Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Qualitative Study Of The Knowledge Of Metabolic Syndrome, Attitudes About Lifestyle Modifications, And Preferences For Lifestyle Interventions Among Patients With Cancer And Metabolic Syndrome, Isabel Martinez Leal, Ashwathy B Pillai, Jessica T Foreman, Kimberly W Siu, Natalia I Heredia, Carmen P Escalante, Ellen F Manzullo, Aimee J Christie, Tamara E Lacourt, Zayd Adnan Razouki, Jessica P Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders-hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and insulin resistance-that together increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Although ~60% of cancer patients have metabolic syndrome, which increases their risk of mortality, oncology providers lack clear guidance about its management. The development of metabolic syndrome lifestyle interventions requires a better understanding of these patients' knowledge, attitudes, and intervention preferences in order to inform management. During 2022-2023, 19 adult cancer patients with metabolic syndrome engaged in semistructured interviews focused on metabolic syndrome and lifestyle interventions. Interviews were analyzed using hybrid thematic analysis involving deductive and inductive …

Effect Of Cemented Vs Uncemented On Outcomes For Hemiarthroplasty In The Elderly: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials, Yuning Feng, Jun Wan, Haidong Deng, Lvlin Chen, Yangchun Xiao, Tiangui Li, Jialing He, Peng Wang, Weelic Chong, Yang Hai, Lu Jia, Yu Zhang

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: In patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty in the elderly, the choice of the cemented method remains controversial. This meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the impact of cemented vs uncemented on outcomes for hemiarthroplasty in the elderly.

METHODS: This study included randomized controlled trials comparing the postoperative effects of cemented vs uncemented in patients with hemiarthroplasty. With no language restrictions, we searched Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Collaboration), Clinical Trials.gov, the ISRCTN registry, as well as gray literature with no language restrictions from January 1966 to April 2023. Data were quantitatively summarized using a random-effects model. …

Alphafold2 Modeling And Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of The Conformational Ensembles For The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Omicron Jn.1, Kp.2 And Kp.3 Variants: Mutational Profiling Of Binding Energetics Reveals Epistatic Drivers Of The Ace2 Affinity And Escape Hotspots Of Antibody Resistance, Nishank Raisinghani, Mohammed Alshahrani, Grace Gupta, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

AlphaFold2-based atomistic predictions of structures and conformational ensembles of the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with the host receptor ACE2 for the most dominant Omicron variants JN.1, KP.1, KP.2 and KP.3 to examine the mechanisms underlying the role of convergent evolution hotspots in balancing ACE2 binding and antibody evasion. Using the ensemble-based mutational scanning of the spike protein residues and computations of binding affinities, we identified binding energy hotspots and characterized the molecular basis underlying epistatic couplings between convergent mutational hotspots. The results suggested the existence of epistatic interactions between convergent mutational sites at L455, F456, Q493 positions that protect and restore …

Predictive Value Of Follow-Up Infarct Volume On Functional Outcomes In Middle Cerebral Artery M2 Segment Vessel Occlusion Stroke Treated With Mechanical Thrombectomy, Vivek Yedavalli, Hamza Adel Salim, Basel Musmar, Nimer Adeeb, Kareem El Naamani, Nils Henninger, Sri Hari Sundararajan, Anna Luisa Kühn, Jane Khalife, Sherief Ghozy, Luca Scarcia, Benjamin Yq Tan, Robert W Regenhardt, Jeremy J Heit, Nicole M Cancelliere, Joshua D Bernstock, Aymeric Rouchaud, Jens Fiehler, Sunil Sheth, Ajit S Puri, Christian Dyzmann, Marco Colasurdo, Xavier Barreau, Leonardo Renieri, João Pedro Filipe, Pablo Harker, Răzvan Alexandru Radu, Mohamad Abdalkader, Piers Klein, Thomas R Marotta, Julian Spears, Takahiro Ota, Ashkan Mowla, Pascal Jabbour, Arundhati Biswas, Frédéric Clarençon, James E Siegler, Thanh N Nguyen, Ricardo Varela, Amanda Baker, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, David Altschul, Nestor R Gonzalez, Markus A Möhlenbruch, Vincent Costalat, Benjamin Gory, Christian Paul Stracke, Mohammad Ali Aziz-Sultan, Constantin Hecker, Hamza Shaikh, David S Liebeskind, Alessandro Pedicelli, Andrea M Alexandre, Illario Tancredi, Tobias D Faizy, Erwah Kalsoum, Boris Lubicz, Aman B Patel, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Adrien Guenego, Adam A Dmytriw

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) strokes, particularly affecting the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery, represent a critical proportion of acute ischemic strokes, posing significant challenges in management and outcome prediction. The efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in MeVO stroke may warrant reliable predictors of functional outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of follow-up infarct volume (FIV) for predicting 90-day functional outcomes in MeVO stroke patients undergoing MT.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy (MAD-MT) registry, covering patients with acute …

Comparison Of Multi-Parallel Quantitative Real-Time Pcrs Targeting Different Dna Regions And Detecting Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Stool, Marina Papaiakovou, Rubén O Cimino, Nils Pilotte, Julia Dunn, D Timothy J Littlewood, Steven A Williams, Alejandro J Krolewiecki, Rojelio Mejia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminths infect an estimated 18% of the world's population, causing a significant health burden. Microscopy has been the primary tool for diagnosing eggs from fecal samples, but its sensitivity drops in low-prevalence settings. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is slowly increasing in research and clinical settings. However, there is still no consensus on preferred qPCR targets.

METHODS: We aimed to compare soil-transmitted helminth (STH) DNA detection methods by testing naïve stool samples spiked with known quantities of STH eggs and larvae. DNA extracts from spiked samples were tested using independent quantitative realtime PCR (qPCR) assays targeting ribosomal …

Spatially Fractionated Grid Radiation Potentiates Immune-Mediated Tumor Control, Rebecca A Bekker, Nina Obertopp, Gage Redler, José Penagaricano, Jimmy J Caudell, Kosj Yamoah, Shari Pilon-Thomas, Eduardo G Moros, Heiko Enderling

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tumor-immune interactions shape a developing tumor and its tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) resulting in either well-infiltrated, immunologically inflamed tumor beds, or immune deserts with low levels of infiltration. The pre-treatment immune make-up of the TIME is associated with treatment outcome; immunologically inflamed tumors generally exhibit better responses to radio- and immunotherapy than non-inflamed tumors. However, radiotherapy is known to induce opposing immunological consequences, resulting in both immunostimulatory and inhibitory responses. In fact, it is thought that the radiation-induced tumoricidal immune response is curtailed by subsequent applications of radiation. It is thus conceivable that spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT), administered through …

Minimally Invasive Therapies For Knee Osteoarthritis, Uchenna Osuala, Megan H Goh, Arian Mansur, John B Smirniotopoulos, Arielle Scott, Christine Vassell, Bardia Yousefi, Neil K Jain, Alan A Sag, Allison Lax, Kevin W Park, Alexander Kheradi, Marc Sapoval, Jafar Golzarian, Peiman Habibollahi, Osman Ahmed, Shamar Young, Nariman Nezami

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by articular cartilage degeneration and chronic inflammation, affecting one in five people over 40 years old. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of traditional and novel minimally invasive treatment options and role of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the diagnostic process of KOA. This literature review provides insights into the mechanisms of action, efficacy, complications, technical approaches, and recommendations to intra-articular injections (corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, and plate rich plasma), genicular artery embolization (GAE), and genicular nerve ablation (GNA). Overall, there is mixed evidence to support the efficacy of …

Chromatin Conformation Capture In The Clinic: 4c-Seq/Hic Distinguishes Pathogenic From Neutral Duplications At The Gpr101 Locus, Adrian F Daly, Leslie A Dunnington, David F Rodriguez-Buritica, Erica Spiegel, Francesco Brancati, Giovanna Mantovani, Vandana M Rawal, Fabio Rueda Faucz, Hadia Hijazi, Jean-Hubert Caberg, Anna Maria Nardone, Mario Bengala, Paola Fortugno, Giulia Del Sindaco, Marta Ragonese, Helen Gould, Salvatore Cannavò, Patrick Pétrossians, Andrea Lania, James R Lupski, Albert Beckers, Constantine A Stratakis, Brynn Levy, Giampaolo Trivellin, Martin Franke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: X-linked acrogigantism (X-LAG; MIM: 300942) is a severe form of pituitary gigantism caused by chromosome Xq26.3 duplications involving GPR101. X-LAG-associated duplications disrupt the integrity of the topologically associating domain (TAD) containing GPR101 and lead to the formation of a neo-TAD that drives pituitary GPR101 misexpression and gigantism. As X-LAG is fully penetrant and heritable, duplications involving GPR101 identified on prenatal screening studies, like amniocentesis, can pose an interpretation challenge for medical geneticists and raise important concerns for patients and families. Therefore, providing robust information on the functional genomic impact of such duplications has important research and clinical value with …

Ethical Limitations Of Using Ai To Predict And Diagnose Mental Health Disorders Based On Individuals’ Social Media Activity, Stella Bandawe, Sumarie Roodt, Zainab Ruhwanya

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is developed with predictive tools and is used to predict and diagnose mental health disorders based on data mined on social media platforms. Despite the growth of its adoption, there is limited literature that explicitly states the ethical limits of this technology within the context of predictive mental health assessment. This study adopts a qualitative and deductive approach, it adopts the socio-technical systems theory which is evaluated using a systematic literature review approach focused on a data set of 40 documents. The results indicate that there are no clear regulations that define how much and what type …

An Unusual Presentation Of Metastatic Keratinocyte Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report, Zayd M. Ayas, William Reckley, Kennedy Olson, Anthony Alanis, Alejandro Aquino, Andres Suarez

Research Colloquium

Background: Keratinocyte carcinomas include both basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC), with cSCC being the second most common skin cancer in the United States. cSCC typically presents as a rough, red, scaly plaque with central ulceration in sun-exposed areas and is most common in fair-skinned populations. cSCC, which represents up to 20% of all skin cancers, is the result of a neoplastic transformation of keratinocytes. Approximately 60% of cSCC cases developed from known actinic keratoses, which are precursor lesions with malignant potential. While most cases have an excellent prognosis following complete excision, approximately 3% of …

Investigating Neuropsychiatric Symptoms In Asian Subgroups With Dementia Using The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (Nacc) Database, Maria Sophia Zaraspe Malbas, Luis A. Peña Marquez, Ramya Kunta, Astrid-Ines Foamkom, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez

Research Colloquium

Background: The incidence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as agitation, depression, anxiety, irritability, and sleeping disturbances, is common among patients with dementia. These symptoms are commonly evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), a useful tool for studying changes in behavior associated with neurodegenerative disorders for the past couple of decades. Another database utilizing the NPI-Q to assess NPS is the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Database. This uniform data set aims to store participant information, including neuropsychological tests, demographic information, and medical health history, collected from Alzheimer’s Disease Centers across the United States. To date, no studies using the …

Breathe Easy: The Potential Of Vitamins As Adjunct Therapy In Asthma Management, Elena Dike, Alex Zuo

Research Colloquium

Asthma, a prevalent respiratory disease, imposes a heavy burden on patients and healthcare systems. This research poster reviews recent findings on the potential of Vitamins A, C and E as adjunct therapies in asthma management. Comprehensive searches in PubMed, the NIH and Google Scholar identify multiple relevant publications and articles. Key results indicate that Vitamin A reduces Th2/Th17 levels and ROS, protecting the airway epithelium; Vitamin C decreases inflammatory cells and increases cGMP levels, reducing airway hyper-reactivity; and Vitamin E reduces eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils while also reducing ROS. These findings suggest that increasing intake of these vitamins, under medical …

Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis Is A Novel Approach For The Management Of Pancreatic Cancer, Mudassier Ahmad, Haider Ahsan, Carlos Perez, Muhammad Bangash, Andrew Massey, Emmanuel Anning, Manish Tripathi, Dae Kim, Subhash C. Chauhan, Bilal Bin Hafeez

Research Colloquium

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with limited therapeutic options available. Gemcitabine, a deoxycytidine nucleoside analog is currently considered the most effective therapy for PanCa. However, it shows only a marginal survival benefit of six months. Aberrant ribosome biogenesis occurs in most tumor types. We observed that PanCa cells are addicted to ribosome biogenesis, which supports their highly aggressive metastatic phenotypes. Thus, strategically targeting ribosome biogenesis process could be one of the ideal strategies for the prevention and treatment of PanCa. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of POLR1A …

Shining Light On The Invisible: Fluorescent Detection Of Reactive Oxygen Species, Alex Zuo

Research Colloquium

Background

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cell signaling and homeostasis. However, overproduction of ROS leads to oxidative stress, as well as other related diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disorders. Conventional ROS detection methods are limited by their low sensitivity and low specificity in real-time measurements. Fluorescent probes can offer valuable tools to detect ROS in biological systems. This study is focused on the detection of ROS formation during hypoxia and reoxygenation.

Methods

We used fluorescence detection techniques to study ROS in isolated rodent skeletal muscle models, which were exposed to alternating hyperoxia and hypoxia. …

Concurrent Challenges: New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes And Invasive Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report, Abhishekh Pokhrel, Alexa Lissete Zarate, Sobia Hassan Memon, Everardo Cobos

Research Colloquium

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive cancer with a five-year survival rate of about 10%, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Approximately 53% of patients are diagnosed at stage IV, characterized by distant metastasis to common sites such as the liver and lungs. Liver metastases occur in 60-70% of metastatic cases, while lung metastases are seen in 10-15% of patients. The median survival for stage IV patients is typically around 3 to 6 months, with current treatments primarily focused on palliation. Advances in chemotherapy offer modest survival benefits, but early detection and …

Therapeutic Potential Of Niclosamide Piperazine And Niclosamide Ethanolamine O-Alkyl Tethered Derivatives In Cancer Treatment, Jihoo Woo, Fernando Cisneros, Shizue Mito, Benjamin Valdivia

Research Colloquium

Background: Niclosamide (5-Chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide exhibits promising potential in cancer treatment through its exogenous mitochondrial uncoupling mechanism. However, it faces challenges due to its limited oral bioavailability, attributed to its hydrophobic nature [1]. Recent studies have highlighted derivatives such as Niclosamide Ethanolamine (NEN: N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-5-chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide) [3][2] and o-alkyl amino-tethered NIC [4] may offer enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity in cancer therapeutics. However, the Niclosamide Piperazine (NPP: 4-[(5-Chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)carbamoyl]-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)piperazine) and NEN salt derivatives, has not been as extensively explored despite having better bioavailability than Niclosamide.

Method: This research aims to analyze the efficacy of two proposed compounds NPP and …

Unexpected Biliary Duct Dilation, A Wise Decision-Making Case., Mario A. Trujillo, Mathew R. Peynado, Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, Laura P. Ackerman

Research Colloquium

Background: Common bile duct dilation is expected in certain healthy populations with specific factors like age or post procedure status. When a size larger than expected is found in an acute setting further investigation is required. In the setting of acute abdominal pain in a patient with past medical history of cholelithiasis, the study protocol for patients with more than expected enlarged common bile duct and no apparently underlying disease in the biliary tree is not well elucidated.

Case: A 68-year-old female with past medical history but not limited to cholelithiasis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, end stage renal …

Racial Differences And Anatomical Risk Factors In Narrow Angle Glaucoma: Insights From Ultrasound Biomicroscopy, Michael Tran, Karanjit Kooner, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Ibrahim Saleh, Suyash Jain, Jeffery Hernandez

Research Colloquium

Background: Glaucoma encompasses a range of diseases characterized by optic disc cupping resulting from the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons, leading to vision loss. Narrow-angle glaucoma (NAG) occurs when there is appositional or synechial closure of the angle between the iris and cornea, which can obstruct the outflow of aqueous humor, resulting in increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the optic nerve. This study aims to investigate the relationships between patient demographics, lens vault, and anterior chamber angle measurements among patients with anatomic narrow-angles (ANA) or primary angle-closure suspect (PACS) using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM).

Methods: This …

Viral Party Gone Wrong: Polyviral Pericarditis Masquerading As Gastritis, Maria Eugenia Torres Perez, Joan Beatrice Capellan, Deanna Yamamura

Research Colloquium

Background: Acute pericarditis is a rapid inflammatory condition of the pericardium with both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical criteria with typical symptoms including chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration and decreases by leaning forward, and distinctive electrocardiographic changes. Pericarditis is typically self-limiting however, complications like pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade may arise.

Case presentation: A 31-year-old male presented to the emergency department due to severe epigastric pain radiating to the right upper abdomen; the pain was associated with subjective fever and inability to eat due to its severity. His physical exam revealed tachycardia …

Breaking Boundaries: Unveiling A Cardiac Fistula From The Right Coronary Artery To The Sinus Venosus And From The Sinus Venosus To The Left Subclavian; A Singular Encounter, Maria Eugenia Torres Perez, Carlos Luis Alejos, Jose Romeo Villareal Calderon, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Kamesh Sivagnamam

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital or acquired malformations in the coronary circulation, creating abnormal connections between coronary arteries and heart chambers (coronary-cameral fistulas) or systemic/pulmonary vessels (coronary arteriovenous malformations). Although often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during coronary catheterization, they can lead to life-threatening complications such as congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary hypertension.

Case presentation: A 47-year-old patient with hypertension, multiparity and previous history of a large pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade managed with pericardiocentesis and medical management presented to the emergency department one year after her pericardiocentesis complaining of shortness of breath (SOB) and upper back …

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And Other Specified Anxiety Disorder In An 8-Year-Old Post-Respiratory Infection: A Case Report, Michael Tran, Alcides Amador, Sofia Camacho Bermudez

Research Colloquium

Background: This case report presents the diagnosis and management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Other Specified Anxiety Disorders in an 8-year-old male. The importance lies in the development of psychiatric symptoms after multiple respiratory infections and the subsequent diagnosis of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). It highlights a potential connection between infections and psychiatric manifestations in pediatric patients. PANDAS is an immune-mediated neuropsychiatric disorder that occurs after a Group A Strep (GAS) infection, characterized by the sudden onset or worsening of obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorder. While pathophysiology is not fully understood, evidence indicates that …

Tc-Ptp-Mediated Regulation Of P38 Mapk Signaling Pathway Promotes Uvb-Induced Apoptosis In Skin, Lindsey Shim, Jose Delgado, Bilal B. Hafeez, Dae Joon Kim

Research Colloquium

Background: T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) is a non-receptor PTP that has been shown to have various roles in signaling pathways. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the TC-PTP deficiency in the epidermis can exacerbate hyperplastic response by inducing epidermal cell proliferation in response to tumor promoter TPA or UVB exposure. This implies that TC-PTP plays a tumor-suppressive role in the epidermis and provides protection against UVB radiation, which is well known to contribute to skin cancer development. The p38 mitogen- activated protein kinase (MAPK) is one of serine/threonine kinases that are activated through environmental stress including UVB. It has …

Can Zinc Reduce The Disease Burden Of Diabetes Mellitus?, Ronald Shaju, Rahnuma Ahmad, Mohammed S. Razzaque

Research Colloquium

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Traditionally, this disease is managed with medication and dietary modifications. However, recent studies have shown the potential role of zinc in diabetes management. We explained the complex interplay between zinc deficiency, impaired glucose metabolism, and the progression of diabetes to elucidate the potential therapeutic benefits of zinc supplementation.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus was conducted to identify relevant studies published between November 2023 and February 2024. Keywords such as ‘zinc in diabetes mellitus,’ ‘zinc supplementation,’ ‘zinc deficiency,’ and ‘diabetic …

Enhancing Diagnostic Confidence: The Impact Of Ultrasound Training On Family Medicine Residents, Rachel E. Salinas, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga

Research Colloquium

Objective: The musculoskeletal evaluation is a vital part of the physical exam for physicians. Imaging modalities are frequently used to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal pathologies, and of these modalities, point of care ultrasound is quickly gaining popularity as part of the musculoskeletal exam due its accessibility, cost effectiveness, and This project was created to increase the exposure of family medicine residents to point of care ultrasound in conjunction with specialist supervision, and use of Sonosim, an ultrasound training software, with the aim of increasing residents’ comfort level using this imaging modality.

Methods: Surveys were collected …

Characterization Of Peripheral Neuropathy In Hiv-1 Transgenic Rats, Jose Rios, Sophia Leslie, Mahmoud Youssef, Hiram Garcia, Justin Mills, Maria Sophia Malbas, Joshua Nwose, Briana Garcia, Zayd Ayas, Emmanuel Franco, Khalid Benamar

Research Colloquium

In 2021, an estimated 38.4 million people were living with Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV). While the introduction of antiretroviral therapies (ART) has dramatically improved the length of survival of individuals, peripheral neuropathy still affects as many as 50% of HIV-infected individuals. The most frequently reported clinical manifestation of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy is distal sensory polyneuropathy (HIV-DSP), and it is one of the most common neurologic complications of HIV in the combination antiretroviral therapies (cART) era. Despite these gaps in knowledge, no small animal model mimics peripheral neuropathy in PLWH, and the ART era is available. The main goal here is …

Stealthy Intrusion: Multivalve Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Carlos Luis Alejos Aguero, Duc Khiem Ngo, Maria E. Torres Perez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) typically targets a single valve, with involvement of more valves being rare. Timely targeted therapy hinges on identifying the responsible microorganism through blood culture. However, blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE), representing 5% of all endocarditis cases, poses diagnostic challenges and is associated with higher long-term mortality rates compared to blood culture-positive endocarditis (BCPE).

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), end stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis, and 30- years of cocaine use presented with an abnormal echocardiogram. The patient reported a two-week history of chills, sweat, generalized weakness, and exertional …

Silent Threat: Navigating The Complex Presentation Of Severe Coronary Artery Disease Despite Symptom Relief, William Reckley, Kennedy Olson, Roy Kondapavuluru, Yareli Durazo, Andrez Suarez, Michael Balderas

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States (reference). This disease most commonly manifests as chest pain; however, there is a broad range in the presentation of acute coronary syndrome, as some studies have suggested that more than 25% of all diagnosed myocardial infarctions have been clinically silent. Due to the lack of correlation between the seriousness of the disease and the intensity of symptoms, there are specific protocols that have been developed to help providers manage patients with acute chest pain appropriately. We present a patient with acute chest pain …

Microglia In Post-Mortem Hippocampal Brain Tissue Of Male And Female Neonates After Hie, Kassandra M. Pulido, Angela N. Viaene, Amelia J. Eisch, Danielle G. Barber

Research Colloquium

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the second-leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are sex differences in the pathophysiology of HIE, particularly in microglia, which are critical in the immune response. Prior work highlights microglial aggregation in the hippocampus of human infants as a marker for HIE, but it is unknown whether this differs by sex.

Aim: We compare the microglial response in post-mortem hippocampal tissue from male and female neonates diagnosed with HIE vs. Controls who expired from other causes.

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, we reviewed medical records of neonates with hippocampal tissue in the …

Houston, We Have A Problem: Diagnostic Difficulties In The Aids Patient With Tuberculosis Infection, Hector D. Preciado, Maria E. Torres, Muhammad A. Siddiqui, Liza Salloum, Lee Gelpi, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious death worldwide with 1.5 million deaths annually and nearly 1/4th of the world’s population (1.7 billion) infected with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in 2014. Its diagnosis conventionally relies on tuberculin skin testing (TST), and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) which relies on the production of Interferon Gamma (IFN-y) in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific antigens. IGRA is a useful tool for detecting latent TB disease, and can be used as an adjunct for the diagnosis of active TB cases. Increases in IFN-y levels might support the diagnosis of a new TB …

Comorbidity Of Mood Disorders And Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome: A Case Report, Abhishekh Pokhrel, Alexa Lissete Zarate, Alcides Amador

Research Colloquium

Background: The comorbidity of mood disorders and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) presents a significant challenge, especially in pediatric populations. UARS, characterized by increased upper airway resistance during sleep, often leads to disrupted sleep and daytime symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. Studies estimate UARS affects 15-30% of patients undergoing polysomnography for suspected sleep-disordered breathing. Mood & Anxiety Disorders are prevalent in patients with sleep-disordered breathing, with higher rates than in the general population.

Case Presentation: 16-year-old female, with psychiatric history of Bipolar II Disorder current episode depressed, ADHD, and Other Specified Anxiety Disorder presents for a follow-up. Since …