Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Immediate-Use Rescue Medication And The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: Experiences From An Expert Panel, Evelyn K. Shih, Brin E. Freund, Michael R. Sperling, Danielle A. Becker, Proleta Datta, Sandra Dewar, Edward Faught, Tracy Glauser, R. Edward Hogan, Randa Jarrar, Andres M. Kanner, David King-Stephens, Rebecca E. Matthews, Patricia Penovich, M. Scott Perry, Eric B. Segal, Joseph Sirven, John M. Stern, James W. Wheless, Enrique Carrazana, Adrian L. Rabinowicz, William O. Tatum

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: People with epilepsy (PWE) may experience seizure clusters, broadly defined as ≥2 seizures that occur in close proximity. In epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs), seizure clusters can spontaneously occur during long-term videoelectroencephalogram monitoring (LTVEM) or as a result of antiseizure medication dose adjustments. In this survey, we examined the experiences and practices of expert clinicians with seizure clusters in EMUs.

METHODS: A 55-item survey was sent to members of an Epilepsy Education Council who are epilepsy experts. Items described experiences, treatment practices, and negative outcomes with seizure clusters in EMUs.

RESULTS: Of the 15 experts (aged 43-77 y), 14 are …

The Effect Of Coadministration Of D156844 And Ar42 (Rec-2282) On The Survival And Motor Phenotype Of Mice With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Ashlee W. Harris, Rod C. Scott, Matthew E. R. Butchbach

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by degeneration of spinal motor neurons and is a leading genetic cause of pediatric death worldwide. SMA results from the loss of or pathological variant in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Disease severity is dependent on the number of copies of the orthologous SMN2 gene, which is nearly identical to SMN1 except for some key nucleotide differences. As disease severity is inversely related to SMN2 copy number, most SMA therapeutics trials have focused on identifying ways to increase SMN2 expression at different levels of gene regulation. Other studies have investigated compounds which …

Discontinuation Rates And Predictors Of Medical Cannabis Cessation For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Mohammad Khak, Sina Ramtin, Juliet Chung, Asif M. Ilyas, Ari Greis

Rothman Institute Papers

Medical cannabis (MC) is increasingly used as a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, but there is limited data on factors influencing its discontinuation. This study aims to investigate the rates of MC discontinuation and explore factors influencing it in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 78 patients certified for medical cannabis over a 2 year period. Patient demographics, pain origin, and Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) scores were collected before intervention. Discontinuation rates were measured at three-month and one-year follow-up. Statistical analyses, including Fisher's Exact Test and two-sample t-tests, were performed …

Performance Of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate And Baseline Cortisol In Assessing Adrenal Insufficiency, Ashley J Han, Malavika Suresh, Lucinda M Gruber, Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Sara J Achenbach, Elizabeth J Atkinson, Irina Bancos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: Diagnosing adrenal insufficiency (AI) often requires complex testing, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a promising marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function; however, its diagnostic performance has not yet been evaluated in a large-scale study.

Objective: Evaluate the performance of DHEAS and baseline cortisol in assessing AI.

Design: Single-center retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Referral center.

Patients: Adults who underwent cosyntropin stimulation testing (CST) between 2005 and 2023 and had DHEAS measured within 3 months prior to CST.

Main outcome measures: Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for DHEAS and baseline cortisol. Prevalence of AI based …

Tet2-Mutant Myeloid Cells Mitigate Alzheimer’S Disease Progression Via Cns Infiltration And Enhanced Phagocytosis In Mice, Katie A Matatall, Trisha K Wathan, Minh Nguyen, Hu Chen, Alexandra Mcdonald, Guantong Qi, Julia A Belk, Marcus A Florez, Duy T Le, Temitope Olarinde, Caitlyn Vlasschaert, Marco M Buttigieg, Chih-Wei Fan, Saul Carcamo, Ruoqiong Cao, Daniel E Kennedy, Arushana A Maknojia, Apoorva Thatavarty, Josaura V Fernandez Sanchez, Hind Bouzid, Surabi Veeraragavan, Susan Crocker, Margaret A Goodell, Antony Rodriguez, Siddhartha Jaiswal, Michael J Rauh, Eirini P Papapetrou, Samuele G Marro, Katherine Y King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is associated with many age-related diseases, but its interaction with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. Here, we show that TET2-mutant CH is associated with a 47% reduced risk of late-onset AD (LOAD) in the UK Biobank, whereas other drivers of CH do not confer protection. In a mouse model of AD, transplantation of Tet2-mutant bone marrow reduced cognitive decline and β-amyloid plaque formation, effects not observed with Dnmt3a-mutant marrow. Bone-marrow-derived microglia-like cells were detected at an increased rate in Tet2-mutant marrow recipients, and TET2-mutant human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia were more phagocytic and hyperinflammatory than …

Adipokines And Transitions In Metabolic Health Over Time: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Bige Ozkan, Sui Zhang, Justin B Echouffo-Tcheugui, Roberta Florido, Vijay Nambi, Erin D Michos, Layla A Abushamat, Kunihiro Matsushita, Gary Gerstenblith, Roger S Blumenthal, Ron Hoogeveen, Christie M Ballantyne, Josef Coresh, Elizabeth Selvin, Chiadi E Ndumele

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: Transitions in metabolic health status over time are strongly linked to risk for cardiovascular events, particularly among individuals with obesity. Adipokines are proteins with metabolic effects, but their role in transitions in metabolic health status over time is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of adiponectin and leptin with metabolic risk transitions over time.

Methods: Among 8423 individuals who attended ARIC Visits 2 (1990-1992) and 4 (1996-1998), we evaluated prospective associations of Visit 2 levels of the adipokines adiponectin and leptin (per 1-SD higher) with 6-year transitions in metabolic health. Metabolic health was categorized as metabolically "healthy" [no metabolic …

Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Infections In Genital And Extragenital Samples Among Men And Women, Kristal J. Aaron, Charlotte A. Gaydos, Edward W. Hook, Max Chernesky, Jeanne Moncada, Stephanie N. Taylor, Harold C. Wiesenfeld, Kenneth H. Mayer, Matthew R. Golden, Alexander Boutwell, Barbara Van Der Pol

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background For people who have anal and/or oral sex, many programs recommend genital and extragenital (defined here as anorectal and oropharyngeal) screening for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) to identify all potential sites of infection. Methods We assessed genital and extragenital CT and NG prevalence among people reporting extragenital sexual exposure. Results Among 343 gay and bisexual men who reported sex with men (GBMSM), 42 (12.2%) had CT with positivity of 3.5%, 9.3% and 1.8% in the genital, anal, and oral samples, respectively. In this same group, 55 (16.0%) had NG with positivity of 5.2%, 8.5%, and 7.6% …

Proactive Planning For Contextual Fit: The Role Of The Implementation Premortem, Guillermo M Wippold, Kaylyn A Garcia, Ariel Domlyn, Dylan Wong, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Implementation failure is a major barrier to program success. It is widely acknowledged that context matters-individual, community, and organizational norms, values, environment, and priorities influence successful program implementation. A mismatch between how the program was intended to be delivered and the constraints of the context in which it was delivered is a major cause of implementation failure. The barriers to implementation are usually understood after a program has failed. Although there are tools that can help accommodate for, or overcome, contextually-driven sources of implementation failure, there remains a significant gap - a tool and structured approach to analyze data …

Improving Medication Adherence In Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension, Suzanne Cockrell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

The project’s purpose was to improve medication adherence and blood pressure with an educational packet. The project was necessary due to patient’s elevated blood pressure readings during visit encounters. Implementation occurred at a clinic in Central Texas and included established patients ages 18 or older with uncontrolled hypertension and employed staff members. The Health Belief Model provided a framework to form a hypertension educational packet. The packet was provided at varying locations within the clinic and via staff handouts. Visual aids were intentionally selected to depict the damaging effects of hypertension, hypertension monitoring, and guidance on medication reminder apps. The …

Advancing Workforce Development In Digital Health: A Regional Model From The Gcc, Manal Almalki, Osama El-Hassan, Jawad Ahmed, Amr Jamal, Mowafa Househ, Evelyn Hovenga, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

This study examines the evolution of ZIMAM's role in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) taskforce on workforce development in digital healthcare. Established in 2016 and formalized as a non-profit organization in 2023, ZIMAM integrates international best practices, regional insights, and innovative strategies to develop a scalable digital health knowledge and skills framework. ZIMAM's methodology includes competency mapping aligned with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), stakeholder engagement, and iterative validation to ensure relevance and adaptability. Key ZIMAM initiatives encompass the development of governance structures, capacity-building workshops, annual conferences, and recognition programs such as the ZIMAM-ELSEVIER Digital Health Awards. …

A Multi-Measurement Study Of The Relation Between Deliberation And Volition, Guillaume P. Pech, Emilie A. Caspar, Elisabeth Pacherie, Axel Cleeremans, Uri Maoz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Historically, voluntary action and volition more generally have been investigated through the lens of meaningless decisions. Importantly, these findings have been used in the debate about key notions like free will and moral responsibility. However, more recent claims have challenged the possibility of generalizing findings from a meaningless context to a more meaningful one. The current study investigates the markers of volition, specifically comparing meaningful and meaningless decisions. In an effort to maximize their monetary gain, 50 participants repeatedly deliberated between two options, making either rewarded choices—hard-deliberation decisions (where the options differed along two dimensions) or easy-deliberation decisions (where the …

Generational Health Professional Perceptions About Artificial Intelligence Impact On Clinical Work, Karima Lalani, Kerryn Butler-Henderson, David T Marc, Susan H Fenton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Whilst the evidence-base related to artificial intelligence (AI) has been growing in relation to its use and impact on healthcare, there is a lack of evidence related to the health workforce impact and no research examining the generational perceptions in relation to the health workforce and AI. This paper presents the results of a survey, which found generational differences in perceptions about the impact of AI on clinical jobs. Gen Z and Millennials were more likely to agree with statements that AI will improve their clinical decision-making skills/abilities, accomplish clinical tasks more quickly, and cause unemployment in their professional occupation. …

Enhancing Digital Health Development Through Speech Act Theory: Application To Peripartum Depression Management, Alexandra Zingg, Tavleen Singh, Michael Truong, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The peripartum period is a time of complex transition into motherhood when women may develop peripartum depression (PPD). Digital information sources can help prevent and monitor symptoms through social support and mental health knowledge. However, few studies have characterized the content and form of peer interactions in PPD online forums to inform interventions. In this paper, we present preliminary work using a dataset of 55,301 interactions to inform our digital health development. We combine manual coding for speech acts, behavioral theory mapping, and user engagement modeling to conceptualize dynamic digital education modules for PPD. Results reveal "Expressive" speech act, where …

Towards Data-Driven Science Literacy: Extracting Psycholinguistic Markers In Vaping-Related Online Peer Interactions, Michael Truong, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Tavleen Singh, Kirk Roberts, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social media debates on e-cigarettes raise public health concerns due to evolving evidence and conflicting guidelines. We analyzed 25,127 vaping-related comments to explore how users discuss vaping-related topics. Our analysis revealed 25 topics grouped into three parent topics: positive effects of vaping, negative effects of vaping, and vaping-related news & information. Significant differences were observed in psycholinguistic characteristics with high emotional exchanges as positive and negative effects of e-cigarettes are debated. Our results can inform interventions promoting science literacy and misinformation resistance.

Frontline Acalabrutinib, Lenalidomide And Rituximab For Advanced Stage Follicular Lymphoma With High Tumor Burden: Phase Ii Trial, Paolo Strati, Lei Feng, Jason R Westin, Ranjit Nair, Luis E Fayad, Maria A Rodriguez, Dai Chihara, Luis Malpica, Jared Henderson, Mariana Gallardo, Marissa Rivera, Iris Wang, Anastasiia Bolshakova, Anastasia Radko, David Kurtz, Stefan K Alig, Christopher R Flowers, Ash A Alizadeh, Sattva S Neelapu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This phase II trial aims to determine the efficacy and safety of frontline acalabrutinib, lenalidomide and rituximab for patients with advanced stage follicular lymphoma (FL) and high tumor burden. The primary endpoint was best complete response (CR) rate; the secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), duration of response measured as CR at 30 months (CR30), progression of disease at 24 months (POD24) rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival and safety. Twenty-four patients with previously untreated FL were included in this phase 2 single arm study (NCT04404088). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (58%) and …

Histologic And Immune Characterization Of Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced By Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Omar Pacha, Anisha B Patel, Jonathan L Curry, Cara L Haymaker, Nejla Ozirmak Lermi, Dzifa Yawa Duose, Ken Chen, Joud Hajjar, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are efficacious, they often cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), most commonly cutaneous irAEs (CirAEs). The mechanisms underlying CirAEs remain unclear.

Methods: Attempting to better understand their mechanisms and histology we conducted a prospective study of 15 patients with advanced cancers treated with ICIs who developed grade 2 or higher CirAEs. Clinical and histologic characterization of biopsy specimens of CirAEs was performed. Histologic analysis of patient biopsy specimens were subdivided by epidermal reaction patterns that included spongiotic, lichenoid, and interface dermatitis patterns. A targeted RNA expression assay was used to identify immune markers in CirAE …

Feasibility And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Lymphedema And Fibrosis Self-Management Program For Head And Neck Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Jie Deng, Barbara Murphy, Lucy Andersen, Erin Mcmenamin, John Lukens, Joy Cohn, Karthik Rajasekaran, Ryan Quinn, Bryan Spinelli, Alexander Lin

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) are at high risk for developing lymphedema and fibrosis (LEF). Once diagnosed with LEF, survivors must engage in a lifelong program of self-care to minimize long-term adverse effects. However, evidence-based LEF self-management (SM) programs are lacking. To fill this void, we developed and pilot-tested a LEF-SM program for HNC survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The LEF-SM Program was developed using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model of health behavior change as a framework. The program was pilot tested in a three-group randomized controlled trial evaluating feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Fifty-nine participants were randomized to: Usual …

Exploring The Impact Of Foot Overpronation On Gluteus Medius Activation In Recreational Runners: A Biomechanical Analysis, Austin D. Stroeh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pes planus foot type and gluteus medius (GMed) dysfunction are independently considered risk factors in developing several overuse running-related injuries because they propagate kinematic and kinetic changes in the leg during the gait cycle. While both produce similar kinesiological actions, research on the relationship between foot type and GMed activation in running is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pes planus and pes rectus foot types and their association with GMed activity during running gait in recreational endurance runners. 47 recreational endurance-based runners running approximately 5-15 miles weekly for at least 6 months with …

Lead Like Jesus For Healthcare - Improving The Culture Of Healing Through Biblical Leadership Training, James Michael Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Lead Like Jesus is a 501(c)(3) ministry founded in 1999 that aims to reshape leadership through the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. The organization promotes leadership development that integrates servant leadership principles into a transformational leadership model, applying these ideas in secular settings where success is often linked to authority, control, and power. The principles behind the Lead Like Jesus movement are rooted in the Scriptural accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, emphasizing a leadership style characterized by humility, empathy, and genuine care for others. A review of offerings from professional associations, consulting firms, and other sources of leadership …

Changing Hearts And Minds: Educating Medical Students To Transform Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Organ Donation, Matilin G. Rigsby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The national organ shortage is exacerbated by physicians who, contrary to federal mandates, do not refer patients with organ donation potential in a timely fashion. Whereas United States medical school curricula widely omit organ donation-related topics, literature demonstrates that educating future physicians significantly improves those students’ ability to understand and positively perceive donation, influencing their willingness to refer donor candidates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if an educational module among fourth-year medical students at Texas A&M University College of Medicine Dallas Campus affects those students’ perceived knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation. The researcher administered a …

Applying The Practical, Robust, Implementation And Sustainability Model (Prism) To A Community-Based Youth Participatory Action Research Program, Nicholas Szoko, Tyia K Wilson, Ebonie Slade, Ti'yanna Risher, Marquise Wheeler, Elizabeth Miller, Alison J Culyba

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Youth participatory action research (YPAR) represents an empowerment-based process in which youth identify and address issues in their schools and communities. YPAR has been applied in diverse settings, but evaluations of YPAR implementations using an implementation and dissemination science (IDS) framework are limited. Our goal was to use the Practical, Robust, Implementation & Sustainability Model (PRISM) to evaluate a multisite community-based YPAR program.

METHODS: We identified three community sites to implement Youth Leadership in Action (YLIA+), an eight session YPAR intervention. Any youth aged 13 and older was eligible to participate. Guided by PRISM, we collected data using: (1) …

Iodine-Promoted Oxidative Cross-Coupling For The Synthesis Of (E)-2-(3-Oxo-3-Phenylprop-1-En-1-Yl)-3-Phenylquinazolin-4(3 H)-One Via C-H Activation: Development Of Synthetic Tlx Agonists, Lingaiah Maram, Puhan Zhao, Thomas Koelblen, Lamees Hegazy, Thomas P Burris, Bahaa Elgendy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We report the development of an efficient iodine-promoted oxidative cross-coupling reaction for the synthesis of (

Dynamic Mutational Profiling Of Binding Interactions And Allosteric Networks In Conformational Ensembles Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein Complexes With Classes Of Antibodies Targeting Cryptic Binding Sites: Confluence Of Binding And Allostery Determines Molecular Mechanisms And Hotspots Of Immune Escape, Mohammed Alshahrani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants has underscored the need to understand not only the structural basis of antibody recognition but also the dynamic and allosteric mechanisms that could underlie complexity of broad and escape-resistant neutralization. In this study, we employed a multi-scale approach integrating structural analysis, hierarchical molecular simulations, mutational scanning and network-based allosteric modeling to dissect how Class 4 antibodies (represented by S2X35, 25F9, and SA55) and Class 5 antibodies (represented by S2H97, WRAIR-2063 and WRAIR-2134) can modulate conformational behavior, binding energetics, allosteric interactions and immune escape patterns of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Using hierarchical simulations of the …

Building Culture And Enhancing Patient Safety: A Readability Analysis Of Internal Healthcare Communications, Trevor M. Kinsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective internal communication is essential to creating a shared organizational safety culture, improving knowledge diffusion, and delivering high quality patient care. This study examined the readability of internal healthcare communications, including policies, procedures, and internal newsletter articles, at a mid-sized healthcare system in Michigan. Readability significantly influences cognitive load, information retention, and knowledge diffusion. Poor readability hinders these items, limiting engagement and knowledge transfer. By utilizing established readability tools, including the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scales, this quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether internal healthcare documents meet the readability standards recommended by the American Medical Association. …

The Experiences Of University Health Science Students Participating In A Short-Term Medical Mission Trip, Peggie L. Williamson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of university health science students who participated in a short-term medical mission trip (STMMT). Student participation in a STMMT was generally defined as active involvement in an 8-day healthcare initiative undertaken by supervised university health science students who provided medical care and education to underserved regions. Purposeful criterion and convenience sampling were used to select ten participants from a group of university health science students registered for a STMMT to Belize in 2025. The two theories guiding this study were Husserl’s Transcendental Theory, designed to provide a …

Hand Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, And Hand Dirtiness Of Primary School Students Before And After A Behavioral Change Intervention During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Belize 2022-2023, Anh N Ly, Christina Craig, Kelsey Mcdavid, Dian Maheia, Yolanda Gongora, Francis Morey, Russell Manzanero, Alexandra Medley, Allison Stewart, Allison Lino, Ramiro Quezada, Rosalva Blanco, Vickie Romero, Gerhaldine Morazan, Ella Hawes, Oluwadara Okeremi, Kanako Ishida, Matthew Lozier, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hand hygiene (HH) can prevent the spread of infectious diseases and school absenteeism. However, limited data exist on HH practices at schools. Our study assesses the impact of a pilot HH intervention in 12 schools in Belize during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. After a national assessment of existing water, sanitation, and hygiene resources (December 2021-January 2022), 12 pilot schools were selected to evaluate an HH intervention, which included environmental nudges and HH education. Baseline assessments occurred in March 2022, the HH intervention was implemented during October 2022-May 2023, and follow-up assessments were conducted in June 2023. Student knowledge, …

Drug Development Studies Supporting Zileuton As A Parenteral Adjuvant To Attenuate Antibiotic-Associated Nephrotoxicity, Cole S Hudson, James E Smith, Linh T Vuong, Nicholas S Teran, Nazanin Pouya, David Sheikh-Hamad, Xinli Liu, Shama Kajiji, Vincent H Tam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Glycopeptide, polymyxin, and aminoglycoside antibiotics are among the most commonly used agents to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections; however, their clinical use is hindered by nephrotoxicity. We previously reported that zileuton has the potential to attenuate antibiotic-associated nephrotoxicity in an animal model. Here, we further report the development of a parenteral formulation and exploration of dosing strategies for zileuton. The solubility, stability, and multi-dose safety of two zileuton formulations were evaluated. Zileuton serum and renal tissue pharmacokinetics were evaluated after a single dose and compared to steady state after 10 days. Different dosing strategies of zileuton to attenuate vancomycin-, polymyxin B-, …

Hydrogen Sulfide Deficiency And Therapeutic Targeting In Cardiometabolic Hfpef: Evidence For Synergistic Benefit With Glp-1/Glucagon Agonism, Jake E. Doiron, Mahmoud H. Elbatreek, Huijing Xia, Xiaoman Yu, Natalie D. Gehred, Tatiana Gromova, Jingshu Chen, Ian H. Driver, Naoto Muraoka, Martin Jensen, Smitha Shambhu, W. H.Wilson Tang, Kyle B. Lapenna, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, Ming Xian, Shi Xu, Heather Quiriarte, Timothy D. Allerton, Alexia Zagouras, Jennifer Wilcox, Sanjiv J. Shah, Josef Pfeilschifter, Karl Friedrich Beck, Thomas M. Vondriska, Zhen Li, David J. Lefer

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presents significant treatment challenges. We assessed hydrogen sulfide (H2S) bioavailability in HFpEF patients and 2 animal models: the "2-hit" L-NAME + high-fat diet mouse model and ZSF1 obese rats. H2S levels were significantly reduced in patients and both models, linked to decreased cystathionine-γ-lyase expression and increased sulfide quinone oxidoreductase. Cystathionine-γ-lyase knockout worsened HFpEF, whereas pharmacological supplementation with an H2S donor improved diastolic function and reduced cardiac fibrosis. H2S supplement synergized with GLP-1/glucagon agonist and ameliorated HFpEF. These findings suggest that enhancing H2S bioavailability may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HFpEF.

Sustained Impact: Long-Term Application Of Diagnostic Uncertainty Communication Training, Danielle M. Mccarthy, Jethel Hernandez, Dimitrios Papanagnou, Kenzie A. Cameron, David H, Salzman, Andrew W. Long, Alexandra D. Franiek, Kristin L. Rising

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: More than one-third of discharged emergency department (ED) patients leave without a clear diagnosis for their symptoms. In 2019-2020, we implemented a simulation-based mastery learning curriculum across two academic medical centers to train emergency medicine residents to discuss diagnostic uncertainty during ED discharge, guided by the Uncertainty Communication Checklist (UCC). We sought to assess if this cohort continues to apply skills learned and to obtain trainee insights into the most valuable checklist items.

METHODS: A survey was emailed to all 109 participants who completed the training in 2019-2020. Questions assessed how often participants currently encountered uncertainty and used the …

Sport Specific Postural Deviations: An Analysis Of Influence, Intervention, And Long Term Postural Health In Athletes, Thomas J. Mcguire Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigated sport-specific postural deviations in college-aged individuals aged 18–21 by comparing those who participated in a high school sport for at least four consecutive years with their non-athletic peers. The study aimed to identify prevalent postural deviations and explore their implications for long-term musculoskeletal health. Drawing from biomechanical and ergonomic literature, the study employed a quasi-experimental static-group comparison design to evaluate 60 participants (30 athletes, 30 non-athletes) using the PostureScreen mobile app. Postural deviations were measured in both the frontal and sagittal planes across four regions: head, shoulders, pelvis, and knees. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to examine …