Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Reasons For Not Refilling Medications: A Research Proposal, Tori E. Abdalla, Frederick J. Goldstein

Research Day

INTRODUCTION:

It is estimated that medication non-adherence costs the United States approximately 528 billion dollars annually. Of that amount, it is estimated that only 50% of medications are adhered to for treatment of chronic diseases. Targeting improvement of a single aspect of medication non-adherence, e.g., refill compliance, could increase successful treatment of any medical condition where this a problem. Several broad solutions have been proposed, such as provider education, increased communication, and technology-based interventions; however, without knowing why patients do not refill their medications, providers might not know which solution(s) to initiate.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the proposed study is …

In Vitro Naltrindole Mitigates Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate Induced Superoxide Release In Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Independent Of Delta Opioid Receptor Antagonism, Devani A. Johnson, Taylor A. Dilisi, Juliet Melnik, Denise Pinto, Alexandra Barrera, Arjun Nair, Zinya Talukder, Tameka Dean, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

Introduction:

Naltrindole (NTI) is a selective delta opioid receptor antagonist that recently has been shown to be cardioprotective in both in vivo and ex vivo studies. In vivo, NTI showed cardioprotective effects that were dose-dependent significantly reducing infarct size up to 82% compared to control (p<0.05). In ex vivo isolated rat hearts, NTI significantly reduced infarct size compared to controls (p<0.01). NTI restored cardiac left ventricular end diastolic pressure to near baseline values compared to controls or other general opioid receptor antagonists in ex vivo hearts, suggesting a tissue salvaging mechanism independent of opioid delta receptor antagonism. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) do not express opioid receptors. In this study, we investigated NTI attenuation of PMN superoxide (SO) release in vitro. We hypothesized that NTI would attenuate SO release in PMNs via a calcium handling mechanism, a similar mechanism that explained cardioprotective effects of NTI pretreatment that mitigated ischemic hypercontracture that is due to an increase in intracellular calcium.

Methods:

Rat PMNs (5x 106) were incubated for 15 min at 37oC in the presence or absence (dH2O vehicle control) of NTI (10μM, 50μM, or 200 μM). PMN SO release was calculated by the change in absorbance at 550 nm over 420 sec via ferricytochrome c reduction after phorbal 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA) stimulation (100nM). …

Atraumatic Hamstring Tendon Rupture Causes Massive Lower Extremity Pyomyositis; Initially Read As Neoplasm, Anthony Cappellino, David Sevitski

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Pyomyositis is a rare bacterial infection of skeletal muscle resulting in pain, tenderness, fever, and abscess formation, most commonly caused by staphylococcus aureus. Risks factors of pyomyositis include muscle trauma, skin infection, injections, and diabetes. Pyomyositis arises from hematogenous seeding predominately affecting immunocompromised patients in moderate climates.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 53 year old female with a past medical history of HTN, HLD, OSA, and obesity initially presented to her PCP with atraumatic right sided lower back pain. The PCP referred the patient for x-ray imaging at L5-S1 that came back negative for fracture. Two weeks after the patient’s initial …

The Effects Of Mitoquinone On Simulated Ischemia/Reperfusion Injuries In H9c2 Cells, Brittany Ott, Juliet Melnik, Meagan Lyons, Kimberly Dowes, Gurpreet Kaur, Lindon H. Young, Robert J. Barsotti, Qian Chen

Research Day

Introduction:

Reperfusion to an ischemic myocardium could result in damage termed myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major factor in I/R injury, producing less ATP and generating more reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is an antioxidant that highly accumulates in the mitochondria. However, the dose-response effects and underlying mechanisms of MitoQ on simulated I/R injury have not been well established.

Objectives:

We hypothesized that H9c2 myoblast cells would be damaged by simulated I/R. Moreover, MitoQ would attenuate myocardial injury, characterized by increased cell viability, compared to non-treated control.

Methods:

The H9c2 myoblast cells (less than 20 passages) …

Protein Kinase C Beta Ii Inhibitor Combined With Conjugated Myristic Acid And Trans-Activator Of Transcription Achieves Cardiovascular Protection In Porcine Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Model, Juliet M. Melnik, Kayla Harrell, Arjun Nair, Desmond Boakye Tanoh, Sunit G. Singh, Emily Andrews, Tameka C. Dean, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

Introduction

While timely reperfusion is critical during resuscitation of ischemic myocardium, oxidative stress still leads to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and ultimately, cardiomyocyte death. The major targets for mitigating oxidative stress are NADPH oxidase (NOX-2) and mitochondria, which are both activated by Protein Kinase C Beta II (PKCβII). In previous studies with an ex-vivo rat heart I/R model, Myristic Acid (Myr) and Trans-Activator Transcription (Tat) conjugated PKCβII inhibitor (Myr-Tat-PKCβII-; N-Myr-Tat-CC-SLNPEWNET) showed cardioprotective effects and a decrease in infarct area. In this study, we investigated the cardioprotective effects of Myr-Tat-PKCβII- in comparison with a scrambled peptide control.

Methods

Regional I(1 hour)/R(3 hours) …

Assessment Of Attitudes And Knowledge Of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Amongst Neurosurgeons, Devin Kolmetzky, Dillon B. Gooder, Evan Polly, Sarah Glisan, Zein Al-Atrache, Clint Badger, Steven Yocom, Alan Turtz, Donald Allison

Research Day

Introduction: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is highly researched and integrated into many medical and surgical subspecialties. Though OMM has been shown to have benefits in treating non-specific cervical and lower back pain and managing post-operative pain, it has rarely been integrated or studied in the neurosurgical community.

Method: Using SurveyMonkey, a survey was dispersed to physicians of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Information collected included the provider’s type of practice, degree type (MD vs. DO), familiarity with the tenets of OMM, frequency of referral/use of OMM, comfort level with OMM as a non-surgical pre-op option, a post-op pain …

Building Inclusive And Welcoming Student Health Centers For Transgender Students, Corey N. Brisseau, Peter J. Ehrig, Erika L. Thomas, Sherry Mendez

Research Day

INTRODUCTION:

While health, wellness, and healthcare are essential to every human being, not much is known about the health and healthcare experiences of transgender students on college campuses. Understanding these healthcare experiences are important because when we recognize them, we can establish a healthy relationship of trust. There is a growing number of transgender students on West Chester University campus, who felt they were not getting the appropriate support and care. As a result, a project was started at student health services to help transgender students effectively access sensitive and welcoming care and support.

METHODS:

To address the needs of …

Attitudes And Practice Patterns In The Use Of Omm In Patients With Serious Illness, Corey N. Brisseau, Brenda L. Hoffman, Nicol E. Joseph, Lauren Noto-Bell, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Michael Srulevich

Research Day

INTRODUCTION:

In addition to evidence-based medicine, the osteopathic approach to person-centered care consists of the osteopathic philosophy of integrated structure and function and applying manual techniques to treat somatic dysfunction. Known collectively as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), this approach can be utilized when treating patients with both chronic and acute conditions; however, there is limited data on how often or to what extent OMM is used to treat pain and other symptoms in patients facing serious or life-limiting illnesses.

METHODS:

A voluntary, anonymous survey was created to capture the practice patterns and attitudes of osteopathic physicians, regardless of specialty, in …

Predictors Of Disordered Eating Behaviors Among South Asians Living In The United States: A Work In Progress, Angela Abraham, Alexa Bonacquisti

Research Day

Introduction: According to the National Association for Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD), approximately 9% of the worldwide population is affected by eating disorders. Roughly 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime (Arcelus et al., 2011). Eating disorders are amongst the most serious and deadly mental illnesses. In fact, eating disorders have the second highest risk of death amongst mental illnesses with 10,200 deaths occurring every year directly attributed to them (Arcelus et al., 2011). In particular, Asian Americans may be understudied in terms of eating disorder behaviors (Goel et al., 2022). With respect to eating pathology, …

Resveratrol Downregulates Kif15 In Prostate Cancer Cells, Kyla Geary, Dianzheng Zhang

Research Day

Kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) is best known as a stabilizer for bipolar spindle formation during cell division. By interacting with the actin cytoskeleton, KIF15 is also involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation, and therefore implicated in several types of malignancies including liver, pancreatic, and breast cancers. In castration-resistant prostate cancer cells, KIF15 protects AR/AR-V7 from degradation by binding the N-terminus of AR/AR-V7 and enhancing the recruitment of deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14). On the other hand, KIF15 is upregulated by AR transcriptionally. We have previously reported that resveratrol (RSV) downregulates ARV7 in prostate cancer cells by enhancing …

Non-Malignant Etiologies For Cystectomy: Trends From 2013-2020, Claire Berger, Emily Baus, Young Son, Scott Serpico, Dayna Devincentz, Thomas Mueller, Gordon Brown

Research Day

Introduction:

Simple cystectomy (SC) may be performed for a variety of non-malignant bladder conditions. However, SC can involve many complications. We seek to characterize the indications for SC including neurogenic bladder, interstitial cystitis, radiation cystitis, and fistulae. We aim to provide an updated analysis of the temporal and demographic trends from 2013-2020.

Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was reviewed for patients undergoing SC. The non-malignant etiologies for SC were separated into 9 subgroups: anatomical, autoimmune, benign neoplasm, bladder outlet obstruction/ lower urinary tract symptoms / reflux, fistula, infectious, neurogenic, vascular, and other. …

Rare Presentation Of Primary Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Of A Rectosigmoid Colon In 79-Year- Old With A History Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Mobeena Arif, Joseph Radakovitz, Pallavi Kulkarni, Iryna Hepburn

Research Day

We discuss the case of a 79-year-old immunocompetent male who presented with weight loss and diarrhea and ultimately was found to have rectosigmoid mass on colonoscopy. Considering the likelihood of malignancy, lower anterior resection was performed, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of primary Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the sigmoid colon. Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically presents as painless supra-diaphragmatic lymphadenopathy with B symptoms like fever, unexplained weight loss, and drenching night sweats. Due to the rarity of primary Hodgkin lymphoma in the sigmoid colon, we believe sharing this case will bring awareness to the atypical presentation of Hodgkin lymphomas.

Vaccine Induced Annular Atrophic Lichen Planus, Curtis M. Perz, Jay Chittoor

Research Day

Introduction

Lichen Planus is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects various body regions. Some of the subtypes of lichen planus include hypertrophic, actinic, annular, atrophic, linear, and follicular. Annular atrophic lichen planus (AALP) is a chronic subtype of lichen planus that classically does not respond to treatment with topical steroids. A dermal lymphocytic infiltrate along with a loss of elastin fibers plays a role in the diagnosis of AALP, but the exact pathogenesis remains unclear.

Case Report

We present the case of a 54-year-old African American female who developed annular, pruritic lesions after receiving multiple vaccines. The lesions began after …

Neutrophilic Urticarial Dermatosis: The Presenting Sign Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In A Pediatric Patient, Curtis M. Perz, Ryan A. Apgar

Research Day

Introduction

Neutrophilic urticarial dermatosis (NUD) is a cutaneous eruption that is most commonly seen in conjunction with systemic disease. The diseases include but are not limited to: adult-onset Still disease, Schnitzler syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The eruption presents as rose colored to pink slightly raised plaques with minimal epidermal change. There are subtle morphologic differences in presentation when compared to the classic wheals seen in histamine mediated urticaria. This case demonstrates the importance of recognizing the transient clinical manifestations of NUD and confirming with histologic evaluation as a way to help identify underlying systemic …

Outcomes From An Addiction Medicine Elective For 2nd Year Pcom Do Students, Rachel Caulkins, Anna Klunk, Christopher Suttera, Kayleigh Vanduzer, Frederick J. Goldstein

Research Day

Introduction: According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older had a past-year substance use disorder (SUD). However, the median number of hours of content discussing this clinical issue in medical schools is seven hours. At the PCOM Philadelphia campus, 50 Second Year students (allowable limit) participated in the first Addiction Medicine Elective course in Winter 2022. This was a 6-week long program with one 2-hour session at night (6–8 pm) per week. Classes consisted of sessions with physicians having experience with SUD patients, testimony from those with SUD, Narcan training, …

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy And Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy In Patients With Early Onset Pancreatic Cancer: Clinical Outcomes And Toxicity, Shuchi Sehgal, A V. Reddy, C Hill, T A. Lin, L Zheng, J He, J M. Herman, J J. Meyer, A Narang

Research Day

Purpose/Objective(s): Little is known on optimal management of patients with early onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC), including the role of radiation therapy. As such, we report on a cohort of patients with EOPC (age <55 years) who was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Materials/Methods: This was a single institution retrospective review of patients with EOPC who were treated with upfront chemotherapy followed by SBRT with or without surgical resection. Endpoints included overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related toxicity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on select patient tumor specimens.

Results: From 2016-2021, 47 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age was …

Association Between Race And Early Antibiotic Use In Newborns Admitted To The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rodney Morrison Jr, Alvaro Zevallos Barboza, Diana Montoya-Williams, Dustin Daniel Flannery

Research Day

Introduction: Given the risk of early-onset sepsis, providers frequently prescribe empirical antibiotics to newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Early and prolonged use of antibiotics in uninfected newborns is associated with many adverse effects and potentially life-threatening complications, particularly among those with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500g). Studies of neonatal antibiotic utilization often adjust for race, acknowledged as a social construct, but there is a paucity of data on whether there is an independent association between race and antibiotic use in this population. We hypothesized that Black newborns have higher antibiotic use after adjusting for confounding factors compared to other races.

Design/Methods: Retrospective cohort study including newborns admitted to a NICU from 2012-2021 included in the Premier Health database, which captures inpatient encounters from academic and community hospitals across the US. Early antibiotic initiation was defined as any parenteral antibiotic administered within the first 3 days after birth. Prolonged antibiotic duration …

Exploring The Applicability Of Cisplatin Uptake Inhibitors In The Reduction/Prevention Of Ototoxicity, Si Ja Liu, Dianzheng Zhang, Kyla Geary, Rahul Sinha, Justina Mellone

Research Day

Introduction:

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat many solid tumors, including ovarian, testicular, bladder, lung, and head and neck tumors. The main side effects associated with the drug include nephrotoxicity, peripheral neurotoxicity, and ototoxicity, with ototoxicity being the dose-limiting effect.

Objective:

The study's overall goal is to determine if cimetidine, a cisplatin uptake inhibitor, has protective effects against cisplatin cytotoxicity on hearing cells with minimal reduction in cisplatin's chemotherapeutic effects on cancer cells. To accomplish this, we want to first determine cisplatin's dose- and time-dependent effects on HEI-OC1 cell viability.

Method:

House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) …

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis Secondary To Thyrotoxicosis, Anugraha Kutty, Alexandra Hart, Danielle Palaferro, Pavel Itersky

Research Day

Background:

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis (HPP) is a rare neuromuscular disorder characterized by acute, transient muscle weakness and paralysis secondary to hypokalemia and can be complicated by cardiac arrhythmias. Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis (TPP) is an acquired type of HPP seen in the setting of thyrotoxicosis. Most TPP patients present with subtle signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis prior to an acute muscle paralysis event. Therefore, recognizing TPP in the emergency setting is critical in preventing life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, renal, or other systemic complications induced by a hypokalemic state.

Case Report:

An 18-year-old Hispanic male presented to the emergency department, with no past …

Cadaveric Dissection And Prosection Of The Nervous System, Devin W. Kolmetzky, Evan S. Polly, Dillon B. Gooder, Alec R. Dickson, Alayna S. Nelson, Daria Harlamova, Christopher J. Harvey, Jonathan T. Luciani, Samantha A. Allen, Miriah F. Dwyer, Justin M. George, Chase C. Mckevitt, Isabella Benitez-Enriquez, Kayla M. Davenport, Katherine Van Winkle, Kerin M. Claeson

Research Day

Introduction: Physical involvement in cadaveric dissections has been correlated with higher written and practical test scores and improvements in visual-spatial aptitude in medical students. In addition to technical dissections skills, cadaveric dissection also promotes habits of inquiry and improvement, and further formation of personal and professional identities. In 2014, a survey of medical school anatomy course directors revealed that 100% utilize cadavers in their anatomy curriculum, with nearly 85% following regionally organized approaches, rather than systems-based approaches. Regional-based approaches focus on teaching the anatomy and function of a specific region of the body in isolation from other regions, whereas system-based …

Pretreatment With Naltrindole Generates Dose Dependent Effects On Reduction Of Infarct Size During Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion In An In-Vivo Model, Annam Humayun, Sunit Singh, Arianna Gray, Devani Johnson, Tameka Dean, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young, Wangde Dai, Robert Kloner

Research Day

Over one million individuals experience a myocardial infarction (MI) every year. Currently, no therapeutic is available to salvage necrotic cardiac tissue following an MI. The use of a prophylactic agent to reduce infarct size in patients at high risk for an MI would attenuate the development of heart failure. Interventional cardiologists state that a 25% reduction in infarct size is clinically meaningful to reduce heart failure. Previously, a 5 min pretreatment with high dose (HD) naltrindole (NTI) (7.5 mg/kg x 5 min = 37.5 mg/kg, n=3) resulted in a robust 74% (15±6%) reduction in infarct size compared to control in …

A Case Of Double-Positive Anti-Gbm And Mpo-Anca Vasculitis With No Pulmonary Involvement, Deonnie W. Huang, Patrick May, Thanh Nguyen

Research Day

Introduction

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a small vessel vasculitis caused by autoantibodies directed at the glomerular and alveolar basement membranes. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is pauci-immune with no immune deposits. Both vasculitides can lead to precipitation of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. We report a case of a 58 year-old male who presented with acute renal failure with double positive anti-GBM and myeloperoxidase-anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA) but no pulmonary involvement.

Case Presentation

Patient is a 58-year-old male with a past medical history of nicotine dependence who presented to the hospital with abnormal blood work. …

Vision Loss: A Rare Complication Of Intravenous T-Pa In The Treatment Of Acute Ischemic Stroke, Shreya Dundumalla, Brian Smith

Research Day

An 86-year-old African American female presented to a community hospital with intractable left shoulder pain and was admitted for the correction of electrolyte abnormalities. Three days into her hospital course, she developed altered mental status, dysarthria, and facial droop. A CT scan showed no evidence of acute intracranial hemorrhage. After neurologic evaluation and informed consent was given by the patient’s daughter, the decision was made to administer intravenous t-PA for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Two hours after tPA administration, a CT scan showed no evidence of hemorrhagic conversion. Four hours later, the patient began to complain of redness, …

The Effects Of Mitoquinone Pretreatment On Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Cardiac Dysfunction, Kimberly Dawes, Juliet Melnik, Meagan Lyons, Jonathan Amora, Lindon H. Young, Robert J. Barsotti, Qian Chen

Research Day

Introduction:

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used anti-cancer drug notorious for its irreversible cardiac toxicity. Currently, Dexrazoxane is the only FDA-approved treatment for this toxicity. However, Dexrazoxane still bears some serious adverse events, and developing new strategies to mitigate DOX-induced heart damage is critical. Our lab has shown that pretreatment of the H9c2 myoblast cells with mitoquinone (MitoQ), a mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant, and significantly improved cells’ resiliency to DOX. This study aimed to determine if MitoQ pretreatment can preserve cardiac function against DOX-induced damage in isolated rat hearts.

Objectives:

The effects of DOX and MitoQ on cardiac function were evaluated in …

Perfect Storm? Covid-19, Area Deprivation, And Their Association With Pediatric Trauma, Devon Pace, Paulo Castro, Julia Gong, Brandon George, Russell Mcintire, Charles Paidas, Loren Berman, Rosemary Frasso, Colin Plover

Research Day

Introduction: Social determinants of health (SDOH) affect pediatric injury patterns as vulnerable populations are likely to experience more frequent or severe injuries. This study evaluates the association of COVID-19 and area deprivation with pediatric traumatic injuries.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated institutional level I pediatric trauma encounters from 1/2018-8/2022. Patients were assessed relative to the U.S. pandemic declaration date (3/11/2020): pre-COVID (<3/11/2020), early post-COVID (3/11/2020-3/11/2021), and late post-COVID (>3/11/2021). The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) measured SDH-related risk at a census block tract group level. Associations between ADI and COVID-19 and injury mechanism and outcomes (intensive care unit [ICU]/ventilator duration, hospital length of stay, and mortality) were assessed …

Association Of Operative Approach With Postoperative Outcomes In Neonates Undergoing Surgical Repair Of Esophageal Atresia And Tracheoesophageal Fistula, Devon Pace, Paulo Castro, Shale J. Mack, David H. Rothstein, Courtney Devin, Emily Sagalow, Allison F. Linden, Matthew Boelig, Loren Berman

Research Day

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is gaining traction as a first-line approach to repair congenital anomalies. This study aims to evaluate outcomes for neonates undergoing open versus MIS repairs for esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF).

Methods: Neonates undergoing EA/TEF repair from 2013-2020 were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. Proportions of operative approach (open vs. MIS) over time were analyzed. A propensity score-matched analysis using preoperative characteristics was performed and outcomes were compared including composite morbidity and reintervention rates (overall, major [thoracoscopy, thoracotomy], and minor [chest/feeding tube placement, endoscopy]) between operative approaches. Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact test …

Sex And Gender Differences In Attention-Deficit / Hyperactive Disorder (Adhd): A Literature Review, Kaitlyn N. Blair, Min Young Kim

Research Day

Background:

The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Sex and Gender Health Collaborative identified the need for a concise factsheet for clinicians outlining sex and gender differences in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) as ADHD is underdiagnosed, undertreated, and frequently misdiagnosed in women due to lack of recognition of gender-specific presentation. AMWA's goal is to improve access and exposure to sex and gender differences in healthcare as few medical schools educate students on these differences. The poster summarizes the reviewed literature on the prevalence, diagnosis, referral for, prevention, clinical presentation, and treatment of ADHD with a goal to reduce sex and …

Development And Evaluation Of A Virtual Postpartum Psychosocial Support Program Based Upon Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (Act), Tori E. Abdalla, Alexa Bonacquisti

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Improving psychological adjustment and support among women in the postpartum period has great personal and public health significance, with the potential to improve quality of life and functioning for women, children, and families. Despite growing recognition of this need, availability and accessibility of specialized postpartum treatments remain limited, particularly in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lack of in-person treatment options. This project sought to address this need through the development and evaluation of a postpartum psychosocial support program that is delivered in a virtual format.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the project was two-fold: (1) …

Role Of Lipid Droplets And Prostaglandine2 In Coxiella Burnetii Intracellular Growth, Yasmina Sultan, Courtney Wilson, Maria Biancaniello, Steven Wooten, Minal Mulye

Research Day

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that typically infects livestock. In humans, inhalation of Coxiella results in Q fever presented as an atypical pneumonia which may relapse after a prolonged latent period leading to potentially fatal endocarditis. Our goal is to determine the mechanisms Coxiella employs to survive long-term in the host. While the bacterium initially infects alveolar macrophages, in endocarditis patients Coxiella is found in foamy macrophages that are rich in neutral lipid storage organelles called lipid droplets (LDs). Our previous studies show that Coxiella manipulates host LD metabolism via the Type 4 Secretion System (T4SS), a major …

Myristoylated Protein Kinase C Epsilon Peptide Inhibitor (Myr-Pkc Ε-) Mitigates Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury And Pkcε Translocation To Epithelial Cell Membranes In Vivo, Zinya Talukder, Sunit G. Singh, Alexis B. Verwoert, Tameka C. Dean, Devani Johnson, Lisa Shah, Shino Sleeper, Juliet Melnik, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Yanlin Jiang, James George, Anupam Agarwal, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

Introduction:

Delayed graft function (DGF), a post-transplant acute kidney injury, occurs in one-third (~7000) of the total number of kidney transplant recipients (~20,000) in the U.S. annually. It is characterized by prolonged ischemia (~20 mins) and subsequent restoration of blood flow to the previously ischemic renal tissue. Collectively, this is described as renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. During reperfusion of blood to the previously ischemic renal tissue, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from mitochondrial and uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is known to contribute to increased ROS-induced infarct size during reperfusion in myocardial I/R. Previously, Myr-PKCε- when given i.v. …