Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Your Cyst Really A Ganglion Cyst? A Case Report Of Angioleiomyoma Mimicking A Plantar Fascia Cystic Lesion, Christopher Anjorin Ms Dpmc, Joseph Bender Dpm

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Ganglion cysts are among the most common benign soft tissue masses encountered in podiatric clinical practice, and their diagnosis is often presumed based on location, clinical observation, and transillumination. However, this case highlights a diagnostic idiosyncrasy: a lesion clinically presumed to be a ganglion cyst within the plantar fascia was ultimately identified as an angioleiomyoma following surgical excision and histopathological evaluation. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when assessing cystic lesions, particularly those that transilluminate, as benign vascular tumors may closely mimic more common entities in both clinical presentation and imaging. More importantly, what if …

Uncovering The Genetic Landscape Of Pediatric Hearing Loss Along The Texas–Mexico Border, Desiree Lanehart, Michelle Gray, Roberta Sierra, Camille Maldonado, Daniel Brooks, Hongzheng Dai, Aaly Rahimtoola, Sandy Magallan, Alberto Allegre, Lori Berry

School of Medicine Publications

Children in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including the US border regions, experience delays in the diagnosis of hereditary hearing loss (HL), driven primarily by limited access to specialized genetic services. Although approximately 60% of congenital HL has a genetic etiology, many affected children in these communities remain undiagnosed, delaying timely intervention. Project GIVE is an NIH-funded virtual genomics program that expands access to genome sequencing (GS) for children with undiagnosed multisystemic conditions along the Texas–Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and El Paso regions of Texas, USA. Children (0–18 years) with suspected rare diseases were referred by …

Adjunctive Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization After Surgical Evacuation Of Chronic Subdural Hematoma: An Updated Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Tallal M. Hashmi, Hafsa Arshad Azam Raja, Zain Tariq, Faizan Ahmed, Niraj Arora, Majid T. Aized, Adeel Saleemi, Ameer E. Hassan, Adnan Qureshi, Osama O. Zaidat

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH); however, the efficacy and safety of adjunctive MMAE compared with surgery alone remains uncertain.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through June 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing adjunctive MMAE plus surgical evacuation with surgical evacuation alone in patients with cSDH were included. The primary outcome was hematoma recurrence. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model.

Results: A total of eight randomized controlled trials were included. The …

Beyond Revascularization: Is Tibial Transverse Transport The Next Frontier In Diabetic Limb Salvage?, Karishma A. Sebastian, Nidhin John

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Poster Category:  Non-sponsored.

Level of Evidence: Level III

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulceration remains a major cause of lower-extremity amputation despite multidisciplinary wound care, debridement, infection control, offloading, and revascularization. Tibial transverse transport (TTT), based on the Ilizarov tension-stress principle, uses controlled transverse distraction of tibial cortex to promote angiogenesis and distal microcirculation in severe or recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Aim: To systematically evaluate whether TTT improves wound healing, distal perfusion, ulcer recurrence, and limb salvage in severe or recalcitrant DFUs and define its potential role as an adjunctive salvage intervention.

Methods: A PRISMA-guided review of peer-reviewed literature through August …

Glp-1 Receptor Agonists And Wound Healing In Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Scoping Review, Merlin Sajeev, Amanda L. Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Level of Evidence: Level 5

Poster Category: Non-sponsored

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes and are associated with delayed wound healing, infection, amputation, and substantial morbidity. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) improve glycemic control and may influence inflammation, vascular function, and tissue repair. However, clinical evidence evaluating their relationship with DFU healing remains limited.

Aim: To characterize available clinical evidence examining the association between GLP-1 RA use and wound-healing outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for English-language studies published from 2021–2026 using terms combining “GLP-1 receptor …

Proposed Protocol To Evaluate The Interaction Of Genetic Modifiers And Metabolic Comorbidities On Cognitive Decline In Huntington’S Disease, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Elena Dike, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene. While CAG repeat length is the primary determinant of disease onset, substantial variability exists in the rate of disease progression and cognitive decline. This variability is influenced by both cis and trans genetic modifiers, including DNA repair genes such as MLH1, MSH3, PMS2, and FAN1. Emerging evidence also suggests that systemic metabolic comorbidities—including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension—may exacerbate neuronal vulnerability and accelerate neurodegeneration.

Methods: We propose a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study utilizing existing HD datasets containing genetic, metabolic, and …

Lipid Profiles In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Case Series With Longitudinal Comparison To Controls, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Stephen Michael Garcia, Irum Rahman, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing problem among the elderly and has several risk factors. The Rio Grande Valley has specific demographic and socioeconomic factors that may influence the likelihood of developing this neurodegenerative disease. Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s; however, this correlation has not been fully explored in the population within the Rio Grande Valley. This area of study is important due to the rapidly aging population within the RGV, as well as the high prevalence of comorbidities such as elevated lipid profiles.

Methods: This study analyzed a case series of 6 …

Discovery Of Ro 41-0960, A Non-Steroidal Inhibitor Of The Na+/K+-Atpase, Carlos Cruz-Cortés, Jaroslava Šeflová, Guadalupe Guerrero-Serna, Eric N. Jimenez-Vazquez

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

The Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) is a central regulator of cardiac ion homeostasis and a validated target for heart failure. Yet, cardiotonic steroids used in clinical practice are limited by a narrow therapeutic window and pro-arrhythmic effects. Here, we identify Ro 41-0960 as a non-steroidal inhibitor of NKA with a distinct mechanistic profile. The compound inhibits NKA activity with IC50 values of 17.9 ± 1.1 µM for purified enzyme and https://doi.org/10.3 ± 1.1 µM in microsomal preparations. ATP-dependent activity measurements revealed a non-monotonic response in which inhibition was most pronounced at ATP concentrations below 4 mM and diminished …

Bell’S Palsy In Pregnancy Following Covid-19 Infection: A Case Report, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Abelardo Rodriguez, Oluwatobi Olonisakin, Mounika Kotte, Aramide Tijani

Research Symposium

Background: Bell’s palsy is a peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The development of this is suspected to be a result of viral-induced inflammation, ischemia, immune-mediated mechanisms or idiopathic. Even though it can occur in the general population, pregnancy is a recognized risk factor. The incidence of Bell’s palsy during pregnancy and the postpartum period ranges from 60.5 to 171.6 cases per 100,000 person-years, with about 69% of pregnancy-associated cases occurring in the third trimester or within the first two months postpartum. Emerging evidence has shown an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of Bell’s palsy, with studies demonstrating a …

Did Maryland’S All-Payer Global Budget Revenue Model Change Hospital Margins And Revenue Per Discharge? A Difference-In-Differences Analysis Of Maryland And Massachusetts, 2010–2023, Kola Adegoke

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Maryland implemented an all-payer hospital global budget revenue (GBR) model in 2014 to decouple hospital revenue from volume and improve revenue predictability. This study evaluated whether Maryland’s 2014 GBR implementation was associated with differential changes in hospital total margins, inpatient revenue per discharge, and COVID-period margin volatility relative to Massachusetts.

Methods: A matched hospital-year panel for Maryland and Massachusetts spanning 2010–2023 (2,261 matched observations) was constructed by merging Medicare cost report-based financial measures with provider characteristics using CMS certification identifiers. Two-way fixed-effects difference-in-differences models with hospital and year fixed effects and hospital-clustered standard errors estimated post-2014 changes in outcomes …

Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Arising From Somatic-Type Malignant Transformation Of A Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor: A Case Report, Abdel Martinez Borrego, Brandon Cantazaro, Fatimah Bello, Christine Vega, Natacha Vargas, Payal Bhakta, Renzo Arauco

School of Medicine Publications

Somatic-type malignant transformation (STM) is a rare but aggressive complication of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs), most commonly arising from the teratomatous component and frequently occurring in metastatic sites. We report the case of a man in his 20s with a history of mixed NSGCT (50% yolk sac tumor, 40% teratoma, and 10% embryonal carcinoma) treated with left orchiectomy and chemotherapy in 2023, who initially responded to treatment but was subsequently lost to follow-up. He presented with one week of progressive dyspnea and pleuritic left-sided chest pain. Serum alpha-fetoprotein was markedly elevated at 2,966.7 ng/mL. Computed tomography demonstrated a progressive …

Single-Session Robot-Assisted Removal Of A Retained Ureteral Stent With Complex Proximal And Distal Encrustation: A Case Report, Maximo Alvarez, Cole Freedman, Emma Romero, Paul Kim, Alexis Garza, Harras Zaid

School of Medicine Publications

Retained encrusted ureteral stents represent a complex urologic problem, particularly in patients with limited healthcare access. We present a 28-year-old undocumented female with a 10-month retained ureteral stent who developed massive right-sided encrustation, including a 3 cm proximal renal stone near the renal pelvis and a 5-6 cm bladder stone, classified as FECal Grade IV-V. A single-session combined approach consisting of robot-assisted cystolithotomy, intraoperative ureteroscopy with stent exchange, and robot-assisted pyelolithotomy was performed successfully. Intraoperative ureteroscopy between operative phases confirmed ureteral clearance and enabled immediate stent placement without repositioning delay. This case supports the use of combined robotic approaches for …

Constrained Multiview Contrastive Learning For Jointly Supervised Representation Learning, Siyuan Dai, Kai Ye, Kun Zhao, Yang Du, Haoteng Tang, Liang Zhan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Purpose

Materials and Methods

Longitudinal Association Between Midlife Cardiovascular Health And Cognitive Change In A Bi-Ethnic Cohort, Janette Vazquez, Rebecca Bernal, Luis Aguirre, Jesus D. Melgarejo, Gladys Maestre, Sudha Seshadri, Helen P. Hazuda, Chen-Pin Wang, Claudia Satizabal

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Midlife cardiovascular burden contributes to cognitive decline and dementia. However, research in diverse populations remains scarce.

Methods: We included 402 San Antonio Heart Study participants (1979–1988; midlife mean age 57.9 ± 3.8, 58.5% women, 52% Mexican American) later enrolled in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (1992–2004). Midlife cardiovascular health was assessed using Life's Simple 7. Cognition was measured up to four times with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Generalized estimating equation models adjusted for age, sex, income, and education were used to relate cardiovascular factors to cognitive change. Sensitivity analyses evaluated attrition bias.

Results: Physical activity was associated …

Comparative Characteristics Of Mental Health Networks In Older Adults Across Care Models: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Community Home-Based And Institutional Care, Beibei Chen, Yufeng Wang, Jing Hu, Wenbin Feng, Mengxuan Wu, Jie Wu

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

Background: Care models significantly impact older adults' mental health, yet the dynamic interplay among symptoms remains unclear. This study compared the integrated sleep–psychological–social support networks between older adults in community home-based and institutional care. Methods: We included 973 adults aged ≥ 60 years (home-based: n = 727; institutional: n = 246). Mental health networks were estimated using Gaussian Graphical Models. We evaluated node centrality, bridge expected influence, and assessed between-group differences using the Network Comparison Test (NCT) and stability analyses. Results: The home-based network was denser (density = 0.576), featuring subjective sleep quality as the core node, with anxiety and …

Noncoding Rna Transcripts Based Molecular Phenotyping Of Masld And Mash Patients, Frida M. Delgadillo, Karla Perez, Barbara Yang, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Murali Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Enrique I. Ramos, Shrikanth S. Gadad

School of Medicine Publications

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive hepatic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes. MASLD can advance to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These conditions often lead to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) if not timely diagnosed and managed; thus, molecular phenotyping of MASLD and MASH conditions is highly desirable. The analyses were performed to identify distinct, differentially expressed genes, particularly noncoding ones, in MASLD and MASH patient samples, thereby expanding diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Methods: We extracted the data from a recent transcriptomic study by Govaere et al. on MASLD …

Bridging The Dermatology Divide: A Literature Review Of Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Point-Of-Care Tools For Skin Cancer Detection In Primary Care, Jared Hensley, Smaran Marupudi, Maria Villegas

School of Medicine Publications

The United States faces a critical dermatology workforce shortage, with more than 60% of counties lacking specialist access. Primary care providers (PCPs) are often tasked with managing suspicious skin lesions but demonstrate lower diagnostic accuracy than dermatologists. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer potential solutions, and meta-analytic evidence demonstrates that AI assistance improves PCP sensitivity by 13 percentage points and specificity by 11 percentage points. Yet only 1 Food and Drug Administration–authorized device (January 2024) is cleared for nondermatologist use in the United States. This device achieves 96% sensitivity but only 21% specificity, meaning most positive results are false alarms. A …

Studying What Matters: South Texas Community-Driven Dementia Research Priorities, Sara S. Masoud, Juana Escareño, Belinda Flores, Byeong Yeob Choi, Karla Daniela Lopez Lorenzo, Shanae L. Rhodes, Quetzaly Zenil, Carole L. White

School of Medicine Publications

South Texas has among the highest dementia prevalence rates in the United States, yet communities in the region remain consistently underrepresented in dementia research. Aligning research studies with what matters to communities most impacted by dementia is critical in addressing the crisis of research exclusion. This participatory study sought to identify community-driven dementia research priorities grounded in the experiences and needs of South Texas residents impacted by dementia. A two-year community-engaged study was conducted in partnership with a Community Council composed of individuals living with dementia, family caregivers, community health workers, and community-serving professionals. A plática program model was co-developed …

Interpretable Multimodal Learning For Integrating Neuroimaging And Genetic Data In Alzheimer’S Disease, Kun Zhao, Siyuan Dai, Yingying Zhang, Guodong Liu, Pengfei Gu, Chenghua Lin, Paul M. Thompson, Alex D. Leow, Heng Huang, Haoteng Tang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires models that combine brain structure changes with genetic risk, but existing methods struggle to align these different data types.

Methods: We present R-GenIMA, an interpretable multimodal large language model that pairs a region-of-interest vision transformer with genetic prompting to jointly analyze structural MRI and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Each brain region becomes a visual token and SNP profiles are encoded as structured text, letting the model link regional atrophy to genetic factors through cross-modal attention. Tested on the ADNI cohort, R-GenIMA performs well in classifying four groups: normal cognition, subjective memory concerns, …

Feasibility And Patient-Reported Outcomes Of Full-Body Red And Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation For Musculoskeletal Pain In A Predominantly Hispanic/Latino Population: A Single-Arm Pilot Study, Robson Dias Scoz, Frida Garza, Ivana Burberg, Isabella Moreno, Melissa Espinosa Cantu, Mia Dominguez, Juan Gonzalez

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective: To characterize feasibility, tolerability, and patient-reported outcomes after a 10-session full-body red and near-infrared photobiomodulation (PBM) protocol for musculoskeletal pain in a predominantly Hispanic/ Latino community sample.

Background: PBM is a non-pharmacological intervention with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Evidence from community-based and Hispanic/Latino populations remains limited, and full-body LED protocols are incompletely standardized.

Methods: This single-arm observational pilot study included 40 adults with self-reported acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants completed baseline and post-protocol Qualtrics surveys. The intervention used a full-body LED panel emitting 630, 660, 830, and 850 nm light in continuous-wave mode for 20 min per …

Poppers Maculopathy Due To Alkyl Nitriteinfused Candle: A Case Report, Tori Sayers, Murtaza K. Adam

School of Medicine Publications

Recreational inhalation of alkyl nitrites (“poppers”) is associated with a characteristic toxic maculopathy presumably due to ischemic changes in the central macula. Alkyl nitrite candles are available for purchase online and do not appear to be regulated. We report a unique retrospective case of vision loss following second-hand inhalation of vapor from a “poppers” candle in which a 29-year-old Hispanic male with no previous medical history presented with acute bilateral vision loss after attending a party at a nightclub. The patient denied sungazing, exposure to lasers, and a family history of inherited retinal disease. History was significant for use of …

Maternal Sjögren's Disease And Its Long Shadow: Adult-Onset Seronegative Lupus Nephritis Following Congenital Heart Block, Tatiana Dacak, Abelardo Rodriguez, Luisa Fernanda Gomez, Corey Haines, Nida Asif

School of Medicine Publications

Congenital complete atrioventricular block (CCAVB) is a well-recognized manifestation of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE), caused by transplacental transfer of maternal anti-Ro/Sjögren's Syndrome Type A (SSA) and anti-La/Sjögren's Syndrome Type B (SSB) antibodies. Although non-cardiac manifestations of NLE typically resolve within the first year of life, the long-term autoimmune risk in affected offspring remains unclear. We report a 24-year-old woman with CCAVB secondary to maternal Sjögren's disease who presented with acute heart failure, nephrotic-range proteinuria, bicytopenia, pericardial effusion, and findings concerning for Libman-Sacks endocarditis. Despite negative conventional lupus serologies, renal biopsy demonstrated Class IV/V lupus-like immune-complex glomerulonephritis with full-house immune complex …

Frailty As A Framework To Understand Tuberculosis Severity, Recovery, And Sequelae, Yoscelina Estrella Martinez-Lopez, Benjamin W. Black, Jessica Lee, Brian J. Buta, Lisa Y. Armitige, William A. Fountain, Rafael Samper, Aanand D. Naik, Joanne Turner, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) causes profound systemic illness, and many survivors experience long-term sequelae associated with disability and premature mortality. Current TB severity indicators capture isolated aspects of disease and may not reflect the integrated physiological impact of infection on the host. Frailty, a multidimensional syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, predicts adverse outcomes and guides clinical management in geriatrics. We propose frailty as an integrative framework for understanding the systemic effects of TB across the life course, encompassing disease severity, recovery, and long-term sequelae. We discuss biological mechanisms through which Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection may erode physiological …

Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Antigen 85B (Ag85B), an immunodominant protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), induces robust T-cell-mediated immunity in host cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant BCG strains overexpressing Ag85B (BCG85B) confer significant protection against tuberculosis in mouse models. This study hypothesized that enhanced protection by recombinant BCG85B results from modulation of host immune gene expression by the Ag85B antigen. To test this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on splenocytes from mice immunized with the wild-type BCG (BCG-WT) and BCG85B strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the splenocytes of BCG85B-immunized mice indicated upregulation of immune-related KEGG pathways, including Th1/Th2 and Th17 differentiation, NF-kappa …

A Rare Sight: Isolated Third Nerve Palsy As The Sole Presentation Of A Non-Functional Pituitary Adenoma, Jorge A. Aboytes, Jose J. Loayza, Ivan Mogollon, Ismael Cantu

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Hypopituitarism results from insufficient pituitary hormone production, often due to adenomas—accounting for ~15% of intracranial tumors. Non-functional adenomas, typically affecting older adults, may present with visual field deficits, headaches, or cranial nerve palsies when extending into the cavernous sinus. Isolated oculomotor (third nerve) palsy is a rare initial manifestation.

Case: A 46-year-old man with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes presented with acute right-sided headache, diplopia, ptosis, and right leg weakness. He had right ptosis, a fixed dilated pupil, facial droop, and right leg weakness. Given concern for stroke, he received thrombolytic therapy with partial leg improvement, but persistent diplopia and …

Beyond The Clot: A Rare Case Of Extensive Dvt And Pulmonary Embolism Revealing May-Thurner Syndrome, Jorge A. Aboytes, Jose J. Loayza, Ivan Mogollon, Daniel Pena, Michelle Lopez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in young adults is uncommon and typically associated with identifiable risk factors. In cases where DVT occurs without apparent provocation, congenital anatomical anomalies should be considered. May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), a vascular compression disorder involving the left iliac vein, is a frequently overlooked cause of iliofemoral DVT in young individuals, particularly women.

Case Presentation: A 28-year-old woman with no significant medical history presented with acute left leg swelling, pain, and discoloration, along with new-onset dyspnea and chest discomfort. She had recently transitioned to a contraceptive patch and reported reduced mobility due to fatigue. Imaging confirmed left …

Miconazole As A Repurposed Anticancer Candidate For Prostate Cancer, Eswara Naga Hanuma Kumar Ghali, Lindsey Shim, Rajasekhar Baru, Anupam Dhasmana, Ryan Chang, Sung Yun Jung, Rahul Tiwari, Neeraj Chauhan, Vivek K. Kashyap, Sheema Khan, Diane Nguyen, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali Mohan Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

Prostate cancer is one of the major health concerns, with increasing incidence and persistent therapeutic resistance worldwide. Despite various available treatments (radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, biological therapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound), patients still show treatment-related side effects over many years. These challenges highlight the urgent need for novel and safe therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we repurposed five FDA-approved antifungal agents, namely natamycin (NM), terbinafine hydrochloride (TH), ketoconazole (KZ), miconazole (MZ), and clotrimazole (CZ), as they can modulate conserved cellular processes, including sterol metabolism and mitochondrial function, which are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of cancer cell …

Potential Effects Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxation On Oral And Systemic Health Outcomes, Rahnuma Ahmad, Muhammad Noorani, Mainul Haque, Mohammed Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Vitamin D As A Candidate Host Susceptibility Factor In Sugar-Driven Oral Dysbiosis, Moldir Turaliyeva, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Adil Y. Yerezhepov, Mohammed Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) represent a modifiable dietary factor that promotes oral dysbiosis by supplying fermentable sugars and generating low-pH conditions that favor acidogenic and acid-tolerant biofilms. Vitamin D plays a biologically significant role in oral host defense through regulation of the epithelial barrier, induction of antimicrobial peptides, immune modulation, inflammatory control, and mineral metabolism. However, the extent to which vitamin D modifies the SSB -oral microbiome -disease pathway in humans remains unclear.

Methods: This narrative-conceptual review employed structured evidence mapping. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, with additional sources obtained via citation …

Under The Surface: A Rare Case Of The En Coup De Sabre Subtype Of Linear Morphea In The Rio Grande Valley, Miguel Lopez, Jared Hensley, Maria Villegas

School of Medicine Publications

Localized scleroderma, also referred to as 'morphea,' is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the superficial layers of the skin and is characterized by both erythematous and bruise-like lesions with signs of central skin tightening or sclerosis; deeper lesions may be identified as edematous, erythematous plaques in the absence of well-defined borders. A subtype named en coup de sabre (ECDS) exists in the classification of linear morphea and presents with a linear induration on either the face or scalp. Our patient is a 21-year-old Hispanic female initially residing outside of the South Texas region who experienced an onset of skin …