Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Using Genetically Diverse Mice To Examine The Effects Of Environmental Enrichment Of The Transcriptome, Michael Richard Leonardo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Environmental impoverishment is a model of early life stress with direct consequences across a wide range of neurological and physiological conditions. Neuron morphology and density as well as anxiety disorders and addiction have shown to have significant relationships with environmental impoverishment models. Conversely, environmental enrichment confers therapeutic benefits that are protective across these conditions. There is an observed spectrum of resistance or vulnerability to the effects of housing conditions across populations, indicating genetics as an influential factor. Understanding this interaction is critical for deepening our knowledge of how genes and environment interact in ways that confer resistance or vulnerability, and …

If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You): Billy Joel Lyrics In Legal And Medical Scholarship, Seuli Bose Brill, Christian H. Brill

Touro Law Review

Law and medicine are often considered to be among the least accessible professions, partly because of the heavy use of non colloquial jargon. This article examines more than 150 instances in which Billy Joel’s lyrics have been used to improve the accessibility of legal and medical scholarship. Legal and medical professionals have used the words of the “Piano Man” to discuss a variety of topics—everything from civil procedure to property rights and the COVID-19 pandemic to colorectal surgery. Nontraditional communications techniques of this type do not just contribute to the body of legal and medical scholarship; they also help professionals …

Nicotine Self-Administration And The Impacts On Medial Habenula And Interpeduncular Nucleus Neurophysiology, Nathan Alexander Olszewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Nicotine use is a tremendous public health issue in the United States, with over 23 million people being dependent on the substance. Low cessation rates associated with nicotine use are largely attributed to the withdrawal and craving symptoms that occur after abstinence of use from nicotine. The medial habenula (MHb) and interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) are two brain regions heavily associated and linked with nicotine withdrawal. Here, I sought to understand how these brain regions are altered in their physiology during nicotine intake. Utilizing E-Vape self-administration, mice were first taught to selfadminister nicotine of various, clinically relevant, dosages which correlate to …

Safety And Efficacy Findings From A Phase Ib/Ii Study Of Asp-1929 Photoimmunotherapy With Pembrolizumab In Recurrent And/Or Metastatic Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, David M. Cognetti, Joseph M. Curry, Jennifer Johnson, Michael Kwon, Shirley Y. Su, Francisco Civantos, Coral Olazagasti, Joseph Valentino, Susanne Arnold, R. Bryan Bell, Michael K. Gibson, Kyle Mannion, Kathryn M. Van Abel, Katharine A. Price, Haiying Dong, Amy H. Thorne, Toshiaki Suzuki, Ann M. Gillenwater

Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications

Background: ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy—cetuximab conjugated to IRDye 700DX and red light (690 nm) for localized drug activation—results in rapid, selective cell killing.

Methods: This phase Ib/II open-label study evaluated ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy plus pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC (≥ 1 accessible lesion, PD-L1 combined positive score ≥ 1, ineligible for standard locoregional ther- apy). Primary objectives were safety/tolerability and objective response rate (ORR). Secondary objectives included overall sur- vival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results: Eighteen patients (median age 63 years, 74% male) comprised the photoimmunotherapy-evaluable population. The confirmed ORR was 27.8% (95% CI 9.7–53.5); four of five responders had complete …

Assessment Of Hearing Health Among Adults In Rural Health Clinics, Mit A. Patel, David Adkins, Laura Bellnier, Anthony Mahairas, Matthew L. Bush

Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications

Objective: Hearing loss (HL) negatively impacts all aspects of health, yet poor access to hearing healthcare (HHC) among adults is a pervasive public health problem. The inaccessibility of HHC is amplified in rural adults. Rural health clinics (RHC) are a critical healthcare system tasked with improving health in rural communities and the objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of HL and the utilization of HHC within RHCs.

Methods: Using cross-sectional study design, adults were recruited from 10 RHC throughout rural Kentucky, mostly within Appalachia. The primary outcomes were (1) presence of HL on screening and (2) history …

Laser Versus Fluoride Varnish In Management Of Dentine Hypersensitivity In Non-Carious Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Hoda Fouda, Amr Adham Shalaby, Youssef M. Haridy

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Different Finishing And Polishing Systems On Surface Roughness And Color Stability Of Composite Cad/Cam Blocks (In-Vitro Study), Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Noura Alzayyat, Reem Mohamed Gadao

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Utilizing A Suction Catheter As A Makeshift Tracheostomy Tube In A Premature Infant: A Case Report., Ashwini V Bandi, Shaina W Gong, Gabriela G Cruz, Alicia S Lore, Kunal Shetty, Sancak Yuksel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

One of the most challenging aspects regarding pediatric tracheostomy tube placement is the size selection, particularly in preterm infants. We present the first reported case of a makeshift tracheostomy tube using a 6-French suction catheter in a 31-week-old premature infant in an emergent situation. This approach holds promise as a potentially life-saving intervention for extremely small preterm infants. Furthermore, this case emphasizes the size discrepancy between the premature neonatal airway and the smallest tracheostomy tubes available. Further research is warranted to allow for more diverse clinical solutions that can accommodate similar cases in acute settings.

Ventilation-Perfusion Scan: A Functional Imaging Approach To Regional Lung Disease In Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, Gabriel Román-Ríos, Gabriel Rosario-Ortiz, Marcos J Ramos-Benitez, Ricardo A Mosquera, Wilfredo De Jesús-Rojas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: As a rare genetic disorder defined by defective ciliary motility, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) leads to chronic respiratory complications. A founder variant in the RSPH4A [c.921+3_921+6delAAGT] gene, common in Puerto Rico, impairs ciliary function and contributes to progressive lung disease. Today, the clinical value of ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scans in PCD has not been thoroughly investigated as well as pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest imaging. To explore the role and clinical utility of V/Q scans in PCD.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of pulmonary function tests, chest imaging, and Tc-99m DTPA ventilation and Tc-99m MAA perfusion scans in ten patients with …

Vestibular Migraine And Ssri Withdrawal, Grace Fairchild, Sarah Redding, Ashley Flagge

V&B Posters

No abstract provided.

Vestibular Migraine And Ssri Withdrawal: A Case Presentation, Grace Fairchild, Sarah Redding, Ashley Flagge

V&B Presentations

No abstract provided.

Procedural Justice And Body Worn Cameras, Yael Granot

Psychology: Faculty Publications

The extensive and rapid roll out of body cameras across American police forces in the past decades was intended to improve issues of accountability and transparency in policing. Trust and perceptions of fairness of police are shaped, in large part, by how one is treated by officers and departments—the fundamental interpersonal work of procedural justice. This Article reviews findings on public and police support for body cameras, as well as research connecting body cameras to perceptions of procedural justice. It then elaborates on past research with a vignette experiment, aimed at isolating the unique and interactive effects of just policies, …

Advances And Challenges In Digitally Connected Point-Of-Care Biosensing, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Jegan Rajendran, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Point-of-care (POC) biosensors are undergoing a paradigm shift from isolated diagnostic tools to digitally connected, intelligent platforms that enable continuous and decentralized healthcare delivery. This review critically examines recent advances in wearable, implantable, and portable biosensors, highlighting how integration with wireless communication, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and artificial intelligence is transforming their functionality and clinical utility. Particular attention is given to innovations such as smartphone-enabled interfaces, cloud-based analytics, and machine learning-assisted analysis, which collectively enhance sensitivity, specificity, and user accessibility across diverse healthcare settings, from personalized home monitoring and bedside diagnostics to deployment in resource-limited regions. The review …

Flexible Cu Nanostructured Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes For Highly Sensitive And Non-Invasive Lactate Detection In Saliva, Anju Joshi, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

A scalable and facile fabrication strategy is presented for developing a flexible, nanostructured, non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for lactate detection based on copper-modified laser-induced graphene (CuNPs/LIG). A one-step electrodeposition process was employed to uniformly decorate the porous LIG framework with copper nanostructures, offering a cost-effective and reproducible approach for constructing enzyme-free sensing platforms. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed dense Cu nanostructure loading and efficient interfacial integration across the conductive LIG surface. The resulting CuNPs/LIG electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, achieving a sensitivity of 8.56 μA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² with a low detection limit of 42.65 …

A Scalable Paper-Based Electrochemical Sensor Employing Mwcnts For Isoniazid Detection, Sri Ramulu Torati, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Isoniazid (INZ) is an antimicrobial agent that treats tuberculosis by inhibiting the InhA enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, making sensitive and reliable methods for routine monitoring essential to ensure safe and effective therapy. We report the development of a novel paper-based electrochemical sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of isoniazid. The sensor is constructed using a gold inkjet-printed electrode (GIPE) modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), chitosan (CH), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), forming a GIPE/AuNPs/CH/MWCNTs sensor. Electrochemical deposition of AuNPs effectively addressed insulating gaps generated during the sintering of the gold ink, enhancing electrical conductivity and surface uniformity. The …

Mxene-Enabled Wearable Biosensors: A Design Framework For Autonomous Biosensing, Jegan Rajendran, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

MXenes, a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, have emerged as leading materials for wearable bioelectronics due to their metallic conductivity, termination-rich surfaces, mechanical compliance, and tunable interlayer structures. However, wearable biosensor performance does not arise from conductivity alone, but from coupled interactions among surface termination chemistry, heterointerface engineering, hierarchical architecture, and device integration under dynamic physiological conditions. This review establishes a predictive structure-interface-device framework linking MXene chemistry to system-level performance across electrochemical, mechanical, gas, optical, and energy-storage modalities. We analyze how termination-controlled adsorption governs charge transfer and selectivity, how heterojunction formation modulates carrier density and …

Recent Advances In Triboelectric Nanogenerators For Biomedical And Cardiovascular Monitoring, Amit Sarode, Jegan Rajendran, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as versatile self-powered platforms for wearable and implantable biomedical sensing, offering an alternative to battery-dependent electronic devices. By converting biomechanical energy from physiological motion into electrical signals, TENGs enable simultaneous energy harvesting and active sensing within flexible, lightweight, and biocompatible architectures. This review summarizes recent advances from 2020 to 2025 in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based cardiovascular monitoring. The discussion focuses on material systems, device configurations, sensing mechanisms, and applications including pulse detection and cuffless blood pressure estimation. Representative studies are compared to highlight emerging trends in wearable and self-powered sensing technologies. However, differences in experimental conditions, …

Modern Potentiostat Architectures For Electrochemical Sensing: Design, Integration, And Future Directions, Reagan Aviha, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Potentiostats are essential to electrochemical sensing, enabling precise control of electrode potentials and measurement of current responses. As demand grows for portable, wearable, and point-of-care systems, potentiostat design has evolved from benchtop instruments to compact, low-power, and wirelessly connected platforms. This review provides a comprehensive, system-level perspective on modern potentiostat architectures, covering operational principles, analog front-end design, signal generation and acquisition, communication protocols, and software integration. Unlike prior reviews that treat these aspects independently, this work integrates electrochemical theory with electronic design and data communication frameworks. Key components, including operational amplifiers, transimpedance amplifiers, DAC/ADC subsystems, and microcontroller-based control, are examined …

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes In Adults With Encephalitis: A Retrospective Study, Sienna Wu, Rodrigo Hasbun, Ralph Habis, Jordan Benderoth, Ivany Patel, Ashutosh Gupta, Megan Goyal, Arun Venkatesan, John C Probasco, Paris Bean, Ashley Heck, Laya Rao, Rajesh K Gupta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: This study aims to assess whether adult patients with encephalitis from different racial and ethnic backgrounds exhibit significant differences in clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and outcomes.

Design and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by utilizing the electronic health records of encephalitis patients in the greater Houston and Baltimore areas. Patients were categorized by race/ethnicity into White or ethnic minority (including Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients). Data was analyzed for the presence of significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups.

Results: Among 599 patients, 312 (52.1%) were White and 287 (47.9%) were of an …

Thoracolumbar Fractures: Historical Systems And Advancements With The Ao Spine Classification, Barry Ting Sheen Kweh, Alex R. Vaccaro, Gregory D. Schroeder, Jose A. Canseco, Maximilian Reinhold, Mohamed M. Aly, Sebastian Bigdon, Mohammad El-Skarkawi, Richard J. Bransford, Andrei Fernandes Joaquim, Harvinder Singh Chhabra, Emiliano Vialle, Rishi M. Kanna, Charlotte Dandurand, Cumhur Öner, Jin Wee Tee

Rothman Institute Papers

Study Design: Systematic Review. Objective: To describe the historical classifications of thoracolumbar injuries and their evolution into the AO Spine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System. Methods: A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Databases was performed in keeping with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: 445 articles were crystallized to 14 included studies. Simple categorization systems offered by Bohler or Watson-Jones merely identify fracture morphology. Holdsworth and Denis conveyed a sense of the stability of injuries by noting columns of stability, but still failed to take into consideration important factors such as neurological status or …

Guidelines For Standard Basic Notations In Applied Statistics, Abhaya Indrayan, Shivani Saini Ms

COBRA Preprint Series

Whereas some statistical notations are standard and uniformly used by different workers, many are not. Varying notations lead to confusion among the readers, particularly those engaged with applied statistics material, such as medical professionals. This communication proposes that all basic notations be standardized so that the same notations are consistently used by different authors, in different books, journals, and articles for the benefit of those who are not rigorously trained statisticians. Guidelines for such standard notations are also provided. The lead must be taken by statisticians.

Health Insurance As A Mediator Of Neighborhood Deprivation And Pediatric Cancer Survival: An Analysis Of State Cancer Registry Data, Emma Hymel, Cheng Zheng, Jenna Allison, Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, Edward S. Peters, Sarah H. Nash, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: To develop interventions to reduce neighborhood-level disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes, it is necessary to understand their underlying mechanisms. It has been suggested that individual-level health insurance is a mediator of neighborhood deprivation and pediatric cancer survival.

METHODS: This study was a population-based longitudinal study of children with cancer from 2000 to 2020 in the Iowa Cancer Registry and Louisiana Tumor Registry. Neighborhood deprivation was measured using the Area Deprivation Index. Log-binomial regression models were used to identify predictors of health insurance status at diagnosis. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between health insurance status at …

Pilot Study On The Use Of Multimorbidity Index In Patients Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition, Michael M. Rothkopf, Mohan Pant, Zachary Rothkopf, Rebecca Brown Rdn, Jaime Haselhorst Rdn, Debbie L. Stevenson Rdn, Andrew Depalma Mba, Michael Saracco

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients often have multiple comorbidities. A validated multimorbidity index (MMI) could help determine resource needs and risks with HPN. We evaluated MMI scoring to determine if it predicted HPN resource use and outcomes.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of 60 HPN patients from a previous study based on Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) scoring. We examined three variables: PN formula changes, hospitalizations, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Density plots were produced to select a CIRS score cutoff value. Spearman correlations among the three variables of interest were computed. The data were then subjected …

Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Modulates The Effect Of Pre-Pregnancy Obesity On Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk: A Birth Cohort Study, Ali H. Ziyab, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Reem Al-Sabah, Majeda S. Hammoud, Saeed Akhtar

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective:

To determine whether gestational vitamin D status modulates the effect of pre-pregnancy obesity on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk while stratifying by maternal age.

Design:

Birth cohort.

Setting:

A major maternity hospital in Kuwait.

Participants:

Pregnant women in their second/third trimester of gestation were enrolled. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was categorized as under/normal weight (< 25.0), overweight (25.0 to < 30.0), and obesity (≥30.0). Gestational 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were categorized as deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) or insufficiency/sufficiency (≥50 nmol/L). GDM status was ascertained according to international guidelines. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression.

Results:

Data from 957 pregnant women were analyzed, with GDM affecting 166 (17.4%) pregnancies. Pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational vitamin D deficiency was ascertained in 275 (28.7%) and 533 (55.7%) pregnant women, respectively. The association between pre-pregnancy obesity and GDM risk differed according …

Integrating Pilates Into Outpatient Occupational Therapy:A Complementary Approach To Traditional Rehabilitation, Ellie Drechsler

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Reformer Pilates, originally developed by Joseph Pilates as a holistic method to enhance strength, alignment, and mind–body integration, has gained increasing recognition for its therapeutic potential in rehabilitation settings. Despite evidence supporting its benefits for balance, chronic pain, functional mobility, and mental wellbeing, its use in outpatient occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) remains limited. The purpose of this quality‑improvement project aimed to bridge that gap by developing an accessible, reformer‑based educational resource for clinicians with minimal Pilates experience and by evaluating client and clinician perceptions of its therapeutic value.

METHODS: Using mixed-methods surveys, qualitative and quantitative feedback …

Promoting Caregiver And Staff Education For Motor Development And Feeding Skills On A Pediatric Heart Center, Karina Dharia

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Around the world, congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading birth defects in infants and has been known to cause many long-term developmental effects (Scott & Neal, 2021). Given these developmental risks, recent literature suggests that there lack strong and effective resources for parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals about infant development and the application of occupational therapy in the setting of pediatric CHD (Marino et al., 2019). The purpose of this capstone was to promote parent, caregiver, and staff engagement with patients to promote motor development and feeding skills in the in-patient pediatric cardiac setting. Our aims were …

Optimizing The Utilization Of Interpreter Services In A Student Run Clinic, Mallory Vaclav

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

No abstract provided.

Collaboration In Acute Care: Enhancing Occupational Therapy Outcomes Through Canine Therapy Integration​, Deanna Hamke

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

The utilization of animal-assisted therapy has the potential to increase patient participation, motivation, and help simulate real-life experiences to promote a successful discharge from therapy services. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to: 1) expand collaboration between occupational therapists & canine therapy handlers through use of a communication platform and 2) to create a resource outlining in-session responsibilities to facilitate partnership between occupational therapists and canine therapy handlers. Occupational therapy treatment sessions were completed using canine therapy interventions targeting mobility, engagement, and emotional regulation. The final deliverables included multiple educational resources and a platform for communication. These deliverables …

Bridging Research And Practice In Occupational Therapy: Education On Regulation And Socioemotional Development For Caregivers And Novice Clinicians, Lily Andrews

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Background: New graduates in pediatric occupational therapy are frequently expected to be autonomous but experience poor self-confidence and challenges with clinical decision-making (Moir & Copley, 2025). Concurrently, parents of children receiving occupational therapy to improve regulation and socioemotional development often have limited understanding of these concepts, resulting in frustration and reduced carryover of therapeutic strategies at home. This dual gap highlights a clear need to enhance clinician confidence and caregiver understanding within pediatric occupational therapy practice.

Aim: This capstone project aimed to develop resources synthesizing key principles of pediatric practice and intervention to improve student clinician and new graduate confidence …

Creating An Effective Video Case-Based Teaching Tool To Enhance Undergraduate Clinical Skills, Tyler Kam

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

No abstract provided.