Laproscopic Robotic-Assisted Common Bile Duct Exploration For Primary Choledochlithiasis 20 Years After Cholecystetomy In A Hostile Abdomen, Enoch Wong, Kristen Payne, James Burdick, Hassan Ahmed

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: The incidence of concomitant cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis is 5-20%. Primary choledochlithiasis more than 3 years after cholecystectomy is an even rarer event with only a handful of case reports in the literature. Robot-assisted laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with intraoperative choledochoscopy is a relatively recent development in biliary surgery. In this report, we describe the use of this technique in a patient with rare presentation and surgically challenging anatomy. Objective: To describe a minimally invasive approach for CBD exploration with extraction of choledocholithiasis in a surgically hostile abdomen and Roux-En-Y anatomy. Methods: This report describes the case of a …

An Evaluation Of The Decline In Primary Care Physician Visits, 2010 To 2021, Anuradha Jetty, Marie Ezran, Alison Huffstetler, Yalda Jabbarpour

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Primary care is the backbone of the United States healthcare system, yet it continues to be underfunded and inaccessible to many. Previous studies explored primary care visit patterns until 2016, leaving gaps in our understanding of how recent factors like state Medicaid expansions, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and population growth have influenced these patterns. Hence, the objective of the current study was to analyze the trends in primary care visits provided by outpatient clinicians over time and by visit type and contextualize study findings within the changing healthcare landscape.

METHODS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2010-2021) …

Formulation Development Of Dual-Compartment Topical Inserts Combining Tenofovir Alafenamide And Elvitegravir For Flexible On-Demand Hiv Prevention, Vivek Agrahari, M. Melissa Peet, Neelima Chandra, Prakash Ramalingam, Pardeep K. Gupta, Sriramakamal Jonnalagadda, Onkar N. Singh, Timothy J. Mccormick, Gustavo F. Doncel, Meredith R. Clark

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a prominent approach for the prevention of HIV infections. While the latest advances have resulted in effective oral and injectable product options, there are still gaps in on-demand, event-driven, topical products for HIV prevention that are safe and effective. Here we describe the formulation development of a dual-compartment topical insert containing tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) and elvitegravir (EVG) that may be administered when needed, vaginally or rectally, pre- or post-coitus, for flexible HIV prophylaxis. Specifically, we describe the lab-scale formulation development, preclinical mucosal safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) testing in rabbits, long-term stability, and scale-up …

Exploring The Impact Of Pain Management Agreements On Physician-Patient Relationship: A Qualitative Analysis From The Patient’S Perspective In Opioid Analgesic Treatment, Shriya Doranala

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pain management agreements are increasingly used in the treatment of chronic pain with opioid analgesics. These agreements aim to reduce misuse of opioids by providing patients clear regulations and requirements to follow during treatment. This study seeks to assess the effect of pain management agreement for opioid treatment on the patient-physician relationship from the perspective of patients with a pain management agreement in the past two years. We recruited participants for the semi-structured interview through online media groups dedicated to patients with chronic pain that is treated with opioids. A cohort of eight individuals recruited from September 2023 to January …

Postpartum Depression In Adolescent Mothers: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Screening Tools, Social And Cultural Interventions, Ysabella M. Co

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Pregnancies among adolescents is often an outcome of improper sex education and understanding. It is vital to provide mothers with the proper medical care and resources throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period to prevent any risks or harm from occurring. With the complexities and stressors of pregnancy at such a young age, it is important for healthcare to provide resources regarding postnatal depression diagnoses and interventions, especially to a population that is at risk for mental health issues. Objective: To provide adolescent mothers thorough medical care and lessen the risk of experiencing postpartum depression. By providing frequent …

The Effectiveness Of Botulinum Toxin Injections In The Management Of Chronic Neck And Shoulder Myofascial Pain: A Nursing Perspective, Jia Zhou

Nursing | Senior Theses

Abstract

Background

Chronic neck and shoulder myofascial pain has long been challenging patients and medical professionals due to its limited response to traditional therapies on top of high recurrence. Physical therapy, oral analgesics, and trigger point injections have only provided partial or short-term relief. As a result, botulinum toxin type A injections have been explored as an alternative treatment. Previous studies have shown promising short-term outcomes, but concerns regarding long-term safety, cost-effectiveness, and potential adverse effects, particularly in older adults, have remained unresolved. These gaps have highlighted the need for comprehensive evaluation from both clinical and nursing perspectives.

Objective

The …

Implementation Of Robotics And Artificial Intelligence To Oncological Surgery, Ian Ngo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background/ significance: Introduced in the late 20th century, robotic systems have enhanced surgeons’ capabilities by providing accurate and precise control of instruments. These systems helped minimize invasiveness in surgical procedures, providing greater precision, and gave flexibility to difficult-to-access areas of the body. Tools powered by AI help surgeons accurately identify and remove cancerous tissues, which can lead to better surgical outcomes and fewer complications. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to focus on evaluating how Robotic-Assisted Systems (RAS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) impact surgical precision, patient recovery, and to address economic efficiencies. associated with integrating said systems into the …

Electrochemical And Nanomaterial Based Strategies For Nonenzymatic Glucose Detection: A Review, Reagan Aviha, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Electrochemical glucose sensing technologies have undergone significant evolution, with continual advancements aimed at improving sensitivity, selectivity, and user convenience. This review systematically explores the development of emerging nonenzymatic glucose sensor designs. Nonenzymatic sensors are critically evaluated for their ability to overcome enzymatic limitations, leveraging novel materials and catalytic mechanisms. Additionally, the emergence of smartphone-integrated glucose monitoring systems is highlighted as the fifth generation, representing a paradigm shift toward personalized, real-time healthcare management. Emphasis is placed on the strategies employed to reduce the working electrode potential and enhance analytical performance. Key analytical metrics and real-sample applicability are evaluated, and persistent challenges …

Motion Artifacts (Ma) At-Rest In Measured Arterial Pulse Signals: Time-Varying Amplitude In Each Harmonic And Non-Flat Harmonic-Ma Coupled Baseline, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Mamun Hasan, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Motion artifacts (MA) cause great variability in a measured arterial pulse signal, and treatment of MA solely as a baseline drift (BD) fails to eliminate its effect on the measured signal. This paper presents a study on the effect of MA at rest (< 0.7 Hz) on measured arterial pulse signals using a microfluidic-based tactile sensor. By taking full account of the dynamic behavior of the transmission path from the true pulse signal in an artery to a measured pulse signal at the sensor, the tissue-contact-sensor (TCS) stack, an analytical model of MA in a measured pulse signal is developed. In this model, the TCS stack is treated as a 1DOF system for its dynamic behavior; MA is quantified as the displacement (i.e., BD) and time-varying system parameters (TVSP) of the TCS stack. The mathematical expression of MA in a measured pulse signal reveals that while BD remains as low-frequency additive noise, TVSP causes time-varying harmonics in a measured pulse signal. Further time-frequency analysis (TFA) of measured pulse signals validates the existence of TVSP and, for the first time, reveals its effect on a measured pulse signal: time-varying amplitude in each harmonic and non-flat harmonic-MA-coupled baseline.

The Effectiveness Of Botulinum Toxin Injections In The Management Of Chronic Neck And Shoulder Myofascial Pain: A Nursing Perspective, Jia Zhou

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Developing A Nursing Early-Intervention Bundle To Decrease The Prevalence Of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome, Aneesha Biju

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) has become an increasingly recognized challenge in critical care as more patients survive prolonged mechanical ventilation and lengthy ICU stays. Although lifesaving interventions support recovery from the primary illness, many patients develop new or worsened physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments after discharge. These complications often limit independence, slow recovery, and create long-term burdens for both patients and families. Research shows that early, consistent nursing interventions, such as delirium prevention, early mobility, mental health support, and family communication, can reduce the risk of PICS. The absence of a unified and standardized approach results in inconsistent practices and …

Electrochemical Detection Of Prostate Cancer—Associated Mirna-141 Using A Low-Cost Disposable Biosensor, Alexander Hunt, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. The early detection of aggressive forms is critical. Current diagnostic methods, including PSA testing and biopsies, are invasive and often yield false results. MicroRNA-141 (miRNA-141) has emerged as a promising non-invasive biomarker due to its elevated levels in the urine of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Here, a low-cost, paper-based electrochemical biosensor for the sensitive detection of miRNA-141 in synthetic urine is reported. The device employs inkjet-printed gold electrodes on photopaper, functionalized with thiolated single-stranded DNA-141 capture probes for specific target recognition. The biosensor …

Fabricating Silver-Ceria Polymer Nanocomposite Scaffolds For Biomedical Therapeutic Applications, Shreya S. Pawar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Improper healing of bone fractures and limited regeneration of bone following bone tumor resection remain a prevalent complication worldwide. Long-term effects of this include joint instability, limited movement, and arthritis. Bone infections (osteomyelitis), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via excessive inflammation, and underlying conditions such as osteoporosis can contribute to suboptimal bone tissue regeneration. ROS accumulation stimulates osteoblast apoptosis, while promoting osteoclast differentiation. These processes inhibit mineralization and osteogenesis. Conventional therapeutics involve the utilization of drugs and bone grafts. However, these approaches pose limitations and can result in subsequent complications. Microbial infections, ROS accumulation, and excessive inflammations are factors that …

Allograft Reconstruction For Fluoroquinolone-Induced Achilles Rupture: A Case Study, Val Haddon, Brandon Mojica, Joel Santana, Marjory Jones

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Saline Sonography Vs Hysteroscopy For Evaluation Of The Uterine Cavity, Sonam Parag, Mark Sanchez, Yissa Fonticiella, James Baron

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Breaking The Iv Habit: Oral Antibiotics For Gram-Negative Bacteremia In The Modern Era, Adam Albadawi, Maria Milko

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Hidden Risk Of Bupropion Overdose: Pulseless Electrical Activity Without Seizures And A Deceptively Normal Ekg, Yasmin Aboutaleb, Helen Diaz-Garcia, Nicole Santiago-Gonzalez, Omar Perez Feliciano

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Closed Small Bowel Obstruction With Mesenteric Strangulation, Michael Calderon, Parth Patel, Patricia Abbitt, Chase Croft

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Formalized Education Of Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Peripheral Line Placement In A Family Medicine Residency, Lucas Zadan, Gloria Travieso-Zadan, Sean Quinonez

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

American Heart Association Blood Pressure Classification And Subsequent Risk Of Preeclampsia, Rebecca Horgan, Erkan Kalafat, Elena Sinkovskaya, Alfred Abuhamad, George Saade

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background: In 2017, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology updated their hypertension guidelines for the nonpregnant population, lowering the diagnostic thresholds to systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg. This reclassification has raised important questions regarding whether blood pressure (BP) values previously considered within the normal range in pregnancy may, in fact, confer an increased risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs).

Objective: To evaluate the association between first-trimester BP classified by AHA thresholds and the subsequent development of HDPs.

Study design: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort …

A Rare Complication Of Dilation And Evacuation: Unrecognized Extrauterine Retained Products Of Conception, Aviana Terschueren, Lauren Siewertsz Van Reesema, Joseph Hudgens

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Surgical abortions, including dilation and evacuation, are among the safest gynecological procedures, with complication rates ranging from 0.5–4.0%. Uterine perforation, though rare (0.2–0.8%), can result in serious sequela, including translocation of retained products of conception into the abdominal cavity. We present a rare case of abdominal retained products of conception following a second-trimester dilation and evacuation.

Case Report: A 29-year-old G3P1112 underwent an elective surgical abortion at 17 weeks’ gestation, complicated by hemorrhage necessitating transfer to an outside hospital. She was treated with uterotonics and a blood transfusion and was discharged after a 6-day hospitalization. Initial transvaginal ultrasound showed …

Training Set Augmentation And Harmonization Enables Radiomic Models To Detect Early Onset Of Lung Cancer, Claire Huchthausen, Menglin Shi, Gabriel L.A. Sousa, James Larner, Einsley Janowski, Jonathan Colen, Krishni Wijesooriya

Data Science Faculty Publications

Radiomics-based machine learning models have the potential to detect lung cancer at inception from CT scans and transform patient outcomes. Low malignancy rates in early-development pulmonary nodules (PNs) and variable image acquisition hinder development of clinically applicable radiomics-based early detection models. To address these challenges, we augmented training using later-development PNs and harmonized for acquisition effects. We first trained machine learning models to predict PN malignancy using radiomic features from scans of early-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 187) harmonized using ComBat. Observing near-chance performance, we augmented training with later-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 225). We evaluated …

Learning From Leads: A 1d Dilated Resnet For Ecg Chagas Disease Screening, Somesh Saini, Matheus Lima Diniz Araujo

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Treatment Sequence With Tebentafusp And Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors In Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma And Metastatic Gna11/Gnaq Mutant Melanocytic Tumors, Florentia Dimitriou, Marlana Orloff, Erica Koch Hein, Phil Cheng, Isaac Hughes, Ester Simeone, Kamaneh Montazeri, Piyush Grover, Inderjit Mehmi, Camille Gerard, Caroline Gaudy-Marqueste, Jean-Jacques Grob, Olivier Michielin, Omid Hamid, Georgina Long, Ryan Sullivan, Ellen Kapiteijn, Douglas Johnson, Paolo Ascierto, Anthony Joshua, Richard Carvajal, Marcus Butler, Jessica Hassel, Reinhard Dummer

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) is rare. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown modest efficacy in mUM. Tebentafusp prolonged overall survival (OS) in a phase 3 study. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the sequence of tebentafusp and ICIs.

METHODS: Patients with HLA-A * 02:01 positive mUM, or metastatic GNA11/GNAQ mutant melanocytic tumors treated with tebentafusp followed by ICIs (group 1) or the inverse sequence (group 2) at any treatment line were retrospectively identified. The primary objective was OS rate at 2 years.

RESULTS: 131 patients were included; 51 in group 1 and 80 in group 2. …

Alpha-Synuclein Interaction With Gedunin, Tony Matundura Nyabayo

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other Proteinopathies develop when α-synuclein misfolds and aggregates into toxic amyloids. While existing treatments for PD are primarily focused on managing its symptoms, a viable solution for slowing down the progress of Parkinson’s disease involves targeting the toxic α-synuclein amyloids. Gedunin, a natural inhibitor of heat shock protein 90, has been extensively used to treat malaria. Also, recent research investigations have shed light on its potential beyond malaria therapy, indicating that Gedunin may offer a possible solution for treating a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Using plate-based assays, we examined how Gedunin influences α-synuclein fibrillation and its …

Is Pathogen Molecular Testing Reshaping Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing?, Barbara D. Alexander, William D. Irish, Adriana E. Rosato, Barry I. Eisenstein, Maren S. Fragala, Steven E. Goldberg, David B. Nash

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Clinician Perspectives On Virtual Reality Use In Physical Therapy Practice In The United States, Danielle T. Felsberg, Jared T. Mcguirt, Scott E. Ross, Louisa D. Raisbeck, Charlend K. Howard, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

The primary goal of physical rehabilitation is to assess movement impairments and restore function to improve overall quality of life. Virtual reality (VR) may provide the optimal environment to promote these goals due to its motivating and modifiable nature which can be difficult to accomplish through traditional real-world therapeutic methods. Current research of VR for rehabilitation has demonstrated that VR interventions can produce clinically meaningful change in motor outcomes. Despite this, adoption and usage of VR by physical therapy professionals is unclear due to the limited research in this area. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the …

An Analytical Model Of Motion Artifacts In A Measured Arterial Pulse Signal—Part I: Accelerometers And Ppg Sensors, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Subodh Toraskar, Mamun Hasan, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper, the first of two parts, presents an analytical model of motion artifacts (MAs) in measured pulse signals by accelerometers and photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors. As the transmission path from the true pulse signal in an artery to the sensor output (measured pulse signal), the tissue-contact-sensor (TCS) stack is modeled as a 1DOF (degree-of-freedom) system. MAs cause baseline drift of the mass and simultaneously time-varying system parameters (TVSPs) of the TCS stack. With arterial wall displacement and pulsatile pressure serving separately as the true pulse signal, an analytical model is developed to mathematically relate baseline drift and TVSP to a …

Motion Artifacts Removal From Measured Arterial Pulse Signals At Rest: A Generalized Sdof-Model-Based Time-Frequency Method, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Motion artifacts (MA) are a key factor affecting the accuracy of a measured arterial pulse signal at rest. This paper presents a generalized time–frequency method for MA removal that is built upon a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model of MA, where MA is manifested as time-varying system parameters (TVSPs) of the SDOF system for the tissue–contact-sensor (TCS) stack between an artery and a sensor. This model distinguishes the effects of MA and respiration on the instant parameters of harmonics in a measured pulse signal. Accordingly, a generalized SDOF-model-based time–frequency (SDOF-TF) method is developed to obtain the instant parameters of each harmonic in …

Upper Airway Soot And Facial Burns Do Not Necessitate Intubation, Jessica Burgess, John Dubensky

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction

Identifying which patients are at risk for respiratory decompensation, whether from airway compromise or inhalation injury, is an important component of initial burn resuscitation. Findings that traditionally suggest the need for intubation include cutaneous burns to the face and neck, soot seen in the upper airway, and carbonaceous sputum. However, evidence suggests that a significant number of pre-burn center intubations are ultimately unnecessary. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if head and neck burns or sputum seen in the upper airways were correlated with the need for intubation.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of adults admitted …