Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Inflammatory Marker Levels Among Patients Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Congenital Heart Defects, Patrick Pearce, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Andrea Iannuzzelli, Jennifer Lecomte

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and congenital heart defects (CHD) are conditions that both confer an immense increase in standard of care, and utilization of medical resources addressing comorbidities. One shared symptom that has been consistently cited is inflammation. This review sought to explore the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-𝞪 (TNF-𝞪) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) between patients diagnosed as having either ASD or CHD. By compiling published data containing the mean values of these two inflammatory markers within these populations, it was shown that while both have significantly elevated levels compared to a phenotypically normal demographic, there is no significant difference between …

The Utility Of An Inpatient Consult For Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion, Pankti P. Acharya, Jason Cohn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) is vocal fold adduction during inspiration

Patients often present with dyspnea, throat tightness, and cough

Common risk factors that predispose patients to PVFM include gastroesophageal reflux disease, psychiatric disease, chronic cough, airway irritation, and female gender

This study was conducted to identify possible risk factors and associated conditions for PVFM; additionally, a novel scoring system was developed to aid in diagnosis of PVFM

A Case Of Akinetic Mutism In Patient With Unilateral Anterior Communicating Artery Stroke, David Ho, Or Shachar, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna, James Lee

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Akinetic mutism, a rare neurological condition involving sensory, motor, language, behavior, and emotional changes, mimicking locked-in syndrome, should be considered in acute stroke patients presenting with speech deficits. This condition, although debilitating initially, does have prospects for recovery. In this case report, we present the case of a patient presenting to the ER for altered mental status, found to be in DKA, NSTEMI, suspected narcotic overdose, and unilateral acute ischemic stroke of the left anterior communicating artery (ACA), who was found to have Akinetic Mutism. In stroke patients presenting with aphasia and dysarthria, it is worth considering akinetic mutism in …