Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Digital Diabetes Prevention Program For Hispanic Adolescents (Fit24+): Protocol For A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial, Erica G Soltero, Marbelly Partida, Sandra Mihail, Lizette Villanueva, Callie Lopez, Salma M Musaad, Teresia M O'Connor, Maria J Redondo, Matthew Buman, Debbe Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Hispanic youth are disproportionately impacted by obesity and subsequent type 2 diabetes (T2D) yet remain underrepresented in diabetes prevention research. Digital health interventions hold promise for increasing the accessibility to and engagement in disease prevention programming, particularly among high-risk populations. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding digital T2D prevention programs for adolescents or Hispanic youth.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the protocol for examining the feasibility of a 12-week digital diabetes prevention program among Hispanic adolescents with obesity.

Methods: Participants (N=40; aged 12-16 years) will be randomized (1:1) to a 12-week …

To Seize Or Not To Seize? That Is The (Epigenetic) Question, Corey St Romain, Jeannie Chin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

A Multilevel Analysis Of Prescriber-Reported Buprenorphine Induction Challenges In Fentanyl-Endemic Settings, Alyssa Vawn Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emergence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has increased clinical uncertainty during buprenorphine induction in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cohort study, guided by the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), was to examine whether prescriber-level buprenorphine induction practices and experiences with precipitated withdrawal were associated with reported buprenorphine induction challenges, and whether county-level fentanyl prevalence contributed to these challenges after accounting for geographic clustering. Secondary, de-identified archival data were obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network study CTN-0134 and included 64 prescribers practicing in fentanyl-endemic settings. Buprenorphine induction challenges were operationalized as …

Horseshoe Kidneys In Transplantation: Underutilization Despite Comparable Quality And Favorable Outcomes: Unos Registry Analysis (2007-2023), Abigail W. Cheng, Samrawi Misiker, Roberto Sagaribay, Kavita Batra

School of Medicine Research Poster Showcase

Introduction: Horseshoe kidneys (HSKs) are the most common renal fusion anomaly, occurring in approximately 1 in 500 individuals and often discovered incidentally. Historically excluded from transplantation due to complex anatomy, advances in surgical techniques have made HSK transplantation increasingly feasible. Although successful procurement and transplantation have been described in case reports, national-level data comparing donor characteristics and organ utilization between HSK and non-HSK donors remain limited. This study characterizes donor demographics, clinical profiles, and organ utilization of HSK donors using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the UNOS kidney transplant registry was performed, …

Anesthetic Management In Patients With Impella Devices: A Retrospective Review And Clinical Guide, Harrison Yang, Divakara Gouda, Kent B. Berg, Katherine Green, Suvan Sundaresh, Basavana Goudra

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Background: The Impella family of percutaneous a left ventricular assist devices are increasingly used for hemodynamic support in patients with cardiogenic shock or advanced heart failure. However, guidance on anesthetic management for patients with Impella support undergoing noncardiac procedures remains sparse. This study reviews perioperative practices and outcomes to inform clinical management.

Methods: Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients receiving an Impella device (2.5, CP, 5.0, or 5.5) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA, between December 2017 and October 2024. Patients, who subsequently underwent procedures involving anesthesia care were included. Demographics, procedure …

Ellagic Acid Reduces Inulin's Adverse Effects: A Combined Approach To Enhance Therapeutic Potential In Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Tharani Senavirathna, Shafaei, Ricky Lareu, Lois Balmer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This mouse study investigates the efficacy of ellagic acid (EA), a potent antioxidant in fruits and nuts, and inulin, a prebiotic known for gut microbiota benefits, in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A Western-style diet (WD) was used to induce NASH in C57BL/6J male mice for 16 weeks. Mice then received EA (100 mg/kg/day, oral gavage, 5 days/week) and/or 5% inulin (w/w in diet) for 12 weeks while continuing WD. Inulin increased energy intake and trended toward higher body weight and fasting glucose. EA reduced liver weights and restored the liver-to-body weight ratio. EA and inulin combined significantly reduced steatosis and hepatocyte …

Spontaneous Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Signals In Glioblastoma-Bearing And Aging Brains, Ki Yun Park

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Brain activity fluctuates across timescales from microseconds to decades, reflecting processes ranging from rapid synaptic transmission to slow neuromodulatory and homeostatic changes. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) captures the slow end of this spectrum (spontaneous blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fluctuations over tens to hundreds of seconds), which reflect the integrated output of these underlying processes and are increasingly recognized as sensitive to both pathological and physiological brain states. The core of this thesis examines rs-fMRI as a biomarker for two clinical entities: glioblastoma and aging. Reliable biomarker development requires both methodological rigor and analytic breadth, knowing what the method …

Sex-Specific Autosomal Susceptibility Loci In Systemic Sclerosis: A Genome-Wide Association Study, Inmaculada Rodriguez-Martin, Martin Kerick, Carlos Rangel-Peláez, Carlos Rosa-Baez, Gonzalo Borrego-Yaniz, Lourdes Ortiz-Fernández, Alfredo Guillen-Del-Castillo, Carmen P Simeón-Aznar, José Luis Callejas, Oliver Distler, Susanna M Proudman, Mandana Nikpour, Nicolas Hunzelmann, Jeska K De Vries-Bouwstra, Ariane L Herrick, Yannick Allanore, Marta E Alarcón-Riquelme, Lorenzo Beretta, Shervin Assassi, Christopher P Denton, Maureen D Mayes, Javier Martin, Marialbert Acosta-Herrera

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Systemic sclerosis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with marked sex differences in prevalence and severity. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have advanced the understanding of systemic sclerosis genetics, sex-aware approaches remain scarce. We aimed to address this gap by examining autosomal sex-specific genetic factors in systemic sclerosis.

Methods: Based on a chromosomal definition of sex, we conducted a sex-stratified autosomal meta-analysis of GWAS in systemic sclerosis. We retrieved patient-level and control data from a previous GWAS for systemic sclerosis and newly recruited participants from an international multicentre collaboration (data cutoff June 1, 2024). Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) were …

Single-Nucleus Brain Transcriptomics Reveals Microglia Dysfunction In Multiple System Atrophy, Rasmus Rydbirk, Frederik Nørby Friis Sørensen, Jonas Folke, Henriette Haukedal, Andrea Asenjo Martinez, Irene Lisa Vargas, Simone Mcgarry, Oline Chantell Hollmann, Camila Gherardelli, Sofia Sepulveda, Adam T Szafran, Michael A Mancini, Sanne Simone Kaalund, Tomasz Brudek, Lisette Salvesen, Sara Bech, Justyna Okarmus, Peter Kharchenko, Morten Meyer, Claudio Soto, Kristine Freude, Abhisek Mukherjee, Susana Aznar, Konstantin Khodosevich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, age-related neurodegenerative disease that shares clinical and pathological features with Parkinson's disease (PD) but presents a more devastating disease course. To elucidate the distinct cellular pathophysiology, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on postmortem striatal brain tissue from 7 MSA and 12 PD patients, and 10 non-neurological cases. Here, we show significant compositional differences in astroglia and microglia subtypes, while oligodendroglia and neurons are comparable. PD brains show abundant microglia expressing MHC class II HLA haplotypes, indicative of a proinflammatory state, alongside more homeostatic astrocytes. In contrast, MSA lack activated microglia but has more …

Promoting Mental Wellness And A Calm Learning Environment In A 2nd Grade Classroom, Grace Tone

Capstone Projects

Promoting mental wellness and implementing cognitive behavioral strategies brings awareness to staff and students and helps to promote a calm learning environment. School-based occupational therapists support students to participate in school occupations that they may be struggling with and provide them with cognitive behavioral strategies to regulate their emotions. The ACOTE concentration area for this capstone included education to staff members on the impact of mental wellness on student participation in school occupations and education on the Calm Moment Cards program from Every Moment Counts. The second ACOTE concentration area for this capstone was program development for sustainability of the …

A “Found-Down” Non-Traumatic Compartment Syndrome Of Upper Extremity Requiring Amputation, Nicholas Ray, Aileen Ebadat

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Bilateral Intracranial Subdural Hematoma Following Epidural Anesthesia, Eric B. Cox, Adaeza Onuoha

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Polypoid Endometriosis With Endometroid Intraepithelial Neoplasia Mimicking Malignancy, Austin T. Jones, Charles M. Quick, Monique A. Spillman

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

From Hard Hat To Headache: Cryptococcal Empyema And Meningitis In A Newly Diagnosed Hiv-Positive Construction Worker, Sebastian Echegaray, Collin Vargas, Vy Ngo

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Non-Surgical Pneumoperitoneum Following Vaginal Intercourse: A Case Report, Jessica Gocinski, Linda Haddox

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Fatal Ochrobactrum Anthropi Bacteremia Following Intravenous Stem Cell Therapy In Immunocompetent Patient, Daler Kudratov, Wendy Martinez, Jonathan Barnett

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Coexisting Systemic Lupus Erythematosus And Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura In A Clinically Stable Patient With Class V Lupus Nephritis, Anabel Al Abdallah, Nimmy Joy, Rodrigo Alfaro

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Mme (Mini Medical Education): A Preliminary Study Of A Targeted Curriculum To Improve Resident Knowledge And Clinical Confidence, Andrea Francis, Andres Vivar, Paul Mathew

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

External Iliac Artery Dissection And Thrombosis After Prophylactic Uterine Artery Balloon Occlusion For Placenta Accreta Spectrum (Pas), Anna Parker, Linda Haddox

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, Nafis Deen, Sarita Thanedar, Aaron De La Cruz

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Trends And Demographic Disparities In Septicemia-Associated Cardiac Arrest Mortality In The United States, 1999–2023, Muhammad Owais, Maham Mehfooz, Hamza Nazir, Preeti Advani, Roha Riaz, Khanij Arya, Javeria Nawaz, Syed Hadi Raza Rizvi, Murtaza Aslam, Usman Nazeer, Jairo Melo, Bravein Amalakuhan

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia In Young Hcm Patient With Icd, Michael Rollins, Garza, Laura Preece

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus And Early Peg Tube Complications, Eric E. Romero Rodriguez, Adrian Reta, Angelo Manuel Piazza, Kuljot Bansi

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Carcinoma Of The Bladder Diagnosed Incidentally Following Cesarean Section, Fatima Hussain, Mimi Rogers

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Selfwrap-Assisted Arteriovenous (Save) Fistulas Study: Updates And Preliminary Safety Data, Sydney Parker, Ahmad Lambert, Shir Yelovitch, Mike Barakat, Tim Boire, Ryan Turley

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Structural Degeneration Of The Neoaortic Valve Leading To Pseudoaneurysm And Neurologic Complications Post-Ross Procedure, Cassandra Millan, Sarita Thanedar, Chandra Kunavarapu

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy And Bleeding Risk In Carotid Endarterectomy, Sara Khan, Sydney Parker, Ryan Turley

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction And Bowel Perforation Secondary To Ingestion Of Multiple Foreign Bodies: A Case Review, Kassidy Fix, Mark Jay Cheek

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Right-Sided Endocarditis?: A Case Report Of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis Treated With Angiovac And Review Of Current Literature, Saad Masud, Gongkai Liu, Hayyan Yousuf, Bravein Amalakuhan

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Podoplastic Approach For Diabetic Charcot Foot Reconstruction: Combined Medial Column Arthrodesis, Muscle Flap Closure And Circular External Fixation, Madison Power-Kruger, Alieu Kanu, Joshua Green, Thomas Zgonis

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.