Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Prognostic Gene Expression And Microrna Profiling Signatures And Genetic Alterations In Primary Testicular Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Wenyu Shi, Zijun Y Xu-Monette, Youchao Jia, Alexandar Tzankov, Heounjeong Go, Ling Li, Maurilio Ponzoni, Yafei Wang, Qiongli Zhai, Anamarija M Perry, Shi Wang, Xiaoxiao Wang, April Chiu, Mina L Xu, Carlo Visco, Karen Dybkaer, Henry Withers, Mark Long, Alyssa F Yuan, Yi Miao, Everardo Macias, Dehong Wu, Wen Shuai, Bangchen Wang, Jianyong Li, Govind Bhagat, Youli Zu, Zenggang Pan, William Choi, Santiago Montes-Moreno, Weina Chen, J Han Van Krieken, Michael B Møller, Xinfang Yu, Benjamin M Parsons, Shanxiang Zhang, Eric D Hsi, Aliyah R Sohani, Jeremy S Abramson, Andrés J M Ferreri, Bing Xu, Yong Li, Ken H Young

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Primary testicular (PT) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare and aggressive lymphoma with distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. To identify prognostic biomarkers in PT-DLBCL, in this study we analyzed DNA and RNA samples of PT-DLBCL tumors from 206 patients using next-generation sequencing platforms and assays. Genetic alteration analysis found that multiple chromosomal copy number variations (CNVs), TP53 transcript mutations with high variant allele frequency, and MCD subtype had significantly adverse prognostic effects, whereas elevated microsatellite instability had a significantly favorable prognostic effect in PT-DLBCL. Targeted RNA-seq analysis identified a PTL gene expression signature by comparing PT-DLBCL with systemic …

Electrophysiological Characterization Of Sex-Dependent Hypnosis By An Endogenous Neuroactive Steroid Epipregnanolone, Tamara Timic Stamenic, Ian Coulter, Douglas F Covey, Slobodan M Todorovic

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Neuroactive steroids (NAS) have long been recognized for their hypnotic and anesthetic properties in both clinical and preclinical settings. While sex differences in NAS sensitivity are acknowledged, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we examined sex-specific responses to an endogenous NAS epipregnanolone (EpiP) in wild-type mice using behavioral assessment of hypnosis (loss of righting reflex, LORR) and in vivo electrophysiological recordings. Specifically, local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from the central medial thalamus (CMT) and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded from the barrel cortex. We found that EpiP-induced LORR exhibited clear sex differences, with females showing increased sensitivity. Spectral …

The Perception Of Ai Impact Of Academic Processes: A Study Of Student Perspectives, Nora Murphy, Lana Perkovic, Andzelika Wyka

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionise education. This research aimed to comprehensively explore students’ perspectives on the integration of AI in educational settings, focusing on understanding its role, advantages, challenges, and expectations. The study analysed responses from a sixteen-question survey created through Google Forms administered online to 196 students from diverse academic backgrounds and educational levels enrolled across two Cork third-level institutions.

The demographic distribution of the respondents showed 44.4% aged 18-20 years old, 43.9% aged 21-23 years old, and 11.7% aged 24 and above, with 67.9% female respondents and 32.1% males. …

The Attitudes And Knowledge Of Organ Donation And The ‘Opt Out’ Consent System Among Irish Third Level Students., Rachel Webster, Emma Flynn, Tara O'Brien

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Currently there are approximately 500 people in Ireland waiting for an organ donation while only approximately 280 transplants are carried out per year. While close to 80% of Irish people support organ donation it is estimated that only one-third of those are registered donors. This is the basis for the new ‘Opt Out’ policy within the ‘Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024’ that has recently been signed into law (as of 28^th February 2024). This study aimed to investigate third-level students’ awareness of this new legislation and to determine if there would be an …

A Meta-Analysis Of The Relationship Between Estradiol, C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin-6 And Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha, And Their Association With Breast Cancer Prognosis, Keelin M. Crowley

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

This meta-analysis reviewed interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels across various tumour stages, compared transdermal and oral estradiol levels on IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP), and examined the IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) levels in healthy versus breast cancer patients. This analysis covers studies from 2003 to 2020.

Results: IL-6 can be used as a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer, as levels are seen to increase as the cancer stage advances. While transdermal estradiol does not have any significant effects on IL-6 or CRP, oral estradiol seemed to display an increase in. The baseline IL-6 levels differ between control subjects …

Audit Of The Impact Of The Pause In The National Screening Service For Breast Cancer During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ava Coakley

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

In Ireland there is a free national screening service for breast cancer called BreastCheck. BreastCheck invites women aged fifty to sixty-nine to have screening mammograms once every two years to detect any densities in their breast mammogram which could indicate breast cancer. If densities are seen on a mammogram a breast core is sampled and sent to a histopathology laboratory where a part of the tissue is examined by a consultant pathologist using a microscope. Further tests can then be performed on this sample if it is diagnosed as breast cancer. Tests include immunohistochemistry and dual in-situ hybridisation (DISH). BreastCheck …

A Review Of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (Bia-Alcl) In The Histopathology Laboratory In Cork University Hospital (Cuh), Ruth Purcell

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Breast implantation is a common procedure for either breast reconstruction, following a mastectomy or for cosmetics. Approximately 10 million individuals have breast implants worldwide. Breast implants are composed of an outer silicone layer that are filled with either silicone gel or saline and have a lifespan of approximately 16 years (Quesada et al., 2018). When the implantation occurs, a fibrous capsule is naturally formed around the implant. However, it has become apparent in recent years that there is a link between the use of textured implants and a rare type of lymphoma. Breast Implant Associated- Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) …

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal Of Health Sciences, Volume 5, Issue 1, July 2025

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences, Volume 5, Issue 1, July 2025.

Screening For Bullying In A Middle School Setting, Paige Bernau

Dissertations

Problem: Bullied youth are two and a half times more likely to experience depression and three times more likely to experience anxiety and suicidal ideation than their peers (Li et al., 2024). Schools represent a key access point for mental health support and treatment for youth (Duong et al., 2020). Despite this, schools typically do not have formal bullying screening integrated into student support services.

Methods: This program evaluation used a descriptive, observational design to evaluate a bullying screening program in a suburban middle-school. This program used the California Bullying Victimization Scale (CBVS) to assess for bullying victimization (BV) followed …

Implementation Of A Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Toolkit Postpartum, Eriola Arapi

Dissertations

Problem: Despite strong recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC, 2021) for HPV vaccination in individuals aged 9 to 26, postpartum women

are often overlooked as a target population. Every year in the U.S., oncogenic human

papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes approximately 330,000 cases of precancerous cervical

dysplasia and 12,000 cases of cervical cancer, the most common female cancer attributable to

HPV (Wang et al., 2024). Many providers miss the opportunity to offer the vaccine during the

postpartum hospital stay and the six-week visit—when patients are insured, motivated, and

more accessible.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project used …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Postpartum Depression Screening Tool In A Level Iv Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Morgan A. Takacs

Dissertations

Problem: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 40% of mothers with infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), yet many remain undiagnosed due to the absence of standardized screening protocols. Early identification and referral to Perinatal Behavioral Health Services (PBHS) is critical to support maternal well-being and improve neonatal outcomes.

Methods: This evidence-based quality improvement project utilized a descriptive and correlational design to evaluate the impact of implementing the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) for PPD screening among mothers of infants born ≤ 32 weeks’ gestation in a Level IV NICU. A convenience sample of 29 mothers received the …

Evaluation Of A Behavioral Response Team To Decrease Use Of Violent Restraint, Katherine Skrade

Dissertations

Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this Quality Improvement project was to evaluate the implementation of the Behavioral Assessment and Response Team (BART) and evaluate its effect on occurrence and duration of violent restraints on non-psychiatric floors in a pediatric hospital. This QI project also aimed to correlate the use of the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) to the utilization of the BART as a means of predicting patient escalation, as well as to assess the effect of booster education on the BVC and BART on bedside staff confidence in utilization of these resources.

Methods: Data was collected across three time periods: …

Implementing A Standardized Protocol To Screen For Depression In A Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic, Catherine M. Karle

Dissertations

Problem: There is a lack of mental health screenings for depression taking place in outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) clinics. Outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) offices are not consistently screening patients for depression despite a rise in depression rates and the known adverse impact depression can have on the GI tract.

Methods: This Quality Improvement (QI) study used a descriptive research design guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Model. Its purpose was to implement a 10-week PHQ-2/PHQ-8 depression screening protocol at a large midwestern health center's gastroenterology outpatient clinic. The study used purposive sampling, including all GI outpatients aged 18+ with …

Palliative Care Beyond Cancer: The Use Of The P-Cares Tool, Breslin E. Meyer

Dissertations

Emergency Departments (EDs) often lack the necessary resources and protocols to provide comprehensive palliative care, resulting in inadequate pain and symptom management (Stoltenberg et al., 2022). This study investigates the potential transformative impact of a palliative care consultation on patients with advanced disease who screen positive using the validated P-CaRES tool. The PICOT questions: Will patients with end-stage COPD, CHF, and or other chronic conditions benefit from P-CaRES screening in the emergency department over nine weeks and receive more palliative care consultations from their primary care providers?

This project was conducted over 9 weeks, utilizing convenience sampling to select 20 …

Implementation Of Quantitative Blood Loss To Detect Postpartum Hemorrhage After Vaginal Birth, Raven S. Simpson

Dissertations

Problem: In the U.S., postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is attributed to maternal morbidity and mortality, resulting in long-lasting effects of extended recoveries, surgical interventions, birth-related trauma, interruptions in mother-infant bonding, or death. Performing estimated blood loss (EBL) measurement methods postpartum is subjective and often associated with over- and underestimations of blood volume. The delay in recognition interferes with timely, efficient, and appropriate interventions, yielding a PPH (≥1000ml).

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) project was initiated with a descriptive, pre-implementation/post-implementation focus on a high-risk Labor and Delivery unit to explore the effects of Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) measurements on the identification of …

Ldt Fda Ruling: A Conundrum For Laboratories Across The Usa, Charma Henry

MSMLS Capstone Projects

Abstract

In the article “The Future of Laboratory Medicine Understanding the New Pressures," author Mauro Panteghini expresses that the clinical laboratory has always undergone significant changes due to technological advances and external economic pressures. “Laboratories are indeed an easy target for economic restrictions and limitations due to their technological characteristics.” (Panteghini, 2004, pg. 205) Though these words were written over 20 years ago, no more valid words have been spoken in light of the newest pressure all laboratories face with the new LDT regulation set by the FDA.

This regulation places drastic economic pressure on laboratories to pay the FDA …

Myb And Hif1Α Crosstalk Drives Hypoxia-Induced Transcriptional Reprogramming And Adaptive Signaling Alterations In Pancreatic Cancer, Shashi Anand, Kunwar Somesh Vikramdeo, Mohammad Aslam Khan, Ajay Pratap Singh

Cell and Molecular Biology Publications

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy, characterized by extensive desmoplasia and a hypoxic tumor microenvironment that contributes to therapy resistance. MYB, a proto-oncogene encoding a transcription factor, plays a crucial role in pancreatic tumor growth and metastasis. Recently, we also revealed a role of MYB in hypoxic survival of pancreatic cancer cells by promoting metabolic reprogramming through interaction with HIF1α, modulating its expression and binding to glycolytic gene promoters. In this study, we investigated how hypoxia influences the genome-wide occupancy of MYB using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), and whether this effect is modulated by its interaction with HIF1α. In addition, …

Implementation Of A Nurse-Driven Process To Decrease Npo Times In A Geriatric Emergency Department, Luke D. Little

Dissertations

Prolonged nil per os (NPO) status for geriatric patients in the emergency department is a critical safety issue, leading to increased rates of delirium, hypoglycemia, and perioperative complications. A quality improvement project was designed to address this problem through a targeted, nurse-driven intervention. In geriatric patients (age ≥70) in a geriatric emergency department, this project aimed to determine if implementing an electronic health record (EHR)-prompted nursing workflow to obtain a diet order would reduce the length of time patients were kept NPO compared with standard practice. An EHR documentation tool was designed and implemented along with targeted nursing education sessions …

Transportation: A Barrier To Healthcare Access Among Disabled, Older Adults With Diabetes And Hypertension In Rural Areas, Anne G. Mwangi-Amann

Dissertations

Problem: Transportation is essential for health service utilization (clinic appointments, diagnostic services, and picking up medications from the pharmacy (Hansmann & Razon, 2024). Shekelle et al. (2022) in their systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the U.S. rural population is 60 million. Rural areas continue to experience transportation as a significant barrier to health, a key social determinant of health. It causes delayed or foregone care in approximately 3.6 million people annually, resulting in more than 25% of missed appointments. Methods: This quality improvement project utilized a descriptive and observational design. A convenience sample of Medicaid patients receiving care at …

Bowel Regimen Protocol Implementation For Pediatric Patients Following Cardiac Surgery, Eryn Watson

Dissertations

Problem: Pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at an increased risk of constipation following cardiac surgery, which contributes to complications and delays in recovery. Standardized protocols are effective tools for prophylactic management of constipation. However, there is no current standardized protocol in place for postoperative bowel management in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).

Method: This quality improvement project (QI) used a descriptive design with pre- and post-implementation data collection to evaluate the effects of a postoperative bowel regimen protocol on constipation rates and compliance with ordering prophylactic bowel regimens. Convenience sampling was used to identify patients …

Implementation Of A Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Toolkit Postpartum, Emily R. Leone

Dissertations

Problem: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually acquired infection in the world (DeCherney et al., 2018). Even a single dose of the HPV vaccine can provide up to 97% protection against HPV 16 and 18, which are the strains that cause 70% of all cervical cancers (Barnabas et al., 2022). Missouri ranks 35th in the country for HPV vaccination (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2020).

Methods: This quality improvement project implemented an HPV toolkit consisting of: 1) staff nurse education in the form of a written presentation 2) patient and provider education in the form of …

Impactful Programs And Initiatives For Employee Resource Groups That Promote And Sustain Positive Social Determinants Of Health, Lisa Kangas, Maureen Hall, Julie James, Gladys Peters

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders’ lack of interest in employee resource groups (ERGs) and related programs can negatively impact an organization’s culture, operational excellence, and employee retention and have detrimental implications for social determinants of health (SDOH). Prioritizing ERG programs and initiatives is essential for organizational success and can positively affect SDOH. This qualitative pragmatic inquiry study identified and explored ERG programs and initiatives that support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention.The research question for this study was: What ERG programs and initiatives support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention? The study included eight DEI leaders …

Integrating Digital Archives And Scholarship: Raising Awareness Of Library Historical Collections, Alice W. Sherwood

Library Staff Publications

The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is home to the largest concentration of medical professionals and experts anywhere in the world. Collectively, the Texas Medical Center is the largest employer in Houston and the 8th largest business district in the United States. The TMC includes 50 medicine-related institutions, including 21 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, six nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, and pharmacy. The TMC Library plays a vital role for the institutions inhabiting the 2.10 square mile campus that is the TMC. The Texas Medical Center Library has been around since 1915, way before …

Nitric Oxide Does Not Improve Liver Mitochondrial Function 48 Hours After Cecal Ligation And Perforation In Experimental Sepsis, Pierre Eyenga, Shey-Shing Sheu

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Nitric oxide (NO) has a dual effect on mitochondria. Incubating liver mitochondria with NO improves oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) efficiency by decreasing state 4 respiration more than ATP synthesis and preventing mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. We evaluated the effect of L-arginine (L-arg), an NO donor, on isolated liver mitochondrial respiration and mPTP in sepsis. Male mice were subjected to cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) with saline resuscitation or sham. After 8, 24, and 48 h, with and without L-arg, we measured isolated liver mitochondrial respiration and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity using polarographic methods and calcium retention capacity (CRC) …

Anesthetic Management For Delivery In Parturients With Heart Disease: A Narrative Review, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Drake P. Duplechin, Paris D. Bailey, Dillon T. Duplechan, Alexia J. Enache, Peyton Moore, Sahar Shekoohi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiac disease remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developed countries where improved survival has increased the number of pregnant patients with congenital heart disease. The physiological changes of pregnancy, such as increased blood volume, cardiac output, and hypercoagulability, can exacerbate preexisting cardiac conditions, posing significant anesthetic challenges during cesarean delivery. This review outlines anesthetic strategies for parturients with structural or functional cardiac disease, emphasizing individualized, multidisciplinary care. We examine general and regional anesthesia approaches, intraoperative monitoring, and hemodynamic goals, including fluid balance, venous return optimization, and myocardial oxygen demand reduction. Preoperative risk stratification and coordination …

Vibration-Based Detection For The Monitoring Of Neonatal Bcpap Respiratory Support To Minimize Duration Of Disconnections, Kaitlyn G. Calabresi, Meera R. Bhat, Lavinia L. Kong, Eli J. Foster, Jonathan Wang, Sangeeta Koilada, Angela Mak, Aastha Kapadia, Niam Mohseni, W. Keith Leung, Suneetha Desiraju, Constanza Miranda

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) is a minimally invasive respiratory support for neonates experiencing respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). It exerts continuous, oscillatory air pressure to encourage lung function and development. Neonates’ movement may cause disconnections at the nasal interface. These disconnections are characterized by the cessation of bubbling at the bCPAP respiratory circuit output and frequently go unnoticed until hypoxia develops. Common Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) bCPAP systems lack a built-in alarm or accessory device to monitor for disconnections. As a result, nursing personnel must exercise extreme caution utilizing current bCPAP procedure. If a neonate is disconnected, it …

Public Sector Employment In Mountain West Cities, 2019, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet presents data on public sector employment in 16 cities within the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. The Urban Institute’s “Public Sector Employment and Its Role in Local Economic Development” report provides data on publicly driven jobs in the 100 largest U.S. cities as of 2019. This fact sheet focuses on city-level data from the largest cities in the Mountain West.

Human Development, Inequality, And Their Associations With Brain Structure Across 29 Countries, Vicente Medel, Luz M. Alliende, Richard Bethlehem, Jakob Seidlitz, Grace Ringlein, Celso Arango, Aurina Arnatkevičiūtė, Laila Asmal, Mark Bellgrove, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Background: The macro-social and environmental conditions in which people live, such as the level of a country’s development or inequality, are associated with brain-related disorders. However, the relationship between these systemic environmental factors and the brain remains unclear. We here aimed to determine the association between the level of development and inequality of a country and the brain structure of healthy adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study pooling brain imaging (T1-based) data from 145 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in 7,962 healthy adults (4,110 women) in 29 different countries. We used a meta-regression approach to relate the brain structure …

Specialty Grand Challenge: Existing Issues And Emerging Frontiers In Renal Endocrinology, A. T. M. Emdadul Haque, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

We are currently in an exciting time to advance the field of renal endocrinology. There has never been a more favorable time to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying renal hormone functions in physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. The availability of advanced research tools provides unique opportunities to dissect the complex regulatory roles of renal hormones. The kidneys are vital organs in the human body; each one is composed of approximately one million functional nephrons. Understanding the precise roles and regulation of kidney-derived hormones and hormones that exert endocrine effects on the kidneys will help in preventing or delaying various …

Maternal Hyperleptinemia Alters Placental Transcriptome And Progesterone Regulation Without Affecting Early Equine Fetal Growth, Lucinda L. Thorburn

LSU Master's Theses

While consequences of equine obesity are well defined, the extent to which persistent hyperleptinemia and accompanying leptin (Lep) resistance affect the fetal-maternal environment warrants further exploration. This study compared endocrine, fetal, placental, and uterine parameters during early pregnancy (through day 70) in mares with elevated leptin versus normal leptin (NL) concentrations. Fourteen mares were classified as either NL (n = 6; Lep 0.9 ± 0.3 ng/mL), moderate leptin (ML; n = 4; Lep 3.0 ± 0.3 ng/mL), or high leptin (HL; n = 4; Lep 5.8 ± 0.7 ng/mL) based on annual plasma leptin. Mares were artificially inseminated and induced …