Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Peer-Led Diabetes Education: A Quasi Pre Post Experimental Study, Stacey Bell Sloas

Student Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness costing over $300 billion per year in the United States with an estimated 100 million individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Complications due to diabetes place individuals at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, amputations, blindness, kidney failure, disability, and early death. Education has been shown to be effective in improving health behaviors that decrease complications due to diabetes. Common risk factors for development of diabetes are modifiable behaviors such as sedentary lifestyle and obesity. A peer-led approach to diabetes education has the potential to overcome multiple barriers to receiving education. Peer-led diabetes education …

Stiff-Limb Syndrome: A Variant Of Stiff-Person Syndrome, Sagar Vadhar Do, Ethan S. Stern Do, Jaimin Patel Do, Keithan Sivakumar Md, Mba, N Shah Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Getting To The Bottom Of Sciatic Neuropathy, Emilee E. Kurtz Do, Amogh M. Joshi Do, Travis F. Magdaleno Md, Stacey Smith Md, Facp

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Modifiability Of Risk Factors Associated With Adolescent Suicide And Its Preventions, Nastaeen Tajin

Honors College Theses

Adolescent suicide has been of major concern in the past few decades, with the rates steadily increasing every year. Suicide can be defined as the act of intentionally taking one’s life. Adolescent refers to children between the age of 13 and 19, although the term will be used interchangeably with ‘teen’ throughout this paper. The purpose of this study had been to identify the risk factors of suicide associated with children of this age range, and propose preventative measures based on the modifiability of these risk factors. In order to achieve this, the two search catalogs utilized were the Wayne …

Deicing Salts Influence Ranavirus Outbreaks In Wood Frog (Lithobates Sylvaticus) Tadpoles, Sarah Jacobson

Honors Scholar Theses

Ecosystems are increasingly being exposed to anthropogenic stressors that could make animals and thus populations more susceptible to disease. For example, the application of deicing salts to roads is increasing in the northeastern United States. Chronic stress that larval amphibians experience when living in vernal pools with high salinity may alter their susceptibility to ranavirus, a pathogen responsible for mass mortality events worldwide. This project quantifies the effects of road salts and ranavirus exposure on larval wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) growth and survival. Using outdoor mesocsoms, we raised wood frog tadpoles in salt treatments and then exposed them …

Amphotercin Washout Of Fungal Peritonitis In Liver Transplant Recipient: A Novel Approach, Ann Thompson, Mara Piltin, Alyssa Imperatore, Ely Sebastian, Sandra Paluzzi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Invasive fungal infection has a significant prevalence among organ transplant patients and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Fungal infection is difficult to identify early and subsequently difficult to effectively treat. In this case presentation we have a 45 y/o orthotopic liver transplant recipient who was profoundly sick from fungal peritonitis and due to the appearance of her abdomen and intestines, with the help of infectious disease, decided to proceed with direct amphotercin washout of the abdomen in the operating room. The patient had complete resolution of her fungal peritonitis and is doing well.

Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome Following Elective Termination Of Pregnancy: A Review Of Current Literature And Recommendations, Shannon Alexa, Jandie Schwartz

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Group A Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) occurs as a subset of invasive Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections accounting for roughly 10% of cases yearly. Of those, Puerpural Streptococcal infections occur only 0.5/10,000 live births but has a mortality rate of nearly 38% if management does not occur early^1,3,4. Despite the overall lower incidence of disease when compared to noninvasive forms, infection rates have started to rise over the last 10 years making it a necessity that practitioners be able to efficiently diagnose and treat infection. Presented here is the case of a 30 year old female who …

The Relationship Of Creatinine, Sodium, Hematocrit And Hemoglobin A1c To 30-Day Hospital Readmission Among Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Shmilah Choudhary, Meet Shah, Sanath Shetty, Terri Ginsberg, Matthew H. Mclaughlin

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction:Reducing thirty-day hospital readmissions is a top healthcare priority. However, there is little research describing the risk factors of readmission among patients with diabetes, especially for older adults. Understanding what the risk factors are for 30-day hospital readmission for older adults with type 2 diabetes would help identify patients at risk of rehospitalization.

Objective:The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions among older adults with T2DM. Factors to be investigated are: patient demographics and three admission laboratory values.

Methods:Participants were older adult s>65 years old with T2DM, admitted to a community hospital …

Survey Of Primary Care Physicians’ And Pediatricians’ Competency In Identifying Prodromal Symptoms In Schizophrenia And Psychotic Disorders, Mark Shephard, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• To address whether primary care physicians and pediatricians are equipped to recognize the prodromal symptoms of psychotic disorders

• Patients of primary care physicians exhibited increased help seeking behaviors prior to schizophrenia diagnosis [1]

• Primary care physicians in numerous countries have shown a lack of sufficient knowledge related to diagnosing and treating schizophrenia [2,3,4,5,6]

• Unclear if primary care physicians in the United States are adequately trained and prepared to recognize prodromal signs of schizophrenia, and diagnose and treat a variety of psychotic disorders

Correlation Of Chronic Conditions And Pain Scale With Varying Levels Of Obesity In The Geriatric Population, Shabbir Hossain, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The overall objective of this study was to establish whether obesity’s contribution to pain is stronger than vice versa – the medical debilities in elderly patients that contribute to obesity. In the process, this study will allow us to achieve whether different age samples with similar BMIs demonstrate the same level of medical complexities in geriatric patients. In summary, the purpose of this research study was to correlate a relationship between obesity and aging. We hypothesized that obesity will contribute to greater pain in the aging population, and that patients – regardless of their age groups in the aging population …

The Relationship Of Cardiovascular Disease To 30-Day Hospital Readmission Among Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Meet Shah, Shmilah Choudhary, Sanath Shetty, Terrie Ginsberg, Matthew H. Mclaughlin

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Reducing thirty-day hospital readmissions is a top healthcare priority. However, there is little research describing the risk factors of readmission among patients with diabetes, especially for older adults. Understanding what the risk factors are for 30-day hospital readmission for older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) would help identify patients at risk of rehospitalization. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions among older adults with T2DM.Factors to be investigated are: patient demographics and whether the patient was hospitalized for cardiovascular disease. Participants were older adults>65 years old with T2DM, admitted to …

Propofol Infusion Syndrome: A Serious Complication With A Commonly Used Drug In The Icu, Hernando Castillo Ms, Jaimin Patel Do, Nathan Brewster Do, Swetangini Patel P3, Brian Civic Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Refractory Case Of Severely Uncontrolled Eosinophilic Asthma On Maximal Therapy, William Ueng Mph, Jaimin Patel Do, Nathan Brewster Do, Swetangini Patel P3, Andres Zirlinger Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Miller-Fisher Variant Of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Sagar Vadhar Do, Jaimin Patel Do, Kathryn Kass Md, N Shah Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Stimulating Interest In Medicine Assisted Manipulation (Mam)/Manipulation Under Anesthesia (Mua) As A Complementary Treatment Modality For Chronic Pain And Opioid Use, David Abend, Alexis Dunn, Guy K. Guibilato, J. Scott Lazaro, Bharani Pusukur, Teymur Aliyev, Anthony Ascione, Michael Mcaree

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The objective of this clinical review is to stimulate interest in medicine assisted manipulation (MAM), also known as manipulation under anesthesia (MUA). By providing evidence from published studies regarding the use of MUA, as well as identifying its benefits and limitations, our group hopes to increase awareness of this technique and contribute to its implementation to assist in overall pain reduction and reduce opioid medication dosing. A retrospective literature review was undertaken to investigate the extent of published information on the topic in order to compile evidence based data and provide the reader with a summary of both the benefits …

Long Term Functional And Esthetic Outcomes After Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction Of The Mandible, I. Petrovic, R. Blaser, Timothy Blackwell, C. Mccarthy, I. Ganley, S. Patel, P. Cordeiro, J.P. Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objectives: To report functional and esthetic outcomes, after fibula free flap (FFF) reconstruction of the mandible for oral cancer, assessed by physicians, non-clinicians and patients.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five long term survivors from oral cancer after FFF reconstruction were recalled for head and neck examination by surgeons and patient reported outcomes, using EORTC, QLQ C-30, H&N-35 and FACE-Q questionnaires.

Results: Physicians reported 64% restoration of functionality compared to normal. Patients reported high scores on QLQ-C30, but lower scores on H&N-35. Esthetic scores were reported higher by clinicians than non-clinicians. The decline in function and appearance was attributed to loss of …

The Correlation Between Obesity, Food Addiction, Anxiety & Depression, Ayham Khrais, Adarsh K. Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obesity is a multifaceted disease with physiological, psychological and social influences. While physiological factors, such as basal metabolic rate, can influence an individual’s BMI (Body Mass Index), obesity is primarily determined by behavior: excess food intake and a sedentary lifestyle greatly contribute to weight gain. An individual’s behavior is influenced by many factors, including their desires, perceptions, and social pressures. Therefore, psychological conditions can greatly impact an individual’s eating habits, thereby affecting that person’s BMI. This endeavor involved exploration of the potential effects of food addiction, anxiety, and depression on obesity. A survey consisting of an amalgamation of the Yale …

A Case Of T-Cell Lymphoma Found In The Liver, Donald Mcmahon, Lucy Joo, Kailash Lal, Neethi Dasu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Elevation in liver enzymes can be due to a variety of reasons such as toxins, drugs, autoimmune process, sepsis, malignant infiltration, alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, and other causes. In this case study, our patient presented with an obstructive pattern of liver test abnormalities. The patient demonstrated alkaline phosphatase levels >1000, with AST and ALT levels < 200. His T-bilirubin initially was 1.5 and increased to 12.4 by the end of his hospital stay. Workup to exclude other causes of liver injury was performed and eventually a liver biopsy was needed to establish etiology. The biopsy revealed a malignant infiltration of likely Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma.

Mental Health Symptom Severity In Cannabis-Using And Non-Using Veterans With Probable Ptsd, Matthew J. Johnson, John D. Pierce, Shahrzad Mavandadi, Johanna Klaus, Diana Defelice, Erin Ingram, David W. Oslin

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disabling illness suffered by many veterans returning from war. Some veterans believe that cannabis may be therapeutic for PTSD. The purpose of this study was to better understand the association between cannabis use and PTSD symptoms.

METHODS:

The study was a matched case-control cross-sectional evaluation of the psychiatric and sociocultural associations of cannabis use in veterans with probable PTSD. Patient self-report measures were examined comparing cannabis users (cases) to non-users (controls) who were case-matched on age and gender.

RESULTS:

Results indicated that there were no significant differences between cases and controls in mean …

Creation And Implementation Of A Flipped Jigsaw Activity To Stimulate Interest In Biochemistry Among Medical Students, Charlene Williams, Susan Perlis, John Gaughan, Sangita Phadtare

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Learner-centered pedagogical methods that are based on clinical application of basic science concepts through active learning and problem solving are shown to be effective for improving knowledge retention. As the clinical relevance of biochemistry is not always apparent to health-profession students, effective teaching of medical biochemistry should highlight the implications of biochemical concepts in pathology, minimize memorization, and make the concepts memorable for long-term retention.

Here, we report the creation and successful implementation of a flipped jigsaw activity that was developed to stimulate interest in learning biochemistry among medical students. The activity combined the elements of a flipped classroom for …

Torsion Does Not Affect Early Vein Graft Patency In The Rat Femoral Artery Model, Amro Harb, Maxwell Levi, Akio Kozato, Robert J. Strauch

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BACKGROUND:

Torsion of vein grafts is a commonly cited reason for graft failure in clinical setting. Many microsurgery training courses have incorporated vein graft procedures in their curricula, and vein graft torsion is a common technical error made by the surgeons in these courses. To improve our understanding of the clinical reproducibility of practicing vein graft procedures in microsurgery training courses, this study aims to determine if torsion can lead to early vein graft failure in nonsurvival surgery rat models.

METHODS:

Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five cohorts with five rats per cohort for a total of 25 rats. Cohorts …

The Evolving Long-Term Outcome Of Heart Transplantation In Amyloid Patients, Avish Jain, Sadia Dimbil, Ryan Levine, Michele Hamilton, Jon A. Kabashigawa

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Both amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis and transthyretin-related (TTR) amyloid are expanding indications for heart transplantation (HTx). In the past, AL amyloid, in particular, had been a contraindication to HTx given its systemic nature and the increased risk for mortality. Modern treatments including proteasome inhibitors have allowed amyloid patients to receive heart transplants at an increasing rate. We sought to assess long-term post-transplant outcome in amyloid patients in the current era.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2015, we assessed 27 patients (5 AL, 10 TTR-wildtype (wt), 12 TTR-mutant (m)) underwent heart transplant for cardiac amyloidosis at our single center. A …

Assessment Of The Perceived Access To Health Care By Migrant And Seasonal Farm Workers In Southern New Jersey, Karen Custodio, Xitlalichomiha O'Dell, Lori Talbot

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW) are one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in the United States. MSFW confront numerous health challenges as a result of occupational hazards, poor living conditions, and inadequate nutrition, in addition to common health concerns like diabetes and hypertension. The objective of this study was to identify major barriers to health care for individuals working in the agriculture industry in southern New Jersey. Though there are numerous factors which impact health for migrant farmers, we hypothesized that language, financial burden, and fear from immigration status will be the most significant. Research was conducted using …

Case Report: Elbow Plica In A High School Pitcher, Steven Barrientos, Sunny Gupta, Mitesh Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Elbow pain is a very common joint complaint with a variety of etiologies. Plica are often benign, asymptomatic and have no known function. Elbow plica may cause clinical symptoms in the elbow joint after they become hypertrophied or inflamed from repetitive activities or trauma. Symptomatic elbow plica may strike at any age but it is not a common radiographic finding among the pediatric population. In this case report, we are presenting a case of symptomatic left lateral hypertrophic elbow radiocapitellar plica in a 16 year old baseball thrower.

Mri Findings After A Subchondroplasty Procedure Of The Ankle: A Case Report, Michael E. Calderone, Mansi Patel, Matthew K. Brant

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the ankle is a common disease and it is estimated that almost 1% of the world’s adult population have a painful ankle. Often in patients who fail conservative treatment, the use of an MRI is deemed necessary to identify pathologies. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) seen on MRI have been recognized as a source of the ankle pain. Majority of the BMLs fluctuate in size over time and are seen as hyperintense lesions on MRI.We present MRI findings of a patient following arthroscopy with subchondroplasty.

Traumatic Compartment Syndrome Of The Foot: A Case Report, Mansi Patel, Asim Qureshi, Matthew K. Brant

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Compartment syndrome of the foot is a rare but limb threatening condition that is often difficult to diagnose. It is usually caused by traumatic injuries and the diagnosis requires a high clinical suspicion and timely management. Clinically, patients will present with an acute traumatic event followed by physical exam findings of non-palpable pulses, paralysis, pallor, pain out of proportion, and paresthesias. The foot contains nine compartments, which should be assessed independently for elevated pressures. The diagnostic threshold for each compartment is 30 mmHg. Pressures above this threshold require emergent fasciotomy to preserve the anatomical structures and thus the function of …

For Your Eyes Only, Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Case Study, Alexander Fishman, Jared Ward, Richard Pescatore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus is a reactivation of a latent Varicella Zoster Virus that specifically involves the eye. The reactivation often occurs during immunocompromised states which allows latent virus in the dorsal root ganglia of sensory nerves to begin viral replication an d s pread via peripheral axons. Diagnosis is based on two characteristic findings; herpetic lesions on the eyelids, forehead, or elsewhere within the V1 dermatome, and ocular findings. Symptoms can vary but are often quite painful. Some patients experience a prodrome of tingling sensation prior to the appearance of a zoster dermatitis . HZO can also present initially as …

Effects Of Social Media On Patient Perceptions And Compliance, Annmarie Butare, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

It is the physician’s responsibility to ensure that their patients are collecting credible and accurate information. Considering the significant proportion of patients using social media to assist with medical decision making, physicians should incorporate this into their patient education in order to ensure patient understanding of the information gathered both outside and inside the medical office, thereby improving compliance and outcomes.

The goals of this study were to examine the influence of social media on patient perceptions of healthcare and use this infomration to improve physician understanding of patient health information-seeking behaviors to improve patient compliance. The three-part survey included …

An Industrial Hygiene Assessment Of Lead In Potable Water Outlets At Rowan University, Tyra Thomas, Rosemary Roberto, Thomas Boyle

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) discovered lead in the water of a number of buildings on the Glassboro campus. This finding triggered the need for a comprehensive study to determine if lead was in the drinking water on the main campus.

Rowan University then partnered with an independent consultant to create a Lead Sampling Plan, collect water samples and to find a certified laboratory to provide water sample analysis.

A comprehensive plumbing survey of the campus also took place to determine how water is supplied to campus and how it is distributed to and throughout each building. …

Omt For The Treatment Of Depression And Anxiety, Zachary Winchell

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) fundamentally aims to remedy somatic dysfunction through the manipulation of the patient. In this regard, OMT is a particularly viable non-pharmacological adjunct for patients with depressive and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

In both of these disorders, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has an interdependent relationship with physiological stress that feed one another to both increase symptomology and leave patients vulnerable to negative life events. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines acting on the brain over long periods of time can lead to exacerbation of disease and the development of depression in susceptible individuals. Altered cytokine balance has also been found in …