Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Vital Signs, Summer 2018, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A thirty page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, faculty and student profiles, and more.

Trpv4 Mediates Hypotonic Inhibition Of Central Osmosensory Neurons Via Taurine Gliotransmission, Sorana Ciura, Masha Prager-Khoutorsky, Zahra S. Thirouin, Joshua C. Wyrosdic, James E. Olson, Wolfgang Liedtke, Charles W. Bourque

Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

The maintenance of hydromineral homeostasis requires bidirectional detection of changes in extracellular fluid osmolality by primary osmosensory neurons (ONs) in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT). Hypertonicity excites ONs in part through the mechanical activation of a variant transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel (dn-Trpv1). However, the mechanism by which local hypotonicity inhibits ONs in the OVLT remains unknown. Here, we show that hypotonicity can reduce the basal activity of dn-Trpv1 channels and hyperpolarize acutely isolated ONs. Surprisingly, we found that mice lacking dn-Trpv1 maintain normal inhibitory responses to hypotonicity when tested in situ. In the intact setting, hypotonicity inhibits ONs …

Department Of Surgery Update, March 2018, Wright State University Department Of Surgery

Department of Surgery Updates

A four page newsletter created by the Department of Surgery documenting changes to the department. This issue contains a message from the chair, a list of important dates, committee meetings, and more.

Proceedings - Wright State University Boonshoft School Of Medicine Tenth Annual Medical Student Research Symposium, Office Of Research Affairs, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Medical Student Research Symposium Proceedings

The student abstract booklet is a compilation of abstracts from students' oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Tenth Annual Boonshoft School of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium held on April 11, 2018.

Wright State University's Symposium Of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities From Friday April 13, 2018, Wright State University

Celebration of Undergraduate & Graduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Materials

The student abstract booklet is a compilation of abstracts from students' oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Symposium of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities on April 13, 2018.

Single Session Low Frequency Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Changes Neurometabolite Relationships In Healthy Humans, Matthew Sherwood, Richard A. Mckinley, Danielle Boeke, Jason G. Parrker, Lindsey K. Mcintire, Justin M. Nelson, Catherine Fletchall, Natasha Alexander, Amanda Mcconnell, Chuck Goodyear, Jeremy T. Nelson, Nathaniel R. Bridges

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Background: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) has shown promise as a treatment and investigative tool in the medical and research communities. Researchers have made significant progress elucidating DLPFC LF-rTMS effects—primarily in individuals with psychiatric disorders. However, more efforts investigating underlying molecular changes and establishing links to functional and behavioral outcomes in healthy humans are needed. Objective: We aimed to quantify neuromolecular changes and relate these to functional changes following a single session of DLPFC LF-rTMS in healthy participants. Methods: Eleven participants received sham-controlled neuronavigated 1 Hz rTMS to the region most activated by a …

Department Of Surgery Update, March 2018, Wright State University Department Of Surgery

Department of Surgery Updates

A three page newsletter created by the Department of Surgery documenting changes to the department. This issue contains a message from the chair, a list of important dates, committee meetings, and more.

Maladjustment Of Programmable Ventricular Shunt Valves By Inadvertent Exposure To A Common Hospital Device, R. Fujimura, Robert M. Lober, K. Kamian, L. Kleiner

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background: Programmable ventricular shunt valves are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus. They can be adjusted to allow for varying amounts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow using an external magnetic programming device, and are susceptible to maladjustment from inadvertent exposure to magnetic fields.Case Description: We describe the case of a 3‑month‑old girl treated for hydrocephalus with a programmable StrataTM II valve found at the incorrect setting on multiple occasions during her hospitalization despite frequent reprogramming and surveillance. We found that the Vocera badge, a common hands‑free wireless communication system worn by our nursing staff, had a strong enough magnetic field to …

Muscle Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors May Mediate Trans-Synaptic Signaling At The Mouse Neuromuscular Junction, Xueyong Wang, J. Michael Mcintosh, Mark M. Rich

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Block of neurotransmitter receptors at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been shown to trigger upregulation of the number of synaptic vesicles released (quantal content, QC), a response termed homeostatic synaptic plasticity. The mechanism underlying this plasticity is not known. Here, we used selective toxins to demonstrate that block of α1-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) at the NMJ of male and female mice triggers the upregulation of QC. Reduction of current flow through nAChRs, induced by drugs with antagonist activity, demonstrated that reduction in synaptic current per se does not trigger upregulation of QC. These data led to the remarkable conclusion …

Trpm7 Current Inactivation: Evidence For Inside-Out Signaling, Tetyana Zhelay, J. Ashot Kozak

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

TRPM7 channels conduct metal cations such as Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the presence of external Ca2+/Mg2+ TRPM7 has a steeply outwardly rectifying current-voltage (I-V) relation. In the absence of Ca2+/Mg2+ the IV becomes semi-linear. This has been explained by the removal of pore blockade by divalent cations (e.g. Ca2+o/Mg2+o). TRPM7 channels are inhibited by cytoplasmic Mg2+ in a voltage-independent manner, primarily by a reversible reduction in the overall number of conducting channels. Here, we have examined the consequences of external Ca2+ removal and reintroduction on TRPM7 current kinetics. In whole-cell patch clamp with low internal Mg2+, we rapidly …

Inactivation Of Trpm7 Kinase In Mice Results In Enlarged Spleens, Reduced T-Cell Proliferation And Diminished Store-Operated Calcium Entry, Pavani Beesetty, Krystyna Blanka Wieczerzak, Jennifer Gibson, Taku Kaitsuka, Charles Tuan Luu, Masayuki Matsushita, J. Ashot Kozak

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

T lymphocytes enlarge (blast) and proliferate in response to antigens in a multistep program that involves obligatory cytosolic calcium elevations. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) pathway is the primary source of Ca2+ in these cells. Here, we describe a novel modulator of blastogenesis, proliferation and SOCE: the TRPM7 channel kinase. TRPM7 kinase-dead (KD) K1646R knock-in mice exhibited splenomegaly and impaired blastogenic responses elicited by PMA/ionomycin or anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies. Splenic T-cell proliferation in vitro was weaker in the mutant compared to wildtype littermates. TRPM7 current magnitudes in WT and KD mouse T cells were, however, similar. We tested the dependence of T-cell …

Department Of Surgery Update, February 2018, Wright State University Department Of Surgery

Department of Surgery Updates

A three page newsletter created by the Department of Surgery documenting changes to the department. This issue contains a message from the chair, a list of important dates, committee meetings, and more.

Determining The Barriers To Prenatal Care Entry Within The First Trimester By Evaluation Of Prenatal Care Surveys And Questionnaires, Joycelyn Akamune

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Prenatal care (PNC) within the first trimester is associated with improved fetal and maternal health outcomes. Improved PNC is necessary to prevent negative birth outcomes such as low birth weight and infant mortality, which have significant impact on birth outcome rates. Improving access to PNC in the first trimester involves removing barriers to care. A brief survey distributed to expectant mothers is a simple way to define these barriers. Many small community health centers do not use surveys to gather patient information. By reaching this population, barriers to PNC can be better understood and mitigated using community resources decreasing …

The Role Of Antibiotic Therapy In The Treatment Of Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth In Pediatric Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome, Christina Heinzman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Projects

Short bowel syndrome is the congenital or surgical alteration of the small bowel resulting in a shorter than normal length of small bowel. This condition affects approximately 20,000 people in the Unites States and is diagnosed in 3-5 times per 100,000 live births annually. Patients with short bowel syndrome are at risk for the development of small bowel bacterial overgrowth, a serious consequence caused by overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel resulting in symptoms of abdominal pain, abdominal distention, feeding intolerance, malabsorption, weight loss and increased risk of metabolic acidosis. Clinical studies assessing the role of antibiotic therapy in …

The Effect Of Social Vulnerability During The 2014 Ebola Outbreak In Monrovia, Liberia, Mussa Y. Zatreh

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a dangerous, often fatal disease that spreads through infected bodily fluids. In 2014, an Ebola outbreak swept through West Africa, including Liberia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how social vulnerability affected different aspects of life during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia. The association between vulnerability and hardship that people experience during the outbreak was examined. This was measured by indicator variables for hardship such as availability of food, cash, or medical care. Vulnerability was also compared with EVD knowledge and vigilance.
Method: An additive index for social vulnerability …

Benzodiazepines I: Upping The Care On Downers: The Evidence Of Risks, Benefits And Alternatives, Jeffrey Guina, Brian Merrill

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

Benzodiazepines are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. These sedative-hypnotics can provide rapid relief for symptoms like anxiety and insomnia, but are also linked to a variety of adverse effects (whether used long-term, short-term, or as needed). Many patients take benzodiazepines long-term without ever receiving evidence-based first-line treatments (e.g., psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, sleep hygiene education, serotonergic agents). This review discusses the risks and benefits of, and alternatives to benzodiazepines. We discuss evidence-based indications and contraindications, and the theoretical biopsychosocial bases for effectiveness, ineffectiveness and harm. Potential adverse effects and drug-drug interactions are summarized. Finally, both fast-acting/acute …

A Tale Of Three Systems: Improving Three Emergency Communication Systems, Elizabeth M. Williams

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

This paper examines the current state of communications between the public, first responder organizations, and hospitals during mass traumatic casualty events. While the current system that exists nationwide, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), is an effective system, there are several improvements that could be made on a community level. This paper looks at national-level plans, such as the national emergency communications plan, NIMS, Hospital Incident Command System (HICS), and national Incident Command System (ICS). This paper sets forward several cost-sensitive recommendations to add to local emergency communication plans and structures in order to make better use technology that already …

The Effect Of Urinary Triclosan On Serumthyroxine In Us Population: 2011-2012 Nhanes Data, Katie M. Clark

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is added to personal care products to prevent bacterial growth. The FDA banned the use of triclosan in soap in 2016 due to safety concerns. Triclosan is considered an endocrine disruptor and had reported effects on the body, including changes in thyroid function.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between urinary triclosan and serum thyroxine in U.S adults. Methods: Data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed (N =1,476). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between log transformed triclosan and …

Poor Sleep Health In American Adults: Implications For Screening In Civil Aviation, Melissa E. Gear

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Poor sleep health is increasingly prevalent in the United States (US) adult population and contributes to fatigue. Fatigue is a significant safety hazard within civilian aviation, yet data regarding the prevalence of inadequate sleep in this population is sparse. Are there demographic characteristics which put individual at risk of not obtaining adequate sleep which should trigger screening during the medical certification process?

Methods: This cross-sectional study used National Health Interview Survey 2014-2016 data from US adults aged 18 to 65 to observe the relationship of demographic, socioeconomic, health, and behavioral characteristics with reported inadequate sleep duration and quality (trouble …

A Cognitive Model Of Switching Between Reflective And Reactive Decision Making In The Wason Task, Othalia Larue, Alexander Hough, Ion Juvina

Psychology Faculty Publications

Using the Wason card selection task, we model how humansdecide to engage in further deliberation after generating anintuitive response. Central to our model is the Feeling ofRightness which is the fluency with which one makes adecision, and how good one feels about it. The model isimplemented in a cognitive architecture, ACT-R. A core affectmechanism and the Feeling of Rightness component are usedto drive the decision. A training procedure was used to simulateindividual differences in heuristic and analytical behavior.Different degrees of reinforcement were then used to allow themodel to learn logical skills, and acquire differences in FOR,which determined the degree of …

Preliminary Understanding Of Complexities In Swimming Performance Of Common Minnow (Cyprinidae) Taxa, Crystal Nichols, Austin Smith, Stephen Huelsman, Cara Schemmel, Jason C. Doll, Stephen J. Jacquemin

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding swimming performance of native freshwater fishes has implications for ecology, conservation, and management. In particular, this type of information has practical importance for improving the understanding of fish dispersal, occurrence, migration, and invasive potential. The objective of this study was to characterize swimming performance of 2 taxa from the comparatively understudied minnow family (Cyprinidae) and test for potential drivers as a function of total length, sex, habitat, morphology, or some combination. The study assessed Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera; n = 66) and Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales notatus; n = 24) populations from an ontogenic range of male and …

Distribution And Community Reception Of Medication Disposal Pouches Compared With Distribution Of Unintentional Overdose-Related Deaths In Montgomery County, Ohio, Parvaneh K. Nouri

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Introduction: Substance misuse is a significant problem nationally, where Ohio ranks within the top five states contributing to this burden. Montgomery County experiences the most deaths in the state. While illicit fentanyl and analogs are increasingly responsible for overdose-related deaths, prescription misuse is a significant risk factor for progression to illicit substance use. Methods: Survey data from a pilot medication safety campaign utilizing medication disposal pouches were evaluated by descriptive analysis and qualitative analysis. Survey findings were compared to data of all unintentional overdose-related deaths in Montgomery County from January to October, 2017. Secondary analysis of death data was performed …

Demographic Trends In Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse And Treatment-Seeking For Addiction, Megan C. Smith

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Opioid addiction in the United Sates has reached epidemic proportions in recent years, demanding targeted efforts in both clinical medicine and public health. This analysis outlined a demographic profile of recent prescription pain reliever (PPR) misusers and compared those characteristics to the population of individuals currently enrolled in addiction treatment. To explain the difference in numbers between these two populations, reported reasons for non-treatment seeking are analyzed by demographic characteristic. This discussion reviews existing literature profiling PPR misusers and treatment-seekers, as well as research exploring barriers to addiction treatment. A secondary analysis was performed using data from the National Survey …

Marijuana Use Among Pregnant Women In A High-Risk Population, Shanice A. Akoto

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in pregnancy, often used concurrently with tobacco, increasing the risk for prematurity and low birth weight. Programs such as Healthy Start and CenteringPregnancy® provide resources and prenatal care to women in underserved communities in hopes of improving birth outcomes.

Objective: Evaluate marijuana use in pregnant women living in Montgomery County, Ohio in the highest risk zip codes (45402, 45403, 45405, 45414, 45416, 45417, 45426) and determine if use at delivery is lower in women enrolled in CenteringPregnancy® compared to women who were not. Methods: A secondary analysis of previously collected de-identified …

The Association Of Perfluoroalkyl Substances Exposure And Metabolic Syndrome In U.S. Adults, David B. Leary

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent synthetic compounds that have been environmental contaminants since the 1950s. Exposure in the general population can be through food and water ingestion, use of non-stick cookware, and dust from stain-resistant carpet. Studies have suggested PFASs act as endocrine disrupters and to affect liver and immune function, as well as cause increases in serum lipid levels.

Objective: To explore the association between six common detectable PFASs and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in United States (U.S.) adults. Methods: Data from 739 participants aged 20 years and older from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey …

Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Evaluation To Facilitate Repurposing Of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Nilotinib And Imatinib As Antiviral Agents, Hari Krishna Ananthula, Scott Parker, Erin Touchette, R. Mark Buller, Gopi Patel, Daniel Kalman, Johanna S. Salzer, Nadia Gallardo-Romero, Victoria Olson, Inger K. Damon, Tessa Moir-Savitz, Larry Sallans, Milton H. Werner, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Pankaj B. Dasai

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background

Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) developed as anti-cancer drugs, also have anti-viral activity due to their ability to disrupt productive replication and dissemination in infected cells. Consequently, such drugs are attractive candidates for “repurposing” as anti-viral agents. However, clinical evaluation of therapeutics against infectious agents associated with high mortality, but low or infrequent incidence, is often unfeasible. The United States Food and Drug Administration formulated the “Animal Rule” to facilitate use of validated animal models for conducting anti-viral efficacy studies.

Methods

To enable such efficacy studies of two clinically approved TKIs, nilotinib, and imatinib, we first conducted comprehensive pharmacokinetic …

A Closer Look At The Items Within Three Measures Of Evolution Acceptance: Analysis Of The Mate, I-Sea, And Gaene As A Single Corpus Of Items, William L. Romine, Amber Todd, Emily M. Walter

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Current direct Likert measures for evolution acceptance include the MATE, GAENE, and I-SEA. Pros and cons of each of these instruments have been debated, and yet there is a dearth of research teasing out their similarities and differences when they are used together in a single context beyond the fact that their measures tend to be highly correlated. We administered these to 452 college students in non-major biology classes at two research-intensive universities from the Midwestern and Western United States to investigate the measurement properties of the items within these instruments when combined as a single corpus.

Results

Factor …

Changes In Water Quality Of Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed Following Implementation Of A Distressed Watershed Rules Package, Stephen J. Jacquemin, Laura T. Johnson, Theresa A. Dirksen, Gregory J. Mcglinch

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Grand Lake St. Marys watershed has drawn attention over the past decade as water quality issues resulting from nutrient loading have come to the forefront of public opinion, political concern, and scientific study. The objective of this study was to assess long-term changes in water quality (nutrient and sediment concentrations) following the distressed watershed rules package instituted in 2011. Since that time, a variety of rules (e.g., winter manure ban) and best management practices (cover crops, manure storage or transfers, buffers, etc.) have been implemented. We used a general linear model to assess variation in total suspended solids, particulate phosphorus, …

Evolutionary History Of Plant Hosts And Fungal Symbionts Predicts The Strength Of Mycorrhizal Mutualism, Jason D. Hoeksema, James D. Beaver, Sounak Chakraborty, V. Bala Chaudhary, Monique Gardes, Catherine A. Gehring, Miranda M. Hart, Elizabeth Ann Housworth, Wittaya Kaonongbua, John N. Klironomos, Marc J. Lajeunesse, James Meadow, Brook G. Milligan, Bridget J. Piculell, Anne Pringle, Megan A. Rúa, James Umbanhowar, Wolfgang Viechtbauer, Yen-Wen Wang, Gail W.T. Wilson, Peter C. Zee

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Most plants engage in symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi in soils and net consequences for plants vary widely from mutualism to parasitism. However, we lack a synthetic understanding of the evolutionary and ecological forces driving such variation for this or any other nutritional symbiosis. We used meta-analysis across 646 combinations of plants and fungi to show that evolutionary history explains substantially more variation in plant responses to mycorrhizal fungi than the ecological factors included in this study, such as nutrient fertilization and additional microbes. Evolutionary history also has a different influence on outcomes of ectomycorrhizal versus arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses; the former …

Vital Signs, Winter 2018, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A thirty-six page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, alumni profiles, class notes, and more.