Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Microrna Heterogeneity, Innate-Immune Defense And The Efficacy Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection-A Commentary, Walter J. Lukiw

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a member of the genus Betacoronavirus in the family Coronaviridae, possesses an unusually large single-stranded viral RNA (ssvRNA) genome of about ~29,811 nucleotides (nt) that causes severe and acute respiratory distress and a highly lethal viral pneumonia known as COVID-19. COVID-19 also presents with multiple ancillary systemic diseases and often involves cardiovascular, inflammatory, and/or neurological complications. Pathological viral genomes consisting of ssvRNA, like cellular messenger RNA (mRNA), are susceptible to attack, destruction, neutralization, and/or modulation by naturally occurring small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) within the host cell, some of which are known as microRNAs (miRNAs). …

Trends In Leadership At Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Fellowships, Nicholas C. Schiller, Andrew J. Sama, Amanda F. Spielman, Chester J. Donnally, Benjamin I. Schachner, Dhanur M. Damodar, Christopher C. Dodson, Michael G. Ciccotti

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Fellowship directors (FDs) in sports medicine influence the future of trainees in the field of orthopaedics. Understanding the characteristics these leaders share must be brought into focus. For all current sports medicine FDs, our group analyzed their demographic background, institutional training, and academic experience.

AIM: To serve as a framework for those aspiring to achieve this position in orthopaedics and also identify opportunities to improve the position.

METHODS: Fellowship programs were identified using both the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Arthroscopy Association of North America Sports Medicine Fellowship Directories. The demographic and educational background data for …

Required Longitudinal Service-Learning And Its Effects On Medical Students’ Attitudes Toward The Underserved, Monica Rose Arebalos, Faun Lee Botor, Edward Simanton, Jennifer Young

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Although medical students enter medicine with altruistic motives and seek to serve indigent populations, studies show that medical students’ attitudes towards the undeserved tend to worsen significantly as they go through their medical education. This finding emphasizes the need for medical educators to implement activities such as service-learning that may help mitigate this negative trend. All students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine are required to participate in longitudinal service-learning throughout medical school, and a majority of students interact with the underserved at their service-learning sites. Using the previously validated Medical Student Attitudes Towards the …

Educational Intervention On Rheumatic Heart Disease In Samoa, Linda Loyda Ida Tovar

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper reviews the impact of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Samoa and assesses the effectiveness of a caregiver education intervention by using data collected during the 2019 Rheumatic Relief Program trip. A pre- and post- survey collection tool was used to evaluate the effectiveness of current educational efforts among Samoan child caregivers. Dr. Richard Gill and Dr. Lori Allen, who are both BYU Department of Biology professors and Rheumatic Relief directors, participated in the creation of this program evaluation and completion. This project aims to assess the current caregiver education intervention program used in Rheumatic Relief and provide clear …

Navia: A Program For The Visual Analysis Of Complex Mass Spectra, Daniel Quetschlich, Tim K. Esser, Thomas D. Newport, Francesco Fiorentino, Denis Shutin, Siyun Chen, Rachel Davis, Silvia Lovera, Idlir Liko, Phillip J. Stansfeld, Carol V. Robinson

Faculty Publications

MOTIVATION: Native mass spectrometry is now a well-established method for the investigation of protein complexes, specifically their subunit stoichiometry and ligand binding properties. Recent advances allowing the analysis of complex mixtures lead to an increasing diversity and complexity in the spectra obtained. These spectra can be time consuming to tackle through manual assignment and challenging for automated approaches. RESULTS: Native Mass Spectrometry Visual Analyser (NaViA) is a web-based tool to augment the manual process of peak assignment. In addition to matching masses to the stoichiometry of its component subunits it allows raw data processing, assignment and annotation and permits mass …

A Nationwide Population-Based Study On The Association Between Land Transport Accident And Peripheral Vestibular Disorders, Herng-Ching Lin, Sudha Xirasagar Mbbs,Ph.D., Chia-Hui Wang, Yen-Fu Cheng, Tsai-Ching Liu, Tzong-Hann Yang

Faculty Publications

This case-control study aimed to investigate the association of peripheral vestibular disorders (PVD) with subsequent land transport accidents. Data for this study were obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) dataset. We retrieved 8704 subjects who were newly found to have land transport accidents as cases. Their diagnosis date was used as their index date. Controls were identified by propensity score matching (one per case, n = 8704 controls) from the NHI dataset with their index date being the date of their first health service claim in 2017. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to calculate the prior PVD odds ratio …

Examining The Unseen Trauma Endured By 911 Telecommunicators, Angela Gibilante

Master of Public Health Capstone Presentations

First responders of all types are at risk for the development of mental and behavioral health conditions as a result of the repeated exposure to trauma they face. Much research has explored their lived experiences and work has been done to evaluate interventions to mitigate the stress associated with this type of work. However, the majority of this research fails to include 911 Telecommunicators as first responders even though they are also at risk for experiencing trauma (SAMHSA, 2018; Skeffington et al., 2016; Camaro et al., 2020; Stabile, 2015). The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences and …

Frequency And Risk Factors Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Helicobacter Pylori-Infected Dyspeptic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study, Basit Siddiqui, Muhammad Kamran, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Rabeea Azmat, Zain Mushtaq, Saad Bin Zafar Mahmood, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Javed Yakoob, Zaigham Abbas

Section of Gastroenterology

Background: In dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, little evidence available from Pakistan.
Objective: The study aims to determine the frequency and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 22 November 2016 and 30 June 2018. Adults of age between 18 and 90 years who attended the out-patient department due to abdominal discomfort, pain, fullness, and bloating who underwent upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy were enrolled after taking informed consent. Patients with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, taking alcohol, pregnant women …

"Study On Anatomical Variations In Fissures Of Lung By Ct Scan", Anupama N

Faculty work

No abstract provided.

Targeted Transcriptomics Of Frog Virus 3 In Infected Frog Tissues Reveal Non-Coding Regulatory Elements And Micrornas In The Ranaviral Genome And Their Potential Interaction With Host Immune Response, Yun Tian, Collins N. Khwatenge, Jiuyi Li, Francisco De Jesús Andino, Jacques Robert, Yongming Sang

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Background: Frog Virus 3 (FV3) is a large dsDNA virus belonging to Ranaviruses of family Iridoviridae. Ranaviruses infect cold-blood vertebrates including amphibians, fish and reptiles, and contribute to catastrophic amphibian declines. FV3 has a genome at ~105 kb that contains nearly 100 coding genes and 50 intergenic regions as annotated in its reference genome. Previous studies have mainly focused on coding genes and rarely addressed potential non-coding regulatory role of intergenic regions.

Results: Using a whole transcriptomic analysis of total RNA samples containing both the viral and cellular transcripts from FV3-infected frog tissues, we detected virus-specific reads mapping in …

2021-06-17_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

2021-06-17_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

Contains the tables Statewide Hospital Capacity Report for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Hospital Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19, as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

2021-06-17_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled. It is updated Monday - Saturday.
This report is provisional and subject to change. City of Detroit and Wayne County are reported separately. MDHHS began tracking probable cases April 5, 2020. FCI indicates federal correctional institute. MDOC indicates Michigan Department of Corrections. Diagnostic tests, including nucleic acid amplification/real-time polymerase chain reaction (NAAT/RT-PCR) and rapid virus antigen detection point of …

2021-06-17_Michiganoverview_Misc, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 MIS-C Data

The MIS-C Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_104661---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by health care providers and local health departments. Data is updated on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition in children and adolescents under 21 years of age where multiple organ systems become inflamed or dysfunctional which occurs in association with illness. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, …

Atypical Presentation Of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Masquerading As Diffuse Severe Esophagitis, Hafsa Abbas, Haider Ghazanfar, Ali Naqqi Ul Hussain, Ahmed Baiomi, Ariyo Ihimoyan

Publications and Research

Esophagitis is described as an inflammation of the esophagus and can result from multiple etiologies. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), presenting as diffuse esophagitis in the absence of a mass or lesion, is rare. We present a case of a 61-year-old man who presented to the gastroenterology clinic for dysphagia and heartburn of 3 months duration. The patient had lost about 15 pounds unintentionally over 6 months. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed significant diffuse Grade 4 esophagitis without any overt bleeding. Random biopsies were taken with cold forceps from proximal, middle, and distal esophageal segments because of the striking …

Blood Transfusion Errors Within A Health System: A Review Of Root Cause Analyses, Elizabeth A. Lancaster, Elizabeth K. Rhodus, Mary B. Duke, Andrew M. Harris

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Introduction
Blood transfusions are lifesaving treatments which require critical attention to processes and details. If processes are not followed, grievous errors can lead to sentinel events. A review of investigations completed due to reported events will show the error trends associated with systems used throughout the blood transfusion process.

Methods
This study employed root cause analyses (RCAs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to review the events leading to blood transfusion errors. Data was pulled from the RCA databases within the VA National Center for Patient Safety. The time frame was October 2014 to August 2019. A total of 53 …

Effectiveness Of A Vaccination Education Module For College Freshman, Gavin Robert Behunin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate a vaccination education module and evaluate its effectiveness to improve vaccine beliefs and behaviors among college freshmen. The participants included 177 college freshmen at one Utah university. Participants were eligible for this study if admitted as a new freshman during the 2019-2020 school year. The study was a cross-sectional pre- and post-education evaluation assessing vaccine beliefs and behaviors using a Likert-type scale. After completing the vaccination education module, participants' vaccine beliefs and behavioral intentions improved. Participants reported they were more likely to be up-to-date on personal vaccines and more likely to expect …

Different Biomechanical Variables Explain Within-Subjects Versus Between-Subjects Variance In Step Length Asymmetry Post-Stroke, Natalia Sánchez, Nicolas Schweighofer, James M. Finley

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Step length asymmetry (SLA) is common in most stroke survivors. Several studies have shown that factors such as paretic propulsion can explain between-subjects differences in SLA. However, whether the factors that account for between-subjects variance in SLA are consistent with those that account for within subjects, stride-by-stride variance in SLA has not been determined. SLA direction is heterogeneous, and different impairments likely contribute to differences in SLA direction. Here, we identified common predictors between-subjects that explain within-subjects variance in SLA using sparse partial least squares regression (sPLSR). We determined whether the SLA predictors differ based on SLA direction and whether …

Dclk1 Isoforms And Aberrant Notch Signaling In The Regulation Of Human And Murine Colitis., Badal C. Roy, Ishfaq Ahmed, Jason Stubbs, Jun Zhang, Thomas M. Attard, Seth Septer, Danny Welch, Shrikant Anant, Venkatesh Sampath, Shahid Umar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Alternative promoter usage generates long and short isoforms (DCLK1-L and DCLK1-S) of doublecortin-like kinase-1 (DCLK1). Tight control of Notch signaling is important to prevent and restitute inflammation in the intestine. Our aim was to investigate whether Notch1-DCLK1 axis regulates the mucosal immune responses to infection and whether this is phenocopied in human models of colitis. In the FFPE (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded) sections prepared from the colons of ulcerative colitis (UC) and immune-mediated colitis (IRAEC) patients, expression of DCLK1 isoforms correlated positively with Notch1 and negatively with a transcriptional repressor, FoxD3 (Forkhead Box D3). DCLK1 protein staining in these sections was predominantly …

Variability In Ckd Biomarker Studies: Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (Supar) And Kidney Disease Progression In The Chronic Kidney Disease In Children (Ckid) Study., Alison G. Abraham, Yunwen Xu, Jennifer L. Roem, Jason H. Greenberg, Darcy K. Weidemann, Venkata S. Sabbisetti, Joseph V. Bonventre, Michelle Denburg, Bradley A. Warady, Susan L. Furth

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Rationale & Objective: Biomarker studies are important for generating mechanistic insight and providing clinically useful predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, variability across studies can often muddy the evidence waters. Here we evaluated real-world variability in biomarker studies using two published studies, independently conducted, of the novel plasma marker soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) for predicting CKD progression in children with CKD.

Study Design: A comparison of 2 prospective cohort studies.

Setting & Participants: 541 children from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study, median age 12 years, median glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 54 mL/min/1.73m …

Elv-N32 And Rvd6 Isomer Decrease Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, Senescence Programming, Ace2 And Sars-Cov-2-Spike Protein Rbd Binding In Injured Cornea, Thang L. Pham, Jiucheng He, Azucena H. Kakazu, Jorgelina Calandria, Khanh V. Do, Robert Nshimiyimana, Ting F. Lam, Nicos A. Petasis, Haydee E.P. Bazan, Nicolas G. Bazan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a pandemic affecting the most vulnerable in society, triggering a public health crisis and economic collapse around the world. Effective treatments to mitigate this viral infection are needed. Since the eye is a route of virus entrance, we use an in vivo rat model of corneal inflammation as well as human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in culture challenged with IFNγ as models of the eye surface to study this issue. We explore ways to block the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike …

Candida Cell‐Surface‐Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Protect Mice Against Candida Auris Invasive Infection, Jonothan Rosario‐Colon, Karen Eberle, Abby Adams, Evan Courville, Hong Xin

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Candida auris is a multidrug‐resistant fungal pathogen that can cause disseminated bloodstream infections with up to 60% mortality in susceptible populations. Of the three major classes of antifungal drugs, most C. auris isolates show high resistance to azoles and polyenes, with some clinical isolates showing resistance to all three drug classes. We reported in this study a novel approach to treating C. auris disseminated infections through passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting cell surface antigens with high homology in medically important Candida spe-cies. Using an established A/J mouse model of disseminated infection that mimics human candidi-asis, we showed that …

The Rare C9 P167s Risk Variant For Age-Related Macular Degeneration Increases Polymerization Of The Terminal Component Of The Complement Cascade, O Mcmahon, A Java, J P Atkinson, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex neurodegenerative eye disease with behavioral and genetic etiology and is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among elderly Caucasians. Functionally significant genetic variants in the alternative pathway of complement have been strongly linked to disease. More recently, a rare variant in the terminal pathway of complement has been associated with increased risk, Complement component 9 (C9) P167S. To assess the functional consequence of this variant, C9 levels were measured in two independent cohorts of AMD patients. In both cohorts, it was demonstrated that the P167S variant was associated with low C9 plasma …

Molecular Screening And Analysis Reveal Novel Oral Site-Specific Locations For The Cariogenic Pathogen Scardovia Wiggsiae, Steven Mcdaniel, Jaydene Mcdaniel, Katherine M. Howard, Karl Kingsley

Dental Medicine Faculty Research

Introduction: Scardovia wiggsiae (SW) is a newly identified cariogenic pathogen associated with severe early childhood caries and oral disease. New studies have confirmed the presence of this organism among clinical samples from both pediatric and adult patients. However, the recent discovery of this organism has left researchers with only limited information available regarding the prevalence of this organism—and virtually no information regarding oral site-specific locations. Based upon this lack of information, the overall objective of this study was to perform an oral site-specific analysis of SW prevalence from clinical samples. Methods: Using an approved human subjects protocol, samples (n = …

Reliability, Validity, And Unidimensionality Of The Korean Version Of The Pornography Craving Questionnaire Based On The Classical Test Theory And Item Response Theory, Se-Rae Kim, Soo-Young Bhang, Eun Young Lim, Sun Huh, Sang-Kyu Lee, Shane W. Kraus, Marc N. Potenza

Psychology Faculty Research

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pornography Craving Questionnaire (K-PCQ) using classical test theory and item response theory. Methods The goodness of fit test and differential item functioning (DIF) analysis based on the Rasch model, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and correlation analysis were used to test its reliability and validity. Results Response data from 226 students were analyzed. According to the goodness of fit test, the outfit mean square value of only one item, Item 11, was greater than 2. The CFA results revealed that all …

The Perceptions Of Speech-Language Pathologists Toward Augmentative And Alternative Communication In Thailand, Wansiya Kamonsitichai

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems have gained increasing acceptance in the US, they are not well-known and broadly used in Thailand. To begin introducing AAC systems and interventions to children with complex communication needs (CCNs) in Thailand, understanding Speech-Language Pathologists’ (SLP) perceptions toward various AAC systems is considered an important first step. This study assessed SLPs’ perceptions toward three AAC modalities: gestural communication, communication boards, and speech-generating devices. All SLPs in Thailand (n ~ 200) were invited to participate. A total of 78 SLPs watched three video vignettes with a Thai child illustrating each AAC mode. They then …

Structurally Distinct External Solvent-Exposed Domains Drive Replication Of Major Human Prions, Mohammad Khursheed Siddiqi, Chae Kim, Tracy Haldiman, Miroslava Kacirova, Benlian Wang, Jen Bohon, Mark R. Chance, Janna G. Kiselar, Jiri G. Safar

Faculty Scholarship

There is a limited understanding of structural attributes that encode the iatrogenic transmissibility and various phenotypes of prions causing the most common human prion disease, sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Here we report the detailed structural differences between major sCJD MM1, MM2, and VV2 prions determined with two complementary synchrotron hydroxyl radical footprinting techniques—mass spectrometry (MS) and conformation dependent immunoassay (CDI) with a panel of Europium-labeled antibodies. Both approaches clearly demonstrate that the phenotypically distant prions differ in a major way with regard to their structural organization, and synchrotron-generated hydroxyl radicals progressively inhibit their seeding potency in a strain and structure-specific …

Fructose Causes Liver Damage, Polyploidy, And Dysplasia In The Setting Of Short Telomeres And P53 Loss, Christopher Chronowski, Viktor Akhanov, Doug Chan, Andre Catic, Milton Finegold, Ergün Sahin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Studies in humans and model systems have established an important role of short telomeres in predisposing to liver fibrosis through pathways that are incompletely understood. Recent studies have shown that telomere dysfunction impairs cellular metabolism, but whether and how these metabolic alterations contribute to liver fibrosis is not well understood. Here, we investigated whether short telomeres change the hepatic response to metabolic stress induced by fructose, a sugar that is highly implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We find that telomere shortening in telomerase knockout mice (TKO) imparts a pronounced susceptibility to fructose as reflected in the activation of p53, …

Dietary Fiber Intake, The Gut Microbiome, And Chronic Systemic Inflammation In A Cohort Of Adult Men, Wenjie Ma, Yin Cao, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: A higher intake of dietary fiber is associated with a decreased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. This may function in part due to abrogation of chronic systemic inflammation induced by factors such as dysbiotic gut communities. Data regarding the detailed influences of long-term and recent intake of differing dietary fiber sources on the human gut microbiome are lacking.

METHODS: In a cohort of 307 generally healthy men, we examined gut microbiomes, profiled by shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing, and long-term and recent dietary fiber intake in relation to plasma levels of …

Covid-19: A One Health Issue, Karen Gruszynski

Cumberland Mountain Naturalist

COVID-19 has very rapidly become part of modern societal lexicon as the disease highlights the importance understanding zoonotic diseases and the impact they can have on human life. With a 177million human cases and 3.82million deaths globally at the time of this publication, the "One Health" nature of the disease has had a lasting impact across the planet. As the disease spread rapidly, it highlighted the dissemination of information through social media and other sources. With this in mind, Dr. Gary Vroegindewey, Director for One Health at LMU-CVM, put forth the idea to have students collect and summarize information about …