Digital Commons Network^™

Delayed Presentation Of Cervical Myelopathy Diagnosed In A Pain Management Clinic, Clayton Mohler, Ron Lincow, Sarah Kizun

Research Day

Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a progressive condition that occurs due to degenerative changes of the spine that compress the spinal cord, leading to potential permanent neurological damage. It generally occurs in people over the age of 50 and has a wide range of clinical presentations with varying neurological symptoms. Because of its varied presentation, diagnosis is often delayed, resulting in increased morbidity.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 69-year-old male referred to a pain management clinic by his primary care physician for evaluation of his significant neurological symptoms, including pain, weakness, gait disturbance, and reduced sensation. …

An Interventional Radiologist’S Approach To Paget-Schroetter Syndrome And Clinical Intervention Overview, Devon Winkelman, Asher S. Smart, Madelyn Sine-Karasick

Research Day

Introduction

Paget-Schroetter Syndrome is an occlusive thoracic outlet syndrome of the upper extremity affecting the axillary and subclavian vasculature most common in young adult men to middle aged men. Paget-Schroetter was first described in the late 1800s in reviews of young adults with repetitive arm use. Continuous overhead physical activity, cervical ribs, abnormal rib tubercles, and scalene impingement are common causes leading to repeated vessel injury and thrombosis affecting 1 in 100,000. The purpose of this exhibit is to gain an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to Paget-Schroetter Syndrome and the clinical interventions available to patients with an emphasis …

Endogenous Opioid Signaling In The Regulation Of Food Intake: A Literature Review, Laica Tolentino, Kabirullah Lutfy

Research Day

Background: The rate of obesity and obesity-related diseases has continued to increase worldwide, classifying obesity as a global epidemic. Obesity is characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue or body fat, predominantly caused by a long-term energy imbalance between energy input and energy expenditure. There are two known complementary systems known to regulate food intake: the homeostatic pathway, which maintains energy balance via hypothalamic signaling, and the hedonic pathway, which mediates reward-driven eating through mesolimbic circuitry.

Objective: To review current literature on the role of endogenous opioids and opioid receptor signaling in regulating food intake, with emphasis on homeostatic and …

The Role Of Teacher Confidence In Shaping Student Outcomes, Riley J. Crews

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Teacher characteristics play a critical role in shaping students’ academic, social, and behavioral outcomes. Understanding which teacher characteristics or qualities support positive student development is essential for improving instructional practice and student success. Prior research suggests that teachers’ competence in key instructional processes and their confidence in implementing specific programs may influence student performance. The present study examined whether elementary teacher confidence in supporting students’ academic and social development predicted student academic and social risk behaviors. Archival data were analyzed as part of a larger study evaluating a collaborative social-emotional learning curriculum implemented in a primarily Indigenous elementary school. Linear …

Incentivizing Conservation On Private Lands, Jaelyn Patrica Riemenschneider

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Wildlife in the United States is publicly owned, but much of the habitat that supports these species exists on privately owned land. This creates tension for conservation, especially in the western United States where species like elk, deer, and sage grouse rely heavily on private land. While wildlife itself can create management challenges for landowners, the primary driver of habitat loss is often economic pressure rather than negative attitudes toward wildlife. Private land may be converted to agriculture, subdivision development, or other financially beneficial uses when maintaining open habitat does not compare financially. As a result, landowners may lack clear …

How Emergency Medical Service (Ems) Work Is Understood: A Study Of Public Perceptions And Provider Perspectives, Lisel Keller

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This project aims to examine whether a gap exists between how the general public perceives Emergency Medical Services (EMS) work and how EMS providers experience it. EMS is widely recognized as a stressful profession, and public narratives often focus on the emotional intensity without an understanding of the different sources of stress. Providers work extended shifts, respond to unpredictable incidents, are frequently woken from sleep, and complete operational tasks while fatigued. Although these demands are expected, their cumulative impact shapes the day-to-day reality of the profession. While stress in EMS work has been discussed broadly, less attention has been given …

Talking Dogs And Burning Books: The Inquisition In Russian Golden Age Literature, Tatyana B. Rohrer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

All great art is inspired by that which came before it and the historical context in which it is written. This was certainly true of the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of the giants of Russian — and indeed, world — literature. Dostoevsky was a voracious reader who was familiar with not only his own country’s works and history, but that of Europe as a whole. One particular topic of interest to Dostoevsky was the infamous Spanish Inquisition, an interest he at least in part inherited from his predecessor, Nikolai Gogol. Gogol published the short story “Diary of a Madman” …

The Cat, The Shoe, And The Bayonet: Kinship With Magically Concealed Items In A 19th Century Missoula Home, Logan E. Nickel

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

In 2016, UM faculty and students excavated a mummified cat, a girl's shoe, and a Civil War bayonet concealed within the structure of a late 19th century house. My research led me to discover that the intentional enclosure of certain objects considered to be magically protective into the walls or foundations of family dwellings is a longstanding practice found across the world, including in the northern European context from which the homeowners descended. Tracing the historical and archaeological record of so-called concealment or foundation rituals, I examined the continuities and changes in such practices from ancient northern European religions through …

Finding Artistic Wholeness In Stage Management: An Exploration Of Art Philosophy In Technical Theatre, Ronnie E. Avansino

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The idea and subject of this project was born out of how many people in my life have no understanding of what I am pursuing in my professional life, but even more so how the projects I have been working on for my academic career thus far impact my education. They hear that I am working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts followed by an emphasis in Stage Management and they don’t understand how these two pieces fit together. However, while not inherently traditional, stage management is a career in the arts focused on logistics, but still is a deeply …

Multiyear Stream And Riparian Responses To Beaver Dam Analogs In A Headwater Tributary, Hannah Moon Halvorson, Andrew Lahr

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Beavers are ecosystem engineers who influence the geomorphology and hydrology of streams, as well as riparian vegetation. Beaver-related restoration has become a popular approach with techniques such as beaver dam analogs (BDAs) commonly used to aid in the recovery of stream ecosystems. Despite their extensive use in low-tech restoration, there exist few studies longer than 3 years to demonstrate the effectiveness of BDAs. We conducted a 6-year follow-up study on a project with 14 BDAs in Teepee Creek, a second-order stream near Lolo in Western Montana. We collected data on instream habitat, flow, water temperature, and riparian vegetation and analyzed …

Gut–Brain Reprogramming Induced By Acute And Chronic Pathogen Exposures: The Role Of G Protein–Coupled Receptors In Male Aggression, Julia L. Kunau, Ashlyn E. Phillips

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Gut–Brain Reprogramming Induced by Acute and Chronic Pathogen Exposures: The Role of G Protein–Coupled Receptors in Male Aggression

Kunau, J, Phillips, A, Isern, E., and Certel, S. Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States.

Organisms must continuously interpret environmental change and rapidly adjust physiology and behavior. Ingested microbes are a powerful, understudied driver of this process because they can reshape gut to brain communication and alter behaviors such as feeding and aggression. Here we test whether acute, 24-hour ingestion of E. coli is sufficient to shift male aggression in Drosophila.

The gastrointestinal system communicates with …

Learning For A Sustainable Future: Embedding Sustainability Literacy In Honors Curricula Within Higher Education, Zoe E. Belinda

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This research investigates the sustainability literacy levels of first-year Davidson Honors College (DHC) students at the University of Montana (UM) to develop a baseline for average sustainability knowledge at the beginning of students’ post-secondary education. The goals of this research are to (1) determine if there are differences in sustainability literacy scores between students in sustainability-related fields of study and their counterparts, (2) identify weaknesses in students’ current sustainability literacy, and (3) develop curriculum suggestions to improve sustainability knowledge. To address these research questions, all first-year DHC students in 2024 and 2025 were surveyed using a modified version of the …

Souvenirs From Southeast Asia, Kaniya A. Epps

Undergraduate Research Conference

In this paper, I will discuss my research for the Souvenirs from Southeast Asia exhibition that I curated for The W Galleries in the 2026 spring semester. I was a student worker for the Galleries at the time, and I was the first person to do in-depth research on this material. We received this artwork in 2011 from alumna Betty Fikes Copeland, who had lived in Indonesia in the 1960s. This collection consists of batik fabrics, katazome prints, and Thai temple rubbings. My exhibition included a sampling of all three art forms.

Originating in Indonesia, batik is a fabric that …

Hope Among Venezuelan Migrants In Colombia, Chadrick Tyler D. Bailey Jr

Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper looks at how hope shows up in the lives of Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia. Because of ongoing political and economic problems in Venezuela, many people have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and better opportunities. In Colombia, even though migrants may find more stability, they still face challenges like low wages, discrimination, and difficult living conditions. Despite all of this, hope continues to play an important role in how they move forward.

Rather than treating hope as just positive thinking, this paper shows how it is something people build through real-life experiences, culture, …

Adverse Hematologic Reaction In A 25-Year-Old Female: A Case Of Drug-Induced Cytopenia, Makayla E. Farr, Wenhui Zhu

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Drug-induced cytopenia is a rare but potentially serious hematologic adverse reaction that may present with nonspecific symptoms. This adverse reaction is typically caused by either direct myelotoxicity or immune-mediated destruction. The mechanism by which statins cause cytopenia is not fully understood; however, some studies hypothesize that it may be due to platelet apoptosis or an immune-mediated destruction via the drug’s metabolites triggering an immune response.

In this case, a young female developed cytopenia secondary to pravastatin 20mg. Upon presentation to the emergency department, she reported slurred speech and left upper extremity numbness, followed by facial droop. The physical examination …

A Case Study On Discoloration In A Carotid-Embalmed Cadaver: Histological And Chemical Analysis, Angel Edwards, Mark Shearer, Lakaiya Campbell, Blessed Jordan, Lyubena Stoykova, Georgiana Register, Shiv Dhiman, Rasheed Agboola

Research Day

Introduction/Background

Embalming is a widely used preservation technique in medical and forensic sciences, ensuring the prolonged integrity of cadaveric tissues. However, unexpected tissue discolorations, such as green-blue and red hues, may arise due to physiological, chemical, or microbial factors. Investigating the underlying causes of such discolorations is essential for optimizing embalming practices and maintaining tissue integrity for anatomical education.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the underlying causes of bluish-green and red discoloration in a cadaver embalmed through the common carotid artery. Specifically, we will examine potential contributing factors, including the vascular diffusion efficiency of formaldehyde-based embalming, postmortem microbial activity, …

Beyond Didactics And Instructing: Adapting Team-Based Learning And Reflective Practice To Develop Ethical Ai Engagement In Medical Students, Joshua Owolabi, Jennifer H. Shaw

Research Day

Background: Medical students widely adopt generative AI tools yet lack AI literacy, awareness, and technical competence required for critical evaluation and ethical use. AI ethics education remains largely absent from medical curricula.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used within a required Medical Humanities and Wellness course at a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) programme. A 2-hour session combined Team-Based Learning (TBL) with ERA (Experience-Reflection-Action) Reflective Practice. Pre-session (n = 113) and post-session (n = 104) surveys measured five domains: awareness, perception, knowledge, confidence, and attitude. Fifteen collaborative group reflections provided qualitative data analysed thematically within the ERA framework.

Results: …

Replaced Common Hepatic Artery Arising From The Superior Mesenteric Artery (Michel Type Ix): A Cadaveric Case With Surgical Implications, Michael G. Elkomos, George M. Zakour, Rachel E. Lippincott, Reginald D. Dixon, Chloe A. Davis, Blessing A. Adeyemo, Paul M. Catalano, Shiv Dhiman

Research Day

Background: Hepatic arterial anatomy demonstrates significant variability with important implications for hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Although the common hepatic artery (CHA) classically arises from the celiac trunk, hepatic arterial variants are reported in up to 25% of individuals. A replaced CHA originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), classified as Michel type IX anatomy, is considerably less common, with reported incidences ranging from approximately 1% to 4% in cadaveric and angiographic series. Recognition of such variants is essential to minimize intraoperative vascular injury and ischemic complications.

Objective: To describe a cadaveric case of a replaced CHA arising from the SMA …

A Case Study: Undiagnosed Familial Hypertriglyceridemia Inciting Acute Pancreatitis, Alice Koschella, Rachael Bonitatibus, Raymond Alvarez

Research Day

Background: Familial hyperlipidemia encompasses a group of inherited lipid metabolism disorders characterized by elevated serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels. Severe hypertriglyceridemia, particularly levels exceeding 1,000 mg/dL, is a well-established but less common cause of acute pancreatitis (1). Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas most frequently attributed to gallstones or alcohol use; however, hypertriglyceridemia accounts for approximately 1–10% of cases and is associated with increased morbidity when not promptly recognized and treated.

Introduction: Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis results from excessive circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, leading to free fatty acid release and pancreatic inflammation (2). Young patients without traditional risk factors …

Vaginal Rectopexy For Rectal Prolapse In Advanced Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Review Of Surgical Strategies, Williams Cheau, Ebony Isagba, Mykala Jackson, Sabirah Smith, Alexandria Neal

Research Day

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition in women, frequently involving the anterior or posterior vaginal compartments. While biologic grafts are increasingly used in cystocele repair, their application in rectocele repair remains rare and underreported.

A 61-year-old female presented with fecal incontinence, mixed urinary incontinence, and symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse, including a stage II midline cystocele, rectocele, and suspected rectal prolapse. She was scheduled for anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair.

This case illustrates a novel use of biologic grafting in rectocele repair with concurrent rectal prolapse management. While graft use in anterior repairs is becoming more common, its …

Anatomical And Morphological Analysis Of Meckel’S Diverticulum: A Cadaveric Case Study With Clinical Correlation, Jorgo Zi, Joshua Searles, Carl Yem, Kezia Itua, Sophia Guo, Nadine Belony, Kavitha Vudatha, Shiv Dhiman

Research Day

Background

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital malformation associated with the gastrointestinal tract. During fetal development, the vitelline duct connecting the primitive midgut to the yolk sac normally regresses between the 5th and 7th week of gestation. Persistence of this duct, from an incomplete obliteration, leads to an out-pocketing distal to the ileum. MD is commonly characterized using the “Rule of Twos”, occurs in approximately 2% of the population, measures 2 inches in length, and located about 2 feet from the ileocecal valve. Meckel’s diverticulum is known to affect males more than females and is often found in …

A Septuagenarian Onset Of Als: A Case Report, Grace Jones, Rizwana Ashraf, Keith Gramling, Faith Hagler, Kent Posey

Research Day

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou-Gehrig's disease is a rapid progressing, terminal, multifocal neurodegenerative disease known for degenerating both upper and lower motor neurons. The average age of those who develop ALS is 40 to 70, with a mean age of 55 at diagnosis. The mean survival time is 2 to 5 years from symptom onset and 20 months from diagnosis. In the elderly population, the disease can go unrecognized due to vague symptoms of weakness which can be confused for other pathologies related to advanced age. Therapy is supportive, and there is no curative treatment.

A 75-year-old caucasian female …

Evaluation Of Left-Coronary Dominance And Its Effect On Cardiac Perfusion: A Cadaveric Study, Maxwell Trettin, Yousra Abo-Elhamd, Aidan Huckestein, Anish Sarkar, Xiunely Ricano Cadenas, Byron Her, Natalie Marrero, Emranul Huq

Research Day

Background: Coronary dominance refers to the arterial branching pattern supplying the inferior wall of the heart. Approximately 70–80% of individuals exhibit right-coronary dominance, in which the posterior descending artery (PDA) arises from the right coronary artery (RCA). Left-coronary dominance occurs in about 5–10% of the population and is defined by the PDA originating from the left circumflex artery (LCX), while codominance—where the PDA is supplied by both the RCA and LCX—occurs in 10–20% of individuals. Differences in myocardial perfusion have been observed among dominance patterns: right dominance typically results in the RCA supplying the inferior and inferoseptal ventricles, whereas left …

A Radical Response To Pmdd: When Hysterectomy Becomes The Answer, Jada M. Glenn, Makayla Farr, Christine Lurie

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can cause the affected person’s debilitating pain, depression, and mood swings in a manner that is consistently associated with their menstrual cycle. PMDD is classified as a psychiatric disorder with its criteria outlined in the DSM-5. The etiology is unclear, but some risk factors include anxiety disorders, obesity, and cigarette smoking. Our case centers around a 44-year-old woman diagnosed with PMDD and treated by hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as a potential cure for her diagnosis. Her treatment journey was riddled with misdiagnoses, failed medical therapies, and emotional turmoil. By contributing to the knowledge about PMDD, …

A Hard Pill To Swallow: Management Of Olanzapine-Induced Dysphagia, Anthony Pelache, Alexandria Neal, Alexandra Ortiz, Caleb Rowan

Research Day

Background:

Dysphagia is a concerning but uncommon adverse effect associated with both first- and second-generation antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings regarding impaired swallowing with neuroleptic use, and multiple studies and case reports have documented its occurrence across various agents. However, dysphagia presenting as an isolated or predominant adverse effect remains rarely described in the literature. The proposed mechanisms remain debated, with hypotheses including extrapyramidal dysfunction affecting oropharyngeal musculature versus anticholinergic-mediated impairment of swallowing reflexes. Regardless of etiology, reported management strategies are consistent and include dose reduction, discontinuation, or switching to an alternative antipsychotic …

Unexpected Histopathologic Diagnosis Of Endometrial Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma Following Elective Hysterectomy, Ruhdeep Randhawa, Allison Tresner, Christine Lurie

Research Day

Introduction:

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies in women. It originates from the innermost lining of the uterus called the endometrium and is classified into either type 1, which is most common, or type 2. Type 1 comprises endometrial cancers of endometrioid origin while type 2 includes non-endometrioid origin including serous or clear cell. Risk factors contributing to type 1 involve unopposed estrogen exposure such as obesity, exogenous estrogen, estrogen-secreting tumors, chronic anovulation, tamoxifen therapy, early menarche, and late menopause. Unlike the availability of screening tests for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, endometrial cancer is usually …

Refining Baux And Rbaux: The Impact Of Full-Thickness Burn Depth On In-Hospital Mortality Prediction, Shihab Chowdhury, Jodeci Mitchell, Mike Manning, Mark Shearer, Bounthavy Homsombath, Martin Hardy, Zaheed Hassan, Shawn Fagan, Tayseer Chowdhry, Rajiv Sood

Research Day

Background

The Baux and revised Baux (rBaux) scores, combining age, total burned total body surface area (TBSA), and inhalation injury, are widely used to predict burn mortality. Clinically, deeper burns at a given TBSA are thought to carry higher risk, but it is unclear whether burn depth (proportion of 3rd-degree TBSA) meaningfully improves prediction beyond Baux/rBaux in a contemporary cohort.

Methods

We performed a retrospective single-center study of adult burn inpatients with available Baux/rBaux scores and documented 2nd- and 3rd-degree TBSA. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. We fit logistic regression models comparing Baux and rBaux to depth-augmented versions (adding …

Getting Back In The Fight: A Systematic Review Of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment For Concussion And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury–Related Symptoms In Military Personnel And Athletes, Austin Dobson, Samuel Jacobs, Rachel Lippincott, Maxwell Dean, John Rumbaugh

Research Day

Background: Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are common among athletes and military service members and may result in persistent post-concussive symptoms, including headache, dizziness, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment. Current management strategies are largely supportive, and effective non-pharmacologic adjunctive therapies remain limited. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) has been proposed as a potential intervention to address somatic dysfunction and altered neurologic and fluid dynamics following concussion and mTBI.

Objective: To systematically review the clinical literature evaluating the effects and safety of osteopathic manipulative treatment in patients with concussion, mTBI, or post-concussion syndrome.

Methods: A systematic literature search identified peer-reviewed …

Severe Postpartum Hypertension And Acute Heart Failure Exacerbation In A 34-Year-Old African American Woman: Implications For Maternal Mortality And Racial Disparities, R. Neha Vangimalla, Allison J. Tresner, Christine A. Lurie

Research Day

Introduction: Postpartum hypertension and cardiomyopathy remain significant contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States, disproportionately affecting African American women. We present the case of a 34-year-old African American G6P3124 with a history of chronic hypertension and suspected peripartum cardiomyopathy. The patient presented four days postpartum with acute shortness of breath and orthopnea. Pregnancy was complicated by poorly controlled underlying chronic hypertension with worsening dyspnea requiring induction of labor at 36 weeks gestational age (GA) and prior hospitalization for volume overload, dyspnea, and COVID-19 at 33 weeks GA.

Case Description: On presentation, the patient was found to have …

Regional Selective Vulnerability To Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury In A Neurodegenerative Brain: A Cadaveric Case Study, Naomi Abraha, Jordan Ahlgren, Sangavi Sriranganathan, Tyrese Claridge-Rogers, Rasheed Agboola, Joshua Owolabi

Research Day

Introduction

Senile brain disease is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, neuronal loss, abnormal protein aggregation, and structural changes within brain tissue that occur with aging. Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, are among the most common age-related neurological conditions and are associated with cognitive decline and widespread pathological changes throughout the brain. These disorders contribute significantly to morbidity in elderly populations and reflect the gradual deterioration of neural tissue.

Acute medical events may further exacerbate neurological damage in individuals with chronic neurodegenerative disease. Cardiopulmonary arrest is defined as the sudden cessation of cardiac and respiratory function, …