Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Do Orthodontists And Patients Prefer Different Linguistic Resources To Overcome Language Barriers In The Clinical Setting?, Phuong Tran Dds, Bhavna Shroff Dds, M.Dent.Sc, Caroline K. Carrico Ph.D, Steven J. Lindauer Dmd

Virginia Dental Journal

Introduction: This study examines communication methods used by patients and clinicians to overcome language barriers in dental settings, aiming to determine the most preferred and beneficial resource.

Methods: Surveys were distributed to a randomized sample of orthodontists in the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and Spanish-speaking limited English proficient (LEP) patients in Central Virginia. Questions assessed linguistic resources and their impact on visit perception, decision-making, doctor patient relationships, compliance, and satisfaction.

Results: Among 31 providers and 64 patients, bilingual staff members and friends/family members were the most utilized resources. However, both groups selected bilingual staff as the most preferred resource …

Virginia Dentists And Dental Students Unite, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

Over 1,200 dentists and dental students, including representatives from Virginia, attended the eighth annual ADA Lobby Day in Washington, DC, to advocate for legislative priorities such as fair provider contracts, student loan reform, and community water fluoridation. Virginia's delegation was uniquely featured by ADA News, highlighting their dedication to dentistry and patient care.

Vda Pac Update, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

The VDA PAC update highlights legislative successes for dentistry in 2025, including expedited licensure pathways, repealing sunset provisions for foreign dental program graduates, and transparency in health insurance payment methods. Contributions are encouraged to meet the PAC's funding goals. Past legislative achievements include advancements in dental insurance transparency, teledentistry, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and workforce mobility.

The Fulcrum Podcast - New Episodes, Shannon Jacobs

Virginia Dental Journal

The Fulcrum Podcast explores diverse topics in dentistry, including practice transitions, dental education, legal considerations for patient reviews, and mental health challenges like burnout. Episodes feature expert insights on dental practice ownership, workforce development, social media reviews, and strategies for managing stress and fostering supportive office cultures.

2025 Virginia Dental Showcase - Event Details

Virginia Dental Journal

The 2025 Virginia Dental Showcase will take place on September 26-27, 2025, at Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, VA. This premier event for dental professionals features dynamic speakers, hands-on workshops, CE courses, an exhibit hall, networking opportunities, and receptions. Registration fees vary by attendee type, with early bird discounts available until July 31. The event includes access to CE courses, receptions, coffee breaks, boxed lunches, and a Membership Party. Parking and transportation options are provided, including on-site parking, nearby garages, and public transit. Exhibitors and sponsors will showcase the latest dental products and services.

Dental Ai Roundup, Paul Supan Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The Virginia Dental Association (VDA) has taken a proactive stance on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry, emphasizing ethical use, patient privacy, and the importance of licensed dentists maintaining accountability for clinical decisions. The newly formed Artificial Intelligence Resource Committee (AIRC) aims to provide updates on AI developments and address challenges such as corporate influence, insurance misuse, and unethical practices. The Dental-AI Roundup column will serve as a platform to inform the dental community about AI advancements and emerging threats to traditional private practice dentistry.

The Drill, July 2025, Ryan Dunn

Virginia Dental Journal

In the inaugural episode of The Drill, Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), provides a concise update on the latest activities and initiatives. The episode covers three key areas from the VDA's strategic plan: powerful advocacy, professional development, and practice success. Dunn discusses the workforce challenges, including a shortage of dental hygienists, and highlights efforts such as the new Richmond hygiene school opening in 2026. Other topics include the introduction of an affiliate membership program for dental office staff and the D.I.G. Tracker for monitoring dental insurance grievances. Listeners are encouraged to stay informed and share the …

Focused Leadership, Transparent Communication, A Stronger Future Together, James Mercer Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The ADA is undergoing significant changes under Interim Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Shapiro, focusing on leadership transition, transparency, financial sustainability, and operational improvements. Key initiatives include the implementation of a new Association Management Software (AMS), financial recovery measures, and the decision to sunset SmileCon as the annual meeting after 2025. The ADA is committed to enhancing communication, stabilizing operations, and exploring new meeting models to better serve its members.

Cleanings And Conundrums, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The document highlights the challenges faced by an associate dentist in a poorly managed dental practice, including workforce shortages, unprofessional behavior, and lack of support from management. It emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement in solving systemic issues within dentistry and introduces the SafeHaven program as a resource for addressing burnout and mental health concerns among healthcare professionals.

No Off-Season For The Vda, Justin Norbo Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Justin Norbo, President of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), reflects on his year of leadership, emphasizing the importance of member engagement and the unified strength of the tripartite structure (ADA, VDA, and component societies). He likens the profession to a family unit, urging members to stay involved to protect and advance dentistry. He highlights his visits to various component societies and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to serve, encouraging continued collaboration and participation.

From Adjustment To Transformation: Applying An Evidence-Based Figure-8 Model To Guide Students Through Transformation Before, During, And After Study Abroad, Susan L. Ross, Lily A. House-Peters, Alison R. Holmes

csuglobalaction

The 23-campus California State University (CSU) system has an excellent record of sending students abroad and remains a champion of this high impact practice. Despite system-wide policies and Executive Orders that include requirements to promote pre-departure information sessions and support for returning students - gaps remain. This research argues that the popular models of culture adjustment no longer adequately frame the processes that students experience before, during, and after transformative (and potentially traumatic) study abroad. This is particularly the case for BIPOC, First Gen, undocumented/DACA, URM, and LGBTQ+ students who are increasingly represented in study abroad cohorts. The authors therefore …

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Adherence Among Black/African American People Living In Houston, Texas, Napoleon Ayibo Wokoma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial in preventing active TB and supporting elimination efforts. However, adherence to LTBI treatment is challenging, especially among racial and ethnic minorities, with Black/African Americans showing particularly low rates. A quantitative retrospective chart review was conducted to examine sociodemographic factors affecting LTBI adherence in Black/African American individuals and to evaluate various adherence strategies. Using the health belief model, 435 deidentified secondary data records were analyzed from the Houston Health Department from 2012 to 2022, covering both native and foreign-born Black/African American patients undergoing LTBI treatment. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including …

Klasifikasi Penggunaan Kontrasepsi Pada Pasangan Usia Subur Di Kalimantan Timur Dengan Metode Chaid (Analisis Hasil Pendataan Pemutakhiran Keluarga Bkkbn Tahun 2023), Rifky Irlika Akbar, Rahmi Susanti, Ismail Andi Baso

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Data BKKBN Kalimantan Timur menyebutkan, dari sekitar 800 ribu pasangan usia subur (PUS), hanya 60,1% yang menggunakan alat kontrasepsi. Hampir 40% PUS belum berpartisipasi dalam program keluarga berencana yang berdampak pada peningkatan angka kelahiran dan beban kesehatan reproduksi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui karakteristik dan variabel penggunaan kontrasepsi pada PUS di Kalimantan Timur, serta hasil klasifikasi dan evaluasi model CHAID berdasarkan akurasi, recall, presisi, dan F1-score. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode non-reaktif dengan populasi 510.319 PUS di Kalimantan Timur. Analisis data dilakukan dengan metode CHAID, menggunakan perbandingan data training dan testing 70:30. Hasil analisis CHAID menunjukkan bahwa …

Measles Assessment And Treatment, Bob Underwood, Edward Lyon

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

Eddie Lyon, MD, discusses concerns related to an uptick in measles cases, and how community providers can assess, limit exposure and guide patients to remain healthy.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

First-In-Human Phase I Open-Label Study Of The Anti-Tim-3 Monoclonal Antibody Incagn02390 In Patients With Select Advanced Or Metastatic Solid Tumors, Martin E. Gutierrez, Shou Ching Tang, John D. Powderly, Ani S. Balmanoukian, Paul E. Hoyle, Zhiwan Dong, Lulu Cheng, Xiaohua Gong, John E. Janik, Nawel Bourayou, Omid Hamid

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein-3 (TIM-3) is an immune checkpoint receptor upregulated during anti-programmed death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy for cancer. TIM-3 blockade may improve the antitumor activity of PD-1/PD-L1inhibition. This phase 1 study evaluated INCAGN02390, a novel, fully human Fc-engineered antibody against TIM-3. Methods INCAGN02390 was evaluated by dose escalation at 10-1600 mg infused in 14-day cycles (every 2 weeks [Q2W]) in pretreated patients with select advanced/metastatic immunogenic solid tumors. Objectives included evaluation of safety/tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) (primary), pharmacokinetics, preliminary antitumor activity, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity (secondary). Results Forty patients were enrolled and …

Faculty Perceptions Of The Affective Domain In Entry-To-Practice Respiratory Therapy Education: An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative Study, Jackie W. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: The affective domain of learning is one of the three learning domains that comprise Bloom's Taxonomy of learning. The respiratory therapy profession places a great emphasis on the development and assessment of all three learning domains in entry-to-practice respiratory therapy education. While the cognitive and psychomotor domains receive significant attention, the affective domain of learning is often given less attention due to its complexity and lack of definition in the profession. Purpose: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study focused on exploring the affective domain of learning in entry-to-practice respiratory therapy education, specifically how the domain is defined, and …

Qualitative Insights Into Drug Use Safety Strategies And Social Support Among Sexual Minority Women Who Inject Drugs In Baltimore, Maryland, Jennifer L. Glick, Leanne Zhang, Aimee Huang, Megan Nguyen, Danielle German

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Sexual minority women (SMW) experience higher rates of substance use relative to heterosexual women in the U.S. but remain an under-studied population. SMW who inject drugs (SMWWID) navigate an unpredictable drug market and may experience complex relationships within their social spheres. We explore cisgender SMWWID’s strategies to maintain safety while injecting drugs, and the influence of their social support systems on those strategies. Methods: We conducted N = 16 phone-based, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with SMWWID in Baltimore, Maryland between June-October 2021. The interviews explored participants’ sexual orientation and gender identities, social networks and support systems, drug use behaviors and …

Systematic Analysis Of Nonsense Variants Uncovers Peptide Release Rate As A Novel Modifier Of Nonsense-Mediated Mrna Decay, Divya Kolakada, Rui Fu, Nikita Biziaev, Alexey Shuvalov, Mlana Lore, Amy E Campbell, Michael A Cortázar, Marcin P Sajek, Jay R Hesselberth, Neelanjan Mukherjee, Elena Alkalaeva, Zeynep H Coban-Akdemir, Sujatha Jagannathan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The phenotypic impact of nonsense variants is determined by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which degrades transcripts with premature termination codons (PTCs). Despite the clinical importance of nonsense variants, transcript-specific and context-dependent variations in NMD activity remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the amino acid preceding the PTC strongly influences NMD activity. Glycine codons promote robust NMD efficiency and show striking enrichment before PTCs but are depleted before normal termination codons. Glycine-PTC enrichment is particularly pronounced in genes tolerant to loss-of-function variants, suggesting efficient elimination of truncated proteins from nonessential genes. We further demonstrate that the peptide release rate during …

Wdr2 Regulates The Orphan Kinesin Kin-G To Promote Hook Complex And Golgi Biogenesis In Trypanosoma Brucei, Qing Zhou, Huiqing Hu, Ziyin Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The flagellum in Trypanosoma brucei plays crucial roles in cell locomotion, cell morphogenesis, and cell division, and its inheritance depends on the faithful duplication of multiple flagellum-associated structures. One of such cytoskeletal structures is a hairpin-like structure termed the hook complex, composed of a fishhook-like structure and a centrin arm structure, whose cellular functions remain poorly understood. We recently identified KIN-G, an orphan kinesin that promotes hook complex and Golgi biogenesis. Here we report a WD40 repeat-containing protein named WD40 Repeat-containing protein 2 (WDR2), which interacts with and regulates KIN-G. WDR2 co-localizes with KIN-G at the centrin arm, and knockdown …

From Novice To Expert: Preparing Your Peer Review, Diana M Proctor, Rachy Abraham, Shannon Esher Righi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Peer review is the process by which the quality of scholarly work is assessed prior to being published, presented, or funded. The consequences of flawed research entering the public domain in the "post-truth" era highlight the need to improve peer review quality, which we believe can be achieved by standardizing training. Here, we aim to enhance the quality of published literature by presenting a systematic guide to train new reviewers (and aid experienced ones) in the art of peer reviewing the rigor of scientific manuscripts.

Intracranial Directed Connectivity Links Subregions Of The Prefrontal Cortex To Major Depression, John Myers, Jiayang Xiao, Raissa K Mathura, Ben Shofty, Victoria Gates, Joshua Adkinson, Anusha B Allawala, Adrish Anand, Ron Gadot, Ricardo Najera, Hernan G Rey, Sanjay J Mathew, Kelly Bijanki, Garrett Banks, Andrew Watrous, Eleonora Bartoli, Sarah R Heilbronner, Nicole Provenza, Wayne K Goodman, Nader Pouratian, Benjamin Y Hayden, Sameer A Sheth

Staff and Researcher Publications

Research on the neural basis of major depressive disorder suggests that it is fundamentally a disease of cortical disinhibition, where breakdowns of inhibitory neuronal systems lead to diminished emotion regulation and intrusive rumination. Subregions of the prefrontal cortex are thought to be sources of this disinhibition. However, due to limited opportunities for intracranial recordings from humans with major depression, this hypothesis has not been directly tested. Here, we use intracranial recordings from the dorsolateral prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and anterior cingulate cortices from patients with major depression to measure daily fluctuations in self-reported depression symptom severity. Results indicate that directed connectivity within …

Single-Cell Profiling Of Bone Metastasis Ecosystems From Multiple Cancer Types Reveals Convergent And Divergent Mechanisms Of Bone Colonization, Fengshuo Liu, Yunfeng Ding, Zhan Xu, Xiaoxin Hao, Tianhong Pan, George Miles, Siyue Wang, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Jun Liu, Igor L Bado, Weijie Zhang, Ling Wu, Yang Gao, Liqun Yu, David G Edwards, Hilda L Chan, Sergio Aguirre, Michael Warren Dieffenbach, Elina Chen, Yichao Shen, Dane Hoffman, Luis Becerra Dominguez, Charlotte Helena Rivas, Xiang Chen, Hai Wang, Zbigniew Gugala, Robert L Satcher, Xiang H-F Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bone is a common site for metastasis of solid cancers. The diversity of histological and molecular characteristics of bone metastases (BMs) remains poorly studied. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 42 BMs from eight cancer types, identifying three distinct ecosystem archetypes, each characterized by an enrichment of specific immune cells: macrophages/osteoclasts, regulatory/exhausted T cells, or monocytes. We validated these archetypes by immunostaining on tissue sections and bioinformatic analysis of bulk RNA sequencing/microarray data from 158 BMs across more than 10 cancer types. Interestingly, we found only a modest correlation between the BM archetypes and the tissues of origin; BMs …

Inferring Chromosome Segregation Error Stage And Crossover In Trisomic Disorders With Application To Down Syndrome, Zhenhua Li, Wenjian Yang, Gang Wu, Ti-Cheng Chang, Zhongshan Cheng, Meenakshi Devidas, Mary Shago, Andrew J Carroll, Nyla A Heerema, Julie M Gastier-Foster, Brent L Wood, Lauren Sanclemente, Elizabeth A Raetz, Stephen P Hunger, Mignon L Loh, Eleanor Feingold, Tracie C Rosser, Emily G Allen, Stephanie L Sherman, Karen R Rabin, Philip J Lupo, Jun J Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Errors in chromosome segregation during gametogenesis, such as nondisjunction (NDJ) errors, have severe consequences in human reproduction, and a better understanding of their etiology is of fundamental interest in genetics. Mapping NDJ errors to meiotic/mitotic stages typically requires proband-parent comparison, limiting its applicability. Herein, we develop Mis-segregation Error Identification through Hidden Markov Models (MeiHMM), a method for inferring NDJ error stage and crossover events based on only genomic data of trisomic probands. Guided by triallelic genotype/haplotype configurations, MeiHMM discerns the allelic origin at each locus, which informs NDJ error during gamete formation, without identifying the parental origin of the trisomy. …

Genome Report: Whole-Genome Assembly Of The Relapsing Fever Tick Ornithodoros Turicata Dugès (Acari: Argasidae), Mackenzie Tietjen, Amanda R Stahlke, David Luecke, Perot Saelao, Sheina B Sim, Scott M Geib, Brian E Scheffler, Anna K Childers, Alexander R Kneubehl, Pete D Teel, Job E Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The soft tick family Argasidae contains vectors of medical and veterinary importance, but few molecular resources are available compared to hard ticks (Ixodidae). One example is Ornithodoros turicata, a recognized vector of Borrelia turicatae, causal agent of human relapsing fever, and a putative vector of African swine fever virus. To address the current lack of molecular resources for the Argasidae, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for O. turicata using PacBio sequencing in conjunction with an Illumina Hi-C library. The resulting reference genome has a total of 1.1 Gb in length and was assembled into 10 chromosomes and 368 unplaced …

Distinct Systemic Impacts Of Aβ42 And Tau Revealed By Whole-Organism Snrna-Seq, Ye-Jin Park, Tzu-Chiao Lu, Tyler Jackson, Lindsey D Goodman, Lindsey Ran, Jiaye Chen, Chung-Yi Liang, Erin Harrison, Christina Ko, Xi Chen, Baiping Wang, Ao-Lin Hsu, Elizabeth Ochoa, Kevin F Bieniek, Shinya Yamamoto, Yi Zhu, Hui Zheng, Yanyan Qi, Hugo J Bellen, Hongjie Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Both neuronal and peripheral tissues become disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, a comprehensive understanding of how AD impacts different tissues across the whole organism is lacking. Using Drosophila, we generated an AD Fly Cell Atlas (AD-FCA) based on whole-organism single-nucleus transcriptomes of 219 cell types from flies expressing AD-associated proteins, either human amyloid-β 42 peptide (Aβ42) or Tau, in neurons. We found that Aβ42 primarily affects the nervous system, including sensory neurons, while Tau induces accelerated aging in peripheral tissues. We identified a neuronal cluster enriched in Aβ42 flies, which has high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) expression. This LDH-high cluster …

Clinically Important Endpoints In Individuals With Leukodystrophy: A Multisite Study, Emma R Kotes, Sarah Woidill, Russell D'Aiello, Amina Khan, Jacob Mccann, Mark Ramos, Francesco Gavazzi, Stephanie Keller, Keith Van Haren, Ali Fatemi, Florian Eichler, Joshua Bonkowsky, Jamie Fraser, Lisa Emrick, Omar Sherbini, Ashley Hackett, Jeilo Gauna, Dandre Amos, Jordan Goodman, Amena Smith Fine, Amanda Nagy, Seungil Lee, Nicole Page, Johanna Schmidt, Amy Pizzino, Kayla Muirhead, Mariko Bennett, Amy Waldman, Justine Shults, Laura Adang, Robert Grundmeier, Adeline Vanderver

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Leukodystrophies are a diverse group of rare disorders that disrupt central myelination. These disorders present with a broad spectrum of neurologic severity and are associated with a range of potential secondary complications, such as scoliosis and failure of independent feeding.

Objective: we explore real-world data of leukodystrophy complications to inform future evidence-based care guidelines across these rare diseases.

Design: In a cross-sectional observational study, we use a leukodystrophy-specific research consortium and the availability of electronic health records (EHR) to capture a cross-section of real-world data.

Setting: Subjects were identified using EHR data from five hospital systems with established expertise …

Electrochemical Properties Of Rhodium-Plated Esthetic Orthodontic Archwires, Michael Hoy

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: Esthetics are becoming more important to patients with increased desire for ceramic brackets as they go through orthodontic treatment. Despite ceramic brackets offering an esthetic option for patients, traditional metal wires are still most commonly being used. Very little research on rhodium plated wires, specifically the American Orthodontics Iconix Aesthetic Arch Wire, exists in the literature with no tests of corrosion through electrochemical testing. The objective of this research is to analyze how rhodium plating affects the electrochemical properties of nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic wires. Methods: Rhodium-plated NiTi orthodontic wires (Iconix Aesthetic; American Orthodontics) and non-plated NiTi orthodontic wires (NT3 …

A Single High-Zinc Activation Enhancer Can Control Two Genes Oriented Head-To-Head In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Hanwenheng Liu, Brian Earley, Adelita Mendoza, Patrick Hunt, Sean Teng, Daniel Luke Schneider, Kerry Kornfeld

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Enhancers play critical roles in gene expression, but a full understanding of their complex functions has yet to be defined. The cellular response to excess zinc levels in Caenorhabditis elegans requires the HIZR-1 transcription factor, which binds the high-zinc activation (HZA) enhancer in the promoters of multiple target genes. Cadmium hijacks the excess zinc response by binding and activating HIZR-1. By analyzing the genome-wide transcriptional response to excess zinc and cadmium, we identified two positions in the genome where head-to-head oriented genes are both induced by metals. In both examples, a single predicted HZA enhancer is positioned between the two …

Dicom Datasets For Reproducible Neuroimaging Research Across Manufacturers And Software Versions, Christopher Rorden, Michael P Harms, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

DICOM is an industry-standard for medical imaging data targeted at interoperability across systems. This enables transfer, storage and processing of imaging data regardless of the manufacturer. Pragmatically, manufacturers often store detailed acquisition parameters in private rather than public DICOM tags. In parallel, the DICOM standard itself has gradually evolved by introducing new public tags and properties to better capture emerging imaging technologies. Accurately extracting these details is essential for reproducible neuroimaging research. To address this need, we created a series of DICOM datasets illustrating how various manufacturers encode acquisition details that are critical for modern processing and analysis. These minimal …

Linking Lassi Scores To Step 1 Outcomes: A Focus On At-Risk Students, Abigail M. Schuch, Raghav Rajesh, Marissa Zhu Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

PURPOSE

This study examined differences in Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) scores between at-risk and non-at-risk medical students and their relationship with USMLE Step 1 outcomes, offering insights into cognitive and emotional factors affecting Step 1 performance.

AUTHORS

Abigail Schuch, Raghav Rajesh, Dr. Marissa Zhu PhD

METHODS

A total of 298 medical students completed the 60-item LASSI questionnaire. Based on academic performance indicators, students were categorized as at-risk (N = 39) or non-at-risk (N = 259). Welch’s t-tests compared LASSI subscales between groups and individual items, while logistic regression, adjusted for MCAT scores, GPA, and End-of-Segment scores, assessed the …