Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Maladjustment In Minority Youth From Community Network Disparities In The Covid-19 Lockdown Environment, Michael Okoronkwo, Aaron Mack, Keyana Varnado, Michael Alfred, Kevin Hardy, Amarachi Osuji, Percy Takyi, Gabriel I. Onor, Oluwatomi Akingbola, Rahn Bailey

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Pandemic lockdown orders resulted in closures to critical community networks. One such infrastructure was community recreation centers/parks. This infrastructure serves a critical role in building psychosocial wellness for youth. Socioeconomic minority youth face baseline disparity in center/park distribution and services. Youth recreation activity declined 50% as result of lockdown orders with corresponding decline in youth mental health status. Despite overall youth activity decline, White and high socioeconomic demographic categories were associated with greatest recreation access during the pandemic. Thus, the pandemic exacerbated preexisting disparities in recreation access for minority youth and its benefit towards adaptive development. Minority youth experienced greater …

Long-Term Follow-Up Of Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion: Results Of The V-Clip Multi-Center Post-Market Study, Elias Zias, Katherine G Phillips, Marc Gerdisch, Scott Johnson, Ahmed El-Eshmawi, Kenneth Saum, Michael Moront, Michael Kasten, Chanderdeep Singh, Gautam Bhatia, Hiroo Takayama, Ralph Damiano

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

How Much Variance Exists Among Published Definitions Of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis? A Retrospective Cohort Study Of Adult Spinal Deformity, Tim T Bui, Karan Joseph, Alexander T Yahanda, Samuel Vogl, Miguel Ruiz-Cardozo, Camilo A Molina

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Brain Cancer Using Genome-Wide Cell-Free Dna Fragmentomes, Dimitrios Mathios, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED: Diagnostic delays in patients with brain cancer are common and can impact patient outcome. Development of a blood-based assay for detection of brain cancers could accelerate brain cancer diagnosis. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide cell-free (cfDNA) fragmentomes, including fragmentation profiles and repeat landscapes, from the plasma of individuals with (n = 148) or without (n = 357) brain cancer. Machine learning analyses of cfDNA fragmentome features detected brain cancer across all-grade gliomas (AUC = 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.87-0.93), and these results were validated in an independent prospectively collected cohort. cfDNA fragmentome changes in patients with gliomas represented …

Alternative To The Statistical Mass Confusion Of Testing For "No Effect", Josh L Morgan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In cell biology, statistical analysis means testing the hypothesis that there was no effect. This weak form of hypothesis testing neglects effect size, is universally misinterpreted, and is disastrously prone to error when combined with high-throughput cell biology. The solution is for analysis of measurements to start and end with an interpretation of effect size. In this manuscript, I walk through some of the common critiques of significance testing and how they relate to experimental cell biology. I argue that careful consideration of effect size should be returned to its central position in the planning and discussion of cell biological …

An Ethanol-Induced Loss Of The Lipid Droplet-Associated Segregase Vcp/P97 Leads To Hepatic Steatosis, Sandhya Sen, Shaun Weller, Ryan J Schulze, Donglin Ding, Carol A Casey, Conrad Weihl, Mark A Mcniven

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The liver stores substantial numbers of neutral lipid organelles termed lipid droplets (LDs) that accumulate within hepatocytes in response to chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption leading to hepatic steatosis. Mass spectrometry analysis of LDs isolated from EtOH-damaged rat livers revealed a substantial reduction in the valosin-containing protein ATPase (VCP/p97) that acts to remove targeted proteins from cellular membranes for degradation. Experimental disruption of VCP function resulted in an increase in LD content in hepatocytes and mouse livers along with a marked increase in LD-associated hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17β13) known to contribute to hepatic steatosis. Surprisingly, treatment of hepatocytes with the proteasome inhibitor …

Provider's Attitudes Towards Telehealth And Parenting Interventions During Covid-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study From Brazil And Mexico, Marina Kohlsdorf, Cole Hooley, Alejandro L Vázquez, Mariana M Juras, Grant Decker, Taylor Iskalis, Kayla Miller, Quinn Tompkins, Nancy G A Buenabad, Michela Ribeiro, Acileide C F Coelho, Ana A Baumann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for mental health providers all over the world, since they had to abruptly change from in person assistance to remote meetings. The adverse effects from social isolation were critical in Latinx populations such as Brazil and Mexico, since these countries faced a great amount of social, health, and economic burden during the pandemic, which affected families' access to care and increased inappropriate parenting practices.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the impacts of adapting parenting interventions to online sessions for Brazilian and Mexican providers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: Sixty-two Brazilian and 49 …

Breast Cancer Survival Rates And Determinants In Ethiopia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Longitudinal Studies, Abenezer M. Tafese, Meseker T. Fentie, Beminate L. Seifu, Angwach A. Asnake, Bikiltu D. Dirbaba, Abdisa G. Jara, Elsabeth Tizazu Asare, Brandon George

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Ethiopia, accounting for 32% of new cancer cases and 17.6% of cancer deaths. Despite its growing burden, comprehensive data on survival rates and contributing factors remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing data on breast cancer survival in Ethiopia and identify key determinants influencing outcomes.

METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL to identify studies on breast cancer survival in Ethiopia published between January 2014 and August 2024. Eligible …

Partial Cystectomy For Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer, Peter S Palencia, Nethusan Sivanesan, Syed Rahman, Fady Ghali, David Hesse, John Colberg, Ashwin Sridhar, John D Kelly, Byron H Lee, Ashish M Kamat, Wei-Shen Tan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Partial cystectomy is a surgical bladder-sparing option for selected patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), urachal adenocarcinoma and diverticular bladder tumors. Partial cystectomy hold several advantages. It allows for definite pathology and accurate staging while avoiding side effects from radiation therapy and preserves the option for salvage radical therapy (radical cystectomy or radical radiotherapy). Patients should have a CT urogram, prostatic urethral biopsy and mapping biopsies or blue light cystoscopy to rule out multifocal disease or CIS. Small solitary MIBC patients without carcinoma in situ in an area of the bladder where resection can be performed with negative margin would …

Enhancing Patient Positioning Accuracy: Evaluating Daily Cone Beam Computed Tomography In The Halcyon System., Duong Thanh Tai, Luong Tien Phat, Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Xuan Hai, Peter Sandwall, David Bradley, James C L Chow

Oncology Articles

BACKGROUND: Precise patient positioning is crucial for successful radiotherapy, ensuring accurate delivery of radiation to tumors while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. Positional errors can significantly impact treatment efficacy and increase side effects. This study evaluates the effectiveness of daily cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in the Halcyon system for detecting and correcting patient misalignments across various cancer types and treatment sites.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 411 patients treated with the Varian Halcyon linear accelerator from August 2022 to August 2024. Patients were grouped based on tumor location: Head and Neck (118 patients), Chest (188 patients), …

Bcl-2/Bcl-Xl Dual Inhibition Triggers Gasdermin D-Mediated Pyroptosis In Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Yijing Li, Joseph Mcintosh, Vivian Jiang, Fangfang Yan, Jovanny Vargas, Yuxuan Che, Wei Wang, Ching-Fei Li, Yue Fei, Celeste Lee, Lei Nie, Yixin Yao, Michael Wang, Heng-Huan Lee, Yang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Stem Cell-Derived Corneal Epithelium: Engineering Barrier Function For Ocular Surface Repair, Emily Elizabeth Fresenko, Jian-Xing Ma, Matthew Giegengack, Atalie Carina Thompson, Anthony Atala, Andrew J W Huang, Yuanyuan Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The cornea, the transparent anterior window of the eye, critically refracts light and protects intraocular structures. Corneal pathologies, including trauma, infection, chemical injury, metabolic diseases, genetic conditions, and age-related degeneration, can lead to significant visual impairment. While penetrating keratoplasty or full-thickness corneal transplantation remains a standard and effective intervention for severe corneal dysfunction, limitations in donor tissue availability and the risk of immunogenic graft rejection necessitate alternative therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, for cases of isolated epithelial disfunction, a full-thickness cornea graft may not be required or effective. This review examines the potential of corneal epithelial constructs derived from autologous stem cells …

Evaluating Virtual Group Coaching’S Impact On Self-Determination In Spinal Cord Injury, Alana Scalzo, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a lifelong condition that requires effort and adjustment for managing physical, psychological, and social well-being to have the ability to engage in meaningful activities. As people living with SCI have higher rates of isolation and social disconnect, it is important to study group level approaches for addressing mental health.

Objectives: To determine the impact of virtual group coaching to enhance occupational performance, satisfaction, self-efficacy and relationship closeness in people living with SCI.

Methods: A quasi-experimental single-group pre/post-test design was used. Adults with SCI were recruited through online flyers, social media, newsletters, support groups, clinics, …

The Efficacy Of Virtual Group Coaching On The Self-Determination Of People With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Janine E. Rajauski, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

INTRODUCTION
The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a family of 13 genetic connective tissue disorders that affect negatively physical and psychosocial health which in turns have been found to decrease their quality of life and self-determination (Baeza-Velasco et al., 2019; Bennet et al., 2021; Estrella & Fraizer, 2024; Tinkle et al., 2017; Palomo-Toucedo et al., 2020). Limited supports and services, including occupational therapy, are available for those with EDS (Estrella & Frazier, 2024; McDonald et al., 2023; Reychler et al., 2021). Those with EDS have requested better services to support their self-determination (Estrella & Frazier, 2024). Coaching has shown positive impacts …

Caregiver Attitudes Of Risky Outdoor Play For Toddlers With Developmental Delays And Disabilities In St. Louis, Missouri: A Socio-Ecological Perspective, Emily Korte-Stroff, Ot/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Abstract: Risky outdoor play fosters autonomy, emotional regulation, and resilience in early childhood, yet caregivers of toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities often face unique barriers to supporting such play. Limited research has examined how caregivers perceive the factors shaping these decisions, particularly in the United States context. This mixed-methods cross-sectional study explored how caregivers in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area perceive the socio-ecological factors shaping their attitudes toward risky outdoor play for children aged 13 to 47 months with developmental delays or disabilities. The project sought to first explore caregivers' perceptions of how interpersonal and individual factors, shape …

Evaluation Of The User Experience For A Point Of Care Molecular Test For Causes Of Vaginitis, Barbara Van Der Pol, Rebecca Lillis, Irving Nachamkin, Stephen Young, La Shonda Crane, Jacqueline Brown, R. Lamar Parker, Alice Weissfeld, Xiaohong Liu, Christina Huang, Aarthi Raman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Vaginitis is a major cause of healthcare visits in the US, costing over $1.2 billion annually. Point-of-care (POC) nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) could improve accuracy of diagnosis and treatment during initial visit for vaginitis compared to send-out NAATs. Methods: A secondary analysis of data was collected from test operators at POC testing sites where the Xpert Xpress Multiplex Vaginal Panel test (“MVP test”) was performed. Users completed a survey assessing their experience with the instrument system and the PCR-based MVP test. Results: The MVP test demonstrated consistent performance, measured by positive and negative percent agreement, across all user …

Quantile Index Predictors Using R Package Hyper.Gam, Tingting Zhan, Misung Yi, Inna Chervoneva

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

MOTIVATION: Evaluation of single-cell protein expression from immunohistochemistry images is used increasingly in biomedical research. Many proteins are used solely for phenotyping cells in the tumor microenvironment. Other proteins with meaningfully quantitative expression levels provide so-called functional protein biomarkers. There is still a limited number of methods and software tools available for utilizing the entire distributions of single-cell expression levels.

RESULTS: We present the R package hyper.gam, providing a supervised learning framework for deriving biomarkers based on single-cell distribution quantiles. The single-cell data are first converted into sample quantile functions, which are then used as predictors in scalar-on-function regression models …

Trauma Resuscitation With Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood Or Products: Study Protocol For A Randomized Clinical Trial (The Troop Trial), Jan O Jansen, Claudia Pedroza, Luis Leon Novelo, Tianyao Hao, Gina R Dewildt, Charles F Coton, Kiran Mansoor, Shannon W Stephens, Marisa B Marques, James R Stubbs, Jillian R Richter, Henry E Wang, John B Holcomb, Stacia M Desantis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hemorrhage is the most common cause of potentially preventable death after injury. Balanced transfusion with red blood cells, plasma, and platelets (component therapy, CT) has been shown to reduce mortality, and is the standard of care. Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB) is an attractive alternative to CT, but existing evidence comprises observational studies, and a small single center pilot randomized controlled trial, which evaluated a type of whole blood that is no longer in use. The aim of the "Trauma Resuscitation with Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood Or Products" (TROOP) trial is to compare the effectiveness and safety …

Rsph4a-Pcdx: An Index To Predict Lung Function Decline In Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, Gabriel Román-Ríos, Gabriel Rosario-Ortiz, Marcos J Ramos-Benitez, Ricardo A Mosquera, Wilfredo De Jesús-Rojas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous disorder that impairs mucociliary clearance and leads to progressive lung disease. This study aimed to characterize lung function decline in a genetically homogeneous cohort of Puerto Rican patients with

Management Of Postoperative Pain In Septorhinoplasty: A Systematic Review, Caitlin M Coviello, Uma R Ramesh, Beatriz Varman, Krista L Olson, Sunthosh K Sivam

Library Staff Publications

Objective: Septorhinoplasties are a common surgery. Effectively managing postoperative pain and identifying opioid reduction techniques is of critical importance. This systematic review characterizes the literature regarding the management of postoperative pain with opioid-based and opioid alternative therapies in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty.

Data sources: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Library (Wiley), and Web of Science (Clarivate).

Review methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords with adherence to preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Full-text analysis was performed by two independent reviewers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and National …

Rna Sequencing And Immunohistochemistry Jointly Improve Tumor Biomarker Interpretation, Vladimir Kushnarev, Danil Stupichev, Suren Davitavyan, Kirill Kriukov, Basavaraja U Shanthappa, Anna Butusova, Sofia Menshikova, Anna Belozerova, Anastasia Shvyrkova, Arina Tkachuk, Olga Khatenkova, Linda Balabanian, Ekaterina Postovalova, Jochen K Lennerz, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Alexander Bagaev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aimed to assess the correlation between RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in detecting key cancer biomarkers across solid tumors, and then, to establish RNA-seq thresholds that accurately reflect clinical IHC classifications. Expression levels of nine biomarkers-ESR1, PGR, AR, MKI67, ERBB2, CD274, CDX2, KRT7, and KRT20-were analyzed in 365 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from breast, lung, gastrointestinal, and other solid carcinomas. Correlations between RNA-seq data and IHC scores were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficients, with RNA-seq cut-offs established to distinguish positive from negative IHC scores. The results revealed strong correlations for most biomarkers, with coefficients ranging from 0.53 to …

Inhibition Of Epithelial Cell Yap-Tead/Lox Signaling Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis In Preclinical Models, Darcy Elizabeth Wagner, Hani N Alsafadi, Nilay Mitash, Aurelien Justet, Qianjiang Hu, Ricardo Pineda, Claudia Staab-Weijnitz, Martina Korfei, Nika Gvazava, Kristin Wannemo, Ugochi Onwuka, Molly Mozurak, Adriana Estrada-Bernal, Juan Cala-Garcia, Katrin Mutze, Rita Costa, Deniz Bölükbas, John Stegmayr, Wioletta Skronska-Wasek, Stephan Klee, Chiharu Ota, Hoeke A Baarsma, Jingtao Wang, John Sembrat, Anne Hilgendorff, Jun Ding, Andreas Günther, Rachel Chambers, Ivan Rosas, Stijn De Langhe, Naftali Kaminski, Mareike Lehmann, Oliver Eickelberg, Melanie Königshoff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Current IPF therapies slow disease progression but do not stop or reverse it. The (myo)fibroblasts are thought to be the main cellular contributors to excessive extracellular matrix production in IPF. Here we show that fibrotic alveolar type II cells regulate production and crosslinking of extracellular matrix via the co-transcriptional activator YAP. YAP leads to increased expression of Lysl oxidase (LOX) and subsequent LOX-mediated crosslinking by fibrotic alveolar type II cells. Pharmacological YAP inhibition via verteporfin reverses fibrotic alveolar type II cell reprogramming and LOX …

Limosilactobacillus Reuteri Enables Oral-To-Systemic Absorption Of Iberiotoxin For Treatment Of Collagen-Induced Arthritis In Rats, Mohamed R Kady, R Nicholas Elston, Lauren J Snyder, Jorie D Fleischman, Madilyn J Brandt, Duolong Zhu, Robert A Britton, Christine Beeton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and damage in which fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a central role. Invasiveness and proliferation of FLS in RA is dependent on activity of the KCa1.1 potassium channel. Peptide blockers of KCa1.1, such as iberiotoxin (IbTX), can be delivered subcutaneously to treat animal models of RA. We tested whether an engineered probiotic oral delivery platform could effectively deliver IbTX systemically in a rat model of RA.

Results: A plasmid for inducible secretion of IbTX was constructed and transformed into probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA-6475 to generate LrIbTX. No differences …

Sporadic Als Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons Reveal Hallmarks Of Tdp-43 Loss Of Function, Jeffrey D Rothstein, Olivia Keeley, Caroline Warlick, Timothy M Miller, Cindy V Ly, Jonathan D Glass, Alyssa N Coyne

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Nuclear loss and cytoplasmic buildup of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 is a hallmark of ALS and related disorders. While studies using artificial TDP-43 depletion in neurons have revealed changes in gene expression and splicing, their relevance to actual patients remained unclear. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons (iPSNs) from 180 individuals, including controls, C9orf72 ALS/FTD, and sporadic ALS (sALS) patients were used to generate and analyze ~32,500 qRT-PCR data points across 20 genes which identified variable, time-dependent signatures of TDP-43 loss of function in individual lines. Notably, the same changes were also seen in postmortem brain tissue from the same …

Efficacy Of Infliximab Versus Vedolizumab In The Management Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Shreya Shambhavi, Harmanjeet Singh, Ganesh Ramaprasad, Murod Khikmatov, Varun Vankeshwaram, Kumar Ashish, Carlos Valladares, Tanushree Bhatt, Seth D Cohen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause severe gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events (irAEs), often leading to treatment interruption and increased morbidity. Immune-mediated colitis (IMC) ranges from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis, sometimes requiring urgent intervention. While corticosteroids are the first-line treatment, selective immunosuppressive therapy (SIT) with either infliximab or vedolizumab is used for steroid-refractory or dependent cases. However, standardized practices are lacking, and treatment decisions are largely left to provider discretion. This study compares infliximab and vedolizumab for IMC, focusing on remission rates, recurrence, SIT dosing, and systemic steroid exposure duration.

METHODS: We identified six retrospective cohort studies that compared …

Empowering Excellence: Nurse-Educator Led Ccrn Study Group, Mary Judson Msn, Rn, Ccrn, Cnl

Posters

Key Takeaway:

Implementation of a nurse-educator led study group for specialty certification exams can potentially increase the number of certified nurses in a unit.

Beyond Keeping The Lights On: Covid-19’S Impact On Lower Mississippi River Valley Museums And Public History Sites, Liz Skilton, Ian Beamish

Department of History

This article reviews the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public history sites and museums along the Lower Mississippi River Valley between 2020 and 2024. Constructed from interviews with sixty-seven sites across a four-year period, it uses a regional approach to examine how pandemic closures, reopening processes, and adaptations impacted public history sites and museums in the short-, medium-, and long-term, arguing that the pandemic created lasting changes through adaptation rather than large-scale closure of public history institutions. It concludes with an assessment of what can be learned from the pandemic period’s effect on public history.

The Relationship Between A School Psychologists Workplace Stressors To Their Home Life Functioning, Trevor Burns

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

School psychologists face increasing professional demands due to rising caseloads, paperwork requirements, and staffing shortages, which contribute to elevated levels of occupational stress. Although prior research has examined job-related stress within the profession, little attention has been given to how these stressors may impact practitioners’ personal and home lives. The purpose of this study was to examine how occupational stress experienced by school psychologists relates to stress experienced in their home lives. A total of 176 practicing school psychologists from across the United States completed an anonymous online survey, which included the School Psychologist Distress Inventory (SPDI) and a newly …

Fractal Analysis In Different Regions Of A Fracture Surface In A Dental Glass-Ceramic, Kartikeya S. Jodha, Susana Salazar Marocho, John J. Mecholsky, Seth T. Lirette, Yuanyuan Duan, Jason A. Griggs

Biomedical Materials Science Publications

Objectives: Previous studies have reported the fractal dimension of dental ceramic fracture surfaces from mist and hackle regions. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the fractal dimensional increment between the mirror, mist, and hackle regions of lithium disilicate fracture surfaces. Methods: Nine bar-shaped specimens were prepared from lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. One face of each specimen was indented using a Knoop diamond at 10 N followed by loading in 4-point flexure until failure at a loading rate of 12.6 MPa/s to avoid environmental slow crack growth. Fracture surfaces were replicated in epoxy, and an atomic force microscope …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - August 2025, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.