Digital Commons Network^™

Perspectives Of African American And Hispanic/Latino Individuals On Hiv Molecular Cluster Detection, Maxwell Richardson, Brendan H. Pulsifer, Jane Yoon Scott, David Holland, Eleanor W. Garlow, Pascale Wortley, Daniel Mauck, Jenna Gettings, Valeria Cantos, Masonia Traylor, Eric Rangel, David Folkes, Carlos Saldana

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Responding to HIV clusters detected using molecular data has been shown to reduce transmission and improve testing, treatment, and prevention. However, there are varied opinions about the use of cluster detection activities, and some advocates have raised concerns about patient consent, data security, and the potential for HIV criminalization. Incorporating the perspectives of marginalized populations that are disproportionately affected by HIV is essential to understanding the diversity of those perspectives, yet it is often overlooked in the literature. Thus, our study seeks to highlight the perspectives of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals in the Southern United States on HIV …

Beyond Lectures: Leveraging Competition, Peer Discussion And Real-World Scenarios In A Digital Card Game To Enhance Learning Of Microbiology And Immunology Concepts, Michael Dillon, James Edwards, Alexandra Hughes, Holly Stephenson

Peninsula Medical School

Teaching the complex interactions between hosts and pathogens is a fundamental yet educationally challenging aspect of life science and healthcare education. The intricate mechanisms of the immune system can pose significant barriers to students’ understanding of infectious disease diagnosis and treatment. To address this, we used a web-based digital whiteboard platform to design a card-based competitive game called Micro-Immune Battles, aimed at more actively engaging students with microbiology and immunology to better develop their knowledge and underlying concepts. The game facilitates learning through a series of infectious disease scenarios, providing student teams with ‘immune system response cards’ that represent various …

Navigating Epstein-Barr Virus (Ebv) And Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (Ptld) In Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Current Knowledge And Strategies For Treatment And Surveillance, Erin Y Chen, Natasha Dilwali, Krupa R Mysore, Sara Hassan, Sara Kathryn Smith, Wikrom Karnsakul

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in pediatric liver transplant recipients. PTLD is one of the most common malignancies following liver transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Factors such as EBV-serostatus mismatch and prolonged or high levels of immunosuppression impact a patient's risk of developing PTLD. While pre-transplant EBV serological screening and post-transplant monitoring of EBV-DNA levels are strongly recommended, universal guidelines for its prevention and management are lacking. Due to a lack of robust prospective studies, current clinical practices vary widely. The treatment of PTLD typically involves reducing …

Plasma Micrornas To Select Optimal Patients For Antibody Production From Anti-Addiction Vaccines, Thomas R Kosten, Amrit Koirala, David A Nielsen, Coreen B Domingo, Ynhi T Thomas, Preethi H Gunaratne, Cristian Coarfa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Cocaine and illicit amphetamines (disguised as “Adderall”) are being laced with fentanyl and producing accidental and intentional fatal overdoses. Vaccines can prevent these overdoses, but 33% of humans generate insufficient anti-drug antibody (AB) levels. Plasma microRNAs (miRs) can be used to predict non-responders. We have plasma stored from 152 cocaine vaccine trial participants following three vaccinations over 9 weeks and examined miRs as potential response biomarkers. Methods: We compared 2517 miRs before anti-cocaine vaccination in participants with the highest (n = 25) to the lowest (n = 23) antibody levels. False Discovery Rates (FDRs) were applied to identify differentially …

Innovations And Adaptations Of Laparoscopic Surgery To Resource-Limited Settings In Low And Middle-Income Countries (Lmic’S), Nate Nyberg, Kennedy Scheele, Chelsea Chang, Erica Tutuwan, Sarah Siddiqui

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Challenges In Diagnosing And Treating Fungal Endocarditis: A Case Report Of Recurrent Candida Endocarditis In A Hemodialysis Patient, Ghaidaa Almuhammadi, Rawia Alzughaibi, Lamar Amer, Talal Alzahrani

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Fungal endocarditis (FE) is a rare yet life-threatening condition, especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients with indwelling long-term catheters. Symptoms often overlap with non-fungal infective endocarditis, making diagnosis difficult. As FE incidence increases, healthcare providers face challenges in diagnosing and managing this severe condition. Early suspicion of FE is crucial for patients with long-term catheters. We reported a 23-year-old male with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD that developed FE affecting the tricuspid valve, requiring valve replacement and anti-fungal medication. Despite these interventions, he had recurrent Candida prosthetic endocarditis(CPE). Currently, he is receiving anti-fungal medication, with plans for a third surgery.

Inclusive Leadership Ideology In Crisis Management: A Case Study Analysis On Serving The Homeless During Covid-19, Hee Soun Jang, Yu Shi, Lisa Dicke, Laura Keyes

Journal of Ideology

A core value and ethical tenet of public administration is to ensure the protection and care of the most vulnerable in the community. This research shows that inclusive leadership ideology among public managers can actively engage them in using responsive strategies that respect marginalized groups' diverse cultures, languages, identities, and special needs. Using interviews of homeless-serving nonprofit leaders during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research demonstrates how leaders navigated critical decision-making in response to the unique service needs of those who were unsheltered and experiencing homelessness. The D-A-I-C model (Shi et al., 2020) serves as a framework …

Handshake Antimicrobial Stewardship For Adult Surgical Patients, Abby Kosharek, Elizabeth Neuner, Emily Welch, Spenser January, Alice Bewley, Kevin Hsueh, Sena Sayood

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of handshake stewardship on adult general surgical units.

DESIGN: Retrospective quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention study.

SETTING: A total of 1,278 bed academic medical center with a level 1 trauma center in St. Louis, Missouri.

PATIENTS: Adults admitted to general surgery units.

INTERVENTION: Once weekly handshake antimicrobial stewardship rounds were initiated in January 2022 on adult general surgery units. The handshake stewardship team consisted of an infectious diseases (ID) physician and pharmacist who reviewed charts of patients receiving systemic antimicrobials without a formal ID consult. Antimicrobial recommendations were delivered in person to general surgery teams including trauma, …

Thrombocytopenia In Sepsis, Alireza Setarehaseman, Robert W. Maitta

Faculty Scholarship

Platelets, traditionally known for their role in hemostasis, have emerged as key players in immune response and inflammation. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition characterized by systemic inflammation, often presents with thrombocytopenia, which at times, can be significant. Platelets contribute to the inflammatory response by interacting with leukocytes, endothelial cells, and the innate immune system. However, excessive platelet activation and consumption can lead to thrombocytopenia and exacerbate the severity of sepsis. Understanding the multifaceted roles of platelets in sepsis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Targeting platelet-mediated inflammatory responses and promoting platelet production may offer potential avenues for improving outcomes in …

Phosphorylation Of Cryab Induces A Condensatopathy To Worsen Post-Myocardial Infarction Left Ventricular Remodeling, Moydul Islam, David R. Rawnsley, Xiucui Ma, Walter Navid, Chen Zhao, Xumin Guan, Layla Foroughi, John T. Murphy, Honora Navid, Carla J. Weinheimer, Attila Kovacs, Jessica Nigro, Aaradhya Diwan, Ryan P. Chang, Minu Kumari, Martin E. Young, Babak Razani, Kenneth B. Margulies, Mahmoud Abdellatif, Simon Sedej, Ali Javaheri, Douglas F. Covey, Kartik Mani, Abhinav Diwan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Protein aggregates are emerging therapeutic targets in rare monogenic causes of cardiomyopathy and amyloid heart disease, but their role in more prevalent heart-failure syndromes remains mechanistically unexamined. We observed mislocalization of desmin and sarcomeric proteins to aggregates in human myocardium with ischemic cardiomyopathy and in mouse hearts with post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodeling, mimicking findings of autosomal-dominant cardiomyopathy induced by the R120G mutation in the cognate chaperone protein CRYAB. In both syndromes, we demonstrate increased partitioning of CRYAB phosphorylated on serine 59 to NP40-insoluble aggregate-rich biochemical fraction. While CRYAB undergoes phase separation to form condensates, the phosphomimetic mutation of serine 59 …

2024 Physician-Scientist Trainee Diversity Summit Conference Proceedings, Jessica Weng, Cynthia Y Tang, Kyle T Enriquez, Rohini N Guin, Briana Christophers, Yentli E Soto Albrecht, Daniel B Amusin, Deborah D Rupert, Paige Cooper Byas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Physician-Scientist Trainee Diversity Summit, hosted by the American Physician Scientists Association and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, was conceived in 2019 with the mission of developing strategic plans to diversify the physician-scientist community using human-centered design thinking. In June 2024, the second iteration of this conference was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and brought together a network of scientific and medical organizations to discuss issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion facing physician-scientist trainees. This article summarizes the progress made from the first meeting, the proceedings of the 2024 Summit, and a thematic analysis of the recent meeting, offering tangible …

The Opportunities And Barriers Surrounding The Use Of Digital Health And Telemedicine In Sub-Saharan Africa, Aveline Langmead, Afua Osei-Wusu, Erica Tutuwan, Sara Mcmahon, Porter Biggs

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) From Myrtle And Its Potential Antibacterial And Antioxidant Activities*, Humera Khan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

1,8-Cineole is a naturally occurring chemical molecule predominantly found in fragrant plants, particularly Myrtle. Its aroma is distinctive and has been the subject of numerous investigations due to its various biological actions. This study examines the characterization of 1,8-Cineole derived from Myrtle and investigates its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This study seeks to compare 1,8-Cineole with antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Tetracycline, and moreover, to investigate its antioxidant capabilities against diverse bacterial strains (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative). 1,8-Cineole exhibits the most effective antibacterial properties, demonstrating an inhibition zone of 12.00 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 10.00 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. …

Axl Signaling In Cancer: From Molecular Insights To Targeted Therapies, Monika Yadav, Akansha Sharma, Ketki Patne, Saba Tabasum, Jyoti Suryavanshi, Laxminarayan Rawat, Marc Machaalani, Marc Eid, Rana Singh, Toni Choueiri, Soumitro Pal, Akash Sabarwal

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

AXL, a member of the TAM receptor family, has emerged as a potential target for advanced-stage human malignancies. It is frequently overexpressed in different cancers and plays a significant role in various tumor-promoting pathways, including cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, stemness, DNA damage response, acquired therapeutic resistance, immunosuppression, and inflammatory responses. Beyond oncology, AXL also facilitates viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 and Zika highlighting its importance in both cancer and virology. In preclinical models, small-molecule kinase inhibitors targeting AXL have shown promising anti-tumorigenic potential. This review primarily focuses on the induction, regulation and biological functions of AXL …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Adults Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Brian S. Shaw, Cara Slaton, Ian P. Murphy, Michael Mcalister, Daniel Egan, Kwabena Ayesu

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative sense single-stranded RNA virus (ssRNA) that primarily causes respiratory infections in both children and older adults. We examined clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized adult patients who tested positive for RSV.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study that examined adult patients admitted with a positive RSV test over two years across eight hospitals in Orlando, Florida.

Results: A total of 120 patients were included, of which 88 (73%) were 60 years old and older. Overall, patients with RSV infection were caucasian (62%) with a median age of 70 years and …

Systematic Evaluation Of Regression Models For The Prediction Of Influenza Cases, Mukul Kandwal

Theses

This study systematically evaluates machine learning models to forecast influenza outbreaks, aiming to enhance public health preparedness through accurate predictions. Laboratory-confirmed influenza case data from the New York State Department of Health (2009–2023) were used to train and test five regression models—XGBoost, Neural Network (MLP regressor), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest, and Support Vector Regression (SVR)—with preprocessing techniques including differencing and phasing. A leave-one-season-out cross-validation framework and Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error (SMAPE) were employed to rigorously assess performance. Key findings reveal that the Neural Network (MLP regressor) outperformed other models, achieving the lowest SMAPE score (23.7), underscoring the critical …

Impact Of Covid-19 And Right To Healthcare: The Legal Dimensions Of Public Health Issues In India, Azim Hussain Mazumdar

Journal of Law and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Engaging Interdisciplinary Learners In A Social Determinants Of Health Course, Jonathan Eldredge

HSC Education Days

No abstract provided.

Connectomic Dysfunctions Underlying Cognitive Impairment In Alcohol Use Disorder And The Link To Alzheimer's Disease, Graham Warner

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are two disorders associated with a degraded life quality, high mortality, and poor prognosis. Recent evidence suggests that AUD is a risk factor for AD though the exact relationship between the two disorders is unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between these disorders by determining which patterns of functional connectivity are associated with cognitive decline in AUD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a cognitive pathology which frequently precedes dementia. Both resting-state and task-based fMRI data collected from AUD, MCI, and healthy control (HC) participants were used in this study. The …

A Rare Case Of Adolescent Epiglottitis Secondary To Streptococcus Dysgalactiae Septicemia., Kedar Tilak, Mohamed Aashiq Abdul Ghayum, Douglas Swanson, Rana El Feghaly

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Streptococcus dysgalactiae (S. dysgalactiae)is a relatively uncommon pathogen in the pediatric populations, often overshadowed by Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes)in causing diseases such as cellulitis, severe seep tissue necrotizing infections, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. This case report presents the case of a 15-year-old recent immigrant male patient from Egypt who developed an extensive neck infection with complications from S. dysgalactiae septicemia. Initially misdiagnosed as viral pharyngitis, the patient was later admitted with high fevers, dysphagia, and progressive respiratory distress. Imaging revealed widespread inflammatory changes, including cellulitis, epiglottitis, and lymphadenopathy. Despite prompt antibiotic therapy, the patient required …

Physical Health Care Use, Mental Health Care Use, And Resilience Among Formerly Incarcerated Adults In Southern California, Tamara Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults who have experienced incarceration face many challenges reentering society. The lack of physical and mental healthcare use has been shown to contribute to recidivism. This cross-sectional study using a multivariate linear regression examined the relationship between physical healthcare use, mental healthcare use, and resilience among formerly incarcerated adults in Southern California while controlling for age, gender and race. Physical healthcare use was defined as the frequency of appointments, having health insurance coverage, and having a usual place of care. Mental healthcare use was defined as needing and receiving mental health treatment. The study used the Resilience Theory to determine …

Stochastic Games Of Parental Vaccination Decision Making And Bounded Rationality, Andras Balogh, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Vaccination is an effective strategy to prevent the spread of diseases. However, hesitancy and rejection of vaccines, particularly in childhood immunizations, pose challenges to vaccination efforts. In that case, according to rational decision-making and classical utility theory, parents weigh the costs of vaccination against the costs of not vaccinating their children. Social norms influence these parental decision-making outcomes, deviating their decisions from rationality. Additionally, variability in values of utilities stemming from stochasticity in parents' perceptions over time can lead to further deviations from rationality. In this paper, we employ independent white noises to represent stochastic fluctuations in parental perceptions of …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On The Mental Health Of Frontline Workers Of Toronto Homeless Shelters (Csws), Isiaka Omotosho Akande

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The objective of this phenomenological research is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the client service workers (CSWs) in Toronto homeless shelters. Kolcaba's theory of comfort guides this study. This theory holds that being comfortable is one of the fundamental necessities for relief after stressful health care events or incidents. Comfort boosts health-seeking behaviors for patients, clients, and workers. In the context of the City of Toronto’s homeless shelters, Kolcaba’s theory of comfort suggests that if client service workers are given adequate resources to balance their health and mental needs, thus stabilizing their comfortabilities, then …

Reply: “Continuing The Chat: How Can We Improve The Performance Of An Artificial Intelligence Chatbot In Answering Clinical Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Questions?”, Wesley D. Kufel, Conan Macdougall, Elizabeth W. Covington, Jason C. Gallagher, Robert W. Seabur, Jeffrey M. Steele

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Comprehensive Sumo Proteomic Analyses Identify Hiv Latency-Associated Proteins In Microglia., Fergan Imbert, Dianne Langford

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

SUMOylation, the post-translational modification of proteins by small ubiquitin-like modifiers, plays a critical role in regulating various cellular processes, including innate immunity. This modification is essential for modulating immune responses and influencing signaling pathways that govern the activation and function of immune cells. Recent studies suggest that SUMOylation also contributes to the pathophysiology of central nervous system (CNS) viral infections, where it contributes to the host response and viral replication dynamics. Here, we explore the multifaceted role of SUMOylation in innate immune signaling and its implications for viral infections within the CNS. Notably, we present novel proteomic analyses aimed at …

Single Amino Acid Changes Impact The Ability Of Drosophila Melanogaster Cecropins To Inhibit Growth Of Providencia Pathogens, Sarah Smith, Marla Forfar, Christopher Feudale, Lauren Shaffer, Grace Ginder, Marion Duval, Quinn Smith, Moria C. Chambers

Faculty Journal Articles

As antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread worldwide, the need to develop novel antimicrobial agents is urgent. One rich source of potential antimicrobials is the insect immune system, as insects produce a wide range of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with diverse sequences and structures. Insects also encounter many bacterial pathogens, some of which are closely related to pathogens of clinical relevance. However, despite interest in AMPs as therapeutics, the relationships between the amino acid sequence, biophysical properties, antimicrobial activity, and specificity are still not generalizable. To improve our understanding of these relationships, we assessed how single amino acid changes in cecropin AMPs produced by …

Evaluation Of Institutional Prophylactic Open Fracture Antibiotic Guidelines On Infection Development., Lillian D. Gates, Emily N. Gray, Kaili Donahue, Alexander Aucoin, Sarthak Parikh, Hung-Wen Yeh, Robert B. Goodwin, Amanda Hembree

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Open fracture wounds are associated with a high risk of infection, though the outcomes are dependent on the fracture location, prophylactic antibiotics utilized, and time to antibiotic intervention. Although several institutions have provided guidelines for appropriate prophylaxis in open fractures, there is currently no consensus on antibiotic selection and duration. Reducing inappropriate prophylactic antibiotic use for open bone fractures is a potential stewardship opportunity within pharmacy departments.

OBJECTIVES:  This study aimed to determine the rates of open fracture-related infections and antibiotic ordering adherence to institutional guidelines. Patients were grouped based on the time of diagnosis relative to the institutional …

Punch Cd3-Ols: A Phase 3 Prospective Observational Cohort Study To Evaluate The Safety And Efficacy Of Fecal Microbiota, Live-Jslm (Rebyota) In Adults With Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection, Paul Feuerstadt, Teena Chopra, Whitfield Knapple, Nicholas W Van Hise, Erik R Dubberke, Brian Baggott, Beth Guthmueller, Lindy Bancke, Michael Gamborg, Theodore S Steiner, Daniel Van Handel, Sahil Khanna

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota, live-jslm (RBL; REBYOTA)-the first single-dose, broad consortia microbiota-based live biotherapeutic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) in adults following standard-of-care (SOC) antibiotic treatment.

METHODS: PUNCH CD3-OLS was a prospective, phase 3, open-label study, conducted across the US and Canada. Participants were aged ≥18 years with documented rCDI and confirmed use of SOC antibiotics. Participants with comorbidities including inflammatory bowel disease and mild-to-moderate immunocompromising conditions could be enrolled. A single dose of RBL was rectally administered …

Hyperkalemia And Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study On Mortality Outcomes In Southwest Missouri, Sukhmanjit Kaur, Alexandra Belohlavek, Melissa Bryan, Celine Nguyen, Scott A. Andelin, Nova Beyersdorfer, Kerry Johnson, John Paulson

Student Publications

Background: Pneumonia stands as a widely known contributor to hospitalization and mortality among adults in the United States. Meanwhile, disruptions in potassium homeostasis such as hyperkalemia may have an impact on in-patient mortality. This study seeks to examine the presence of hyperkalemia and its association with in-patient mortality among pneumonia patients.

Methods: Electronic medical records were used to perform a retrospective observational cohort study in Southwest Missouri patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and/or hyperkalemia. Patients were divided into three samples: patients with pneumonia and hyperkalemia (P1), pneumonia without hyperkalemia (P2), and hyperkalemia without pneumonia (P3). The goal was …

Neutralizing Antibody Immune Correlates For A Recombinant Protein Vaccine In The Covail Trial, Youyi Fong, Lauren Dang, Bo Zhang, Jonathan Fintzi, Shiyu Chen, Jing Wang, Nadine G Rouphael, Angela R Branche, David J Diemert, Ann R Falsey, Cecilia Losada, Lindsey R Baden, Sharon E Frey, Jennifer A Whitaker, Susan J Little, Satoshi Kamidani, Emmanuel B Walter, Richard M Novak, Richard Rupp, Lisa A Jackson, Chenchen Yu, Craig A Magaret, Cindy Molitor, Bhavesh Borate, Tara M Babu, Angelica C Kottkamp, Anne F Luetkemeyer, Lilly C Immergluck, Rachel M Presti, Martín Bäcker, Patricia L Winokur, Siham M Mahgoub, Paul A Goepfert, Dahlene N Fusco, Robert L Atmar, Christine M Posavad, Jinjian Mu, Mat Makowski, Mamodikoe K Makhene, Seema U Nayak, Paul C Roberts, Dean Follmann, Peter B Gilbert

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

For COVAIL recipients of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Sanofi booster vaccine, neutralizing antibody titers were assessed as a correlate of risk (CoR) of COVID-19. Peak and exposure-proximal titers were inverse CoRs with covariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) 0.30 (0.11, 0.78) and 0.25 (0.07, 0.85) per 10-fold increase in weighted average titer.