Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perspective On Alcohol-Induced Organ Damage Via Autophagy-Dependent Cellular Changes, Ahmed Bakheet, Murugadas Anbazhagan, Shirish Barve, Srinivasan Dasarathy, John Dickinson, Wen-Xing Ding, Terrence Donohue, Thiyagarajan Gopal, Anna Gukovskaya, Kusum K. Kharbanda, John J. Lemasters, Natalia A. Osna, Pal Pacher, Lucy Sloan, Luis F. Vilches, Viswanathan Saraswathi, Xiao-Ming Yin, Zhi Zhong, Paul G. Thomes

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

Alcohol-induced organ damage is a major global health concern and a leading cause of disability and mortality. In addition to the liver, chronic alcohol consumption adversely affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems, the gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, kidneys, pancreas, and the brain. Organ damage begins with necrosis (cell death) followed by tissue injury, which triggers immune responses aimed at tissue repair. However, with continued heavy drinking, these reparative responses transition into inflammatory responses which exacerbate tissue injury and accelerate disease progression. Macroautophagy, commonly referred to as autophagy, is a vital and evolutionarily-conserved digestive process in eukaryotic …

Antibiotic Alternatives And Next-Generation Therapeutics For Salmonella Control: A One Health Approach To Combating Antimicrobial Resistance, Mohamed Saleh, Ashutosh Verma, Khaled A. Shaaban, Yosra A. Helmy

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has significantly compromised the efficacy of conventional antibiotic-based interventions in controlling Salmonella infections across human and veterinary settings. This growing challenge necessitates a strategic rethinking of pathogen control, prompting the integration of next-generation therapeutics capable of disrupting Salmonella pathogenesis through novel, antibiotic-sparing mechanisms. In this context, a diverse array of emerging alternatives, including bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, prebiotics, short-chain fatty acids, nanoparticles, and host-directed immunomodulators, have gained prominence as a promising frontier in non-antibiotic therapeutics. These modalities offer targeted approaches to inhibit Salmonella colonization, virulence expression, and persistence, while minimizing collateral damage to the …

Spontaneous Pneumothorax In Adolescents: Is Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy Mandatory?, Soufiane Essamoud, Mohamed Lahlou, Anne Olland, Francois Lefebvre, Anne Lehn, Isabelle Chevalier, Raphael Moog, Pierre-Emmanuelle Falcoz, Isabelle Talon, Hicham Zerhouni

Health Sciences

Background: Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax involves conservative treatment or surgery. Our goal was to evaluate the need for surgical approach using Video- Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) for patients presenting spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods: Patients aged between 14 and 20 years old treated for spontaneous pneumothorax were included into an observational retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups: Those with a success of conservative treatment at the initial presentation (Group A), and those where VATS was performed at initial presentation after failure of conservative treatment (Group B). Results: 134 patients were included with a median of 6.5 years follow-up. 102 (76,1%) …

Burnout At University: Cross-Sectional Study Among Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Hajar Nafia, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: The university constitutes a demanding and competitive learning environment which can impact the well-being of students. The objective of this survey is to assess the burnout of students at the faculty of dentistry.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire with 3 sections: socio-demographic data, lifestyle and habit, and burnout through the Maslach burnout inventory-student survey (MBI-SS) . Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations,categorical variables as numbers and percentages. The variables were tested in univariate analysis to assess predictive factors related to burnout using the Khi-2 test. The significance level was …

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of A Screen-Based Virtual Simulation And Self-Debriefing: A Qualitative Study., Fatima Zahra Mahou, Guillaume Decormeille, Asmae Khattabi

Health Sciences

The integration of virtual simulation and self-debriefing in nursing education offers promising approaches for enhancing students' competency in medication administration and dosage calculation. This study aims to explore undergraduate nursing students' perceptions and experiences with virtual simulation and self-debriefing, building on findings from a previously published RCT that demonstrated improved learning outcomes through these approaches. In the first phase (self-debriefing), 153 students answered five open-ended questions, followed by a focus group with six students in the second phase.The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis by two independent coders to ensure consistency and credibility. The study highlights the benefits of …

Addressing The Rural Firearm Suicide Crisis: The Impact Of Culture, Mental Health, And Approaching Change, Sasha Ghofrani, Erik E. Langenau

PCOM Capstone Projects

Background. Firearm suicide rates are a growing public health concern, disproportionately impacting rural U.S. communities. This literature review explores risk factors contributing to this crisis.

Methods. This narrative literature review synthesizes research on the primary risk factors for firearm suicide in rural U.S. communities.

Key Findings. Key findings identify four central challenges: (1) a deeply rooted firearm culture based on identity and heritage in rural communities, which often resists traditional safety messaging; (2) prevalent unsafe firearm storage practices that increase the risk of firearm suicide; (3) high rates of social isolation, which are linked to both unsafe …

Applying Machine Learning Methods To Generate Understandings Of Differential Item Functioning In A Flu Knowledge Assessment, William L. Romine, Tanvi Banerjee, Derrick Cox

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Current influenza trends, including the severity of the 2025 flu season and the prevalence of H5 bird flu in livestock, necessitate efforts to better understand how to educate students about its transmission. Although validated assessments of influenza knowledge exist, these have not been evaluated for affective and demographic biases. We explore differential item functioning (DIF) effects in four items focused on specific aspects of flu transmission derived from a validated influenza knowledge assessment. In doing so, we introduce and utilize a machine learning framework for exploration of DIF which offers greater flexibility than traditional statistical approaches in terms of studying …

Using Educational Intervention To Impact Provider And Nurse Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Contingency Management At An Sud Clinic, Chinwe Egwudo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The US opioid epidemic crisis led to 700,000 deaths in 2019 alone. Poor adherence to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) strains individuals, families, and the healthcare systems, with rising relapses at the project site highlighting the need for evidence-based intervention. Studies show that contingency management (CM), a behavioral intervention that incentivizes desired behaviors, improves adherence to MOUD. Despite its effectiveness, CM remains underutilized in clinical settings due to healthcare providers’ lack of knowledge and self-efficacy. This project aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by implementing an educational intervention to impact healthcare providers’ knowledge and self-efficacy in applying CM protocols …

Community-Engaged Approach To Improve Food Access And Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables In A Rural Appalachian Community, Courtney Luecking, Makenzie Barr, Dawn Brewer, Kathryn M. Cardarelli

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Community–academic partnerships offer unique opportunities to leverage expertise and resources to modify structural factors that address community priorities. However, few in-depth examples of successful partnerships in rural communities to improve food security are available. This manuscript describes the process of building a partnership to reduce food insecurity in a rural Kentucky community.

Methods: The research team worked with Cooperative Extension to form a community advisory board (CAB) representative of diverse sectors of the community who had interest in food security, agriculture, and/or nutrition. The CAB convened regularly, in-person or virtually, to review community assessment information and identify, select, and …

The Evolution Of Veterinary Technology Education: Growth, Accreditation, And The Role Of Murray State University’S Veterinary Technology Program, Tara Joiner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the evolution of veterinary technology education, focusing on the growth, accreditation, and role of Murray State University’s (MSU) veterinary technology program. The veterinary profession has experienced significant advancement and expansion in recent years. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs, setting standards and conducting reviews to ensure quality. Murray State University’s veterinary technology program, accredited by the AVMA in 1986, prepares students for the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE) through a comprehensive curriculum and internships (practical experience). Findings from a three-year period (2022–2024) highlight mentor confidence in student readiness at 77.3%, with qualitative feedback …

The Geography Of Care: Rural Versus Urban Caregiver Perspectives On Community Resources For Parkinson’S Disease Management, Rebecca Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the experiences and perceptions of caregivers for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) in rural versus urban settings, with particular emphasis on their access to and utilization of community resources. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 caregivers, the research explored how geographical location impacts caregiving challenges, support systems, and resource accessibility. Using Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use as a theoretical framework, the study revealed both universal caregiving challenges and location-specific barriers. While all caregivers reported significant emotional burden and healthcare system navigation difficulties, rural caregivers faced distinct challenges related to resource accessibility and specialized care availability. …

Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-Driven Lif/Lifr Axis Improves The Therapeutic Efficacy Of Gemcitabine And Nab-Paclitaxel In Pancreatic Cancer, Rakesh Bhatia, Imran Khan, Xiaoqi Li, Shailendra Gautam, Parthasarathy Seshacharyulu, Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani, Namita Bhyravbhatla, Moorthy P. Ponnusamy, Maneesh Jain, Mokenge Malafa, Santhamma Bindu, Ahmed Gulzar, Hareesh Nair, Surinder K. Batra, Sushil Kumar

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is inherently therapy resistant due to cancer cell-stroma crosstalk across several signaling pathways. Among these, the LIF/LIFR axis has been implicated in cancer cell and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) crosstalk. We evaluated the efficacy of EC359, a competitive inhibitor of LIFR, in combination with gemcitabine. EC359 reduced tumor burden by 90% compared to controls and by 55% compared to gemcitabine alone in cancer cell and CAFs co-implannation model. The RNA-seq analysis revealed a significant alteration in extracellular matrix components, stemness, microtubule assembly, and immune response, suggesting simultaneous targeting of cancer cell-intrinsic and stroma-mediated mechanisms by EC359. In …

Infections With Chlamydia Pneumoniae And Sars-Cov-2 And Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis, Alexa Romanella, Maegan Mccall, Rachel Corwin, Alaha Abdul Faruq, Emily Lingo, Sanya Bhambhani, Christine J. Hammond, Brian J. Balin

PCOM Scholarly Works

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world, but our understanding of causation is still lacking. A current evidence-based hypothesis proposes that certain infectious agents initiate the neurodegeneration consistent with AD. Two infectious agents correlated to AD pathogenesis are Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), a respiratory obligate intracellular bacterium, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Both organisms may predispose susceptible populations to disease manifestations, such as AD.

METHODS: This review focused on peer-reviewed original research and review articles evaluating the potential association of Cpn and SARS-CoV-2 with AD. …

A Case Of Navigating Autism And Atypical Rashes In Dermatology Practice., Benjamin S Kahn, Kathleen Ward, Nedyalko Ivanov, Marcus Goodman

PCOM Scholarly Works

A 4-year-old nonverbal autistic female presented to the clinic with a 3-month history of a persistent, inflamed papular rash, which was violaceous to skin-toned, verrucous, and dome-shaped with crateriform ulcerations on an erythematous base localized in the perianal region. A dermatologic condition with these characteristics, location, and demographic warrants a thorough workup, physical exam, and broad differential diagnosis. The clinical appearance of these lesions can mimic many cutaneous conditions in this age group and requires careful attention for potential signs of abuse. As demonstrated in our case, with a comprehensive patient history, a biopsy, and a culture of the lesions, …

Editorial: Combination Therapies In Cancer Treatment: Enhancing Efficacy And Reducing Resistance., Xinyu Wang, Milica Pešić, Ana Podolski-Renić

PCOM Scholarly Works

No abstract available

Admitting Science: Problems With Current Admissibility Standards, William O'Donohue, Sneha Gupta

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Attorneys use expert testimony to advance legal positions in courtrooms. Because expert testimony can have tremendous influence over judges and juries, it is admitted only if it meets specific admissibility standards, i.e., Frye and Daubert. These standards provide different admissibility criteria, have been adopted by distinct sets of jurisdictions, and, we argue, are of questionable validity. These standards are attempts to ensure that only knowledge is admissible and are, then, essentially an epistemic matter. Science serves as a proxy for knowledge because science is the epistemic process that has been successful at generating knowledge. However, both epistemology and the philosophy …

Cause Of Death? -- It's Probably Not What's Reported On The Death Certificate, Lauren R. Roth

Lewis & Clark Law Review

In the age of big data, this country has a data problem—inaccurate and incomplete information in death certificates. The problem has long been hidden by the numbers reported—as have the people whose deaths go uncounted, but the COVID-19 pandemic unveiled the scope of the issue. Since the beginning of the pandemic, “excess deaths” (i.e., any deaths above the number predicted by existing mortality models) have increased significantly. Most of these excess deaths are likely attributable to COVID-19 because the decedent was never tested for COVID-19 or it was one of multiple factors contributing to their death. Other deaths are uncounted …

A Case Of Unusual Hip Pain In An Adolescent Female Athlete, Joshua Clark Md, Mph, Dimitry Belogorodsky Do, Ms

Sports Medicine Division

No abstract provided.

Non-Traumatic Wrist Pain In A Toddler, Kelli Nayak Md, Matthew Grady

Sports Medicine Division

No abstract provided.

Declining Miles In An Amateur Runner, Bridget Smith Md, Dimitry Belogorodsky Do, Ms

Sports Medicine Division

No abstract provided.

Crystal Structures And Low-Affinity Complex Formation Of Halogenase Ctcp And Fad Reductase Ctcq From The Chlortetracycline Biosynthetic Pathway, Caixia Hou, Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, Oleg V. Tsodikov

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Enzymatic halogenation in natural products has been intensely investigated due to its potential utility as a tool to improve pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties of drug leads. Chlortetracycline (CTC), the first tetracycline (TC) antibiotic discovered nearly eight decades ago, contains a chlorine group. This chlorine is installed enzymatically by the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent halogenase CtcP. CtcP and the FAD reductase CtcQ, which is also encoded in the CTC biosynthetic gene cluster, function as a two-component system. Structural information on CtcP and CtcQ has been lacking. In this study, we determined crystal structures of CtcP from Kitasatospora aureofaciens in a complex …

Applied Research Division Research At A Glance: 2025, Shellie R. Hubbard Ma

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division (ICN ARD) conducts applied research to address operational issues affecting child nutrition programs and support continuous program improvement. During the 2024–2025 reporting year, the division completed research focused on workforce development, training needs, culinary competencies, school food trends, and operational challenges in child nutrition settings.

Major projects included studies examining training needs and delivery preferences of child nutrition professionals, challenges affecting Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) operations, and the development of a Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills (CKS) resource for chefs working in school nutrition programs. Findings informed the creation of …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Annual Report 2025 Cime Pakistan & East Africa, Cime

Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME) Archives

• Directors’ Message
• Sustainability in Simulation SIMPACT: 2025
• Updates from Pakistan
• Updates from East Africa
• Homegrown Innovations
• Advancing Research
• SeeMe Around the Globe
• The Dream Sim Team

Georgia Southern Football Gameday Programs, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

The Georgia Southern Football Gameday Programs collection contains official publications produced for Georgia Southern University football games, most recently titled, Georgia Southern End Zone: The Official Publication of Eagle Football. The collection also features official gameday programs from away games, published by the hosting teams as well as special-issue editions from the postseason. These materials, spanning 1985-2009, document team rosters, coaches, statistics, and game information, offering a comprehensive record of Georgia Southern football events both at home and on the road.

Evaluation Of Retention And Wear Of Nylon Versus Polyether Ketone Ketone (Pekk) Inserts For Locator Attachments Retaining Mandibular Implant Overdenture: A Crossover Study, Mohamed Elghandour, Fatma Fathe Mahanna, Gilan Altonbary

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: assessment and comparison between the retention and surface wear of nylon and polyether ketone ketone (PEKK) inserts of locator attachments retaining mandibular implant overdenture. Materials and methods: For this research, six patients, completely edentulous,were selected; each participant had received mandibular implants in the canine regions on each side, followed by locator attachments. Using a crossover design, patients were randomly assigned to receive different mandibular overdentures as follows. 1) Implantretained overdenture with nylon inserts; 2) Implant-retained overdenture with PEKK inserts. Retention measurements were conducted at three-time intervals: T0 (after pickup), T3 (3 months post-insertion of overdenture)and T6 (6 months post-insertion …

Implementing Nurse-Driven Education On Patient’S Inpatient Boarding Status: An Emergency Department Quality Improvement Project, Jack Wallace

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND:

Nurse-led education to inpatient boarding patients in the emergency department is essential to improve patient’s understanding with their care and nurse’s satisfaction surrounding communicating with their patients. Inpatient boarding in the emergency department is associated with poor patient outcomes, adverse events, and reduced communication between patient and nurse.

LOCAL PROBLEM:

Within this microsystem there is a gap in patient understanding of their admission status. This includes who the patient’s provider is, which provider to direct questions to, and why the patient is still in the emergency department.

METHODS:

The plan-do-study-act quality improvement framework was utilized to improve nurse-led patient …

Timing And Temperature Of Newborn Baths: A Qualitative Improvement Initiative Through Nursing Staff Development, Eileen Harwood

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Newborn bathing is a common task performed in a labor and delivery unit of a hospital, a newborn’s bath temperature, timing and how long it is performed, are important metrics to consider. Due to a newborn’s immature thermoregulation, there are multiple implications that come with receiving a bath that is not an optimal temperature or that is too soon after birth. As newborn bathing is often overlooked task due to its quotidian nature, a literature review of current evidence-based practice revealed the urgency to keep the optimal conditions at the forefront of considerations for both nurses and caregivers. …

Navigating The Future Of Ot Education: Student Insights On Integrating Course-Specific Ai Chatbots, Laura E. Landon, Nicole Grames, Maggie Gannon, Addison Jarus, Annie Trezza

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has garnered much attention, prompting educators to thoughtfully examine its implementation within their curricula. This study explores the perceptions of occupational therapy (OT) students regarding the future integration of a novel, course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot: an innovative tool uniquely developed by our internal team to provi¬¬¬de personalized support and resources tailored specifically to the anatomy curriculum. The researchers sought to understand the desired features of a course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot and the factors that influenced student willingness to adopt this technology in their learning experience. Findings revealed that 79% of participants …