Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Occupational Therapy’S Role As A Member Of An Interdisciplinary Feeding Team For Children With Sensory Processing Differences, Emily G. Bruinsma

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Considering the high prevalence of pediatric feeding disorders and the increased need for occupational therapists trained to work with children with feeding challenges, this project sought to provide a better understanding of the key components of a feeding therapy program. These components include caregiver involvement, use of an interdisciplinary team, interventions aimed at sensory integration, and the inclusion of family-centered and motivating interventions. The Sensory Integration theory was used to guide this project by providing an understanding of the various ways individuals can receive and respond to sensory information. There were three primary goals for this capstone project, including developing …

Implementing The Copm To Create Occupation-Based Interventions In Outpatient Adult Rehabilitation, Kelcee A. Bacon

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Worldwide, people continue to live longer, with the number of people over the age of 60 predicted to double by 2050; many of those people also have chronic diseases that could benefit from rehabilitation services. Outpatient rehabilitative services, including occupational therapy, have increased occupational performance, strength, mobility, and coordination for those diagnosed with musculoskeletal or neurological conditions. This capstone focused on three components: 1) in-depth clinical practice using occupation-based assessments and interventions with the adult population, 2) understanding the administrative roles of private practice therapists, and 3) creating educational materials to increase knowledge and skills surrounding outpatient occupational therapy for …

Healing Horses: An Occupational Therapy Approach In An Equine Environment, Ashlyn Renee Yoder

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Aim: This project focused on the development of advanced clinical skills of OT-based hippotherapy in a pediatric setting and program development of the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center. Information was gathered from primary and secondary sources to promote student skill acquisition, client goal progress, and parent-caregiver education of at-home interventions.

Objective: Goals focused on gaining knowledge and competencies of OT-based hippotherapy, key clinical information, and interdisciplinary roles. The purpose of this project was to highlight the impact of staff responsibilities and OT-based hippotherapy on physical and cognitive deficits.

Method: OT hippotherapy session observation and facilitation, extensive literature review, and multidisciplinary interviews …

Effects Of Exercise On The Cardiovascular Health Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Samarth Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: It is known that the incidence of Down Syndrome has increased over time and that this condition is associated with congenital heart defects, lower cardiorespiratory capacity, and increased rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that individuals who have congenital heart defects but not Down Syndrome have increased cardiorespiratory function after engaging in exercise. Unfortunately, the role of exercise in improving cardiovascular health outcomes among individuals with DS is not yet fully understood.

Results: Exercise has been found to improve several health outcomes among individuals with Down Syndrome. For example, moderate to vigorous treadmill exercises …

Lower Extremity Weakness In The Setting Of Covid Myositis, Christopher Dellmyer, Frank Wheeler

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Bilateral lower extremity weakness has numerable causes including stroke, peripheral neuropathy, deconditioning, Guillain-Barre, Multiple Sclerosis, anterior cord syndrome, trauma, spinal epidural abscess and many more. It is imperative however, that we investigate and understand more rare causes of lower extremity weakness. Here we present the case of a 74-year-old female presented to the ED with a complaint of lower extremity weakness due to Covid myositis causing significant bilateral lower extremity weakness.

How Does Schizophrenia Affect The Expression Of Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In The Brain?, Shruti Varshney, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a psychiatric disorder with a pathophysiology that has not yet been fully understood. This mental illness is characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception, and affects approximately 0.085% of individuals worldwide. The Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (α7nAChR) has been connected to auditory function gating deficits. The purpose of this review is to understand the current literature in how the levels of α7nAChR expression and function are affected by SZ, information that could be used to develop therapies to modulate auditory hallucinations in patients with SZ. A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed journal …

A Novel Approach To Hiv Testing: Group Harm Reduction And Testing For High Risk Women In Nj, Gabrianna A. Andrews

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that …

Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, Minjal Patel, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Eric Goldwaser, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogenous psychiatric condition characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception often associated with a varied combination of positive and negative symptoms. The pathophysiology behind SZ remains poorly elucidated. Earlier reports have cited the importance of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in the hippocampus and the receptor’s association with auditory sensory gating and cognitive function. Specifically, variations in the expression and functionality of α7nAChR can be linked to auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with SZ and several therapies have been researched that target α7nAChRs. However, there are very few primary research …

Stopping The Bleed At Uri, Emily Lefebre

Senior Honors Projects

The number one cause of preventable death is uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic injury. From the unlikely scenario of a school shooting, to a campus car accident or an injury during a sports or club event, possessing skills to effectively stop a life-threatening bleed becomes a matter of life or death. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) STOP THE BLEED® program is a campaign to teach communities how to respond effectively and efficiently to life-threatening bleeding in emergencies. STOP THE BLEED® aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to stop severe bleeding by tourniquet application, …

Say Neigh To Poor Health: Exploring The Impact Of Equine Assisted Services On Children's Health, Courtney S. Barrus

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background: Currently, in the United States, one in six children has a developmental disability (CDC, 2022). According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2021), developmental disabilities negatively influence an individual's ability to solve problems, social skills, life skills, ability to form relationships, and ability to learn. Equine-assisted services are a group of services, including hippotherapy and adaptive riding, which have been shown to have a positive impact on physical, emotional, and social deficits (Haig & Skinner, 2022; Helmer et al., 2021; Madigand et al., 2023; Zoccante et al., 2021). Methods: The capstone was completed in two steps. …

Social Influences On Quitting E-Cigarette Use: A Mixed Method Analysis, Olivia Peterson, Page Dobbs

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social Influences on Quitting E-Cigarette Use: A Mixed Method Analysis

Page Dobbs, Olivia Peterson, Erin Arthur, Jessica Seymore, Jenn Veilleux, Robert Davis, Mance Buttram, Mufazzela Tabassum

Words: 250/250

Introduction. Young adult e-cigarette users report peers as a reason for using these products; however, it is unclear how social influences are associated with attempting to quit e-cigarettes. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the relationship between social factors and quitting e-cigarettes.

Methods. E-cigarette users from a large southern university were recruited to take part in an explanatory, sequential mixed-methods study. First, participants (n=423) completed a cross-sectional survey about …

Addressing The Physical Demands Of Caregiving Or Children With Disabilities In Nicaragua: A Quality Improvement Collaboration With Fne International, Grace Price

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Many caregivers of children with disabilities experience chronic pain and related symptoms of cumulative physical trauma. This type of phenomenon is particularly prevalent in developing, low-income countries where environmental accommodations may not be as accessible. A quality improvement program, was conducted as a doctoral capstone project to create resources addressing the physical needs of caregivers of children with disabilities in Nicaragua. Program participants included teachers at a school for children with disabilities and special needs in Nicaragua. The primary project deliverable consisted of conducting an in-person workshop to train the teachers with evidence-based methods for preventing chronic pain and other …

The Influence Of Cognition On Dysphagia In Adults With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Elizabeth Mcdonald

Student Academic Conference

Dysphagia leads to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality (Alhashemi, 2010), and individuals with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are at an extremely heightened risk of developing dysphagia. This paper identified the known links between cognition and dysphagia, specifically focusing on adults with severe TBIs. The Rancho Los Amigos Revised Scale (RLAS-R) was found to be the best predictive factor in the presence, severity, and resolution of dysphagia (Terré & Mearin, 2007; Terré & Mearin, 2009; Hansen et al., 2008). This information is vital for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to understand due to their experience and expertise in treating disorders …

Impacts Of Socioeconomic Status On Language Development In Preschool Children, Denise Adriaansen

Student Academic Conference

According to Lee (2023), 37.9 million Americans are living in poverty. Poverty is associated with deficits in language, communication, and social skills. Language development is a crucial aspect of a child's development. Children who live in low-socioeconomic households have a higher prevalence of language impairments. This paper will explore the impact that socioeconomic status has on language development in preschool-aged children. It includes becoming knowledgeable on serving individuals that come from different backgrounds, including level of socioeconomic status. It is important for all individuals especially professionals who will serve this population to understand how level of socioeconomic status can affect …

The Psychosocial Effects Of Alaryngeal Speech Following A Laryngectomy, Jennifer Cloos

Student Academic Conference

When an individual is unable to communicate using verbal speech, they can be given or introduced to a variety of alternative or augmentative options to help assist in their ability to communicate their wants and needs appropriately. In this paper the focus is on communication from those who have had a partial or total laryngectomy procedure and how the alteration of their means of communicative output affects their psychosocial health and well-being. This literature review breaks down what kind of care is expected for laryngectomees post-operation, options for communicative output following that procedure, how intensive surgeries and artificial voice options …

The Role Of High School Based Speech Language Pathologists In Transitioning Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Into Professional Careers, Cameryn Maykut

Student Academic Conference

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is widely known to be one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities in the United States. Due to the ever-increasing prevalence of ASD, it is essential for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to be educated on how to provide the highest quality of services to this population. This research paper aims to investigate the role of the high school based SLP while working with students with ASD during the transition from high school to vocational settings. Research was collected through compiling data from a variety of peer-reviewed scholarly sources, such as journals, articles, and organizations. Findings from the …

The Speech Language Pathologist's Role In Intervention For Parkinson's Disease, Jenna Lovaas

Student Academic Conference

This literature review explored the available intervention techniques utilized by Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) when treating individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkinson's disease affects six million people worldwide and is expected to double by the year 2040. Deficits associated with PD manifest themselves into motor and non-motor symptoms that show varying benefit from pharmacological approaches alone. For this reason, SLPs provided comprehensive treatment approaches to address the challenges related to dysarthria, dysphagia, and cognitive linguistic skills. Treatment consisted of behavioral techniques, diet modifications, compensatory strategies, muscle strength training, and restorative training. While some techniques demonstrated benefit to more than one …

The Effect Of Melodic Intonation Therapy On Language Recovery In Patients After Stroke, Alie Rockey

Student Academic Conference

This project is an examination of literature discussing the effects of Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) on language recovery in patients after stroke. The role of MIT after stroke is to encourage language recovery and promote overall well-being. Nine studies are summarized pertaining to the importance of MIT for individuals after stroke and the generalization of this approach. The existing literature supported MIT as a consistent intervention approach that positively impacted stroke and language recovery. Additionally, this review explored implementation options and the importance of each method. The importance for future research and synthesis is impactful across settings. Overall implications predict …

Best Practice Interventions For Individuals With Cleft Palate, Aleisha Johnson

Student Academic Conference

Cleft palate and cleft lip with palate occur in every 1,700 and 1,600 births (ASHA, n.d.). Speech-language pathology intervention is often needed by individuals who have had a cleft palate; about 50% of individuals who have had a repaired cleft palate are referred to speech pathology services (Sand et al., 2022). According to Alighieri et al. (2021), there is a lack of clear procedures when administering treatment to individuals with repaired cleft palates. The purpose of this project is to identify best practice for speech therapy interventions for individuals with repaired cleft palates. This project reviews the traditional articulation approach, …

Understanding Practitioner’S Perceptions Of Speech And Language Therapy Services In The Juvenile Justice System, Julia Buendgen

Student Academic Conference

The purpose of this study was to gain more understanding of how individuals who work with the juvenile justice population understand language disorders and the scope of speech and language therapy services. In addition, this study explored potential supports for individuals working in this setting. This study consisted of twenty participants working in the juvenile justice system who completed a survey tool that was designed by the researcher to describe the participant's perceptions of speech-language pathology, current procedures, reported challenges, and potential areas in need of support. Participant knowledge of the scope of speech-language pathology varied among participants. The highest …

Focus Groups: Perceived Stress And Stress Management Techniques Of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Emily Karevold

Student Academic Conference

Speech-Language Pathologists are required to earn a master's degree from an accredited program (ASHA, n.d.). Graduate students, typically in their twenties and thirties, are prone to stress that arise while completing their graduate degree such as paying off undergraduate student debt, earning a sustainable income while in school, and working on establishing a professional identity within their career field (Cho & Hayter, 2020). This stress is magnified by the stress associated with earning a graduate education, which negatively impacts their productivity and diminishes their mental and physical well-being (Cho & Hayter, 2020).Stress can be defined as any change that causes …

Psychosocial Effects Of Stuttering In Adults: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And The Role Of The Slp, Gabrielle Furman

Student Academic Conference

Adults who stutter may be struggling with the psychological or emotional impacts relating to their stutter. This project examines the psychosocial effects of stuttering on adults and addresses the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce the negative feelings and attitudes towards their stutter. The aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy and the techniques involved were explored. This therapy approach was found to be beneficial for adults who stutter in reducing anxiety and social avoidance, increasing participation in daily activities, and increasing confidence in speaking situations. The role of the speech-language pathologist was found to include choosing an approach that best fits the …

Healthcare Leaders' Attitudes And Perceptions On Use Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) And Ai Enabled Tools In Healthcare Settings, Avery Steffen

Student Academic Conference

Problem or Gap: Numerous studies have shown that AI can be used for diagnosis, problem-solving, identification of key disease features, and treatment planning processes for complex clinical cases1. It is important to note that leaders and managers play a key role in implementing AI methods throughout their organizations, however, there is a dearth of studies that examines attitudes and perceptions of clinical and administrative leaders towards integration of AI in healthcare settings. Furthermore, there is a need for literature that helps in identification of both facilitators that lead to AI adoption and barriers that can hinder AI adoption in healthcare …

Beyond Appearance: Nmr Metabolomics For Mushroom Quality Assurance And Authenticity, Arun Krishna Murthy, Amber Thelen

Oxford ICSB

Driven by their prominent health benefits, mushrooms are extremely popular in food and nutraceutical sectors, incidentally attracting food fraud such as species mislabeling and substitution, adulteration, and contamination with synthetic and cheaper substitutes, severely affecting the supply chain and raising concerns among consumers about product safety and quality. Untargeted chemical profiling using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (U-NMR) spectroscopy, in conjunction with Multivariate Statistical Analysis (MSA) proves to be a superior and universally recognized analytical method in simultaneously addressing these concerns and inadequacies of conventional analytical methods. A comprehensive and robust 1H NMR spectral library is built using validated mushroom samples of …

Metabolite Profiling Of Functional Fungi Strains Of Hericium Erinaceus & Cordyceps Militaris: Using Phenotypes, Untargeted Metabolomics By Mass Spectrometry And Cell-Based Assays, Julie Daoust

Oxford ICSB

Mushrooms have a long tradition of use as medicinal and functional ingredients however the lack of development in testing methods currently limits our ability to characterize these products. Selecting the right strain or processing method is currently challenging given the lack of commercially available analytical methods to detect or quantify secondary metabolites with therapeutic endpoints. Very little is known about the variability of these metabolites between strains of the same species and between identical strains grown in different conditions therefore an untargeted analytical method was needed to adequately assess impact of strain genetics and growing methods for M2 Ingredients cultures …

Re-Discovery Of Fungi, Christopher Hobbs

Oxford ICSB

This will be a very concise overview of the laboratory and clinical work that has been published on the health and medical benefits of medicinal mushrooms and mycelium. Medicinal mushroom and mycelium-based products currently on the market will be critically reviewed, specifically focusing on identifying the 5 most important constituent groups intensive world-wide research has identified as providing the intended benefits of these products, and what leading companies as well as startups are doing to insure their products contain them in meaningful amounts.

Evaluation Of Botanical Extracts For Cytochrome P450 Inhibition Mediated Drug Interactions, Angela I. Calderón, Zarna Raichura, Kabre Heck, Jaewoo Choi, Mikah Brandes, Cody Neff, Claudia Maier, Amala Soumyanath, Robert Arnold

Oxford ICSB

There has been remarkable growth in consumption of botanical dietary supplements (BDS), making it important to understand the safety profile of BDS with respect to the pharmacokinetic properties for any potential of botanical-drug interactions. One such botanical interactions which has gained significant attention involves inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes by co-administered drugs. Our study involved examining two widely used botanicals, ashwagandha and açaí for any potential inhibition of CYP450. Four different ashwagandha extracts were tested, resulting in inhibition of CYP2B6 with IC50 < 100 µg/ml of extract and showed potential of time-dependent inhibition for CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 with an IC50 ~ 200 µg/ml of extract. In the case of açaí, seven different extracts were tested and only CYP2C9 was inhibited. The acidic methanol extract of açaí formulation showed an IC50 of 0.3 µg/ml of extract indicating potent inhibition of CYP2C9, while the methanol (IC50 ~ 91.75 µg/ml) & ethanol extracts of Mountain Rose açaí powder showed weak inhibitory effect with an IC50 < 100 µg/ml of extract for CYP2C9. The results reflect that both botanical extracts showed potential of CYP450 inhibition, suggesting that compounds in BDS can prolong the half-lives of medications leading to extended action or toxicity. Next step involves, testing subfractions of these extracts to identify the compounds responsible for the observed inhibition.

Screening Of Medicinal Herbs To Predict The Potential Perpetrators Of Herb-Drug Interaction, Ikhlas A. Khan, Amar G. Chittiboyina, Shabana Khan, Bill Gurley, Islam Husain

Oxford ICSB

Over time, the popularity and consumption of herbal medicine and its products like nutraceuticals, botanical drugs, and dietary supplements have increased immensely. Parallelly, several health issues associated with the overconsumption of these products have also been raised, which has attracted enormous attention. Herb-drug interaction (HDI) is a health issue caused by herbs or phytochemicals that modulate the homeostasis of drug-metabolizing enzymes (CYPs) and transporters, thus altering the pharmacokinetic of clinical drugs. To date, only a few medicinal herbs, such as Hypericum perforatum, Hydrastis canadensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Camellia sinensis etc., were recognized as HDI perpetrators. However, many need to be …

New Natural Product Certified Reference Material Resources Supported By The Nih Office Of Dietary Supplements, Adam Kuszak, Zoe Ruan, Linda Smith, Sarah Ajaz, Uma Srennivasan, Sabrina Giddings, Daniel Beach, Pearse Mccarron, Stephen Wise

Oxford ICSB

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Analytical Methods and Reference Materials (AMRM) Program supports the development of tools that promote and facilitate rigorous and reliable characterization of dietary supplement (DS) identity, composition, and purity, as well as assessments of authenticity and contamination of botanical and other natural product raw materials and finished products. AMRM goals are accomplished through development and validation of quantitative and qualitative methods, production of certified reference materials (CRMs), and support of dietary supplement focused laboratory quality assurance programs. Recent advances in DS analytical resources supported by AMRM include an expanded availability of CRM calibration solutions …

The Botanical Safety Consortium: Collaborative Effort To Improve Botanical Safety Testing Methods, Connie Mitchell, Cynthia Rider, Julie Kzykwa

Oxford ICSB

The use of botanical dietary supplements is increasing, making their safety a crucial issue for public health. This article discusses the role and goals of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC), a collaborative effort between the US FDA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. Formed through a Memorandum of Understanding, the BSC aims to improve safety evaluation methods for botanicals. It operates as an international platform where experts from various sectors, including government, academia, industry, and non-profits, collaborate to advance and apply new approach methodologies (NAMs) for the safety assessment of botanical products. …