Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Novel Strategy To Make Kras Targeted Therapies More Effective For Pdac Treatment, Ana I. Martinez Bulnes, Melissa Elizondo, Orlando Garcia, Poornima Devi Shaji, Swathi Holla, Nirnoy Dan, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Shabnam Malik, Murali Yallapu, Stephen Behrman, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

Introduction: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients exhibit extremely poor prognosis. KRAS mutation on codon-12 is present in 70–95% of PDAC cases and it drives PDAC growth and progression. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is present in both PDAC and stromal cells, being involved in tumor microenvironment, immune cell activation and metastasis. Therefore, this study discusses the efficiency of combined inhibition of mutated KRASG12D and Gal-1 inhibition to effectively suppress PDAC growth and progression. For this we have delivered KRASG12D inhibiting siRNA (siKRASG12D) using a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) and a galectin inhibitor.

Methods: SPION nano-formulation was used to deliver siKRASG12D and investigate …

Newly Diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis In A Young Hispanic Mexican Female At South Texas: A Case Report, Elimar Gonzalez Morales, Jose Gomez Casanovas, Shreel Patel, Khairiya Haj-Yahya

Research Symposium

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by recurring episodes of inflammation limited to the mucosal layer of the colon. Traditionally, this disease has been associated mostly with white Americans, however in recent years, an increase incidence has been reported in minorities in the US and around the world. In Hispanic population, cases are frequently underdiagnosed, and literature is scarse. In this case, we present a young patient without past medical history who presented with what appeared to be an infectious gastroenteritis and found to have a severe UC.

Case Presentation: A 22-year old Hispanic …

Nebulization Based Inhalation Nanomedicine For Lung Cancer Treatments, Rahul Tiwari, Meghana Kolli, Neeraj Chauhan, Eswara Naga Hanuma, Vivek Kashyap, Subhash Chauhan, Murali Yallapu

Research Symposium

Background: Lung cancer is reported to have a high incidence rate and first leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality across the world including in the United States. Noninvasive nebulized inhalation is a promising delivery strategy for lung, which can enhance the targeting efficiency and detention time interval of nanoparticles in the lung tissue, thus elevating the therapeutic index of therapeutic agent(s) at lower dosages. The aim of this study is to develop inhalable nanoparticles (INPs) for effective delivery of therapeutic agents in lung cancer cell lines and ex vivo models.

Methods: The inhalation nanoparticles (INPs) were prepared by solvent …

Modern Neurosurgical Techniques For Surgical Excision Of Neoplasms, Kevin A. Garcia Valdez, Sonya Bhatia, Natasha Bell, Anesu Karen Murambadoro, Victoria Elizondo, Fernando Cisneros, Kory Punch, Alan N. Francis

Research Symposium

Background: Neurosurgical excision of brain tumors is still regarded as the first line treatment for multiple neoplasms, including meningiomas, gliomas, and metastatic tumors. Advances in technology have allowed neurosurgeons to utilize various approaches that significantly reduce mortality and surgical morbidity. However, the high risk of neurological deficit and tumor recurrence remains. Here, we analyze three neurosurgical approaches: craniotomy, microsurgery with tubular retraction, and tumor ablation. While craniotomy remains as the first line treatment for most brain tumors, we hypothesize that microsurgery and ablation will show greater success of tumor removal with fewer complications.

Methods: Published literature was reviewed from PubMed …

Deficient Dietary Folic Acid And Systemic Dsp-4 Induced Locus Coeruleus Loss Assessed As Neurodegenerative Cognitive Model In Adult Cb57/J6 Mice, Gabriel Kong, Aristotle Zeng, Theo Helm, Simon Khorani, Rohan Rampal, Smayana Kurapati, Riva Ranier, Aidan Schmidt, Maximilian Doane, David B. Green Phd, Susan E. Helm Phd

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

DEFICIENT DIETARY FOLIC ACID AND SYSTEMIC DSP-4 INDUCED LOCUS COERULEUS LOSS ASSESSED AS NEURODEGENERATIVE COGNITIVE MODEL IN ADULT CB57/J6 MICE Gabriel Kong, C. Foster Graf, Aristotle Zeng, Theodore Helm, Simon Khorani, Rohan Rample, Smayana Kurapati, Riva Rainier, Aidan Schmidt, Maximilian Doane, David B. Green, and Susan E. Helm Chemistry and Nutritional Science, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California

Dietary deficiency of folic acid (FA) shortened nerve lengths as much as 50% in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). Locus coeruleus (LC) is largest noradrenergic nucleus in central nervous system with neurogenic projections widely dispersed in the brain and, notably, a major norepinephrine source in …

Exploring The Impact Of Trusted Patient-Physician Relationship And Effective Health Communication On Patient Empowerment, Mingming Song

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Abstract

Empowered patients actively participate in their healthcare decision making, clearly understanding their health conditions, and effectively managing their health care plan. Traditionally, health education has served as the primary method for educating and empowering patients within the healthcare services model, including the care provided by physicians....

Effect Of Three-Month Use Of Assistive Shoes On Gait In Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease, Jonathan Kirkland

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Effect of Three-Month Use of Assistive Shoes on Gait in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Comparison Of Marker-Based And Marker-Less Motion Capture On Kinematic Outcomes; Comparison Of Lower Limb 3d Kinematic Outcomes Between Markerless And Marker-Based Systems During Overground Walking In Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cp) (Irb:8022-21-Ep), Jutharat Poomulna

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The Gait Deviation Index (GDI) serves as a summary measure to evaluate gait pathology in children with cerebral palsy (CP), with a score ≥ 100 denoting typical gait and each 10-point difference representing one standard deviation from the mean. While marker-based (MB) motion capture, the gold standard for 3D gait analysis, has limitations for widespread clinical use, leading to the exploration of video-based markerless motion capture, specifically Theia3D. Theia3D has been validated for accuracy and reliability in healthy adults; however, its clinical applicability is limited. This study aims to compare the impact of different motion capture systems on GDI scores …

Idiopathic And Neuromuscular Scoliosis In A Female College Basketball Player Requiring Spinal Correction Surgery, Magan Kim

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The purpose of this report is to present the case of a 20-year-old female collegiate basketball player who was diagnosed with a combination of idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis. Patient underwent thoracic spinal fusion surgery when she was 15 to resolve her extreme scoliosis. The uniqueness of this case stems from the athlete’s urgency to have to undergo a life-altering spine operation and still be able to successfully contribute to a collegiate basketball team. Athletic trainers should be knowledgeable and aware of how to maintain treatment/rehabilitation for athletes with scoliosis, operative or non-operative. Scoliosis should no longer be a reason to …

Materials And Methods Developed For The Recording And Analysis Of Behavior In The Common Marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus)., Christian Wintle

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Materials and methods developed for the recording and analysis of behavior in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Christian J. Wintle^a, Jordan B. Hernandez^a,b,c, Dobromir Dotov^d, and Jonathan B. Clayton^a,b,e,f,g

^aDepartment of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA

^bNebraska Food for Health Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

^cDepartment of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE, USA

^dDepartment of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA

^eDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, …

Methotrexate-Induced Pancytopenia: A Call For Mindful Medication Practices, Eunbee Cho, Jessica Marcela Daza, Jiye A. Park, Shreel Patel, Seokwon Choi, Daniel Farray

Research Symposium

Introduction: Methotrexate(MTX) is a widely used disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for various conditions including autoimmune diseases or malignancies. Pancytopenia as an adverse effect of methotrexate is rarely reported but sometimes fatal, and requires more attention. This case report shows a 76-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) on MTX therapy, presenting with severe pancytopenia and oral lesions, and highlights the importance of safe medication practices especially in elderly patients with poor health literacy and compliance.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis presented to the emergency department with a worsening oral lesion. She had been on an unspecified maintenance …

Metagenomic Analysis Unveils The Microbial Landscape Of Pancreatic Tumors, Sheema Khan, Goutam Banerjee, Saini Setua, Daleniece Jones, Anupam Dhasmana, Bhavin Chauhan, Pratik Banerjee, Murali M. Yallapu, Stephen Behrman, Subhash Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: The composition of resident microbes in the human body is linked to various diseases and their treatment outcomes. Although studies have identified pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) associated bacterial communities in the oral and gut samples, herein we hypothesize the prevalence of microbiota in pancreatic tumor tissues is different as compared to their matched adjacent, histologically normal appearing tissues and these microbial molecular signatures can be highly useful for PDAC diagnosis/prognosis.

Methods: In this study, we performed comparative profiling of bacterial populations in pancreatic tumors and their respective adjacent normal tissues using 16S rRNA-based metagenomics analysis.

Results: This study …

Mechanistic Investigation Of C—C Bond Activation Of Phosphaalkynes With Pt(0) Complexes, Roberto M. Escobar, Abdurrahman C. Ateşin, Christian Müller, William D. Jones, Tülay Ateşin

Research Symposium

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate Pt(0)-mediated C–CP bond activation mechanisms in phosphaalkynes. Investigating the …

Little Bit About Liddle: Big Improvement In Blood Pressure, Shreel Patel, Roy Kondapavuluru, Eunbee Cho, Fatimah Bello, Jian Garcia Cruz

Research Symposium

Background: Liddle syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder associated with abnormalities in function of the collecting tubule sodium channel, also called the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). ENaC function is increased in the Liddle’s syndrome leading to the manifestations of mineralocorticoid excess symptoms, such as hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. The diagnosis is made when these features are seen with low renin and low plasma or urinary aldosterone. Genetic testing is not required for the diagnosis of Liddle syndrome. Liddle's syndrome has an excellent response to amiloride.

Case Presentation: A 56-year-old gentleman, with longstanding uncontrolled hypertension was seen for functional …

Lncrna Impact On Regorafenib Resistance In Colorectal Cancer, Ricardo Pequeno Bracho, Kyle Doxtater, Dennis Kwabiah, Yamile Abuchard Anaya, Sophia Leslie, Mohammad Shabir Hussain, Manish Tripathi

Research Symposium

Cancer metastasis is one of the deadliest aspects of the disease, with about 90% of all cancer-related deaths due to its development at different sites within the body. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States, with 40-50% of all patients developing metastasis at some point during their fight with the disease. With the approval of Regorafenib for treating metastatic colorectal cancer, steps have been taken to combat metastasis in colorectal cancer. A vital aspect of the development of metastasis is the development of resistance to first-line chemotherapy. Regorafenib is an oral small-molecule …

Leveraging A Human-Centered Design Framework To Improve Longitudinal Care At A Student Free Clinic : A Quality Improvement Initiative, Rosa E. Martinez, Alexis De Montfort Shepherd, Sahana Prabhu, Katie Se, Krishna Hariprasad, Sanika Mhatre

Research Symposium

Background: Founded in 2009, the CD Doyle Clinic is a student-run free clinic with a mission to provide high-quality equitable care to those in need, regardless of their background. Since 2020, our clinic has served residents at the Esperanza community, a state-sanctioned encampment for people experiencing homelessness in Southeast Austin. The majority of the patients that we serve navigate complex medical and psychosocial conditions. Our clinic operates as an ambulatory care center, primarily addressing acute care and psychiatric concerns. Recognizing our limits as a free clinic, we collaborate alongside community partners, such as Travis County’s CommUnityCare Mobile Health Team, to …

La1-Xsrxcoo3 Perovskite Nanomaterial: Synthesis, Characterization, And Its Biomedical Application, Adhira Tippur, Anyet Shohag, Luke Franco, Ahmed Touhami, Swati Mohan, Mohammed Uddin

Research Symposium

Early cancer detection is paramount for effective treatment and potential cures. This research explores the application of perovskite materials, specifically Sr2+-doped Lanthanum Cobaltite (La1-xSrxCoO3) nanomaterials, in cancer detection, with a focus on rats as an experimental model. The ferroelectric nature of these materials, synthesized through a combination of sol-gel and molten-salt processes, was examined at varying Sr2+ doping levels (1-20 wt%). Rigorous characterization, employing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, confirmed the uniform morphology of nano cubes, laying the foundation for subsequent investigations. The magnetic properties of the perovskite nanoparticles were probed, suggesting their potential as a diagnostic tool for …

Jungle Fever: Navigating Malaria In Immigrant Travelers Patient At South Texas: A Case Report, Elimar Gonzalez Morales, Eunbee Cho, Jose Gomez Casanovas, Khairiya Haj-Yahya

Research Symposium

Introduction: Malaria is a severe mosquito-borne illness that can be life-threatening. This infection continues to be a significant global health concern, most prominent in tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria's clinical manifestations exhibit a striking diversity, influenced by geographical variables, the individual's immunity, and age. Diagnosing and treating malaria early is crucial to preventing severe complications and fatalities. This heterogeneity poses unique challenges to its diagnosis and treatment, making it a subject of continuous study and innovation. In this case, we present a case of a patient traveling from an endemic area to a non-endemic area. In this comprehensive examination of …

Investigation Of The Efficacy Local Anesthetics For Perioperative Peripheral Nerve Blocks In Patients With Diabetes: A Retrospective Chart Review, Andrew Kolodziej, Alisha Valdez, Jessica Flores, Kelsey Potter-Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Peripheral nerve neuralgia is a common manifestation of diabetes and can cause patients to have severe episodes of pain. Although pharmacologic treatment with antineuropathic drugs are first line, they often are not effective and can warrant further treatment with peripheral nerve blocks. Further studies support that peripheral nerve blocks should be considered as the first option for anesthesia for lower limb surgery in diabetic patients. The goal of this study is to evaluate local anesthetic agent regimens in the Rio Grande Valley for peripheral nerve blocks in diabetic patients and determine post operative effectiveness and complications.

Methods: …

Investigating Interrater-Reliability In Assessing Social Behavior Of Monodelphis Domestica, Bianca A. Camacho, Johanna Perez, Jatziry L. Escobedo, John L. Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Reliable, consistent, and objective data is a goal all studies aim to achieve, but many struggle to obtain when subjective biases between researchers can occur. Inter-rater reliability (IRR) is a statistical measure used to quantify the degree of agreement between researchers qualitatively scoring the same phenomenon. The primary goal of this study is to enhance the methodology used to achieve optimal IRR. Using an established ethogram, our team of researchers scored the social behavior of the adult gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) to propose an effective method for achieving high IRR that can contribute to future …

Posteriormedial Ankle Impingement In A Male Division I Ice Hockey Player: A Case Report, Bethany Thompson

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The purpose of this case report is to present the case of a 21 year old male Division I collegiate hockey player’s injury during their season, resulting in posteriormedial ankle impingement of the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament, osteochondral lesion of the talus, and tenosynovitis of the tibialis posterior. The patient’s injury did not require surgery; however, they did complete a rehabilitation plan with a physical therapist and receive a cortisone injection. The patient had a positive outcome due to the athletic trainer sending the patient for immediate diagnostic imaging after initial consultation. The patient was able to continue participation in …

Influence Of Neurotoxin Load On Parkinson’S Disease Pathophysiology, Abhishekh Pokhrel, Daniel Salinas, Nawaz Hack, Kelsey Potter-Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder impacting movement, mood, and cognition. Among those affected, veterans, due to their occupational exposures, are particularly susceptible, contributing to over 110,000 PD cases in the United States. Studies have largely attributed this increased prevalence among veterans to environmental neurotoxins such as Agent Orange, MPTP, and 6-OHDA. However, it remains unclear how neurotoxin exposure load influences biological mechanisms in PD. This study aims to elucidate the influence of neurotoxin load on PD-associated molecular changes, neuroplasticity, neurodegeneration, and cognitive and motor function within a clinical population of the Rio Grande Valley region …

Case Based Interprofessional Learning Versus Traditional Teaching Methods For Medical, Nursing, And Physiotherapy Students, Seema Saini, Ganesh Kamath, Mary Mathew, Derek Dsouza

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: The traditional teaching method is a teacher centric approach with little involvement from the students. In contrast to that, case-based interprofessional learning (CBIL) is a self-directed learning strategy using case scenarios with the understanding of interprofessional roles and is a student centric learning. Introducing CBIL as a teaching/learning (T/L) strategy for undergraduate healthcare students and assessing its effects on students were the goals of this project. Methods: 134 MBBS, physiotherapy, and nursing final-year students participated in the study. In both traditional teaching and CBIL as self-directed learning techniques, cases with distal end radius fracture and prolapsed intervertebral disc were …

Subacute To Chronic Subdural Hematoma In An 18-Year-Old Male Football Player, Peyton Bodemann

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The purpose of the report is to present the case of a high school football player who survived two brain surgeries to treat a subacute subdural hematoma that turned chronic (cSDH). This case proves to be unique due to the lack of mechanism, the age of the patient, the complications from surgery, and the recovery.^9,12,16 The patient underwent an MMA (middle meningeal artery) embolization to treat the subacute hematoma, followed by a double burr hole craniotomy with drainage of chronic subdural hematoma. It is important for athletic trainers along with other members of the health care system to work …

Acute Simultaneous Medial And Lateral Ankle Sprain In A Collegiate Football Player: A Case Report, Ian Matlack

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The purpose of this case report is to present a twenty-year-old African American male with a complex ankle injury. During a collegiate football game, the athlete injured his left ankle, damaging his deltoid ligament complex, and lateral ankle complex, causing several bone bruises and tearing his peroneal retinaculum. With surgery being declined, standard rehabilitation protocols of POLICE for initial management of inflammation, strengthening, and ROM exercises were conducted. Manual therapies consisting of milking massage, scraping, and joint mobilizations were added to aid in pain and edema control. Comparative case studies suggest that the athlete may have experienced a subluxation of …

Improving Health And Sustainability In Construction Through The Use Of Ai-Based Models For Prediction And Mitigation Of Environmental Cancer Risks, Sana Khan, Asif Shah

Research Symposium

Introduction: Sustainable construction practices face significant challenges in eliminating toxic building materials, driven by a lack of awareness among professionals and economic influences shaping regulatory decisions. This study proposes a solution to address these challenges through the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) models capable of analyzing vast datasets to predict material toxicity, with a particular focus on identifying carcinogenic materials. The objective is to provide real-time insights to architects and civil engineers, fostering environments free from harmful building materials and preventing potential health hazards, including cancer. The presence of carcinogenic materials in construction processes poses severe health risks. Asbestos, a …

Impact Of A Costello Syndrome-Causing Mutation On Learning And Myelin-Producing Cells, Carlos A. Cisneros, Daniella Hernandez, Saul Lopez, Celeste Martinez, Kaelah Araiza, Ana J. Gutierrez, Alejandro Lopez-Juarez

Research Symposium

Background:Costello Syndrome (CS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by hyperactivating mutations in the HRAS gene, which controls the RAS/MAPK intracellular pathway. Symptoms of CS typically include neurocognitive developmental delays, increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and other neurological issues. Additionally, most CS patients present with white matter (WM) abnormalities. WM has been proposed to regulate learning due to its roles in increasing/synchronizing action potentials and protecting neuronal axons. Females of a myelin-focused mouse model of CS (PlpCre;HRasG12V; pHRas) show learning deficits in a myelin-regulated test (the complex running wheel; CW) that resolve with time. To shed …

Highlights Of The 2023 Brano Heart Failure Forum, Bela Merkely, Rajko Radovancevic, Bojan Vrtovec, Igor D. Gregoric

The VAD Journal

Since 2007, the Branislav “Brano” Radovancevic Heart Failure Forum (BHFF) has been held annually to provide a venue for experts to present and discuss “Innovations and New Treatment Strategies in Heart Failure.” Clinicians and researchers gather yearly in a different Eastern European city to discuss the latest in heart failure diagnostics and therapeutics. The 2023 BHHF forum was held on the 13^th thru 15^th of September 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. It was attended by over 100 faculty from 16 countries. In addition, participation through online streaming was available. Throughout the forum, 16 sessions focused on challenges and solutions …

Human Papilloma Viruses Infection And Pre-Malignant Lesions In Women On The Texas Mexico Border, Noe Garza, M. Gomez Gutierrez, Candace Robledo, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: In United States, 24-40 million women have had at least one Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. While HPV infection is responsible for over 93% of cervical cancer cases worldwide, it is relatively uncommon in US given screening programs and the introduction of the Papanicolaou test. In Texas, where cervical screening and uptake of the HPV vaccine is lower, the incidence of cervical cancer is 12 cases per 100,000 women. Along the border with Mexico the incidence of cervical cancer rises to 16 cases per 100,000 women, mirroring Mexico’s public health problem: cervical cancer is the leading cause of death in …

Healthcare Professional’S Attitudes Towards Interprofessional Collaboration, Martin Ekoumou, Jerome Fischer

Research Symposium

Background: Traditional healthcare has been characterized as a field where professionals work independently, creating an environment with multiple providers in multiple locations duplicating services, adding to the ineffectiveness and waste of resources. The fragmentation of healthcare provision promotes isolation, competition and attempts to preserve power among professions. Accordingly, patient care is less than optimum. To begin to ameliorate this situation Interprofessional Education has been developed. However, a significant part of this education is effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC) which creates higher patient satisfaction, better coordination of patient care, efficient use of healthcare services and higher professional job satisfaction. The purpose of …