Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Not Missing: Transcriptions, J. L. Gaustad

Someone's Missing...and I Think It's Me

Not Missing: Transcriptions contains transcriptions of handwritten notes and journal entries from the book Someone's Missing...and I Think It's Me: Our Great Adventure with Dementia, by J.L. Gaustad. It is meant to accompany that book, with page numbers keyed to the pages in the book. For the print edition, this separate zine will be included in a pocket in the cover.

Someone's Missing...And I Think It's Me: Our Great Adventure With Dementia, J. L. Gaustad

Someone's Missing...and I Think It's Me

Someone’s Missing…and I Think It’s Me is a unique blend of memoir, advice, and art. Gaustad chronicles her experiences with her late husband, prominent artist and VCU faculty member Gerald Donato, as they try to navigate the mysteries and terrors of early-onset dementia. Beautifully illustrated with original artwork by the author, Donato, and artist friends, Gaustad takes a brutally honest, sometimes harrowing, and ultimately life-affirming look at their challenged marriage. Although her original intent was to create a guide for those dealing with brain illness in loved ones, the book became a testament to the beauty and humor to be …

Marijuana Legislation: Identifying The Impact On The Oral Healthcare Provider, Abby L. Geiser, Jessica Reid-Burrell

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives/Aims: Since the mid-2000s, the United States has seen a surge in legislation involving the legalization of marijuana, both recreationally and medicinally. The relaxed laws translated into an increase of marijuana consumption and thereby a potential increase in the number of patients a provider will see that are cannabis users. The purpose of this review is to illustrate how the providers begin to see pathologies related to cannabis use more frequently, and how they will need to be prepared for ways this can be addressed. Additionally, oral healthcare providers will face ethical dilemmas and legal challenges when treating patients and …

The Effect Of Competitive Swimming On Oral Health Status, Laura Apsley, Alexandra Walter

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives/Aims: Competitive athletes are often considered to be susceptible to bodily injury. It is now being realized that competitive swimmers are also at risk, specifically in the unsuspected realm of the oral cavity. The purpose of our research is to examine the effect of competitive swimming on an athlete's oral health status.

Methods: Using sources found on Pubmed and Google Scholar, the data used for the correlation of swimming pools and generalized dental trauma are as follows: competitive swimmers and non- competitive swimmers were examined for specific variables such as decayed, missing, or restoratively involved teeth, plaque and gingival index, …

Lead X-Ray Vests: Pros And Cons In Dental Radiography And Patient Education On Radiographic Technology, Kayla D. Oakley, Emily Deker

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Problem: There is a greater need to emphasize and educate patients and providers about radiologic advancements and patient exposure. The tradition of placing lead x-ray vests on patients for all radiographs is no longer a necessity. Without the explanation of why lead aprons are no longer needed, unnecessary steps for the provider and potential harm to the patient could be caused.

Methods: This review of literature was assembled by analyzing data from primary and secondary sources through online databases. The most recent research on the risks and benefits of the use of lead x-ray vests towards patients in …

The Ethics Of Using A Live Patient For Dental Board Exams, Aaliyah Gibbs, Ashley Christ

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objective: This study will discuss the various viewpoints regarding the ethics of using a live patient for board examination in dentistry. It will expand upon the inconsistency of the exam to include the compromised patient care, dishonorable delay in care needed so students can perform care during boards, the dignity of both the student and the patient that is paid to agree to be subject to such procedures, and the potential and irreversible harm caused to these patients. The research in this paper will explore various options for obtaining a license for clinical boards in dentistry and dental hygiene in …

Probiotic Biotherapy: Discussing Its Influential Role In Oral Health, Karla Florez, Claudette Sullano

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Introduction: Probiotics are widely known for their health promoting benefits, especially with its association to gastrointestinal health. For many years, most research has been focused on the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal infections or diseases. However, recently probiotics has been a subject of investigation with its association to oral health. This review of literature is designed to analyze the effectiveness of using probiotics as a preventative and therapeutic method for oral infections/diseases such as periodontitis, dental caries, and the like.

Methods: Databases such as the PubMed, and Google Scholar were utilized to find current and relevant findings for this …

The Potential Effects Of Hormonal Therapy And Stress On The Oral Health Of The Transitioning Population, Elena G. Cantwell, Devon Mcclure

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Problem: In terms of healthcare, the transgender population is underserved. Unfortunately, these individuals often experience stress related to seeking preventative care and fear discrimination. These factors preventing them from seeking care, in addition to hormone therapy taken during the transition process, could have severe impacts on their dental health. The purpose of this study is to establish a link between the hormone therapy used during gender transitioning and the effect on oral health. While there is a correlation between hormone replacement therapy and clinical evidence that sex hormones can impact on periodontal tissues, few studies have linked this knowledge to …

Teledentistry: An Innovative Workforce Model For Dental Hygienists, Kayla T. Khau, Hannah H. Nguyen

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objective/Aims: This review of literature seeks to explore teledentistry as an alternative dental hygiene workforce model that places a dental hygienist in the role of the mid-level practitioner as part of a digitally-connected oral healthcare team. It will also emphasize the innovative methods of teledentistry giving better health care delivery to diverse populations.

Methods: The review of literature analyzed the conclusions and discussions of primary and secondary scholarly articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and CINAHL. Specific key terms included teledentistry, telehealth, teleconsultation, dental hygiene, dentistry, workforce model, health care delivery. Articles included in this review were published within the …

The Role Of Dental Hygienist In Hpv Prevention And Education In Parents Of Adolescents, Kelsey Dore, Sari Sweet

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives/Aims: Today the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infects nearly 14 million people each year in the United States alone. HPV is responsible for several cancers, including oropharyngeal, which is currently on the rise. Each year an estimated 53,000 cases of oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed, with 70% of the cases related to HPV. The significance of educating dental providers and patients of the correlations between HPV and oropharyngeal cancers involves increased prevention strategies in dental practices. The aim is to begin offering multi-level education to adolescents’ parent’s in routine dental care visits, in order to provide an innovative approach to reduce HPV-related …

Clinical Reconciliation Of Patient Social Context And Implementation Of Preventive Care Guidelines, April Williams

Graduate Research Posters

Background

Preventive care practice guidelines are disseminated regularly through federal and scientific groups as a way of promoting best practices and evidence-based health promotion. Yet rates of their implementation are historically low and complex, with cited barriers including limits on physicians’ time, knowledge or attitudes; and external factors related to the guideline itself, the clinical environment, or patient factors. The objective of this qualitative research is to understand how primary care clinicians and staff reconcile perceived patient-level factors and implementation of preventive care guidelines.

Methods

Key informant interviews (n=23) with 14 clinicians and 9 office managers from 14 primary care …

Determining The Impact Of Increased Physical Activity On Improving Sleep Quality In Young Adults, Ashley Darling, Alex Chiu, Eric Henderson, Aaron Autler, Jennifer Weggen, Kevin Decker, Ryan Garten

Graduate Research Posters

Determining the Impact of Increased Physical Activity on Improving Sleep Quality in Young Adults

Disturbed sleep, defined as any alteration to normal sleep patterns, has been linked to poor cardiovascular health and an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. These negative sleep patterns are highly prevalent with 35% to 41% of individuals in the United States reported some form of disturbed sleep. Although high amounts of physical activity (PA) are often associated with high sleep quality, little is known about PA’s effectiveness to improve different aspects of sleep (e.g. duration vs quality) and the mechanisms to which it can improve …

The Effects Of A High Fat Meal On Blood Flow Regulation During Arm Exercise, Alexander Chiu, Lauren Pederson, Jeremy O. Via, Natalie J. Bohmke, Jacob Richardson, Aaron Autler, Hunter Reed, Eric Henderson, R. Lee Franco, Ryan S. Garten

Graduate Research Posters

A diet high in saturated fats results in endothelial dysfunction and can lead to atherosclerosis, a precursor to cardiovascular disease. Exercise training is a potent stimulus though to mitigate the negative effects of a high saturated fat diet; however, it is unclear how high-saturated fat meal (HSFM) consumption impacts blood flow regulation during a single exercise session.

PURPOSE: This study sought to examine the impact of a single HSFM on peripheral vascular function during an acute upper limb exercise bout.

METHODS: Ten young healthy individuals completed two sessions of progressive handgrip exercise. Subjects either consumed a HSFM (0.84 g of …

Dyrk1a And The Cell Cycle, Holly Byers, Larisa Litovchick, Md, Phd

Graduate Research Posters

The ability to halt the cell cycle is critical for cells to maintain tissue and organ size, to suppress tumors and abnormal growth, and exists as a helpful mechanism to pause the cell cycle for DNA repair. DYRK1A is (dual specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A) a human gene found on the long (q) arm of chromosome 21, which is known to be involved with nervous system development, cell growth and division, and neuronal differentiation. In glioblastoma cells grown in vitro (T98G cell line), there are three copies of DYRK1A, which have dosage- dependent effects on the cell, including association with …

The Future Of Returning Genetic Test Results For Psychiatric Conditions, Morgan Driver, Sally Kuo, Danielle Dick

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Genome-wide association studies are rapidly advancing our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex psychiatric conditions. In order to use findings from these studies for enhanced clinical prediction, we need to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding the return of complex genetic results.

Methods: We review the current literature on genetic literacy in the population, the public’s interest in receiving genetic test results for psychiatric conditions, how individuals react to and interpret their genetic results for psychiatric conditions, and gaps in our knowledge that will be critical to address before returning genetic results for psychiatric conditions.

Results: …

Prevalence Of Mental Health Disorder Symptoms And Rates Of Help-Seeking Among University-Enrolled, Black Men, Kofoworola D. A. Williams, Amy Adkins, Sally I-Chun Kuo, Jessica G. Larose, Shawn O. Utsey, Jeanine P. D. Guidry, Danielle Dick, Spit For Science Working Group, Kellie E. Carlyle

Graduate Research Posters

Background. Black men in college represent a subgroup of emerging adults who are at increased risk of developing mental health disorders (MHDs), such as anxiety and depression. Such risk has been attributed to disproportionate experiences with everyday racial discrimination and high levels of psychological distress. Despite being at higher risk, university-enrolled, Black men are not utilizing mental health or health resources at optimal rates. The current evidence base describing prevalence of MHDs and health services utilization among Black men in college is limited. The present study addresses this by examining mental health prevalence among university-enrolled, Black men and their rates …

Local Lung Targeting Of Tumor Associated Macrophages Combined With Cytoreductive Therapy Decrease Tumor Burden In A Secondary Lung Cancer Model, Sulaiman Alhudaithi, Hanming Zhang, Rashed Almuqbil, Wei Du, Fatemah Sunbul, Paula Bos, Sandro Da Rocha

Graduate Research Posters

Backgrounds. The efficacy of a locally administered small molecule colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor (CSF-1Ri), PLX3397, alone or in combination with cytoreductive therapy (paclitaxel) in reducing the tumor burden of an in vivo model of secondary lung cancer was investigated in this work. Local administration of immunotherapy to the lungs may enhance lung biodistribution of such therapies and reduce potential unwanted off-target toxicity. In addition, combination of such therapy with low dose standard of care chemotherapy may offer improved anti-tumor effects.

Methods. Murine breast cancer cells (4T1, known to be highly metastasized to the lungs) were transduced to …

Guadecitabine, In Combination With Cyclophosphamide, Promotes Anti- Cancer Immunity In Balb/C Mice Bearing 4t1 Mouse Mammary Carcinoma, Carmen Camarena, Timothy M. Smith, Rebecca K. Martin Phd, Harry D. Bear Md

Graduate Research Posters

Background: The extremely high mortality rate of patients diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer makes it one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Due to the heterogenous nature of tumors, complete clearance is not achieved and clonal selection occurs resulting in tumor cells evading the immune system. I aim to design a therapeutic intervention that is able to elicit an effective immune response against the tumor and instill immunological memory to eradicate primary and metastatic lesions. I hypothesize that the combination of Guad and Cyp will synergize and promote anticancer immunity via increased expression of neo-tumor antigens and depletion of …

Molecular Predictors Of Anakinra Treatment Success In Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Joshua Morriss, Daniel Contaifer Jr, Leo F. Buckley, George Wohlford, Monther Alsultan, Suad Alshammari, Asanga D. Ranasinghe, Salvatore Carbone, Justin M. Canada, Cory Trankle, Elvin T. Price, Antonio Abbate, Benjamin W. Van Tassell, Dayanjan S. Wijesinghe

Graduate Research Posters

Background. Kineret (Anakinra) is an interleukin-1 antagonist that is under investigation for its novel clinical application treating patients that have heart failure with reduced (<50%) ejection fraction (HFrEF). A prior study from our group indicated that Anakinra may restore heart function by addressing dysregulations in HFrEF metabolic pathways. Herein, we attempt to elicit Anakinra’s effects on both metabolome and lipidome.

Methods. Lipids and metabolites that had previously been quantified by mass spectrometry (MS) from patients (n=49) who had ≥2 mg/L of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were mTIC normalized and transformed. We conducted a stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis (r- LDA) to test Anakinra (2 and 12 weeks) vs placebo for separation from combined baseline. Metabolic pathway analysis was performed with Fisher’s exact test algorithm for detection of over-represented and enriched analytes. Univariate analysis (one tailed t-test …

Effects Of Dietary Sodium Intake On Blood Flow Regulation During Exercise In Salt Resistant Individuals, Kevin P. Decker, Morgan T. Kimmel, Hunter L. Reed, Alex H. Chiu, Austin C. Hogwood, Jennifer B. Weggen, Ashley M. Darling, Ryan S. Garten

Graduate Research Posters

PURPOSE: Dietary sodium intake guidelines is ≤2,300 mg/day, yet is exceeded by 90% of Americans. This study examined the impact of a high sodium diet on blood flow regulation during exercise. METHODS: Six males (25 ± 2 years) consumed dietary sodium intake guidelines for two weeks, with one week salt-capsule supplemented (HS: 6,900 mg/day of sodium) and the other week placebo-capsule supplemented (LS: 2,300 mg/day of sodium). At the end of each week, peripheral hemodynamic measurements [blood flow (BF), shear rate (SR), and flow mediated dilation (FMD)/SR)] of the brachial and superficial femoral artery were taken during handgrip (HG) and …

“How Am I Supposed To Feel?”: Social Support And Black Mothers’ Infant Feeding Decisions, Hannah M. Ming, Cecilia Barbosa

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Many of the adverse health outcomes that breastfeeding protects against disparately affect black mothers and children; however, black mothers are the least likely racial group in the U.S. to breastfeed. Black mothers have indicated that breastfeeding barriers include a lack of social support. Qualitative studies examining such breastfeeding barriers often focus on women who have unsuccessfully breastfed and fail to define the experiences of women who have successfully breastfed. This study aims to identify the impacts of social support on the infant feeding decisions of black women with varying levels of breastfeeding success.

Methods: Twenty-five black women were interviewed …

Vascular Dysfunction And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Examining The Role Of Oxidative Stress And Sympathetic Activity, Jennifer Weggen, Aaron Autler, Gina Tuzzolo, Austin C. Hogwood, Ashley M. Darling, Kevin P. Decker, Ryan S. Garten

Graduate Research Posters

Purpose: The physiological manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of negative lifestyle factors. The goal of the study was to better elucidate the mechanisms behind the increased CVD risk by examining peripheral vascular function, a precursor to CVD. Moreover, this study sought to determine the role of oxidative stress and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in PTSD-induced vascular dysfunction.

Methods: Sixteen individuals with PTSD (10 women, 6 men; age 24 ± 4 years), and twenty-four healthy controls (CTRL; 15 women, 9 men, 24 ± 4 years), participated …

An Examination Of Virginia Wic Staff’S Attitudes And Knowledge Towards The Brush, Book, Bed Oral Health Program, Tia Jackson, Tegwyn H. Brickhouse, Lizbeth Snead, Natalie Pennywell

Graduate Research Posters

Introduction: Families who are low income and have low oral health literacy tend to have poor oral health. The Brush, Book, Bed (BBB) program helps caregivers establish a consistent night routine for their children that includes brushing teeth, reading, and an age-appropriate bedtime. BBB has been shown to increase oral hygiene behaviors and therefore oral health outcomes. Studies have shown that children who participate in Women, Infants, and Children, (WIC) programs are more likely to access dental services. This study examined local Richmond, Virginia (VA) WIC staff on their current oral health knowledge and views on implementing BBB.

Methods: A …

A Pre-Transplant Blood-Based Lipid Signature For Prediction Of Antibody-Mediated Rejection In Kidney Transplant Patients, Monther Al Sultan, Daniel Contaifer Jr., Joshua Morriss, Suad Alshammari, Jeffrey Stern, Sindhura Bobba, Pamela Kimball, Anne King, Dhiren Kumar, Marlon Levy, Gaurav Gupta, Dayanjan Wijesinghe

Graduate Research Posters

Purpose. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential of the pre-transplant lipidome to predict post-transplant antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant patients.

Methods. Patients were selected from a prospective observational cohort of a single-center adult kidney transplant center in the United States. The study included 16 kidney transplant patients who develop AMR within 2 years post-transplant and 29 stable control (SC) kidney transplant patients who did not develop AMR at any time within the post-transplant follow up. Selection of group differences on the day of transplant was determined by t-test analysis. Stepwise forward method was used to …

Perceptions Of Using Smart Speaker Technology For Improving The Health And Wellness Of Older Adults Living In A Low-Income Community, Brooke Saba Mcdowell, Jane Chung, Johnathan Bennett

Graduate Research Posters

There is a growing interest in the usage of smart speakers in various settings with older adults for improved quality of life and health. Residents who live within a low-income housing development may benefit from the use of smart speaker technology for creating a more engaging and healthier lifestyle. Because technology acceptance is critical; this study aims to examine smart speaker acceptance among low-income senior housing residents. A cross-sectional survey (n=46) was conducted to assess smart speaker acceptance, perceived usefulness, perceived ease, and privacy concerns. Individuals were recruited through varying methodologies, including group information sessions, sign-up sheets, word of mouth, …

Dendrimer Conjugation Enhances Tumor Penetration And Cell Kill Of Doxorubicin In 3d Coculture Lung Cancer Models, Rashed Almuqbil, Rodrigo S. Heyder, Elizabeth R. Bielski, Mikhail Durymanov, Joshua J. Reineke, Sandro R. P. Da Rocha

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic widely used for solid tumors (1). Despite high efficacy in 2D cell culture, DOX efficacy does not translate to in vivo lung cancer models (2). Major side effects such as cardiotoxicity may be alleviated with nano-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDS). However, tumor penetration of DOX and DOX-nanoDDS is largely unknown and is an additional barrier to effective clinical therapy (3). Here we describe a nanoDDS capable of enhancing the penetration of DOX.

Methods: DOX was conjugated to generation 4 poly(amido-amine) dendrimers through (GFLG) tumor- liable bond. G4SA-GFLG-DOX was synthesized/characterized. spheroids were formed of …

Investigating The Role Of Aeg-1 In Mouse Models Of Pain, Bryan Mckiver, Wisam Toma, Deniz Bagdas, Devanand Sarkar, M. Imad. Damaj

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Astrocyte Elevated Gene 1 (AEG-1) is a multifunctional protein shown to be a regulator of transcription and multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The role of AEG-1 in cellular inflammation appears to be primarily facilitated by its direct interaction with the transcription factor NFκB, transcriptional regulator of inflammatory cytokines. May be have a potential role in models of pain, particularly chronic inflammatory and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: C57BL6/J male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. AEG-1 wild type (WT) and global knockout (KO) male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. Chronic Inflammatory Pain induced via i.pl. injection of 50% …

Development Of An R Script For Simple Lipidomic And Metabolomic Data Analysis, Suad Alshammari, Joshua M. Morriss, Daniel Contaifer, Dayanjan S. Wijesinghe, Monther Alsultan

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Metabolomic and lipidomic studies generate vast quantities of data that are often analysed in a closed software environment with little to no access to the underlying algorithms. As a result, data processed via different software pipelines yield different results thus leading to a widespread problem of low reproducibility within these fields. To address this problem, we are developing LipidAnalyst; an R based lipidomics software pipeline. As a part of this project, we are creating a simple statistical analysis and graphing module in R to generate accurate, reproducible, high-resolution figures.

Methods: R scripts were developed under version 3.5.3 with the …

Paroxetine Is Pro-Inflammatory In Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells, Syeda Hashimi, Sulay Patel, Omar Hassan, Bukola Odeniyi

Graduate Research Posters

BACKGROUND: Paroxetine is an antidepressant that is widely used. However, Paroxetine possesses anticholinergic properties which may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults. Surprisingly, the mechanisms of the cognitive decline of anticholinergic drugs in older adults remains elusive. A hypothesis is that a loss of cholinergic signaling is pro-inflammatory in the brain. We designed experiments to determine if Paroxetine is pro-inflammatory in Normal Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (NHBMECs).

METHOD: NHBMECs were grown at 5% CO2, 37C and 95% relative humidity until 90% confluent. NHBMECs were treated with the RNA free water as control, Paroxetine as 1.67x 10 4 mM/mol, …

Impact Of Diet On Colorectal Cancer, Ashley Rosenberg Md, Mirinda Gromley Msph, Nicole Weighard Md, Juan Lu J Phd Mph Md

Graduate Research Posters

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Modifiable risk factors such as diet have been linked to the development of CRC but results of previous research have been inconsistent. We utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine whether the consumption of dietary variables contributed to increased diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Methods

Participants from NHANES 2015-2016 database aged 16 years or older, with available two-day dietary and CRC information were included. Study exposure included dietary consumptions (salt, cholesterol, sugar, fat, and carbohydrates); the outcome was self-reported CRC. Descriptive analysis was performed with …