Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Regulation Of Icer Degradation And Its Role In Melanoma, Justin Wheelan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, with 100,640 new cases and 8,290 deaths estimated in the United States in 2024. While targeted therapies and immunotherapy have improved patient outcomes, resistance remains a major challenge, necessitating new therapeutic approaches. Approximately 50% of melanomas harbor BRAFⱽ⁶⁰⁰ᴱ mutations, leading to constitutive MAPK pathway activation. Targeted small molecule therapies such as BRAF and MEK inhibitors are available and initially reduce tumor burden, however resistance frequently occurs, likely through many pathways including compensatory activation of cAMP signaling. ICER (Inducible cAMP Early Repressor), a transcriptional repressor of CREB-mediated gene expression, is absent in melanoma …

08-19-25 Hsc Committee Meeting Agenda, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-25 HSC Committee Meeting Agenda

A Word From The Writing Team (August 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publications Spotlight
• Join the Last Summer Writing Warriors Session Tomorrow
• Check out our Fall Workshops
• Two Ways to Fund Open Access Fees

White Piedra, Jane Hong, Andrew Tran, Lisa Gelles

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Identity Resolution In Feminists Raised Catholic: A Narrative Analysis Of Life Histories, Carlotta Reinhardt, Lauren E. Duncan

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Using narrative analysis of life histories, we explored the interplay between Catholic religious background, identity formation, and feminist activism. We used data from 13 oral histories of feminist and LGBTQ+ activists in the US and Italy who were raised Catholic. In the first stage of Downing and Roush’s model of feminist identity development, passive acceptance, religion can play a significant role. We found that whether religion is central to a person's worldview or not, and whether it is rigid or flexible, influence how individuals handle identity conflicts related to gender and sexuality during the revelation stage. Dissonances were caused by …

The Proust Effect And Hoarding Symptoms: Relationships Among Memory Vividness, Object Type, And Urge To Save, Lauren Milgram, Junjia Xu, Randy O. Frost, Elizabeth A. Offermann, Kiara R. Timpano

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals with hoarding disorder exhibit heightened attachment to objects, but little is known about possible drivers of object attachment and associated object saving behaviors. Theory and preliminary evidence posit that the heightened object attachment characteristic of hoarding disorder may be partially explained by the experience of vivid,‘Proustian’ memories related to objects.

Aims: The current study piloted a novel Proustian Memory Task to examine whether self-reported vividness of memories associated with cherished objects, mundane objects, and non-objects was associated with greater urge to save objects and greater hoarding symptoms.

Method: Participants (N= 443) included a non-selected community sample recruited from …

A 65-Year-Old Man With Cough, Hypercalcemia, And Diffuse Opacities, Philip K Angelides, Oriana Salamo, Sujith V Cherian, Eduardo Yepez Guevara, Carlos A Jimenez, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Respiratory infections in patients with cancer are common. A low threshold for bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) should be maintained in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary opacities on chest imaging to evaluate for opportunistic infections. In those with unresolving symptoms, transbronchial biopsies may add significant diagnostic value. Concomitant hypercalcemia in patients with cancer is typically related to underlying malignant disease. However, in those with persistent respiratory symptoms or atypical infiltrates then granulomatous inflammatory diseases should be considered. Diagnosing histoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients can be difficult. Antigen testing is often more sensitive, but tissue biopsy or culture may be needed. We describe …

Differing Impacts Of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Leads On Tricuspid Regurgitation, Sophie A. Leon, Melissa Austin, Nayeem Nasher, Daler Rahimov, Faizaan Siddique, Chitra Parikh, Danial Ahmad, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili, Behzad B. Pavri

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Placement of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) with leads that traverse the tricuspid valve is thought to contribute to tricuspid regurgitation (TR). However, there are relatively limited data comparing the impact of different CIED lead types on the incidence and progression of TR. This study sought to quantify the change in TR severity following implantation of CIEDs with different lead types.

METHODS: Patient data were collected on individuals with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), right ventricular-paced pacemakers (RV-PM), and His bundle-paced pacemakers (His-PM) placed by a single provider at a single institution between 2016 and 2019. Patients with extravascular CIED …

Polyphenols For The Mitigation Of Vascular Calcification; In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Abdullah Altuhami

All Theses

Globally, cardiovascular diseases, in most cases associated with calcification, are the main cause of death. However, currently, the only effective cure is to undergo surgery to augment or receive a healthy donor heart, which could be very difficult due to the long waiting list and the associated risks. The possibility of body rejection of the foreign organs is attributed to immunoreaction or the risk of infection, since the donor must be on immunosuppressant drugs that lower the body's immunity and facilitate the body's acceptance of the new organ as one of its own. Taking that into consideration, using tissue-engineered vascular …

Il-17a Immune Signature Across Stratified Stages Of Type 2 Diabetes​, Brittney C. White, Antonio Hernandes Chaves-Neto, Peter Elvin, Javier La Fontaine, Eric L. Brown, Walid Fakhouri, Craig Hanis, Claudia Biguetti

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Purpose: This study investigated whether IL-17A, a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with Th17 cell activity, reflects distinct stages of type 2 diabetes progression.

Methods: Forty-two obese individuals (average age: 60.4 ± 10.3 years; 55% male; BMI: 31.3 ± 4.9) from Starr County, Texas, were matched for gender and BMI and stratified into five metabolic groups based on fasting blood glucose, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, and HbA1c levels. Groups included diabetes-free, isolated impaired glucose tolerance, combined glucose impairment, diabetes without complications, and diabetes with lower extremity complications. IL-17A protein levels were quantified from buffy coat samples using ELISA. After excluding …

Individual Noise-Tolerance Profiles And Neural Signal-To-Noise Ratio: Insights Into Predicting Speech-In-Noise Performance And Noise-Reduction Outcomes, Subong Kim, Susan Arzac, Natalie Dokic, Jenn Donnelly, Nicole Genser, Kristen Nortwich, Alexis Rooney

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Individuals with similar hearing sensitivity exhibit varying levels of tolerance to background noise, a trait tied to unique individual characteristics that affect their responsiveness to noise reduction (NR) processing in hearing aids. The present study aimed to capture such individual characteristics by employing electrophysiological measures and subjective noise-tolerance profiles, and both were analyzed in relation to speech-in-noise performance and NR outcomes. Methods: From a sample of 42 participants with normal hearing, the neural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—a cortical index comparing the amplitude ratio between auditory evoked responses to target speech onset versus noise onset—was calculated, and individual noise-tolerance profiles were …

August 2025, Swosu Rural Health Center

RURAL ROCKS

• Natural Probiotics: 7 Foods to Eat for Better Gut Health
• The Overlooked Link Between Vitamin D and GI Health

• Colorectal Cancer by Stephen Drinnon, Pharm.D.

• PHARMACIST’S IMMUNIZATION TRAINING PROGRAM

• PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IMMUNIZATION TRAINING PROGRAM

• How Pharmacies Can Address Social Drivers of Health

A Three-Stage Matheuristic For The Blood Stochastic Inventory Routing Problem, Vincent F. Yu, Nabila Salsabila, Aldy Gunawan, Aldy Gunawan, Nurhadi Siswanto

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This research introduces a blood distribution system under vendor-managed inventory that considers uncertain supply and demand. We present it as the Blood Stochastic Inventory Routing Problem, formulating it as a two-stage stochastic programming model. To solve this problem, this study proposes a three-stage matheuristic that combines a perturbation heuristic, Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search, and an exact approach. From historical data of Surabaya Blood Center in Indonesia, six sets of new instances are generated under different settings. Computational results show that our proposed three-stage matheuristic outperforms CPLEX and a two-stage matheuristic by gaining optimal or better solutions within a significantly shorter …

Machine Learning Based Medical Ultrasound Image Classification And Grad-Cam Interpretation, Victoria C. Hemphill

All Theses

This work takes a step in creating a diagnostic tool for the classification decision process of Achilles tendinopathy using ultrasound images. An attention-based multiple instance learning model is developed to classify the images. Typically, doctors capture multiple ultrasound images of the Achilles tendon during a study to determine a complete diagnosis. Multiple instance models adopt this behavior by providing a single label for a set of instances (images). The images are grouped into ”bags” at the study level and passed into the model. The MIL model then uses its attention property to assign an importance score to each image to …

Integrating Art Therapy And Emerging Technologies For Enhanced Neuroplasticity And Ptsd Intervention, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains resistant to many conventional treatments, underscoring the need for integrative approaches that harness neuroplasticity. Art therapy, with its capacity to facilitate nonverbal trauma processing and multisensory engagement, has shown distinctive advantages over verbal and pharmacological interventions. Recent innovations, including virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and biofeedback have amplified the therapeutic efficacy of art-based interventions by enabling adaptive, real-time modulation of emotional and physiological states. This review synthesizes current research on technologically enhanced art therapy, comparing it to established treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Findings indicate …

What The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Means For Dentists, John Looby Cpa, Theodore C. Schumann Ii Mba, Msf, Cfp, Aif

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Executive Summary: The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed July 4, 2025, significantly impacts dentists by extending and making permanent many 2017 tax policies. Key tax changes include permanent tax rates, an increased state and local income tax (SALT) cap, and new deductions for seniors, qualified tips, overtime wages, charitable donations, and auto loan interest. The qualified business income deduction is now permanent, and first-year bonus depreciation is restored. New "Trump Accounts" are established for children. Crucially, the OBBB introduces $50,000 annual and $200,000 lifetime caps on professional degree student loans, effective July 2026, and establishes the Repayment Assistance Plan …

Dentistry And The Law: Length Of Covenants Not To Compete, Dan Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article clarifies the distinct legal standards for covenants not to compete in Michigan, particularly relevant for dentists selling their practice and remaining employed. A covenant in an employment agreement is enforceable if "reasonable," typically limited to two to three years and the employer's patient draw area. In contrast, a covenant within a purchase agreement, considered a commercial contract, is judged under a more lenient "rule of reason" standard. This standard is easier to satisfy, requiring only that the covenant does not adversely impact the relevant market. Consequently, purchasers often use the purchase agreement to impose harsher, longer-term restrictive covenants.

Water Fluoridation: A Personal Perspective On The Effectiveness Of Community Water Fluoridation, William Chase Dds, Maom

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article offers Dr. William R. Chase's personal insights into community water fluoridation, emphasizing its effectiveness in preventing dental caries. It traces the discovery of fluoride's benefits back to Frederick McKay's 1901 observations and highlights the pivotal 1945 Grand Rapids Study, which demonstrated significant caries reduction, especially in younger age groups. Despite long-standing support from the American Dental Association, controversies regarding fluoride's safety persist, leading to recent state-level bans. Dr. Chase's experiences in countries without fluoridated water, where he observed severe decay and life-threatening cellulitis, underscore his belief in fluoride as a "miracle supplement" when properly utilized. The Michigan Dental …

The Connection Between Workplace Wellness Activities And Job Satisfaction In Manufacturing, Lori Scott Dreiling

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Employers in all industries are concerned with creating and maintaining a workplace where their employees are engaged in their work. Job dissatisfaction is shown to lead to higher levels of turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. The purpose of this quantitative study will be to examine the connection between workplace wellness activity participation and job satisfaction, specifically for manufacturers in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, and Northeast Oklahoma. Manufacturers have experienced increased global competition in the last three decades, not just for their products or services but for quality talent. The value of this study is to show manufacturing employers that by providing …

Advancing Point-Of-Care Diagnosis Of Joint Infection Using A Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (Drs) System, Erin Elizabeth Drewke

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Septic arthritis is a severe joint infection that can rapidly destroy cartilage and cause lifelong disability if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Faster, bedside diagnostic tools are needed to reduce delays and support timely treatment decisions while preserving standard laboratory workflows. A syringe-mounted diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) system was developed for rapid, sterile, point-of-care measurement of synovial fluid optical properties. Broadband light (400–650 nm) was delivered and collected through the syringe barrel without contaminating the sample. An empirical lookup table (LUT) and a boundary-aware Monte Carlo (MC) model were implemented to extract absorption (μₐ) and reduced scattering (μs′) coefficients from …

Host-Virus Interaction Dynamics Using Sulfolobus Spindle-Shaped Virus And Host Sulfolobales System, Yeasin Ahmed

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Sulfolobus Spindle-shaped virus (SSV) is among the most studied archaeal viruses, particularly in extreme environments. This virus predominantly infects multiple Crenarchaea from the Sulfolobaceae family. These hosts thrive in extreme environmental conditions, such as sulfuric hot springs, with a pH of 2 to 4 and a temperature of 76-80˚C. Sulfolobales exhibit a wide geographical distribution across volcanic hot springs. The Sulfolobus Spindle-shaped Virus (SSV), encompassing strains such as SSV1 and SSV8, employs a non-lytic replication strategy in hosts belonging to the order Sulfolobales. The SSV-Sulfolobales system can be cultured in liquid and gellan gum solid media. A comprehensive study …

Identifying Critical Evidence Gaps In Wound Closure And Incision Management After Total Hip Arthroplasty: Delphi Panel Insights, Margaret Ainslie-Garcia, Lucas Anderson, Benjamin Bloch, Tim N Board, Antonia Chen, Samantha Craigie, Walter Danker, Najmuddin Gunja, James Harty, Victor Hernandez, Kate Lebedeva, Mitchell Ng, Daniel Hameed, Michael Mont, Ryan Nunley, Javad Parvizi, Sean Sequeira, Carsten Perka, Nicolas Piuzzi, Ola Rolfson, Joshua Rychlik, Emilio Romanini, Pablo Sanz-Ruiz, Rafael Sierra, Linda Suleiman, Eleftherios Tsiridis, Pascal-André Vendittoli, Helge Wangen, Luigi Zagra

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In total hip arthroplasty (THA), proper management of surgical incisions is essential for optimal wound healing and patient outcomes. Despite advances in surgical techniques, significant challenges remain in preventing complications and infections. This study aimed to identify evidence gaps in THA wound care, including presurgical preparation, intraoperative practices, and postsurgical complications.

METHODS: Using a modified Delphi method, 20 expert orthopedic surgeons from Europe and North America participated in a 3-phase consensus process from April 1 to September 30, 2023. This included a preliminary questionnaire, a remote conference, and a final online survey. The panel reviewed literature and achieved agreement …

Enhancing Severely Compromised Premolar Strength: Role Of Cusp Reduction Design In Cad/Cam Composite Restorations, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Ahmed Refaat Mohamed, Shehabeldin Saber, Edgar Schafer, Samar Swelam, Youssef Mohamed Haridy

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Does Ultrasound Guidance During Arthrocentesis In Women With Disc Displacement Without Reduction Reduce Procedure Time And Improve Outcomes? A Randomized Clinical Trial, Moataz Dr. Bahaa, Abdelrahman Fahmy Dr., Hisham Elsheikh Dr., Bassam Abulnoor, Amr Amin Prof., Sherif El Bahnasy, Karim Abdelmohsen Prof

Dentistry

Introduction: The goal of using ultrasound-guided (USG) arthrocentesis is to reduce number of needle insertion attempts, which is hypothesized to reduce procedure time, postoperative pain, and consequently, limitation in range of motion. Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the therapeutic and operative efficiency of USG Single-Puncture Arthrocentesis (SPA) Type 2 and SPA Type 2 arthrocentesis without ultrasound guidance in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) “disc displacement without reduction (DDWOR).” Materials and methods: A double-blinded prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted from December 2022 to December 2023 at Ain Shams University Hospital. It …

08-19-25 Hsc Committee Meeting Notice, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-25 HSC Committee Meeting Notice

Adolescent E-Cigarette Expectancies: Measure Development And Preliminary Validity Of The Electronic Nicotine Vaping Outcomes Measure For Youth, Paul T. Harrell, Kelli J. England, Tracey E. Barnett, Vani N. Simmons, Richard W. Handel, Amy C. Paulson

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (“e-cigarettes”) are the nicotine product most commonly used by adolescents. Research, treatment, and policy could benefit from measures of adolescent e-cigarette beliefs about outcomes of use (ie, expectancies). In the current study, we developed and tested an adolescent electronic nicotine vaping expectancy measure.

METHODS: A focus group with adolescents evaluated potential e-cigarette expectancy items. A panel of national experts assisted in revision of these items. Finally, items were administered to a sample of adolescents 14-17 years old (N = 267, Mean age 15.6, SD = 1.1, 50.9% Female, 50.2% Non-Hispanic White, 22.5% Non-Hispanic Black, 14.2% …

Adolescent Online Leisure, Media Literacy, Online Victimization, And Multifaceted Well-Being During Covid-19: The Role Of Parental Support, Yunqi Wang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The rapid advancement of the internet and digital technology has provided opportunities for adolescents to conduct leisure activities online on a daily basis. However, research on adolescent technology use and mental health often highlights negative effects without carefully examining the specific mechanisms, which overlooks the complexity of effects of online behaviors on adolescent well-being and the importance of developing adolescents’ media literacy skills. Moreover, despite the crucial role of family dynamics in adolescent development, research on how parental support and involvement might affect adolescent technology use and well-being is still limited. The current study retrieved data from Programme for International …

Study Of Ai Applications In Biomedical Data Acquisition, Communication, And Analysis: Cest Mri Acceleration And Ecg Transmissions, Adarsha Bhattarai

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation investigates the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical data acquisition, communication, and analysis to advance neurological research and to enable the early detection of cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant advances in imaging and physiological modalities, challenges persist. Imaging modalities, such as the chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI) technique are challenged by a prolonged data acquisition time and high operational costs. In addition, physiological modalities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors face constraints in providing uninterrupted signal monitoring which is crucial for the timely detection of premature cardiac abnormalities. The primary goal of this work is to …

Hormonal Modulation Of Sexual Approach And Avoidance Among Women With A History Of Sexual Trauma, Anneliis Susan Sartin-Tarm

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A history of sexual trauma places women at a high risk for sexual dysfunction and other health sequelae, yet the influence of ovarian hormones in this population is poorly understood. This dissertation tested the theory that the effects of ovarian hormones are mediated by cognitive approach-avoidance systems to shape sexual well-being, and that this process is moderated by sexual trauma history. This was investigated across three studies examining the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopause. Across each chapter, I present complementary evidence demonstrating that hormones interact with the interpretation of ambiguous internal and external cues with respect to sexual …

Chronic Pain After Traumatic Brain Injury: Treatment Experiences And Effects On Cognition And Functioning, Rachael L. Snyder

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can contribute to changes in cognitive and emotional functioning, quality of life, and psychosocial reintegration. Chronic pain is a common consequence of TBI which can uniquely impact such outcomes. Still, the exact nature of the contribution of pain on post-TBI outcomes remains unclear, and there are few existing studies exploring the treatment journey for chronic pain and injury rehabilitation through qualitative methods, specifically individual interviews with TBI survivors. This study aimed to document these narratives and to identify precisely how the experiences of TBI survivors seeking treatments, rather than the treatments themselves, impact outcomes. It also …