Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Tfcp2 Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcomas: A Report Of 10 Cases And A Review Of The Literature, Madison P Ginn, Ryan A Denu, Davis R Ingram, Khalida M Wani, Alexander J Lazar, Douglas J Harrison, Michael S Nakazawa, Anthony P Conley, Shreyaskumar Patel, John Andrew Livingston

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: The fusion of the TFCP2 gene with either EWSR1 or FUS typically results in a spindle cell and/or epithelioid variant of rhabdomyosarcoma. This is an ultra-rare type of sarcoma, with most of our knowledge about these coming from case reports and small case series. Herein, we describe the clinical characteristics and treatment course of 10 patients with TFCP2 fusion sarcomas.

Methods: We identified 10 patients in our hospital system with TFCP2 fusion sarcomas and 43 previously reported cases in the literature. We assessed primary tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, and survival rates among all cases.

Results: We find that …

Acute Brcaness Induction And Ar Pathway Blockage Through Cdk12/7/9 Degradation Enhances Parp Inhibitor Sensitivity In Prostate Cancer, Fu Gui, Baishan Jiang, Jie Jiang, Zhixiang He, Takuya Tsujino, Tomoaki Takai, Seiji Arai, Celine Pana, Jens Köllermann, Gary Andrew Bradshaw, Robyn Eisert, Marian Kalocsay, Anne Fassl, Steven P Balk, Adam S Kibel, Li Jia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current treatments for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) primarily target the androgen receptor (AR) pathway. However, the emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and resistance to AR pathway inhibitors (APPIs) remains ongoing challenges. Here, we present BSJ-5-63, a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) targeting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) CDK12, CDK7, and CDK9, offering a multipronged approach to CRPC therapy. BSJ-5-63 degrades CDK12, diminishing BRCA1 and BRCA2 expression and inducing a sustained "BRCAness" state. This sensitizes cancer cells to PARP inhibitors (PARPis) regardless of their homologous recombination repair (HRR) status. Furthermore, CDK7 and CDK9 degradation attenuates AR signaling, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. Preclinical studies, including …

A Pioneering Artificial Intelligence Tool To Predict Treatment Outcomes In Ovarian Cancer Via Diagnostic Laparoscopy, Xiaotian Ma, Yu-Chun Hsu, Amma Asare, Kai Zhang, Deanna Glassman, Katelyn F Handley, Katherine Foster, Khwahish Sharma, Shannon Westin, Amir Jazaeri, Nicole D Fleming, Pratip K Bhattacharya, Xiaoqian Jiang, Anil K Sood, Shayan Shams

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ovarian cancer is associated with high rates of patient mortality and morbidity. Laparoscopic assessment of tumor localization can be used for treatment planning in newly diagnosed high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). While spread to multiple intra-abdominal areas is correlated with worse outcomes, whether other morphological tumor differences are also associated with patient outcomes is unknown. Given the large volume of visual information in laparoscopic videos, we investigated whether deep-learning models can capture implicit features and predict treatment outcomes. We developed a novel deep-learning framework using pre-treatment laparoscopic images to assess clinical outcomes following upfront standard treatment, defined as short progression-free …

The Dynamic Immune Behavior Of Primary And Metastatic Ovarian Carcinoma, Elaine Stur, Fuduan Peng, Pang-Ning Teng, Emine Bayraktar, Min Hu, Sara Corvigno, David J Brown, Sanghoon Lee, Kathleen N Moore, Nicholas W Bateman, Kathleen M Darcy, George L Maxwell, Thomas P Conrads, Nidhi Sahni, Ignacio Vázquez-García, Sohrab P Shah, Joseph Celestino, Nicole D Fleming, Nicholas E Navin, Linghua Wang, Anil K Sood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, and the tumors often have immunosuppressive characteristics. Together, these factors are important for disease progression, drug resistance, and mortality. In this study, we used a combination of single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to identify the molecular mechanisms that lead to immunosuppression in HGSC. Primary tumors consistently showed a more active immune microenvironment than did omental tumors. In addition, we found that untreated primary tumors were mostly populated by dysfunctional CD4 and CD8 T cells in later stages of differentiation; this, in turn, was correlated with expression changes …

Functional Screening Identifies Kinesin Spindle Protein Inhibitor Filanesib As A Potential Treatment Option For Hepatoblastoma, Ruth Nousiainen, Katja Eloranta, Jani Saarela, Antti Hassinen, Tamara J Luck, Stefano Cairo, Emilie Indersie, Swapnil Potdar, Michaela J Feodoroff, Jouko Lohi, Lassi Paavolainen, David B Wilson, Vilja Pietiäinen, Markku Heikinheimo, Marjut Pihlajoki

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hepatoblastoma is a rare pediatric liver malignancy usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. To explore new treatment options for hepatoblastoma, drug screening was performed using six cell models established from aggressive hepatoblastoma tumors and healthy pediatric primary hepatocytes. Of the 527 screened compounds, 98 demonstrated cancer-selective activity in at least one hepatoblastoma model. The kinesin spindle protein (KSP) inhibitor filanesib was effective in all models and was further evaluated. Filanesib induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in hepatoblastoma cells at concentrations tolerable to primary hepatocytes. Prominent nuclear fragmentation was observed in filanesib-treated hepatoblastoma cells. Genes participating in cell cycle regulation were …

Deciphering Distinct Genetic Risk Factors For Ftld-Tdp Pathological Subtypes Via Whole-Genome Sequencing, Cyril Pottier, Carlos Cruchaga, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with neuronal inclusions of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (FTLD-TDP) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with only a limited number of risk loci identified. We report our comprehensive genome-wide association study as part of the International FTLD-TDP Whole-Genome Sequencing Consortium, including 985 patients and 3,153 controls compiled from 26 institutions/brain banks in North America, Europe and Australia, and meta-analysis with the Dementia-seq cohort. We confirm UNC13A as the strongest overall FTLD-TDP risk factor and identify TNIP1 as a novel FTLD-TDP risk factor. In subgroup analyzes, we further identify genome-wide significant loci specific to each of the three …

Adipose-Derived Leptin And Complement Factor D Mediate Osteoarthritis Severity And Pain, Kelsey H Collins, Kristin L Lenz, Hope D Welhaven, Erica Ely, Luke E Springer, Sophie Paradi, Ruhang Tang, Lauryn Braxton, Antonina Akk, Huimin Yan, Bo Zhang, Xiaobo Wu, John P Atkinson, Arin K Oestreich, Ron K June, Christine T N Pham, Farshid Guilak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), and leptin is among the adipokines implicated in obesity-induced OA. However, the specific role of leptin in OA severity and pain is not known. Using lipodystrophic (LD) mice, we show that fat-secreted factors are required for knee OA development, implicating a fat-cartilage cross-talk. Fat pad implantation or systemic leptin restoration in LD mice reintroduced structural OA and pain, whereas implantation of leptin-deficient fat pad did not change OA susceptibility. Isochronic parabiosis and spatial transcriptomics confirmed that a fat-joint cross-talk likely occurred via soluble mediators. Global unsupervised multiomics of conditioned media from fat …

Spectrum Of Congenital Anomalies Detected Through Anatomy Ultrasound At A Referral Hospital In Ghana, Alim Swarray-Deen, Morgan Yapundich, Sarah Boudova, Kwaku Doffour-Dapaah, Jeff Osei-Agyapong, Perez Sepenu, Alex K. Boateng, Teresa A. Mensah, Patrick Anum, Nana Essuman Oduro, Theophilus Adu-Bredu, Promise E. Sefogah, Jerry Coleman, Samuel A. Oppong

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Africa has a high burden of congenital anomalies due in part to limited preconception care, infections, and environmental exposures. However, the true prevalence of congenital anomalies is unclear because of insufficient access to prenatal diagnostic services. We aimed to determine the rate of congenital anomalies, and characterize the anomalies detected prenatally at a referral hospital in Ghana.

METHODS: We performed a four-year retrospective review of all fetal anomaly ultrasounds performed and congenital anomalies detected from January 1st, 2020, to December 31st, 2023, at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Data were extracted from the electronic database on maternal age, …

Development And Evaluation Of A Non-Invasive Brain-Spine Interface Using Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation, Carolyn Atkinson, Lorenzo Lombardi, Meredith Lang, Rodolfo Keesey, Rachel Hawthorn, Zachary Seitz, Eric C Leuthardt, Peter Brunner, Ismael Seáñez

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Motor rehabilitation is a therapeutic process to facilitate functional recovery in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, its efficacy is limited to areas with remaining sensorimotor function. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) creates a temporary prosthetic effect that may allow further rehabilitation-induced recovery in individuals without remaining sensorimotor function, thereby extending the therapeutic reach of motor rehabilitation to individuals with more severe injuries. In this work, we report our first steps in developing a non-invasive brain-spine interface (BSI) based on electroencephalography (EEG) and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS). The objective of this study was to identify EEG-based neural correlates of …

Comparative Efficacy And Acceptability Of Interventions For Universal, Selective And Indicated Prevention Of Eating Disorders: Study Protocol For A Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Sandra Schlegl, Felicitas Hirler, Andreas Gerich, Mikkel Højlund, Eric Stice, Tracey Wade, Denise Wilfley, James Downs, Ulrich Voderholzer, Jasmine Perry, Verena Haas, Marco Solmi, Christoph Correll

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are severe psychiatric conditions, with prevalence rates ranging from 5.5 to 17.9% in women and 0.6 to 2.4% in men. EDs carry a high risk of chronicity and mortality, highlighting the need for effective prevention strategies. Primary prevention can target the entire population (universal), high-risk groups (selective), or individuals with early signs (indicated). Despite substantial research, prior reviews often show limitations, such as single-author data extraction, lack of quality assessment, reliance on endpoint data, exclusion of obesity prevention programs, or outdated findings. No review has yet evaluated the comparative effectiveness of multiple interventions across risk groups. …

Differences In Peak Relative Landing Forces In Division Ii Women’S Gymnastics, Basketball, And Soccer, Hailey J. Meyers, Kalli Van Tassell

Research & Creative Achievement Day

PURPOSE: Female athletes tend to be at high risk for lower limb injuries during non-contact landing. Relative peak landing force (RPLF) is the metric being monitored in this study to compare landing forces among three different women’s sports teams. RPLF is the amount of force the athlete is landing with compared to their body weight. This gives insight into athletes that could be at risk for lower limb injuries. METHODS: 16 gymnasts (height: 163.04 ± 4.84cm; BW: 62.17 ± 5.01kg) from the Winona State University gymnastics team participated in five weeks of countermovement jump (CMJ) testing using two force plates …

Capturing Women's Birth Experiences Through Photos, Kristen Montgomery, Betsy Crabtree, Samantha Grayson, Alyssa Harmon, Rachael Robbins, Sarah Shelton, Hannah Sobas, Alexis Taliaferro, Nolan Willard

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Each year 3.5 to 4 million women give birth in the United States. Childbirth is a life-changing event that induces various emotions in women. Many women report having a negative experience due to short staffing, inadequate care, and a loss of autonomy. Aims: The aim of the study was to understand what factors contribute to a positive or negative birth experience.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using photo elicitation. Photos were collected from participants and included a description of how the photo represented the participant’s experience. Demographic data were collected through a survey. Participants …

Utilizing The Mdq For Bipolar I Screening In The Primary Care Environment, Jamie Strozier

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract- Utilizing the MDQ for Bipolar I Screening in the Primary Care Environment

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by episodes of depression, mania, or mixed symptoms, affecting approximately 5.7 million adults in the U.S. and 40 million individuals worldwide. Despite its significant impact, bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD) in primary care settings, leading to inappropriate treatment and worsening patient outcomes. Research indicates that 78% of bipolar patients are initially misdiagnosed, with only 32% of primary care providers (PCPs) screening for the disorder. This quality improvement project aims to enhance bipolar disorder …

The Relationship Between Player Age And Reporting Injuries To Coaches And Medical Personnel, Drew O. Lingen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

It is estimated that there are 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions sustained each year in the USA. While most athletes recover from concussions in just a few days or weeks, prolonged symptoms can affect one's everyday life. This is an essential topic for me because I have first-hand experience with concussions. In 2021-2022, I had four concussions in nine months, with one concussion lasting six months. That concussion ended my college-catching career. I would never want someone to go through what I have gone through in this experience, which is why I have been conducting this study for the past …

Disparities In Women's Healthcare, Allie Sonnleitner

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: Women's health care disparities remain an understudied topic within the scientific community, despite the emergence of the Women's Health Movement in the 1960s. It wasn't until 1986 that women were allowed to participate in clinical research and trials. In 2017, the National Institutes of Health launched its first dedicated program to address disparities among women. Studies have consistently found disparities between biological men and women in areas such as pain management, treatment and diagnostics, and inclusion in clinical trials. These studies highlight significant differences in care and provide substantial evidence to support their findings.

Methods and Results: To address …

Environmental Concerns Of Women In Appalachia, Kristen Montgomery, Adebayo Adeeko, Jessica Binns, Sarah Hall, Paula Hawkins, Allyson Newer, Michaela Outlaw, Karenna Turley

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: Environmental contamination is rampant in the United States and other parts of the world. There are potential health implications related to environmental contamination.
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Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate how concerned women in Appalachia are regarding the environment. The following research question was addressed: What concerns do women have regarding the environment? The objective of this study was to understand how women perceive their environment and to evaluate what concerns they have regarding the environment. We also evaluated demographic factors to see if any demographics contributed to particular concerns related …

Moomoo Care Program, Shelby Knoble

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Set on a family farm, the Moo-Moo Care Program is a hands-on, multi-day recreational program designed to teach youth about dairy cattle care. As part of my RTTR 203 final project, I created a daily schedule, goals and objectives, a Gantt chart for task organization, marketing materials, and an evaluation form.

Within this program, participants will engage in at least six hours of structured farm activities each day. Through interactive lessons and hands-on demonstrations, participants will learn key aspects of dairy cattle care, including feeding, milking, and how to maintain a clean environment. Participants will practice proper calf grooming skills …

Medication Card Implementation In Public Health Clinics To Increase Health Literacy Within Older Adults In Rural Communities, Abigail Mulcahy, Audrey Ehling, Cecelia Braun, Janae Salvetti, Jocelyn Liddell, Joshua Boen, Madison Henneman, Zoe Dreckmann

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Health literacy in older adults living in a rural community continues to be a barrier to care. Improving health literacy though enhancing communication between patients and healthcare providers is essential in improving health literacy in the community.

Education On Advanced Directives In Rural Communities, Samantha Koster, Alyssa Iverson, Caroline O'Dell, Nulia Nguyen, Olivia Post, Gabrielle Gray, Cheol-Hyeon Roh

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Population Health Problem

Trempealeau County faces issues knowledge gaps and health literacy. The Compass Report (2024) highlights that 19% of residents in the county consider their community excellent in meeting their family’s educational needs, while 11% believe the opportunities for gaining additional knowledge are excellent.

A Jewel In The Crown Is Better Than Money In The Pocket": Historical Data On The Role Of Midwives In Caring For Families In Southern Appalachia, Kristen Montgomery

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Background: Midwives have provided care to women since the beginning of time. Early midwives had little training but learned their craft from experienced women. Later, formal training became available. Midwives have a rich history in Appalachia.

Purpose: to explore the rich history of all types of midwives in Appalachia.

Methods: Materials from the Archives of Appalachia were reviewed. Both written and oral materials were evaluated. This included a review of the document, identification of themes, and then comparing those themes with previously identified themes. Documents were reviewed in a random order by two researchers who met to discuss results.

Results: …

Kentucky House Bill 159: Health Care Policy Analysis, Lindsey Frasure

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Lindsey Frasure MSN-Ed., RN

Lincoln Memorial University, Caylor School of Nursing

DNP Student

An Educational Presentation: Kentucky House Bill 159: Health Care Policy Analysis

Abstract:

Purpose/Background: Kentucky House Bill 159 is a bill that passed through the state congress in 2024. It is known as the decriminalization bill. The aim of this presentation is to analyze and discuss the bill in its entirety, why the bill continues to be important in healthcare, implications for nursing, the future of nursing, and advocation for change. The significance of the presentation is to educate fellow healthcare professionals on the importance of policy …

Factors Influence Homeless People’S Psychological Well-Being And Suicidal Ideation, Pi-Ming Yeh

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction/Significance: About 582,462 individuals are experiencing homelessness in America. Homelessness is devastating, regardless of age. But for children, it can have serious physical, emotional, and psychological implications.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of spiritual well-being, coping strategies, family interaction, and personality on psychological well-being, and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness.

Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in the Eastern Tennessee Downtown Day Center, USA. IRB was approved. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to do data collection. SPSS 28.0 was used to do the data analysis. Descriptive …

The Impacts Of Virtual Tourism On Tourist Destinations, Samantha R. Dischinger, Grace M. Baden, Natalia C. Miller

Research & Creative Achievement Day

New technologies, including virtual reality (VR), offer exciting new opportunities for tourism, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these technologies provide tourism experiences for those who are not comfortable with or able to physically travel, they may have adverse effects on tourist destinations by reducing the number of physical visitors. To assess this, the study will include questions to analyze whether VR experiences increase or decrease the incentive to physically travel to a given destination. This question will be answered through a laboratory experiment involving exposure to a virtual tour, either with a VR headset or a …

Stay Fit, Stay Safe: Sports Safety For Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Kierra A. Pickard, Lauren G. Cahalan, Allie Sonnleitner, Hanna G. Crabtree, Emily J. Myszewski, Claire R. Privatt, Maya L. Vosters

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Purpose: With the growing older adult population, defined as 65 years and older, the importance of safety in activities, such as sports, is becoming more important. It is vital to address the needs of this population through increasing education to prevent or address injuries related to physical activity. The overall purpose of this project was to determine the impact of providing sports safety education at the Holmen Area Community Center (HACC). Moreover, we sought to explore and educate the clients at HACC on ways to prevent such injuries and what to do if an injury does occur.

Many older …

Evaluating The Causal Effect Of Receiving Transthoracic Echocardiography On 28-Day Mortality In Mimic-Iii Intensive Care Unit Patients With Sepsis, Monserrath Velez, Jack O'Connor, Nicholas Della Pesca, Rio Baliga

Research & Creative Achievement Day

❏ Sepsis (an infection associated with vital organ dysfunction) is an emergent

medical condition estimated to occur in about 30% of intensive care unit

(ICU) patients[1] and is responsible for 20% of all deaths worldwide[2]

❏ Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE; an imaging modality that uses

ultrasound technology to record heart structure and function) is widely used in

medical treatment [3]

❏ 28-day mortality (whether or not a patient dies within 28 days after receiving a

treatment) is a measure considered to closely approximate ICU mortality[4]

Objectives

❏ Assess and quantify the causal effect of receiving a TTE on …

Implementation Of Palliative Care In Relation To Quality Of Life For Adults With Chronic Conditions, Zoe Dreckmann

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Palliative care is care focused on maintaining or improving one's quality of life. Many patients suffer from chronic conditions that impact quality of life due to high symptom burden and other factors that impact physical and emotional health. According to Calsina-Berna et al. (2022) in patients with advanced chronic conditions, 69-82% will need palliative care before death but only 12% will actually receive palliative care (Teixeira et al. 2023). Hence the majority of people with advanced illness need palliative intervention but fail to benefit from the services offered. Palliative care for these patients focuses on quality of life (QOL) which …

Scent-Sational Aromas, Joshua Boen

Research & Creative Achievement Day

This is a series of health educational videos developed for TikTok and Instagram Reels formulated from a literature review. The videos focused on essential oils, how to use them properly, and how to avoid misinformation surrounding essential oils. These videos used research provided by a licensed aromatherapist and were approved by professors before being filmed, edited, and posted. The videos' data points were then evaluated to adapt posting for better engagement.

The Impact Of Vitamin D On Mental Health In College Students, Kelsey M. Hipenbecker, Joshua P. Gullickson, Rylee A. Fredrickson, Abigail M. Andersen, Isabel M. Schottenbauer, Bryce Stoltz, Brianna M. Carlson

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Mental illness can impact persons of all ages. A Healthy Minds study revealed that more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health condition over the course of a year. Mental health issues such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) have been associated with insufficient dietary vitamin D and sun avoidance amongst college students. Because mental illness is becoming increasingly prevalent in college students, we did a literature search to examine the association of vitamin D and mental health among college students. This topic is relevant as college students' busy …

Collaboration And Partnership Creation As A Method To Best Support Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities (Idd), Jonas A. Bishop, Frank W. Jesse, Mueller G. Morgan, Lor Sheyenne, Gaohmong A. Yang, Isabelle R. Sunde, Gretta Bergstrom, Caitlin M. Curtin

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Background: There is a growing need for inclusive healthcare for individuals with IDD. There is a gap in clinical training of care for individuals with IDD. Formal clinical training for IDD was lacking in 40% to 86% of healthcare providers [Khanlou et al., (2021); Friedman & VanPuymbrouck (2024)]. This lack of specialized training contributes to healthcare disparities.  Individuals with IDD have a life expectancy of 66.1 years, which is approximately 20 years shorter than the general population [Roll & Bower (2017); Friedman & VanPuymbrouck (2024)]. Additionally, 17 to 36% of individuals with IDD experiences limited access to healthcare providers, further …

Promoting Cardiovascular Health To Women 65 And Older, Kelly Blue, Ashtyn E. Newland, Malaina B. Buehler, Brianna E. Ryan, Serena Tatu, Emma Pagel, Naomi M. Breunig, Addison Lyon

Research & Creative Achievement Day

New technologies, including virtual reality (VR), offer exciting new opportunities for tourism, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these technologies provide tourism experiences for those who are not comfortable with or able to physically travel, they may have adverse effects on tourist destinations by reducing the number of physical visitors. To assess this, the study will include questions to analyze whether VR experiences increase or decrease the incentive to physically travel to a given destination. This question will be answered through a laboratory experiment involving exposure to a virtual tour, either with a VR headset or a …