Digital Commons Network^™

Attitudes And Barriers Toward Covid-19 Vaccination Among People Experiencing Homelessness In Detroit, Mi, Sanjna Ghanshani, Sophie Wittenberg, Richard Bryce

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have a high risk of exposure to communicable diseases and limited access to health care services and treatment in their communities. Despite the availability of highly effective vaccines against COVID-19, the infection prevention practices and level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PEH in Detroit have not been well studied.

Methods: Medical students administered an electronic Qualtrics survey to consented participants during outreach visits to local homeless shelters and encampments organized by Street Medicine Detroit. The questionnaire comprised six topics, including hygiene and masking practices, experience with COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and attitudes toward …

Seeing Through The Smoke: Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Impacts Functional Connectivity Of The Salience Network In Children, Mohammed M. Faraj B.S., Austin Morales M.S., Breanna Borg B.S., Julia Evanski B.S., Clara Zundel Ph.D., Hilary A. Marusak Ph.D.

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with cognitive, motor, and social deficits among offspring that last into adulthood; however, the impact on large-scale neurocognitive networks in children is unknown. To address this gap, we leveraged data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to examine the impact of prenatal cannabis exposure on functional connectivity in children. We focused on connectivity within and between the salience network (SN) and other key neurocognitive networks in children. The SN is involved in orienting attention to biologically-relevant stimuli and is shown to be disrupted in individuals with psychiatric disorders.

Methods: Neuroimaging data were …

The Effect Of Disease Modifying Therapies On Deep Gray Matter: A Longitudinal Comparative Study, Wendy Jin, Evanthia Bernitsas

Medical Student Research Symposium

Summary

Cerebral gray matter (GM) atrophy is an important factor in determining disability in Multiple Sclerosis^4,9. Disease modifying therapies reduce the GM atrophy to some degree, both in the cortical and deep gray matter (dGM). A previous study has shown that fingolimod (FTY720), asphingosine 1 phosphate immunomodulator can significantly reduced GM and thalamic volume loss in patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis(RRMS)¹. In addition to its effect on reducing dGM volume loss, fingolimod is also believed to have protective effect on focal and diffuse dGM damage^2,8. The effect of natalizumab on GM atrophy, however, is …

Improving Satisfaction Of Patients Living With Hidradenitis Suppurativa Through Administration Of An Intake Form, Emilia M. Clementi, Steven Daveluy

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an incurable, chronic inflammatory skin that is caused by follicular occlusion and affects around 1% of people in the United States ¹. Because of its chronic, grave nature, patients may be dissatisfied with their care. Improving the fecundity of HS patients’ interaction with their physicians may be an important step towards improving patient outcomes. Currently, there is no standardized patient intake form for HS patients at Wayne Health. The intake form describes key patient details, such as their current treatments, pain level, and associated symptoms. This project measures the efficacy of this tool after …

Ocular Complications Of Facial Burns In The Pediatric Population, Abigail Teitelbaum, Annmarie F. Craig, Sharmila Segar Md, Elika Ridelman Ph.D, Lisa Bohra Md, Christina Shanti Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Pediatric burns commonly involve the face and periocular areas, with a possibility of impairing vision. The aim of this study is to characterize ocular injuries in burn patients and identify the patients at most risk of ocular complications.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review within a single academic, urban pediatric burn center. All burn patients under 18 years of age admitted from January 2010 to December 2020 with ocular involvement were included. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, burn characteristics, presence of ophthalmology consultation, ocular exam findings, follow up time period, and early and late ocular complications.

Results: In …

Expression And Purification Of E. Coli Yoaa, A Putative Helicase, Mark Gregory, Vincent Sutera Mr., Susan Lovett Dr.

Medical Student Research Symposium

All cells must maintain their genomic integrity to survive, which they achieve through several repair mechanisms that necessitate unwinding the damaged DNA by helicases. In Escherichia coli (E. coli), YoaA has been genetically shown to be involved in DNA repair and shares conserved sequences with helicase DinG. The goal of our study was to purify YoaA for further biochemical characterization. For expression, YoaA was fused to a His tag and overexpressed in MG1655 E.coli under the lacZ or T7 promoters for 2 hours, 4 hours, or overnight at 24oC, 30oC or 37oC. For purification, crude lysate was applied to a …

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Restoring Candidacy For Liver Transplant In Cirrhotic Patients, Mirna Kaafarani, Omar Shamma, Syed-Mohammed Jafri

Medical Student Research Symposium

Purpose: Current guidelines for preoperative workup for an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recommend an echocardiogram that often rule-out patients with superimposed severe aortic stenosis as transplant candidates. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the potential of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as a bridging therapy for liver transplants in cirrhotic patients with severe AS.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 500 patient records that underwent liver transplantation at a single large tertiary care center between 2017 and mid-2021. Two cases of alcohol cirrhosis were further investigated due to the simultaneous diagnosis of severe AS. …

Predictive Factors For Length Of Hospital Stay In Pediatric Dog Bite Patients, Dominic Alessio-Bilowus, Nishant Kumar, Elika Ridelman Ph.D, Christina Shanti Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Predictive Factors for Length of Hospital Stay in Pediatric Dog Bite Patients

Authors: Alessio-Bilowus D¹, Kumar N², Ridelman E¹, Shanti C^2
1Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; ²Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI

Introduction: Dog bite injuries are a source of significant morbidity in the United States, with children being at increased risk compared to adults, yet there is a lack of published data on factors affecting hospital length of stay (LOS) in pediatric patients.

Methods: A full-text retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients presenting to our urban, academic …

Functional Attenuation Coefficient Imaging Of Rod Inner Segment: The Shape Of Things To Come, Cole Goodman

Medical Student Research Symposium

Purpose: Dysfunction of mitochondria and their linked processes within the rod cell (i.e., the rod energy-landscape) are leading hypotheses for rod atrophy in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It remains unclear how to translate the detailed information available from isolated cell / mitochondria studies into how mitochondria are functioning and responding to treatment in vivo. Here we present a new rod energy-landscape biomarker that can help address this problem using a common clinical tool.

Methods: In mice, OCT data was converted into attenuation coefficients (AC) to map the light-scattering of mitochondria within the inner segment (IS), which fills ~75% of its volume …

Identifying Predictors For Inflammation-Induced Preterm Birth: A Murine Study, Tzu Ning Liu Bs, Jose Galaz Md, Nardhy Gomez-Lopez Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. A large proportion of preterm deliveries is affected by intra-amniotic inflammation, which can occur in the presence (intra-amniotic infection) or absence (sterile intra-amniotic inflammation) of microbes. Studies have shown an association between intra-amniotic inflammation, cervical shortening, and changes in the cervicovaginal microbiome. However, their causal relationships are unknown. This study aims to determine the causality of intra-amniotic inflammation, cervical shortening, and cervicovaginal microbiome alterations.

Methods: Pregnant C57BL/6 dams received an ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injection of an endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the alarmin interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) on 16.5 …

Recovery Time Following Operative Versus Nonoperative Humeral Shaft Fracture Treatment, Susan Wager, Trevor D. Wolterink, Jager Haan, Yash Hedge, Chrystina James, Stephanie J. Muh

Medical Student Research Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Humeral shaft fractures represent approximately 5% of fractures in the United States. Treatment modalities include nonoperative, and operative with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or intramedullary nail (IMN). There is no consensus on which option is best. The purpose of this study was to compare the length of time from fracture care to radiographic union between nonoperative, ORIF, and IMN treatments for humeral shaft fractures.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed trends in the management of midshaft humerus fracture between July of 2013 and December of 2020. Fracture characteristics and treatment outcomes were recorded from patients with humeral shaft fractures …

Perspectives On Telemedicine From A National Study Of Youth In The United States, Margaret Wasvary

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Telemedicine is increasingly popular with the recent surge in use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite youth status as "tech natives," limited data are available on their perspectives on telemedicine. Our study seeks to understand youth telemedicine knowledge, prior experiences, preferences for use, and the impact of COVID-19 on these perspectives. Methods: Participants in MyVoice, a national text message cohort of U.S. youth age 14-24, were sent five open-ended questions in October 2019 and October 2020. A codebook was iteratively developed by using inductive analysis. Responses were independently coded by two investigators, with discrepancies resolved by discussion or a …

A Prospective Study Investigating The Relationship Between Diagnostic Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks And The Use Of Sedation, Hannah C. Milad, Nimesh Patel Md, Ashwin Vaidyanathan Md, Katherine A. Nowak Phd, Rohit C. Aiyer Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic medial branch blocks (MBB) confirm whether the origin of lower back pain is the facet joint, but are prone to false positive results. This study investigates the effects of midazolam sedation on perceived intensity of pain relief following lumbar MBB and determines the frequency of positive results in sedated patients for the corresponding treatment, radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC).

METHODS: This prospective observational study compares pain scores between patients who undergo the MBB procedure with midazolam sedation (treatment) and without (control). Participants reported baseline and post-injection NRS pain scores, and 4, 8 weeks post-RFTC. If >80% pain relief was achieved …

Complications Of Pediatric Cochlear Implant Surgery, Andrew Stefan, Sabrina Bernardo, William Azkoul Ii, Bianca Siegel

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Cochlear implantation (CI) surgery is the standard of care treatment for pediatric patients diagnosed with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. While considered a relatively safe operation, any invasive procedure involving the cranium has risks. However, there are few recent studies in the United States that have analyzed complication rates among children who have received CI. Furthermore, existing studies fail to discuss specific risk factors that led to post-operative complications, nor offer solutions to reduce their incidence. This study aims to 1) determine the incidence of specific complications in pediatric CI patients and 2) identify evidence-based risk factors for …

Racial Disparities In Rescheduling Elective Surgeries Following Covid-19, Anna H. Kang, Benjamin M. Sims, Charles S. Day

Medical Student Research Symposium

INTRODUCTION:

Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, healthcare systems were mandated to cancel elective procedures as a public health safety measure. This study aimed to evaluate subsequent rescheduling in relation to patients’ interpreted risks of receiving care and reported discrepancies of the COVID-19 pandemic’s direct impacts on minority populations.

METHODS:

An orthopedic surgery research consortium developed a clinical survey to assess the impact of elective surgery cancellations on patients. Topics included demographics, cancellation sentiments, and rescheduling preferences (“ASAP”, “within 3 months”, “6 months”, “12 months”, or “do not wish to reschedule”). The survey was administered for surgeries cancelled between March 15 …

The Impact Of Trauma Subtypes On Ptsd Severity In Syrian Child And Adolescent Refugees, Liza Hinchey, Lana Grasser, Bassem Saad, Kathleen Gorski, Arash Javanbakht, May Chammaa

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Child and adolescent refugee populations are at increased risk for psychiatric disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. Recent studies have demonstrated different symptomatology based on the type(s) of traumatic events experienced. Cluster analyses based on the Life Events Checklist (LEC) indicate three trauma subtypes: accidental/injury, victimization, and predominant death threat. Extending this line of research from adults to youth may lead to better understanding of the unique impacts of trauma subtypes on symptoms for improved prediction of risk and resilience.

Methods:

Refugee participants were recruited within 1 month of their resettlement in the U.S. Data used were …

The Use Of Clemastine As A Potential Therapeutic Agent To Treat Hypomyelinating Diseases, Emily Fisher, Shreya Banerjee, Ryan Thummel

Medical Student Research Symposium

Purpose: Genetic leukoencephalopathies (gLEs) are heritable white matter disorders of the nervous system that produce severe motor impairment, cortical blindness, intellectual disability, and seizures. Recent evidence shows that a mutation in Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11 (VPS11) causes an autosomal recessive gLE in humans and that vps11(plt) mutant zebrafish can model the disease. Clemastine, an FDA approved drug, benefits patients with multiple sclerosis and enhances oligodendrocyte differentiation and number in zebrafish. In this study, we aim to determine whether Clemastine treatment will improve visuomotor function in our vps11(plt) mutant zebrafish.

Methods: Wild type (WT) and vps11(plt) mutant (MUT) lines were separated …

The Role Of Connective Tissue Growth Factor In Maintaining The Epithelial Phenotype Of Ovarian Cancer Cells During Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition, Harry Ramos, Sandra Galoforo, Gil Mor, Radhika Gogoi

Medical Student Research Symposium

Objective: The transition from epithelial to mesenchymal is essential for the process of ovarian cancer (OC) metastasis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role and mechanism of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Methods: R182 is an epithelial OC cell line. CTGF expression +/- Transforming Growth Factor -b (TGF-b) was determined via Western blot and ELISA. R182 CTGF knock out (KO) were derived utilizing a Cas9/CRISPR-Cas9 lentivirus plasmid vector. Anoikis resistance and invasion assays were performed to characterized phenotypes of R182 wild type (WT) and KO cells. For anoikis resistance, cells …

Tumor Vasculature Changes Before Or During Treatment To Predict Response To Systemic Therapy, Avinash Ramkissoon, Faria Ali, Thomas Vander Woude, Stephen Brown, James Ewing, Lisa Rogers

Medical Student Research Symposium

A diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carries a grim prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of 25%. 25-30% of NSCLC patients have brain metastases at initial presentation, which carries an even worse prognosis. New systemic therapies such as targeted-therapies and immuno-therapies have potential to provide better outcomes, but are not without challenges. First, efficacy is limited to a subset of patients. Second, the blood-brain barrier limits penetration, which varies among patients. Third, toxicities can be considerable. Current practice involves waiting 3-6 months to follow-up and assess tumor response; however, by then, it is later than ideal to try other …

Endoscopic Cricoid Split As A Treatment For Subglottic Stenosis: A Systematic Review, Silvia Aluia, Katherine Akers, Michael Chung Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Subglottic stenosis, a fibrotic narrowing of the airway below the vocal cords extending to the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, can be classified as congenital, idiopathic, or acquired in neonates from prolonged intubation. Treatment has more recently expanded from open surgical intervention to include endoscopic procedures. This systematic review aims to evaluate existing literature on anterior and posterior endoscopic cricoid split procedures as a treatment for congenital and acquired subglottic stenosis in order to explore the efficacy of these techniques.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google scholar, which produced …

Norepinephrine Regulation Of Spatial Memory Using The Barnes Maze In Male And Female Rats, Serena Simpson, Ali Gheidi Phd, Nareen Sadik, Cameron J. Davidson Phd, Shane A. Perrine Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

The role of norepinephrine (NE) in learning and memory has been extensively studied, yet its contribution remains to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the role of NE on spatial learning and memory in female and male rats using a Barnes maze assay. We used N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4), a specific noradrenergic neurotoxin that can cross the blood brain barrier, to deplete NE stores. We hypothesized that brain NE ablation would attenuate spatial learning and memory in rats. Loss of NE by DSP-4 was determined by measuring NE (and dopamine and serotonin) levels in several brain regions using HPLC. For the …

Reduction In Healthcare Resource Utilization Associate With A Rapid Rule-Out Protocol For Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome, Sophie Wittenberg, Nicole Xu

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the US. Cardiac biomarkers are the gold standard for detecting acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Emergency Department (ED). Current guidelines recommend using high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) to exclude AMI, which can potentially reduce hospital resource utilization and expedite diagnosis. In an attempt to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and triage for patients with possible ACS, we developed a protocol for rapid rule out (RACE-IT).

Methods: A secondary analysis of a stepped-wedge randomized trial of patients evaluated for AMI across 9 ED’s in the Henry Ford Health …

Time-To-Surgery And Short-Term Outcomes Of Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Gabriel Burdick Bs, Rami Beydoun Bs, Alexander Pietroski Ms, Jonathan Warren Bs, Bushra Fathima Bs, Trevor Wolterink Bs, Michael Mcintosh Bs, Neethi Sriranga Bs, Stephanie Muh Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on time-to-surgery, complication rates, and functional outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for trimalleolar ankle fracture.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compared patients who underwent ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fracture between April and July of 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID group) to a pre-pandemic cohort treated in 2018 (2018 group). Demographic information, fracture characteristics, and surgical outcomes were collected from patients’ medical charts.

RESULTS: The COVID and 2018 groups consisted of 32 and 100 patients, respectively. The two groups …

Very Long Chain Acyl-Coa Dehydrogenase Deficiency Diagnosed By Michigan Newborn Screening And Their Cardiac Complications, Lindsay Jenkins, Kara Pappas Md, Shagun Kaur Md, Marissa Younan Ms, Cgc

Medical Student Research Symposium

With the expansion of newborn screening (NBS), there has been an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with genetic and metabolic conditions before the onset of symptoms. Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCADD) is a genetic disorder of fatty acid metabolism that can cause hypoglycemia, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmias. VLCADD was included in the Michigan NBS in 2005 and since then, our center has diagnosed 28 patients with VLCADD. We have observed that many of these patients are asymptomatic or have a mild disease presentation. These patients may also have a lower incidence of cardiac complications than …

Social Determinants, Health Care Access And Utilization In Detroit, Michigan Latinx Community, Karla P. Escobar, Julia M. Yee, Miles Bowman, Myles Hardeman, Emile Tadros, Omar Mahmood, Kiernan S. Bloye

Medical Student Research Symposium

• Background - The Amigos Médicos Clinic is a Wayne State School of Medicine Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) project started formally in June of 2021, that aims to bridge the healthcare gap faced by the uninsured/underinsured Latinx community of Detroit by providing free medical screenings and education to this community. According to a 2018 survey conducted by the University of Michigan’s Detroit Metro Area Community Study (DMACS), 22% of Latinx residents reported lacking insurance, and 14.2% of Latinx residents utilize hospital emergency rooms as their usual place of medical care when they are sick. Along with providing blood glucose and …

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Thromboelastography Profiles Of Hemophilia A Patients On Emicizumab, Daniel J. Vanzweden, Meera Chitlur, Charity J. Stadler

Medical Student Research Symposium

Emicizumab is a new monoclonal antibody developed to dtreat people with Hemophilia A, especially those with antibodies. However, breakthrough bleeding can still occur in patients taking Emicizumab. TEG is a global coagulation assay which measures coagulability through viscosity. This study describes the use of tissue factor activated TEG in measuring bleeding profiles in patients taking Emicizumab. The goal of this prospective study is to determine if TEG can be used, which variables of TEG might be useful, and how much more useful it is than the current standard, aPtt. Findings include a 25% increased R time and 24% increased K …

Discharged Against Medical Advice In The Postpartum Period: Why Should We Care?, Gurbani Bedi Bs, Mariam Ayyash Md, Mscr, Monique Swain Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Objective: To understand reasons and events surrounding postpartum discharges against medical advice (AMA) in an urban population in Detroit, Michigan.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted looking at women who left AMA in the postpartum period from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan between 2013 and 2021.

Results: 111 women (0.18%) left AMA in the postpartum period between 2013 and 2021. 35.1% of women were Black, 53% were White, 11.7% were of other races. 4.5% of women had home births and were brought in by EMS shortly after delivery. 44.1% of women had preterm births. 35.1% delivered via cesarean …

Incidence Of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome In An Urban Emergency Department Setting, Muhammad Ahmed, James Paxton

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction:

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that is widely used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Despite its traditional use as an antiemetic, emerging evidence suggests a possible association between excessive cannabis usage and the incidence of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), a condition characterized by otherwise unexplained cyclic abdominal pain and vomiting. Although previous studies have been done in mixed-race or primarily Caucasian populations, our study focuses on an urban, predominantly African-American population. We aim to measure the incidence of CHS among patients presenting to two urban Detroit emergency departments, including a descriptive analysis on apparent demographic and behavioral risk …

Cardio-Net: A Matlab-Based Software For The Display And Diagnostic Utilization Of Vectorcardiograms, Ali H. Mannaa, Domenico Gatti

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: The 12-lead technique is the standard in ECG, however alternate cardiography modalities such as vectorcardiography (VCG) exist . While the VCG modality offers unique clinical metrics and certain advantages over ECG, it is hardly utilized due to it being more difficult to obtain than ECG. Here we introduce Cardio-Net, a MATLAB-based software that uses standard 12-lead ECG data to generate and visualize VCGs. Furthermore, we demonstrate the diagnostic potential of VCG by utilizing a recurrent neural network (RNN) to accurately classify vectorcardiograms.

Methods: MATLAB version 2019b and the following toolboxes were used for data processing: Deep learning, …

Learning Communities: Do They Improve Imposter Syndrome And Loneliness Among Medical Students?, Nicole C. White, Sahar Elmenini

Medical Student Research Symposium

Current literature links imposter syndrome (IS), isolation, and locus of control (LOC). Learning communities (LCs) serve to directly and effectively combat loneliness, feelings of isolation, and better promote students’ wellbeing and success. We hypothesized that those who attend more LC events will score lower on the IS scale and lower on the social loneliness scale. Furthermore, those who scored higher on IS and social loneliness are more likely to have an external LOC. To test this, a survey was sent to the Classes of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 at Wayne State University School of Medicine, resulting in 144 participants. …