Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Prevalence And Impact Of Xerostomia On Quality Of Life: A Clinical-Based Cross-Sectional Study In Egypt, Dalia Ghalwash, Ayman Elgawish, Asmaa Abou-Bakr

Dentistry

Background The current investigation aimed to assess the prevalence of xerostomia, its relation to risk factors, and its impact on the quality of life among a sample of the Egyptian population.

Methods This cross‑sectional study collected data on the occurrence of xerostomia and risk factors from 1220subjects in several Egyptian governorates, including sex, age, smoking, systemic illness, and medications. Subjective and objective dry mouth scores, taste disturbances, burning sensations, and their impact on quality of life were assessed.

Results Xerostomia was estimated to involve 49.6% of the studied population. It was found to increase with ageand was substantially higher amongst …

Effect Of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Pisum Sativum Peel Aqueous Extract On Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Oral Epithelial Cells And Fibroblasts Cell Lines, Mai Hafez

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Fracture Resistance Of Mutilated Maxillary Premolars, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Hanan Elsherbiny, Samar Swelam

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Resin Restorative Material Type And Layering Techniques On The Fracture Resistance Of Maxillary Premolars, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Radwa Nagy, Shimaa Elsayed Elhusseiny

Dentistry

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of premolar teeth with standardized mesio-

occluso-distal (MOD) cavities, restored using various techniques (layering techniques and composite-resin

restorations)

Materials and Methods: Seventy intact maxillary premolars with standardized MOD cavities were randomly

divided into seven groups (n=10): G1 control intact teeth; G2: MOD cavities left unrestored; G3: restored using an

incremental technique with nanohybrid resin composite (Neo Spectra TM ST, Dentsply Sirona); G4: restored in

bulk using a flowable composite (SDR Flow+, Dentsply Sirona); G5: bulk-filled with a multihybrid composite

(Tetric N Ceram, Ivoclar); G6: restored using an incremental technique with …

Fracture Resistance Of Maxillary Premolars Restored With Different Dentin Replacement Protocols, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Shadwa Hatem Kabil, Maha Elbaz

Dentistry

Aim: The aim of this research was to investigate the fracture resistance of premolar teeth with standardized

mesioocclusodistal (MOD) cavities restored with different dentin replacement protocols.

Subjects and methods: Sixty sound maxillary premolar teeth with standardized MOD cavities were assigned

to six groups (n=10): G1: sound teeth (positive control); G2: unrestored premolars with MOD cavities

(negative control); G3: restored incrementally with nanohybrid resin composite; G4: restored by bulk fill

flowable followed by nanohybrid resin composite; G5: restored with packable fiber-reinforced composite

followed by nanohybrid resin composite and G6: restored with flowable fiber-reinforced composite followed

by nanohybrid resin composite. After being …

Effect Of Load Removal On Bonding Of Resin Cement To Cad/Cam Composite, Sara Adel Botros, Farid Sabry El-Askary, Nader Maher Tadros, Abdallah Hassanien, Salvatore Sauro

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Adhesive Curing Mode And Dentin Sealing On Bond Strength Of Cad/Cam Resin Composite, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Sarah Adel Botros, Nermin Mohieldin Abdelmohssen

Dentistry

The aim of this study was to investigate influence of curing mode of universal adhesives and dentin

sealing approach on microtensile bond strength (MTBS) of CAD/CAM composite to dentin. Occlusal

surfaces of 36 human molars were ground to expose flat dentin and randomly assigned to 6 groups

according to: (1) Adhesive curing mode [light-cured/LC (One coat 7 Universal, COLTENE); dual-cure/

DC (One coat 7 Universal/Dual-cure Activator, COLTENE); and self-cure/SC (Palfique Universal Bond,

Tokuyama); and (2) Dentin sealing approach (delayed sealing/DDS and immediate sealing/IDS).

Following 1-week provisionalization, CAD/CAM composite blocks (Brilliant Crios, COLTENE), 4 mm2

,

were cemented over conditioned dentin …

The Influence Of Adhesive Curing Mode (Light Vs. Dual) On The Microtensile Bond Strength Of Cad/Cam Composite Blocks To Human Dentin : (In-Vitro Study), Shadwa Kabil, Mohamed F. Haridy, Amr Hesham

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Skeletal And Dentoalveolar Effects Of Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion In Young Adults, Noha Ibrahim Abdelrahman Professor, Islam Hassan Prof

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Marginal And Internal Fit In Cad/Cam-Fabricated Indirect Restorations, Mohamed Salama, Sara Adel Botros, Hend Sayed Ahmed

Dentistry

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of marginal adaptation and internal fit of premolar teeth restored with indirect overlays, fabricated from different CAD/CAM materials (lithium-disilicate and composite blocks). Materials and Methods: Twenty-two intact premolars with standardized concave chamfer overlay preparation were divided into two groups (n= 18) Group (A): lithium disilicate blocks and Group (B): composite blocks. All groups cemented with dual cured resin cement. After 24h of storage at 37°C followed by thermocycling. Marginal gap evaluation evaluated using a stereomicroscope at x50 magnification at 4 points at each surface. Specimens were then sectioned mesiodistally to assess internal fit. Statistical …

Sex-Dependent Changes In Risk-Taking Predisposition Of Rats Following Space Radiation Exposure, Elliot Smits, Faith E. Reid, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Alvarado Arriaga, Charles Nguyen, Richard A. Britten

Department Radiation Oncology & Biophysics Faculty Publications

The Artemis missions will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a crucial steppingstone for future Mars exploration. Astronauts on these ambitious missions will have to successfully complete complex tasks, which will frequently involve rapid and effective decision making under unfamiliar or high-pressure conditions. Exposure to low doses of space radiation (SR) can impair key executive functions critical to decision making. This study examined the effects of exposure to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulated radiation (GCRsim) on decision-making performance in male and female rats with a naturally low predisposition for risk-taking (RTP) prior to exposure. …

A Two-Hit Model Of Executive Dysfunction: Simulated Galactic Cosmic Radiation Primes Latent Deficits Revealed By Sleep Fragmentation, Richard A. Britten, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Arriaga Alvarado, Arriyam S. Fesshaye, Larry D. Sanford

Department Radiation Oncology & Biophysics Faculty Publications

Future Artemis-class missions to Mars will expose astronauts to prolonged space radiation (SR), sleep disruption, and operational demands requiring greater autonomy, placing decision making and executive function at heightened risk. Both SR and sleep fragmentation (SF) independently impair cognition, yet their combined effects remain poorly understood. Using the Associative Recognition Memory and Interference (ARMIT) task, we assessed cognitive performance in male rats exposed to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulation (GCRsim), SF, or both. Under well-rested conditions, GCRsim-exposed rats exhibited overt deficits in the C.1.2 stage, performing at chance when reinforcement contingencies shifted, consistent with impaired cognitive flexibility. In …

Integrating Phytochemicals And In Silico Methods For Modern Drug Discovery: A Comprehensive Review, Olorunfemi Oyewole Babalola, Kpomah Bridget, Godspower Oyubu, Sakariyau Adio Waheed, Samuel Ayomikun Ajiboye, Aderonke Elizabeth Fakayode, Adeleye Adegboyega Edema, Udensi Great Chukwuma, Rachael Taiwo Tiamiyu, Adebisola Joy Fakayode, Hameedah Oluwatoyin Adebimpe, Kosisochukwu Dematus Onyeagba, Comfort Oluseun Fakunle, Paul Olamide Ottu, Sonia Gabriel

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Phytochemicals have long played a central role in drug discovery due to their structural diversity and broad biological activity. This review explores the progression of natural product-based drug development, highlighting how traditional knowledge and modern scientific tools are increasingly being combined. Medicinal plants identified through ethnopharmacological practices continue to guide the search for bioactive compounds, while advancements in screening techniques and structural analysis have improved the isolation and characterization of these substances. The review discusses the wide range of pharmacological actions found in plant-derived compounds. Their mechanisms of action and potential for synergistic effects are examined in detail. The application …

The Importance Of Atomic Charges For Predicting Site-Selective Ir-, Ru-, And Rh-Catalyzed C-H Borylations, Shannon M. Stephens, Kyle M. Lambert

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

A supervised machine learning model has been developed that allows for the prediction of site selectivity in late-stage C-H borylations. Model development was accomplished using literature data for the site-selective (≥95%) C-H borylation of 189 unique arene, heteroarene, and aliphatic substrates that feature a total of 971 possible sp² or sp³ C-H borylation sites. The reported experimental data was supplemented with additional chemoinformatic descriptors, computed atomic charges at the C-H borylation sites, and data from parameterization of catalytically active tris-boryl complexes resulting from the combination of seven different Ir-, Ru-, and Rh-based precatalysts with eight different ligands. Of the over …

The Role Of Social Isolation In Shaping Health Outcomes In Older Adults: A Regional Analysis, Vince Falco, Lynn Wiles, Jonathan Romero, Leorey Saligan

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Social isolation is a critical public health concern in older adults and is linked to a range of adverse health outcomes across diverse sociodemographic groups. This study investigated the associations between social isolation with physical and mental health of older adults residing in Hampton Roads, a racially diverse region in Southeastern Virginia, home to a large population of senior military veterans. Secondarily, the study explored how social determinants of health (SDoH) and comorbid medical conditions influenced the relationship of social isolation with physical and mental health of these seniors. Physical and mental health were measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement …

Unlocking The Potential Of Primary Healthcare Nurse Practitioners Globally: A Concept Analysis Of Their Added Value, Isabelle Savard, Gina Sophia Costanzo, Colette Henderson, Deborah C. Gray, Melanie Rogers, Kelley Kilpatrick

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Primary healthcare nurse practitioners (PHCNPs) are expanding globally to meet rising healthcare demands. Despite positive outcomes, their added value remains underexplored.

Purpose: To clarify and refine the added value PHCNPs bring.

Methods: Building on a previous concept analysis of the added value of nurse practitioners, we analyzed 37 systematic reviews focusing on PHCNPs’ roles across various settings, using Rodgers’ evolutionary approach.

Findings: Attributes include PHCNPs’ skills and competencies, activities, positive outcomes, and professional autonomy. Antecedents involve PHCNP characteristics and structural and institutional factors, while consequences highlight improved patient outcomes, satisfaction, professional dynamics, and system efficiency.

Discussion: Understanding PHCNPs’ added …

Challenges Associated With Pfas Detection Method In Africa, Abdullahi Tunde Aborode, Ridwan Olamilekan Adesola, Ibrahim Idris, Waheed Sakariyau Adio, Segun Olapade, Gladys Oluwafisayo, Israel Ayobami Onifade, Sodiq Fakorede, Taiwo Bakare-Abidola, Jelil Olaoye, Adedeji Daniel Ogunyemi, Oluwaseun Adeolu Ogundijo, Olamilekan Gabriel Banwo, Adetolase Azizat Bakre, Peter Oladoye, Grace Adegoye, Noimat Abeni Jinadu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely present in many industries. Monitoring and analyzing PFAS in Africa is challenging due to the limited availability of mass spectrometry (MS), which is an essential technique for detecting PFAS. This review assesses the scope and impact of the shortage of mass spectrometry instruments in Africa, emphasizing the resulting limitations in monitoring environmental and public health threats. The review analyzes the existing PFAS monitoring, the accessibility of MS instruments, and the technical capabilities within the continent. This study suggests that fewer African countries have sufficient MS instruments, …

Bacterial Two-Hybrid Systems Evolved: Innovations For Protein-Protein Interaction Research, Rebecca M. Richardson, Steven M. Pascal

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Bacterial two-hybrid (B2H) systems offer a versatile platform for detecting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in vivo. Originally developed to study bacterial transcriptional regulators, these systems have evolved to support a wide range of applications, including interaction mapping, domain analysis, and high-throughput screening. This review surveys the development and expansion of B2H systems across diverse biological contexts. We highlight technical considerations, platform-specific innovations, and recent adaptations that extend the utility of B2H systems in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein interaction research environments. By comparing different B2H variants and discussing their integration with complementary approaches, we provide a framework for leveraging these …

Clostridioides Difficile Infection Study Models And Prospectives For Probing The Microbe-Host Interface, Tatiana Zvonareva, David S. Courson, Erin B. Purcell

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an urgent public health threat with a high rate of recurrence and limited treatment options. In vivo models have been indispensable in understanding CDI pathophysiology and establishing treatment protocols and continue to be essential in pre-clinal testing. More importantly, in vivo models offer the opportunity to probe the complex systemic host response to the microbe, which is impossible to recapitulate in vitro. Nonetheless, constraints related to the availability of animal models, cost, ethical considerations, and regulatory control limit their accessibility for basic research. Furthermore, physiological and habitual divergences between animal models and humans often result …

Antihypertensive Potential Of Euphorbia Hirta And Leptadenia Hastata In Adrenaline-Induced Wistar Rats, Fagbohun Oyenike Bushirat, Emmanuel Ogar Ochonung, Messiah Innocent Atapia, Hassan Abdulsalam Adewuyi, Sakariyau Aido Waheed, Adebimpe Oluwatoyin Hameedah, Chizoba Victory Obunadike, Adeleye Adegboyega Edema, Samad Hussein, Abiola Mohammed Usman, Tolulope Olukayode Jaiyeola

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide, contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The use of plant-based therapies, such as Euphorbia hirta and Leptadenia hastata, has gained attention for their potential antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, and organ-protective effects.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the phytotherapeutic approach to hypertension using E. hirta and L. hastata extracts in adrenaline-induced hypertensive Wistar rats

Methods: Utilizing an adrenaline-induced hypertensive rat model, we assessed the effects of E. hirta and L. hastata leaf extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) on systolic blood pressure, renal function, lipid metabolism, and hematological parameters.

Results: Antioxidant activity: …

Nucleotide-Derived Bacterial Alarmones Attenuate The Induction Of Type-I Interferon Responses In A Murine Macrophage Reporter Cell Line, Ryan P. Kilduff, Erin B. Purcell, Lisa M. Shollenberger

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The stringent response is a well-studied phenomenon in many bacterial systems and regulates resource-consuming activities such as transcription, translation, and replication. The stringent response is a well-conserved signaling framework, as are the nucleotide-derived signaling mediators, collectively referred to as (p)ppGpp or as alarmones. There is a wealth of research evaluating nucleotide-derived alarmone signaling in bacterial models, however, their potential to modulate innate immune signaling has not yet been evaluated. Several common pathogen-synthesized molecules, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP), act as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are common patterns that alert the innate immune system of bacterial infection. The …

Caveolin-Mediated Endocytosis: Bacterial Pathogen Exploitation And Host-Pathogen Interaction, Dibyasri Barman, Rishi Drolia

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Within mammalian cells, diverse endocytic mechanisms, including phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis, serve as gateways exploited by many bacterial pathogens and toxins. Among these, caveolae-mediated endocytosis is characterized by lipid-rich caveolae and dimeric caveolin proteins. Caveolae are specialized microdomains on cell surfaces that impact cell signaling. Caveolin proteins facilitate the creation of caveolae and have three members in vertebrates: caveolin-1, caveolin-2, and caveolin-3. Many bacterial pathogens hijack caveolin machinery to invade host cells. For example, the Gram-positive facultative model intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes exploits caveolin-mediated endocytosis for efficient cellular entry, translocation across the intestinal barrier, and cell–cell spread. Caveolin …

Lap-Hsp60 Complex Modulates Epithelial Tight Junction Barrier, Arun Bhunia, Manalee Manalee Samaddar, Chen Sun, Nicholas Gallina, Nicole Irizarry-Tardi, Donqi Liu, Shivendra Tenguria, Rishi Drolia, Anika Jain, Daisuke Kihara, Wen Jiang, Kee-Hong Kim, Abigail Cox, Kurt Ristroph, Gregory Knipp, Nicholas Noinaj

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

During infection, Listeria adhesion protein (LAP), a housekeeping enzyme, acts as a tight junction modulator (TJM) through interaction with Hsp60 to facilitate Listeria monocytogenes translocation across the intestinal epithelial barrier. Here, we used purified LAP as a potential TJM to overcome the limiting and variable effects observed by other agents in the class. We structurally determined the LAP interaction alone and in complex with Hsp60 utilizing cryo-EM and computational analysis. LAP structure resolved at 2.83 Å, forms multimeric interlocking dimers and tetramers, and the N-domain interacts with Hsp60, while the C-domain bridges the bacterial surface receptor InlB. The structural studies …

Novel Insights Into Beta Cell Er Stress Chop And It's Role In Hfpef Development, Balaji Srinivas, Paula Fortuno, Hongmei Peng, Jiang Xu, Hamid Suhail, Hani N. Sabbah, Nour-Eddine Rhaleb, Khalid Matrougui

Department of Physiological Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a multifactorial cardiovascular disorder characterized by diastolic dysfunction and often associated with hypertension and metabolic disturbances. We aimed to determine the inter-relationship between C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in b-cells and HFpEF development.

Methods: Eight-week-old male mice b-cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- were randomly divided into four groups: control b-cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- mice subjected to standard diet and water. b -cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and L-NAME (0.5 g/L) for five weeks. A comprehensive cardiovascular, metabolic, and histological evaluation was conducted.

Results: Following …

Ancestry-Dependent Immunologic And Prognostic Effects Characterize The Prostate Cancer Urinary Proteome, Annie Ha, Jaron Arbet, Zhuyu Qiu, Amanda Khoo, Brian P. Main, Meinusha Govindarajan, Matthew Waas, Stanley K. Liu, O. John Semmes, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Paul C. Boutros, Thomas Kislinger

Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center Faculty Publications

Urine is an attractive biomarker analyte for non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of health and disease, particularly for diseases of the genitourinary tract, like prostate and bladder cancer. The composition of an individual's urine reflects both genetic and lifestyle characteristics that differ across geographies and populations, like diet, hydration and other socio-economic factors. While men of African ancestry have elevated prostate cancer risk, it is unclear to what extent this influences urinary biomarkers. We therefore quantified the urinary proteomes of 329 localized prostate cancer patients: 135 self-identifying as White and 194 self-identifying as Black. We identified 110 proteins that significantly differed between …

Upper Airway Soot And Facial Burns Do Not Necessitate Intubation, Jessica Burgess, John Dubensky

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction

Identifying which patients are at risk for respiratory decompensation, whether from airway compromise or inhalation injury, is an important component of initial burn resuscitation. Findings that traditionally suggest the need for intubation include cutaneous burns to the face and neck, soot seen in the upper airway, and carbonaceous sputum. However, evidence suggests that a significant number of pre-burn center intubations are ultimately unnecessary. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if head and neck burns or sputum seen in the upper airways were correlated with the need for intubation.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of adults admitted …

Leveraging Snomed Ct For Patient Cohort Identification Over Heterogeneous Ehr Data, Xubing Hao, Yan Huang, Licong Cui, Xiaojin Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

SNOMED CT is extensively employed to standardize data across diverse patient datasets and support cohort identification, with studies revealing its benefits and challenges. In this work, we developed a SNOMED CT-driven cohort query system over a heterogeneous Optum® de-identified COVID-19 Electronic Health Record dataset leveraging concept mappings between ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM and SNOMED CT. We evaluated the benefits and challenges of using SNOMED CT to perform cohort queries based on both query code sets and actual patients retrieved from the database, leveraging the original ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM as baselines. Manual review of 80 random cases revealed 65 cases containing 148 true positive …

Identifying The Feasible Maximum Contaminant Level For Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances That Ensures Health And Safety While Maintaining Affordability And Equity Of Drinking Water And Implementation Of That Maximum Contaminant Level Within California By The State Water Resources Control Board, Jennifer Aguilar

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made substances that do not occur naturally in the environment and are resistant to heat, water, oil, grease, and stains. PFAS has been used since the 1940s in a variety of commercial products including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, paper products, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, industrial firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil. While 97% of the U.S. population has been shown to have some level of PFAS within their blood, long term exposure to PFAS is potentially harmful to health. Individuals who are exposed regularly have been …

Leveraging Gpt-4o For Automated Extraction Of Neural Projections From Scientific Literature, Rashmie Abeysinghe, Gorbachev Jowah, Licong Cui, Samden D Lhatoo, Guo-Qiang Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of death for epilepsy patients having uncontrolled seizures. Understanding the complex neural circuits within the central nervous system is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying cardiorespiratory regulation, particularly in the context of SUDEP. This study explores the potential of GPT-4o, a cutting-edge language model, to automate the extraction of neural projections from scientific literature. We developed prompts to extract neuroscientific structures, extract projections, and perform synonym harmonization. Applying the approach to four neuroscientific articles, the method extracted 205 projections. A random sample of 100 projections identified was handed over to …

Modified N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysts For Polyurethane Synthesis, Charise D. Young

Pomona Senior Theses

Polyurethanes are widely used polymers synthesized from diisocyanate and diol molecules. They are ubiquitous polymeric materials with important industrial applications. Their increasing market value prompts the need for selective and efficient production which can be achieved through N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis. N-heterocyclic carbenes are heterocyclic molecules containing a carbene atom and at least one nitrogen adjacent to the carbene center. The nitrogen substituents on the adjacent nitrogen play an important role in influencing their steric and electronic properties and resultant reactivity.^1,2 There is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the steric and electronic properties of NHCs and how …