Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of Testosterone Therapy On Voices In Trans-Masculine People: A Scoping Review, Samuel E. Hedine, Jeff Conn, Deanna Britton

Student Research Symposium

Treatment of trans people by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) dates back to at least the 1980s. However, the majority of early research on the voices of trans people focused on trans-women. More recently, the field of speech-language pathology has garnered more interest in the effects of testosterone therapy in trans-masculine individuals. The goal of this project is to review current research, and compile the known effects of testosterone therapy in the trans-masculine population on common acoustic indices of voice production, including fundamental frequency (pitch), decibels/sound pressure level (dB SPL; loudness) and cepstral peak prominence (voice quality). A scoping literature search was …

Impact Of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement On Pain And Disability In Patients With Chronic Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: Results From An Rct, Danielle Zuzero

Student Research Symposium

Lumbosacral Radiculopathy (LR), also known as sciatica, is a common type of radiating neurologic pain in the lower extremities with an estimated lifetime prevalence as high as 43%. The goal of this randomized control trial was to determine the impact of virtually delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) on patients with LR. Participants were randomized to MORE sessions or treatment-as-usual (TAU) for 8 consecutive weeks, pain intensity was collected daily via email. At baseline and follow-up visits, participants completed questionnaires of disability, quality of life, depression, mindful interpretation of pain, and train mindfulness. Patients undergoing MORE sessions had greater improvement in …

Exploring Speech Experiences, Cpib Scores, And Aac Assessment Experiences Of Autistic Aac Users With Intermittent, Unreliable, Insufficient, And/Or Expensive Speech, Karina Rayl, Pang Lee Herr, Brandon Eddy, Amy Donaldson, Stephanie Fuller, Alyssa Zisk

Student Research Symposium

There is growing evidence from the perspectives of speaking autistic people that augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports their self-expression and communicative agency. Despite the evidence supporting the communication effectiveness of AAC, autistic adults have reported that professionals often prioritized speech as the ideal communicative method rather than offering AAC as a communication option. This study will investigate autistic adults’ AAC assessment experiences and explore whether a modified version of the Communication Participation Item Bank (CPIB) self-rating questionnaire could be an effective tool to document the internal states of intermittent, unreliable, insufficient, and/or expensive speech. Surveys will be distributed to …

Construction And Mutagenesis Of Ssv1 Mutants In Extreme Viruses, Lou Ann F. O'Connor, Jono Abshier, Kenneth M. Stedman

Student Research Symposium

Archaeal viruses with unique structures such as spindle-shaped virions are found abundantly in extreme environments like geothermal hot springs around the world. Among all spindle-shaped viruses, the model Sulfolobus Spindle-shaped Virus 1 (SSV1) is best studied. Creating the lemon-shaped or spindle-shaped virion structure are two proteins, VP1 as the major capsid protein, and VP3 as the minor capsid protein. The primary structure of VP1 consists of a proteolytic cleavage site at position 66 that is believed to be necessary for virus evolution. Recent studies showed that genetic mutation of the amino acid, glutamate (E) at position 66 in VP1 which …

Impact Of Intersecting Vulnerabilities On Functional Outcome And Health-Related Quality Of Life After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Cohort Study, Rekesh Subedi, Tatiana Hoyos-Gomez, Luis Tinoco-Garcia, John Cervantes Cervantes

Student Research Symposium

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a critical public health issue that disproportionately affects select vulnerable populations, including race/ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and those without health insurance. Despite high incidences of TBI and its considerable impact on morbidity and mortality, research is limited in addressing how the intersectionality of vulnerabilities contributes to outcomes post-TBI. This literature review aims to synthesize existing knowledge regarding Social determinants of health (SDH) on TBI outcomes, focusing on functional recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study will use a prospective cohort research design where TBI patients at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) will …

Feesability Of Laryngeal Endoscopy Simulation Labs In Student Training: A Scoping Review, Anna Thut

Student Research Symposium

Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) involves passing a flexible endoscope through the nose and down the throat to provide a detailed view of the throat, airway, and vocal folds. With the scope in place, people can eat and drink, allowing the clinician to evaluate for safe swallowing. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) use FEES for diagnostic evaluation and to gauge therapy progress and effectiveness. Simulation training on a low or high-fidelity model may provide a bridge for SLP graduate students to gain competency before being introduced to FEES in a clinical setting. This review aims to gather evidence on the use …

Respiratory-Swallowing Coordination In Motor Neuron Disease: A Scoping Review, Mariam Z. Mansoor

Student Research Symposium

Respiratory-swallowing coordination (RSC) is essential for providing efficient breathing and optimal swallowing function. Most commonly used methods of measuring RSC include nasal thermistry, and respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) to determine direction and durations of airflow. Outcome measures include swallow apnea duration (SAD) and respiratory phase pattern (RPP), i.e., direction of airflow pre- and post-SAD. The goal of the current project was to conduct a scoping literature review of RSC, focusing on the motor neuron disease (MND) population, including people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A multi-engine literature search was conducted in 2023-24 via PubMed and Google Scholar. No limitations were …

Interpersonal Experiential Learning And Cancer Research Training Designed To Enhance The Motivation Of Participating Interns Utilizing Self-Determination Theory: A Longitudinal Study With Photovoice Methodology, Alex Vazquez-Cortes, Dierdre Mckay, Connie Tran, Bridget Bugla, Tiffany Bui, Kaisa Holt, Anthony Phan, Clare Hansen, Amy Lin, Amanda Braley, Lisa Marriott Phd

Student Research Symposium

Historically, the underrepresentation of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, disabled, and diverse racial/ethnic groups in STEM fields is prevalent. Equity in stem fields allows for different perspectives and knowledge backgrounds allows for the cognitive diversity needed to tackle complex research topics. The Knight Scholars Program (KSP) aims to support underrepresented and disadvantaged high school and undergraduate students pursuing a research career by teaching them the tools they need to succeed. Spanning over three summers, KSP utilized the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) of motivation to create an inclusive learning environment and to strengthen the high schoolers' motivation to pursue research careers focusing on …

Evaluation Of Sleep Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury In Children Using Questionnaires And Actigraphy, Connie Tran, Sydney Weese, Cydni Williams Md

Student Research Symposium

Traumatic brain injuries are the result of a sudden external blunt force to the brain and can result in long-term complications or death. In pediatrics, it is the leading cause of acute and chronic sleep wake disturbances, as well as cognitive deficits, which can lead to a reduction in the quality of life. These impairments can later result in lowered performance in work and school settings or decreased psychosocial function. Although there is sufficient evidence that traumatic brain injuries contribute to is that it is unknown whether or not sleep wake disturbances contribute to an increase in the mentioned cognitive …

Hide & Cru-Seq: Investigating Potential Crucivirus Hosts With Fluorescently Labeled Protein, Marcell Devaune Richard, Nacho De La Higuera, Jono Abshier, Ken Stedman

Student Research Symposium

Cruciviruses are DNA viruses that contain a capsid protein that shares striking similarities to capsid proteins from RNA viruses. Formerly known as “RNA-DNA hybrid viruses”, this novel type of viruses suggest gene exchange between unrelated RNA and DNA viruses. However, the hosts of cruciviruses remain unknown. To investigate this groundbreaking virus genome further, utilization of the predicted viral host recognition domain (P-domain) fused to a thermal green protein and a histidine tag, allows investigation of crucivirus hosts in environments where these viruses have been discovered. Using cruciviruses that have been found in soil samples on the PSU campus, along with …

Second Language Impacts On First Language Processing, Natalie Robison, Sarah C. Creel, Sarah Elkington, Judith Kelholt, Amy Lin, Carolyn Quam

Student Research Symposium

This line of research investigates attrition (loss of fluency) of native Mandarin language (L1) proficiency with increasing proficiency in English. English uses pitch to denote intonation (e.g., “it’s there?” versus “it’s there!”), while Mandarin uses pitch to indicate word meanings; e.g., /he/ means “drink” with a high, level tone, or “river” with a rising tone. The present study delineates between two alternative explanations for the prior finding (Quam & Creel, 2017) that English proficiency correlates with attrition of Mandarin tones, but not vowels. This pattern could be explained by 1) language assimilability (L1-L2 Assimilability Hypothesis), or 2) by tone being …

S100b As A Protein Marker For Intracranial Hemorrhages, Anthony Phan

Student Research Symposium

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of S100B as a protein marker for patients that are clinically diagnosed with an Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH). This study enrolled patients that present to the hospital as a trauma activation consistent with a traumatic brain injury (either a blunt or penetrating traumatic mechanism) who are 15 or older, GCS of 12 or lower, and received the placebo arm of the TXA drug. The S100B level of patients will be measured through an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). After the data collection, a statistical test will be conducted to determine the level of significance for …

Systematic Comparison Of Propensity Score Matching And Structural Causal Modeling For Clinical Applications, With A Case Study Of Albumin Treatment For Acute Kidney Injury (Aki) Patients: Propensity Score Matching Vs. Structural Causal Models, Layaal Khellah

Student Research Symposium

Introduction:

Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Structural Causal Models (SCMs) are key approaches in causal inference for treatment evaluation and clinical decisions, both rooted in the potential outcome framework but differing in their foundations—PSM follows Rubin's Causal Model, while SCMs adhere to the Structural Theory of Causation.

Methods:

Our study compares PSM and SCMs in clinical contexts, focusing on albumin as an AKI treatment. We examine each method's steps, highlighting differences. Using data from AKI patients with cirrhosis, we assess albumin’s treatment efficacy with both PSM and SCMs, offering insights into their performance in estimating causal effects..

Results:

PSM and …

Considering The Historical And Systemic Context, To What Extent Are Cuban Women’S Healthcare And Reproductive Rights Affected By The Privacy And Social Influence Of Cuba Today?, Autumn Cowell

Student Research Symposium

This paper will examine how historical and systemic values continue to frame social influences thus impacting Cuban women’s healthcare and reproductive rights. If the impact of history and systems still affects social influences then Women’s Healthcare and Reproductive Rights may be compromised. This investigation will highlight the potential benefits and risks of historical and systemic values that have affected challenges or changes within Cuban culture. And how these social influences are found within the areas of prevention, intervention, and treatment. This paper hopes to outline how the Cuban government and society are sustaining the protection of Cuban women’s access to …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Food Insecurity And Subsequent Consequences In Post-Secondary Students In The United States: A Systematic Review With Meta Analysis, Meshora Suthanthira, Valerie Cadet

Research Day

Introduction

Food insecurity is a prevalent problem in the United States that affects the livelihoods of many individuals and families. Food security is defined as “a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical and social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle.” (Committee on World Food Security (CFS), 2012). The purpose of this systematic review is to compare food insecurity and its effects on mental health, physical health, and academics, prior to the start of the pandemic and after stay-at-home …

A Holistic Approach To Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment And Management, Roshni R. Patel, Hannah Kruse, Julienne Ryland, L. Michael Waters Jr

Research Day

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumor cerebri or benign intracranial hypertension, is a neurological condition characterized by elevated intracranial pressure, leading to headache, tinnitus, and transient visual loss. There is currently no clearly outlined pathophysiology; however, IIH predominantly impacts reproductive-aged women who are overweight or obese. The prevalence of IIH is estimated to be approximately 1 in 100,000 individuals. In young females with obesity, the rate increases to 20 out of every 100,000. Beyond its neurological implications, IIH can give rise to psychiatric manifestations over time. The initial presentation of IIH, especially for those experiencing it for the …

Unraveling The Collective Impact Of Health Disparities Associated With Hip Arthroplasty, Tina Alkhazali, Quinn Astrachan, Aribah Ali, Jovante Dockery, Robert Ablove

Research Day

Introduction

Hip arthroplasty, also known as hip joint replacement, is a surgical procedure that significantly improves the quality of life for individuals suffering from severe hip joint dysfunction. However, social determinants, such as ethnicity/race and socioeconomic status (SES), can play a pivotal role in the utilization rate, surgical outcomes, and the postsurgical events. Nearly all past studies have focused on a single social determinant. This narrative review aims to shed light on the existing health disparities in hip arthroplasty utilization and patient outcomes in a comprehensive and collective manner.

Methods

Review was conducted using the OneSearch database with a combination …

The Impact Of Low-Level Laser Therapy With Chronic Genital Lymphedema: A Case Study, Shelley Dicecco, Jennifer Wiley, Katherine Palmer

Research Day

Introduction: Lymphedema is a frequent outcome for people who have undergone cancer treatments due to the damage to the lymphatic system from radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery. Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is the standard treatment for the increased edema and fibrosis resulting from lymphedema and can lower a person’s risk of developing an infection (4). Another possible intervention is using a low-level laser, such as the 904-nm one from RainCorp, to target the fibrotic tissue, leading to tissue breakdown to improve ROM and QOL. Most research on adjunct treatments, like the RianCorp low-level laser therapy (LLLT), that can break down fibrotic …

Microbial Dysbiosis And Nutritional Factors That Promote Remyelination In Multiple Sclerosis, Katherine C. Grant, Francis Jenney

Research Day

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the infiltration of peripheral lymphocytes into the central nervous system, resulting in inflammation and demyelination. Microbial dysbiosis has been observed in MS patients and may play a role in the loss of immune tolerance, leading to autoimmunity. Thus, it is believed that the gut microbiota can influence the inflammation seen in MS patients through the gut-brain axis. Diet and nutrition are highly implicated in inflammatory diseases because they can control the abundance of bacterial species and transcription factors and gene expression in host cells, ultimately creating pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune responses. …

A Case Comparison Of Two Instances Of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Hannah Kruse, Roshni Patel, Julienne Ryland, L. Michael Waters

Research Day

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a condition in which intracranial pressures become elevated with no clear or obvious cause. While the pathophysiology remains elusive, a multitude of medications, comorbid states, and risk factors have been attributed to IIH. Clinical presentation includes intense headaches with papilledema, tinnitus, and transient vision loss. IIH is a diagnosis of exclusion and patients are often instructed to lose weight and provided medication in the event of flare ups.

Case 1

Patient GA was a 23 year old Caucasian female at the time of diagnosis with a BMI of 34.3 kg/m2. Personal history at the time …

Case Review: Rattlesnake Bite With Compartment Syndrome And Fasciotomy, Darya Hosein, Tracey Bastiaans

Research Day

Introduction: In the United States, approximately 9,000 people suffer from snake bites per year with an estimated five deaths reported annually.1 Majority of venomous snake bites are from one of two broad classes, Crotalinae (pit vipers) or Elapidae (coral snakes). More than 99% of snake bites that occur in the United States are from pit vipers and majority of those are due to rattlesnakes. The presentation of envenomation by one of these classes of snakes is distinctly different from one another and management options rely on discerning the etiology of a patient’s snake bite. 2 The severity of a snake …

A Modern Collared Cementless Femoral Stem For The Arthroplasty Treatment Of Femoral Neck Fractures, Justin T. Butler, Mary Jane Mcconnell, Ryan Decook, Brian Seng, Thomas Bradbury, Brandon H. Naylor

Research Day

Background: The use of cemented femoral fixation during hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture (FNF) is often recommended due to a widely reported decreased risk of early perioperative fracture and reoperation. However, newer generation cementless, collared, triple-tapered stems, may offer advantages over more traditional press fit femoral components. The purpose of this study was to investigate the 30-day survivorship of a modern, collared cementless stem when treating FNFs with hip arthroplasty through the direct anterior (DA) approach.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty (HA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) for isolated displaced FNF between …

Comparing Gait Biomechanics And Function In Children With Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy When Wearing Oskar Afo-Footwear Combination Versus Standard Afo-Footwear Combination: An Exploratory Study, Teresa Pierce

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are often prescribed for children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) to enhance ankle/foot alignment and improve gait. Typical AFOs are made to hold the ankle at a right angle, or plantigrade position, without consideration of structural limitations or musculoskeletal function, causing compensatory gait patterns and compromised foot postures in children with CP with limited gastrocnemius muscle length. Literature suggests that walking ability can be maximized when AFOs are optimized to accommodate for structural limitations and tuned to facilitate a walking pattern that more closely aligns with typical gait parameters. There is limited research examining gait …

A First Year Medical Student Using Omt As An Adjunct Treatment For Managing An 80-Year-Old With Cervical Radiculopathy, Tran M. Vo, Anne K. Belocura, Jessica P. Blakley, Joy Zarandy

Research Day

Introduction

Cervical radiculopathy is commonly attributed to degenerative spinal changes associated with aging. Conservative management with NSAIDS, muscle relaxers, opioids, and glucocorticoids can relieve symptoms, but have inherent risks particularly for patients >65 years-old or with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus. Alternatively, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is relatively low risk, even when performed by a supervised first-year DO student. One study highlights the overall effectiveness of OMT performed by first- and second-year DO students on family members outside a graded environment. Our case study demonstrates how adjunct OMT in an elderly patient with symptomatic cervical radiculopathy and diabetes mellitus provides symptomatic …

Acquired Reactive Perforating Collagenosis: A Case Report, Neena Edupuganti, Joseph M. Dyer, Onyebuchi Neita

Research Day

Background:

Reactive Perforating Collagenosis (RPC), a subtype of perforating dermatosis, is a rare skin condition in which altered collagen is eliminated through the epidermis. There are two forms of RPC: (1) the inherited form which is very rare and presents in childhood, and in this case (2) the acquired form which presents in adulthood and is associated with systemic diseases, most notably reported being diabetes mellitus and/or chronic renal failure. This case highlights the importance of having a high clinical index of suspicion in patients with systemic disease who present with diffuse pruritic keratotic papules.

Case Presentation:

A 65 year-old …

Masking During The Pandemic: Their Role In Possible Delaying Medical Diagnoses; A Case Report, Sanjana Das, Ryan Kanungo, Ranjita Sengupta

Research Day

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought a profound global shift particularly in medicine and daily life (2). Within healthcare, masks assumed heightened significance as frontline workers attended to potentially infected/infected patients. Initially, limited data existed on effectiveness, mask types, and ideal duration of use, resulting in a generalized protocol of patients and the healthcare team wearing masks during healthcare visits (3). While serving as a shield against COVID-19, masks also possess the potential to conceal subtle disease indicators present only beneath their covering. Notably, no studies to date have explored whether the widespread use of masks throughout the pandemic …

A “Clot”-Astrophe: Recurrent Dvts In A Pediatric Patient, Pooja Parikh, Erik Zarandy, David Flowers

Research Day

Background:

Thoracic outlet syndrome is largely overlooked in the pediatric population due to its widely varied presentation and not being commonly viewed as a pediatric disorder. This case study will demonstrate an adolescent with recurrent DVTs who was found to have venous thoracic outlet syndrome caused by anatomic compression and an underlying hypercoagulable disorder. The aim of this report is to highlight the presentation of venous TOS in a pediatric patient without a clear anatomic cause or Paget Schroetter syndrome.

Case Presentation:

A 17-year-old Caucasian male with no PMHx presented to the Pediatric ED with 1 day of sudden onset …

Efavirenz, A Cyp46a1 Activator Ameliorates Pathological Neovascularization In A Mouse Model Of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy, Shubhra Rajpurohit, Josephine M. Rudd, Allston Oxenrider, Ravirajsin N. Jadeja, Menaka C. Thounaojam

Research Day

Introduction: In a prior study, we documented the predominant reliance of the developing retina on the alternate bile acid (BA) synthesis pathway. However, in the context of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in mouse models, retinal BA synthesis undergoes significant dysregulation, marked by a pronounced reduction in the activity of the key rate-limiting enzyme, Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP or P450) 46A1.

Objective: The objective of this current investigation is to assess the impact of efavirenz (EFV)-mediated activation of CYP46A1 on retinal neovascularization in OIR mice, a model representative of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: Seven-day-old (P7) C57BL/6J mice were subjected to the …

Resolution Of Chronic Coccydynia After Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: A Case Report, Daniel A. Valdés, Meagan Sherrington, L. Michael Waters Jr

Research Day

Coccydynia is characterized by pain or discomfort in the coccyx region, most frequently caused by direct trauma. This condition, exacerbated by sitting on flat or hard surfaces, may cause immobility and adversely impact the daily lives of those afflicted. Standard treatment options include ergonomic adaptations, manual or physical therapy, nerve blocks, or surgery. Currently, there is very little evidence supporting the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as a therapeutic option for patients suffering from chronic coccydynia. The authors describe the case of a 26-year-old female, previously healthy, highly active competitive volleyball player who developed chronic coccydynia following direct trauma …

41-Year-Old Female With Self-Resolving Abdominal Aorta Injury: Case Report, Nicholas Beckmann, Mykenna Nichols

Research Day

Purpose: This case report will analyze current research on the treatment of traumatic aortic injuries and describe the case of a 41-year-old female whose injury healed without intervention with the purpose of furthering knowledge of conservative treatment options for aortic injury.

Materials and Methods: This case study’s methods include a review of published literature on traumatic aortic injuries and a description of a unique case that demonstrates the importance of injury classification and noninvasive treatment.

Results: A 41-year-old female patient with high energy trauma presented with a multifocal low grade (grade 1) abdominal aorta injury which healed without surgical intervention. …