Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

When Lupus Begins In The Heart: New-Onset Lupus Perimyocarditis Presenting As Acute Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Ripudaman Singh, Cesar Gutierrez

Research Symposium

Background: Acute decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a middle-aged patient without traditional cardiovascular risk factors presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. While acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and pulmonary embolism must be rapidly excluded, a systematic evaluation is required to identify less common etiologies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease commonly presenting as pericarditis. Lupus myocarditis is a life-threatening complication with high morbidity and mortality that can present as DCM. Presentation of previously undiagnosed SLE as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to DCM is rare and occasionally reported. We describe a case of new-onset SLE initially …

Acquired Left Ventricular Noncompaction Physiology In Lupus Myocarditis: An Unclassified Cardiomyopathy Phenotype, Ripudaman Singh, Eduardo D. Flores Md, Facc

Research Symposium

Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare structural abnormality of the left ventricular myocardium, characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses due to incomplete compaction during embryogenesis. Clinical presentation is highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic cases to arrhythmias, thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is primarily imaging-based, with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using the Jenni criteria as standard. These criteria include excessive apical or midventricular trabeculations with a noncompacted-to-compacted ratio >2:1 at end-systole, a thin compacted epicardial layer (≤8.1 mm), and color Doppler flow within the recesses. When echocardiography is inconclusive, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is recommended. …

Abiraterone-Induced Resistant Hypokalemia And Hypertension: A Preventable Complication, Ripudaman Singh, Seokwon Choi, Aramide Tijani, Fatimah Bello

Research Symposium

Background: Abiraterone, a cytochrome P17 (17a-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase) inhibitor used in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), suppresses androgen and cortisol synthesis, leading to elevated ACTH and accumulation of mineralocorticoid precursors such as 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone, both possessing potent mineralocorticoid activity^1,2,3. Concomitant prednisone is recommended to prevent this cascade, as its omission can lead to clinically significant mineralocorticoid excess manifesting as severe hypokalemia, hypertension, and fluid retention⁴. This preventable complication remains underrecognized, particularly in elderly patients who are frequently exposed to polypharmacy. Here, we report a patient with metastatic CRPC on abiraterone therapy who presented with acute wrist pain, …

Severe Ldl-C Elevation With Negative Monogenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Testing: A Case Of Polygenic Hypercholesterolemia, Ripudaman Singh, Daniela Hernandez

Research Symposium

Background: Severe hypercholesterolemia, defined as a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥190 mg/dL, is most often attributed to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a monogenic autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in genes essential for LDL-C catabolism, including the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and LDL receptor adaptor protein 1 (LDLRAP1). Clinically, FH is characterized by markedly elevated LDL-C levels and an increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Homozygous individuals typically present in childhood, while heterozygous individuals are more commonly diagnosed in adulthood. However, a substantial proportion of patients with an …

In Silico Prediction Of Cd8+ T-Cell Multi-Epitopes And Hla Distribution Analysis For Muc13: An Onco-Vaccine Design Strategy, Abigail Gomez, John Mills, Aidan Mata, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Sheema Khan, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Mucin 13 (MUC13), a transmembrane glycoprotein, plays a crucial role in the progression of epithelial cancers, particularly liver and pancreatic cancers. It is frequently overexpressed in malignant cells, disrupting cellular adhesion and facilitating invasive behavior. The extracellular domain and phosphorylation potential in its cytoplasmic region connect MUC13 to oncogenic signaling pathways, making it a valuable target for immunotherapy. However, challenges such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment remain significant obstacles, and addressing these issues in the lab is challenging without computational intervention. To address this, we have employed an in-silico approach to design CD8+ T-cell multi-epitopes targeting MUC13 HLA class …

Exploring The Role Of Magnesium Deficiency In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Victor A. Bob-Yellowe, Shaunte Hadnot, Sonya Bhatia, Anesu K. Murambadoro

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. As of 2020, it was estimated that IBD significantly impacts the lives of approximately 2.39 million Americans. Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral involved in many bodily functions, including immune response and gut health. Recent studies suggest that Magnesium levels may be linked to IBD. Therefore, this review aims to explain how Magnesium might play a role in the development or progression of IBD. Additionally, this article discusses the overall role that Magnesium’s plays in gut health and whether Magnesium supplementation could be …

Brain Age Prediction In Generalized Anxiety Disorder Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Corey Richier, André Zugman, Anita Harrewijn, Elise M. Cardinale, Parmis Khosravi, Moji Aghajani, Willem B. Bruin, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Higher predicted brain age difference has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. In this study, we determined brain predicted age difference (PAD) in individuals with GAD and healthy controls (HC) as well as group differences in PAD variability using voxel-wise structural MRI. The training dataset included 3511 controls, and the testing dataset included 1595 individuals with GAD and 4552 HC from the ENIGMA-Anxiety GAD Working Group. A convolutional neural network model using four input modalities per subject and a model ensemble approach was used to predict brain age. The …

Enhanced Recovery Of High-Quality Dna From Limited Ffpe Tissue For Advancing Cancer Genomics, Shweta Singh, Sierra Vidaurri, Astrid Perez, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Monica Betancourt-Garcia, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

School of Medicine Publications

Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are crucial assets in cancer research. However, despite the availability of commercial DNA purification kits, researchers face persistent challenges. The limited tissue availability, formalin-induced crosslinking, and DNA fragmentation in FFPE blocks often results in low DNA yield and compromised quality, hindering downstream applications. In this study, we optimized and standardized DNA purification methods to achieve high-yield, high-integrity DNA, making it ideal for DNA library preparation and high-throughput sequencing. Therefore, we optimized DNA extraction protocols using two Qiagen kits, the QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit and the QIAamp DNA FFPE Advanced Kit. The optimized methods …

Joint Disease And Demographic Factors In Clinical Populations Of Medically Underserved Communities, Blake C. Martin, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Michael Sander

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The Rio Grande Valley is a medically underserved, demographically unique population that warrants the exploration of various conditions.

Objectives: We sought to analyze the demographic disparities between the different types of common joint conditions in this community. We hypothesized that osteoarthritis would be the most common joint condition and that the demographics between the various joint conditions would vary depending on age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort, from January 1, 2018, to September 4, 2024. Patients’ charts were obtained using the ICD-10 diagnosis codes M15-M19 for osteoarthritis, M05-M06 for rheumatoid arthritis, M10 or M1A …

Associations Between Father–Mother Food Parenting Practices And Children’S Dietary Intake, Brian K. Lo, Natalie Grafft, Mariane Helen De Oliveira, Sebastien Haneuse, In Young Park, Alejandra Cantu-Aldana, Katherine W. Bauer, Rebekah Levine Coley, Jorge E. Chavarro, Kirsten K. Davison, Jess Haines

Human Genetics Publications

Objective: To examine whether the number of parents using high levels of structure or coercive control food parenting practices is associated with children’s dietary intake.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of father–mother dyads from the Fathers & Families cohort study. Fathers and mothers independently reported their food parenting practices and child’s dietary intake. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated associations between the number of parents (0, 1 or 2) using high structure or coercive control practices and children’s intake of fruit, vegetables, fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), adjusting for demographics and recruitment site.

Setting: United States

Participants: 474 father–mother dyads with a …

Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias From Spontaneous Speech Using Foundation Speech And Language Models: Comparative Evaluation, Jingyu Li, Lingchao Mao, Xi Mao, Hairong Wang, Zhendong Wang, Xuelei Sherry Ni

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are progressive neurodegenerative conditions where early detection is critical for timely intervention and care planning. However, current diagnostic methods are often inaccessible, costly, and delayed, especially for underserved populations. There is a growing need for scalable, noninvasive tools that can support timely diagnosis. Spontaneous speech contains rich acoustic and linguistic markers that can serve as noninvasive behavioral markers for cognitive decline. Foundation models, pretrained on large-scale audio or text data, generate high-dimensional embeddings that encode rich contextual and acoustic information.

Objective: This study benchmarks open-source foundation language and speech models to evaluate their …

Obesity Rise Plateaus In Developed Nations And Accelerates In Developing Nations, Ncdrf Collaboration, Bin Zhou, Nowell H. Phelps, Agnese Galeazzi, Olivia N. O’Driscoll, James E. Bennett, Lakshya Jain, Ysé D’Ailhaud De Brisis, Gladys E. Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo

School of Medicine Publications

Global reporting of obesity is commonly based on comparisons over multiple decades1 and lacks a granular and systematic analysis of its dynamics. We used 4,050 population-based studies with measured height and weight data on 232 million participants to assess the worldwide dynamics of obesity from 1980 to 2024. The rise in obesity decelerated in school-aged children and adolescents throughout the 1990s in many high-income countries, and subsequently plateaued in most at age-standardized prevalences spanning 20 percentage points, from 3–4% for girls in Japan, Denmark and France to 23% for boys in the USA. There were indications of a small …

Phosphate-Mediated Regulation Of Intracellular Calcium Dynamics, Huma Shahzad, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Phosphate (Pi) and calcium (Ca2+) are essential mineral ions that play coordinated roles in maintaining normal cellular functions. While various steps of calcium signaling are well characterized, emerging evidence suggests the critical role of both intracellular and extra cellular phosphate in regulating intracellular Ca2+. In the cytoplasm, phosphate influences ATP production and organelle calcium buffering and influences the activity of calcium pumps, such as sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA). Extracellular phosphate, taken up via sodium-dependent phosphate transporters, triggers signaling cascades that affect the processes of calcium influx, storage, and release. Additionally, high extracellular phosphate levels …

Selection Of Graphic Symbol Collections By Speech And Language Pathologists For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vasiliki Hadjicharalambous, Donald R. Fuller, Eliada Pampoulou

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

Graphic symbol collections are often implemented in assessment and interventions with clients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The selection of the optimal collection is considered by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) a challenging task. Since limited literature exists on the factors that guide this selection specifically for clients with ASD, this study aimed to explore those in detail, for which a qualitative design was followed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with SLPs who shared their views on the factors that affect this selection. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts took place. The outcomes showed that SLPs focus on multiple factors, grouped as …

Impact Of Intravenous Thrombolysis On Aspiration Thrombectomy Outcomes: An Imperative Trial Subgroup Analysis, Maxim Mokin, Reade Andrew De Leacy, William Mack, Raul G. Nogueira, Shahram Majidi, Dana Tomalty, Jan Vargas, Brett L. Cucchiara, Kenneth V. Snyder, Victoria Parada

School of Medicine Publications

Background The impact of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis on the outcomes of aspiration thrombectomy as the primary endovascular approach to stroke in patients with large vessel occlusion is unknown.

Methods The Imperative Trial was a prospective, investigational device exemption, multicenter trial of first-line aspiration thrombectomy that assessed the safety and efficacy of the Zoom System, including a novel 0.088 inch aspiration catheter in patients with stroke within 8 hours of onset. We compared procedural, technical, and clinical outcomes of aspiration thrombectomy based on whether patients had received IV thrombolytics prior to the intervention.

Results Among the 260 patients treated with front-line …

Emerging Near-Infrared Targeted Imaging Pharmaceutics For Ovarian Cancer, Angel J. Phillip, Annu Karithara, Subhash Chauhan, Murali Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Accurate intraoperative identification of ovarian cancer is challenging, as standard techniques such as visual inspection, palpation, and histopathology often fail to detect microscopic disease. Residual tumor contributes to poor cytoreductive outcomes, high recurrence rates, and chemoresistance. Near-infrared (NIR) imaging using tumor-specific biomarkers has emerged as a promising approach to enhance intraoperative visualization and improve tumor margin delineation. Methods: A focused literature review was conducted using PubMed to identify preclinical and clinical studies evaluating NIR image-guided strategies in ovarian cancer. Studies involving tumor-targeted probes against folate receptor alpha, α3-integrin, mesothelin, and CA125 were included, with emphasis on probe design, delivery, …

Blinded By Relapse: A Rare Case Of Bilateral Vision Loss From Leukemic Meningeal Infiltration, Aun A. Bangash, Tejaswini Swamy, Chloe C. Harris, Victoria Parada

Research Symposium

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 20% of adult leukemias, with outcomes improving through modern systemic and CNS-directed therapies. Leukemic meningeal relapse, defined as infiltration of the meninges and detected by cerebrospinal fluid cytology, is reported in 4–7% of adult ALL patients and remains a devastating complication despite CNS prophylaxis. CNS involvement typically presents with nonspecific symptoms such as headache, nausea, or cranial neuropathies; isolated, abrupt vision loss is rare. With a median survival of less than six months if untreated, timely recognition is critical. We present a case of intracranial hypertension with bilateral vision loss due to leukemic …

Diabetic Nephropathy Masquerading As Systemic Disease: The Critical Role Of Renal Biopsy In A Young Uninsured Woman With Nephrotic Syndrome, Yolanda V. Gutierrez, Alexis Vargas Del Toro, Cristina Kochi Yamamoto, Jose Loayza Pintado, Andres Suarez-Parraga

School of Medicine Publications

Nephrotic syndrome can have overlapping features across multiple diseases, making diagnosis difficult without tissue confirmation. We describe a 30-year-old uninsured Hispanic woman with type 1 diabetes, hypertension, and CKD3B who presented with nephrotic syndrome, sepsis, and progressive muscle weakness. Her pleural effusions, periorbital changes, elevated free light chains, and dysphagia raised concern for systemic conditions such as amyloidosis or polymyositis, especially given inconsistent outpatient follow-up. Because her management would differ significantly depending on the underlying cause and due to the high risk of loss to follow-up, a renal biopsy was pursued. Serologic studies were unremarkable, and biopsy ultimately confirmed diabetic …

Most-Favored-Nation Benchmarking Versus Value-Based Contracting: Institutional Fit Of Pharmaceutical Pricing Tools In The United States, Canada, And The United Kingdom, Kola Adegoke, Olajide Alfred Durojaye, Abimbola Adegoke, Adeyinka Adegoke

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Soaring drug prices pose a significant obstacle to affordable and equitable access to medicines in high-income healthcare systems. This study compares two leading reform tool families, Most Favored Nation (MFN)/international reference pricing (IRP) and value-based contracting (VBC), across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with attention to cost containment, value-linked incentive design, equity of access, and implementation feasibility. U.S. policy developments (CMS Innovation Center’s GENEROUS, GLOBE, and GUARD models) extend international benchmark-based design options beyond the 2020 MFN rule.

Methods: Guided by institutional and governance theories, we conducted a structured comparative policy analysis using a four-dimensional trade-off …

Emotional Intelligence Documentary - The Journey, Not The Destination: A Spain Reflection, Elise I. Palacios

Cultivating Emotional Intelligence through the Humanities in Spain

The Journey, Not the Destination follows my study abroad experience in Madrid and Toledo, Spain through a Medical Humanities course. Through art, history, culture, and personal reflection, I explore how travel broadened my understanding of the human experience and shaped my perspective as a future physician. More than a story about a place, this documentary is about growth, empathy, and the lessons we learn along the journey.

Essays On Ai-Driven Analytics For Enhanced Healthcare Delivery: From Onset To Outcomes In Neurological Diseases Management, Gabriel Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs), pose mounting global healthcare burdens. Despite advances in AI and health information technologies, early detection, precise diagnosis, and effective caregiver support remain elusive. This dissertation proposes innovative AI-enabled analytical frameworks to address these challenges across the full ADRD continuum.

The first essay designs an explainable AI-enabled clinical decision support system (CDSS) using a graph neural network for early AD identification, evaluated through usability studies demonstrating improved risk awareness and clinical engagement. The second essay introduces MADT-RNN, a multi-level attention-based deep transfer recurrent neural network that fuses convolutional and recurrent architectures …

Agnikarma Therapy In Management Of Plantar Fasciitis (Vatakantaka): A Systematic Review Of Ayurvedic Case Reports, Karishma Sebastian, Nidhin John, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Plantar fasciitis is a leading cause of heel pain, commonly affecting adults aged 40–60, characterized by microtears and inflammation of the plantar fascia.

Conventional treatments (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, orthotics, surgery) often provide incomplete relief or cause adverse effects.

In Ayurveda, plantar fasciitis corresponds to Vatakantaka, a Vata-dominant condition of the heel region (Khudukapradesha).

Agnikarma, a para-surgical Ayurvedic technique involving therapeutic thermal cauterization using heated metallic rods (Shalaka), is described for disorders involving ligaments, bones, and joints with chronic pain and stiffness.

This review synthesizes clinical case reports evaluating Agnikarma as a treatment for plantar fasciitis to determine its efficacy, safety, and …

Consensus Guidelines On Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling: A Guideline From The Society Of Vascular And Interventional Neurology Guidelines And Practice Standards Committee, Farhan Siddiq, Hunter Brooks, Esra Demirtas, Ibrahim Ahmad Bhatti, Sami Al Kasab, Adam De Havenon, Robin Novakovic, Ossama Y. Mansour, Cynthia L. Kenmuir, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is the gold-standard test to distinguish Cushing disease (CD) from ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion when biochemistry confirms ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging is equivocal. However, practice varies widely between centers, leading to false negatives, misinterpretation, sampling errors, and avoidable risk. Neurointerventionalists performing BIPSS have lacked dedicated, procedure-focused guidance.

Methods: Using the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Standards framework, a multidisciplinary panel (endocrinology, interventional neuroradiology, and endovascular neurosurgery) performed a systematic review through August 2025 and developed recommendations graded by class of recommendation and level of …

Ligand-Based Pharmacophore Modeling And Structure-Based Virtual Screening For Identifying Potential Therapeutic Agents Targeting The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein-Ace2 Receptor Interaction, Timoteo Delgado-Maldonado, Gilberto Vargas-Salas, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Adriana Moreno-Rodriguez, Eyra Ortiz-Pérez, Gildardo Rivera-Sanchez

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains a global health concern due to its high mortality and morbidity. In this study, we combined ligand-based pharmacophore modeling (LBPM) with structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) to identify novel inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Ligands from the MolPort database were screened via docking and molecular dynamics simulations at the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Four compounds showed promising docking scores (-8.7 to -6.4 kcal/mol) and dynamic stability (root mean square deviation < 5 Å). In vitro assays confirmed that compounds C3 (IC50 = 0.03 µM) and C4 (IC50 = 10.4 µM) effectively inhibited spike-ACE2 binding with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 µM). These findings show the efficacy of the LBPM technique and highlight 1H-pyrazol-5-ol derivatives as potential building blocks for developing new antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Extrapulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma Presenting As Bilateral Papilledema, Hyponatremia, Encephalitis, Seizures, Crmp5-Igg Reactivity, And Prominent Anterior Tubular Perivascular Spaces, Ramsis Benjamin, Drew Thomas, Nina Mourao, J. Judd Fite, Brianna Woodliff, Shubhank Goyal

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Paraneoplastic syndromes that affect both the optic disc and the brain parenchyma typically harbor antibodies directed toward CV2/collapsin response-mediator protein 5 (anti-CRMP5), amphiphysin, Ma antigen 2 (Ma2/Ta), and Yo. The most common cancers linked to anti-CRMP5 antibodies include small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), followed by thymoma, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid papillary carcinoma. A long-held belief explains papilledema as related to increased pressure within the subarachnoid space or the microvascular capillaries, but intracranial pressures within the normal standard range may exist in a person with a paraneoplastic syndrome and papilledema. The glymphatic system, a central waste-clearance conduit, may play a …

Outcomes Of Deep Peroneal Neurectomy: A Scoping Review Of Complications, Postoperative Recovery, And Patient-Reported Satisfaction, Krista Elizabeth Samreth, James Hughes, Amayrani Sanchez, Nicholas Obias, Madeleine Mehaffey, Stephanie Campbell Dpm, Aacfas

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Background: Deep peroneal neurectomy (DPN) evolved as a surgical treatment alternative for patients with painful midfoot arthritis who may not tolerate more invasive surgery such as arthrodesis. This scoping review aims to display current evidence of postoperative recovery complications and patient-reported outcomes specific to alternative surgical treatment of DPN.

Methods: A scoping review was completed using PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. Investigators searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Foot & Ankle Orthopedics, and Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery for studies from 2002 to 2025 with search terms: “deep peroneal neurectomy,” OR “deep peroneal nerve excision,” OR “peroneal neurectomies” AND “midfoot arthritis”. Exclusion criteria …

Cross-Sectional Associations Of Metabolically Healthy Obesity, Lifestyle Factors, And Steatotic Liver Disease In Adults From The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L. Garza, Audrey C. Choh, John Blangero, Cici X. Bauer, Stefan A. Czerwinski, Miryoung Lee

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To examine the associations of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis in adults. Methods: We analyzed 676 non-Hispanic white adults (18–95 years; 55.8% female) from the Fels Longitudinal Study using a cross-sectional design. Participants were classified into metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Metabolically unhealthy status was defined as the presence of ≥1 metabolic dysfunction, consistent with prior epidemiological definitions; secondary analyses using ≥2 were also performed. Obesity was defined using DXA-derived body fat percentage. Liver fat (%) was …

From Charcuterie Board To Clinical Ward: Pediococcus Pentosaceus As An Emerging Wound Pathogen - A Scoping Review, Jessica Sima, Mariana Rodriguez, Stephanie Campbell, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Currently, there are 12 known species of Pediococcus, with P. Acidilactici and P. pentosaceus being the most well-known. P. pentosaceus is a Gram-positive, lactic acid bacterium, and is most often recognized for its wide usage as a probiotic and fermenter of wines and cheeses. It is also studied for its anti-inflammatory effects and antimicrobial properties against many common pathogens, such as Salmonella, Clostridium difficile, E.coli, etc.  However, the Pediococcus species can be an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, and its resistance to glycopeptides and tetracycline limits treatment options.

We conducted a scoping review using Google Scholar and PubMed with the …

An Evaluation Of Total Navicular Implants: A Scoping Review, James Mcclure Hughes, Nicholas Belardo Obias, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety profile of total navicular implants based on current literature.

Navicular insults such as high-energy trauma, osteonecrosis, and Muller-Weiss syndrome may result in avascular necrosis or a critical sized bone defect, conditions that are highly difficult to manage given current treatment modalities. Total navicular implants may offer a solution to these problems. While 3D printing of implants remains investigational, its use in highly individualized cases involving the talus has had promising results with conditions like avascular necrosis, tumors, trauma, and arthritis. The navicular is unique in its attachments to …

A Novel Guide‑Free Internal Device Fixation For Transverse Tri‑Planar Distal Metatarsal Osteotomy: A Retrospective Review​, Maya D. Kaafarani, Brittney White, Graham A. Hamilton, Shannon M. Rush

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for bunion correction has gained popularity due to favorable outcomes and reduced recovery times. However, most MIS techniques rely on commercial instrumentation for osteotomy, reduction, and fixation. This retrospective study evaluates patients treated with a novel tri-planar distal metatarsal osteotomy performed without specialized MIS guides, using only standard surgical tools and a novel device.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 28 patients (31 procedures, including 3 bilateral cases) who underwent MIS bunion correction from 2021 to 2024. The technique involved a 2–3 cm medial incision, transverse osteotomy at the distal surgical neck of the …