Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Psychosocial Factors Affecting Quality Of Life In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Lawrence Panlilio

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Kidney transplantation is the best solution to save lives for those that have end-stage renal disease. However, psychosocial issues play a huge role in their quality of life after the procedure which can affect these individuals negatively. These issues recipients face include depression and anxiety, a lack of social support, and self management difficulties. Objective: This research consists of investigating psychosocial factors that affect kidney transplant recipients’ quality of life. Evidenced by research, focused assistance with ongoing support in patients is essential after receiving surgery and recovery. A literature review was conducted that consists of research on studies with …

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2025, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the members of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (USRAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) — welcome to the Thirty-Third SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair!

This year’s event features 99 poster presentations and 9 oral presentations, showcasing the work of over 170 student and faculty researchers, writers, presenters, artists, collaborators, and faculty sponsors. These presentations represent a wide array of scholarly and academic activity from across SWOSU’s academic community, including the Departments of Art, Communication, and Theatre; Allied Health Sciences; Biological Sciences; Business; Chemistry & …

2025 Apothecary, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Apothecary

It is with great honor that we present the 2025 Apothecary issue. This year’s Apothecary was made possible by generous financial contributions from many stores, businesses, and Southwestern College of Pharmacy alumni. We greatly appreciate and thank you for your continued support.

Mistrust Among Injured Immigrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework, Maude Arsenault, Daniel Côté, Jessica Dubé

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Background

In Quebec, injured workers have access to medical assistance, wage replacement indemnities, and rehabilitation measures, with most injuries resolved easily. However, a small percentage of cases require a lengthy rehabilitation process, which is particularly complex when involving immigrants. The therapeutic alliance is at the heart of the process, involving mutual trust and confidence and a degree of consensus about the therapeutic interventions to be used and, ultimately, the return to work.

Objective

This article delves into the concept of mistrust as more than the absence of trust, and sheds light on its role in the rehabilitation process of immigrant …

Folliculin (Flcn) In Thyroid Tumors: Incidence, Significance, And Role As A Driver Gene And Secondary Alteration, Faisal Hassan, Camryn Slone, Robert J. Mcdonald, Julie C. Dueber, Adeel M. Ashraf, Melina Windon, Oliver J. Fackelmayer, Cortney Y. Lee, Therese J. Bocklage, Derek B. Allison

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

Thyroid carcinomas are driven by diverse molecular alterations, but the tumor suppressor gene folliculin (FLCN), best known for its role in Birt–Hogg–Dubé (BHD) syndrome, has received limited attention in thyroid tumors. Here, we describe two thyroid tumors with pathogenic FLCN alterations—one germline and one somatic—and analyze the broader prevalence and significance of FLCN in thyroid carcinomas using multiple large sequencing datasets, including ORIEN-AVATAR. Patient 1, with a germline FLCN mutation and a history of BHD syndrome, presented with a well-circumscribed oncocytic adenoma. Molecular testing confirmed biallelic FLCN inactivation, but no additional mutations or aggressive features were observed, and the patient …

Peak Teaching: Exploring And Fostering Sacred Experiences In University Classrooms, Charles Burack

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Supporting the spiritual growth of college and university students with diverse backgrounds and orientations is both important and challenging. It is important not only because spirituality is a crucial dimension of human life but also because the majority of students at both private and public schools want their teachers to address spiritual issues in the classroom. A powerful way to address spirituality is to explore and foster sacred experiences in university classrooms. Sacred experiences include religious, spiritual, mystical, transcendent, numinous, and peak experiences as well as many other nonordinary experiences. The author offers guidance to educators on how to: 1) …

Distinguishing Narcolepsy Hallucinations From Drug-Induced Hallucinations In An Adolescent With Comorbidities, Avidor Gerstenfeld, Biwy Emmanuella Cadet, Salma Alkhatib, Annette Santiago

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Comparing Efficacy Of Psychotropic Classes To Control Aggression Among Pediatric Patients Hospitalized With Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Orestes Hadjistamoulou, Sindhura Kompella, Melissa Ricardo, Samuel Neuhut

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Malignant Adenomyoepithelioma Of The Breast, Cole Daisley, Susana Ferra

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Life Over Limb: A Case Of Rapidly Rrogressive Necrotizing Fasciitis, Olesya A. Balashova, Adam Lerchenfeld, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Ashley Diaz, Anna Felizcek, Daniel Heller

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome In A Case Of Septal Occlusion Device Migration, Bike Ozkan, Richard Shalmiyev, Adam Devine, Michael Pelekhach, Siddarth Kathuria, Daniel Heller, Mauricio Danckers

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is defined by dyspnea and hypoxemia in the upright position, which improves upon recumbency. While often linked with hepatopulmonary syndrome, intracardiac etiologies, particularly a patent foramen ovale (PFO), may also be responsible. PFOs are typically managed with device closure, and while rare, device migration can occur unbeknownst to the patient with resultant critical sequelae.

Methods

Here, we present the case of an 89-year-old female with a medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease status post PCI, who arrived with severe dyspnea and was subsequently intubated for profound hypoxia. A chest CT angiogram ruled out …

Mesonephric-Like Carcinoma Of The Endometrium In A 73-Year-Old Female, Cameron Summers-Powell, Carina Ferraris, Zoyla Almeida, Susana Ferra, Mirza Baig

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Mesonephric-like carcinoma (MLC) is a newly described malignant tumor that represents 1% of endometrial cancers. The etiology of this disease is currently unknown but immunohistochemical expression with GATA-3, PAX-8 and TTF-1 and lack of ER/PR positivity can aid in correct diagnosis.

Case Summary: A 73-year-old female presented to the hospital with post-menopausal bleeding, an initial hysteroscopy identified a lesion suggestive of endometrial cancer. Ultimately, the patient underwent a hysterectomy and a bilateral salpingectomy/oophorectomy. Chemotherapy ensued due to metastatic disease. At 7 months post-op, the patient appeared to be doing well.

Results: Grossly, the lesion was 5.5 cm and appeared …

Carcinoma With Osteoclast-Like Giant Cells: A Rare Histologic Variant Of Breast Cancer, Robert Bender, Makenna Bowman, Matthew Lee, Susana Ferra

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Osteoclast like giant cells (OGCs) can be found in various tissues such as the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and thyroid. In breast cancer, the presence of OGCs is a rare finding. Currently knowledge of such cases is limited, with approximately 200 reported cases of osteoclast like giant cells (OGCs) among all breast carcinomas. Among the breast cancers that are classified as rare, those with OGCs make up only 0.5-1.2% of cases.

Case Description: An 80+ year-old female presented with a palpable left breast lesion initially suspected by mammography as a benign lesion. She eventually underwent breast core biopsy revealing hormone …

Oil And Air Don’T Mix: Vitamin E Acetate In Evali, Angelo Lopez-Lacayo, Jordan Taylor-Bentley, Josef Masseli, Michelle Silva, Christy Diaz, Daniel Zapata

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) is an acute or subacute condition characterized by acute respiratory symptoms and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates seen in patients who are exposed to electronic cigarettes or vapes. The condition has been strongly linked to inhalation of aerosolized vitamin E acetate, particularly in THC-containing e-cigarette products. Despite regulation of vitamin E acetate in the production of electronic vapes, it continues to be a byproduct of EVALI due to counterfeit electronic vapes. Clinically, patients with EVALI present in various ways but are not limited to fever, shortness of breath, cough, chills, body aches, pleuritic chest …

Advantages Of Humeral Stem Retention In Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study, Matthew Mccrosson, Leon Liu, Daniel Deshetler, John Grossi, Devin John, Diego Lima, Howard Routman

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Lactate/Albumin And Rdw/Albumin Ratios For Mortality And Readmission In Post-Mi Heart Failure, Amogh Killedar, Hamza Khan, Henry Cusnir

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

BACKGROUND Robust biomarkers that capture the combined effects of inflammation and tissue hypoperfusion, are needed to refine post–acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk stratification—especially in the large subset that develops congestive heart failure (CHF). Two emerging candidates are the lactate/albumin ratio (LAR) and the red-cell-distribution-width/albumin ratio (RAR). Separate studies have linked each ratio to short- and long-term mortality in critical illness, AMI, and heart failure, yet no work has directly compared their performance together. We addressed this evidence gap in a large, multi-hospital dataset.

METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of 8 115 encounters drawn from the HCA Healthcare database (2016-2024). …

Closing The Communication Gap: A Quality Improvement Approach To Safer Shift Changes And Transfers, Stephanie O'Kresik Jewette, Annette Santiago

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Presyncope Versus Syncope: A Comparative Survey Of Emergency Medicine And Hospitalist Providers​, Jaime Said, Dennis Cardriche

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

​Cd10 Positive Mantle Cell Lymphoma Masquerading As Follicular Lymphoma​, Matthew Lee, Jennifer Barker, Fatemeh Mousavi

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Of Bugs And Bruton's: Infection Risks In Btki Therapy, Musa Kiyani, Owen Clanahan

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Lipoleiomyoma Of The Uterus, A Benign Metastasizing Tumor, Munira Malik, Mohtashim Naeem, Susana Ferra

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Seizure Action Plan, Ian Holt, Sy Jama

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Recurrent Pleural Effusion Secondary To Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome After Discontinuation Of Oral Contraceptives, Kevin Gopala-Rao, Luis Santiesteban, Carmen Tormo Carrillo, Christian Almanzar Zorilla, Mauricio Danckers

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is a rare condition in which functional endometrial tissue spreads to the thoracic cavity. Manifestations of TES include catamenial hemoptysis, pneumothorax, and pleural effusions along with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and pleuritic chest pain.1 Approximately 6 to 10% of women of reproductive-age women develop TES with concurrent pelvic endometriosis in 80% of patients.2 Treatment of TES includes medical management with progesterone-based oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and surgical management involving cardiothoracic surgery. We present a case of recurrent pleural effusions in a patient who was non-compliant with medical management of TES. Methods: Data was collected during …

Characterizing And Targeting The Non-Catalytic Functions Of Phosphatase Of Regenerating Liver 3 (Prl-3) In Oncogenesis And Cancer Progression, Jeffery T. Jolly

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Phosphatase of Regenerating Liver 3 (PRL-3) is frequently upregulated in various cancers and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Although traditionally studied for its phosphatase activity, PRL-3 also interacts with the CNNM family of magnesium transporters through its catalytic site, and these two functions are mutually exclusive at any given time. Most previous studies relied on a commonly used PRL-3 mutation that disrupts both phosphatase activity and CNNM binding, making it challenging to determine which function drives its oncogenic effects. To address this gap in the field, I utilized a panel of PRL-3 mutants that selectively disrupt either phosphatase activity …

The Intersection Of Broadband And Health: Exploring Rural-Urban Disparities In Colorado, Hunter Anderson, Kristen Paradine

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Modern healthcare infrastructure and progression depend on robust and reliable broadband access. Many areas of the U.S., however, still face limited access which exacerbates access to care and healthcare inequities. These trends can be observed in rural counties across the country, where resource constraints and reduced access to infrastructure remain limited. The correlation however between different health outcomes and broadband access in Colorado has not been widely explored in literature.
This study examines the relationship between broadband availability and different healthcare outcomes for rural and urban counties of Colorado by utilizing data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps for …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors That Affect High School Graduation In California, Anisha Mandava, Joseph Pedregon

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

High school graduation is an essential milestone that indicates success later in life. In particular, high school students in California may encounter many obstacles that hinder their opportunity to acquire a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. So, what are these obstacles that students encounter on their journey through high school education? Here we seek to identify whether intrinsic factors, like disconnected youth and educational scores, or extrinsic factors, like segregation, funding, and food insecurity, have a larger impact on the student to reach high school completion. In our study, we utilized data from County Health Rankings for statistical analysis. …

Addressing Deaths Of Despair: The Impact Of Loneliness On Excessive Alcohol Use And Alcohol-Involved Driving Deaths In Ohio, Juliana Zacher, Akshey Suresh, Dylan Timperman

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive alcohol consumption continue to rise across the United States. These trends have had a large impact on historically disadvantaged populations, such as Appalachia, being disproportionately affected. Previous literature suggests factors such as loneliness, mental distress, segregation, and immigration status amongst others may contribute to this increase in drinking. Although delineating a clear role of the nature of the impact at a community level still remains unclear. Our objective was to explore these very factors as well as to identify social and economic predictors to explain alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive drinking in Ohio between 2016 …

Regional Variation And Correlation Of Big Five Personality Traits With Rates Of Insufficient Sleep And Diabetes In The United States, Isabella Chirakos, Brennan Schroeder

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Diabetes and insufficient sleep are prevalent health concerns, and determining potential contributing factors could help decrease the incidence of these issues. This study aims to explore potential associations between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus, examining whether these negative health outcomes can be linked geographically and by personality traits. Results could help create more effective programs to combat diabetes and insufficient sleep.
Materials and Methods: The study utilized longitudinal health data and roadmaps from 2016 and 2023 for each state, categorizing the data into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We incorporated personality data from the Synthetic Aperture Personality …

Alzheimer’S Disease And The Immune System: The Emerging Role Of Temra Cells, Edric D. Winford, Adam D. Bachstetter

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Acute Influence Of Gum Chewing On Gait And Balance Measures In People With Parkinson's, Pamela Marie Durr

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The overarching aim of this dissertation was to investigate the acute effects of gum chewing on functional measures of gait and balance and their associations to pupillometry in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP). A total of 27 PwP and 27 age-matched controls underwent three trials (baseline and then a randomized no gum and gum trial) to assess gait and balance and their relationship with pupillometry and, on a second day, ten of the PwP and ten controls returned within 7-14 days for repeat testing to investigate the test-retest reliability of pupillometry alongside gait and balance measures. Results: Significant improvements in …