Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

High Molecular Weight Adiponectin Levels Are Inversely Associated With Adiposity In Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors., Rebecca Ronsley, Shahrad Rod Rassekh, Adam Fleming, Brianna Empringham, William Jennings, Carol Portwine, Sarah Burrow, Shayna Zelcer, Donna L Johnston, Lehana Thabane, M Constantine Samaan

Paediatrics Publications

While children with brain tumors are surviving at record rates, survivors are at risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus; these conditions may be driven by excess body fat. Adiponectin in an adipokine that is inversely associated with the fat mass, and has been linked to cardiometabolic risk stratification in the general population. However, adiponectin's profile and determinants in SCBT have not been established. We tested the hypothesis that high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels, the more biologically active form of adiponectin, were associated with adiposity in SCBT similarly to non-cancer controls. Seventy-four SCBT (n = 32 female) …

Combating Acquired Resistance To Mapk Inhibitors In Melanoma By Targeting Abl1/2-Mediated Reactivation Of Mek/Erk/Myc Signaling., Rakshamani Tripathi, Zulong Liu, Aditi Jain,, Anastasia Lyon, Christina Meeks, Dana Richards, Jinpeng Liu, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Marika Nespi, Andrey Rymar, Peng Wang, Melissa Wilson, Rina Plattner

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Metastatic melanoma remains an incurable disease for many patients due to the limited success of targeted and immunotherapies. BRAF and MEK inhibitors reduce metastatic burden for patients with melanomas harboring BRAF mutations; however, most eventually relapse due to acquired resistance. Here, we demonstrate that ABL1/2 kinase activities and/or expression are potentiated in cell lines and patient samples following resistance, and ABL1/2 drive BRAF and BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance by inducing reactivation of MEK/ERK/MYC signaling. Silencing/inhibiting ABL1/2 blocks pathway reactivation, and resensitizes resistant cells to BRAF/MEK inhibitors, whereas expression of constitutively active ABL1/2 is sufficient to promote resistance. Significantly, nilotinib (2^{nd …}

Perception Of The Healthcare Professionals Towards The Current Trauma And Emergency Care System In Kabul, Afghanistan: A Mixed Method Study, Umerdad Khudadad, Wafa Aftab, Asrar Ali, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Junaid Razzak, Sameen Siddiqi

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Trauma and injury contribute to 11% of the all-cause mortality in Afghanistan. The study aimed to explore the perceptions of the healthcare providers (pre and in-hospital), hospital managers and policy makers of the public and private health sectors to identify the challenges in the provision of an effective trauma care in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Methods: A concurrent mixed method design was used, including key-informant interviews (healthcare providers, hospital managers and policy makers) of the trauma care system (N = 18) and simultaneous structured emergency care system assessment questionnaire (N = 35) from July 15 to September 25, 2019. Interviews were …

Cellular Taxonomy And Spatial Organization Of The Murine Ventral Posterior Hypothalamus., Laura E Mickelsen, William F Flynn, Kristen Springer, Lydia Wilson, Eric J Beltrami, Mohan Bolisetty, Paul Robson, Alexander C Jackson

Faculty Research 2020

The ventral posterior hypothalamus (VPH) is an anatomically complex brain region implicated in arousal, reproduction, energy balance, and memory processing. However, neuronal cell type diversity within the VPH is poorly understood, an impediment to deconstructing the roles of distinct VPH circuits in physiology and behavior. To address this question, we employed a droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) approach to systematically classify molecularly distinct cell populations in the mouse VPH. Analysis of >16,000 single cells revealed 20 neuronal and 18 non-neuronal cell populations, defined by suites of discriminatory markers. We validated differentially expressed genes in selected neuronal populations through fluorescence in …

The Impact Of Medicare Insurance Plans Upon Healthcare Services Utilization Considering Patients' Characteristics And Their Access To Medical Care, Steven Stout

Dissertations

The annual average cost of healthcare for services utilization by a Medicare beneficiary is projected to grow from about $10,000 to over $16,000 by 2023. As an ongoing initiative to address this trend, the federal government contracts with private insurance companies and other entities, called Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs), to develop and administer alternative health insurance plans designed to contain service utilization and costs. One feature of some Medicare Advantage plans is the presence of risk-bearing contracts with primary care physician organizations that voluntarily accept financial responsibility for the overall cost of care for patients attributed to them. In this …

Risk Factors For Delayed Viral Suppression On First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy Among Persons Living With Hiv In Haiti, 2013-2017, Shannan N. Rich, Robert L. Cook, Lusine Yaghjyan, Kesner Francois, Nancy Puttkammer, Ermane Robin, Jungjun Bae, Nadjy Joseph, Luisa Pessoa-Brandão, Chris Delcher

Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Faculty Publications

Studies of viral suppression on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Haiti are limited, particularly among PLHIV outside of the Ouest department, where the capital Port-au-Prince is located. This study described the prevalence and risk factors for delayed viral suppression among PLHIV in all geographic departments of Haiti between 2013 and 2017. Individuals who received viral load testing 3 to 12 months after ART initiation were included. Data on demographics and clinical care were obtained from the Haitian Active Longitudinal Tracking of HIV database. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict delayed viral …

Remdesivir Research Progress: An Overview Of The Emerging Evidence, Aamir Jalal Al Mosawi

Health Sciences

There has been an increasing interest in remdesivir research within the scientific medical community because of the emerging evidence suggesting its beneficial role in patients with Covid‑19. Remdesivir which can be given intravenously and not orally has an anti-viral against several RNA viruses. The aim of this paper is to review remdesivir research progress.

Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 And Strongyloides Stercoralis: Partners In Pathogenesis, Adam Dykie, Tharaka Wijesinghe, Arnold B Rabson, Kiran Madugula, Christian Farinas, Sydney Wilson, David Abraham, Pooja Jain

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Infection with human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been associated with various clinical syndromes including co-infection with Strongyloides stercoralis, which is an intestinal parasitic nematode and the leading cause of strongyloidiasis in humans. Interestingly, HTLV-1 endemic areas coincide with regions citing high prevalence of S. stercoralis infection, making these communities optimal for elucidating the pathogenesis of co-infection and its clinical significance. HTLV-1 co-infection with S. stercoralis has been observed for decades in a number of published patient cases and case series; however, the implications of this co-infection remain elusive. Thus far, data suggest that S. stercoralis increases …

The Impact Of Prostate Cancer Treatment On Quality Of Life: A Narrative Review With A Focus On Randomized Data., James M Taylor, Victor E. Chen, Ryan C. Miller, Benjamin A. Greenberger

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Despite excellent oncologic outcomes, the management of localized prostate cancer remains complex and is dependent on multiple factors, including patient life expectancy, medical comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and genetic risk factors. Decades of iterative clinical trials have improved the optimization and utilization of surgical and radiation-based modalities, as well as their combinatorial use with anti-androgen and systemic therapies. While cure rates are high and converging on equivalent disease control should an upfront surgical or radiotherapeutic approach be optimized, the long-term side effects of surgical and radiation-based treatments can differ significantly in nature. Decisions regarding the selection of therapy are therefore best …

Predictors Of Birth Center Sustainability In The United States, Melanie Cabezas Phipps

Nursing ETDs

Pregnant women from all racial and socioeconomic communities deserve safe, personalized, and affordable ways to give birth. To meet all three needs, focus is increasing on birth centers, a midwifery model that provides family-centered care before, during, and after normal pregnancy, labor, and birth. However, many U.S. birth centers face significant obstacles to financial sustainability, particularly in rural areas. A better understanding of the factors that contribute to a birth center’s operational success is needed for practitioners and groups interested in establishing or maintaining a birth center, as well as to inform policymakers seeking to improve health care equity, outcomes, …

Combating Acquired Resistance To Mapk Inhibitors In Melanoma By Targeting Abl1/2-Mediated Reactivation Of Mek/Erk/Myc Signaling, Rakshamani Tripathi, Zulong Liu, Aditi Jain, Anastasia Lyon, Christina Meeks, Dana Richards, Jinpeng Liu, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Marika Nespi, Andrey Rymar, Peng Wang, Melissa Wilson, Rina Plattner

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Metastatic melanoma remains an incurable disease for many patients due to the limited success of targeted and immunotherapies. BRAF and MEK inhibitors reduce metastatic burden for patients with melanomas harboring BRAF mutations; however, most eventually relapse due to acquired resistance. Here, we demonstrate that ABL1/2 kinase activities and/or expression are potentiated in cell lines and patient samples following resistance, and ABL1/2 drive BRAF and BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance by inducing reactivation of MEK/ERK/MYC signaling. Silencing/inhibiting ABL1/2 blocks pathway reactivation, and resensitizes resistant cells to BRAF/MEK inhibitors, whereas expression of constitutively active ABL1/2 is sufficient to promote resistance. Significantly, nilotinib (2nd generation …

An Examination Of Job Embeddedness Factors And Their Influence On Longevity And New Or Established Status Of Physician Assistant Faculty, Abby Saunders

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The Physician Assistant (PA) profession has grown at a rapid rate with an expected increase of 31% by 2028 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). PA educational programs are expanding to fill the demand. However, faculty shortages have persisted for years. During the 2017-2018 academic year, 75.5% of new faculty were recruited directly from the clinical environment with no prior experience in PA education, and for those who leave academia, 25.7% report a return to clinical practice (PAEA, 2018). New PA faculty are often not provided adequate mentorship or guidance which can influence perception of satisfaction in their academic positions.

Job …

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Induced By Immune Checkpoint Inhibitiors: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature., Zeeshan Ali Md, Muhammad Usman Zafar, Zachary Wolfe, Faisal Akbar, Bradley Lash

Hematology-Medical Oncology Division

In recent years, the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in cancer treatment has rapidly expanded. In randomized clinical trials, these agents have demonstrated clinical efficacy in extending survival and increasing response rates. Immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) involving various organs have been frequently narrated. Herein, we present a case report of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) as a rare side effect of nivolumab, plus ipilimumab, in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A review of the literature for other case reports of TTP during treatment with ICIs was also performed. Our aim is to elucidate the significance of early …

Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 Amplified Metastatic Melanoma Treated With Erdafitinib., Saro Sarkisian, Alyson Mcintosh Md, Suresh G. Nair Md, Alexander N Shoushtari, Margaret Callahan

Hematology-Medical Oncology Division

The treatment of metastatic melanoma has changed dramatically in the last decade with the introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. A futile disease in the past is now treated with various options, resulting in improvement in progression-free and overall survivals, along with improvement in the quality of life. Having said that, the majority of patients with metastatic melanoma eventually succumb to the disease. Molecular profiling of each tumor in the advanced stage is standard of care now, as this would lead to individualized treatment options for each patient. Here, we present a rare case of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 …

Analysis Of Glutathione Supplementation Effects On Female Metabolic Syndrome Condition Using Classification Techniques, Nur Rasyidah Hasan Basri

Student Works (2020-2029)

Lesser known to the public that main antioxidants in our body, Glutathione are also said to influence the metabolic syndrome (MS) condition. Oral supplementation consisting of glutathione precursors and vitamin C introduced in the study was to improve glutathione (GSH) status of the consumer and the main objective of this study is to investigate GSH effects on selected MS condition. Several known studies had proven that oral supplementation improved GSH level of consumer. However, there is no definite proof on how it’s affecting MS parameters. Also, there is less study carried out on the relationship between glutathione levels and metabolic …

Longitudinal Examination Of A Dual-Factor Model Of Mental Health: Academic Adjustment And Stability Of Group Membership In High School Students In Academically Accelerated Curricula, Letty Langton Dileo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Middle adolescence (ages 14 to 18 years old) has been associated with declines in both psychopathology and subjective well-being (SWB). This study examined a dual-factor model (DFM) of mental health, which conceptualizes complete mental health as including both low levels of psychopathology and high levels of SWB, across three time points, each 9-12 months apart, in a sample of 328 9th grade students enrolled in accelerated coursework. This study aimed to determine (1) the stability of students’ mental health status over time, (2) the role of psychopathology versus SWB for students who changed mental health status, and (3) the relationship …

Immune Modulation As A Therapeutic Target In An Α-Synuclein Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Meena Subhashini Subbarayan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting about 1.5 million people in the United States with more than 60,000 people diagnosed each year. It is classically characterized by four major symptoms: tremor, postural instability, stiffness in joints, and slow movement (bradykinesia). Pathologically PD is characterized by up to 70% loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of midbrain and accumulation of presynaptic protein called α-synuclein (α-syn) within dopaminergic neurons that extend to the striatum. This disrupts the nigrostriatal pathway leading to the motor symptoms seen in PD patients. Microglia, the innate immune cells …

Evaluation Of Semi-Quantitative Compared To Quantitative Cultures Of Tracheal Aspirates For The Yield Of Culturable Respiratory Pathogens - A Cross-Sectional Study, Salima Rattani, Joveria Farooqi, Ghazala Jabeen, Saeeda Chandio, Qaiser Kash, Aijaz Khan, Kauser Jabeen

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) depends on the presence of clinical, radiological and microbiological findings. Endotracheal suction aspirate (ETSA) is the commonest respiratory sample sent for culture from intubated patients. Very few studies have compared quantitative and semi-quantitative processing of ETSA cultures for LRTI diagnosis. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative and semi-quantitative ETSA culture for LRTI diagnosis, agreement between the quantitative and semi quantitative culture techniques and the yield of respiratory pathogens with both methods.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Aga Khan University clinical laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan. One hundred and seventy-eight …

Challenges And Opportunities For Improving The Landscape For Lewy Body Dementia Clinical Trials., Jennifer G Goldman, Leah K Forsberg, Bradley F Boeve, Melissa J Armstrong, David J Irwin, Tanis J Ferman, Doug Galasko, James E Galvin, Daniel Kaufer, James Leverenz, Carol F Lippa, Karen Marder, Victor Abler, Kevin Biglan, Michael Irizarry, Bill Keller, Leanne Munsie, Masaki Nakagawa, Angela Taylor, Todd Graham

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Lewy body dementia (LBD), including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia, affects over a million people in the USA and has a substantial impact on patients, caregivers, and society. Symptomatic treatments for LBD, which can include cognitive, neuropsychiatric, autonomic, sleep, and motor features, are limited with only two drugs (cholinesterase inhibitors) currently approved by regulatory agencies for dementia in LBD. Clinical trials represent a top research priority, but there are many challenges in the development and implementation of trials in LBD. To address these issues and advance the field of clinical trials in the LBDs, the Lewy Body …

In The Pursuit Of Assistance: A Team's Desire To Not Let A Congenital Amputation Get In A Young Boy's Way, Carl Russell Iii, Gavin Loucks, Kirsten Wozniak

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

EPICS is a service-learning design program run through Purdue University. It strives to teach students design skills through providing for individuals, communities, and organizations in the surrounding area while mirroring engineering industry standards. BME (Biomedical Engineering) is a team within EPICS that strives to serve community partners through biomedical applications. William Sevick is an elementary school student with a congenital arm amputation. William and his family have been working with the BME team for the past three years designing assistive devices with the purpose of improving his actions in daily life such as eating, playing games, and riding his bike.

Purdue College Of Pharmacy Experience With Blood Pressure Screenings At The Indiana State Fair, Samuel L. Stukey, Emily B. Vahary, Allison M. Kenneally, Casey J. Bernier, Bruce C. Carlstedt, Jane E. Krause

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The objective of this community outreach initiative is to develop and implement a student-led blood pressure screening at the Indiana State Fair in conjunction with the Purdue College of Pharmacy and the Hook’s Drug Store Museum. Under the mentorship of two pharmacy faculty members, third- and fourth-year professional PharmD students and pharmacy fellows hold a nine-hour blood pressure screening at the Indiana State Fair each year. The screening is held at the Hook’s Drug Store Museum and the students and fellows sign-up in teams of 3-4 to host the event. Fair-goers visiting the screening have their blood pressure taken using …

Global Air Quality Trekkers: Nandi Clean Kitchen Study, Samantha Dykhuis, Stephanie Schiavo, Avalin Senefeld

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Indoor air pollution is a widespread environmental health challenge sub-Saharan Africa and is the leading cause of premature death in many sub-Saharan African countries. This pollution is primarily caused by the burning of biomass fuels inside an enclosed kitchen in order to provide heat for cooking. Global Air Quality Trekkers is an undergraduate engineering team within the EPICS department at Purdue that began in fall 2016. Our objective is to create a kitchen design that utilizes natural ventilation to mitigate the amount of air pollutants present in these kitchens, specifically in the Nandi community of Western Kenya. This year, our …

The Boilerworx Project: Mobile Public Health Advocacy, Carolanne Wartman, Kevin Fekete, Fatima Khan, Carrie Kovacik, Carol Ott, Nicole Noel, Catherine Scott

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

BoilerWoRx is a mobile health initiative that was created in response to Indiana's opioid public health crisis. This College of Pharmacy program is multidisciplinary with students from engineering, nursing, liberal arts, and medicine. BoilerWoRx offers education to both students and community members. There is a comprehensive training for students who volunteer with the BoilerWoRx team, which include various educational Ted Talks, naloxone training, along with assessment tool trainings. For the community members at the events, drug disposal kits, wellness education, syringe service assistance, naloxone distribution, mental health assessments, and community resources are available.

Currently, BoilerWoRx is working with engineering students …

Student Pharmacists Bridging The Gap With Community Partnerships: Purdue University College Of Psychiatric And Neurologic Pharmacists Chapter, Fatima A. Khan, Elise M. Mann

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The CPNP Purdue chapter is a student organization that strives to advance mental health awareness and education, reduce stigma, and volunteer in the local community. CPNP Purdue is strengthened by collaboration with partner organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Home with Hope, a Lafayette-based recovery housing center. NAMI advocates for effective treatment and education for families affected by mental illness in the surrounding community. Home with Hope provides a continuum of care and environment conducive to recovery following treatment for substance use disorders. These nonprofit partnerships rely heavily upon volunteers, donations, and advocates to provide services …

Singing Through Change: A Community Engagement Project For Women In Recovery Performing With The Purdue Fort Wayne Choral Union Choir, Madison Boyden

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Hope & Harriet is an intensive residential treatment program in a subacute medical facility for women 18 years and older that specializes in the pursuit of recovery from chemical dependency. PFW music therapy students have been given the unique opportunity to work with the women as part of their music therapy clinical practicum experiences. The author's final music therapy practicum, in partial fulfillment of her bachelor’s degree in music therapy, began her path forward into this project.

Science Alive, Shweta Zinzuwadia

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Science Alive is a not-for-profit organization based at NSU started by Dr. Emily Schmitt Lavin and Dr. Aarti Raja. This organization promotes community outreach and engagement by volunteering at Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School. Through this weekly afterschool program, NSU students promote and encourage STEM-related topics to the elementary students through various interactive activities. The main goal of Science Alive is to get kids excited about Science and be engaged within the Broward Community. If you have any questions, please email Shweta Zinzuwadia ([email protected]) or Dr. Schmit ([email protected])

Clear Vision Center Internship, Maria Sanchez

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Come to learn more about my experience at Clear Vision Center as I gained first hand experiences working with patients and immersing myself within a healthcare setting.

Development Of “Sharkavir”: A New Hypothetical Inhibitor For Hiv-1 Protease, Feza Abbas

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

HIV has infected approximately 37 million people worldwide and results in over 1 million deaths annually. A key component of the HIV life cycle is the enzyme HIV-1 protease, which is involved in cutting newly made protein components of the HIV virion. Our research focused on how can molecular models be used to simulate the binding of various HIV-1 prtease inhibitors including Darunavir, Ritonavir, and a novel combination of these two named "Sharkavir".

Effects Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Derived Sphingolipids On Osteoclastogenesis, Geena Song, Michelle Hoang

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

This was an independent study focused on literary research about the effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis on osteoclastogenesis. This opportunity was gained by emailing Jeff Hartman ([email protected]) and setting up a meeting with the professor, Dr. Movila. We gathered variety of research papers and analyzed it to write a peer reviewed article ourselves. Throughout this experience, we learned variety of skills, such as organizing materials into a coherent narrative and learned materials that showed up in future classes, such as microbiology and cellular molecular biology.

Impact Of Covid-19 On Global Education And Research In Healthcare And Stem, Stephanie Autore, Jessica Hallet, Michelle Hoang, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The independent study focused on Covid-19 from the perspectives of global education and research in healthcare and STEM. Our aim was to determine the impact of the pandemic on each global sector and the associated transition to virtual modes. The research was conducted using peer-reviewed articles and papers. Each week, our group held zoom meetings to present our research and provide peer feedback. At the end of the experience, we all wrote three separate manuscripts on the topics regarding Covid 19 and global education, research in healthcare, and research in STEM.