Safety And Effectiveness Of Stereotactic Radiosurgery For Larger Hemangioblastomas (>2cc): A Multi-Center Retrospective Study, Pavel S Pichardo-Rojas, Salem M Tos, Georgios Mantziaris, Ahmed Shaaban, Ahmed M Nabeel, Wael A Reda, Sameh R Tawadros, Khaled Abdelkarim, Amr M N El-Shehaby, Reem M Emad, Zhishuo Wei, Lindsay M Mckendrick, Ajay Niranjan, L Dade Lunsford, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Roman Liscak, Jaromir May, David Mathieu, Cheng-Chia Lee, Huai-Che Yang, Antonio Dono, Angel I Blanco, Yoshua Esquenazi, Nuria Martinez Moreno, Roberto Martinez Álvarez, Piero Picozzi, Andrea Franzini, Manjul Tripathi, Takuma Sumi, Takeo Uzuka, Hideyuki Kano, David Bailey, Brad E Zacharia, Christopher P Cifarelli, Daniel T Cifarelli, Joshua D Hack, Herwin Speckter, Erwin Lazo, Ronald E Warnick, Jonathan E Schoenhals, Joshua D Palmer, Zhiyuan Xu, Jason P Sheehan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Hemangioblastomas (HGB) are the most common primary intra-axial tumors in the posterior fossa in adults, with an overall occurrence of 7-10%. They occur sporadically or as part of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a minimally invasive treatment in larger HGB (>2cc) has not been thoroughly investigated.

METHODS: This multi-center study retrospectively analyzed data from 91 patients with large HGB (>2cc) treated between 1993 and 2023. Patients were stratified into VHL-associated and sporadic groups, with assessments including radiosurgical parameters, tumor response, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS: Patients with VHL-associated …

Erratum: Assessment Of Skin Fibrosis In A Murine Model Of Systemic Sclerosis With Multifunctional Optical Coherence Tomography (Erratum), Harshdeep Singh Chawla, Yanping Chen, Minghua Wu, Pavel Nikitin, Jessica Gutierrez, Chandra Mohan, Manmohan Singh, Salavat R Aglyamov, Shervin Assassi, Kirill V Larin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This corrects the article "Assessment of skin fibrosis in a murine model of systemic sclerosis with multifunctional optical coherence tomography" in volume 30(3), 036007.

Overcoming Stigma In Women's Hiv And Syphilis Care: The Role Of Faith In Healing, Irene A Stafford, Phillip C Johnson, Robin L Beach

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Point-of-care (POC) testing for syphilis and HIV is an effective way to provide same-day testing, results management, counseling, and treatment. Although commonly used in antenatal or sexual health clinics, our field study aimed to offer POC testing to women attending a standard care clinic in Guatemala. Nearly all women accepted testing, highlighting the patient-centered benefits and acceptability of screening in non-stigmatizing settings. Upon disclosure of results, especially positive diagnoses, patients drew comfort and resilience from their faith, an often-underprioritized resource not typically considered when addressing sexual health. These results underscore the value of integrating POC testing into routine care and …

Evaluation Of Interventions For Cognitive Symptoms In Long Covid: A Randomized Clinical Trial, David S Knopman, Deborah Koltai, Daniel T Laskowitz, Jacqueline Becker, Leigh Charvet, Juan Wisnivesky, Alex Federman, Adam Silverstein, Yuliya Lokhnygina, Giuseppina Pilloni, Michelle Haddad, Henry Mahncke, Tom Van Vleet, Rong Huang, Wendy Cox, Diana Terry, Jeannie Karwowski, Netia Mccray, Jenny J Lin, Grace A Mccomsey, Upinder Singh, Linda N Geng, Helen Y Chu, Rebecca Reece, James Moy, Zoe Arvanitakis, Sairam Parthasarathy, Thomas F Patterson, Aditi Gupta, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Jeffrey Parsonnet, Elaine T Kiriakopoulos, Tamara G Fong, Janet Mullington, Sarah Jolley, Nirav S Shah, Sarah Shizuko Morimoto, Joyce K Lee-Iannotti, William D S Killgore, Brigid Dwyer, William Stringer, Carmen Isache, Jennifer A Frontera, Jerry A Krishnan, Ashley O'Steen, Melissa James, Barrie L Harper, Kanecia O Zimmerman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Treatment for cognitive dysfunction due to postacute sequelae of long COVID (ie, symptoms of fatigue, malaise, weakness, confusion that persist beyond 12 weeks after an initial COVID infection) remains a significant unmet need.

Objective: To test evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for improving cognitive symptoms in persons with long COVID.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a 5-arm, multicenter, randomized clinical trial of 3 remotely delivered interventions conducted between August 17, 2023, and June 10, 2024. The study took place at 22 trial sites and included the screening of individuals with cognitive long COVID.

Interventions: Participants were randomized to 1 of …

Bridging Evidence To Practice: Development Of An Evidence- Based Occupational Therapy Protocol For Early Rehabilitation Of Adults With Disorders Of Consciousness, Jessie D. Brian

OTD Capstones

Patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) following critical illness often experience prolonged hospitalization, delayed functional recovery, and limited access to early rehabilitation services. In acute care settings, occupational therapy (OT) plays a critical role in sensory stimulation, positioning, caregiver education, and the promotion of arousal and participation; however, interventions are often delayed or inconsistently implemented. A retrospective review of patient data at Concord Hospital identified low rates of early OT involvement among mechanically ventilated patients with OT orders, highlighting a gap in standardized rehabilitation practices for this medically complex population. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop …

Seeing Success Through Functional Vision: Screening, Education, And Intervention Within Mtss For Kindergarten Students, Falynne Marie Rzezuski

OTD Capstones

Visual skills are essential for participation in early academic tasks including reading, writing, classroom engagement, and learning. However, functional vision difficulties often go unrecognized in kindergarten students, potentially affecting their academic performance and ability to learn within educational settings. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and pilot a functional vision screening tool and program using a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for kindergarten students. A literature review informed the development of the project, including the creation of the functional visual screening tool, integration within MTSS, Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, and educational resources for educators …

Weight Bias Education In Medical Training: Insights From Stakeholder Perspectives, Tracy L. Olivier, Lisa K. Diewald, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Austin Kanyuh, Renata Brito-Cherrin, Margaret Brace, Gail E. Furman, Rebecca Shenkman

PCOM Scholarly Works

Introduction: Weight bias among physicians remains a significant barrier to equitable healthcare for patients with obesity. One possible contributing factor is the absence of a structured curriculum addressing weight bias within medical education. Methods: This project explored medical students’ and faculty members’ understanding of weight bias and identified gaps within the medical school curriculum. Participants’ responses were subsequently used to inform the development of e-learning modules for implementation within a medical school curriculum. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with stakeholders, including medical students and faculty from a private osteopathic school of medicine. Transcripts of these discussions were analyzed using Colaizzi’s …

Child Exploitation Through Online Sharing: “Sharenting” And The Role Of The Pediatric Provider, Stacey Steinberg, Cameron Rosenthal

UF Law Faculty Publications

The alarming trend of “sharenting” highlights the need for increased vigilance in protecting children from online exploitation. When parents share intimate details about children’s lives on social media, they may inadvertently expose them to danger. Pediatricians are equipped to safeguard children from parental abuse and neglect; however, they are less prepared to protect children from harm caused by parents online.

When parents exploit children on social media, pediatricians face challenges in protecting patients while also following laws that maintain parental autonomy. Using a child welfare framework, this article defines these online harms and proposes strategies for protecting children from exploitative …

Improving Nurse Confidence And Patient Safety Through Timely Nonpharmacologic Delirium Prevention Interventions: A Quality Improvement Project, Claire E. Mccabe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background

Delirium prevention is an ongoing patient safety priority within a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) because delirium contributes to preventable patient harm, including unplanned device removal, prolonged mechanical ventilation, falls, increased mortality, and long-term cognitive impairment. Key signs of delirium include fluctuating awareness, severe confusion, disorganized thinking, and difficulty focusing. Although the ABCDEF bundle is established within the local MICU, an implementation gap remained in consistently integrating nonpharmacologic prevention strategies into routine nursing workflows.

Methods

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve nurse confidence, awareness of workflow opportunities, and implementation of evidence-based delirium prevention interventions …

Improving Remote Monitoring Compliance For Pediatric And Adult Congenital Electrophysiology Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (Cieds), Christine Meliones

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Improving Remote Monitoring Compliance for Pediatric and Adult Congenital Electrophysiology Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs)

Purpose

The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement a quality improvement (QI) project to improve patient safety by improving cardiac implantable electronic device remote monitoring (RM) which has traditionally failed to achieve published benchmarks.

Background

The project was implemented at a healthcare institution in Houston, Texas. The practice area includes pediatric and adult patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in an outpatient setting. Current compliance with 14-day post-implementation enrollment (44%) and ongoing compliance (60%) did not meet published benchmarks.

Methodology …

Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes (T2dm) In A Rural County In Texas: A Diabetes Intervention Bundle, Roxanne Morales

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in rural and underserved communities where patients often face barriers to effective self-management. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the impact of a diabetes intervention bundle consisting of individualized diabetes education, biweekly support phone calls, and digital self-monitoring tools on glycemic control, body weight, diabetes knowledge, medication adherence, diet compliance, and physical activity. The project was implemented over an eight-week period in a rural family medicine clinic and included 18 adults with uncontrolled T2DM (HgbA1c >7%). Participant outcomes were evaluated using pre- and post-intervention clinical measures, the Diabetes …

Increasing Oral-Gut Axis Health Literacy In Underserved Communities With Community-Involved, Pantry-Accessible Nutrition Education: A Conceptual Framework And Program, Audrey Kho, Yinon Gankin, Polina Pine

Chemistry: Faculty Publications and Other Works

In metropolitan U.S. areas, health inequities caused by socioeconomic disparity continue to influence oral health, nutritional status, and the risk of chronic diseases. Diets heavy in added sugars and poor in fiber and vital micronutrients are especially harmful to the oral–gut axis, which connects diet, microbial balance, inflammation, and systemic and neurological health. Due to institutional hurdles to health literacy, limited access to preventive health education, and food poverty, these eating habits are more common among low-income individuals. Only 36% of low-income parents in Chicago report being in good health, compared to 75% of parents with better incomes, underscoring the …

Exploring Vocal Fatigue In Female Singers, Cory M. Pinto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Vocal fatigue is a complex issue that may signal underlying vocal pathology or exist independently, especially among professional voice users such as singers, whose high vocal demands make them particularly susceptible. This dissertation investigates vocal fatigue in young adult female singers using both objective and subjective voice assessment measures during a novel vocal loading task. Key research questions addressed in this dissertation are as follows: (1) Which voice assessment measures demonstrate significant change over time in response to vocal loading? (2) which Participant Profile Characteristics most accurately predict changes in perceived vocal fatigue severity? (3) In what ways do symptom …

Risk Of Gestational Diabetes By Aerobic And Resistance Exercise During The First And Second Trimesters, Takaki Tanamoto, George Saade, Leryn J. Reynolds, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective

While some studies have shown that exercise reduces the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), there is limited evidence on whether aerobic or resistance exercise is more beneficial. This study aimed to examine the rate of GDM according to the type of exercise during early pregnancy.

Study design

We analyzed data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b), a prospective cohort of individuals enrolled during the first and second trimesters. We excluded participants with pregestational diabetes or delivery < 20 weeks. The primary exposure was either aerobic or resistance exercises in the first or second trimester. For each trimester, the metabolic equivalent of task hours per week (MET-h/week) was calculated for each exercise. Participants were grouped as follows: "Aerobic exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercises), "Resistance exercise" (≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), "Both types of exercise" (≥7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≥2 times/week from resistance exercises), and "Insufficient exercise" (≤7.5 MET-h/week from aerobic exercise and ≤2 times/week from resistance exercises). Our primary outcome was GDM. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

In both the first and second trimesters, analyses included 9049 individuals. In the first trimester, individuals who performed …

Prevalence And Outcome Of Splenic Injury Among Pediatric Trauma Patients, Omar Emad El-Din Bedair Hassan El-Nekity, Magdy Basheer, Amir A. Fikry, Mohamed Shetiwy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Pediatric trauma represents a critical public health issue, being the leading contributor of death and long-term disability in this age group. Blunt abdominal trauma is particularly common, with the spleen identified as the most frequently injured organ due to children's distinct anatomical traits. This study aims to detect morbidity, mortality, and complications resulting from splenic injuries in the pediatric population. Patients and methods This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Mansoura University Emergency Hospital from September 2024 to September 2025. It included 104 pediatric patients with splenic injury out of 3600 pediatric trauma patients. Results The prevalence of splenic …

Current Active U.S. Patents Held By Sop Inventors - Updated 3/19/26, Soumyajit Majumdar

U. S. Patents, School of Pharmacy

List of current active U.S. Patents held by the School of Pharmacy Inventors - updated 3/19/26

Intra-Amniotic Infection (Iai) Prevention, Shelbie Clement, Deanna Conley

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Improving Compliance Via Barcode Scanning With Rover App, Jeni Varghese, Lilia Preston

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Purpose: The purpose of the project was to increase compliance with interoperability workflows through implementation of barcode scanning using the Rover app. The goal was to streamline electronic medical record (EMR) programming and overcome workflow challenges.

Background: Infusion interoperability links EMR systems with smart infusion pumps to streamline programming and monitoring. Orders are sent directly from the EMR to the pump, nurses verify settings, and infusion data is relayed back for documentation, reducing manual input and enhancing patient safety by minimizing errors. Current interoperability workflow includes the use of handheld scanners located on computers.

Hospital benchmark for interoperability …

Z Variant Heterozygosity In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Disease Risk And Treatment Implications, Craig P. Hersh, Jeffrey H. Teckman, Pavel Strnad, Aaron Hakim, Tomás P. Carroll, Ian P. Hall, Auyon J. Ghosh, Igor Barjaktarevic, Noel G. Mcelvaney, Joseph E. Kaserman, David A. Lomas, Charlie Strange, M Bradley Drummond, Stephen I. Rennard, Kathi E. Hanna, Virginia C. Clark, Monica P. Goldklang, Peg Iverson, Andrew A. Wilson

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Individuals heterozygous for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have one copy of the normal "M" allele and one copy of an abnormal allele ("Z", "S", or another variant) in the SERPINA1 gene. Historically, evidence has been lacking to support the concept that heterozygotes are at increased risk for liver and/or lung complications compared to individuals homozygous for the M allele. However, growing evidence suggests that inheritance of a single Z allele increases the risk of disease in some individuals. The Alpha-1 Foundation convened a workshop on October 27, 2023, in Bethesda, Maryland that included stakeholders from the research, pharmaceutical, and …

An Evidence-Based Approach To Standardizing Occupational Therapy Services For Functional Neurological Disorder: Protocol Development And Provider Education, Kimberly Yuen

OTD Capstones

Functional Neurological Disorder is a complex neurological condition that continues to be misinterpreted and stigmatized by healthcare practitioners. Occupational therapists play a vital role in the care team for an individual with FND, as their scope of practice helps to empower individuals with this condition to return to daily, meaningful occupations. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based protocols and resources for occupational therapists to utilize when treating functional neurological disorder (FND), resulting in minimized confidence and understanding of how to treat this population. This capstone project addressed these concerns through the creation of multiple deliverables to help improve clinician …

Preparing For Change: Supporting Dementia Transitions Through Occupational Therapy And Caregiver Education, Kelly Ann Mooney

OTD Capstones

This capstone project focused primarily on supporting caregivers of individuals living with dementia within a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Caregivers of spouses with dementia often experience increased burden, stress, and difficulty navigating the transition from independent living to higher levels of care. Guided by principles of occupational therapy, this project aimed to enhance caregiver knowledge, confidence, and overall well-being through the development and implementation of targeted educational resources and support strategies. 

Interventions included the creation of evidence-based educational handouts addressing common challenges for caregivers such as activities of daily living (ADLs), sleep, mealtime, and behavioral changes. Additionally, a structured …

Effectiveness Of Aromatherapy And Non-Pharmacological Interventions, Madison Irfan North

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Lifestyle And Medication Adherence On Type 2 Diabetes Management In Hospital Patients, Mohammed Irfan Lari

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

The Utilization Of Uv-C Devices To Improve Cleaning And Disinfection In The Operating Room For Reduction Of Infection Rates: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Kathrina Joyce L. Manalo

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Teamwork Enhanced With Digital Technology To Augment Bedside Shift Report: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Daniel Everard Hronek

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

The Functional Significance Of Plk1 Phosphorylation Of Nrf2 In Prostate Cancer Progression, Maria Nur

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance are closely linked to alterations in redox homeostasis and cell cycle regulation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master regulator of antioxidant responses, yet the mechanisms integrating cell cycle signaling with NRF2 activity in prostate cancer remain poorly defined. In this study, we identify polo‑like kinase 1 (PLK1) as a novel regulator of NRF2 through direct phosphorylation at serine 253 (S253). Using bioinformatic prediction, mass spectrometry, in vitro kinase assays, and cell‑based analyses, we demonstrate that PLK1 phosphorylates NRF2 at S253 in a cell cycle–dependent manner, with maximal phosphorylation during mitosis. …

Teaching Equity Early: The Role Of Undergraduate Education In Improving Lgbtqia2s+ Medical Care, Arthur Morris

Honors Capstone Projects

Due to persistent barriers in the medical system, LGBTQIA2S+ people in America face harmful healthcare disparities. Healthcare providers’ ability to work with LGBTQIA2S+ patients is a critical component of mitigating this harm. While forms of provider education have begun to address the need for culturally compassionate LGBTQIA2S+ medical care, there appears to be an underutilized opportunity to introduce these concepts in undergraduate settings. By providing an early introduction to LGBTQIA2S+ compassionate care, undergraduate institutions can better equip aspiring medical students to serve people with diverse sexualities and gender identities, improving provider competency and contributing to a more equitable healthcare system. …

The Effects Of Strong Parental Support And Societal Support Compared To Low Or Absent Support In Lgbtqia+ Youth, Kassandra Bautista

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: LGBTQIA+ youth with unsupportive backgrounds face negative outcomes in their mental health. Past studies share that LGBTQIA+ youth have increased symptoms of mental illness including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors related to unsupportive environments among parents, peers, and society. Objective: By advocating for this minority group through education and culturally competent care, healthcare providers can reduce negative outcomes in the mental and physical well-being of the youth. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to address the impact of parental and societal support in LGBTQIA+ mental health, and to implement interventions and increase awareness of this issue. …

Comparing Nurse-Led Holistic Pain Relief Strategies And Sole Pharmacological Use In Enhancing Maternal Satisfaction, Reducing Pain, And Lowering Obstetric Interventions During Childbirth, Jessica C. Moore

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Childbirth has become heavily reliant on pharmacological management and obstetric interventions such as epidural use, labor induction, and cesarean deliveries (C-sections) even among low-risk pregnancies. While necessary in some cases, excessive reliance on pharmacological interventions can negatively impact the experience of birthing as a whole. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) such as breathing techniques, positioning, hydrotherapy, massage, aromatherapy and continuous support have shown to be effective in reducing pain and supporting physiologic labor. The gaps in education and lack of standard implementation result in inconsistent application in practice. Purpose: This research proposal aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led NPIs compared …

How Social Media And Cyberbullying Correlate To Eating Disorders In Adolescents, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …