Diseases Commons^™

Management Of Covid-19 In A Patient With Kartagener Syndrome: A Case Report, Yatin Ramesh Babu, Shivani Patel, Andy Aleman Espino, Mallory Kazaleh, Hamlet Monteagudo, Odalys Frontela

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

The unprecedented global health challenge posed by COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has driven research into its diverse clinical manifestations and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. This report explores the interplay between pre-existing conditions, particularly Kartagener Syndrome, and COVID-19 outcomes. Kartagener Syndrome, characterized by primary ciliary dyskinesia, presents a unique perspective due to its anatomical and physiological features. The case details a 63-year-old female with Kartagener Syndrome admitted with COVID-19 symptoms. The gold-standard approach for Kartagener Syndrome involves comprehensive management strategies, including airway clearance techniques, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions. The patient's treatment encompassed bronchodilators, antibiotics, and subsequent improvements, leading to discharge with a …

To Be Or Not Tb, Gerald Chang, Leidy Huie Martinez Md, Carlos Correa Md, Jose Melendez Md, Brittany Puebla Ms, Yeissen Godinez Md

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an aerosol-transmitted disease that primarily affects the lungs, with active infection presenting as fever, night sweats, weight loss, and productive cough. While it is prevalent worldwide, there may be a lower degree of clinical suspicion in developed countries where it remains uncommon. Therefore, it is important to focus on certain risk factors (travel history, immunosuppression, certain living conditions) in the patient workup. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the presentation and management of a patient with active TB presenting atypically. Case Description: The 47yo male patient with a recent history of pneumonia presented …

Sex-Specific Changes In Gene Expression In Response To Stress In Individuals With Gulf War Illness, Lily Tehrani, Joshua Frank, Melanie Perez, Oskar Zarnowski, Raquel Rossman, Abraham Edelstein, Sadhika Uppalapati, Ana Reuthebuck, Rajendra Pangeni, Lubov Nathanson

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objectives The main objectives of this research proposal are to evaluate sex differences in circulating immune cells gene expression in GWI patients in response to stress modeled by exercise challenge, and sex differences in onset and progression of GWI. Background The underlying mechanisms associated with the onset and progression of GWI, a condition characterized by symptoms such as easy fatigability, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal issues, neurological problems, and hormonal imbalance remains unclear. Methods We evaluated differentially expressed genes (DEG) (fold change ≥ 1.5, FDR ≤ 0.1) by RNA-seq in circulating lymphocytes of 20 GWI female and male …

Malignancy-Related Ascites: Thinking Outside The Liver, Nisha Chachad, Erica Pieper Do, Nisha Chachad, Ana Angeli, Pedro Bayonas Md, Jose Gonzalez-Pantaleon Md

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Introduction. Our objective in discussing this case is to explore an approach to the various etiologies of ascites, thereby encouraging clinicians to consider extrahepatic differentials during disease management. To do so, we examined the following case of ascites in the setting of underlying malignancy. Case Presentation. An 85-year-old female presented with rapid-onset abdominal distension as well as dark stools and shortness of breath. She had also experienced progressive weakness, malaise, and weight loss over the last year. Past medical history was notable for endometriosis, hyperlipidemia, and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. She was mildly tachycardic on admission. Labs were notable for leukocytosis with …

A Qualitative Evaluation Of Huntington’S Disease Perspectives On Social Media, Paige Conrad, Heather Sterchele, Ryan Wong, Sahar Sarrami Amini

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

A Qualitative Evaluation of Huntington’s Disease Perspectives on Social Media Paige Conrad OMS-III Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Heather Sterchele OMS-III Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ryan Wong OMS-III Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sahar S Amini D.O. Objective: The objective of this study is to qualitatively examine the content of the most watched videos related to HD on the social media application Tik Tok and explore how social media is being utilized to discuss the disease. Background: Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder …

Physician Modified Stent Grafts Created Using 3-Dimensional Printing In The Management Of Aortic Disease: A Systematic Review, Gregory Alfieri, Jack Stensland, Sydney Elness, Khavir Sharieff Do,Mba

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness and applicability of PMSGs created from 3D-printed models in managing aortic disease. Background: Endovascular treatment of aortic disease can be challenging, especially with complex anatomy. Three-dimensional (3D) printed models, derived from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, have been used to create physician-modified stent grafts (PMSGs) for vascular procedures involving the aorta. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in July 2024 across Embase, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science using PRISMA guidelines. Keywords included “aorta”, “3-dimensional printing”, and “implant”. Only studies reporting use of 3D printing-assisted PMSGs in aortic disease repair, …

Skin Manifestations In People With Hepatitis C, Erjola Toska, Cameron Minars, Suzanne Riskin

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Skin Manifestations in People with Hepatitis C Authors: Erjola Toska, OMS-III, Cameron Minars, OMS-II, Suzanne Riskin, M.D. Objectives: This study is aimed to summarize the association between hepatitis C infection and dermatological manifestations from the past decade. Background: Hepatitis C is a growing global health concern, with rising incidence rates and an increased likelihood of extrahepatic manifestations, including dermatological conditions. Despite research into the connection between hepatitis C and skin disorders, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on this subject. Methods: Four databases—PubMed (NLM), EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science—were searched for peer-reviewed articles written in English, focusing on …

Use Of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators In High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion, Soumya Malhotra, Khavir Sharieff

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Title: Use of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators in High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion Authors: Soumya Malhotra, BA., MS1 & Khavir Sharieff, DO, MBA2 1Class of 2027, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2Assistant Professor of Surgery, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tampa Bay, FLNova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the advantages of EBGSs following high-risk spinal fusions. Background: Pseudarthrosis is a condition where bones fail to fuse after an injury or surgery. It causes significant …

Emerging Diagnostics And Therapeutics For Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Kiarra Krulikowski, Jake Darbhanga, Suzanne Riskin

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Introduction: The obesity epidemic has pushed fatty liver disease to the forefront of the 21st century. Disease identification can be done invasively with a liver biopsy or noninvasively through elastography and measurements of biomarkers. Presently, there are no FDA-approved drugs on the market to treat the disease. Alternative medicinal treatments have been investigated, which include altering the intestinal microbiota and consuming anti-inflammatory, herbal-based, vitamin-based, and plant-based medications. Methods: In this study, multiple databases were used to identify articles pertaining to fatty liver disease (FLD). All articles gathered from the databases were peer-reviewed and less than 10 years old to ensure …

Nosebleed No More: Recognizing And Diagnosing Factor Viii Inhibitor, Salam Harb, Leidy Huie Martinez Md, Jose Alvarado Md, Ajit Koli Do, Hazem Nasef Ms4

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Acquired hemophilia is a condition characterized by the unexpected onset of severe bleeding due to an issue with coagulation factors. Typically, this disorder results from the production of autoantibodies against the Factor VIII coagulation factor. Although acquired hemophilia is an extremely rare condition, with an annual incidence of just 1.5 cases per million, it is crucial to recognize and understand it. This is because diagnosing this disorder is intricate, and if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to high levels of morbidity and mortality. This case stands out as the condition typically targets older adults, with around 80% of …

Nourishing Skin Health: The Impact Of A Balanced Diet On Chronic Inflammatory Skin Conditions, Archana Banda

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the influence a balanced diet has on the outcome of specific dermatologic conditions notably psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea. Background: Nutritional status is pivotal in shaping holistic wellness, which extends to skin health. Adequate nutrition can prevent the worsening of inflammatory conditions. Methods: A literature review was conducted to analyze how specific dietary habits for selected chronic inflammatory cutaneous conditions influence the presentation and overall clinical outcome. Results: The analysis indicates a higher incidence of flare-ups with diets heavily consisting of carbohydrates, red meat, alcohol, and fats. Specific diets, such as the Western …

Preferences For Starting Daily, On-Demand, And Long-Acting Injectable Hiv Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In The United States (2021-2022): Nationwide Online Cross-Sectional Study, Duygu Islek, Travis Sanchez, Jennifer L. Glick, Jeb Jones, Keith Rawlings, Supriya Sarkar, Patrick S. Sullivan, Vani Vannappagari

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Long-acting (LA) injectable preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and on-demand PrEP may improve overall PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM), but little is understood about the PrEP option preferences of MSM in practical scenarios where they may choose between various PrEP options. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the preferences for starting various PrEP options among a US nationwide online convenience sample of MSM from September 2021 to February 2022. METHODS: Participants reporting no prior HIV diagnosis were provided brief descriptions of each PrEP option and were asked, "If [PrEP option] were available from your local doctor …

Preeclampsia As A Risk Factor For Developing Heart Failure, Blessing Akomas, Confidence Nwalor, Tara Li

Master's Projects

Title: Preeclampsia as a Risk Factor for Developing Heart Failure

Introduction: Preeclampsia affects a significant number of pregnancies worldwide. Preeclampsia has been linked with increased cardiovascular risks for women later in life, thus threatening their life. This literature review examines the existing scientific evidence on the relationship between preeclampsia and the long-term risk of heart failure in postpartum women over a 10-year period.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The Melnyk Level of Evidence tool was used to evaluate 10 studies. Identified studies were published between 2019 and 2023. Thematic analysis was used to …

Long-Read Sequencing Of An Advanced Cancer Cohort Resolves Rearrangements, Unravels Haplotypes, And Reveals Methylation Landscapes, Kieran O'Neill, Erin Pleasance, Jeremy Fan, Vahid Akbari, Glenn Chang, Katherine Dixon, Veronika Csizmok, Signe Maclennan, Vanessa Porter, Andrew Galbraith, Cameron J Grisdale, Luka Culibrk, John H Dupuis, Richard Corbett, James Hopkins, Reanne Bowlby, Pawan Pandoh, Duane E Smailus, Dean Cheng, Tina Wong, Connor Frey, Yaoqing Shen, Eleanor Lewis, Luis F Paulin, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Jessica M T Nelson, Eric Chuah, Karen L Mungall, Richard A Moore, Robin Coope, Andrew J Mungall, Melissa K Mcconechy, Laura M Williamson, Kasmintan A Schrader, Stephen Yip, Marco A Marra, Janessa Laskin, Steven J M Jones

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Long-Read Personalized OncoGenomics (POG) dataset comprises a cohort of 189 patient tumors and 41 matched normal samples sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies PromethION platform. This dataset from the POG program and the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network includes DNA and RNA short-read sequence data, analytics, and clinical information. We show the potential of long-read sequencing for resolving complex cancer-related structural variants, viral integrations, and extrachromosomal circular DNA. Long-range phasing facilitates the discovery of allelically differentially methylated regions (aDMRs) and allele-specific expression, including recurrent aDMRs in the cancer genes RET and CDKN2A. Germline promoter methylation in MLH1 can …

The Complex Relationship Between Tuberculosis And Hyperglycemia, Michelle Byers, Elizabeth Guy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hyperglycemia and tuberculosis are dual global pandemics. Each has a propulsive and amplifying effect on the other, and, because of this, we must consider hyperglycemia and tuberculosis together. Hyperglycemia is immunosuppressive and increases the risk of tuberculosis by threefold. It also leads to a more advanced presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis, thus increasing the likelihood of being smear positive and having cavitating lesions, and it impacts the duration and outcomes of treatment, with an increased one year mortality seen in patients with tuberculosis and diabetes. Additionally, any degree of hyperglycemia can have an impact on susceptibility to tuberculosis, and this effect …

Tumor-Promoted Changes In Pediatric Brain Histology Can Be Distinguished From Normal Parenchyma By Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Ana L Seidinger, Felipe L T Silva, Mayara F Euzébio, Anna C Krieger, João Meidanis, Junier M Gutierrez, Thais M S Bezerra, Luciano Queiroz, Alex A Rosini Silva, Iva L Hoffmann, Camila M M Daiggi, Helder Tedeschi, Marcos N Eberlin, Livia S Eberlin, José A Yunes, Andreia M Porcari, Izilda A Cardinalli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the second most frequent type of neoplasm in childhood and adolescence, after leukemia. Despite the incorporation of molecular classification and improvement of protocols combining chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, CNS tumors are still the most lethal neoplasm in this age group. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool to map the distribution of molecular species in tissue sections. Among MSI techniques, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI-MSI) has been demonstrated to enable reliable agreement with the pathological evaluation of different adult cancer types, along with an acceptable time scale for intraoperative use.

Methods: In the …

Meca In Streptococcus Mutans Is A Multi-Functional Protein, Kassapa Ellepola, Robert C. Shields, Jessica K. Kajfasz, Hua Zhang, Jose A. Lemos, Hui Wu, Zezhang T. Wen

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

UNLABELLED: Our recent studies have shown that deficiency of MecA in Streptococcus mutans significantly affects cell division, growth, and biofilm formation. In this study, an in vitro mixed-species model, proteomics, and affinity pull-down assays were used to further characterize the MecA-mediated regulation in S. mutans. The results showed that compared with the wild type, UA159, the mecA mutant significantly reduced its production of glucans and weakened its ability to facilitate mixed-species biofilm formation. Relative to the wild type, the mecA mutant also displayed unique characteristics, including colony morphology, growth rate, and biofilm formation that did not fully resemble any of …

Seroprevalence And Risk Factors For Cysticercosis In Mexican Americans In Starr County, Texas, Megan M Duffey, Elise M O'Connell, Morgan Jibowu, Fanny E Moron, Lauren M Leining, Nina L Tang, Craig L Hanis, Eric L Brown, Sarah M Gunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection and neglected tropical disease caused by Taenia solium, or the pork tapeworm. Cysticercosis with central nervous system involvement, or neurocysticercosis, is a leading cause of chronic headaches and epilepsy in endemic regions, including Latin America and Asia. In the United States, the epidemiology of cysticercosis has not been well described. We conducted a cross-section serosurvey of Mexican-American adults residing along the Texas–Mexico border (Starr County, Texas) and identified an overall seroprevalence of 7.4% (45/605) for cysticercosis. Brain imaging studies conducted on seropositive study participants identified lesions consistent with calcified neurocysticercosis in 2 of the …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Borrelia Miyamotoi Strain Mn18-0001, An Am-East-2 Strain Type Isolate Derived From An Ixodes Scapularis Tick (Minnesota), Alexander R Kneubehl, Lynn M Osikowicz, Christina M Parise, Taylor J Van Gundy, Adam J Replogle, Job E Lopez, Rebecca J Eisen, Andrias Hojgaard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We report the genomic sequence of the hard tick relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi strain MN18-0001. B. miyamotoi causes human illness and is geographically widespread in Ixodes spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks. This is a chromosome- and plasmid-resolved genome assembly of an Am-East-2 strain type isolate from the midwestern United States.

Best Practice Toolkit For Nursing Staff Caring For Ventilated Patients, Erin Belisle

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Best practice tool kits are used to guide better outcomes for ventilated patients and staff members. Many reasons can contribute to requiring a patient to be on mechanical ventilation, but the most common reasons are a trauma event and infection.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In critical care staff such as nurses, respiratory therapists (RT), and critical care providers caring for mechanically ventilated patients (P), what is the effect of implementing a best practice coordination toolkit (I) compared to standard care procedures (C) on the adherence to best practices by critical care providers (O)? …

Characteristics Of Exacerbators In The Us Bronchiectasis And Ntm Research Registry: A Cross-Sectional Study, Nicole C. Lapinel, Radmila Choate, Timothy R. Aksamit, Joseph Feliciano, Kevin L. Winthrop, Andreas Schmid, Sebastian Fucile, Mark L. Metersky

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (bronchiectasis) are associated with reduced health-related quality of life and increased mortality, likelihood of hospitalisation and lung function decline. This study investigated patient clinical characteristics associated with exacerbation frequency. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study of patients ≥ 18 years with bronchiectasis enrolled in the US Bronchiectasis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Research Registry (BRR) September 2008-March 2020. Patients were stratified by exacerbation frequency in their 2 years before enrolment. Patient demographics, respiratory symptoms, healthcare resource utilisation, microbiology, modified bronchiectasis severity index (mBSI) and select comorbidities were collected at enrolment. Patient characteristics associated with exacerbation frequency …

Genetically Determined Telomere Length In Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance, Multiple Myeloma Risk And Outcome, Matteo Giaccherini, Alyssa I Clay-Gilmour, Romano Liotti, Angelica Macauda, Manuel Gentiluomo, Elizabeth E Brown, Mitchell J Machiela, Stephen J Chanock, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Aaron D Norman, Elisabet Manasanch, S Vincent Rajkumar, Jonathan N Hofmann, Sonja I Berndt, Parveen Bhatti, Graham G Giles, Elad Ziv, Shaji K Kumar, Nicola J Camp, Wendy Cozen, Susan L Slager, Federico Canzian, Federica Gemignani, Celine M Vachon, Daniele Campa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Of A Smartphone-Based Application To Support At-Home Psa Screening And Culturally Tailored Prostate Cancer Education For African American Men: A Study Protocol, Jordan Neil, Bingjing Mao, Ruosi Shao, E. Ogunsanya Motolani, Summer Frank-Pearce, Michael Businelle, Michael Cookson, Kelly Stratton, Mark Doescher, Stephanie Pharr, Valerie Moise, Brianna Fleshman, Jack Fronheiser, Kimberly Estrada, Iván Flores, David Bradley, Ashley Kendrick, Adam C. Alexander

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods. Methods: AA men aged 55 to …

Early Ctdna Kinetics As A Dynamic Biomarker Of Cancer Treatment Response, Aaron Li, Emil Lou, Kevin Leder, Jasmine Foo

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Predicting And Monitoring Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Using Artificial Intelligence In Pancreatic Cancer, Guangbo Yu, Zigeng Zhang, Aydin Eresen, Qiaoming Hou, Farideh Amirrad, Sha Webster, Surya M. Nauli, Vahid Yaghmai, Zhuoli Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, primarily due to its late diagnosis and limited treatment options. This review examines the challenges and potential of using immunotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising tool to enhance early detection and monitor the effectiveness of these therapies. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying gaps in the current research, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how AI and immunotherapy can be integrated to develop more personalized and effective treatment strategies. The insights from this review may guide future research efforts …

The Importance Of Including Maternal Immune Activation In Animal Models Of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Bailey Collins, Elise A. Lemanski, Elizabeth Wright-Jin

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a perinatal brain injury that is the leading cause of cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and poor cognitive outcomes in children born at term, occurring in about 1.5 out of 1000 births. The only proven therapy for HIE is therapeutic hypothermia. However, despite this treatment, many children ultimately suffer disability, brain injury, and even death. Barriers to implementation including late diagnosis and lack of resources also lead to poorer outcomes. This demonstrates a critical need for additional treatments for HIE, and to facilitate this, we need translational models that accurately reflect risk factors and interactions present in …

Genomic Insights For Personalised Care In Lung Cancer And Smoking Cessation: Motivating At-Risk Individuals Toward Evidence-Based Health Practices, Tony Chen, Giang Pham, Louis Fox, Nina Adler, Xiaoyu Wang, Jingning Zhang, Jinyoung Byun, Younghun Han, Gretchen R B Saunders, Dajiang Liu, Michael J Bray, Alex T Ramsey, James Mckay, Laura J Bierut, Christopher I Amos, Rayjean J Hung, Xihong Lin, Haoyu Zhang, Li-Shiun Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer and tobacco use pose significant global health challenges, necessitating a comprehensive translational roadmap for improved prevention strategies such as cancer screening and tobacco treatment, which are currently under-utilised. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) may further motivate health behaviour change in primary care for lung cancer in diverse populations. In this work, we introduce the GREAT care paradigm, which integrates PRSs within comprehensive patient risk profiles to motivate positive health behaviour changes.

METHODS: We developed PRSs using large-scale multi-ancestry genome-wide association studies and standardised PRS distributions across all ancestries. We validated our PRSs in 561,776 individuals of diverse ancestry …

Modeling Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy In Mecp2 Duplication Syndrome Human Ipsc-Derived Neurons Reveals Gene Expression Programs Responsive To Mecp2 Levels, Sameer S Bajikar, Yehezkel Sztainberg, Alexander J Trostle, Harini P Tirumala, Ying-Wooi Wan, Caroline L Harrop, Jesse D Bengtsson, Claudia M B Carvalho, Davut Pehlivan, Bernhard Suter, Jeffrey L Neul, Zhandong Liu, Paymaan Jafar-Nejad, Frank Rigo, Huda Y Zoghbi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genomic copy-number variations (CNVs) that can cause neurodevelopmental disorders often encompass many genes, which complicates our understanding of how individual genes within a CNV contribute to pathology. MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS or MRXSL in OMIM; OMIM#300260) is one such CNV disorder caused by duplications spanning methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) and other genes on Xq28. Using an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to normalize MECP2 dosage is sufficient to rescue abnormal neurological phenotypes in mouse models overexpressing MECP2 alone, implicating the importance of increased MECP2 dosage within CNVs of Xq28. However, because MDS CNVs span MECP2 and additional genes, we generated human …

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation For Fibromyalgia-Like Syndrome In Patients With Long-Covid: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial, Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas, Rasha O Bara, Myeounggon Lee, Miguel Bargas-Ochoa, Tina Phan, Manuel Pacheco, Areli Flores Camargo, Syed Murtaza Kazmi, Mohammad Dehghan Rouzi, Dipaben Modi, Fidaa Shaib, Bijan Najafi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study investigated the effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for fibromyalgia-like symptoms including chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and/or gait impairment in twenty-five individuals with long-COVID. Participants were randomized to a high dose (intervention group, IG) or low dose (placebo group, PG) TENS device. Both groups received daily 3-5 h of TENS therapy for 4-weeks. The Brief Pain Inventory assessed functional interference from pain (BPI-I), and pain severity (BPI-S). The global fatigue index (GFI) assessed functional interference from fatigue. Wearable technology measured gait parameters during three 30-feet consecutive walking tasks. At 4-weeks, the IG exhibited a greater decrease …

Using A Rabbit Model To Understand The Impact Of Oral Versus Intravenous Transmission Of Epstein-Barr Virus, Meera Mohammed Al Ameri

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The isolation of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in 1964 from a case of Burkitt lymphoma prompted a surge in research on the biology of this oncogenic virus and its role in the pathogenesis of associated malignancies. Over half a century later, a number of pertinent questions on the dynamics of EBV and the cellular targets of primary infection remain poorly defined. One major obstacle in EBV research has been the lack of a suitable small animal model. EBV is a highly human tropic virus. We have recently established a novel rabbit model of EBV infection that appears to mimic natural infection …