Digital Commons Network^™

Multimodality Imaging In Msh6-Associated Lynch Syndrome: Radiologic Contributions To Early Detection And Management Of Recurrent Gi Malignancy, Tecora Turner Md, Tisileli Tuifua Md, William Macdonald Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Lynch syndrome, caused by pathogenic variants in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, increases risk for colorectal, small-bowel, and periampullary cancers. In MSH6-associated disease, tumors may appear proficient on immunohistochemistry (pMMR) despite underlying germline dysfunction, complicating surveillance. Because lesions often arise beyond routine endoscopic reach, cross-sectional imaging plays a critical role in early detection and treatment planning.

Description:

Patient with Lynch syndrome (germline MSH6 c.3694del3, likely pathogenic, and an additional MSH6 p.S998F variant of uncertain significance in trans) developed invasive colon adenocarcinoma at age 38 with pMMR by immunohistochemistry. Years later, endoscopy suggested a duodenal lesion with high-grade dysplasia; contrast-enhanced …

A Rare Case Of Primary Breast Merkel Cell Carcinoma In A Male Gendered Patient, Sydney A. Pekarek Do, Archana Chandrashekar Do, M Bassel Attasi Md, Emily E. Klosterman Do, Joslyn Albright Md

Scientific Day

Introduction/Background:

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, rare neuroendocrine tumor, typically arising in the skin. However, there are few documented cases of neuroendocrine tumors of breast parenchyma with Merkel cell differentiation. This accounts for less than 0.1% of all breast cancers with almost all cases being described in females.

Description:

We present here a 62-year-old, immunocompetent, Hispanic male with a palpable and painful right sided breast mass, present for three to four months. On the exam, a four-centimeter mass was palpated in the 9 o’clock region of the right breast without associated skin nodularity or dermal attachment. Diagnostic mammography …

Staging Laparoscopy For Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Experience From A Large Quaternary Care System, Mary Brandt Md, Astrid Levesque Bs, Rebecca Kirschner Md, Geoffrey Bellini Md, Wesley Papenfuss Md, Dawn Wankowski Ms

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Detection of radiographically occult metastatic disease (ROMD) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains vital for staging. There is no standardized approach, but borderline resectable or locally advanced disease, CA 19-9 > 394, location in the pancreatic body or tail, and no neoadjuvant therapy are predictive of ROMD and often used to select patients for staging laparoscopy. Peritoneal washings have been used at the time of laparoscopy to further detect occult disease, with positive cytology considered by NCCN guidelines to be metastatic (M1) disease.

Purpose:

We sought to study characteristics of patients undergoing laparoscopy with or without washings to inform a …

The Effectiveness Of Implementation Of A Point Of Care Ultrasound Curriculum For Pediatric Residents, Ashley Anderson Do, Peyton Cleary Do, Claudia Zarcula Do, Karan Patel Do, Elizabeth Price Do, Jacob R. Hutton Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the inpatient and emergency department settings. Pediatric residency programs across the United States have failed to incorporate POCUS training into their curricula despite strong resident interest.

Purpose:

Currently, pediatric residents at Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge does not receive POCUS training. Thus, we sought to institute a POCUS curriculum to address that training gap.

Methods:

Residents took a 15-question examination via Google Forms to assess baseline knowledge of POCUS. Over the course of 4 weeks, residents received four separate lectures given by POCUS trained pediatric …

Herpes Zoster Infection As An Adverse Reaction To Treatments For Ulcerative Colitis: A Review Of Reports To The Fda Adverse Events Reporting System (Faers), Nick Adimi Md, Ethan Anderson Do, Bilal Ahmed Do, Eli Ehrenpreis Md, Agaf, Facg

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Many new treatment options for ulcerative colitis (UC) have become available in recent years, including dual-mechanism strategies and single-agent approaches. Among available treatments, JAK– STAT inhibitors carry an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ) with an associated FDA Black Box warning.

Purpose:

This study aims to compare FDA-approved UC therapies and their relative association with HZ using reported data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database (FAERS).

Methods:

The FAERS database consists of voluntarily reported post-marketing adverse drug reactions (ADRs). 32,229,802 total reports from Jan 1968 to September 2025 were evaluated. Reports of ADRs of all FDA approved …

The Rhythm Of Sedation: Comparison Of Methohexital, Propofol, And Etomidate For Ed Cardioversions, Maria Hajiharis Pharmd, Ami Shah Pharmd, Andrew Mcinerney Pharmd, Bcemp

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Cardioversions in the emergency department (ED) allow for a controlled shock to be delivered to the heart to restore normal sinus rhythm in dysrhythmic states such as atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia. Sedation used during this procedure helps to reduce anxiety, pain, and discomfort. There are several general anesthetics available, and those with a quick onset and recovery time with minimal side effects are favorable. Current data is limited, with one retrospective review by Bauer and colleagues comparing methohexital to propofol and etomidate for procedural sedation in ED cardioversions finding no statistically significant difference in the time from first …

Vibrating Mesh Vs. Jet Nebulizers For High-Dose Albuterol In Copd Exacerbations: A Non-Inferiority Study, Laura Reindl Ms, Rrt-Accs, Rrt-Nps, Sarah Bazelak Msc, Kristen Knox Rrt, Shanna Schuele Msc, Katlin Huizenga Rrt, Malik Hodges Rrt, Kimberly Parker Rrt, Jennifer Lester Pharmd, Sadashiv Santosh Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Inhaled β-agonists are central to the management of COPD exacerbations, and high-dose albuterol is often administered via jet nebulizer (JN) to ensure adequate bronchodilation. Vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNs) may enhance aerosol delivery efficiency and substantially reduce treatment time compared to JNs, but evidence comparing these devices for high-dose therapy in COPD exacerbations remains limited.

Purpose:

This quasi-experimental, before-and-after non-inferiority study evaluated clinical outcomes associated with transitioning from continuous JN to VMN delivery of high-dose albuterol in the emergency department (ED).

Methods:

This institutional review board–approved study was conducted in the ED of a tertiary care hospital. Historically, high-dose albuterol …

Multicenter Analysis Of Pulsed Field Ablation Freedom From Atrial Arrythmias By Lesion Set In Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, Hinduja Nallamala Do, Lynn Erickson Ms, Pmp, Jim Kanani Mph, Milica Starcevic Bs, Austin Deets Md, Rebecca Riley Do, Abhishek Gowda Do, Mph, Atul Bhatia Md, Mahmoud Ali Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Catheter ablation via pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the first-line treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). It is unclear whether additional lesions with PVI using the pulsed field ablation (PFA) technique affect outcomes in this population.

Purpose:

We aimed to assess freedom from atrial arrythmias in patients with PAF stratified by lesion set at 12 months.

Methods:

From March 2024 to July 2024, PAF patients (n=184) from 4 different centers within a hospital system underwent first-time ablation with PFA. Recurrence was defined as any atrial arrhythmia ≥30 seconds in duration after a 90-day blanking period. Patients were divided into …

How Low Can We Go? Trends In Cholesterol Management After Coronary Revascularization Across A Multi-Center Health System, Anya Lei Koza Do, Venkateswara Gogineni Phd, Tanvir Bajwa Md, Suhail Allaqaband Md, David Boulware Ms, M Fuad Jan Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Cholesterol management is a well-studied secondary prevention measure to mitigate the risk of procedural failure and future cardiovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Purpose:

This study sought to characterize the level of adherence to cholesterol-lowering regimens in post-PCI and post-CABG patients across Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) medical institutions in hopes of improving knowledge about adherence to secondary prevention cholesterol guidelines for those at risk after coronary artery revascularization at AAH medical centers.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study with 22,060 patients who were eligible for review. The patients used lipid-lowering therapy as …

Institutional Experience Of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation Ablation And Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion, Hammam Shereef Md, Lynn Erickson Ms, Pmp, Gregory J. Fischer Bs, Jim Kanani Mph, Jasbir Sra Md

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Catheter ablation is a class 1 indication for treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative option to anticoagulation in patients with AF and a contraindication to long-term anticoagulation. Combining catheter ablation and LAAO in a single procedure, referred to as the concomitant procedure, has emerged as a strategy for management of AF.

Purpose:

To assess the efficacy and safety of the concomitant procedure at a single center.

Methods:

In this retrospective observational study, data were collected on 28 patients who underwent LAAO with either the WATCHMAN FLX-PRO (n=26) or the Amplatzer Amulet …

Epidemiology Of Oral Cavity Cancer In Women: Identifying Age Groups At Risk, Nikhita Vemulapalli Do, Rafia Ali Md, Eli Ehrenpreis Md, Agaf, Facg

Scientific Day

Background/Significance:

Oral cavity cancer has historically been more prevalent in men, largely attributed to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Emerging data, however, suggests shifting patterns with a rising disease burden among women. This study aims to identify the age groups of women contributing most to this trend.

Purpose:

To evaluate age-specific incidence trends of oral cavity cancer among women over time.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective, population-based analysis using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, Registry 17. In our analysis, female patients diagnosed with oral cavity cancer between 2000 and 2022 were included. …

Exceptional Response Of Radiotherapy-Naïve Cranial Meningiomas To Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade In Bap1 Tumor Predisposition Syndrome, Gary Gallia, Christine Hann, Calixto-Hope Lucas, Licia Pacheco Luna, David Kamson, Takami Sato

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumors, and while most are benign, atypical and anaplastic variants frequently recur and have limited effective treatment options. Recent trials of PD-1 blockade in unselected meningioma cohorts have demonstrated modest activity, with low objective response rates. These findings highlight the need to identify molecular biomarkers that may predict immunotherapy sensitivity in this disease. BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a tumor suppressor critical for chromatin regulation and DNA repair, and germline pathogenic variants cause BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome (BAP1-TPDS), a hereditary cancer syndrome characterized by uveal melanoma, mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, meningioma, …

Silent Progression To Sudden Collapse: Prosthetic Valve Failure With Root Pseudoaneurysm, Suhaib M. Hyder Md, Giovanni Paolella Md, Christopher Bentsen Md, Besher Kashlan Md, Shoeb M. Hussain Md

Scientific Day

Introduction/Background:

Structural complications following prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) may progress subtly over time, with early imaging abnormalities often underestimated. Delayed recognition can result in abrupt hemodynamic collapse. This case highlights the importance of maintaining suspicion for evolving prosthetic valve pathology despite initially reassuring studies.

Description:

A 57-year-old male with prior surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve and ascending aortic root replacement developed progressive dyspnea resulting in acute hypoxic respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock (CS). Three months earlier, a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated mild aortic insufficiency (AI), leaflet thickening, and a small hypodensity, deemed nonspecific given negative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Repeat TTE during …

Mtdna Analysis Of The Genetic Origin Of Jordanian Indigenous Chickens In Comparison With Ancient, Commercial, And Fancy Breeds, Raed Mahmoud Al-Atiyat

Baghdad Science Journal

Jordan indigenous chickens (JIC) are threatened with extinction since they are crossed with exotic chickens to enhance their low levels of production. The study objective was to investigate the origin, biodiversity, and phylogeographic structure of JIC using mtDNA sequencing in reference to exotic chickens. We sampled 483 males and females by taking a blood spot on an FTA card. We also sampled ancient, commercial, and fancy chickens from Jordan as references. The sampling regions were the main cities and rural areas of the Middle, North and South governorates of Jordan. The extracted DNA from blood samples was sequenced for the …

Distributional Dynamics And Patterns Of Co-Existence In Dung Beetles (Tribe: Onitini) Across Agricultural Landscapes Of Punjab, Pakistan, Takhmina Nazir, Mubashar Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) play a crucial role in dung removal and nutrient cycling. We assessed the distributional patterns of diversity of the tribe Onitini across 12 subdivisions in Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Surveys were conducted twice a month with an inter-visit interval of ∼2 weeks by placing three pitfall traps along each 1000 m transect, each spaced ∼330 m apart. Data were collected from nine traps placed along three transects at each location within the subdivisions. Gujrat district demonstrated the highest species richness, recording all 11 species, followed by Sialkot and Gujranwala. Onitis castaneus was …

Post-Traumatic Contusion Of The Longus Colli Muscle: An Underdiagnosed Entity, Aliyah Baksh, Charif Sidani, Kevin J Abrams, Márcio Luís Duarte, Leonardo Furtado Freitas

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Objective Oculomotor, Vestibular, Reaction Time, And Cognitive Signatures Of Vestibular Migraine, Claire E. J. Ceriani, Alexandr Braverman, Alexander Kiderman

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate oculomotor, vestibular, reaction time, and cognitive (OVRT-C) function in patients with vestibular migraine (VM) using objective eye-tracking-based metrics and to identify patterns of dysfunction relative to healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular migraine is a common yet underdiagnosed cause of vertigo. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, because objective neurologic and vestibular findings are often absent or inconsistent. Quantitative methods capable of capturing the multisystem manifestations of VM may improve objective characterization of the disorder.

METHODS: Participants with a clinical diagnosis of vestibular migraine were recruited from a tertiary headache center and assessed using a battery of OVRT-C tests administered with …

Front Matter

Texas A&M Law Review

Front Matter.

Plutocratic Public Safety, Erin Collins

Texas A&M Law Review

Recent political events have laid bare the ways that the United States functions like a plutocracy, in which the ultra-wealthy exert influence over core governance functions. The criminal system is not immune from this influence. Big Capital shapes the operation of the criminal system in highly visible ways through its investments in policing technology, electronic monitoring systems, and correctional and detention systems. This Article shows how the economic elite shape the operation of the criminal system in a less obvious way: through philanthropic giving. Big Philanthropy provides another—albeit seemingly benevolent—avenue through which the ultra-wealthy can advance a vision of public …

Take Fair Housing All The Way Up: Navigating The Intersection Of Decentralization, Innovation, And Preemption, Melvin J. Kelley Iv

Texas A&M Law Review

Cities are the temporospatial embodiment of local economies, constructed on the scaffold of racial capitalism. Pursuant to decades of public-private ventures to entrench segregation, some cities have been given a treasure trove of resources while others have been—and continue to be—deprived. Community organizers and local governments in urban areas have attempted to disrupt enduring spatial inequities through policies advancing civil rights, economic justice, and sustainable development. But far too often these efforts have been brushed aside by sweeping state laws that intentionally, exhaustively, and punitively remove topics from the purview of local action. This Article responds to calls issued by …

Purpose-Driven Compliance, Veronica Root Martinez

Texas A&M Law Review

Whether it is a small brokerage firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or a multinational conglomerate head-quartered in New York City, organizations understand that they are required to fulfill a range of compliance obligations. Compliance programs today tend to have two important characteristics in common. First, the notion that perfect compliance is an impossible goal is a key component of the understandings and expectations of many firms’ compliance programs. Second, organizations have almost uniformly adopted compliance programs in areas where enforcement activity has been significant—like in the areas of antibribery and anticorruption, anti-money laundering, antitrust, …

"Market Shift Liability" For Generic Drugs: Market Share Theory's Eccentric New Cousin, Lars Noah

Texas A&M Law Review

Market share liability, which permits allocating proportional responsibility to each tortious member of an industry when victims cannot identify the exact source of their injurious exposure, enjoyed its judicial heyday in the 1980s. It originated in the peculiar setting of litigation over a distinctive cancer that developed decades after in utero exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (“DES”), which a few hundred companies had produced and sold for the prevention of miscarriages before federal regulators withdrew it from the marketplace. Although judges have occasionally attempted novel extensions of this theory to other products, and academic commentators remain fascinated by its use, …

The Heat Of The Moment: Rethinking The Endangered Species Act Amidst The Sixth Mass Extinction, Sarah Morton

Texas A&M Law Review

The biggest natural disaster facing humans today likely won’t be on the front page of the news. That doesn’t mean its impacts aren’t already being felt. Despite other disasters, like wildfires and hurricanes, dominating headlines, extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States. Even worse, extreme heat makes other natural disasters more severe and is decimating the Earth’s biological diversity at a rate that could soon become irreversible. The cost of widespread biodiversity loss is incalculable. Depleting ecosystems eradicates crucial services that nature provides for humanity, including clean air and water, food security, and cooling. …

Implementing A Standardized Social Determinants Of Health Screening Process To Improve Care Coordination In Primary Care, Catherine A. Addison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Beyond "Bad Apples": Political Identity, Moral Interpretation, And Institutional Response To Abuse, Laura Werner

Student Theses

This thesis examines how psychological explanatory frameworks and structural institutional response interact to shape how domestic violence and sexual abuse are understood and addressed. Drawing on behavioral design theory and John Dewey's transactional approach to experience, I argue that harm is interpreted through mental models that simultaneously shape both individual perception and institutional action. Using survey data from 736 participants, I demonstrate that endorsement of the "bad apples" explanatory framework, attributing abuse primarily to a small group of deviant individuals, is predicted by psychological essentialism, belief in a just world, social dominance orientation, and political conservatism. These findings suggest that …

Every Night We Tell This Story: Remembering, Remaking, And Re-Remembering Paula Vogel's Indecent, Sam Plattus

Student Theses

Vogel’s subtitle calls Indecent “the true story of a little Jewish play,” Sholem 4 Asch’s The God of Vengeance. A Jewish man is arranging a marriage for his daughter; that man is a brothel owner who raised his daughter in a home just upstairs from his place of business; his daughter falls in love with a girl working downstairs, and they dance naked, together, in the rain. Indecent follows the journey of Asch’s play from its first reading in his bedroom in 1906, through its European tour in the 1910s, to its debut on Broadway in 1923 when the cast …

Regulating Beauty: Advertising Restrictions, The First Amendment, And The Rise Of Social Media Models, Annie Miner

BYU Law Review

Unrealistic beauty standards in advertising have long raised concerns about their effects on body image and eating disorders, particularly for young women. While traditional means of advertising often use extremely thin models and digitally altered images, the shift in the advertising landscape towards an increased use of social media presents new challenges. Influencers have largely replaced models in advertising, and they often present unrealistic beauty standards, altered images, or dangerous eating and exercise habits to their young, impressionable audiences. In response to these concerns, several countries, including France, Norway, and Israel, have adopted regulations banning the use of ultrathin models …

Do Universities Underpay Professors? Yes, Especially Women, Zhanhan Yu, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Music Education For Diverse Learners: An Undergraduate Curriculum To Prepare Pre-Service Educators To Adapt Music Instruction, Phoebe Winey

Masters Theses

Music educators are required to work with students of all levels and abilities. Christian music educators understand that all students are created by God fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14, English Standard Version) and that humanity is Christ’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Christians in education must perceive all students as the workmanship of Christ and work to provide them with fidelity and excellence in education. Music education has proven to be a critical method for developing the minds of learners with exceptionalities; therefore, music educators must be adequately prepared to educate students with diverse exceptionalities through accommodations that improve cognitive abilities and …

Artrepreneurs & Business Survival: Bridging The Gap To Creative Success, Ryan Michael Moore

Masters Theses

Artrepreneurs — freelance artists and small studio owners within creative industries — frequently lack training in essential business management skills in financial management, client pipeline development, and business sustainability. These factors exacerbate already statistically high business failure rates, adding to the burdens experienced by creative entrepreneurs. Conventional wisdom and guidance for entrepreneurs is found in experience-based advice from books, blogs and business mentors. While these offer valuable insights, the lack of data-driven advice highlights an opportunity to close the knowledge gap. This research investigates visually engaging educational systems to guide the creation of new visual solutions which address these challenges. …