Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Stress And Reward Interactions In Substance Use Disorder: An Evolutionary Mismatch Framework, Nicholas L. Castrucci

Honors Theses and Capstones

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health concern characterized by compulsive substance use despite adverse consequences. While contemporary models emphasize biological, psychological, and environmental contributors, stress- and reward-related systems are often examined in isolation. This review integrates these systems within an evolutionary mismatch framework to examine how chronic stress exposure and repeated substance use increase vulnerability to addiction. Stress and reward systems are evolutionarily conserved but may become chronically dysregulated under modern conditions characterized by persistent psychosocial stressors and highly potent rewarding stimuli. This is associated with converging neuroadaptations across stress and reward circuitry, resulting in altered affective …

Feasibility Of Brief Behavioral Telehealth Interventions For Sleep And Pain In Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Orofacial Pain: An Idiographic Clinical Trial, Linda Sangalli, Gabriel Gilmore, Isabel Moreno-Hay, Lauren N. Whitehurst, Anna Alessandri-Bonetti, Ian Andres Boggero

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Brief behavioral interventions targeting pain (Physical Self-Regulation, PSR) or sleep (Brief Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia, BBTI) show promise for interdisciplinary management of chronic pain, though their feasibility with chronic musculoskeletal orofacial pain (MSK-OFP) populations remains underexplored. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of these interventions in a university-affiliated tertiary OFP clinic and explored clinical changes in pain, sleep, and other secondary outcomes.

Methods: Treatment-seeking participants (N=19) with chronic MSK-OFP and insomnia were randomized to three-session PSR or BBTI. At pre- and post-intervention, participants completed questionnaires (assessing pain intensity, insomnia symptomatology, sleep …

Expression Pattern Of The Hifα-Family In Equine Chorioallantois During Pregnancy And Placental Pathology, Yatta Boakari, Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, Gustavo Henrique Doná Rodrigues Almeida, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Claudia Barbosa Fernandes, Sophia Panelli Marchio, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Ana Claudia Oliveira Carreira

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Equine placental dysfunction impairs fetal growth and disrupts pregnancy outcomes. Despite many advances in diagnosis, the molecular pathophysiology of equine placentitis and premature placental separation remains poorly understood. However, the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-α) pathway is related to placental hypoxia, and its modulation in placental diseases has been shown in other species. Therefore, we hypothesized that in conditions marked by equine placental dysfunction, oxygen deprivation in the chorioallantois membrane triggers the activation of the HIF-α pathway, which is related to molecular alterations associated with placental insufficiency. Accordingly, we compared the expression of HIF1A, HIF2A, HIF3A, and HIF1AN genes in equine chorioallantois …

Previsit Ai: A Retrieval-Augmented Generation For Patient Readiness In Clinical Encounters, Rolande Umuhoza

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With healthcare systems under growing pressure from rising patient volumes and shrinking consultation windows, improving how patients communicate with physicians has become essential to delivering quality care. Yet patients routinely arrive at appointments unable to clearly describe their symptoms, recall their medical history, or articulate concerns, contributing to miscommunication, diagnostic inefficiency, and pre-visit anxiety. This study introduces PreVisit AI, a conversational system designed to address this gap through structured, knowledge-based patient preparation. The system is built on a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture combining HuggingFace sentence embeddings (all-MiniLM-L6-v2), a Chroma vector store, and Google’s Gemini language model over a curated seven-document …

Enhancing Hospital Length Of Stay Using Ai Agent Modular Capabilities, Dami Fred

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital Length of Stay (LOS) analysis is essential for managing hospital efficiency and financial performance, yet the analytical depth required remains inaccessible to many organizations due to technical and resource constraints. This thesis introduces the AI Agent Modular Capabilities (AIAM) framework, which decomposes LOS analysis into discrete, codifiable capabilities integrated into a single skill activatable with one prompt. Seven AI Agent Modular Capabilities were developed using a Work Breakdown Structure and tested against a simulated hospital scenario across three successive skill versions. Results demonstrate that the packaged AIAM skill produces comprehensive, consistent, multi-section LOS analyses from a single interaction, outperforming …

The Role Of Body Composition In Predicting Fitness Performance Of Law Enforcement Officers, Taylor J. Parmentier

Theses and Dissertations

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) perform physically demanding tasks such as foot pursuits, lifting, carrying, dragging, and physical restraint. Effectively performing these duties requires significant muscular strength, endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Lower fitness levels pose risks for reduced health, performance, slower recovery, increased fatigue, and potentially affecting decision-making under strenuous conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the strongest predictor of physical fitness performance among active-duty LEOs. Body composition analysis and a comprehensive fitness evaluation of twenty-nine male LEOs (age: 36.2 ± 9.3 years, body mass (BM): 95 ± 13.7 kg, height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m) was completed. The …

Health, Patents, And Path Dependence: India's Pharmaceutical Crossroads, Jacie Bissell

Michigan Technology Law Review

This paper examines how India’s historical commitment to affordable medicine and public health continues to shape its pharmaceutical patent regime, even as the country aspires to become an innovation-driven economy. Through the lens of path dependence, the paper explores how India’s legal and institutional frameworks have created structural constraints on policy reform. Focusing on key moments such as the Patents Act of 1970, the landmark Novartis decision, and India’s evolving stance on the TRIPS waiver during the COVID-19 pandemic, the paper analyzes the tensions between fostering pharmaceutical innovation and maintaining access to affordable medicines. While recent procedural reforms and judicial …

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis In A Young Woman With Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: An Atypical Presentation Associated With An Ultra-Rare Cacna1s Variant, Yasmin Aboutaleb, Ali Moradi, Saba Noreen, Abdullah Sahyouni, Hasin Sharma, Olu Oyesanmi, Ian M. Kahane, Yizhi Lin, Hakan R. Toka

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis To Medihoney Gel After Mastectomy: Role Of Alkyl Glucoside Sensitization In Chronic Wounds, Madison M. Taylor, Jordan L. Jafarnia, Austin Black, Kelly C. Nelson, Megan N. Rogge

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Oral N-Acetylcysteine In Hepatitis C - Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Case Report, Mohammed Irfan Khan, Shuchita Jhaveri, Renu Thomas, Kevin Garnepudi, Galvin Dhaliwal, Ahmed Ouni, Shane P. Sweeney, Julian Nguyen

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Unexpected Culprit Revealed After Mechanical Aspiration Thrombectomy: High Thrombus Burden Presenting With Junctional Rhythm Due To Occlusion Of Sinoatrial Node Artery, Originating From Left Circumflex Artery, Anush Agrawal, Dilesha D. Kumanayaka, Anusha Putta

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A South Texas Mousetrap: A Case Report Of Murine Typhus And Diagnostic Dilemmas, Arjun Kamath, Jose Garza, Matthew Wagner, Deekshita Valiveti, Percy Thomas, Christopher Ganson, Abhay Vakil, Zuhair Ali

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Not Just Cholecystitis: Cancer With Cholecystitis, Saira Ahmed, Joseph Daodu, Anila Punjwani, Shane Sweeney, Pierre Khoury, John Hardaway, Mike K. Liang

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Case Report Of Anaphylactic Shock To Tirzepatide, Elinor Barsh, Mohamed Ahmed, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

When Ckd Isn't What It Seems: A Case Of Lect2 Amyloidosis, Ankita Ojha, Banshi M. Rathi

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Unloading The Left Ventricle On Va Ecmo: Comparative Effectiveness Of Ecpella, Iabp, And Venting, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Successful Neurosurgery Match Among Do Graduates: A Retrospective Analysis Of 111 Matched Applicants, Ankush Chandra, Alexander Hayes, Cameron Ehsan, Laura Zima, James Trippett, Angel Bueno, Jun Kim, Walter R. Johnson, Manish Aghi

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Right Upper Quadrant Pain With Perihepatitis, Morgan D. Homan, Jake Valentine, Edwin R. Malone Ii

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Case Report: Rare Neuropsychiatric Manifestations Seen In A Sle Patient, Ra'phael Freeney, Angel Ryals

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Humanity: A Scalable Blueprint For Celebrating Humanism In Graduate Medical Education, Edrianna Mae Ablola, Grace Desrochers, Shuchita Jhaveri, A Charales, L Tatineni, Marelle Montanez, Shane Jenks, Rajeev Raghavan

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

More Than A Scratch: Capnocytophaga Bacteremia Induced Severe Sepsis With Multi-Organ Failure With Occupational Dog Exposure, Cristina Lee, Alex Craig, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Education For Residents And Patients On Pain Management For Gyn Procedures, Claire Moen, Jeffrey Edwards, Dominique Rehl, Kenyon Weidle

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Neurologic Complications In Adult Va-Ecmo: Incidence, Phenotypes, And Mortality From Contemporary Elso Registry Analyses And Meta-Analytic Evidence, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis And Osteitis (Sapho) Syndrome Presenting With Gait Impairment And Pustular Facial Rash, Hannah Rector, Michael Haddad, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Suicidality, Self-Neglect, And Medical Refusal In Advanced Illness: An Ethical Case Report, Austin Supak, Sarah Greene, Madeline Adelman, Whitney Snyders

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Early Detection And Interventions For Delirium, Angel Ryals, Aneesha Shaju, Veronica Phung, Ijeoma Arubaleze

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Reduce Ct-Detected Subclinical Leaflet Thrombosis After Tavr, But Clinical Benefit Remains Uncertain: Systematic Review And Random-Effects Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Trials, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Multifactorial Fall Reduction Initiative, Anush Agarwal, Emaan Ul Haque, Daniel Visaya

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Dry Gangrene Following Av Fistula Ligation For Vascular Access-Induced Steal Syndrome: A Case Report, Marium Batool Abbas, Umema Ifran, Marelle Montanez

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis, Alexis Lopez Cruz, Praise Ohabor, Zuhair Ali

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.