Diseases Commons^™

Hematometra In A Pre-Menopausal Patient: A Case Report Of Idiopathic Cervical Occlusion, Sandra Zhi, Claire Middleton, Chrystal Stallworth, Mindy Beth Luck, Nicole Tenzel

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Hematometra is a blood collection caused by a structural blockage of the vagina or cervix. Most cases of hematometra and/or hematocolpos occur in a relatively rare condition of imperforate hymen or Mullerian anomalies in children or adolescent patients. Case: We present a case of a 46 year old G2P2002 with a past surgical history of two C-sections with increasingly severe pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding for the prior five years since her last Cesarean delivery. A large hematometra was found on CT imaging. Pelvic exam showed no vaginal abnormalities and a discolored, pale cervix. Digital pressure led to …

Hypothyroidism Associated Hyponatremia, A Complicated Presentation, Gary Lee, Spencer Steinberg, Samiuallh Shahid, Evangelista Ezenduka, Edgardo Flores

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a well known text-book cause of euvolumic hyponatremia that is a rare occurrence in clinical practice in the absence of other potential etiologies of hyponatremia. We review a case of a 48 year old female presenting with profound generalized weakness found to have severe hyponatremia, later found to have severe hypothyroidism during admission. We review the potential mechanisms whereby hypothyroidism results in hyponatremia and whether or not hypothyroidism-induced hyponatremia truly exists and the current evidence supporting these views Case Presentation: 48 year old female with history of hypothyroidism, breast cancer post right lumpectomy and radiation presented for …

Treatment Of Starvation Ketoacidosis In The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy: A Case Report, Christine Le, Charmaine Oladell, Nicole Tenzel

North Texas Research Forum 2025

INTRODUCTION: Starvation ketoacidosis represents a rare but complicated maternal morbidity that primarily occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy. With increased insulin resistance and metabolism manifesting in pregnancy, prompt care is required to diagnose and treat starvation ketoacidosis as it appears at an accelerated rate. However, despite the severity of maternal and fetal complications arising from this condition, standardized treatment protocols have not been elucidated. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report, a 33-year-old gravida 3 para 0-2-0-2 at 31 weeks and 5 days gestational age was admitted to antepartum services for intractable nausea, vomiting, and anuria and transferred to the …

Association Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonist With Risk Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Joane Titus, Vinay Katukuri, Moheb Boktor, Ishak Mansi

North Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Fatal Overlapping Cns Infections: Radiologic Correlates Of Ventriculitis, Encephalitis, And Meningitis​, Jesse F. Simon, Sara Darwish, Stephanie Nagy, Richard Shalmiyev, David Kosoy, Bryan Rubio, Gustavo Pantol, Mauricio Danckers

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: This case study explores an uncommon triad of encephalitis, ventriculitis, and meningitis complicated by ischemic strokes and seizures in a COVID-19-positive patient. Prior studies suggest that bacterial meningitis and encephalitis can lead to cerebral infarctions due to inflammation and vascular injury.1,2,5 Ventriculitis, in particular, is rarely observed and typically is seen as a severe complication of meningitis, and can be managed with neurosurgical interventions such as CSF shunt placement, ventricular drains, or other intracranial devices.3,4 The simultaneous presentation of all three conditions in a single patient is rare and poses significant challenges from a diagnostic and management standpoint.

Case …

A Case Of Gastric Outlet Obstruction Secondary To A Gallstone, Mahesh Tummala, Adam Devine, Akash Tummala, Livasky Concepcion-Perez

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Bouveret syndrome is characterized by a gallstone passing through a bilioenteric fistula causing gastric outlet obstruction and represents 1-3% of gallstone obstructions. Fistualization occurs when chronic inflammation from the gallstone on the gallbladder wall leads to ischemia and perforates into the bowel. Over 60% of patients with cholelithiasis are asymptomatic. Biliary colic is the most common presentation in symptomatic patients. A biliary fistula occurs in 3-5% of cases and just 7-10% of these cases lead to gallstone ileus. The highest prevalence is among women of advanced age. Typical presentation is with general symptoms of nausea/vomiting and vague abdominal pain. …

Quality Improvement Project To Increase Compliance With Standard 5.8: A Community Hospital Institutional Experience., Robert Bender, Nicole Sant 'Elia, Susana Ferra

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Background: The Commission on Cancer (CoC) was established by the American College of Surgeons in 1922. In 2020, they launched the Cancer Surgery Standards Program that introduced six operative standards. Standard 5.8 requires curative intent lung resections to include sampling from at least 1 hilar, and at least 3 mediastinal lymph node stations.

Goal: To increase our institution’s compliance with CoC standard 5.8 to greater than 80% overall adherence.

Method: Included in the study were patients undergoing curative intent lung resection for lung cancer. A protocol, including a documentation paper worksheet with metric requirements, was implemented in February 2024. Monthly …

National Outcomes Of Pre-Emptive Tips In Patients With Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure And Variceal Bleeding, Aya Akhras, Waseem Wahood, Azizullah Beran, Bisher Sawaf, Asad Ur Rahman, David Goldberg, Muhammed U. Shahid

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Background

Pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (pTIPS), defined as placement within 72 hours of initial endoscopic therapy for an active variceal bleed, has been proposed as a strategy to reduce rebleeding and improve survival in high-risk patients with cirrhosis. We evaluated outcomes of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) who presented with variceal bleeding and underwent therapeutic endoscopy (EGD) with or without the addition of pre-emptive TIPS.

Methods

The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2010–2022) was queried for patients with ACLF using previously validated algorithms admitted with variceal upper GI bleeding who received endoscopic intervention. Patients were stratified into two groups: therapeutic …

The Role Of Bandemia In Clinical Outcomes Of Critically Ill Septic Patients., Yerandi Gil, Grettel Gonzalez Garcia, Ambar Sekulis, Rafael Miret, Siddarth Kathuria, Mauricio Danckers, Daniel Heller

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Rationale: Bandemia, defined as the presence of immature neutrophils in circulation, is commonly used as an early marker of systemic inflammation and infection. 1 However, its prognostic significance in sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock remains uncertain. 1-2 This study aimed to determine whether bandemia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and increased intensive care unit (ICU) resource utilization among critically ill septic patients admitted from the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using de-identified data from the HCA Healthcare database. Adult patients (aged 18–90 years) admitted to the ICU at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital from the …

An Unexpected Source Of Gi Bleeding: Enteric Muco-Submucosal Elongated Polyp In The Proximal Jejunum With Literature Review, Galvin Dhaliwal, Dev Patel, Ashvin Singh Dhaliwal, Aakriti Soni, Bilal Ashraf, Shane Sweeney, Sushovan Guha, Ahmed Ouni

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Turmeric, Red Yeast Paste, And Statins: A Recipe For Dili, John V. Nahas, Sinay Ceballos, Franklin Kasmin

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction Drug induced liver injury (DILI) contributes to a significant portion of acute liver injuries and acute liver failure in the west. DILI accounts for approximately 11% of acute liver failure cases in the US according to ACG. Insulting agents are numerous and well documented in the NIH LiverTox database, however the rarity and complexity of individual agents is a matter of ongoing study. Case Description/Methods A 52 year old man with PMH of HTN and HLD presents for a 2 week history of abdominal swelling, bilateral lower extremity swelling, decreased appetite, and positional shortness of breath. He endorses occasionally …

Compelled Contraception, Lars Noah

UF Law Faculty Publications

Can the federal government insist that people use contraceptives? It may come as a surprise to learn that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has done just that as a condition for allowing access to some pharmaceutical products that create a serious risk of birth defects. Over the last few decades, the agency has demanded that patients using certain teratogenic agents—now numbering over a dozen drugs prescribed for a variety of conditions, ranging from severe acne and psoriasis to multiple myeloma and pulmonary hypertension—agree to avoid becoming pregnant, sometimes for years after completing their course of treatment. Undoubtedly the …

Microbial Remodeling Of Gut Tryptophan Metabolism And Indole-3-Lactate Production Regulate Epithelial Barrier Repair And Viral Suppression In Human And Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infections, Clarissa Santos Rocha, Katie L. Alexander, Carolina Herrera, Mariana G. Weber, Irina Grishina, Lauren A. Hirao, Dylan J. Kramer, Juan Arredondo, Abigail Mende, Katti R. Crakes, Anne N. Fenton, Maria L. Marco, David A. Mills, John C. Kappes, Lesley E. Smythies, Paul Ziprin, Sumathi Sankaran-Walters, Phillip D. Smith, Satya Dandekar

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Gut inflammatory diseases cause microbial dysbiosis. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection disrupts intestinal integrity, subverts repair/renewal pathways, impairs mucosal immunity and propels microbial dysbiosis. However, microbial metabolic mechanisms driving repair mechanisms in virally inflamed gut are not well understood. We investigated the capability and mechanisms of gut microbes to restore epithelial barriers and mucosal immunity in virally inflamed gut by using a multipronged approach: an in vivo simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected nonhuman primate model of HIV/AIDS, ex vivo HIV-exposed human colorectal explants and primary human intestinal epithelial cells. SIV infection reprogrammed tryptophan (TRP) metabolism, increasing kynurenine catabolite levels that are …

Association Between Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes And Awareness Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Numom2b-Hhs Secondary Analysis, Elizabeth M. Wendl, Amanda A. Allshouse, Ashley Goodwin, Bri Hobbs, Philip Greenland, Lisa Levine, William Grobman, George R. Saade, Natalie Cameron, C. Noel Bairey Merz, Caroline Rouse, Sarah Rogan, Judith H. Chung, Lauren H. Theilen, National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute Numom2b Heart Health Study Network

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) affect 10%-20% of pregnancies and are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To determine whether the history of APO is associated with a person's awareness of their cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) 2-7 years postpartum.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cohort study in which nulliparous pregnant people were enrolled in the first trimester and followed prospectively. Participants with a CRF (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or prediabetes/diabetes) at follow-up were included. We excluded participants with: pre-gestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, dyslipidemia during the index pregnancy or subsequent pregnancy, and non-fasting blood draws. The exposure …

Editing Approaches To Treat Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Derek M. Erion, Leah Y. Liu, Christopher R. Brown, Stephen I. Rennard, Humam Farah

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

TOPIC IMPORTANCE: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disorder most commonly due to a single G to A point mutation (E342K), leading to debilitating lung and/or liver disorders and is associated with increased mortality. The E342K point mutation causes a conformational change of the AAT protein resulting in its retention in liver hepatocytes. This reduces AAT secretion into the serum resulting in higher protease activities due to the lack of inhibition from AAT, causing damage to healthy lung tissue. The current standard of care for lung manifestations involves weekly IV augmentation therapy and is considered suboptimal for these patients. …

Validation Of Salivary Proteomic Biomarkers For Early Detection Of Oral Cancer In The Egyptian Population, Dalia Ghalwash, Ahmed M. Ammar, Ayman El-Gawish

Dentistry

Purpose: The present study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of important proteomic salivary biomarkers; IL-6, IL-8, and sCD44 in the early detection of oral cancer, and any poss associations with risk factors of oral cancer in an Egyptian population Methods: The present investigation was conducted on 100 individuals; 25 healthy controls, 25 patients having oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) with dysplasia; 25 patients having OPMDs without dysplasia, and 25 oral cancer patients. Demographic data modified gingival index, oral hygiene level, and salivary levels of the biomarkers were assessed. Results: Salivary levels of IL-6, IL-8, and sCD44 progressively increased with increased …

Investigating The Extent To Which Diet-Induced Obesity Alters Gene Expression In Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells Following Influenza Immunization In Mice, Chaitanya Lahari Chowdary Pathipati

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vaccines are a vital tool in preventing diseases, but their effectiveness varies depending on factors like diet and body weight. Obese individuals often experience reduced vaccine protection, as seen with influenza vaccines, where they have twice the risk of getting the flu compared to healthy-weight individuals after vaccination. This study aims to understand why obesity weakens vaccine effectiveness, focusing on the role of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow, known as hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These cells are crucial for producing immune cells that defend the body against infections. Previous research has shown that diet-induced obesity alters …

Cost-Effective Hierarchical Cobalt Nanostructured Laser-Induced Graphene For Enhanced Uric Acid Detection, Anju Joshi, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

This study presents an innovative, cost-effective strategy to develop a flexible, enzyme-free biosensor for the sensitive detection of uric acid (UA). Utilizing electrochemically modified cobalt nanostructured on laser-induced graphene electrodes (CoNCs/LIG), this approach surpasses traditional noble metal-based electrocatalysts in sensitivity and affordability. The one-step electrochemical modification method is efficient and straightforward, enabling the uniform deposition of hierarchical flower-like cobalt nanostructures. These structures synergistically enhance the performance of the LIG, resulting in a broad detection range of 5 to 700 µM with a sensitivity of 6.75 µA µM^-¹ cm^-² and a low detection limit of 3.66 µM for UA. …

Impacts Of Ramadan Fasting During Pregnancy On Pregnancy And Birth Outcomes: An Umbrella Review, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Md Estiar Rahman, May Salama, Ali H. Ziyab, Wilfried Karmaus

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Despite a large number of primary research studies, and systematic and narrative reviews, there is no consensus on the impact of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Currently, there is no evidence-based guideline for Muslim women regarding Ramadan fasting during pregnancy and clinicians cannot provide firm recommendations.

Objectives

To review the current evidence regarding the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Search Strategy

We conducted an umbrella review of all systematic and narrative reviews examining the impacts of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes by searching …

The Role Of Horizontal Gene Transfer In Antibiotic Resistance Amidst Prevalent Community And Healthcare-Associated Mrsa Rates, Gabrielle Nascimento

Honors College Theses

In recent decades, cases of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) have been on the rise. The ability of antibiotic resistance to transfer between microorganisms greatly expands its threat to the effective treatment and containment of bacterial infections. The mecA gene is found on a mobile cassette within the Staphylococcal cell and encodes for PBP2a, an alternate version of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) with less binding affinity for β-lactam antibiotics, increasing resistance to the effects of antibiotics. The goal of this research is to investigate the horizontal transfer of the mecA gene between various Staphylococcus species as well as to …

Reliability Of Popliteal Artery Flow-Mediated Dilation In The Seated Position, Taskina Akhter, Patrick B. Wilson, J. David Branch, Leryn J. Reynolds

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a noninvasive measure of endothelial function, is commonly measured in the popliteal artery in the supine and upright body positions. However, reliability studies of the measurement in these positions are not well studied. This study aimed to examine the trial-retrial and visit-to-visit reliability of popliteal artery FMD in the seated position. Popliteal artery FMD was measured in 20 healthy adults across two visits in the seated and prone positions to assess visit-to-visit reliability. Two measurements were taken for each body position at each visit to assess trial-retrial reliability. %FMD was calculated as the percent change from baseline …

The Impact Of Diabetes Education & Post Discharge Interventions For African American Adults At Risk For & After Myocardial Infarction, Trinity L. Billingsley

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Cardiovascular disease or CVD refers to a multitude of conditions that affect both the heart and blood vessels. Being the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease claims 919,032 lives; the risk of death becomes more likely when accompanied with comorbidities like diabetes (CDC, 2024). While heart disease is a leading cause of death across all populations, it accounts for a larger proportion of deaths in African American, or AA, adults at 22.6% compared to White adults at 18.0% and Hispanic adults at 11.9%, highlighting persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes (CDC, 2024). Diabetes as a comorbidity …

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.

Comparing Human Milk-Derived Vs Bovine-Derived Fortifiers In Formula-Fed Preterm Infants On The Incidence Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Maya C. Kern

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the leading causes of death in infants < 32 weeks gestation and/or < 1500g. Human breast milk lowers NEC rates through immunologic, microbial, and gut-protective mechanisms. When maternal or donor milk is unavailable, infants require formula with fortification but the safest type of fortifiers remains unclear. Bovine-derived fortifiers may increase gut inflammation; human milk-derived fortifiers may offer more protection. Limited research exists comparing these fortifiers when infants are exclusively formula fed. Determining if human milk-derived fortifiers still reduce NEC risk could influence NICU feeding guidelines and improve outcomes.

Impact Of Hiv-2 Rod9 Vpx Mutations On Samhd1 Degradation And Vpx Nuclear Trafficking, Tolulope R. Oladimeji

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a leading cause of death in many parts of the world. HIV-2, endemic to West Africa, has infected over 2 million people globally. A key difference between HIV-2 and the more widespread HIV-1 is the HIV-2 protein Vpx, which facilitates infection in non-dividing cells by targeting SAMHD1, a host innate immune protein, for proteasomal degradation. This research aims to identify specific amino acid residues in HIV-2 ROD9 Vpx that are essential for mediating SAMHD1 degradation by the proteosome. I hypothesize that amino acid residues located in the C-terminal region of Vpx play a critical role …

Advance Care Planning Utilization Among Non-White Individuals With Heart Disease And Cancer Using Health Retirement Study (Hrs) Data, Trizah M. Njoroge

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a critical component of patient-centered care, yet its utilization remains disproportionately low among Non-White populations in the United States, particularly among individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. This article explores racial disparities in ACP engagement using secondary analysis of the 2018 and 2020 waves data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET). The study examines how race, disease type, comorbidity, and survey year predict ACP service utilization, defined as completing five key ACP components: a legal will, a medical care discussion, surrogate assignment (DPOA), a …

Improving Glucose Levels In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Kaitlin Castillo

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Type 2 diabetes is a growing health crisis, posing significant challenges not only to individual well-being but also to healthcare systems' financial sustainability. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to rise annually, contributing to increased medical costs, hospitalizations, and long-term complications. Houston, Texas, has a diabetes prevalence of 13.5%, exceeding the national average of 10%. A clinical gap exists in providers’ ability to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Prioritizing prevention, early intervention, and improved patient monitoring can reduce incidence rates, lower healthcare costs, and enhance overall population health. A Plan Do Study Act model was utilized for the …

Leveraging Clinical Standards To Improve The Translational Relevance Of Therapies For Experimental Spinal Cord Injury, Aaron L. Silverstein

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Efforts to improve treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) often use animals to develop effective therapeutics, intending to improve the survival and the quality of life of persons with SCI. Over half of all SCIs in the United States occur at the cervical level and often cause locomotor deficits and life-threatening breathing dysfunction. Thus, my dissertation is focused on this important patient population.

After beginning with a description of translational research and surveying SCI from a clinical standpoint, I turned to describe experimental models of cervical SCI and more detailed neuroimmunological findings relevant to my work. Then, I conducted a …

Zebrafish Models To Uncover Targetable Mechanisms Of Self-Renewal In T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Majd Al-Hamaly

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Relapsed T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) patients have dismal prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates of 10% for adults and 36% for children. Relapse is attributed to the inability of chemotherapy agents to eliminate Leukemia Stem Cells (LSCs) that can repopulate the leukemia. Those cells exist with a unique genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolic profile compared to the rest of the leukemia and thus, finding targeted therapies toward this population of cells can result in disease eradication and elimination of relapse. However, investigating LSCs is challenging-particularly in T-ALL- for two reasons: 1) the lack of robust surface markers that define LSCs …

Cell-Type Specific Apoe4 To Apoe2 ‘Switching’ In Astrocytes And Microglia Alters Alzheimer’S Disease Neuropathology, Lesley R. Golden

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). APOE exists in three common protein isoforms throughout the population: ApoE2 (E2), ApoE3 (E3), and ApoE4 (E4). While APOE allele frequencies and the degree of AD-associated risk vary across different ethnic groups, when compared to the ‘neutral’ and most common E3 allele, the E4 allele confers up to a 33-fold increase in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) risk. Conversely, the neuroprotective E2 allele decreases AD risk by up to 67%. Here, we aimed to determine the therapeutic potential of cell-type specific APOE allele ‘switching’ and explore …