Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Non-St Elevation Myocardial Infarction Presentation In Severe Aortic Stenotic Patient, Margi Desai, Daniel Maysonet, Maysonet Patel

Research Day

This case report demonstrates a patient who presents with typical findings for a diagnosis of NSTEMI. Upon further evaluation, this diagnosis was able to be ruled out. Presentations and labs consistent with NSTEMI masked the true diagnosis of aortic stenosis due to an oxygen supply/demand mismatch.

Meta-Analysis Of Complications Associated With Sutured Vs. Sutureless Primary Gastroschisis Closing, Michael T. Bien, Sharnikha Saravanan, Shrey M. Patel, Madeline A. Felice, Ashton S. Amos, Gary E. Freed

Research Day

Introduction: Traditionally, surgical management of gastroschisis involved a primary or staged reduction of the viscera followed by sutured defect closure. Over the past 20 years, the plastic sutureless closure technique has gained popularity where the defect is covered with a remnant of the umbilical cord and a plastic dressing. However, little investigation has been done to compare the postoperative complications associated with sutured and sutureless techniques. We hypothesize that sutured closures will have a greater complication rate than sutureless closures.

Methods: A search of primary literature was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases using PRISMA criteria in February 2024 …

Inhibitory Effect Of Tanshinone Derivatives Against Sars-Cov-2 3-Chymotrypsin-Like Protease (3clpro) Enzyme, Jenny Wong, Alex Beringer, Devin Lewis, Aribah Ali, Vicky Mody, Shashidharamurthy Taval

Research Day

The lingering consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to manifest as persistent effects on recovering patients. Recent research has identified RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), and papain-like protease (PLpro) as crucial components for SARS-CoV-2 replication and the regulation of the host's immune response. Specifically, 3CLpro plays a pivotal role by cleaving 11 non-structural protein (NSPs) sites on the polyprotein of coronaviruses. Consequently, 3CLpro is an attractive target for potential antiviral drug development, with the potential to inhibit viral RNA production in SARS-CoV-2. Our study examined the inhibitory effects of 21 tanshinone derivatives on the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro enzyme. Among …

Inhibition Of Sars-Cov-2 Papain-Like Protease By Bioactive Compounds Found In Salvia Miltiorrhiza, Alexander Beringer, Jenny Wong, Devin Lewis, Aribah Ali, Shashidharamurthy Taval, Vicky Mody

Research Day

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, remains a substantial global public health threat. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, reinfection rates are rising, necessitating a comprehensive examination of vaccine effectiveness against emerging variants. There is an immediate and pressing need to identify potential therapeutic interventions for combating resistant COVID-19 infections. Research has highlighted the significance of nonstructural proteins, including proteases and polymerases, in viral replication, making them attractive targets for drug development. Among these, the Papain-like protease (PLpro), 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzymes play pivotal roles in SARS-CoV-2 replication and are promising candidates …

Promoting The Understanding Of Prerequisites, Training, Career Opportunities, And Practice Philosophy Of Osteopathic Physicians Amongst Students In The Southeastern U.S., Gabrielle I. Oquendo, Sharnikha Saravanan, Hersha Iyer, Joy Zarandy

Research Day

Introduction: Osteopathic medicine is one of the most rapidly growing healthcare professions. Over the past five years, there has been a comprehensive increase in the number of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) physicians by 30%, constituting more than 11% of U.S. physicians. Over the past decade, the number of DO students expanded by 77%, representing more than 25% of U.S. medical students today. While future projections predict a continued exponential increase of DO physicians, the understanding of Osteopathic medicine within the general public remains inconsistent among various age ranges and U.S. geographic regions, and few studies have been conducted to …

Case Study Of A Horseshoe Kidney, Jillian Bailey, Jonathan Hughes, Aribah Ali, Tina Alkhazali, Adam Kanawati, Diana Peterson

Research Day

Introduction:

Case report of a horseshoe kidney found in a 62-year-old deceased male during routine cadaveric dissection at PCOM Georgia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Horseshoe kidneys occur in 1:500 individuals.

Methods:

Horseshoe kidney pathology was observed in the medical school gross anatomy laboratory during routine dissection. Specifics about the case were noted and photographed with permission from the donor and university.

Results:

While most horseshoe kidney cases are asymptomatic, no data is present to determine whether kidney symptoms were present in this specific case. The man died of a middle cerebral artery stroke that is unrelated to the kidney pathology. …

Cultural Responsiveness And Inclusion Tool For Health-Related Simulation, Beth F. Hallmark, Taryn Mccoy

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

The Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Evaluation Tool for Health-Related Simulation is a comprehensive instrument our team designed to evaluate effectiveness of culturally responsive teaching within simulation scenarios. This tool seeks to evaluate how the inclusion of diverse patient scenarios and culturally congruent information enhances the learner experience in health-related simulations. This tool was developed in conjunction with faculty from Bangalore Baptist Hospital Rebekah Ann Naylor Institute of Nursing, a leading nursing school in India and key partner of Belmont University. Through co-creation and co-development of this tool, we were able to create common definitions related to cultural congruence, psychological safety, …

Interprofessional Education Through Home Modification, Cathey P. Norton, Kelly R. Gore

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Creating safe and accessible environments for all people, including physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities is an important part of training students in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and interior design. Approximately 125 students from these disciplines worked together during a unique interprofessional experience, to perform everyday tasks with a simulated disability, then collaborated as interprofessional teams to make recommendations for home environment modifications to improve safety and accessibility for individuals with physical challenges. This was a unique opportunity for all the students to learn about other disciplines and the expertise that each brings to the table to help our clients.

Pausing For More: Help Your Students Avoid Burnout With 1 Classroom Presentation, Sara E. Wigal

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

Undergraduate students suffer under increasing stressors despite enhanced on-campus wellness offerings at many institutions. In this presentation, participants will learn that a replicable innovative 60-minute in-classroom intervention can help measurably increase student mindfulness and sense of classroom belonging, which in turn are proven burnout-avoidance mechanisms. Learn how students who are taught to practice mindfulness paired with productivity skills can better connect with faculty in the classroom for a healthier college experience conducive to learning.

Prevalence Of Cardiovascular Conditions After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comparison Between The Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems And The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Shanti Pinto, Bhaskar Thakur, Raj Kumar, Amanda Rabinowitz, Ross Zafonte, William C Walker, Kan Ding, Simon Driver, Umesh Venkatesan, Gilbert Moralez, Kathleen Bell

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence of self-reported cardiovascular conditions among individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to a propensity-matched control cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study described self-reported cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, congestive heart failure [CHF], myocardial infarction [MI], and stroke) from participants who completed interviews between January 2015 and March 2020 in 2 harmonized large cohort studies, the TBI Model Systems and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions after 1:1 propensity-score matching based on age, sex, …

Chronic Stress-Induced Neuroinflammation: Relevance Of Rodent Models To Human Disease., Abigail G White, Elias Elias, Andrea Orozco, Shivon A Robinson, Melissa T Manners

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

The brain is the central organ of adaptation to stress because it perceives and determines threats that induce behavioral, physiological, and molecular responses. In humans, chronic stress manifests as an enduring consistent feeling of pressure and being overwhelmed for an extended duration. This can result in a persistent proinflammatory response in the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS), resulting in cellular, physiological, and behavioral effects. Compounding stressors may increase the risk of chronic-stress-induced inflammation, which can yield serious health consequences, including mental health disorders. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding the neuroinflammatory response in rodent models of chronic stress-a …

Anxiety Overview And How To Help Your Child, Maggie Mckay, Meghan Kanya

Parent-ish Podcast

Meghan Kanya, PhD, discusses an overview of anxiety, including causes, signs your child may be struggling, and how you as a parent can help.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, 2023, Ayda Atici, Freddy Nie, Jesse M. Fager-Larsen, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet examines the state of mental health for both youth and adults and availability of mental health care in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are retrieved from Mental Health America’s (MHA) 2023 report, The State of Mental Health in America.

A Study On The 2016 And 2022 Ms And Oh Populations: How Obesity Is Related To The Co-Mingling Of Median Household Income, Limited Access To Healthy Foods And Limited Access To Exercise Opportunities, Ben Schlessel, Justice Williams

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Obesity has plagued the United States for decades, and while the implications of obesity have drastically changed over time (from a sign of wealth to a possible implication of mal/low nutrition), its impacts on the country’s population are abrasive and costly. Objective: The aim is to address and investigate how factors such as Median Household Income (MHI), Limited Access to Healthy Food and Limited Access to Exercise interplay with and correlate to obesity. Methods: Data acquired from the County Health Rankings was analyzed using several analysis strategies (paired and unpaired T-tests, and regression plots, etc.). Only Mississippi and Ohio …

Complete Pathologic Response To Gemcitabine And Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy After Prior Therapies In A Patient With Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Peritoneal Metastases Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery And Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, Amry Majeed, Sneha Alaparthi, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, Jaime Eberle-Singh, Wei Jiang, Pramila Rani Anne, Ashesh P. Shah, Wilbur B. Bowne, Daniel Lin

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at a late stage and frequently recurs despite curative intervention, leading to poor survival outcomes. Frontline systemic therapies include combination immunotherapy regimens and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B and C coinfection-associated non-cirrhotic HCC, which recurred in the peritoneum after initial resection of her primary tumor. Disease progression occurred on both atezolizumab/bevacizumab and lenvatinib, and she was subsequently treated with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) chemotherapy and exhibited a profound clinical response on imaging with normalization of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) after several months. Following extensive multidisciplinary …

The Relationship Between Ultrarunning Status, Subjective Well-Being, And Life Satisfaction, Raquel Ramirez Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rise in mental health challenges across the United States. Consequently, two important well-being measures for Healthy People 2030—subjective well-being and life satisfaction—were negatively impacted. A plethora of evidence exists about the benefits of running for physical and mental health. Yet, there is no available evidence that shows the benefits of ultrarunning, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the relationship between ultrarunning status, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction among adult runners in the United States. The advanced triangle of epidemiology served as the conceptual framework. A convenience sample included 369 adult …

Improved Motor Skills In Autistic Children After Three Weeks Of Neurologic Music Therapy Via Telehealth: A Pilot Study, Nicole M. Richard Williams, Corene Hurt-Thaut, Jessica Brian, Luc Tremblay, Marija Pranjic, Jessica Teich, Melissa Tan, Julia Kowaleski, Michael Thaut

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Many autistic children experience motor skill deficits which can impact other areas of functioning, and research on therapeutic interventions for motor skills in autism is in a preliminary stage. Music-based therapies have been used extensively to address motor skills in non-autistic populations. Though a handful of studies exist on the effects of music-based therapies for movement in autistic children, none have investigated the possibility of administering sessions via telehealth. This mixed-methods pilot study investigated whether nine Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT)^® sessions via telehealth would improve motor and attention skills in autistic children.

Methods: Five autistic children between five …

Improving Outcomes In Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Through The Utilization Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Screening Tool In A Mental Health Setting., Murielle Nankeu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Improving Outcomes in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Through The Utilization of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Screening Tool in a Mental Health Setting.

PURPOSE This scholarly project focused on the implementation and adherence of the PHQ-9 screening tool by nurses and healthcare staff in patients diagnosed with MDD, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmission rates.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of a standardized validated screening tool. Utilizing depression screening is crucial in preventing poor outcomes. Q.I. was initiated in a 23-bed inpatient psychiatry geriatric unit in a large city in Texas.

METHODOLOGY The methodology utilizes a standard analytical …

Physical Activity Levels In First-Year University Students, Jerealya Cogdell

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to see if physical activity (PA) is affected for students since transitioning from high school to their first semester in college. The study was conducted by asking questions pertaining to PA via an online survey through the platform Qualtrics. It will be administered to students at Georgia Southern University. However, only the data from freshmen students that meet specific criteria will be accounted for in this study. The data will be analyzed using Chi-squared to determine how PA is affected due to this transition. The data will compare the results from high school senior …

Suicide Rates Are Lower In Places With More Social Infrastructure, Xue Zhang, Danielle Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Suicide rates among working-age adults (ages 25-64) in the United States are high, rising, and unequal across the country. Social infrastructure (SI), such as libraries, community centers, coffee shops, and entertainment venues, may reduce suicide risk by improving social cohesion, social support, and information and resource sharing. This data slice shows that suicide rates among working-age adults in 2016-2019 were significantly lower in counties with more SI, even after accounting for county-level differences in demographic composition (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, education), health care availability, and metropolitan status.

Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teamwork And Collaboration On Patient Care, Riana Square

Honors College Theses

Teamwork and communication are two topics that a vast majority of nursing students are introduced to in their first semester of nursing school. Many nursing students have a desire to improve their communication skills and have a better understanding of the inner workings of interdisciplinary collaboration. A study across multiple cohorts of Georgia Southern Nursing students was conducted to explore their perceptions of the correlation between teamwork and patient care outcomes. This study also explores nursing students’ readiness to communicate with other healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of the means to practice these communication skills while in nursing school. It …

Effects Of Improved Amino Acid Balance Diet On Lysine Mammary Utilization, Whole Body Protein Turnover And Muscle Protein Breakdown On Lactating Sows, Sai Zhang, Juan C Marini, Vengai Mavangira, Andrew Claude, Julie Moore, Mahmoud A Mohammad, Nathalie L Trottier

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: The study objective was to test the hypothesis that low crude protein (CP) diet with crystalline amino acids (CAA) supplementation improves Lys utilization efficiency for milk production and reduces protein turnover and muscle protein breakdown. Eighteen lactating multiparous Yorkshire sows were allotted to 1 of 2 isocaloric diets (10.80 MJ/kg net energy): control (CON; 19.24% CP) and reduced CP with "optimal" AA profile (OPT; 14.00% CP). Sow body weight and backfat were recorded on d 1 and 21 of lactation and piglets were weighed on d 1, 14, 18, and 21 of lactation. Between d 14 and 18, a …

Rationally Designed Peptoid Inhibitors Of Amyloid-Β Oligomerization, Mihyun Lim Waugh, Lauren M. Wolf, Kelly A. Moore, Shannon L. Servoss

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

While plaques comprised of fibrillar Aβ aggregates are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, soluble Aβ oligomers present higher neurotoxicity. Thus, one therapeutic approach is to prevent the formation of Aβ oligomers and reduce their associated harmful effects. We have proposed a peptoid mimic of the Aβ hydrophobic KLVFF core as an ideal candidate aggregation inhibitor due to its ability to evade proteolytic degradation via repositioning of the side chain from the α-carbon to the amide nitrogen. This peptoid, JPT1, utilizes chiral sidechains to achieve a helical structure, while C-terminal addition of two phenylalanine residues places aromatic groups on two sides of …

Improving Early Identification And Management Of Depression Symptomology Through Implementation Of Universal Depression Screening In A University Student Health Center, Jessica M. Monjaras

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals aged 15 to 44 (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2023). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to increase early identification of depression through implementation of universal depression screening, and to implement management strategies to decrease symptoms of depression. A two-tiered approach to universal depression screening was utilized through use of the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 screening tools. Ten young adult patients, between the ages of 18 to 25, from a university student health center clinic in Northwest Indiana participated in this project. Participants underwent …

Developing And Validating A Nomogram For Early Predicting The Need For Intestinal Resection In Pediatric Intussusception, Yuan-Yang Yu, Jia-Jie Zhang, Ya-Ting Xu, Zheng-Xiu Lin, Shi-Kun Guo, Zhong-Rong Li, Hui-Ya Huang, Xiao-Zhong Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Develop and validate a nomogram for predicting intestinal resection in pediatric intussusception suspecting intestinal necrosis.

PATIENTS & METHODS: Children with intussusception were retrospectively enrolled after a failed air-enema reduction in the outpatient setting and divided into two groups: the intestinal resection group and the non-intestinal resection group. The enrolled cases were randomly selected for training and validation sets with a split ratio of 3:1. A nomogram for predicting the risk of intestinal resection was visualized using logistic regression analysis with calibration curve, C-index, and decision curve analysis to evaluate the model.

RESULTS: A total of 547 cases were included …

Molecular Therapy And Nucleic Acid Adeno-Associated Virus-Based Gene Therapy Delivering Combinations Of Two Growth-Associated Genes To Mps Iva Mice, Estera Rintz, Betul Celik, Nidhi Fnu, Angélica María Herreño-Pachón, Shaukat Khan, Shunji Tomatsu, Eliana Benincore-Flórez

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA) is caused by a deficiency of the galactosamine (N-acetyl)-6-sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme responsible for the degradation of specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The progressive accumulation of GAGs leads to various skeletal abnormalities (short stature, hypoplasia, tracheal obstruction) and several symptoms in other organs. To date, no treatment is effective for patients with bone abnormalities. To improve bone pathology, we propose a novel combination treatment with the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing GALNS enzyme and a natriuretic peptide C (CNP; NPPC gene) as a growth-promoting agent for MPS IVA. In this study, an MPS IVA mouse model was treated …

Dnp Final Report: Promoting The Self-Efficacy Of Caregivers Of Children With Seizures Using Evidence-Based Practice, Malorie Brooks

DNP Final Reports

Epilepsy is considered a widespread chronic illness, and it is estimated that approximately 1% of all children have the condition. Parents and caregivers of children with seizures experience fear and anxiety relative to their perceived confidence to manage their child's seizures after leaving the hospital. Evidence supports the use of simulation to educate caregivers to improve their perceived level of self-efficacy. The DNP Scholarly Project examined the impact of utilizing a simulation training session on the self-efficacy of caregivers of children with seizures at a large pediatric medical center in the southern United States. Caregivers of children with newly diagnosed …

Protein Oxidation In Aging And Alzheimer’S Disease Brain, Rukhsana Sultana, D. Allan Butterfield

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Proteins are essential molecules that play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and carrying out biological functions such as catalyzing biochemical reactions, structural proteins, immune response, etc. However, proteins also are highly susceptible to damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). In this review, we summarize the role of protein oxidation in normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The major emphasis of this review article is on the carbonylation and nitration of proteins in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The oxidatively modified proteins showed a strong correlation with the reported changes in brain structure, carbohydrate …

Predicting The Pathway Involvement Of Metabolites Based On Combined Metabolite And Pathway Features, Erik D. Huckvale, Hunter N. B. Moseley

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

A major limitation of most metabolomics datasets is the sparsity of pathway annotations for detected metabolites. It is common for less than half of the identified metabolites in these datasets to have a known metabolic pathway involvement. Trying to address this limitation, machine learning models have been developed to predict the association of a metabolite with a “pathway category”, as defined by a metabolic knowledge base like KEGG. Past models were implemented as a single binary classifier specific to a single pathway category, requiring a set of binary classifiers for generating the predictions for multiple pathway categories. This past approach …

Factitious Disorder Presenting As Sickle Cell Disease: A Case Report, Jeremy Jacobs, Juliana Guarente, Julie Karp, Brenda Grossman, Alyssa Ziman, Andrea Mcgonigle, Thomas Binns, Tappy Gish, James Gorham, Yara Park, Ingrid Perez-Alvarez, James Burner, Zhen Mei, Dawn Ward, Jennifer Woo, Garrett Booth, Brian Adkins, Christopher Webb, Chisa Yamada, Grace Lee, Elizabeth Abels, Marisa Marques, Elizabeth Allen, Ross Fasano, Elizabeth Crowe, Aaron Tobian, Christopher Tormey, Evan Bloch

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.