Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Eagala Model–Based Psychotherapy For Youth Psychological Disorders, Kimberley D. Ryan, Tammy L.B. Mckenzie

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Global youth psychological disorder prevalence has increased exponentially. Therefore, a drastic increase in mental health care utilization is expected. Since traditional approaches to the treatment of adult psychological disorders are ineffective with youth, alternative approaches to treatment of youth psychological disorders must be considered. One such approach is equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP), a person-centered, experiential approach using horses during the treatment of psychological disorders and the basis of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) model–based programming. This article presents the quantitative research findings of a study investigating the effectiveness of the Eagala model–based EAP programming in the treatment …

Introducing Therapy Dog Programs Within Organizational Settings: A Scoping Review Of Implementation Processes And Practices, Laura Mundy, Carlie Driscoll, Janette Young

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Organizations are introducing therapy dog programs at a growing rate. Standards and guidelines for including therapy dogs in programs with people are also being developed and made available to those implementing such programs. How organizations are implementing programs, how they are aligning with available standards, and the presence of any barriers and facilitators to their implementation has been largely unexplored. Therefore, the aim of our review was to summarize the literature available on the implementation of therapy dog programs within organizational settings. Furthermore, we aimed to summarize available descriptions of program practices and their alignment with best practice guidelines, and …

Novel Percutaneous Repair Of Femoral Pseudoaneurysms Using Perclose Proglide™: A Case Series, Ryan Mancoll, Emily Burnett, Nicholas Bandy, Benjamin Samberg, Thomas Cook, Jacob Hoffman, Christopher Murter, Matthew Rossi, David Dexter, Hosam El Sayed, Animesh Rathore Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

BACKGROUND - This case series details the novel use of the Perclose ProGlide closure device to successfully repair three separate cases of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) without attempting other modalities first. Conventional treatment methods of ultrasound-guided compression, duplex-directed thrombin injection (DDTI), or open surgical repair were contraindicated in these patients due to unique anatomy or advanced comorbidities.

METHODS – Details were gathered via a retrospective chart review.

RESULTS - In the first case, a 73-year-old female had an access site PSA off the superficial femoral artery (SFA) with concomitant arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and advanced cardiac disease. The ProGlide device was …

A Diagnostic Dilemma Due To A Large Chiari Network, Kyle Admire, Xian Qiao

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Chiari networks are reticulated networks of fibers that result from incomplete reabsorption of the right valve of the sinus venosus. While the true clinical significance of these is currently unknown, there are associations with dysrhythmias, paradoxical emboli, and thrombi formation. Here, we describe a large, incidentally found Chiari network which encompasses most of the right atrium.

CASE: A 42-year-old female with a past medical history of obesity (BMI 58) and well-controlled asthma presented to the emergency department in respiratory distress with hypercapnia and hypoxemia. Computed tomography (CT) with angiography of the chest was performed and did not show a …

Challenging Case: Acute Type A Aortic Dissection With Multi-Organ Malperfusion, Rishab Agarwal, Allebelle Bradshaw Md, Jennifer S. Lawton Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Description of case: A 57-year-old male with hypertension and obesity presented with acute, severe chest pain. He developed a cold, numb right leg with motor deficits. He was hypotensive with a lactate of 7.4. CT imaging revealed an acute Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) with malperfusion involving the right internal carotid, right subclavian, and right coronary arteries, as well as the superior mesenteric artery, and right iliac artery (Fig 1A/B). He was transferred to our tertiary center for emergent surgery.

Five hours after presentation, he underwent emergent ascending aortic replacement, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and retrograde cerebral perfusion. The …

Emergent Aorto-Bi-Iliac Bypass For Collapsed Gore Excluder Endograft, Ryan Mancoll, Khushie Martharoo, Emidio Germano Md, David Dexter Md, Animesh Rathore Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Peri-Graft Sheath Anchor Technique For Target Vessel Cannulation In Fenestrated Aortic Repair, Ryan Mancoll, Khushie Martharoo, Emidio Germano Md, David Dexter Md, Animesh Rathore Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Association Between Cardiovascular Risk And Kidney Function In A Real-World Peruvian Cohort, Juan Munoz-Moreno, Gina Sanchez, Johanna Contreras

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Cardiovascular risk and kidney function are interrelated, with variations by sex and age. Middle-aged women often have slightly lower kidney function than men, increasing susceptibility to early renal effects of elevated cardiovascular risk, but data from Latin America remain limited.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of adults aged 40-79 years evaluated at a tertiary hospital in Peru between January and June 2024. We excluded individuals with established cardiovascular disease, statin use, LDL >190 mg/dL, or incomplete ASCVD risk data. Ten-year ASCVD risk was estimated using the 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations with race set as “Other” and classified as low, borderline, intermediate, …

Six-Year Survival Following Liver Transplant In Val30met Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis, Juan Munoz-Moreno, Johanna Contreras

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a progressive, multisystem disorder caused by pathogenic TTR mutations affecting the heart and peripheral nerves. While disease-modifying agents such as tafamidis are available, liver transplantation (LTx) remains an option in selected genotypes, with over 50% of Val30Met carriers surviving up to 20 years post-transplant.

Case: A 53-year-old male with a permanent pacemaker for complete atrioventricular block presented with NYHA class II dyspnea, syncope, and lower extremity paresthesias. ECG showed atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed preserved ejection fraction, biventricular wall thickening with granular appearance, moderate left atrial dilation, and moderate mitral regurgitation. Speckle-tracking echocardiography demonstrated …

Mechanical Circulatory Support As A Bridge To Early Recovery Of Left Ventricular Function In Fulminant Myocarditis, Juan Munoz-Moreno, Gina Sanchez, Johanna Contreras

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is a rare cause of acute heart failure that can lead to a rapid left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decline within four weeks. With in-hospital mortality up to 18.2%, timely mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is essential to stabilize hemodynamics and bridge to recovery or transplantation.

Case: A 49-year-old Japanese man with hypertension and diabetes presented with two weeks of dyspnea and angina after a flu-like illness. On admission, he developed ventricular fibrillation requiring advanced CPR. Physical exam revealed pulmonary congestion. ECG showed repolarization abnormalities. TTE demonstrated severe biventricular dysfunction (LVEF 9%, RVFAC 9%). Labs showed elevated …

Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis In Nephrotic Syndrome: Two Cases Managed With Endovascular Thrombectomy, Rishab Agarwal, Benjamin Samberg, David Dexter Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) confers a hypercoagulable state that can precipitate venous thromboembolism (VTE), rarely involving the inferior vena cava (IVC).

Cases: We describe two patients with NS who developed IVC thrombosis. One underwent mechanical thrombectomy using the ClotTriever®/Protrieve™ system (Inari Medical, Irvine, CA, USA); the other underwent aspiration thrombectomy using the AngioVac® system (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY, USA), with adjunct balloon maneuvers for renal vein thrombus.

Outcomes: Both patients achieved immediate IVC recanalization with symptom improvement and patent IVC on short‑term duplex follow‑up.

Conclusions: In NS‑associated IVC thrombosis, device‑based endovascular thrombectomy can be performed safely with restoration of caval patency. …

Cardiopulmonary Bypass Facilitates Emergent Tavr And Bifurcation Pci In A Highly Comorbid 72-Year-Old Female With Acute Valvular Shock, Omar Sale Bs, Nicholas Valle Do, Matthew Rossi Md, Joshua Cohen Md, Paul Lavigne Md, Matthew Summers Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Title:

Cardiopulmonary Bypass Facilitates Emergent TAVR and Bifurcation PCI in a Highly Comorbid 72-year-old Female with Acute Valvular Shock

Introduction:

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a critical minimally invasive option for patients with severe AS who present in valvular shock, particularly those at prohibitive surgical risk. Multicenter registry data demonstrate that emergent TAVR in this population is associated with promising procedural success, significant improvements in functional status, and lower short- and long-term mortality compared to medical management or balloon aortic valvuloplasty, with outcomes approaching those of surgical aortic valve replacement in selected patients [1] [2]. We present …

Acute Valve Syndrome And 1-Year All-Cause Mortality Post-Avr: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Omar Sale Bs, Nicholas Valle Do, Israa Saleh, Omar Jafar Md, Matthew Summers Md

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Acute Valve Syndrome (AVS) identifies a high-risk cohort of aortic stenosis (AS) patients with poor outcomes following aortic valve replacement (AVR), but the spectrum of risk within this group has yet to be fully explored. We sought to evaluate whether admission markers facilitated risk stratification of 1-year mortality in an AVS cohort.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study (MIMIC-IV v3.1), we identified 2,380 adults who underwent AVR between 2008–2019. Patients were classified as AVS or progressive valvular disease (PVD). AVS was defined by criteria of acute decompensation, including advanced heart failure symptoms, cardiogenic shock, or significant hyperlactatemia. The AVS …

President's Message, Gregory P. Guerra D.D.S.

New Orleans Dental Association News

Monthly update from Dr. Greg Guerra, D.D.S. with details of recent events, upcoming activities and news from the association.

Noda News September 2025

New Orleans Dental Association News

New Orleans Dental Association (NODA) News includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New Orleans membership including: columns from the President and Executive Director, feature articles relating to the field of dentistry, association events and upcoming activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

The Physiological Impacts Of Nano-Ceramic Window Films In Hot-Climate Architecture: Theoretical Biological Study, Lina M. Shaker, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research explores the integration of nano-ceramic window films as a passive architectural strategy to improve both energy performance and occupant biological well-being in commercial buildings. The biological objective centers on enhancing health, comfort, and physiological stability by regulating thermal, optical, and radiative indoor conditions. Simulations on a three-story, 2,000 m² building demonstrated that high-performance films reduced indoor temperatures by up to 3.5°C, lowering thermal stress and core body heat load. Ultraviolet (UV) transmission was curtailed to as low as 1%, significantly decreasing skin damage doses below 0.2 MED/day. Select films maintained optimal Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML) levels (up to …

The Best Cut: Evaluating Block, Sliced, And Diced Cartilage In Dorsal Augmentation Rhinoplasty, Trimartani Koento, Mirta Hediyati Reksodiputro, Mikhael Yosia

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at improving the nasal shape and function, with dorsal augmentation playing a crucial role in nasal reconstruction. Autologous cartilage grafts, particularly from the rib, are widely used due to their structural integrity but pose challenges such as postoperative warping, graft shifting, and resorption. The evolution of cartilage grafting techniques has progressed from block to sliced and diced cartilage to enhance long-term stability and aesthetic outcomes. Block cartilage provides excellent structural support but is prone to warping due to intrinsic stress. Sliced cartilage reduces warping risk while offering greater flexibility, whereas diced cartilage allows for …

Enhancing The Care Of Patients With Bone And Joint Infections Through Educational Interventions, Neel B. Shah, Jessica Seidelman, Katherine Belden, Elizabeth Thottacherry, Allison Lastinger, Priya Nori, Ronald M. Beaulieu, Don Bambino Geno Tai

Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine Faculty Papers

Musculoskeletal infections represent a significant proportion of the clinical workload for infectious diseases (ID) providers, often presenting complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Many providers may feel inadequately prepared to manage these conditions, which require a nuanced understanding of microbiology, musculoskeletal anatomy, surgical intervention, and orthopedic hardware. We implemented a pair of educational interventions including an online library of high-yield musculoskeletal ID literature and an educational podcast. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

How Life-Cycle Real-World Evidence Can Bridge Evidentiary Gaps In Precision Oncology, Emanuel Krebs, Deirdre Weymann, Tania M. Bubela, Dean A. Regier

Office of the Provost

Precision oncology uses omics-based diagnostic technologies to inform histology-agnostic cancer treatment. To date, health system implementation remains limited owing to high uncertainty in regulatory and reimbursement evidence submissions. In this perspective, we describe a life-cycle approach to the evaluation of precision oncology technologies that addresses evidentiary uncertainty and is grounded in real-world evidence (RWE) derived using data routinely collected by healthcare systems. We consider the role for RWE in international regulatory and reimbursement decision-making, review common biases for observational precision oncology evaluations, make specific recommendations for RWE study design and analysis, and specify healthcare system requirements for data collection. We …

Emerging Clinical Role Of Tavapadon, A Novel Dopamine Partial Agonist, In The Treatment Of Parkinson’S Disease, Alan D. Kaye, Bennett M. Ford, Brennan M. Abbott, Kalob M. Broocks, Sofia Novacic, Sahar Shekoohi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Tavapadon, a novel oral dopamine-D1R/D5R partial agonist, has been studied in recent years for the treatment of late-stage development Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa, a dopamine precursor that currently remains the gold-standard first-line therapy for PD motor symptoms, serves as a benchmark against emerging dopaminergic agents. By selectively activating D1-family receptors on direct-pathway medium neurons, Tavapadon differs in that it delivers levodopa-level motor benefit while avoiding its many D2R/D3R-mediated adverse effects. In placebo-controlled trials, Tavapadon produced clear, clinically meaningful gains in motor function and day-to-day activities, as captured by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Recent late-stage results have revealed …

09.02.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• NIH Specific Aims Statement RED Talk
• NSF Research Security Training 

The Quality Of Life And Marital Adjustment Among Omani Women With Infertility: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, Ruhina Aimaq, Moon F. Chan, Maha Alkhaduri, Jokha Alsabti, Hana Alsumri

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Female infertility causes considerable emotional distress for affected women, negatively influencing their quality of life (QOL) and marital stability. This study aimed to identify factors influencing QOL and marital distress among Omani women attending a fertility clinic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included Omani women seeking infertility treatment at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from November 2022 to February 2023 and assessed QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF and marital adjustment using the Arabic Revised-Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results: A total of 150 women were included in this study. The mean World Health Organization QOL-Brief Version score was 69.40 …

Network Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Safety And Efficacy Of Pharmacological Treatments In Reducing Pain During Intrauterine Device Insertion, Ahmed Ashour, Ahmed H. Saad, Iman Elzahaby

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in reducing pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of various analgesics and to rank their effectiveness. A total of 71 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 10,870 women were included. Data were sourced from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and other databases up to September 2023. Analyses were performed using the Netmeta package in R, with results reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs), each with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Lidocaine 4% gel (5 mL) emerged as the most effective …

Deep Learning-Driven Proteomics Analysis For Gene Annotation In The Renin-Angiotensin System, Mortaza Eivazi, Kamran Hosseini, Shahin Alipanahi, Huijing Xia, Luke Restivo, Ayushi Patel, Mahdieh Gozali, Tahereh Ebrahimi, Amy Scarborough, Vahideh Tarhriz, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is central to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and cardiomyopathy, yet the functions of many RAS genes remain unclear. This study developed a multi-label deep learning model to systematically annotate RAS gene functions and elucidate their roles in biological pathways. A total of 39,463 RAS-related publications from PubMed and PMC were processed into text format. Feature matrices were generated using TF-IDF and token processing, followed by dimensionality reduction via Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) was applied for multi-label classification, with performance evaluated using Precision, F1-Score, Ranking Loss, and ROC-AUC metrics. The model outperformed …

Comparison Of Crotalidae Immune F(Ab')2 (Equine) And Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) At Establishing Control Of Initial Envenomation Symptoms In Louisiana Agkistrodon Envenomations, Taylor Sanders, Christine Murphy, Greggory Davis, Christina Aspinwall, Lauren Theriot, Christopher Mcvicker, Thomas Arnold

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Copperheads and cottonmouths are responsible for most snake envenomations in Louisiana. While the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved both Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (FabAV) and Crotalidae immune F(ab') (Fab2AV) for Agkistrodon envenomations, data is limited comparing their efficacies for this indication. METHODS: This is a retrospective study comparing FabAV to Fab2AV in the treatment of suspected Agkistrodon envenomations in Louisiana between April 2017 and October 2024. Cases identifying rattlesnakes were excluded. The primary outcome was the need for additional antivenom doses to achieve control after the initial antivenom dose. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight patients received FabAV …

Cardiomyocyte Regeneration Therapy And Its Effect On Lvef And Scar Size- A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mahnoor Mahnoor, Syed Irtaza Hassan, Muhammad Bakhtiar, Salal Sharjeel, Roha Daneyal, Muhammad Ibrahim, Raheel Iftikhar

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) results in loss of cardiomyocytes leading to heart failure. Despite advancements in pharmacotherapy and interventions such as revascularization, ischemic heart failure remains a challenge. Recent advancements in stem cell therapies, genetic engineering and bioengineering have shown to improve cardiac function and quality of life.

METHODOLOGY: Following PRISMA guidelines, randomized controlled trials clinical trials from last 12 years were systematically reviewed. All the patients included in these studies had ischemic heart failure and were subjected to different types of stem cell therapies. Protocol for this meta-analysis is registered on PROSPERO (Registration no: CRD42023399263). Data extraction and Quality …

Usage And Behavioral Data Of Consumers Using Hair Dye Products Containing 2-Methoxymethyl-P-Phenylenediamine, Monika Kock, Carsten Goebel, Lidia Mihailescu, Maike Seib, Agnieszka Malesa, Anthony Gaspari, Brunhilde Blömeke

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

The potent sensitizer PPD is considered a key sensitizer in hair dye contact allergy. Modification of its molecular structure to 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (ME-PPD) reduces its skin sensitizing potency. We investigated the usage, behavior, and tolerance profile of ME-PPD-containing professional hair color products in a specifically tailored proactive market surveillance program in hairdresser salons across 5 countries. Hairdressers completed record cards for their clients, which were evaluated at the end of the program. 497 individuals received in total 2461 hair color treatments with ME-PPD-containing hair color. Feedback on compatibility was provided for 194 individuals: 6 individuals reported intolerance reactions, which were assessed …

Encapsulation Of Disease-Causing And Commensal Mitis Group Non-Pneumococcal Streptococci, Daniel M Musher, Mathias Müsken, M John Hicks, Lesley Mcgee, Bernard Beall

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Mitis group non-pneumococcal streptococci (MGNPS), specifically Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus infantis and Streptococcus oralis, have recently been shown to cause pneumonia and/or bacteremia. These organisms often have capsular (cps) operons resembling those in pneumococci, and some express cps-generated polysaccharides that antigenically cross-react with pneumococcal capsular serotypes. But, to date, a series of MGNPS isolates has not been studied by electron microscopy (EM) for the presence of a capsule.

Methods: We studied 21 MGNPS; 11 were isolated from sputum and determined to have caused pneumonia, 3 were isolated from blood, and 7 were commensal isolates cultured …

Genome-Wide Insights Into The Genes And Pathways Shaping Human Foveal Development: Redefining The Genetic Landscape Of Foveal Hypoplasia, Callum Hunt, Ha-Jun Yoon, Alvin Lirio, Kayesha Coley, Jun Wang, Nick Shrine, Jianming Shao, Gail D E Maconachie, Zhanhan Tu, Jonathan H Zippin, Pirro G Hysi, Christopher J Hammond, Omar A Mahroo, Mariya Moosajee, Michel Michaelides, Andrew R Webster, Ala Moshiri, Rui Chen, Martin D Tobin, Chiara Batini, Mervyn G Thomas, Uk Biobank Eye And Vision Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To define the genetic architecture of foveal morphology and explore its relevance to foveal hypoplasia (FH), a hallmark of developmental macular disorders.

Methods: We applied deep-learning algorithms to quantify foveal pit depth from central optical coherence tomography (OCT) B-scans in 61,269 UK Biobank participants. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using REGENIE, adjusting for age, sex, height, and ancestry. Rare coding variants (frequency < 1%) were analyzed in an exome-wide rare-variant association study (RVAS). Candidate genes were prioritized using integrative mapping; pathway, cross-ancestry, and genetic-correlation analyses were exploratory.

Results: GWAS identified 126 sentinel variants, including 47 novel associations. Integrative mapping prioritized 129 putative causal genes, with 64 not previously implicated in foveal biology. Enriched pathways included retinoic acid metabolism (e.g., CYP26A1), photoreceptor differentiation …

Subtype-Specific Her3 Enrichment In Basal-Like Breast Cancer Is Regulated Via The Gata2/Gata3–Foxa1 Axis, Congcong Tan, Hui Lyu, Sanbao Ruan, Yakun Wu, Margaret E. Larsen, Shou Ching Tang, Bolin Liu

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is a major subtype of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by aggressive behavior, limited treatment options, and poor prognosis. While HER3 overexpression is frequently observed in TNBC and associated with poor outcomes, its subtype-specific expression and therapeutic potential remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that HER3 signaling is selectively hyperactivated in BLBC compared to claudin-low breast cancer (CLBC) using transcriptomic profiling. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), Romidepsin and Panobinostat, exerted potent antitumor effects on BLBC by selectively downregulating HER3 expression. HER3 levels were positively correlated with FOXA1, a key transcriptional activator. Mechanistically, we identified GATA2 and GATA3 as …