Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

From Bench To Bedside: Bridging The Gap Between Animal Behavior Research And The Study Of Human Personality And Psychopathology, William Reckley, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Most psychopathology focuses on the current mental picture of an individual with some including relations to the past experience. One problem with the biomedical studies of psychopathologies is the difficulty in using animals to describe and model these mental states in humans. This difficult task has been confounded by the inability to classify animals in a way that will provide general models that will allow better translation to hypotheses in humans. Therefore, the present investigation explores statistical/research strategies to organize variables using lab animals to facilitate the translation of this information to humans.

Methods: Factor analysis/PCA was used to …

Identification Of Mir-660-5p Targets Involved In Breast Cancer Progression, Valeria Villarreal García, José Roberto Estupiñan Jiménez, Diana Reséndez Pérez, José Manuel Vázquez Guillén, Fermin Mar Aguilar, Pablo E. Vivas Mejía, Vianey González Villasana

Research Symposium

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer in women globally. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in different processes of BC; their deregulation can make them act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, participating in cancer progression. Using the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database, we found miR-660-5p significantly overexpressed and associated with poor survival in patients with this pathology. It is reported that miR-660-5p induces proliferation, migration, and invasion in BC. However, the specific targets of this miRNA that induce each of these processes are unknown. In this project we propose to identify the targets of miR-660-5p involved in proliferation, migration, …

Cardiac Tamponade: Innovative Sternotomy Simulation Model For Training Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Team, Tolu Akinpelu, Mohammed Alhendy, Malarvizhi Thangavelu, Karen Weaver, Nicole Muller, James Mcelroy, Daniel Nento, Utpal Bhalala

Research Symposium

Introduction: Cardiac tamponade occurring after cardiac surgery is rare but life threatening and requires simultaneous resuscitation and emergent sternotomy by the intensive care team. A simulated scenario using innovative mannequin with sternotomy wound has the capability of reproducing cardiac arrest associated with postoperative tamponade. We evaluated the face validity of this innovative mannequin, the confidence level and crisis resource management skills of the team during sternotomy to manage postoperative cardiac tamponade.

Methods: The simulation case scenario was developed using innovative sternotomy mannequin for children’s hospital cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) teams. The case involved a 3-year old male, intubated, mechanically …

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid In The Midbrain: Role In Sensation, Perception, And Neurological Disorders, Truc Le, Cristian Botello, John Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Altered GABA expression in the midbrain is associated with neurological conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s Disease. In the genetically epilepsy prone rat, an increase in GABA neurons in the inferior colliculus increases seizure susceptibility. In contrast, Parkinson’s Disease is associated with altered GABA expression in the substantia nigra. The purpose of this study is to identify patterns between the sensory and motor regions of the midbrain and to quantify a baseline of GABA neurons in these areas.

Methods: The Allen Institute’s reference atlas of the mouse and BrainMap.org was used to identify the sensory and motor areas of the …

The Role Of Community Pharmacists In The Provision Of Medication For Opioid Use Disorder Treatment In Rio Grande Valley, Tamara Al Rawwad, Ammar Kawaleet, Lydia Aguilera, Adrian Sandoval

Research Symposium

Background: The misuse of opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl, has reached epidemic proportions in the US, resulting in more than 68,000 overdose deaths in 2020, and a total of $78.5 billion a year of economic burden. In response to this crisis, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a strategic plan to combat opioid abuse and misuse, recommending a multidisciplinary approach, including the inclusion of pharmacists in the efforts. The aim of this study is to examine pharmacists’ perception of their role in the provision of medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD) in addition to …

Social Determinants Of Health And Stage Of Presentation Of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Taha Al Hassan, Saba Suleman, Adam Bender-Heine, Rachel A. Giese

Research Symposium

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors that contribute to the development of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the Rio Grande Valley and understand factors that may be associated with advance stage at presentation.

Methods: Initially 1,609 charts from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley outpatient clinics were evaluated for a diagnosis of SCC and 69 patients were identified for potential inclusion. 44 patients were included for final analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 28.0.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted.

Results: Patients without insurance coverage were more likely to present with …

Gangrenous Appendicitis In An Elderly Male, Suneet Johal, Shadi Jafari-Esfahani, Maria Najam

Research Symposium

Background: Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen with 250,000 cases reported annually in the U.S. Clinical manifestations include right lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and low grade fever. However, in the elderly population they may present with atypical or non-specific symptoms of appendicitis.

Case Presentation: An 82-year-old Hispanic gentleman presents to the emergency department with chief complaint of epigastric pain, dizziness and vomiting after eating breakfast in the morning. He reports the epigastric pain is sharp, 4/10, radiating to the left arm with no alleviating or aggravating factors. Vitas on presentation showed a temperature …

Connectome Specific Harmonic Wave Analysis Of Disordered Brain States, Stephen A. Odunsi, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: Connectome Harmonics analysis is a novel neuroimaging framework that defines brain states as neural spatial patterns associated with different frequencies emerging within a brain. Frequencies corresponding to specific brain states, or connectome-specific harmonic waves (CSHWs), are estimated to be the building blocks of brain activity, linking cortical oscillations, functional connectivity, and structural connectivity. Using this framework, studies will examine CSHWs of patients to catalog and analyze the spatiotemporal neural dynamics of patients with disordered brain states.

Methods: By using MRI (or fMRI) and DTI data extracted from MRI scans of patients, cortical surface anatomy and the underlying neural tracts …

The Morbidity Of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome Is Similar To That Of Hip Osteoarthritis Awaiting Total Hip Arthroplasty, Sonia Wadekar, Joel Wells, Avneesh Chhabra, Yin Xi, Emily Middleton

Research Symposium

Background: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is characterized by chronic lateral hip pain and dysfunction. While psychosocial measures of other tendinopathies have been gaining traction, GTPS is less well studied. We sought to characterize the morbidity upon presentation of GTPS and compared it to patients with end-stage, hip osteoarthritis (OA) awaiting total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: This study examined patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs) on activity limitations, quality of life (QOL), pain, and level of disability, in all patients with GTPS and end-stage, pre-THA hip OA. All patients presented at a single academic medical center between October 2016 to November …

Changes In Severity Of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Hip Surgery, Amisha Mehta, Joel E. Wells, Sonia Wadekar, Taylor Price, Donald Kasitinon

Research Symposium

Introduction: Despite growing evidence that suggests an association between hip pathology and pelvic floor disorder (PFD), the comprehensive effects of hip surgery on PFD symptoms are not well understood. The primary purpose of this study was to report the role of surgical hip procedures on the severity of PFD symptoms.

Methods: A prospective database of demographic and outcome data for all female patients that were operated on between 2019-2020 at a single institution was queried. The PDFI-20 was used to assess symptom severity, and cases with both pre and postoperative surveys were included (n=62). MCID was used to determine significance …

Characterization Of Prostate Cancer In Transgender Women, Simita Gaglani, Rajveer Purohit, Ashutosh Tewari, Dara Lundon, Natasha Kyprianou

Research Symposium

Background: The risk of developing prostate cancer (PC) in transgender women is unknown. Many patients are unaware that the prostate is not removed during male-to-female surgical transition. It is unclear what the exposure of estrogens and androgen blockers in these transgender patients has on the prostate. Our aim was to examine and characterize the different presentations of PC in published cases and augment this with an additional case series from one institute.

Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively maintained medical records was performed identifying features of PC diagnoses in transgender women. These included age, duration of feminizing hormone therapy, PSA …

The Importance Of A Broad Differential Diagnosis: Hepatitis C Virus Associated Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis, Shadi Jafari-Esfahani, Christine E. Loftis, Juan Naranjo, Emilia Dulgheru

Research Symposium

Introduction: Mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCS) is a systemic inflammatory syndrome affecting small-medium sized vessels due to the presence of type II or III cryoglobulins in the serum. MSC can manifest as systemic vasculitis with symptoms varying from weakness, arthralgia, palpable purpura, peripheral neuropathy, and renal involvement. The most common cause of MCS includes lymphoproliferative disorders, autoimmune diseases and viral infections, with hepatitis C virus (HCV) being the most common etiology.

Case Presentation: A 60-year-old lady was referred to our office for evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis. She reported history of bilateral thumb pain, bilateral knee pain associated with episodes of swelling, …

Granulomatous Mastitis: A Rare Or An Underdiagnosed Disease?, Shadi Jafari-Esfahani, Juan Naranjo, Christine E. Loftis, Emilia Dulgheru

Research Symposium

Introduction:Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a benign chronic inflammatory breast disease that is poorly understood, with no universal agreement on underlying etiologies and treatment protocol. The proposed etiologies include trauma, metabolic processes, hormonal changes, autoimmune disorders, and infections. This entity commonly presents with unilateral painful firm and erythematous breast mass, and less frequently with areolar retraction, fistula formation and ulceration. The disease is more common in Hispanic and Asian population. Due to its inflammatory nature, the mainstay of treatment includes a tapered course of high-dose corticosteroid, and methotrexate has proven to be effective in some cases.

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old …

Recognizing Fatal Electrocardiography Rhythm Changes In A Patient With Severe Hyperkalemia And Prevention Of Cardiac Arrest With Medical Management In Small Hospitals, Semenawit B. Burka, Eduardo Flores, Johnathan Gyebi-Agyepong

Research Symposium

Background: Hyperkalemia is one of the most potentially lethal electrolyte disorders. Severe hyperkalemia is defined as a serum potassium level of >6.5 mEq/L. The risk of arrhythmias increases with potassium values >6.5 mEq/L. Small elevation above this value can cause peaked T waves to quickly progress to ventricular fibrillation or asystole. The longer the patient has elevated potassium concentrations, the greater the risk of sudden deterioration. Therefore, recognizing ECG changes and acting quickly to decrease potassium concentration is important to prevent hyperkalemic cardiac arrest.

Case Presentation: A 26-Year-old man with a history of congenital hypoaldosteronism presented to the emergency department …

Clinical And Social Profile Of Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis In Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Selena Zavala-Pérez, Erika A. Vargas-Orozco, Juan Carlos Hernandez-Martinez, José Francisco Flores-Gómez, Marisol Rosas-Diaz, Esperanza Milagros Garcia-Oropesa

Research Symposium

Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It generally causes pulmonary tuberculosis, with symptoms such as fever and expectoration. In 2020, the total number of tuberculosis cases worldwide was about 9.8 million, with a mortality of 1.5 million. In Mexico, pulmonary tuberculosis represents 79% of the total cases of tuberculosis, with an incidence of 24 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Tamaulipas ranks fifth nationally. This study seeks to determine the frequency in which social and risk factors associated with predisposition to tuberculosis occur in the population of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

Methods: Through an observational and descriptive study, data were …

Evaluating Internal Medicine Resident Cardiology Knowledge By In-Service Training Exam Performance: A Four-Year Review, Schamma Salomon, Chelsea Chang

Research Symposium

Introduction: The In-Service Training Examination in Internal Medicine (IM-ITE) has been offered annually to all trainees in U.S. medical residency programs since 1988. Its purpose is to provide residents and program directors with an objective assessment of each resident's performance on a written, multiple-choice examination and the performance of the residency program compared with that of its peers. This study aims to determine which measurable educational objectives contributed to improving In-training examinations in cardiology and which did not. Furthermore, we hope to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the current knowledge to objectively evaluate and improve our cardiology rotation and …

Validity-Reliability Of The E-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale In Turkish Adults, Sevil Karahan Yılmaz, Gunay Eskici, Osman Emir Sarac

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: This study aims to establish the validity-reliability of the Turkish version of adult e-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale and to determine its relationship with the Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale, and participants’ characteristics. Material and Methods: Drawing on a methodological and descriptive design, this research was performed in two steps. It was conducted with 240 participants in the first step and 879 participants in the second step. The participants filled out the eHealthy Diet Literacy Scale, Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale. The questionnaire form was sent to the …

The Santa Clara, 2023-09-29, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Are Mitochondrial Therapeutics The Next Disruptor In Molecular Healthcare?, Benedict Albensi

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

What's At Uta, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Meet The Stimulus Team, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

A Thirty-Five Year Journey Back To Uta, Uta Loyal

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Pelvic Fracture Urethral Trauma– Going With The Flow, Frank Burks

Website/Multimedia Contributions

No abstract provided.

Opioid Impacts On Cardiovascular Health, Erjola Toska, Harvey N. Mayrovitz

HPD Articles

The prevalence of opioid use in the current opioid epidemic era has led to a public health emergency due to the ties to mortality and morbidity. Studies have investigated opioids’ impacts on different aspects of cardiovascular health, although there seems to be a lack of a current concise review. Therefore, the aim of this literature review is to provide a summary of the most recent studies from the past decade that postulate a connection between opioids and their impact on cardiovascular health while highlighting conflicting areas among published research. For this literature review, three databases, PubMed (NLM), EMBASE, and Web …

Misinformation, Trust, And Use Of Ivermectin And Hydroxychloroquine For Covid-19, Roy H. Perlis, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Jon Green, Alauna Safarpour, James N. Druckman, Mauricio Santillana, Katherine Ognyanova, David Lazer

Political Science Faculty Publications

Importance The COVID-19 pandemic has been notable for the widespread dissemination of misinformation regarding the virus and appropriate treatment.

Objective To quantify the prevalence of non–evidence-based treatment for COVID-19 in the US and the association between such treatment and endorsement of misinformation as well as lack of trust in physicians and scientists.

Design, Setting, and Participants This single-wave, population-based, nonprobability internet survey study was conducted between December 22, 2022, and January 16, 2023, in US residents 18 years or older who reported prior COVID-19 infection.

Main Outcome and Measure Self-reported use of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, endorsing false statements related to …

Burn Out To Balance, Emily Jacobs

Website/Multimedia Contributions

No abstract provided.

Massive Transfusion In Trauma– The Basics And Beyond, Kristina Davis

Website/Multimedia Contributions

No abstract provided.

Sglt2 Inhibitors Among Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Akash Jaiswal, Vikash Jaiswal, Song Peng Ang, Muhammad Hanif, Ananya Vadhera, Vibhor Agrawal, Tushar Kumar, Anagha M. Nair, Vamsikalayan Borra, Vamsi Garimella

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been recommended in the practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; however, their effects among patients with preserved ejection fraction have been debatable.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the SGLT2 inhibitor effect among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, including DELIVER and EMPEROR-Preserved trials.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane libraries for relevant articles from inception until August 30th, 2022. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating hazard ratio (HR) using the random effect model with a …

The Role Of Organizational Messages About Mental Health In Disclosure And Support-Seeking Decisions Among First Responders: A Qualitative Investigation, Erin S. Craw, Michelle Miller-Day

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

First responders, especially those without adequate support, are at heightened risk for experiencing adverse mental health outcomes. Workplace mental health interventions for first responders are becoming more common. However, systematic research within the field of communication has not typically informed the development of these workplace interventions. The current study conducted interviews with 26 first responders to examine the messages they receive about mental health from their organizations and how those messages affect their support-seeking decisions. Analysis of the interviews revealed that first responders receive inconsistent messages from their departments about whether to seek support for mental health-related problems, creating confusion …