Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Investigation On The Mechanical Behavior Of Coconut Leaf Sheath And Midrib Of Coconut Leaf Reinforced Epoxy Composites, Murugesan Palaniappan, Mohan Kumar Anand Raj, P Manoj Kumar, Dawit Tafesse Gebreyohannes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the last two decades, researchers have focused on natural reinforcement composites as choice to conventional and man-made fiber composites due to their enhanced properties. While many research has studied the mechanical characteristics of renewable fiber composites, only limited work has been done on coconut fiber–based composites. In particular, no research has explored the reinforcement of two specific coconut fibers: coconut leaf sheath (CLS) and the midrib of coconut leaf (MCL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of composites incorporated with CLS and MCL. Composite specimens were prepared by reinforcing MCL at 10%, 15% and …

Sleep Disturbances In Patients With Cushing Syndrome And Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion: A Cross-Sectional Study, Shubhangi Sharma Sharma, Jasmine Saini, Shireen R Chacko, Sarina Ahmadian, Vanessa Fell, Dana Erickson, Anina F Peersen, Sara J Achenbach, Elizabeth J Atkinson, Irina Bancos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: The impact of active hypercortisolism on sleep is incompletely characterized. Studies report impaired sleep in patients with Cushing syndrome (CS). Patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) demonstrate mild nocturnal hypercortisolism that could impact sleep.

Objectives: To characterize sleep abnormalities in patients with CS and MACS using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), identify factors associated with poor sleep, and compare sleep abnormalities in patients with MACS vs referent subjects.

Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study of adults with active CS and MACS. Clinical and biochemical severity scores for hypercortisolism were calculated. Parallelly, we enrolled referent subjects. Quality …

2026 Clinical Practice Guideline Update By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age: The Use Of Tpa And Dnase Or Tpa Alone For Fibrinolysis, Shawn D St Peter, Krow Ampofo, Thomas Brogan, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela M Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Mark I Neuman, Samir S Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This paper is part of a larger clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children, developed by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In this report, the panel provides recommendations for intrapleural fibrinolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) alone over tPA and dornase alfa (DNase) in children (3 months to 18 years) with complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema. The panel's recommendations are based upon evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according …

2026 Clinical Practice Guideline Update By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age: The Choice Of Chest Tube Size, Shawn D St Peter, Krow Ampofo, Thomas Brogan, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Mark I Neuman, Samir S Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This paper is part of a larger clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children, developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In this paper, the panel provides recommendations on the appropriate size of thoracostomy tube for drainage. The panel's recommendations are based upon evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

A Tibial Osteotomy Of The Medial Collateral Ligament Insertion To Improve Visualization Of The Medial Tibial Plateau: A Cadaveric Study, Kathryn A Barth, Ricardo R Tijerina, Adeet Amin, Avrey A Novak, Erik N Mayer, Sabir K Ismaily, John W Munz, Andrew M Choo, Timothy S Achor, Steven J Warner, Jonathan G Eastman, Patrick J Kellam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To compare visualization of the medial tibial plateau articular surface using three surgical approaches: medial collateral ligament (MCL) split, femoral epicondyle osteotomy of the MCL origin, and tibial osteotomy of the MCL insertion.

Methods: Seven matched pairs of fresh-frozen adult cadaveric lower extremity specimens (14 knee specimens total) with no evidence of previous surgery were utilized. Through a medial approach to the proximal tibia, the MCL split technique was performed followed by a sub-meniscal arthrotomy. Standardized distraction of the joint was applied using a universal distractor. A three-dimensional digitizer probe was utilized to map the visible articular surface. These …

Fungal Meningitis In Us Patients Who Received Epidural Anesthesia In Matamoros, Mexico, Dallas J Smith, Elizabeth Misas, Jeremy A W Gold, Nicole Evert, Thi Dang, Emilie Prot, Simone Godwin, Julieanna Rivas, Jessica Pearson, Lori Koenecke, Nirma D Bustamante, Maria Julia Marinissen, Gabriel Garcia Rodriquez, Irma López-Martínez, Caitlyn Lutfy, Samantha Williams, Axel A Vazquez Deida, Katrina M Byrd, Julian A Villalba, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Lindsay Parnell, Lalitha Gade, Romney M Humphries, Nathan P Wiederhold, Charles Y Chiu, Joshua A Lieberman, Anastasia P Litvintseva, Tom Chiller, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Fungal Meningitis Response Team

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Fungal meningitis outbreaks are rare and entail high mortality rates. Beginning May 2023, we investigated fungal meningitis caused by Fusarium solani species complex occurring in US patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.

Methods: Early epidemiological information suggested US patients with suspected fungal meningitis had undergone mostly cosmetic procedures under epidural anesthesia performed in 2 Matamoros clinics. US patients known to have received surgery at these clinics during 1 January-13 May 2023 (clinic closures date) were identified and notified by public health officials. Epidemiological and clinical data were used to update diagnostic and clinical guidance for outbreak response, …

Efficacy And Safety Of Approved Cellular Therapies And Bispecific Antibodies In Solid Tumors: The Current State, Rabab Zehra Jafry, Saba Bilal Qamar, Sohaib Irfan, Muhammad Abbas Abid, Virginia Mohlere, Neha Maithel, Syed Hassan Jafri, Sanjay Awasthi, Samer Srour, Irfan A Vaziri, Muhammad Bilal Abid

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer immunotherapy is a broad term including naked antibodies, bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, cancer vaccines, activated immune cells, and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Recent advances in immune-engaging T-cell therapies have led to significant progress in novel treatments across various cancer types, resulting in prolonged patient survival, mainly in patients with hematologic malignancies. Several CAR T-cell constructs and BsAbs have been approved by regulatory authorities worldwide for relapsed, refractory leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Solid tumors are characterized by an immunosuppressive, fibroinflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune-suppressive cells, such as regulatory T-cells …

03-17-26 Bor Hsc Committee Meeting Agenda, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

03-17-26 BOR HSC Committee Meeting Agenda

Visdb 20: A Manually Curated Resource Of Viral Integration Sites And Their Regulatory Maps In Human Diseases, Citu Citu, Ajeet Singh, Xinyi Liu, Mounika Ashannagari, Rinki Ratnapriya, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The integration of viral sequence into the human genome plays critical role in the onset of various diseases, especially cancers. To facilitate systematic analysis of these events, we present VISDB 2.0, an expanded and updated database of human viral integration sites (VISs). The current release contains more than 270,000 manually curated VISs derived from 209 peer-reviewed publications, covering 11 viruses, including four retroviruses and seven DNA viruses. This represents a 3.5-fold increase in VIS entries compared with the previous version. Each VIS record includes standardized genomic coordinates and annotations describing local genomic context, CpG islands, repetitive elements, chromosomal fragile sites, …

Nursing Interventions To Reduce Anxiety And Psychological Distress In Breast Cancer Patients In The Us, Alexis Abboud, Al Araydeh Mifleh

The Cardinal Edge

Background Breast cancer patients frequently experience psychological challenges, such as anxiety, distress, and diminished quality of life (QoL). Nursing interventions show promise in addressing these issues; however, a comprehensive synthesis of their impact is lacking. This review evaluates the effectiveness of nursing interventions in reducing anxiety and psychological distress while improving QoL.

Research Question What nursing interventions effectively reduce anxiety and psychological distress and improve QoL among breast cancer patients in the United States?

Methods A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches of CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and Medline identified studies published in the last five years in …

Evolving Solutions For Red Blood Cell Preservation, Ali Alkafaji, Charles A. Elder, Mohammad Zaidi, Kavin Parthiv, Michael A. Menze

The Cardinal Edge

In emergencies such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, or during outer space missions, the availability of transfusable blood can mean the difference between life and death. Red blood cells (RBCs) must be stored at +4 ± 2 °C and have a shelf life of just 42 days, which makes maintaining a stable blood supply during adverse conditions extraordinarily challenging. This challenge was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when hospitals faced severe blood shortages. Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, offers a promising avenue to extend the shelf life of RBCs for transfusion during crises. However, a significant hurdle in dry preservation is …

Filifactor Alocis Disrupts Efferocytosis To Sustain Inflammation In Periodontitis, Ella Dye, Silvia Uriarte, Ruth Idowu

The Cardinal Edge

Background: Filifactor alocis is a Gram-positive, obligate anaerobe that has emerged as a diagnostic marker of periodontitis. Neutrophils and macrophages are key players in oral immune homeostasis. Neutrophils are short-lived cells and constitutively undergo apoptosis. This apoptotic program can be accelerated or delayed by bacterial interactions. Macrophages clear apoptotic neutrophils via “efferocytosis,” a crucial mechanism for resolving inflammation and preventing tissue damage. The efferocytic process downregulates the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-23 while promoting anti-inflammatory responses. Our previous findings demonstrated that F. alocis delays neutrophil apoptosis, with fewer apoptotic cells observed after 18 …

Patient Presentation Affects Medical Student Comfort During Sexual Health Encounters, Harshith Jella, Emily J. Noonan, Laura Weingartner

The Cardinal Edge

BACKGROUND

Previous research has identified some disparities between the care that masculine- and feminine-presenting patients experience with regards to sexual health. These disparities could cause feelings of unease and also difficulty with patient-physician communication. In medical education, standardized patients can help students identify and address implicit biases that could propagate as providers.

METHODS

The study population consisted of second year medical students (n=100) from the University of Louisville who completed sexual history-taking during a standardized patient encounter. Coders evaluated the phrases used, perceived comfort levels, and SP feedback among masculine- and feminine-presenting standardized patients.

RESULTS

While the patient presentation did …

Egf Enhances Re-Epithelization In Our Ex-Vivo Pig Eye Model, Andrew D. Le, Lisandra Plana-Ramos, Kate Tarvestad, Brian Ceresa

The Cardinal Edge

The cornea, the foremost anterior portion of the eye, plays a critical role in vision by refracting light and serving as a protective barrier. Its three distinct layers—the outermost epithelial layer, the thick stromal layer, and the innermost endothelial layer work together to maintain corneal transparency and function. The epithelial layer is particularly susceptible to damage, which can compromise the eye’s defense against foreign particles such as bacteria and viruses, potentially leading to infection and blindness. In this study, we established an ex vivo porcine corneal model to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate corneal re-epithelialization. Using adult pig eyes sourced from …

Exploring The Impact Of Perceived Patient Age And Gender On Medical Students' Comfort And Confidence With Sexual History-Taking, Haven Gabrielle V. Romero, Laura Weingartner

The Cardinal Edge

BACKGROUND

Many medical students lack confidence when navigating a patient sexual history. Discomfort may stem from a lack of experience, societal taboos surrounding sexual health discussions, or concerns about maintaining professionalism while addressing sensitive topics. We aimed to investigate comfort and confidence among student genders and patient age.

METHODS

We analyzed 107 standardized patient (SP) encounters of second-year students across three sexual health cases with different presenting complaints. Perceived comfort and confidence were inferred from student body language, language, and conversational tone, which were categorized as: comfortable/confident, fairly comfortable/confident, not comfortable/confident.

RESULTS

Across cases, students were comfortable/confident in half (50%). …

Hsp90 Inhibitor In Reducing Integrated Stress Response In An Experimental Mouse Model Of Spinal Cord Injury, Yousef Abozaid, Aditya Sarkar, Lukasz P. Slomnicki, Michal Hetman

The Cardinal Edge

Spinal cord injury (SCI) initiates a complex cascade of molecular events, including protein misfolding and neuroinflammation, contributing to neural damage and impaired functional recovery. Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), a critical molecular chaperone involved in cellular stress responses, emerges as a promising therapeutic target to mitigate secondary damage after SCI. This study was designed to validate the in-vivo effects of different doses of HSP90 inhibitor, HSP990-i, administered acutely after moderate T9 SCI mouse model. The level of HSP70 protein level is measured through western blot from the injury epicenter. Adult mice underwent experimental contusive SCI at the T9 level, followed …

Hallucinogens For Mood And Anxiety Disorders: A Critical Review Of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Georgia Chlebek

The Cardinal Edge

In quite a few people worldwide, there are several mental disorders that prevent the brain from operating in the “proper” way, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being among the most common. Luckily, there are several medications that are produced and used to treat these disorders, but some medications are hard to access, and others simply don’t help the patient. Firstly, these medications take time to study and prove safe for public use, though in some cases time is not readily available. In other cases, these medications are going through shortages and becoming increasingly difficult for patients to access …

Disrupted Nuclear Function And Nucleocytoplasmic Transport In Parkinson’S Disease, Ichiro M. Matoba

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Lamin A/C And Linc Complex Expression Affects Nuclei's Mechanical Properties And Functions In Osteosarcoma, Shridha Rajeswar

The Cardinal Edge

The nucleus has long been simplified in the field of biology, despite being an important organelle. Until recently, it has been commonly depicted as a simple sphere located at the center of a cell, responsible mainly for regulating protein synthesis. However, current research indicates that the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes, the pillars of nuclear architecture, play a critical role in maintaining nuclear integrity and function. These complexes interact with proteins, such as Lamins, that modulate responses to biomechanical stimuli through the regulation of gene expression. As such, when these structures are downregulated, they can contribute to …

Targeting Glioblastoma: Mechanistic And Clinical Perspectives From Uofl Research, Swetha Senthil Nathan

The Cardinal Edge

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors, with median survival lingering at 12–15 months despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. This article explores cutting-edge research and clinical efforts at the University of Louisville aimed at improving GBM treatment outcomes. Dr. Joseph Chen investigates the tumor microenvironment, revealing how physical properties such as stiffness and porosity drive GBM cell proliferation, migration, and resistance to apoptosis. His lab’s findings suggest that porosity, rather than stiffness alone, may be a more accurate predictor of tumor invasion and progression-free survival. Additionally, his research highlights the role of hyaluronic acid and …

Sound, Speech, And Synapses: Rebuilding The Brain Through Neuroplasticity, Sireen Khader

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Assistive Technology-Mediated Hepatitis B Education On At-Risk Behaviours Among In-School Adolescents With Hearing Impairment In Oyo State, Nigeria, Suen. E. Olalekanmi, J. O. Odelola, O. O. Isaiah

The 2026 Assistive Technology for Persons with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities Conference

Background: Adolescents with hearing impairment experience heightened vulnerability to health risks, largely due to limited access to accurate, accessible, and comprehensible health information. Communication barriers often restrict their understanding of disease prevention, resulting in inadequate health literacy and increased engagement in behaviours that may expose them to preventable infections such as HB. Despite the availability of effective vaccines and preventive measures, HB remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria. This situation underscores the urgent need for researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals to develop and prioritise inclusive health education strategies that address the unique communication needs of adolescents with hearing …

Nonlinear Bivariate Associations And Mononuclear Cell‐Type‐Specific Expression Level Differences In The Sting Signalling Pathway, David Kaplan

Faculty Scholarship

Understanding intracellular signalling pathways is crucial since they regulate essential functional activities. Bivariate relationships have been useful in delineating these pathways in clinical samples. In our previous studies, we have found many linear associations between pathway components, and we have interpreted these correlations as rheostatic regulators. Increases in an upstream component are correlated with a commensurate downstream increase. Here, we report a quantitative analysis of molecules in the STING pathway by assessing the variance in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-type-specific molecular expression from patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The induction of the type I interferon track by this pathway …

Mediation Analysis Investigating The Mechanisms Of Two School-Based Smoking Prevention Interventions In Adolescents From Northern Ireland And Bogotá, Jennifer M. Murray, Sharon C. Sánchez-Franco, Olga L. Sarmiento, Erik O. Kimbrough, Christopher Tate, Shannon C. Montgomery, Rajnish Kumar, Laura Dunne, Allen Thurston, Aideen Gildea, Abhijit Ramalingam, Erin L. Krupka, Felipe Montes, Huiyu Zhou, Laurence Moore, Linda Bauld, Blanca Llorente, Frank Kee, Ruth F. Hunter

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

Background:

Reviews have highlighted a lack of evidence on how successful intervention strategies for adolescent smoking prevention can be effectively adapted for low-middle income countries (LMICs). The MECHANISMS study compared behavioral mechanisms between two school-based smoking prevention programs for adolescents in Northern Ireland (NI; a high-income setting) and Bogotá, Colombia (middle-income). ASSIST works via peer education and diffusion. Dead Cool uses conventional classroom pedagogy. Both interventions were previously trialed in the UK and were culturally adapted for Bogotá. We investigated whether changes in smoking/vaping outcomes differed by intervention or setting. Mediation analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized intervention mechanisms. …

Anti-Diabetic Medication Adherence Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Eastern Uganda: Prevalence, Associated Factors, Barriers, Facilitators, And Strategies For Improvement: A Mixed-Methods Study, Brenda Lalam, Lucy Ezatiru, John Michael Okusa, Safina Akello, Ronald Opito, Patrick Lubogo, Simon Eleku, Shamim Nabidda, Samuel Kabwigu, Samuel Okello

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:  Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of endocrine disorder among adults, accounting for 90%-95% of diabetes mellitus globally. In Uganda, non-adherence to anti-diabetic medication remains high at 38.1%. This results in complications like diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia and microvascular complications.

Objective:  To determine the prevalence of adherence to anti-diabetic medication, its associated factors, and to explore barriers, facilitators, and strategies for improving adherence among adults with T2DM attending the diabetic clinic at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH).

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, consisting of a cross-sectional quantitative study followed by a descriptive qualitative …

Quality Improvement Project: Implementation Of A Screening Tool For Postpartum Depression, Yaminah Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) remains underrecognized in clinical practice, with many cases going undiagnosed due to inconsistent or absent screening processes. At the project site, only 60% of postpartum patients reported that their mental health needs were adequately addressed, highlight-ing a critical gap in care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence-based PPD screening tool and evaluate its impact on provider confidence and patient outcomes. Guided by Lewin’s Theory of Planned Change and Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, the project aimed to improve physician and nursing staff confidence in screening and increase appropriate interventions for patients who …

Targeting Il-1 Signaling In Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Improved Survival And Pathogenesis In Rdeb Mouse Model, Rahim Hirani

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a devastating inherited blistering disorder caused by biallelic mutations in COL7A1, resulting in deficiency of type VII collagen (C7) and loss of dermal–epidermal adhesion. Beyond mechanical fragility, RDEB is characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, impaired wound healing, severe pain, and an exceptionally high risk of aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Emerging transcriptomic and cytokine profiling studies have identified interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) as a dominant and temporally upstream inflammatory mediator in RDEB skin. The central hypothesis of this dissertation is that IL-1α signaling functions as a key initiator and amplifier of inflammation-driven pathology …

Improved Efficiencies With Virtual Wound Nurse Consults: An Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement Project, Brooke M. Mock Contreras

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Completing wound care consultations using digital technology is an uncommon practice in the acute care setting. Evidence suggests that virtual wound care consultations may decrease consultation completion times and improve departmental efficiency; however, evidence specific to the acute care setting remains limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice, quality improvement project was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of implementing virtual wound care consultation in the acute care setting to improve departmental efficiency. Efficiency was measured by calculating the total time elapsed between the consultation order and consultation completion.

Methods: Guided by the Model for Improvement and …

Examining Undergraduate Nursing Faculty’S Job Satisfaction Related To Workload, Work-Life Balance, And Student Incivility, Melissa Walch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Exploring nursing faculty job satisfaction is important for retaining faculty in undergraduate nursing programs because they are vital to training future bedside nurses. There is a nursing faculty shortage in the United States, and retaining faculty is critical to addressing it. The purpose of this study, guided by Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, was to (a) understand the relationship between workload, work-life balance, and nursing faculty job satisfaction and (b) the relationship between student incivility and nursing faculty job satisfaction in undergraduate nursing programs. Undergraduate nursing faculty in Ohio and Florida with at least 2 years of teaching experience were recruited via …

A Hepatic Solitary Fibrous Tumor With Giant Cells And A Review Of The Literature, Bosen Zhao, Shunchen Zhou, Jiaying Qu, Xingyu Gao, Xiaolin Wang, Chunhui Yang, Qiangsong Tong, Liduan Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor usually occurring at the pleura. Primary hepatic SFT presents at the liver is extremely rare, and its nonspecific clinical-biological findings cause a considerable difficulty in differentiation from other hepatic tumors.

Case presentation

We reported a uncommon case of primary hepatic SFT, which was pathologically characterized by abundant multinucleated giant cells. A man in his 60 s was admitted for a long-standing right upper abdominal pain (more than several months). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed a mass in the liver. A right hemihepatectomy was performed and the pathological diagnosis revealed …