Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

In Vivo Scanning Laser Fundus And High-Resolution Oct Imaging Of Retinal Ganglion Cell Injury In A Non-Human Primate Model With An Activatable Fluorescent-Labeled Tat Peptide Probe, Xudong Qiu, Seth T Gammon, Carol Rasmussen, Federica Pisaneschi, Charlene B Y Kim, James Ver Hoeve, Steven W Millward, Edward M Barnett, T Michael Nork, Paul L Kaufman, David Piwnica-Worms

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The optical imaging agent TcapQ488 has enabled imaging of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury in vivo in rodents and has potential as an effective diagnostic probe for early detection and intervention monitoring in glaucoma patients. In the present study, we investigated TcapQ488 in non-human primates (NHPs) to identify labeling efficacy and early signals of injured RGC, to determine species-dependent changes in RGC probe uptake and clearance, and to determine dose-limiting toxicities. Doses of 3, 6, and 12 nmol of TcapQ488 were delivered intravitreally to normal healthy NHP eyes and eyes that had undergone hemiretinal endodiathermy axotomy (HEA) in the inferior …

Dynamics Of Cell Membrane Lesions And Adaptive Conductance Under The Electrical Stress, Mantas Silkunas, Olga N. Pakhomova, Giedre Silkuniene, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Exceeding physiological limits of the cell membrane potential compromises structural integrity, enabling the passage of normally impermeant solutes and disrupting cell function. Electropermeabilization has been studied extensively at the cellular scale, but not at the individual membrane lesion level. We employed fast total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging of Ca(2+) entry transients to discern individual lesions in a hyperpolarized cell membrane and characterize their focality, thresholds, electrical conductance, and the lifecycle. A diffuse and momentary membrane permeabilization without a distinct pore formation was observed already at a -100 mV threshold. Polarizing down to -200 mV created focal pores with a …

Assessing The Acquisition Of Romani In Roma Children, Hirsto Kyuchukov, Jill De Villiers, Yanwan Zhu, Iris Zhong

Psychology: Faculty Publications

The paper presents the first comprehensive look at the language development of Romani-speaking children from resource-poor Roma communities in several European countries. 250 participants aged 3- to 10-years participated. The experimental tasks assess knowledge in eight key areas of grammar and morphology, including fast mapping of novel items. The special properties of Romani allow new insights on long distance wh-movement and possessive agreement, and the data question the universality of other distinctions in passives and wh-movement from complements. The results demonstrate that the Roma children as a group are as proficient in their primary language as children in other countries, …

Case Report: Nocturnal Low-Frequency Stimulation Of The Centromedian Thalamic Nucleus Improves Sleep Quality And Seizure Control, Surya Suresh, Ganne Chaitanya, Ajay Deep Kachhvah, Vladimir Vashin, Manojkumar Saranathan, Sandipan Pati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sleep disturbances and drug-resistant seizures significantly impact people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) offers potential treatment, but its effect on sleep and seizure control needs clarification. In this study, we combined wearable sleep monitoring with electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmation to investigate the impact of nocturnal centromedian nucleus (CM) DBS parameters in a patient with drug-resistant IGE. We found that high-frequency (125 Hz) CM stimulation during sleep severely disrupted sleep macro architecture and exacerbated seizures. Conversely, switching to low-frequency (10 Hz) stimulation enhanced both sleep quality and seizure control. This study underscores the critical need to personalize …

Use Of A Borate-Based Bioactive Glass Martix On Infected, Exposed Hardware, Stephanie N. Campbell, Cyaandi V. Dove, Connor Krolikowski

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Hardware exposure is a challenging complication following foot and ankle surgery due to the high risk of infection, biofilm formation, and delayed healing. In two consecutive cases, the bioactive glass matrix combined with particulate micromatrix successfully eradicated the wound infection and biofilm, resulting in full granulation of the wound and successful wound closure. Here we present a novel bioactive glass matrix that successfully managed exposed hardware in an infected foot, providing a promising treatment strategy for managing these complications and preventing further morbidity.

Cancer-Associated Mdm2 W329g Mutant Attenuates Ribosomal Stress-Mediated P53 Responses To Promote Cell Survival And Glycolysis, Sally Lien, Thomas P Whitbread, Shiva O Shastri, Jamie A Contreras, Ruiying Zhao, Yan Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although amplification/overexpression is the predominant mechanism for the oncogenic properties of MDM2, an increasing number of MDM2 somatic missense mutations were identified in cancer patients with the recent advances in sequencing technology. Here, we characterized an MDM2 cancer-associated mutant variant W329G identified from a patient sample that contains a wild-type p53 gene. Trp329 is one of residues that were reported to be critical to MDM2's binding to ribosomal protein L11 (RPL11). We found that the MDM2 W329G mutant was resistant to the inhibitory effect of RPL11 on MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and degradation, in line with its defect on RPL11 binding. …

Spinal Cord Evaluation In Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical And Radiological Associations, Present And Future, B Mark Keegan, Martina Absinta, Julien Cohen-Adad, Eoin P Flanagan, Roland G Henry, Eric C Klawiter, Shannon Kolind, Stephen Krieger, Cornelia Laule, John A Lincoln, Steven Messina, Jiwon Oh, Nico Papinutto, Seth Aaron Smith, Anthony Traboulsee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spinal cord disease is important in most people with multiple sclerosis, but assessment remains less emphasized in patient care, basic and clinical research and therapeutic trials. The North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord Interest Group was formed to determine and present the contemporary landscape of multiple sclerosis spinal cord evaluation, further existing and advanced spinal cord imaging techniques, and foster collaborative work. Important themes arose: (i) multiple sclerosis spinal cord lesions (differential diagnosis, association with clinical course); (ii) spinal cord radiological-pathological associations; (iii) 'critical' spinal cord lesions; (iv) multiple sclerosis topographical model; (v) spinal cord atrophy; and (vi) …

Immunomodulatory Effects Of Modified Colostrum, Whey, And Their Combination With Other Natural Products: Effects On Natural Killer Cells, Xuesheng Han, David Vollmer, Xuefei Yan, Yahong Zhang, Mingfa Zang, Chenfei Zhang, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Elena Y. Enioutina

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Objectives Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune system effector cells providing innate defenses against intracellular infections, including viral infections, immune surveillance, and cancer immunoediting. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether modified ultra-filtrated colostrum (UC) and hydrolyzed whey (W) products or their combinations with other natural products with reported immunomodulatory properties will stimulate NK cell cytotoxic activity by activation of granzyme B and IFN-γ production. Methods The ability of study products to stimulate the cytotoxic activity of human-purified CD56+ NK cells and the production of granzyme B and IFN-γ by activated NK cells was evaluated in …

Comparison Between Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin With Collagen Carrier And Β-Tricalcium Phosphate In Lateral Maxillary Sinus Lift With Simultaneous Implant Placement, Ahmed Adel Refaat, Noha Ahmed Mansour, Sally Awad

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study aimed to compare injectable PRF (I-PRF) with a collagen carrier and β-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) for maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) with simultaneous implant placement.

Materials and methods: Fourteen patients with missed maxillary posterior teeth and 3-5 mm residual bone height (RBH) were selected to perform lateral MSFA with simultaneous implant placement. A total of 18 sites (implants) in 13 patients were qualified for analysis, 10 sites with I-PRF and collagen carrier (group I) and 8 sites with β-TCP (group II). Six months later, implant stability was recorded, and all sites were analyzed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) …

Hippocampal Subfield Volumes And Memory Development From Middle Childhood To Late Adulthood: 2-Year Longitudinal Change And Modifiers Of Age Effects, Roya Homayouni

Wayne State University Dissertations

Introduction: The hippocampus (Hc) is crucial for memory function across all ages and is comprised of distinct subfields: dentate gyrus (DG), cornu ammonis sectors (CA1-3), and subiculum. Hc subfields support different aspects of memory function across the lifespan and are differentially vulnerable to late-life pathology. Increased knowledge of normative lifespan developmental trajectories of Hc subfield volumes will illuminate their cognitive and health correlates across different ages. Yet, the evidence on change and variability of Hc subfield volumes across the lifespan is sparse. Methods: Here, I conducted a meta-analysis of cross-sectional findings of subfield volumes across ages (n = 48,278 participants, …

Skin Reaction Diagnosis In Breast Radiotherapy, Rebecca Lynn Culcasi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Radiotherapy plays an essential role in post-operative management of breast cancer. Unfortunately, the doses required to eradicate malignant tissue also cause radiation-induced skin damage. The more severe effects often require treatment postponement or cessation, which can impact the probability of local control and lasting negative effects.Acute skin reactions are subjectively evaluated by the clinician according to NCI’s CTC or RTOG scoring systems. The criteria for acute radiation morbidity ranges from grade 1 to 4 for adverse advents. The onset of symptoms typically occurs approximately two weeks into treatment and is dose dependent. Given radiation-induced skin injury remains a dose limiting …

“Share The Fear”: Communication Concerns Of Parents With Cancer With Dependents And Coparents: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Study, Cinzia Caparso, Zoe Bowen, Sung Won Choi

Nursing Faculty Research Publications

Background: The estimated 1.6 million adults in the United States with cancer who also have dependents face unique challenges given the profound impact of cancer on their families, such as increased psychological distress, decreased quality of life, and altered family functioning. Unfortunately, little is known about the mutual cancer-related communication concerns for the perspectives of the parents with cancer or the coparents. Coparents care for the patient and dependents until they reach adulthood (e.g., unmarried, divorced, stepparent, and/or same-sex partnerships).

Objective: To understand the mutual cancer-related communication concerns from the perspectives of parents with cancer and the coparents and intervention …

Disparities In Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Based On Residence And Distance From Medical Facility, Sunita Regmi, Evi A. Farazi, Elizabeth Lyden, Anupam Kotwal, Apar Kishor Ganti, Whitney Goldner

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

CONTEXT: Rural-urban disparities have been reported in cancer care, but data are sparse on the effect of geography and location of residence on access to care in thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify impact of rural or urban residence and distance from treatment center on thyroid cancer stage at diagnosis.

METHODS: We evaluated 800 adults with differentiated thyroid cancer in the iCaRe2 bioinformatics/biospecimen registry at the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Participants were categorized into early and late stage using AJCC staging, and residence/distance from treating facility was categorized as short (≤ 12.5 miles), intermediate (> 12.5 to < 50 miles) or long (≥ 50 miles). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with late-stage diagnosis.

RESULTS: Overall, …

Ever Use Of Telehealth In Nebraska By March 2021: Cross-Sectional Analysis, Lisa C. Smith, George Johnson, Snehal Jadhav, Josiane Kabayundo, Muskan Ahuja, Hongmei Wang, Kendra L. Ratnapradipa

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Nationally, COVID-19 spurred the uptake of telehealth to facilitate patients' access to medical care, especially among individuals living in geographically isolated areas. Despite the potential benefits of telehealth to address health care access barriers and enhance health outcomes, there are still disparities in the accessibility and utilization of telehealth services. Hence, identifying facilitators and barriers to telehealth should be prioritized to ensure that disparities are mitigated rather than exacerbated.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify factors associated with ever use of telehealth in Nebraska, a primarily rural state with a significant portion of its population living in nonmetropolitan areas. …

Clinical Sensitivity And Time-To-Result Of A Cascaded Pooled Testing Approach For Assessing The Prevalence And Intensity Of Schistosoma Haematobium Infection, Abraham Degarege, Bruno Levecke, Yohannes Negash, Abebe Animut, Berhanu Erko

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: This study compared the clinical sensitivity and the time-to-result of an individual testing (IT) and a cascaded pooled testing approach (CPT; a positive test result in a pooled sample triggers examination of smaller-sized pools or individual samples) for assessing the prevalence and the intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection. We also compared the sensitivity of the CPT in detecting S. haematobium infection when deploying urine filtration microscopy (UFM) vs. urine reagent strips (URS), and testing 10 mL vs. 15 mL of urine.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Between October 2021 and April 2022, S. haematobium eggs were counted in urine samples collected from …

Aligning Eye Care Provider Beliefs With Behaviors: Exploring And Improving Ocular Surface Disease Decision-Making In A Cataract Surgery Clinic, Amy Hellem

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

Millions of cataract surgeries are performed every year in the United States, yet both surgeon reports and patient reports indicate that practices are not utilizing the diagnostic tests and treatments that are advocated in the medical literature to identify and manage ocular surface disease prior to surgery. As a result, patients risk suffering several significant consequences with regard to their vision, comfort and safety. Personal observations from my 25 years of experience working with ophthalmologists and optometrists led to curiosity regarding the root cause of undertreatment of ocular surface disease. Specifically, I had the impression that eye care providers held …

Estradiol Signaling Improves Extinction Memory Recall To Combat Cue-Induced Heroin Relapse In Rats, Jordan S. Carter

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

We are in the midst of an opioid use disorder (OUD) epidemic. While several treatments mitigate a range of factors contributing to return to use, or relapse, the power of drug-conditioned environmental cues to precipitate relapse have not been adequately addressed. One treatment modality targeting cue reactivity, cue exposure therapy (CET), exacerbated relapse in individuals with OUD, perhaps due to a deficit in extinction memory recall (EMR). Here, EMR is the ability to override the drug-cue association and prevent relapse. Interest remains in combatting cue-induced relapse, potentially by introducing a pharmacologic adjunct with CET to enhance EMR. In the following …

Barriers To A Healthy Diet In An Urban, Underserved Primary Care Clinic And How Food Insecurity Impacts These Barriers​, Carol Schroeder, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala, Susan Evans

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Dietary Quality In An Urban Primary Care Patient Clinic, Aaron Allison, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Body Shamer Within: Incorporating The Teaching Of Weight Bias Internalization Into Weight Bias Education, Jessica Koran-Scholl, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Diet Quality Differences​ Between Residents And Their Patient Population, Steffi Emig Witt, Birgit Khandalavala, Jenenne A. Geske

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Culturally Appropriate Diabetes Education Helps Karen- And Qanjobal-Speaking Patients Lower A1c​, Cruz Longoria, Maggie Hutson, Jenenne A. Geske, Melanie Menning

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Food Insecurity Screening Detects Patients With Poor Diet Quality, Aaron Allison, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Investigating Factors In Firearm Fatalities In Pediatric Populations, Parth Patel, Domenick Bartoletti

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Despite advancements in public health initiatives, preventable firearm injuries among children persist in the United States. This study investigates correlations between household income, single parent households, severe housing problems, and firearm fatalities among pediatric populations in Ohio counties. Utilizing data from the County Health Rankings and the National Center for Health Statistics–Mortality Files, our analysis reveals a negative correlation between household income and firearm fatalities, emphasizing the role of socioeconomic factors in firearm safety. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between single parent households and firearm fatalities. Furthermore, a weak positive correlation suggests a potential link between severe housing problems …

Exploring The Link Between Self-Image And Eating Disorders In Female Students At Belmont University, Caitlin Rain Roberts

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Introduction: Body image concerns among college students are a significant issue, often contributing to eating disorders as societal pressures intensify during young adulthood (Kapoor, 2022). Self-image influences eating behaviors, psychological perceptions of nutrition, and the development of disordered eating patterns (Kapoor, 2022). Understanding the link between body image and eating disorders is essential for creating effective interventions that support mental and physical well-being during this critical life stage. Methods: This study examined the relationship between body image dissatisfaction and eating disorder behaviors among undergraduate female students at Belmont University in Fall 2024. Using a cross-sectional survey with a mixed-methods approach, …

Redefining Ed Utilization: A Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Perspective, David Bennington

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Rabies, though rare in the United States, remains a lethal viral disease with significant public health implications. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) through timely administration of rabies vaccines and rabies immune globulin (RIG) is critical for preventing the progression of the virus following potential exposure. However, the current system of healthcare delivery in the United States has witnessed an alarming trend: the unnecessary utilization of emergency department (ED) visits for rabies PEP, including follow-up vaccinations. This paper aims to examine and address this issue through a review of the factors contributing to the inappropriate use of ED services for rabies treatment.

Through …

Zebrafish Drug Screening Identifies Erlotinib As An Inhibitor Of Wnt/ Β-Catenin Signaling And Self-Renewal In T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Majd A. Al-Hamaly, Anna H. Cox, Meghan G. Haney, Wen Zhang, Emma C. Arvin, Shilpa Sampathi, Mary Wimsett, Chunming Liu, Jessica S. Blackburn

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway’s significance in cancer initiation, progression, and stem cell biology underscores its therapeutic potential. However, the clinical application of Wnt inhibitors remains limited due to challenges posed by off-target effects and complex cross-talk of Wnt signaling with other pathways. In this study, we leveraged a zebrafish model to perform a robust and rapid drug screening of 773 FDA-approved compounds to identify Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors with minimal toxicity. Utilizing zebrafish expressing a Wnt reporter, we identified several drugs that suppressed Wnt signaling without compromising zebrafish development. The effi- cacy of the top hit, Erlotinib, extended to human cells, where it …

Creating The New Normal: A Historical Approach To Understanding Marketing Agility And Its Implications Across Business, Healthcare, And Social Welfare In A Post Pandemic World, Elan Burton, Delancy Bennett, Linda Burton

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The purpose of this article is to expand our understanding of how marketing agility shapes business, healthcare, and social welfare policy and societal responses to global pandemics. We set the stage for this discussion by presenting an historical exemplar case of marketing agility during the 1918 Influenza pandemic in the US. Next, we outline a necessary conceptual revision and update to previous treatments of marketing agility relative to historical pandemics considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Our novel conceptualization focuses on a firm’s (business, healthcare, social welfare) prompt response to dynamic and turbulent circumstances beyond the control of the firm (Araújo …

Unlocking The Power Of Ketogenic Diets: Evidence-Based Insights Into Weight Loss, Diabetes, And Beyond, Doreen Ugwu, Ana M. Palacios

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Damsels In Distress: How Misogynistic Views Affect Chronic Pain Diagnosis In Women, Jessica Guerrette, Olivia A. Sheppard, Logan Cowan

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.