Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Does Treating Iron Deficiency Decrease Disease Severity And Improve Functionality For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients?, Xinyi Jing, Emily Coughlin, Marie S. O’Brien Do

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Ulcerative Colitis Predominates, Yet Hepatic Progression Mirrors Crohn’S In Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis–Inflammatory Bowel Disease Overlap: A Tertiary Cohort Study, Sunny Kahlon, Megan Pearce, Donna Ortiz, Jennifer Seminerio

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Preoperative Weight Loss Among Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: It May Not Affect Outcomes, Kiran Kittur, Jordan H. Larson, Christopher Leibold, Spencer Neaville, Richard J. Rivera, Brian Palumbo

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Anti-Cmv Tcr Cdr3s Via Recombination Reads From Rnaseq Files Is Associated With Worse Outcomes For Low-Grade Glioma, Anna Laemmle, Kashvi Chirag Shah, Joyce Zhu, George Blanck

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Safer Opioid Prescribing Practices In Pediatric Surgery:A Multi-Specialty Initiative To Implement Evidence-Based Pain Management Strategies, Grace Lee, Carly Miller, Rebecca Lipscomb, Amy L. Serfas Bsn, Rn, Marybeth Browne Md

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

Facing Dissection, Aya E. Cannon

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The summer prior to beginning medical school, our anatomy professor prompted us to reflect on the experience of dissection and create an image based on our thoughts and feelings. I was thrilled by the assignment and immediately began listing my emotions. Excitement: For so long, I had worked toward this point, and now the quintessential medical school experience was within reach. I expressed my appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the human body through color and collage, using the vibrant layers to reflect the awe and range of emotions I felt. Nervousness: Despite my enthusiasm, I was faced with …

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Keratosis Pilaris, Henry Lim, Reem Ayoub, Madelyn Richards, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common benign disorder involving hyperkeratosis of the skin. It is associated with other common dry skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris. Lesions are clinically characterized as symmetrically distributed, monomorphic, folliculocentric, hyperkeratotic papules with a variable degree of perifollicular erythema. The appearance can be likened to spikey bumps that are commonly located on the arms, legs, and buttocks. Awareness of KP is important as every primary care clinician will see patients with this disorder. Identification can support the diagnosis of other associated skin diseases. Education about KP and its treatment may alleviate psychological …

Expanding Waste Segregation Initiatives To Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: A Multi-Departmental Quality Improvement Project, Emily M. Su, Anuja L. Sarode, Mohammed Sami, David R. Nehring, Erica L. Laipply, Mustafa Culcuoglu

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Regulated medical waste (RMW) drives up health care costs, largely due to misclassification of general waste, especially in operating rooms (ORs), intensive care units (ICUs), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments. This study aimed to reduce RMW volume and costs at Akron City Hospital (ACH) through department-specific interventions aligning with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

Methods

Periodic analyses compared hospital-wide aggregate RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs before and after interventions. The ORs initiated interventions in October 2022, expanding to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024. Strategies included staff education, flyers …

Intouch Week Of February 23, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Keep Your Heart Healthy This February
• TCDM and NYMC Students Volunteer at Guidance Center of Westchester
• Off Campus, On Craft: Ralph Torres Keeps Campus Operations Flying High

Expansion Of A Self-Guided Curriculum And Validation Of A Self-Assessment Tool For Ocular Examination Skills, Maria Lee, Irene Pak, Aryan Chaychian, Isabell Kassaye, Adam Alyafaie, Neeti Parikh, Madeline Yung

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Public interest in vision health is growing, yet ophthalmology remains underemphasized in medical education due to time constraints associated with in-person instruction.

Purpose: To demonstrate effectiveness of self-guided e-learning modules for ocular examination skills and to determine whether self-assessments can reliably assess medical student proficiency in these skills.

Methods: Medical students at a single institution participated in a skills workshop. Group 1 completed self-guided modules for visual acuity, confrontational visual field testing, pupil examination, and extraocular motility evaluation. Group 2 completed a self-guided module for the slit lamp anterior segment examination. Afterward, each student completed a …

Ophthalmology Exposure For Medical Students In Institutions Without A Home Ophthalmology Department: A Review Of The Literature, Rayna Marshall, Sara A. Khan, Meghan Berkenstock

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Matching into an ophthalmology residency program has become increasingly competitive, with a 66% overall match rate reported by the San Francisco Match in 2024. Early exposure to ophthalmology is critical for students to develop an interest in the field, build robust research experiences, and find mentors to create a competitive ophthalmology residency application. These experiences can often be difficult to acquire at institutions that lack an ophthalmology department. Such institutions face unique challenges in providing mentorship and exposure in this medical specialty, underscoring the need for innovative solutions to support interested students.

Purpose: To assess ways a …

Comparing Anatomical Imaging With Functional Imaging For Coronary Artery Disease: The Limitations Of Vessel Stenosis And The Benefits Of Non-Invasive Measurement Of Fractional Flow Reserve, Zachary Zajac, Laura Aravena, Madeline Simone, David R. Allen Lll, Pranally Desai, Chanel Harvey, Nolan Tews, Nickolas Vinokurov

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising

Neglia D, Rovai D, Caselli C, Pietila M, Teresinska A, Aguadé-Bruix S, et al. Detection of Significant Coronary Artery Disease by Noninvasive Anatomical and Functional Imaging. Circ: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2015;8(3):e002179. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.114.002179

for a stable hospitalized patient admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rule out.

When Systems Fail: The Impact Of Protocol On Physician Moral Distress, Aya Dudar

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

Physicians often face the decision between following rigid hospital protocol and doing the right thing for the patient, creating moral distress and contributing to burnout. This letter describes a case in which an elderly patient with COVID-19 pneumonia and a DNI order developed worsening hypercapnia and required noninvasive ventilation. Despite clinical appropriateness, hospital policy prohibited BiPAP use in obtunded patients due to aspiration risk - even when the resident offered continuous bedside monitoring. This case highlights the ethical tension that arises when rigid hospital policies prevent physicians from making real-time exceptions in appropriate situations. Empowering physicians to make context-driven decisions …

Tadalafil Monotherapy Is A Reasonable Alternative For The Treatment Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms In Patients With Comorbid Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia And Erectile Dysfunction, Daniel M. Ibrahim, Anam Ahmed, Swetha Reddy, Meet S. Patel, Nabeel Sumbal, Adam Chaban, Aminah I. Fayyaz

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising

Oelke M, Giuliano F, Mirone V, Xu L, Cox D, Viktrup L. Monotherapy with tadalafil or tamsulosin similarly improved lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia in an international, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur Urol. 2012;61(5):917-925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2012.01.0131

for a vigorous 75-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED) who discontinued dutasteride due to intolerable sexual side effects.

Removing Race From Clinical Algorithms: History, Politics, And Medicine, David S. Jones Md, Ph.D.

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

Pre- To Post-Season Changes In Body Composition Among Division Iii Football Players, Sebastian Schaefer, Cesar Navarro, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Collegiate football player body composition likely changes over the course of the season, and might differ based on player position. The extent to which this occurs in Division III football players is not known. PURPOSE: To examine differences in body composition from pre- to post-season and positional differences among Division III football players at Southwestern University. METHODS: Division III NCAA football players at Southwestern University were recruited prior to the 2025 season. Body composition was determined pre- and post-season by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).  Only athletes who completed the season and were not sidelined due to injury …

Footwear Matters: Speed And Barefoot Running Enhance Medial Gastrocnemius Emg, Kaleb M. Luna, Bryon C. Applequist

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Barefoot running alters foot strike mechanics and may change lower-extremity muscle demands compared to shod running, particularly at different speeds. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of footwear (barefoot vs. shod) and running speed (preferred vs. +20%) on normalized electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and tibialis anterior (TA) in recreational runners. METHODS: Five healthy recreational runners completed treadmill running trials at preferred speed and +20% preferred speed in barefoot and shod conditions. Bilateral surface EMG was recorded from MG and TA (1500 Hz). Signals were bandpass filtered (20–450 Hz), rectified, …

A Comparative Analysis Of Maladaptive Perfectionism In Male And Female Competitive Bodybuilders, Maddox B. Utter, Christian O. Quintero, Samantha S. Dardaman, Stephen E. Rowden, Scott B. Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Bodybuilding is a sport focused on physique optimization, where success is determined by judges’ evaluations of muscle mass, symmetry, and definition. Due to the sport’s emphasis of physical aesthetics, bodybuilders may feel the need to compare themselves with other competitors. This evaluation and comparison of physique may expose athletes to maladaptive perfectionistic tendencies, such as setting unattainably high standards, excessive worry over mistakes, and a diminished sense of competence. While current bodybuilding literature is limited, previous research suggests that perfectionism may lead to psychological impairments (e.g., body dysmorphia, anxiety, and reduced self-confidence) which may manifest differently between male and female …

How Does The Stage Of Pregnancy Influence Gait And Sway In Pregnant Women From Six To Eight Months., Lilie-Rose S. Gilbert, Scott P. Mclean, Edward Merritt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Physiological changes that affect gait, posture, and balance during the late stages of pregnancy increase the risk of falling.  These changes were examined across the stages of pregnancy using simulated pregnancy loading. PURPOSE: To compare gait and postural balance measures under three loading conditions simulating zero, 6, and 8-months of simulated pregnancy. We predicted that the added weight in late-stage pregnancy would adversely affect gait characteristics and reduce postural control. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy females (20.1±1.2 years, 1.79±0.11 m, 64.1±9.5 kg) completed a 10-m walking gait assessment.  They then completed three trials under each condition, including the Stability Evaluation Test (SET) …

Inter-Rater Reliability Of Manual Waist Circumference And Agreement With Dxa-Derived Waist In Male Collegiate Rugby Players, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Waist circumference (WC) is a low-cost surrogate of central adiposity, but measurement error can limit athlete monitoring. PURPOSE: Evaluate inter-rater reliability of manual WC and agreement with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived WC in male collegiate rugby players. METHODS: Twenty-one male collegiate rugby players completed baseline testing (manual WC and DXA completed same day) following an overnight fast and euhydration. Two trained raters independently measured WC on bare skin at the superior border of the iliac crest (site not pre-marked) using a seca 201 measurement tape, with participants standing feet together and arms relaxed at their sides; the tape was verified …

Associations Between Dxa-Derived Trunk Adiposity And Resting Hemodynamics In Male Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes, Adesiji Adetona, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Trunk adiposity is a cardiometabolic risk factor that may relate to resting hemodynamics even in young athletic populations. PURPOSE: To examine associations between DXA-derived trunk percent fat and resting heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in male collegiate rugby union athletes. METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby athletes completed morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) following ≥12 h fast and post-void, with stimulants (including caffeine) restricted ≥12 h and no exercise ≥24 h. Hydration was screened using urine specific gravity (USG; CLINITEK Status+ with Multistix 10 SG) and urine color (clear yellow). Whole-body DXA (Hologic Horizon W; APEX v5.6.1.3 rev 007) provided trunk …

Effects Of An 8-Week Resistance Training Program On Segmental Lean Mass, Corie N. Smith, Kornkanok Sophonsakulrat, Payton E. Miller, Laura Roden, Avery Prickell, Karley Rayfield, Katherine Adcock, Canyon Massengale, Jessica Jones, Grant Tinsely, Jacob A. Mota

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Resistance training is a powerful stimulus that is known to induce a myriad of positive effects in humans. A popular result desired by athletes is to increase muscle mass. However, the existing literature on resistance training and muscular hypertrophy focuses on whole body lean mass changes. The body of work which elucidate the effect of training on segmental lean mass is less documented. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a short-term resistance training intervention on segmental lean mass in previously untrained college aged women. METHODS: 22 college aged women (age: 21 ± 4) volunteered …

Changes In Ankle Angle And Knee Angle Throughout Gait With Ankle Bracing And Ankle Taping, Genavieve T. Evans, Tristyn G. Kattawar, Scott Mclean

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Ankle taping and ankle bracing are the most common solutions to chronic ankle instability and ankle injuries, however, scientific findings suggest that changes in the individual’s gait patterns can occur with the addition of ankle restrictions. PURPOSE: to compare the effects of ankle bracing and taping with no support to lower extremity joint kinematics while walking on a treadmill. METHODS: Seventeen collegiate athletes (19.9 yrs, 1.74 m, 71.2 kg) completed walking trials on a treadmill under three ankle support conditions; no support, ankle taping, and ankle brace.  Ankle and knee angles were measured during the walking trials using electrogoniometers. Peak …

Impact Of An 8-Week Personalized Exercise Program On Health-Related Fitness Parameters, Michelle Castro, Jasmeen Fajardo-Lopez, Major Martin, Raejone Lucas, Brock Niceler Md, Yunsuk Koh

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Introduction: A routine exercise program has been recommended across all demographic groups to improve cardiovascular health, muscle function, cognitive function, and mental health. Purpose: This study examined how personalized exercise affects health-related fitness parameters. Method: A total of 17 patients (age=42.88±12.89 years, male=1, and females=16), attending the fitness program at a regional hospital, were recruited. A health-related fitness battery test, including cardiorespiratory endurance, resting heart rate and blood pressure, motor fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, flexibility, body composition, and balance, was administered at the pre- (week 0), mid- (week 4), and post-study (week 8) periods. Results: Body fat (%) significantly decreased by …

Differences In Lower Body Power, Maximum Voluntary Contraction (Mvc) Of The Arms, Grip Strength, And Reaction Time In Recreational Pickleball Players And Sedentary Women: A Pilot Study, Ayah R. Elshafie, Kamila Naranjo, Pamela Gonzalez, Hashim Elshafie, Victoria Garcia, Areli Cisneros, Jabeth Azpeitia, Ulku Karabulut, Rebekah Schlatter, Guillermo Perez

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Recreational pickleball participation has increased substantially among adult women; however, limited research exists examining neuromuscular performance in this population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of assessing lower body muscular power, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the biceps and triceps brachii, grip strength, and reaction time in active pickleball-playing women compared to sedentary women to inform future research. METHODS: Ten participants (pickleball n=5, sedentary n=5) visited the laboratory to complete anthropometric measurements, lower body power assessment using a standardized sit-to-stand protocol with a Power Tendo device, and upper-extremity assessments including MVC for elbow flexion …

Comparison Of Dxa-Derived Body Volume Estimation Equations (Wilson Vs Smith-Ryan) In Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes, Jmya Hughes, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Matthew Poole, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Accurate estimation of body volume (BV) is required for multicomponent body composition models. PURPOSE: Compare two published DXA-derived BV equations (Wilson vs Smith-Ryan) using whole-body Hologic DXA tissue masses in collegiate rugby union athletes. METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby union athletes underwent whole-body DXA (Hologic Horizon W; APEX v5.6.1.3 Rev 007; Classic calibration [NHANES BCA disabled]; standard tissue analysis; daily QC within tolerance) during morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) while fasted and post-void; caffeine was avoided (≥12 h) and exercise was avoided (≥24 h). Hydration was assessed prior to scanning via urine specific gravity (Siemens CLINITEK Status+; Multistix 10 SG) and urine …

Agreement Of Seca 286 Scale Weight With Dxa Acquisition Weight, Apex Soft-Tissue Mass, And Dxa Sum-Of-Components Mass In Collegiate Rugby Athletes, Matthew Poole, Hayden Johnson, Christian Rivera, Stephanie Hansford, Regan Renfro, Dalton Prye, Saheed Jaiyeola, Sage A. Newman, Adesiji Adetona, Oscar Woodside, Jmya Hughes, Preston James, Kelly Hines, Jade Simon, Drew E. Gonzalez, Christopher D. Greenleaf, Micheil Spillane

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Accurate body mass is foundational for DXA-derived indices and longitudinal tracking. PURPOSE: Determine agreement between Seca 286 scale weight and DXA acquisition weight, quantify the difference between DXA acquisition weight and the APEX whole-body mass field (fat + lean), and evaluate a DXA sum-of-components mass (fat + lean + BMC) relative to scale weight as an internal QC check (Houtkooper et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2000). METHODS: Twenty-one male rugby union athletes completed same-morning testing (06:00–09:00 h) while fasted and post-void; caffeine was restricted (≥12 h) and exercise abstained (≥24 h). Hydration was screened prior to DXA. Body mass …

The Effect Of Different Post-Activation Potentiation Protocols On Peak Muscle Torque During Knee Extension, Kaileb Bayliss, Steven Prince, Casi Helbig

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Post-activation potentiation is an important tool to utilize when trying to optimize exercise and sport performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze different protocol lengths to determine if the post-activation potentiation effect can still manifest after just 1 specific warm up set vs. multiple specific warm up sets. METHODS: Subjects included eighteen college students from Texas Lutheran University with a mean age of 21.67 years (+/-2.70), height of 66.68 inches (+/-3.12), and weight of 176.56 pounds (+/-44.77). The subjects started the first session with a GWU that manifested as a 5 minute walk on an …

Prep Monitoring, Coaching Presence, And Competitive Anxiety In Bodybuilders, Rafael E. Cachutt, Samantha S. Dardaman, Christian O. Quintero, Stephen E. Rowden, Maddox B. Utter, Scott B. Martin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Competitive bodybuilding involves severe dietary restriction, high training demands, and constant evaluation of physique-related outcomes. Within the sport, it is common for competitors to engage in intensive prep monitoring behaviors such as tracking caloric intake and training load to support contest preparation. As contest prep practices may tax attentional resources and disrupt emotional regulation of competitors, some athletes utilize formal coaching to assist with performance monitoring while others engage in self-coaching strategies. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine sport anxiety levels amongst competitive bodybuilders who engage in prep monitoring behaviors. Additionally, the contribution of coaching presence was …