To Brain: Full-Spectrum Embolic Complications In Staphylococcus Aureus Endocarditis, Jose J. Loayza Pintado, Jorge Aboytes Trevino, Julian Galindo, Mohammad Aqeel, John Cauba, Joshua Nwose, Andres Suarez Parraga

Research Symposium

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) results from bacterial adhesion to endocardial tissue and valvular apparatus. While viridans group streptococci and Enterococcus species are associated with subacute disease, Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), is a leading cause of more acutely destructive presentations. The entry of these pathogens can occur through surgical and dental procedures, intravenous drug use, or less apparent etiology. Classic peripheral stigmata (Osler nodes, Janeway lesions, splinter hemorrhages, Roth spots) are now uncommon but clinically meaningful. Current guidelines emphasize rapid multimodality imaging to detect cerebral and systemic emboli in symptomatic IE. We present a 50-year-old man with S. aureus …

Severe Cold Agglutinin Hemolytic Anemia Secondary To Mycoplasma Pneumoniae And Epstein-Barr Virus Co-Infection In An Elderly Patient, Aura Mc Calderon, Jose Loayza, Luis Salcedo, Ivan Mogollon, Asmik Asatrian

Research Symposium

Introduction: Cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an uncommon, complement-mediated hemolysis typically driven by IgM autoantibodies; secondary forms are often infection-related. Severe, transfusion-refractory presentations are rare in older adults. We present an elderly patient with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Epstein–Barr virus co-infection complicated by life-threatening cold agglutinin hemolysis.

Case report: Upon admission, a 79-year-old male patient presented with a one-week history of fatigue, pyrexia, nasal congestion, and dyspnea; examination findings revealed pallor, bibasilar crackles, and mild splenomegaly. Laboratory investigations indicated the presence of severe hemolytic anemia accompanied by compensatory reticulocytosis and thrombocytosis (hemoglobin 5.5 g/dL, hematocrit 17.2%, MCV 100 fL, reticulocytes …

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 …

The Putative Role Of Oral Microbiome In Premature Aging During Hiv Infection: What Do We Know?, Carlos Solá-Morlá, Daphne Alcalá-Zúñiga, Juan Araujo, Maria Da Gloria Bonecini-Almeida, Upal Roy, Josué Pérez-Santiago

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite improvements in life expectancy, people with HIV (PWH) are at risk of developing HIV-associated comorbidities at a younger age when compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. This premature aging process can be attributed to various factors, such as the prolonged exposure to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), inflammation, microbial perturbances and oxidative stress. Similarly to the gut, oral dysbiosis occurs in HIV-1 infection, with cART and inflammation playing a crucial role. This gives rise to an enrichment of pathogenic microorganisms that in turn, elicit an immune response tied to chronic inflammation. Consequently, cART exposure, dysbiosis and persistent inflammation in HIV-1 infection have …

Voices From The Classroom: Elementary Teachers’ Perspectives On Teaching And Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Case Study And Autoethnography, Alicia Lopez-Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Guided by constructivist learning theory and sociocultural theory, this qualitative case study and autoethnography examines how bilingual educators constructed knowledge, adapted instructional practices, and utilized mediational tools within face-to-face, online and hybrid learning environments. These frameworks informed the study’s design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings related to pedagogy, technology integration, and student engagement. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, naturalistic observations, and autoethnographic reflective journaling.

The Impact Of Nutrition On Insecticide Resistance And Gene Expression In Aedes Aegypti, Esmeralda Guadalupe Rosas

Theses and Dissertations

The development of insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti, a major vector of dengue and Zika viruses, threatens vector control efforts, particularly in endemic regions such as South Texas. Insecticides remain widely used; however, their overuse has accelerated metabolic resistance mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Environmental factors such as larval nutrition may influence mosquito physiology and resistance-associated gene expression, yet this relationship remains poorly understood. This study examines how larval nutritional conditions affect the expression of cytochrome P450 genes linked to pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti. Larvae were reared under five dietary treatments differing in lipid and protein ratios, and adults …

Ligand-Based Pharmacophore Modeling And Structure-Based Virtual Screening For Identifying Potential Therapeutic Agents Targeting The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein-Ace2 Receptor Interaction, Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado, Gilberto Vargas-Salas, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Adriana Moreno-Rodriguez, Eyra Ortiz-Pérez, Gildardo Rivera-Sanchez

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains a global health concern due to its high mortality and morbidity. In this study, we combined ligand-based pharmacophore modeling (LBPM) with structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) to identify novel inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Ligands from the MolPort database were screened via docking and molecular dynamics simulations at the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Four compounds showed promising docking scores (-8.7 to -6.4 kcal/mol) and dynamic stability (root mean square deviation < 5 Å). In vitro assays confirmed that compounds C3 (IC50 = 0.03 µM) and C4 (IC50 = 10.4 µM) effectively inhibited spike-ACE2 binding with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 µM). These findings show the efficacy of the LBPM technique and highlight 1H-pyrazol-5-ol derivatives as potential building blocks for developing new antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.

From Charcuterie Board To Clinical Ward: Pediococcus Pentosaceus As An Emerging Wound Pathogen - A Scoping Review, Jessica Sima, Mariana Rodriguez, Stephanie Campbell, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Currently, there are 12 known species of Pediococcus, with P. Acidilactici and P. pentosaceus being the most well-known. P. pentosaceus is a Gram-positive, lactic acid bacterium, and is most often recognized for its wide usage as a probiotic and fermenter of wines and cheeses. It is also studied for its anti-inflammatory effects and antimicrobial properties against many common pathogens, such as Salmonella, Clostridium difficile, E.coli, etc.  However, the Pediococcus species can be an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, and its resistance to glycopeptides and tetracycline limits treatment options.

We conducted a scoping review using Google Scholar and PubMed with the …

Construction And Characterization Of Novel Mycobacterium Tuberculosis-Derived Triple And Quadruple Knockout Vaccines Against Tuberculosis, Omar Garnica, Raja Veerapandian, Kishore Das, Abhishek Mishra, Varsha Rawat, Areanna Carmona, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Jessica Chacon, Shrikanth S. Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease that claims the lives of over a million people each year worldwide. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine has long been used to protect against TB, but it produces variable effects across different populations and fails to protect against adult pulmonary TB. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative vaccines that can offer better protection. We have developed a strategy for the rational deletion of virulence-related genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to create hyperattenuation that also enhances immunogenicity. Previously, we generated both single (∆fbpA) and double knockout (DKO) (∆fbpA-∆sapM) mutants of …

Navigating A Delicate Balance: Antibiotic Allergy In The Setting Of Renal Infection And Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Aun Bangash, Muhammad Bangash, Ruben M. Martinez Meza

School of Medicine Publications

Acute pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the renal parenchyma that requires prompt recognition and antibiotic therapy to prevent complications such as sepsis and chronic renal inflammation. We present a case of a 26-year-old woman with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus and a documented beta-lactam allergy who presented with atypical symptoms, including flank pain without urinary complaints. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated leukocytosis with a negative urinalysis. CT of the abdomen revealed left lobar nephronia with early contralateral involvement of the right kidney. Given her allergy history, she was treated with levofloxacin. During her hospital stay, she developed nausea, vomiting, and …

Diabetes Mellitus And Its Association With Tuberculosis Clinical Presentation And Treatment Outcomes: Results From A Prospective Cohort Study In Ghana, Monica Baaba Jones, Kwadwo Ansah Koram, Francis Anto, Michael Lauzardo, Blanca I. Restrepo, Margaret Lartey, Hafisatu Gbadamosi, Awewura Kwara

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-diabetes is a growing public health threat in TB-endemic settings. We aimed to determine diabetes prevalence among TB patients in Greater Accra and its association with TB clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled 204 adults (≥20 years) with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB across 14 health facilities. At treatment initiation, participants were screened for diabetes using self-report, fasting plasma glucose, and glycated hemoglobin, following standard diagnostic criteria. Baseline characteristics were recorded, and participants were followed to determine TB treatment outcomes. Associations between diabetes, baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes were assessed using bivariate and multivariate analysis in STATA. …

Patterns Of Multimorbidity Among Low-Income Adults Who Smoke With Implications For Tailored Interventions: A Cluster Analysis Using A Mixture Of Bernoulli Model, Monique T. Cano, Michael R. Lindstrom, Oscar F. Rojas Perez, Ricardo F. Muñoz

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Smoking cigarettes remains a leading modifiable risk factor for preventable health conditions. In the United States, the health burden of smoking disproportionately impacts low-income individuals. Multimorbidity is common in this group, complicating treatment and worsening outcomes. Identifying multimorbidity clusters can support targeted, individualized interventions. This study aimed to identify multimorbidity clusters among individuals who smoke and experience economic hardship and provide clinical recommendations to enhance health outcomes.

Method: Individuals who smoke and experience economic hardship (N = 60) were recruited from the San Francisco Health Network (SFHN) and were assessed for physical and mental conditions. Cluster analysis was …

Recent Advances In Graphene-Based Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors For Disease Biomarker Detection And Clinical Prospects, Deeksha Nagpal, Anup Singh, John Link, Abijeet Mehta, Ashok Kumar, Vinay Bhudhraja

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors using graphene have become one of the most promising biosensing platforms for the early diagnosis of diseases with features such as high sensitivity, label-free detection and application compatibility with point-of-care systems. Herein, we critically discuss recent advances in graphene FET (GFET) biosensor development toward clinically relevant biomarkers associated with representative diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, infectious disease, and inflammatory conditions. Recent progress was reviewed to evaluate GFET architectures, surface functionalization methods, and detection quality. The biomarkers explored were clusterin in Alzheimer’s disease, thrombin in coagulopathy, estrogen receptor α (ER-α) in breast cancer, Carcinoembryonic antigen in lung …

Computational Discovery Of Sars-Cov-2 Viral Entry Inhibitory Peptides From Androctonus Mauretanicus Scorpion Venom: Molecular Docking And Molecular Dynamics Simulations Targeting The Spike Protein, Reda Chahir, Salaheddine Redouane, Jacob Galan, Hicham Hboub, Lahoussaine Aserrar, Salma Chakir, Ahmed Salim Lahlou, Hinde Aassila, Rachid El Fatimy, Naoual Oukkache

School of Medicine Publications

Background and Objective: 

While vaccination remains central to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with partial resistance to immune responses has highlighted the need for complementary therapeutic strategies. Among these, antiviral agents that inhibit viral entry mechanisms are of particular interest. Animal venoms, especially scorpion venoms, are a rich source of bioactive peptides with potential antiviral properties. This study aimed to evaluate peptides derived from the Moroccan scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, which mediates virus entry into host cells via ACE2 receptor binding.

Material and Methodology: 

Six peptides from the venom of the …

Vaccination Games Of Boundedly Rational Parents Toward New Childhood Immunization, Wei Yin, Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Infectious diseases harm societies through disease-induced morbidity, mortality, loss of productivity, and inequality. Thus, controlling and preventing them is critical for public health and societal well-being. However, societies can hinder efforts to control the spread of diseases by failing to adhere to public health recommendations, such as through vaccine hesitancy. Various disease-transmission models have been utilized to help policymakers respond to (re)emerging outbreaks. The usefulness of such models in assessing the effectiveness of public health policies is significantly dependent on human behavior. This paper introduces a new model of parental behavior toward a new childhood immunization. The model incorporates societal …

Association Of Human Papillomavirus On Risk Of Hiv Acquisition In African Women: Analyses From Mtn-020/Aspire, Christine L. Hathaway, Elizabeth R. Brown, Stephen Cherne, Alyssa L. Sepulveda, Zvavahera M. Chirenje, Nitesha Jeenarain, Logashvari Naidoo, Samantha Siva, Nishanta Singh, Kubashni Woeber

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Observational data on the synergy between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and risk for HIV acquisition are needed. HPV clearance, associated with an influx of cells targeted by HIV, may increase HIV risk. This study examined the association between HPV and HIV acquisition using endocervical swabs collected in MTN-020/ASPIRE.

Methods: Healthy, sexually active women without HIV participating in the ASPIRE dapivirine ring study in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe provided endocervical swabs monthly, which were tested for HPV-DNA. HPV status was classified into prevalent, persistent (HPV+ for at least 4 months), HPV clearance (HPV+ followed by HPV-), HPV acquisition …

Atypical High-Burden Breakthrough Varicella: A Diagnostic Pitfall In The Two-Dose Vaccine Era, Smaran Marupudi, Jared Hensley, Robert Vezzetti

School of Medicine Publications

We present the case of a seven-year-old fully immunized male who developed an intensely pruritic, generalized maculopapular rash that progressed to vesicles. The patient’s rash was initially diagnosed by his primary care provider as possible scabies and treated with topical permethrin. Our examination revealed a diffuse maculopapular and vesicular exanthem with lesions at various stages of evolution, eventually progressing to secondary cellulitis. The patient’s presentation, consistent with varicella (chickenpox), highlights the diagnostic challenges of breakthrough varicella infection and potential complications in fully vaccinated children. Thus, we highlight the importance of having a high clinical index of suspicion for varicella, even …

Hyperdensity On Head Ct—An Imaging Review, Ramsis Benjamin, Christian Menard, Erik Larson

School of Medicine Publications

The 3D images derived from non-contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) scans provide a glimpse into the intra- and extracranial structures, based on the ability of electromagnetic X-rays to penetrate through various tissue densities. The gray matter, for example, possesses a higher density than the white matter, absorbs more X-rays, allows less penetration (attenuation), and thus has larger Hounsfield units (HU), the mathematical value of attenuation coefficient. The CT scanner’s wide availability and ease of use allow for quick assessment of acute neurosurgical abnormalities, such as hemorrhages, mass effect, hydrocephalus, and traumatic injuries. An attenuation value of +60 to +90 HU generally …

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Sporotrichosis: A Descriptive Real-World Analysis From A Global Cohort, Samantha Schapiro, Nicholas Pulciano, Julian Galindo-Ramirez, Nicholas Rau, Jose Tuells, Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita, George R. Thompson Iii, Daniel B. Chastain, Andrés F. Henao-Martínez

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Sporotrichosis is a dimorphic fungal infection of increasing global relevance. Although usually cutaneous or lymphocutaneous, disseminated disease occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Large-scale data on its epidemiology, treatment and outcomes remain limited.

Objectives: To characterise the clinical features, comorbidities, antifungal prescribing patterns and one-year mortality associated with sporotrichosis, with emphasis on patients with HIV and other forms of immunosuppression.

Patients/methods: We performed a retrospective global cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network. Adults (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with sporotrichosis were identified using ICD-9/10 codes (1995-2024). Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory parameters and antifungal prescriptions were analysed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality …