Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Intraoperative Imaging In Orthopedic Settings: An Assessment Of Changes In Adherence To Imaging Guidelines, Emmanuel Franco, Tabitha Abraham, Zayd Ayas, Frank Gerold

Research Symposium

Background: High-quality intraoperative photography is vital for treatment planning, patient counseling, and surgical education. Inconsistencies in image quality are prevalent in orthopedic literature due to the absence of formalized criteria specific to orthopedic settings. In 2014, "Medical Photography: Principles for Orthopedics" introduced guidelines intending to standardize protocols for capturing clinical images. By comparing the quality of images taken both before and after these proposed guidelines, this project aims to evaluate whether this has influenced a trend toward standardization and consistency in intraoperative orthopedic photography.

Methods: To assess quality differences in orthopedic images before and after the 2014 guidelines, 60 intraoperative …

Sociodemographic And Environmental Factors Associated With Subjective Heat Stress Among Residents Living In The South Texas-Mexico Border Region., Elyssa Ruvio, Michael Machiorlatti, Audrey Choh, Loren Clark, Candace Robledo

Research Symposium

Background: Heat stress in humans can lead to heat-related illness and disproportionately impacts low resource communities who are more likely to experience risk factors for heat exposure. For instance, the heat and health index, a national tool, ranks the South TexasMexico border region as being at high risk for heat related adverse health outcomes. Extreme heat events are described as periods of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two days. Understanding who is experiencing heat stress and to what extent, is important when planning and designing interventions aimed at preventing negative heat related health …

Redefining Possibilities: A Template For Mission-Based Medical School Innovation, Yossef Alsabawi, Elias Arellano, John M. Gaddis, Tyler Torres, Dominic Chau-Zanetti, Victor Espinoza

Research Symposium

Background: Small, mission-based medical schools play a vital role in shaping future healthcare providers by offering meaningful and unique opportunities for students to learn patient-centered care. However, these institutions often face challenges when compared to larger, research-intensive universities. Specifically, they tend to be less research-oriented and are limited in their ability to provide early exposure to diverse medical subspecialties. Traditionally, these limitations have been viewed as institutional challenges requiring top-down solutions. This study seeks to challenge that perspective by demonstrating that student-led initiatives can serve as innovative, cost-effective, and impactful strategies to overcome these barriers. Additionally, this research aims to …

Effect Of Walking Speed And Asymmetric Loading On Human Gait, Dumitru I. Caruntu, Alfirio Trejo, Eric Rodriguez, Camila T. Alvarez Barriga

Research Symposium

Background: Human gait is influenced by factors such as walking speed and carrying heavy objects asymmetrically. Understanding these effects enhances rehabilitation research for individuals recovering from leg injuries. Clinical angles of the knee, derived from experimental data, provide insights into movement patterns, revealing abnormalities or compensations. Calculating these angles requires a joint coordinate system (JCS) for the knee joint.

Methods: This study employed the VICON motion analysis system with ten infrared cameras arranged circularly for comprehensive gait analysis. Reflective markers placed on anatomical landmarks facilitated motion capture, recorded at 100 Hz. Data processing included filtering, establishing a JCS, …

Quality Of Life (Qol) Among Cancer Ostomized Patients – A Cross-Sectional Study At A Tertiary Cancer Centre, Dr Rajni Sharma, Pooja Kannojia

Research Symposium

Background: Cancer treatment often necessitates surgical interventions, including stoma formation (colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy), which significantly impacts a patient's quality of life (QoL). Ostomized patients face a unique set of challenges encompassing physical, psychological, social, and emotional aspects. While numerous studies have investigated these challenges, there is a lack of comprehensive research focusing on the QoL of cancer patients with stomas in India. Understanding the factors influencing the QoL of these patients is critical for developing interventions tailored to their needs. This study aims to evaluate the QoL of cancer patients with ostomies and identify key factors affecting their overall …

Efficacy Of Interprofessional Events In Stimulating A Conducive Environment, Elvia D. Palomarez, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Stephen Michael Garcia

Research Symposium

Background: While attending healthcare programs at UTRGV, students participate in interprofessional events multiple times a year, which involve medical cases, and faculty members oversee the student groups. This gave us the idea to create an event that would bring students from healthcare professions together. The idea was to help students get to know each other better and facilitate healthy relationships in the future as we work alongside one another. We decided to make the event a softball tournament because the sport was highly accessible to students from each professional school and is widely co-ed. Additionally, we wanted to create a …

Atypical Dengue Fever With Severe Hematological Manifestations: A Case From The Rio Grande Valley, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Alhasan Asaad, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Symposium

Background: Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness, is endemic in tropical regions, including border regions like the Rio Grande Valley while often self-limited, severe presentations such as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome highlight its challenges and complexities. This report describes an atypical dengue case with severe hematological manifestations, underscoring the diagnostic challenges and the importance of early recognition, multidisciplinary evaluation, and evidence-based management.

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old Hispanic female with no significant past medical history presented to the ED with hematemesis and fever following her travel to Monterrey, Mexico. Initial symptoms included high fever (107.6°F), chills, diarrhea, vomiting, …

A Peculiar Pancreatitis: Investigating The Adverse Effects Of Mesalamine, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Miguel Lopez, Alhasan Asaad, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Symposium

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a leading cause of gastrointestinal-related hospitalizations in the United States, accounting for approximately 300,000 emergency department visits annually. It is characterized by parenchymal and peripancreatic fat necrosis accompanied by inflammation. The clinical diagnosis of AP is based on elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, characteristic imaging findings, and epigastric pain often radiating to the back. While gallstones and alcohol use are the most common causes of AP, drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is a rare but increasingly recognized etiology, contributing to 0.1–5% of cases. DIP is typically diagnosed by excluding other causes and is often associated with …

Beyond The Plaque: Viral Myocarditis Masquerading As Acs, Edwardo Abrego Ii, Mario Trujillo-Acosta, Laura Ackerman, Laura Garcia

Research Symposium

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is an emergent cardiac condition that comprises less than 15% of acute MI patients. Both conditions can present similarly with anterior chest pain, dyspnea, and elevated cardiac biomarkers. Despite these similarities, their treatment and prognosis will differ drastically.

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old Hispanic male with no previous medical history arrived at the emergency department with a chief complaint of chest pain. He was awoken by a 10/10 pressure-like radiating pain located in the anterior chest, accompanied with diaphoresis, dyspnea and palpitations. He endorsed consistent pain since onset and denied any …

Ybx1: A Promising Target For Enhancing Sorafenib Sensitivity In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Dennis Kwabiah, Veerababu Nagati, Yamile Abuchard Anaya, Gabriella Ayala Pazzi, Sophia Leslie, Ricardo Pequeno Bracho, Manish Tripathi

Research Symposium

Background: The emergence of drug resistance in cancer remains a significant challenge, despite significant progress in targeted therapies. Drug resistance is responsible for approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths. YBX1, an oncoprotein, has been implicated in cancer progression and resistance to treatment in several cancers, including breast and colorectal cancers. In our previous work, we demonstrated that overexpression of YBX1 contributes to increased cell survival and viability, promoting resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. Although it provides some survival benefit, its overall effect on survival is limited, with …

Maternal-Fetal Dynamics And Implications Of Magnesium, Desiree Lanehart, Chantal Uzoma, Mohammed S. Razzaque

Research Symposium

Background: Adequate magnesium balance is essential for normal fetal growth and development. Deficient or excessive magnesium levels have been linked to adverse maternal and neonatal complications, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal respiratory depression. Despite its importance, majority of pregnant women worldwide are estimated to have suboptimal magnesium intake, highlighting a widespread yet underrecognized nutritional concern.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed database was conducted covering studies published between 2016 and 2024. The following key terms were used to retrieve relevant information: "Magnesium and Pregnancy," "Magnesium and Fetal Implications," "Fetal Development and Magnesium," and "Magnesium Excess and …

Mapping The Burden Of Congenital Birth Defects: Regional Variations In The Rio Grande Valley (Public Health Region 11), Desiree Lanehart, Kassandra Pulido, Natasha Bell, Thambi Conjee

Research Symposium

Background: Congenital birth defects (CBD) are the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. Early detection and management of gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), and musculoskeletal (MSK) anomalies improve outcomes after surgery, preventing complications, promoting organ function, and enhancing quality of life. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in South Texas faces a shortage of neonatal surgical care, with limited access to specialists and socioeconomic barriers hindering treatment. This preliminary study examines the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in Texas Public Health Region (PH) 11 and compares it to PH Regions 3 and 7, providing a foundation to guide healthcare planning …

Synthesis Of Medicinally Privileged Spiro-Β-Lactams, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Reinaldo Mendes, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Four-membered cyclic amide, commonly known as β-lactam, has been playing a crucial role in drug discovery research since its discovery by Alexander Fleming in 1928 from Penicillium notatum. The β-lactam antibiotics are broadly effective against several bacterial infections through acylating the transpeptidase involved in cross-linking peptides to form peptidoglycan or periplasmic murein, which is a fundamental constituent of the bacterial cell wall for both the gram-positive (ten or more layers) and gram-negative (one or two layers) bacteria. Although for more than eight decades, β-lactams have been recognized as antibiotics, later, other medicinal activities of β-lactam derivatives have been …

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease In A Community Hospital In South Texas: Case Series, Daniela I. Salinas, Alejandro Cruz

Research Symposium

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, rapidly progressive, and neurodegenerative disease caused by an accumulation of misfolded prion proteins in the Central Nervous System. It is estimated that the incidence of Creutzefeldt-Jakob disease is 1-2 cases for every 1 million people. As of 2020 the Texas Rio Grande Valley is home to 1.3 million people.

Case Presentation: Three patients from the Rio Grande Valley were included in this study, all between the ages of 58 and 66, two males and one female. The patients had different socioeconomic backgrounds and were unrelated to one another. All patients underwent multiple diagnostics …

Production And Characterization Of Muc13 Monoclonal Antibodies For Differential Expression In Cancers, Shabnam Malik, Daniel Zubieta, Mohammed Sikander

Research Symposium

Background: MUC13 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a critical role in the progression of various cancers, including liver, pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancer. While its presence and implications in these malignancies have been recognized, the development of specific antibodies targeting MUC13 is limited. This study aims to produce a monoclonal antibody against MUC13 and evaluate its utility in assessing differential expressions associated with cancers progression.

Methodology: We employed hybridoma technology to generate specific monoclonal antibodies against MUC13. Mouse splenocytes were immunized with recombinant MUC13 protein and subsequently fused with myeloma cells to create hybridomas. Positive clones were selected …

Enhancing Medical Education: Histology Identification Anki Cards For Improved Learning And Exam Performance, Daniel Flores, Jihoo Woo, Blake Martin, Russell Wiggins, Xiaoqian Fang

Research Symposium

Purpose: There is a lack of comprehensive histology resources in existing Anki decks, leading students to individually create their own flashcards, which increases preparation time and may compromise accuracy. With faculty guidance, this project aims to develop a set of histology flashcards on the Anki platform to help medical students improve performance on the USMLE Step exams and practical assessments. By supplementing traditional study methods, this resource seeks to make histology learning more efficient and enhance retention through active recall and spaced repetition.

Description: The project focuses on creating Anki flashcards with histological images and concise explanations highlighting key identification …

A Case Of Microscopic Colitis Masquerading As Chronic Inflammatory Diarrhea, Corey Haines, Sophia Moon, Giani Tah, Diana Acosta Pozo, Alejandro Aquino, Fatimah Bello

Research Symposium

Introduction: Microscopic colitis is an idiopathic, inflammatory form of colitis that is characterized by a normal macroscopic appearance of bowel but abnormal histological appearance on microscopy. Microscopic colitis can be subdivided into two histological subtypes: collagenous and lymphocytic. The collagenous subtype is characterized by proliferation of collagenous connective tissue that forms a thick subepithelial collagen band while the lymphocytic subtype is characterized by lymphocytic infiltrates and little to no proliferation of connective tissue. Classically, microscopic colitis presents with chronic, nonbloody, watery diarrhea lasting more than one month. It is typically associated with weight loss, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and nocturnal stools. …

Breaking Bias: How Implicit Bias Training Is Reshaping Healthcare Outcomes And Equity, Chloe C. Harris, Meyer Maddox, Anesu K. Murambadoro, Kevin Garcia Valdez, Blake Martin, Nina Mourao, Tirath Patel, Nikhilesh Anand, Kelsey Baker, Bharathi Gadad

Research Symposium

Background: The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the impact of implicit bias training as a component of health system science education on increasing awareness of biases, improving self-efficacy, and promoting organizational change. While such interventions are promising, their effects on provider behavior and patient outcomes over time remain open.

Methods: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the New England Journal of Medicine database. Studies were selected based on relevance to the research question, with eligible studies including Randomized Controlled Trials …

Severe Hyponatremia As A Consequence Of Adrenal Insufficiency In A Patient With Gastric Cancer, Cameron B. Caldwell, Shreel Patel, Andres Suarez Parraga

Research Symposium

Background: Hyponatremia is defined as a serum sodium level less than 135 mEq/L and is considered severe with levels below 125 mEq/L. It is the most common electrolyte abnormality amongst hospitalized patients with a prevalence of 20-35%. Symptoms can range anywhere from nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, and muscle cramps to more severe manifestations such as altered mental status and seizures. Adrenal insufficiency describes a failure of the adrenal cortex to make sufficient hormones necessary for normal physiologic functions in the body. It stems from the destruction of the adrenal cortex or a lack of ACTH stimulation. Symptoms of adrenal …

Interactive Pathways To Musculoskeletal Proficiency: A Quality Improvement Project, Changho Yi, Sunand Kallumadanda, Jose Cano

Research Symposium

Introduction: Approximately 20-25%of patients visiting primary care present with musculoskeletal issues. 12%of board exam questions associated with musculoskeletal medicine. Only 12.5 hours are devoted to musculoskeletal education throughout the medical school curriculum • Only 5%of time allocated in MSK education during the residency(200hrs or 2 months). 77.39% of program directors believe that incoming PGY-1 residents lack sufficient MSK physical exam skills. This underscores the need for enhanced and more effective MSK training within family medicine programs.

Methods: 24 Family medicine resident at UTRGV MMC, 6 PGY-1, 8 PGY-2, 10 PGY-3. Survey and evaluation mini-test were done before intervention( 20 …

First Report Of A Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus Coagulans Urinary Tract Infection Associated With A Medical Device., Carlos Ramírez-Pfeiffer, Defne Esmeralda Esparza-Galván, Allan Guzmán Cardenas, Jania Jazmin Gutiérrez-Carreño, Martín Segura-Chico, Juan Carlos López-Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: The identification of Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans (recently reclassified as S. coagulans) was part of a previous retrospective study on antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections (UTIs) in older adults conducted at a Tamaulipas state hospital in 2023 (Esparza 2023, unpublished data). S. coagulans is an emerging human pathogen, initially associated with veterinary infections, particularly dermatitis and otitis in dogs. Like other Staphylococcus species, it is known for its biofilm-forming ability, which enhances its persistence and resistance to treatment. Recent studies have linked S. coagulans to severe human infections, including endocarditis, meningitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly in patients with …

Impact Of Diabetes On Fall Related Lower Limb Fractures, Bryce M. Bellon, Daniel Salinas, Patrick De La Torre Shutz, Hunter Butler, Sean Corcoran, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Diabetes is a disorder that affects many Americans, characterized primarily by hyperglycemia due to either insulin resistance or lack of insulin secretion. This condition not only impacts blood sugar levels but also has significant effects on bone health. In diabetes, bone density is often decreased due to reduced osteoblast activity, which is responsible for bone formation, and increased osteoclast activity, which leads to bone resorption. This imbalance accelerates the breakdown of bone. Additionally, diabetics frequently suffer from lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD), which results in poor vascularization of the lower limbs. These factors contribute to an increased risk of …

The Influence Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Spinal Cord Injury Prevalence And Cause Of Injury In Texas: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis, Blake C. Martin, Daniel Salinas, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: COVID-19 was the most significant medical issue since the Spanish Flu and was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Current literature states that during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which about 10% of the global population was affected, there was a decrease in the frequency of trauma injuries observed in the clinic. Of note, spinal cord injury (SCI) has been suggested to show changing epidemiology from the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a study in Scotland has suggested that the cause of SCI was significantly influenced during the pandemic, with an increase in self-harm. Such epidemiological changes may influence economic …

Various Bone Disorders Affecting The Rio Grande Valley, Blake C. Martin, Justin Z. Heckman, Manoj Peiris

Research Symposium

Background: The underserved community that is the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), has a distinct demographic profile, with a high prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, that warrants investigation of various health issues. The main objective of our study was to analyze the demographic disparities between osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, Paget bone disease, and osteonecrosis in the RGV. We hypothesized that the frequency of osteoporosis would be the most common bone condition (of those analyzed) in the Rio Grande Valley and that the demographics between the various bone conditions would vary depending on age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity …

Joint Involvement In A Psoriasis Affected Population In A Medically Underrepresented Region, Blake C. Martin, Jared Hensley, Manoj Peiris

Research Symposium

Background: Psoriatic arthritis is an aggressive condition that may be characterized by compromised quality of life and significant morbidity. The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis is around 1.7% at 5 years, 3.1% at 10 years, 5.1% at 20 years, and 20.5% at 30 years which shows an increase in joint involvement with increasing age, at least until the age of 30. The objective of this study was to explore joint involvement in psoriatic patients in this region and determine what are the demographic disparities in Psoriatic patients regarding joint involvement. We hypothesized that individuals with psoriasis between …

Gout Versus Pseudogout In The Medically Underserved Rio Grande Valley, Blake C. Martin, Fernando Cisneros, Kristina Vatcheva

Research Symposium

Background: Gout and pseudogout are inflammatory joint conditions, with gout being one of the most prevalent etiologies of chronic inflammatory arthritis in the United States. The patient population in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has a distinct demographic profile that warrants exploration of various health conditions. The primary objective of this study is to compare the frequencies of gout and pseudogout in the Rio Grande Valley to national frequencies and determine if there were demographic disparities between Gout and Pseudogout in this community. We hypothesized that the frequency gout and pseudogout would be higher in the RGV compared to the …

Demographic And Clinical Characterization Of Bone Metastases And Primary Malignant Bone Neoplasia In The Rio Grande Valley, Blake C. Martin, Neharika Penmetcha, Aun Bangash, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a developing clinical research region characterized by its distinctive demographic profile that offers an opportunity to investigate diverse health issues. This pilot investigation seeks to identify the characteristics of patients diagnosed with bone metastasis and primary malignant bone neoplasia (PMBN) in the RGV. The main objective was to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics linked to bone metastases and PMBN in patients from the Rio Grande Valley. We hypothesized that older age and higher BMI individuals would have greater frequency of metastatic lesions compared to PMBN.

Methods: Data was gathered from the …

Demographic And Clinical Characteristics Of Patients With Benign Bone Tumors: Evidence Of Bimodal Age Distribution In A Hispanic Population, Blake C. Martin, Mohammad Khalil, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: As far as researchers know, there’s no way to prevent BBTs from forming. Although these tumors generally do not metastasize, they can still be dangerous as they may grow and compress healthy tissues and lead to poor outcomes. The principal objective was to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics linked to BBTs in individuals from the Rio Grande Valley. We hypothesized that older age, males, and higher BMI individuals would have greater frequency of BBTs.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review and IRB approval was obtained prior to starting this study. We obtained medical charts for individuals who …

Comprehensive Management Of A High-Risk Pregnant Woman With A Meningoendothelial Meningioma: A Case Report, Blake C. Martin, Kevin Garcia Valdez, Anesu Karen Murambadoro, Tirath Patel, Bharathi S. Gadad, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Meningiomas are the most common CNS tumors and are associated with complications including localized neurological impairments, seizures, and reduced quality of life. These tumors have an incidence twice as high in women as in men, increasing with age and peaking in the seventh and eighth decades of life. The main risk factor for developing meningiomas is exposure to ionizing radiation, although research suggests hormones also contribute. The higher incidence in women, presence of hormone receptors in some tumors, and changes during pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, suggest a hormonal link. While pregnancy does not increase meningioma incidence, symptoms …

Characterizing Fracture Distribution By Sex, Age, And Body Region: Insights From A Regional Population Study, Blake C. Martin, Jared Hensley, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: This Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas is a unique region that is impoverished and medically underserved. We conducted this study in order to further the knowledge of orthopedics in this unique, medically underserved community. We sought to determine if certain body regions, based on sex and age, were at increased risk for fracture in this population. We hypothesized that females would have increased fracture frequency at older ages while males would have increased fracture frequency at all other ages. We also hypothesized that femur and forearm fractures would be increased in females compared to males.

Methods …