Positron Emission Tomography In Oncology And Environmental Science, Samantha Delaney

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The last half century has played witness to the onset of molecular imaging for the clinical assessment of physiological targets. While several medical imaging modalities allow for the visualization of the functional and anatomical properties of humans and living systems, few offer accurate quantitation and the ability to detect biochemical processes with low-administered drug mass doses. This limits how physicians and scientists may diagnose and treat medical issues, such as cancer, disease, and foreign agents.

A promising alternative to extant invasive procedures and suboptimal imaging modalities to assess the nature of a biological environment is the use of positron emission …

With Love, ; An Interdisciplinary And Intersectional Look At Why Creativity Is Essential, Theo Starr Gardner

Whittier Scholars Program

My Whittier Scholars Program self-designed major, Teaching Creativity, is a mixture of Art, Literature, and Education classes. My research and praxis classes have been focused on the ‘how?’s and 'why?’s of creativity, so it felt only right that my project should be a constructivist, generative project. The project I have been working on throughout my time at Whittier, and that has just fully come to fruition on April 11th, 2024, was a solo art gallery/open mic event entitled ‘With Love,’. With Love, was conceptually inspired by the research I’ve conducted on creativity and creative arts education over the past few …

Development, Validation, And Diagnostic Performance Of A Novel Radiomic Model For Predicting Prostate Cancer Recurrence, Linda M. Huynh

Theses & Dissertations

Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MP-MRI)-derived radiomics have been shown to capture sub-visual patterns for the quantitative characterization of prostate cancer (PC) phenotypes. The present dissertation seeks to develop, evaluate, and compare the performance of an MRI-derived radiomic model for the prediction of PC recurrence following definitive treatment with radical prostatectomy (RP).

MP-MRI was obtained from 339 patients who had a minimum of 2 years follow-up following RP at three institutions. The prostate was manually delineated as the region of interest and 924 radiomic features were extracted. All features were evaluated for stability via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and image normalization …

Patient-Centered Preimplant Education Session And Bi-Weekly Text Message Adherence Reminders In Patients With A Newly Implanted Cardiomems® Device: A Quality Improvement Study, Elizabeth M. Miller, Alicia Abboud, Audrey Cooper

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Rationale

Heart failure is a deadly disease, affecting over 6.2 million individuals and costing the United States an estimated 30.7 billion dollars (Virani et al., 2020). By 2023, heart failure costs in the United States are estimated to grow to 70 billion dollars with 75-80% of these costs attributed to inpatient hospitalizations (Heidereich et al., 2022). The CardioMEMs® is a small device placed in the patient’s pulmonary artery via a minimally invasive procedure by an interventional cardiologist. The use of remote patient data from the CardioMEMs® device has been shown to reduce hospital re-admissions, facilitate tailored medication management, detect increased …

Sdrnas Participate In The Maintenance And Onset Of Prostate Cancer, Neil Chaudhary

Poster Presentations

What is an sdRNA? Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is a class of RNA that includes microRNA (miRNA) and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA). Fragments excised from ncRNAs are known as noncodingderived RNA (ndRNA). A certain class of ndRNAs that are derived from snoRNAs have been denoted as Small Nucleolar Derived RNAs (sdRNAs). Our lab has previously hypothesized and demonstrated that sdRNAs display regulatory functions on target genes, similar to the functions of miRNAs. sdRNAs are almost identical to microRNAs and differ mainly in their source of origin.

Our lab has shown that sdRNA-93 is frequently misexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and …

A Comprehensive Examination Of Age-Related Lower Limb Muscle Function Asymmetries Across A Variety Of Muscle Contraction Types, Kylee Heap

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Previous research has found that lower limb muscle asymmetries increase with age and are linked to fall and injury risks. However, past studies lacked a wide variety of muscle function modes and measures as well as comparison to a comparable young aged group. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related lower limb muscle function asymmetries across a variety of muscle contraction types and velocities in young and old adults. Lower limb muscle balance, strength, power, and velocity were evaluated with concentric, isometric, isotonic, and eccentric muscle actions during a single-leg stance test and on single- and multi-joint dynamometers …

Development And Implementation Of An Evidence Based Practice Guideline Related To The Management Of Adult Angioedema, Megan Przybysz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Angioedema (AE) is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that occurs with a higher frequency than medical providers may expect, with the emergency department (ED) serving as the usual first point of medical contact for patients. Any hesitation in recognizing AE or inconsideration of the disease process in differential diagnoses may lead to a dangerous delay of care. Due to the potential rapid progression of airway obstruction in AE, inexperienced providers should not attempt intubation, instead deferring to providers experienced in alternative airway techniques (i.e., anesthesia providers). The primary goal of this project is to develop an evidencebased practice guideline for …

Procedural Oxygen Mask Use For Inpatient Bariatric Endoscopy: A Scoping Review, Makinlee Meadows, Marion Millette, Brittany Morgan, Lauren Pegrim, William Collier Phillips, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Ag-Acnp-Bc, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Hypoxia is a severe adverse event that is often associated with sedated endoscopy procedures, and bariatric patients have a significantly higher risk for complications related to oxygenation during sedation due to pathophysiological changes to the respiratory system. This scoping review compares the rate of hypoxemic events with the use of a binasal cannula versus a procedural oxygen mask during inpatient endoscopic procedures in patients aged 19-64 with a BMI greater than 40.

Methods

The scoping review includes control trials with and without randomization, case-control/cohort studies, systematic reviews, and qualitative/descriptive studies. With limited research regarding the PICOT, extending the age …

Comparing The Effects Of The Induction Of Anesthesia With Etomidate To The Induction Of Anesthesia With Midazolam On The Incidence Of In-Hospital Mortality: A Scoping Review, Madison Hayes Bsn, Rn, Ashley Lynch Bsn, Rn, Scott Jamison Bsn, Rn, Mary Joiner Bsn, Rn, Gray Seymour Bsn, Rn, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Aprn, Crna, Tracy Mcclinton, Dnp, Aprn, Agacnp-Bc, Epb-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

The induction of anesthesia using hypnotic sedatives, such as etomidate and midazolam, is common practice. Etomidate and midazolam are commonly employed in the induction of anesthesia in the septic patient population, each with its unique advantages and drawbacks. This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the effects of anesthetic induction with etomidate versus midazolam in adult septic patients, focusing on the incidence of mortality and associated adverse effects during hospitalization. The purpose is to establish a standard of care for anesthetic induction in this population.

Methods

A literature review was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 utilizing …

Depression Screening In Type 2 Diabetes In Adolescent 12-18 Year Olds, Mykyla Coleman Bsn,Rn, Chelsea Conlee Bsn,Rn, Carol Gracia Msn, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Emily Jennewine Msn, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc, Ibclc, Sally Humphrey Dnp, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Although more commonly diagnosed in adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in pediatric populations in the United States. Research suggests a correlation between depression and type 2 diabetes, however, a gap in research exists regarding depression and type 2 diabetes among pediatrics, specifically adolescents. This scoping review aims to address this gap by assessing the impact of depression screening on glycemic control in this specific population.

Purpose

The goal of the review is to contribute to the development of effective strategies for depressing screening in adolescents with type 2 diabetes, with the expectation this may positively impact glycemic …

The Effectiveness Of Dexmedetomidine As An Adjunct In Spinal Anesthesia For Pain Relief In Cesarean Patients: A Scoping Review, Tyler Polanco Bsn, Rn, William Riley Bsn, Rn, Michelle Russell Bsn, Rn, Christina Samson Bsn, Rn, Bria Sharp Bsn, Rn, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Ccrna, Faana

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

No abstract provided.

Medicinal Treatment Versus Dialysis In End Stage Renal Disease Patients With Perioperative Hyperkalemia: A Scoping Review, Haley Bishop, Bsn, Rn, Hannah White, Bsn, Rn, Matthew Wilhaucks, Bsn, Rn, Ashton Weaver, Bsn, Rn, Christin Simpson, Bsn, Rn, Margaret Harvey, Phd, Acnp-Bc, Chfn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

No abstract provided.

Referral To In-Person Smoking Cessation Counseling As A Smoking Cessation Aid, Annie Mandrell Bsn, Rn, Matthew Keathley Bsn, Rn, Lewis Linden Bsn, Rn, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Referral to In-Person Smoking Cessation Counseling as a Smoking Cessation Aid

Purpose/Background

Smoking increases an individual’s risk of acute and chronic disease morbidity and mortality, as well as creating a financial burden for the individual and healthcare system. In the United States, tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. There are an estimated 5 million tobacco-related deaths each year due to tobacco smoking. Additional healthcare costs are also seen due to the need for increased treatments, medical supplies, and staffing. Previous research for smoking cessation resources has primarily focused on traditional primary care offices. Research shows that in-person …

Food Insecurity Screening Of Families In A Level Iii Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Katelyn P. Vawter Rn, Bsn, Rnc-Nic, Megan Ortiz Rn, Bsn, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Full Study Title: Food Insecurity Screening of Families in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Early infancy food insecurity (FI) is linked to poor health later in life, and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are often overlooked. Routine FI screening can help identify and assist the families suffering from FI seen in the NICU before being discharged home.

Purpose: The aim was to identify if families were assessed for FI by social workers or if they were more likely to report FI in a brief survey.

Method: A randomized chart review of social work notes for 30 NICU …

Increased Venous Access With Ultrasound Guided Ultralong Iv Placement, Daniel Purifoy

MSN Capstone Projects

Maintaining intravenous (IV) access is a vital part of providing care in critical care areas of nursing. It allows for continuous therapies, blood draws, complicated scans, and emergency treatment when needed. There are current procedures for obtaining IV access that are guaranteed to have a successful attempt and placement of a long catheter in a deeper vein. Patients that have been determined to have difficult venous access have proven to lose access quickly with an IV catheter of less than 3.18cm in length (Moy & Keeyapaj, 2017). These difficulties can cause monetary loss to the patients and hospitals, and damage …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Universal Depression Screenings In The High School Setting, Telisha Anthony Msn, Fnp-Bc, Jennifer Thorsen Bsn, Rn, Jackie Sharp Dnp, Pmhnp-Bc, Sharon Little Dnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Depression in adolescents is rising each year. Early detection of depression has been shown to result in better health outcomes and success in school. This scoping review aims to evaluate the implementation of universal depression screenings in the high school setting and how this detection of depression and initiation of treatment.

Methods

From August 2022 to November 2023, we used the Medline, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO databases, using specific keywords related to depression in adolescents. Of the 38 articles found, 10 were chosen after extensive article critique. The publication dates ranged from 2014-2023, were full-text, and from …

The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Adherence To Urinary Tract Infection Treatment: A Scoping Review, Barrett S. Patel, Ms, Bsn, Rn, Emily A. Gentry, Bsn, Rn, Sally Humphrey Dnp, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common diagnosis among children. Patients must fully comply with treatment regimens to reduce the risk of recurring UTIs and prevent long-term complications. This scoping review aims to evaluate the literature and examine the association between screening for social determinants of health (SDH) and adherence to UTI treatment.

Methods

A thorough literature search via PubMed, Cochrane Library, Elsevier Clinical Key, CINAHL, and JAMA was conducted with the following keywords: Pediatric UTI, Adherence to Treatment Plans, Social Determinants of Health, Social Needs Screening, and others. Ten articles were appraised for their evidence and quality. The …

A Responsible Parrhesia? A Review Of The Price Of Secrecy, Sara Tafakori

RadioDoc Review

The Price of Secrecy immerses the listener in stories of individual trauma, of child abuse and rape, yet also draws lessons from them of wider social significance. It includes moments of narrative catharsis, interspersed with repeated reminders that the stories are unfinished and open-ended—that the solutions lie out there, in social action, rather than in the stories themselves. The series also gestures towards structural critique, especially of ‘the legal constraints’ it identifies, yet it places greater importance on changing the wider culture through challenging the culture of secrecy and shame around victims’ stories of rape and abuse. This centrally means …

Determination Of Initial Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (Hbsag) Cutoff Index (Coi) Threshold For Reporting Hbsag Reactivity, Piya Wongchampa, Arkom Chaiwongkot, Rangsima Reantragoon

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) commercially-available screening test suggests a confirmatory testing in all cases that are reactive, but this will take a long time to reporting of results and increase the total test cost.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between cutoff index (COI) values of initial HBsAg screening test and their corresponding confirmatory neutralization results in order to identify a COI value for distinguishing samples that truly need confirmatory neutralization testing.

Methods: A retrospective study of 72,496 HBsAg screening test results using the Elecsys HBsAg II kit of patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red …

Evidenced-Based Strategies To Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Rates, Tuong Cat Vo Bsn-Rn, Nada Salloukh Bsn-Rn, Tatiana Elena Swanson Bsn-Rn, Xiao Mie Cindy Zhu Bsn-Rn, Laura Taylor Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer affecting women worldwide (Staley et al., 2021). With cervical cancer being a preventable disease, an effective method of reducing healthcare costs and mortality is primary prevention, such as screenings. Financial burdens and barriers to accessing medical care may result due to the lack of proper cervical cancer screenings. Detecting cervical cancer includes screening women 21 to 65 years old with a Papanicolaou (PAP) test every three years. Women aged 30 to 65 years old can extend the screening of cervical cancer by having a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test along with …

Lai Antipsychotics Vs. Oral Antipsychotics: Treatment Adherence, Relapses, And Readmissions, Natalie N. Lewis Bsn, Rn, Mallory F. Johnson Bsn, Rn-Bc, Tyler N. Halle-Todd Bsn, Rn, Natalie N. Ragland Bsn, Rn, Sharon H. Little Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Jacqueline Sharp Dnp, Aprn,Pmhnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Schizophrenia is a lifelong illness with recurrent and often debilitating symptoms that may impair daily functioning, cognition, behaviors, socialization, emotions, and expression. It is recognized as a global mental health burden that affects the individual, their family, and society. Medication nonadherence and resulting relapse detrimentally affect the patient’s physical and mental health and quality of life. They are associated with increased hospitalization and emergency room visits, substance use, suicide, and homelessness. Current guidelines endorse second-generation antipsychotics such as Risperidone and Aripiprazole as the first-line treatment for most cases of psychosis. However, long-acting injectable (LAIs) atypical antipsychotics are a promising …

Effect Of Certified Diabetes Clinical Education Specialists On Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Rachel Faller, Tracy Gregory, Michelle Jones, Peyton Barnett, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects 13.1% of adults living in Shelby County and over 30 million adults in the United States. This chronic disease creates a higher risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications for this population resulting in poor outcomes if not properly managed. Improving glycemic control can help to improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes and reduce healthcare costs. Currently 20% of funds spent in the United States on healthcare is utilized for diabetic care. Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) primarily educate patients about managing their diabetes, including health promotion that can …

Optimizing A Clostridium Difficile Screen For Intensive Care Unit Admissions, Mary Katherine V. Natour, Jennifer Smith

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Background: Clostridium difficile infection is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections. Careful screening upon hospital admission enables clinicians to mitigate the spread and sequelae of this illness through early intervention and isolation but this screening must be accurate and highly sensitive to maximize benefit.

Local problem: The site for this project, an ICU in Tennessee, currently employs a highly sensitive but nonspecific tool to detect CDI. This has resulted in low accuracy, low staff compliance, low patient morale, and unnecessarily high personal protective equipment (PPE) costs.

Methods: Levin’s evidence-based practice improvement model was chosen to guide this project from …

Why Not Mold? A Meta-Narrative Review Of Maldi-Tof Ms, Esmeralda Rojo Santibanez, Destanie Corrine Lechuga, Karen Brigette Vallejos, Emily Cheng Eng

Research Methods Poster Session 2024

Hospitals have recorded immunocompromised patients to be highly susceptible to hospital acquired infections caused by yeasts and molds. Successfully identifying such pathogens is important for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of these infections, marking the significance of this study. Since 2010, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has made mold identification more efficient but its usage in clinical laboratories is widely restricted. With an aim to understand this paradox, this meta-narrative review investigates the limited use of MALDI-TOF MS in mold identification, including factors affecting the accuracy and preparation of specimens. PubMed Central Database was …

Best Screening: Introducing The Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid To Nicus In Tennessee, Gabrielle Sledge

OTD Capstone Projects

Blind Early Services Tennessee (BEST) is an early intervention agency that serves children ages 0-5 with visual impairments across Tennessee. BEST serves over 200 children and families across the state offering early intervention (BEST Start), parent empowerment (BEST Advocate), and family support (BEST Together) programming. The purpose of this project was to assist in the implementation of an early identification initiative (BEST Screening) using the Neonatal Assessment Visual European Grid (NAVEG). The NAVEG is a newborn vision screening shown to identify neurological risk for visual impairments. The long-term goal of this program is to promote the screening and early identification …

Police Versus Non-Police Response To 988 Crisis Calls, Miriam A. Maloney-Mattheisen Bsn, Rn, Latrina N. Blakemore Msn, Fnp-Bc, Janelle M. Scullark Msn, Fnp-C, Jacqueline Sharp Dnp, Pmhnp-Bc, Sharon Little Dnp, Fnp-Bc, Margaret Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a mental health-specific emergency line that became nationally available in July of 2022. This resource allows callers in crisis to connect with trained mental health professionals. Despite the initiation of this new dispatching service, there is still a significant shortage of trained mental health professionals to respond to these calls when they require emergency intervention. The present scoping review aims to determine whether non-police crisis responses correlate to improved outcomes when compared to police response as evidenced by reduced inpatient admissions, reduced arrests, and decreased presence of intrusive traumatic symptoms following intervention. …

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome And The Benefits Of Annual Comprehensive Screening: A Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Case, Alice He Bs, Wern Lynn Ng Md, Faith Seltun Do, Lay She Ng Md, Si Yuan Khor Md, Elham Nasrollahi Md, Chandi Garg Md, Rong Rong Ge Md

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Do Nsaids' Decrease Union Rates Following Joint Arthrodesis? A Meta-Analysis, Emerson Rowe, Julian Takagi-Stewart, Asif Ilyas, Sina Ramtin

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Measuring Fibrinogen To Shorten Post-Alteplase Administration Window, Ahmad Hamid, Jennifer A. Ross, Mandy J. Binning

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

The Revolutionary St. Louis Insane Asylum, Julia Talbert

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Even with its grand structure on Arsenal Street towering over the city below, few residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas are aware of the grand history or even existence of the St. Louis Insane Asylum. The building is over 150 years old and was a place of hope, failure, strife, and empathy. The asylum had a large impact on St. Louis and provided revolutionary outlooks, unique perspectives, and curious therapies.