Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Novel Biomarkers Of Ciliary Extracellular Vesicles Interact With Ciliopathy And Alzheimer’S Associated Proteins, Ashraf M. Mohieldin, Amal Alachkar, John R. Yates Iii, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ciliary extracellular vesicles (ciEVs), released from primary cilia, contain functional proteins that play an important role in cilia structure and functions. We have recently shown that ciEVs and cytosolic extracellular vesicles (cyEVs) have unique and distinct biomarkers. While ciEV biomarkers have shown some interactions with known ciliary proteins, little is known about the interaction of ciEV proteins with proteins involved in ciliopathy and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we reveal for the first time the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the top five ciEVs biomarkers with ciliopathy and Alzheimer disease (AD) proteins. These results support the growing evidence of the critical physiological roles …

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada [Version 1; Peer Review: Awaiting Peer Review], Elisios J. Mucaki, Ben C. Shirley, Peter K. Rogan

Research Articles

This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.

Likely Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Infections Between Neighboring, Persistent Hotspots In Ontario, Canada, Ben C. Shirley, Eliseos J. Mucaki, Peter Rogan

Biochemistry Publications

Introduction: This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.
Methods: COVID-19 cases and locations were curated for geostatistical analyses from March 2020 through June 2021, corresponding to the first, second, and third waves of infections. Daily cases were aggregated according to designated forward sortation area (FSA), and postal codes (PC) in municipal regions Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor/Essex county. Hotspots were identified with area-to-area tests including Getis-Ord Gi*, Global …

Levels Of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme And Apolipoproteins Are Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease And Cardiovascular Diseases, Chun Xu, Debra Garcia, Yongke Lu, Kaysie Ozuna, Donald A. Adjeroh, Kesheng Wang

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-1 (ACE1) and apolipoproteins (APOs) may play important roles in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to examine the associations of AD, CVD, and endocrine-metabolic diseases (EMDs) with the levels of ACE1 and 9 APO proteins (ApoAI, ApoAII, ApoAIV, ApoB, ApoCI, ApoCIII, ApoD, ApoE, and ApoH). Non-Hispanic white individuals including 109 patients with AD, 356 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 373 CVD, 198 EMD and controls were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. Multivariable general linear model (GLM) was used to examine the associations. ApoE ε4 allele was associated with …

Coronavirus Update 12-21-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As we prepare for what appears to be a challenging January, we want to remind you of the need to receive a booster shot before your return to campus after the Christmas break if you are eligible or no later than March 1.

Retropharyngeal Abscess And Pott’S Disease Due To Tuberculosis: A Case Report, Bailey N. Hassman, Steven D. Curry, Jonathan H. Ryder, Angela L. Hewlett, Jayme R. Dowdall

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Introduction: Extrapulmonary mycobacterial infection can lead to vertebral spondylitis and osteomyelitis (Pott’s disease). Retropharyngeal abscess with concurrent spinal osteomyelitis is a rare presentation of tuberculosis in the US. Chart review on a patient was completed, and the relevant published literature was reviewed.

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 34-year-old male originally from Sudan presented to an outside hospital with a 2-month history of neck pain, sore throat, odynophagia, fevers, and chills. MRI showed a retropharyngeal abscess and suspected cervical spine osteomyelitis. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear was positive from a neck drain specimen, but sputum was negative. Chest imaging did not show …

Point Of Care Spirometry Assessment For Pediatric Asthma Prevalence In A Family Homeless Shelter In Omaha, Nebraska, Nathaniel Mattison, Dale Agner, Breanne Parets, Haley Mathews, Emily Saliga, Maria Vacha, Jamicah Harris, Ryan Saliga

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Abstract:

Introduction: The few studies on pediatric asthma in US homeless shelters describe a 27.9 – 39.8% prevalence, and historically Omaha has had a high incidence of fatal pediatric asthma. Thereby, Clarkson Family Medicine (CFM) residency began a pediatric asthma outreach to a local family-homeless shelter to assess the prevalence of pediatric asthma and follow-up appointment attendance.

Methods: We obtained a voluntary parent-child assessment of the child’s respiratory history and an Asthma Control Test (ACT) between ages 4-18 for children residing at the family-homeless shelter. We obtained a pre-albuterol and post-albuterol mobile spirometer assessment using the Global Initiative for …

Intensive Care Bundle With Blood Pressure Reduction In Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (Interact3): Study Protocol For A Pragmatic Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Lili Song, Xin Hu, Lu Ma, Xiaoying Chen, Menglu Ouyang, Laurent Billot, Qiang Li, Paula Muñoz-Venturelli, Carlos Abanto, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Background: Early intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering remains the most promising treatment for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), despite discordant results between clinical trials and potential variation in the treatment effects by approach to control BP. As the third in a series of clinical trials on this topic, the INTEnsive care bundle with blood pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3) aims to determine the effectiveness of a goal-directed care bundle protocol of early physiological control (intensive BP lowering, glycemic control, and pyrexia treatment) and reversal of anticoagulation, in acute ICH.
Methods: INTERACT3 is a pragmatic, international, multicenter, stepped-wedge (4 …

Identifying Micrornas Panel Associated With Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Serum Of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients, Areeg Dabbish

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will reduce morbidity and mortality rates of this poorly diagnosed widely-spread disease. Dysregulation in microRNA (miRNAs) expression is associated with HCC progression. Objective: Is to identify a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) to enhance HCC early prediction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Methodology: Candidate miRNAs were selected using bioinformatic analysis of microarray and RNA-sequencing datasets, resulting in nine DE- miRNAs (miR-142, miR-150, miR-183, miR-199a, miR-215, miR-217, miR-224, miR-424 and miR-3607). Their expressions were validated in the serum of 44 healthy individuals, 62 non-cirrhotic HCV patients, 67 cirrhotic-HCV and 72 HCV-associated …

Living Positive, Cheyann Harris, Emani King Mack

Capstones

A short documentary by Emani King Mack & Cheyann Harris, that focuses on Black men who are living with HIV. This film features the stories of Malik Davon, Jah Love, and Melchizedek Roberson to destigmatize, empower, and set a new precedent in media on how to cover people living with HIV.

Link to capstone: https://cheyannharris.wixsite.com/livingpositive

Improving Lymphedema Self-Management And Screening In Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Clients Through The Use Of A Self-Management Lymphedema Toolkit, Kescia Gray

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Background and Significance: With breast cancer effecting women at much younger ages and modern treatments prolonging the life span, survivors are at increased risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), a chronic, progressive condition that can cause disability.

Purpose: The purpose of the project was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of BCRL in newly diagnosed breast cancer clients; and to provided education on self-care after treatment, using of a self-management lymphedema toolkit (SMLT), to decrease risks of treatment-related lymphedema, improve self-efficacy, and enhance quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Newly diagnosed breast cancer clients (N=10) from the Breast …

Sglt2 Inhibitors In The Management Of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Susannah Jackson, Meghan Mathis

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: to assess whether SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HAHF) and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Design: systematic literature review. Methods: searches were conducted in PubMed with the terms "SGLT2 Inhibitors,” “heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF),” and "hospitalization” and the following limits: publication within the last 5 years, clinical trials, meta-analyses, randomized control trials, humans, and English. These criteria determined the selected literature: randomized control trial (RCT), use of an SGLT2i compared to placebo, and outcomes including HAHF and/or cardiovascular related death. Results: DAPA-HF: 27% …

Humanized Mice For Brain Infection Of Emerging Viruses, Edward Makarov

Theses & Dissertations

Studies on the pathogenesis of emerging viruses that present a global threat are critical for pathogen classification and therapeutic development. Humanized mice enable investigation of viral pathogens, including Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), Zika virus (ZIKV), Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Dengue virus (DENV), offering an advanced understanding into the mechanisms of viral perseverance in its natural human host cells and for therapeutic discovery. Realizing the diverse dynamics of various viral infections with the capacity to establish an innovative acuity for therapeutics and mechanics when utilizing humanized mice contributes a formerly inaccessible insight into human-specific viral pathogenesis and treatment. We recently developed …

The Role Of Micrornas In The Pathophysiology Of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury, Eric S. Peeples

Theses & Dissertations

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a devastating injury resulting from impaired blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain at or around the time of birth. The subsequent metabolic failure and cellular injury in the brain can be partially attenuated by rapid initiation of therapeutic hypothermia, but even with prompt induction of hypothermia, more than one in four survivors suffer from major developmental disabilities – an indication of the critical need for more effective therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNA) may be able to act as therapeutic targets in neonatal HIBI; however, very little is known about the endogenous expression of miRNAs …

Evaluation Of Stratified Antibiograms For Use In Laboratory And Antimicrobial Stewardship, Linsey Donner

Theses & Dissertations

Antibiograms are critical for choosing empiric antimicrobial therapy. Cumulative antibiograms, which aggregate susceptibility data, can mask differences within specific patient subsets or clinical syndromes. This dissertation was done to determine if antibiotic susceptibilities showed substantial differences when comparing stratified antibiograms to cumulative antibiograms.

Antibiotic susceptibility data was retrospectively obtained from Nebraska Medicine January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2019 for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s web antibiogram clinical decision support tool was used to export the data. Bacteria-antibiotic susceptibility rates of stratified antibiograms …

Characterization Of Aerosols Produced By Common Orthodontic Procedures, Anna R. Schoettger

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Aerosols can harbor active viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, making it vital that clinical protocols implemented in the orthodontic office be based on which procedures produce aerosols. Research shows that various procedures in the field of orthodontics generate aerosols, however, there is a lack of consensus as to which procedures should be deemed aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). The current study aimed to better understand aerosol production of various orthodontic procedures. Methods: Orthodontic procedures were performed in a closed-room dental operatory on acrylic teeth mounted onto a dental manikin. Procedures performed included: debonding, bonding, and repositioning of one bracket. Variations introduced included: high-speed …

The Influence Of Comorbid Gad On Er Utilization In Urban Youth With Asthma, David A. Karpe

Theses and Dissertations

Current literature indicates a strong association between asthma and the early onset of comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in minors and their primary caregivers. Studies show that asthma prevalence increases with certain demographic factors, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and housing quality. Evidence also suggests that GAD influences decision-making, especially when deciding to utilize emergency room (ER) services for asthma-related concerns. This study analyzed the effect of comorbid GAD on minors with asthma and ER utilization. The data were provided by an earlier Stress & Justice Study (S&J) baseline survey, an investigation aimed at understanding the impact of parental criminal …

Student Pharmacists’ Emotional Responses And Coping During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hannah E. Johnson, Deaundre Bumpass, Aric Schadler, Jeffrey Cain

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Health professions students, including student pharmacists, have been impacted by the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19 pandemic) as schools have transitioned to remote learning and cancelled milestone events. During times of crises, media consumption and hobby participation also impact well-being. The adverse emotional responses and coping strategies of student pharmacists amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have not been evaluated, nor have factors that may contribute to emotional responses. The purpose of this study is to determine Doctor of Pharmacy students’ emotional responses and coping precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the influence of media use, working status, and participation in hobbies. …

The Curious Case Of Hla-Dr-Positive Apl, Kanta Devi, Natasha Bahadur Ali

Section of Haematology/Oncology

The triad of weak/absent CD34, negative HLA-DR expression, and positivity to CD117 is pathognomonic for the diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, in rare cases, strong positivity to HLD-DR and CD34 may be noted.

Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, And Depression In Association With Incidence Of Type 2 Diabetes Among Mexican Americans In Starr County, Texas, Gabriela Rubannelsonkumar

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Previous studies on conditions like obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have explored the correlations between them and various other human conditions, including aortic stiffness, left ventricular hypertrophy and sleep apnea, as they predict possibilities of developing certain diseases in Mexican Americans. This study aims to observe the correlation between lifestyle decisions that could relate to the onset of the depression in normal, prediabetic, and diabetic individuals. These include smoking habits and alcohol consumption. Many papers have previously conducted research on these lifestyle habits as they relate to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, however, have done so in a singular …

Electron Microscope Images Of Human Coronaviruses Reality Versus Illusion, Mohamed Ayman Ghallab, Christine Barsoum, Stefan Polak, Olia El Hassoun, Ayman Ghallab

Dentistry

ABSTRACT Since the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic disease earlier in 2020, several publications reported the electron microscope images of SARS-CoV-2. This article reviews 73 articles from March 1956 till April 2021, focusing on the ultrastructure characteristics of the viruses. We present the scientifi c debate and provide an opinion on the current controversy of electron microscopic images interpreted as SARS-CoV-2 particles in specimens from patients with COVID-19. Finally, we report our fi ndings in a post-mortem lung specimen of a COVID-19 patient. With this we hope to facilitate accurate interpretation of TEM fi ndings, and contribute to the …

Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry During Covid-19, Robert Frierson, Steven B Lippmann

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Consultation/liaison psychiatrists care for people with co-existing medical and psychologic difficulties. The coronavirus pandemic is stressful for patients and their psychiatric caregivers. Patients have lost support systems and harbor fears about exposing family to the virus. COVID-19 sometimes exacerbates previous psychiatric conditions, while diminishing intimacy with physicians. Everyone is oversaturated with COVID-19-related news focusing on rising concerns about the illness and about jobs, school, and housing insecurities.

The psychiatrist maintains a hospital presence despite fear of contracting the disease. Challenges include addressing staff morale, evidencing empathy despite telecommunication devices, and treating anxiety, depression, sleep phobias, post intubation flashbacks, COVID-19-induced cognitive …

Defining The Transcriptional Control Of Pediatric Aml Highlights Rara As A Superenhancer-Regulated Druggable Dependency, Monika W Perez, Oscar Sias-Garcia, Alfred Daramola, Helen Wei, Maci Terrell, Raushan Rashid, Woojun D Park, Kevin Duong, Terzah M Horton, Feng Li, Nikitha Cherayil, Jost Vrabic Koren, Vincent U Gant, Jacob J Junco, Choladda V Curry, Alexandra M Stevens, Charles Y Lin, Joanna S Yi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Somatic mutations are rare in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (pAML), indicating that alternate strategies are needed to identify targetable dependencies. We performed the first enhancer mapping of pAML in 22 patient samples. Generally, pAML samples were distinct from adult AML samples, and MLL (KMT2A)-rearranged samples were also distinct from non-KMT2A-rearranged samples. Focusing specifically on superenhancers (SEs), we identified SEs associated with many known leukemia regulators. The retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene was differentially regulated in our cohort, and a RARA-associated SE was detected in 64% of the study cohort across all cytogenetic and molecular subtypes tested. RARA SE+ pAML …

Examining The Healthcare Journeys Of African American Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Amid Covid-19, Lei Edmerson

Honors Theses

The overall purpose of this study is to explore the pandemic experience of African American’s with Type 2 Diabetes. This study was done to highlight a specific group of people who live with a chronic illness and the steps they took to ensure their safety during a pandemic. The COVID- 19 pandemic had been shown to adversely and disproportionately impact minorities and those with diabetes in regards to mortality rates. This study aims to bring light to the stories of those dealing with more than just the pandemic. It wanted to explore how they made it thus far, and if …

Visualizing Phytochemical-Protein Interaction Networks: Momordica Charantia And Cancer, Yumi L. Briones, Alexander T. Young, Fabian M. Dayrit, Armando Jerome De Jesus, Nina Rosario L. Rojas

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The in silico study of medicinal plants is a rapidly growing field. Techniques such as reverse screening and network pharmacology are used to study the complex cellular action of medicinal plants against disease. However, it is difficult to produce a meaningful visualization of phytochemical-protein interactions (PCPIs) in the cell. This study introduces a novel workflow combining various tools to visualize a PCPI network for a medicinal plant against a disease. The five steps are 1) phytochemical compilation, 2) reverse screening, 3) network building, 4) network visualization, and 5) evaluation. The output is a PCPI network that encodes multiple dimensions of …

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring: A Patient Empowerment Project, Alison Cusmano

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Hypertension is a public health issue estimated to affect 112 million adults by 2030. Primary care patients in an outpatient clinic in Southern California with elevated blood pressure readings in the office did not have an organized system for close follow-up. The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) was to educate patients on self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), diet interventions, and healthy weight loss to improve hypertension rates. Through these interventions, patients developed an understanding of their systolic and diastolic blood pressure goals. Nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and licensed vocational nurses screened for high …

Program Development And Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Education And Support Toolkit On An E-Learning Platform For Young Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes, Marlene Eicher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this project was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a diabetes education toolkit on an e-learning platform for improving individual self-management and medication knowledge to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors for young adults living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

A descriptive, quasi-experimental design with one-group pretest-posttest was used. Participants were recruited from an independently owned medical clinic. The participants were English-speaking young adults, between ages 18 to 39 with a diagnosis of prediabetes or T2DM. The intervention was a DSMES toolkit with twelve e-learning modules that participants completed over a three-month period. Data collected was age …

Navigating The Impact Of Covid-19 On Small Commercial Businesses And Insurance Companies, And A Call To Action For Future Communicable Disease Outbreaks, Natalie Peña

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

The short-term and long-term effects of Covid-19 have caused many small commercial businesses to face financial hardships, loss of employees, and even closures for entities that were already experiencing low profit margins. Distraught with their businesses suffering, owners turned to their primary insurance companies to receive compensation through their business interruption policies. However, most insureds were upset when they discovered that their insurance plans did not include communicable diseases and pandemics as a covered peril. This led to many small businesses battling these issues in the courts and fighting for insurance companies to provide financial assistance to them during this …

An Investigation Of Chronic Pain As A Much-Neglected Symptom Of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Sydney Collins

Honors Theses

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a group of heritable loose connective tissue disorders with 13 distinguished subtypes. The hypermobile type of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is the most common subtype and is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to defective collagen fibrils. This leads to joint instability and hypermobility, skin elasticity, widespread pain, fatigue, and generalized tissue fragility. Chronic pain is reported to be a symptom in as high as 92% of the hEDS population (Voermans et al., 2010); despite this prevalence, there is a significant lack of research, awareness, and treatment standardization regarding pain in hEDS. This literature review …

Coronavirus Update 12-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to thank you all again for your commitment to the Pioneer Promise this semester. That commitment on the part of the entire community helped us keep the number of positive cases very low and avoid the kind of big spikes that some of our neighboring colleges and universities experienced.