Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (Pcbh Paths): An Initiative To Address Health Disparities And Promote Equitable Care In The Rio Grande Valley (Rgv), Deepu George, Joanna Garza, Maria G. Hernandez, Yvette K. Cantu Cazares, Monica C. Perez, Yvette K. Cantu Cazares, Mayrin A. Perez

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) faces significant socio-economic challenges, with 35.6% of residents living in poverty and uninsured rates as high as 40%. Each year, approximately 260,000 residents experience mild to moderate behavioral health conditions. Behavioral health care in the region is particularly scarce, with only 30.1 mental health providers per 100,000 compared to the statewide average of 72.7. Furthermore, approximately 90.5% of the population identifies as Hispanic/Latino, so culturally relevant interventions are critical. The Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (PCBH PATHS) Initiative addresses these disparities by 1) developing a PCBH model tailored to …

Epilepsy In The Hispanic Population In The Rgv: A Five-Year Retrospective Chart Review, Megan W. Szobody, Kelsey Potter-Baker

Research Symposium

Introduction: Epilepsy is a seizure disorder characterized by abnormal electrical patterns in the brain that lead to changes in synchronization of neuronal firing patterns. Presentations of seizures vary, and include convulsions, changes in awareness, loss of consciousness, or unusual sensations. Approximately 3.4 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, with close to 15,000 in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). The RGV is home to a vast Hispanic population, with 91% of its population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, according to the American Immigration Council’s research in 2019. However, literature on the prevalence, and presentation of epilepsy within the Hispanic population …

Optimization Of Multi-Session Temporary Deafferentation In Healthy Subjects For Applications In Neurorehabilitation, Mayrin A. Perez, Edrick Garcia, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Temporary deafferentation (TD) has emerged as a powerful methodological and rehabilitation tool, used in animal and clinical studies for over 50 years. TD uses temporary anesthesia to suppress or lower the afferent input from a region, dermatome or innervated muscle. Previous data in our laboratory has shown benefit from a single session of TD. Here, we evaluated multi-session delivery of TD in healthy subjects. We hypothesized that multi-session delivery of TD will result in larger benefits in arm and hand function, compared to a single session. We hypothesized that our observed improvements would be due to improved muscle physiological response …

Influence Of Epidemiological Factors On Facial Trauma Incidence In Texas: A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis, Mary Arden Grace Guillory, Isabella Ortigoza Martinez, Saloni Saldhi, Jocelyn Torres, Ashlyn Holubar, Shalika Padhi, Kelsey Potter-Baker, Daniel Salinas

Research Symposium

Most facial fractures are diagnosed and triaged in the emergency room after traumatic accidents. Previous studies indicate that mandible fractures are the most common facial fractures requiring surgery. Current literature suggests that facial fractures incidence and severity are influenced by demographics, however, evidence remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the location of facial fractures and patient demographics in Texas, aiding healthcare workers in assessing risk factors for facial trauma.

We analyzed publicly available data from the Department of State Health Services trauma database for 2018 – 2022. We evaluated ICD-10 codes for facial fractures (S02), …

The Influence Of Stroke Characteristics On Gad-7 And Phq-9 Scores: A Retrospective Analysis In The Rio Grande Valley, Maria Sophia Zaraspe Malbas, Allison J. Mcadams, Julia Paz, Miguel Quintanilla, Karina Y. Zamora, Sowmya Duddu, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Strokes, also known as cerebral infarctions, are life-threatening emergencies. They involve blockage of blood flow to the brain and require prompt and critical management to prevent permanent damage or death. The long-term effects of a stroke may include impaired speech, restricted physical mobility, as well as depression and anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety and depression after a stroke is estimated between 20-25% and 20-40% of patients respectively. Just as it is imperative to treat strokes as they transpire, it is equally important to initiate appropriate rehabilitation and therapy targeting post-stroke psychiatric outcomes. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) …

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary And Behavioral Healthcare (I2pbh) Initiative: Establishing A Multidisciplinary And Innovative Primary Care Behavioral Health (Pcbh) Certificate Training Program At The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Deepu George, Joanna Garza, Maria G. Hernandez, Yvette K. Cantu Cazares, Monica C. Perez, Mayrin A. Perez

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I²PBH) Initiative aims to establish a Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) certificate pathway that equips the next generation of behavioral health professionals to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and population-based care. By leveraging evidence-based PCBH Integrated Care, the program addresses critical challenges in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), such as limited access to behavioral health services and increasing behavioral health disparities. This initiative actively promotes health equity by building a sustainable workforce pipeline prepared to serve medically underserved populations and reduce behavioral healthcare disparities in the RGV.

Description: Established …

A Review Of Educational Interventions To Increase Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates In Low-Income Populations, Maria F. Lozano Bonilla, Bria Okere, Yazeth Gonzalez, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar

Research Symposium

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent vaccine protects against nine high-risk types of HPV which are known to cause genital warts, cervical, vaginal, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancer. As of 2022, Texas ranks 48th in HPV vaccine completion rates and 44th in vaccine initiation rates. In Hidalgo County, only 16.8% of females and 16.7% of males aged 9 to 17 have completed the HPV vaccination series. This ranks the county 119th for females and 111th for males out of 254 counties in the state of Texas. These rates are remarkably below the Healthy People 2030 target of an 80% completion …

Unveiling The Pathophysiology Of Hpv And Cervical Cancer, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Yazeth Gonzalez, Maria Lozano Bonilla, Bria Okere, Sira Nakwaasah

Research Symposium

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that causes HPV-associated diseases such as vaginal, penile, cervical, and oropharyngeal cancer. Each year in the United States, about 13,000 cases of cervical cancer develop, and an estimated 4,000 deaths are attributed to it. Approximately 35,000 of U.S. citizens develop an HPV-related cancer every year. There are disparities in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer across ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and regions. In the United States, Hispanic individuals comprise only 18% of the population, yet Hispanic women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer. Hispanic women have a 32% greater …

Understanding The Correlation Between Risk Factors For Dementia In The Rio Grande Valley, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: As the prevalence of dementia increases globally, the demand to develop and understand what early preventive measures can be taken becomes more relevant. Vascular comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension are among the most common contributing risk factors for cognitive impairment. Type 2 diabetes is heavily associated with cognitive impairment and impaired synaptic plasticity due to decreased insulin signaling in the brain. Midlife obesity has been associated with Alzheimer's disease development due to a link between the elevated levels of adipose tissue with lower cortical thickness. Dementia is a multifactorial disease and in order to create an effective preventive …

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Due To Germ Cell Tumor In A Young Adult: Case Report, Manlio F. Lara Duck, Netzahualcoyotl Mayek Pérez, Juan Rosales Martínez

Research Symposium

Background: In superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), the superior vena cava becomes mechanically obstructed by venous thrombus formation or by compression caused by intrathoracic tumors. SVCS is most common in men over 45 years of age; 22.5% of patients with SVCS have stage IV lung cancer or lymphoma. SVCS may occur secondary to extrathoracic tumors (testicular, ovarian, kidney, intestinal).

Case presentation: Male (24 years old) with a history of cancer in his maternal grandmother; denied drug addiction. Factory worker who denied being in direct contact with any chemicals and/or toxins. He reported non-productive cough; paroxysmal unilateral left facial edema without …

Developing Ship On-Chip Strategy Of Transporting Theranostic Radionuclides For Rapid And Efficient Radiopharmaceutical Production, Mai Lin, Robert Ta, Mark Mc Veigh, Joseph Lapka, Don Nolting, Leon Marcel Bellan, William Charlton, H. Charles Manning

Research Symposium

Introduction: Radiopharmaceuticals play a critical role in cancer diagnosis, staging, and therapy. Recent successes in radiotheranostics (which utilize targeted radiopharmaceutical pairs for both diagnosis and therapy) have led to improved outcomes in challenging clinical settings, such as neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. Despite the tremendous potential, development of new radiopharmaceutical agents and widespread distribution is hampered by the extreme costs associated with production and delivery. Most hospitals require a substantial investment in facility and operational equipment for radiosynthesis that in turn limits the development of radiopharmaceuticals and their impact on precision medicine. Herein, we describe a simple and inexpensive microfluidic …

Retrospective Analyses Of The Incidence Of Major Depressive Disorder Among Post-Surgery Patients In The Rio Grande Valley, Kaitlyn D. Ybanez, Jennifer V. Escamilla, Shiza Khan, Maci D. Oestreich, Kelsey A. Baker

Research Symposium

Introduction: Post-surgical recovery extends beyond physical healing, encompassing the psychological toll many patients experience. Emerging evidence suggests a notable association between major surgeries and the onset and/or exacerbation of mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and personality disorder. These conditions can profoundly impact patient quality of life and overall outcomes, highlighting the need for further exploration into their prevalence, screening efforts, and contributing factors. This study aims to investigate the incidence of MDD in patients following major surgeries within the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review at UTHealth RGV from 2019 …

Clinical Relapse Versus Treatment Failure: The Case For Surveillance For Re-Appearance Of Minimal Measurable Disease In Pediatric Patients With Higher Risk B-All, Paul S. Gaynon, Linwei Li

Research Symposium

Background: Despite significant advancements in the treatment of pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), chemotherapy has reached its end of “intensification” stage despite improvements in supportive care. Moreover, relapse remains a major challenge, particularly in high-risk populations such as adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The definition of threshold for clinical relapse as 25% presence of marrow lymphoblasts was established decades ago, which may be incoherent with current therapeutic strategies and delay the window for timely treatment for relapsed patients. Emerging data suggest that early detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) may offer an opportunity to intervene before clinical relapse, improving …

Alk Drives Neuroblastoma Tumorigenesis Via Upregulation Of Postn And Activation Of Wnt And Stat3 Signaling, Miller Huang, Wanqi Fang, Alvin Farrel, Linwei Li, Tania Porras Corredor, Shahab Asgharzadeh, John Maris, William A. Weiss

Research Symposium

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Two of the earliest known genetic drivers of NB are the oncogene MYCN and receptor tyrosine kinase ALK. While animal models show MYCN and mutationally active ALK F1174L can accelerate NB tumorigenesis, the mechanism of this cooperation is unknown. This study applied a human stem cell-based model to elucidate how ALK cooperates with MYCN to accelerate tumorigenesis of NB.

Methods: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were engineered with doxycycline-inducible MYCN and constitutively active ALKF1174L. These iPSCs were differentiated into trunk neural crest cells (tNCCs) and orthotopically transplanted into …

Interview With A Rocket Scientist, Alex Robertson

Osmosis Magazine

There are three examples of professions that people refer to as highly intelligent: a brain surgeon, nuclear physicist, and rocket scientist. I’ll be representing the rocket scientists with this interview with aerospace engineer Andrei Doran!

Ask Osmosis, Ryan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

Welcome to the first installment of Ask Osmosis, our new Q&A section where we answer questions about science and healthcare sent in by our wonderful and curious readers.

Thank you to everyone who sent in questions!

Computational Biology: Revealing The Secrets Of Dna, Yağmur BingüL

Osmosis Magazine

Science is exponentially growing. It gets millions of times better than its previous self each year. In 2000, when we published the first draft of the complete human genome to develop new ways to treat, cure, or even prevent the thousands of diseases that afflict humankind, it cost 3 billion dollars. Six years later, in 2006, it cost only $14 million to generate a “complete” human genome, to find out every single gene in the human DNA. And now, we can develop a complete human genome for only $1,500 - $4000.

The Hidden Faces Behind The Covid-19 Vaccine, Julia Brittain

Osmosis Magazine

When you think about the COVID-19 vaccine, the names Pfizer or Moderna probably come to mind. It’s no surprise that these companies are often mentioned in discussions of the COVID- 19 vaccine. After all, in December 2020, Pfizer-BioNTech became the first biopharmaceutical company to receive emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine from the FDA, and Moderna followed shortly after.

Letter From The Editor, Ryan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

Dear Reader,

Thank you for opening this unique issue of Osmosis Magazine! The 10th issue of UR’s premier science and healthcare magazine looks quite different from previous issues, as the Osmosis Team has disaffiliated from UR in support of the Black Student Coalition and the Protect Our Web movement. Nevertheless, Osmosis Magazine remains dedicated to our mission of sharing interesting and educational science and healthcare stories. This “mini issue”

stays true to that goal, while giving the incredible Osmosis Team something to show for their hard work this semester. If you like what you read, please feel free to share …

Osmosis Magazine - Spring 2021

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Thermal Carbonization Of Biomass Wood Dust And Algae Wastes Via Microwave-Assisted H3Po4: Desirability Function And Statistical Optimization For Methylene Blue Dye Removal, Raja Razuan Raja Derisa, Hazierul F. Awang, Muhammad Hakim Azman, Intan Nur Hidayah Abdul Rashid, Ahmad Hapiz, Ruihong Wu, Abdallah Reghioua, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Lee D. Wilson

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research utilized a carbonization procedure via microwave irradiation assisted by H₃PO₄ to generate a cost-effective adsorbent (CWDAG) from wood dust (WD) and algal (AG) biomass. The resulting CWDAG adsorbent was characterized for its methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption properties. The activation process employs 800 W microwave radiation for 15 min under a nitrogen gas (99.99%) atmosphere. Multiple techniques were employed to study the physicochemical properties of CWDAG, such as FTIR, XRD, FSEM-EDX, pH_pzc, and BET. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the three important parameters of adsorption, as follows: A: CWDAG dosage …

Trifluoromethyl Carbohydrate Footprinting For Probing Protein Binding Components Of Oligosaccharides Mixture, Quadrat Yusuph, Sandeep K. Misra, Joshua S. Sharp

Annual Poster Session 2024-2025

Biomolecular footprinting is well-established for nucleic acids and proteins but lacks a method for carbohydrates. Glycan footprinting could enhance understanding of glycan interactions via mass spectrometry. We verified that CF3 labeled the model trisaccharide NAG3 across the oligosaccharide. We developed a quenching and reduction protocol for improved post-labeling analysis and the first radical covalent footprinting method for complex carbohydrates.

Changes In Brain Functional Connectivity Associated With Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Healthy Controls, Daniel A. Monti, Nancy Wintering, Faezeh Vedaei, Alicia Steinmetz, Feroze Mohamed, Andrew B. Newberg

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: A growing number of research studies have explored the potential effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on brain physiology as well as clinical effects particularly related to stress and anxiety. However, there currently are limited studies showing functional changes during different frequencies of stimulation and laterality effects transcutaneous auricular VNS (TaVNS). In this study, we evaluated whether TaVNS alters functional connectivity in the brain of healthy controls. We hypothesized that TaVNS would significantly alter connectivity in areas involved with emotional processing and regulation including the limbic areas, insula, frontal lobe regions, and cerebellum.

METHODS: We enrolled 50 healthy controls. …

The Pulse - March 6, 2025, Unm Hsc Marketing & Communications

The Pulse

Weekly newsletter of the UNM Health Sciences Center.

How To Make Brushing Your Teeth Fun For Kids, Maggie Mckay, Robin Onikul

Parent-ish Podcast

We all know getting your kids to brush their teeth twice a day can be a...challenge. But, there are ways to keep it fun for everyone! Dr. Robin Onikul discusses why good dental care is important for kids, and gives you ways to keep teeth brushing fresh and fun.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

The Advancement And Utility Of Multimodal Imaging In The Diagnosis Of Degenerative Disc Disease, Eric M. Teichner, Robert C. Subtirelu, Connor R. Crutchfield, Chitra Parikh, Arjun Ashok, Sahithi Talasila, Victoria Anderson, Milan Patel, Sricharvi Mannam, Andrew Lee, Thomas Werner, William Y. Raynor, Abass Alavi, Mona-Elisabeth Revheim

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common spinal condition characterized by the deterioration of intervertebral discs, leading to chronic back pain and reduced mobility. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has long been the standard for late-stage DDD diagnosis, its limitations in early-stage detection prompt the exploration of advanced imaging methods. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using ¹⁸F- fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride (NaF) has shown promise in identifying metabolic imbalances and age-related spinal degeneration, thereby complementing CT grading of the disease. The novel hybrid imaging modality PET/MRI provides new opportunities and are briefly discussed. The complex pathophysiology of …

Mechanisms Of Macrophage Metabolic Activation And Paracrine Wnt Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of Systemic Sclerosis, Emily Ann Morris

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. We have previously shown that macrophages (MØs) play a critical role in its pathogenesis; however, the mechanisms driving MØ activation in SSc remain poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the molecular signaling pathways and biochemical mechanisms underlying profibrotic MØ activity in SSc.

First, I identify a novel MØ-specific effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the standard-of-care treatment for SSc. While MMF is a well characterized lymphostatic, my findings demonstrate that its active metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA), is also capable of directly inhibiting myeloid viability and profibrotic MØ activation by suppressing de …

Evolving Trends In Retinoblastoma Management: A 16-Year Clinicopathological Analysis Of Enucleated Eyes, Ari H. August, Darcy Curtis, Maya Eiger-Moscovich, Antonio Yaghy, Sara E. Lally, Jerry A. Shields, Carol L. Shields, Ralph C. Eagle, Tatyana Milman

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: New treatments for advanced retinoblastoma (RB) have offered alternatives to primary enucleation. We assessed the impact of these therapies on the indications for enucleation and the histopathological findings in enucleated eyes with RB.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eyes of all patients who underwent enucleation for RB at a single institution between January 2005 and August 2021 were included. Data collected retrospectively included demographics, clinical and pathologic staging, pathologic findings, and management. Statistical analysis included Kendall’s τb, Pearson χ², and Cramér’s V.

RESULTS: There were 254 eyes from 252 patients with information available for review. Annual enucleations decreased between …

Cardiometabolic Benefits Of A Non-Industrialized-Type Diet Are Linked To Gut Microbiome Modulation, Fuyong Li, Anissa M. Armet, Katri Korpela, Junhong Liu, Rodrigo Margain Quevedo, Francesco Asnicar, Benjamin Seethaler, Tianna B. S. Rusnak, Janis L. Cole, Zhihong Zhang, Shuang Zhao, Adele Gagnon, Edward C. Deehan, Joao F. Mota, Jeffrey A. Bakal, Russell Greiner, Dan Knights, Nicola Segata, Stephan C. Bischoff, Laurie Mereu, Andrea M. Haqq, Catherine J. Field, Liang Li, Carla M. Prado, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Industrialization adversely affects the gut microbiome and predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases. We tested a microbiome restoration strategy comprising a diet that recapitulated key characteristics of non-industrialized dietary patterns (restore diet) and a bacterium rarely found in industrialized microbiomes (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) in a randomized controlled feeding trial in healthy Canadian adults. The restore diet, despite reducing gut microbiome diversity, enhanced the persistence of L. reuteri strain from rural Papua New Guinea (PB-W1) and redressed several microbiome features altered by industrialization. The diet also beneficially altered microbiota-derived plasma metabolites implicated in the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases. Considerable …

Roles Of Mir-223 In Platelet Function And High On-Treatment Platelet Reactivity: A Brief Report And Review, Shayan Askari, Lawrence E. Goldfinger

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

BACKGROUND: Platelets are highly enriched in microRNAs (miRNAs), which are genomically encoded 19-25 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that target complementary mRNAs through total or near-total base pairing. MiR-223 is among the most abundant miRNAs in human and murine platelets, but despite ongoing investigations in recent years, miR-223 roles in platelet physiology and its putative roles in high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) remain controversial, as studies showed varying findings.

OBJECTIVES: In the current hybrid review/report, we aim to compare studies that investigated miR-223 in platelet function and HTPR. Additionally, we briefly report our own findings on murine miR-223-deficient platelets.

METHODS: We have …