Immune System Diseases Commons^™

Case Report: Abrupt Psychosis Or Nmda Receptor Encephalitis?, Alexis Dunn, Neelesh Parikh, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 46-year-old female who was initially committed to a psychiatric facility for new onset schizophrenia symptoms. She later had an extensive workup in the hospital due to leukocytosis and was believed to have NMDA Receptor Encephalitis as the cause for her new behavioral symptoms. This case report aims to educate EM (emergency medicine) physicians to keep a broad differential diagnosis on patients who present with new onset, unprovoked psychosis later in life.

Adipocytes And Innate Immunity In Systemic Sclerosis, Nancy Wareing

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is a chronic systemic autoimmune and connective tissue disorder characterized by vasculopathy, autoimmune phenomena, and widespread fibrosis. Skin thickening and tightening is the cardinal feature of SSc and is responsible, in part, for the considerable morbidity of this disease. There are currently no targeted treatments for skin manifestations in SSc, primarily due to our fragmented understanding of its pathophysiologic mechanisms. In PART I, we report a previously unappreciated link between aberrant expression of the developmental gene sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) in skin-associated adipocytes in SSc skin and the early loss of dermal white adipose …

Bladder Mucosal Cystitis Cystica Lesions Are Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues That Correlate With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Frequency In Postmenopausal Women, Marianne M Ligon, Brooke Liang, Stacy M Lenger, Priyanka Parameswaran, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Jerry L Lowder, Indira U Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: We identify correlates and clinical outcomes of cystitis cystica, a poorly understood chronic inflammatory bladder change, in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational cohort of women with recurrent urinary tract infections who underwent cystoscopy (n=138) from 2015 to 2018 were identified using electronic medical records. Cystitis cystica status was abstracted from cystoscopy reports and correlations were identified by logistic regression. Urinary tract infection-free survival time associated with cystitis cystica was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Exact logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with changes to cystitis cystica lesions on repeat …

A Case Of Aquagenic And Cholinergic Urticaria, Marilian A. Canals Rivera, Kyle Rauch, Amanda Brenner, Victoria Charry

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Type 1 Cryoglobulinemia With Waldenstrom’S Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmocytic Lymphoma And Dry Gangrene, Abhinav Rao, Diego Garrido, Fahim Syed, Kody Dhaliwal, Charles Holladay, Julia Saylors, Matthew Madden, Jason Clark

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Interstitial Lung Disease Due To Underlying Sjogren's Syndrome, Ryan E. Johnson, Elizabeth Bogaty, Chamonix Kinimaka, Marilian Canals-Rivera

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Contribution Of Adaptive Immunity To Human Copd And Experimental Models Of Emphysema, Farrah Kheradmand, Yun Zhang, David B Corry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the undisputed role of innate immune cells in this condition have dominated the field in the basic research arena for many years. Recently, however, compelling data suggesting that adaptive immune cells may also contribute to the progressive nature of lung destruction associated with COPD in smokers have gained considerable attention. The histopathological changes in the lungs of smokers can be limited to the large or small airways, but alveolar loss leading to emphysema, which occurs in some individuals, remains its most significant and irreversible outcome. Critically, however, the question of why …

Role Of Biomarkers (Sflt-1/Plgf) In Cases Of Covid-19 For Distinguishing Preeclampsia And Guiding Clinical Management, Guilherme M Nobrega, Jose P Guida, Juliana M Novaes, Larissa M Solda, Luciana Pietro, Adriana G Luz, Giuliane J Lajos, Carolina C Ribeiro-Do-Valle, Renato T Souza, Jose G Cecatti, Indira U Mysorekar, Tabata Z Dias, Maria Laura Costa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To analyze soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factors (PlGF) concentrations and their ratio in pregnant and postpartum women with suspected COVID-19, and further investigate conditions associated with an increased ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF > 38), including preeclampsia (PE) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

STUDY DESIGN: The present study is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort. Blood samples were collected at time of COVID-19 investigation and the serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF were performed. Clinical background, SARS-CoV-2 infection characteristics, maternal and perinatal outcomes were further analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF; obstetrics …

Vitamin C Contributes To Epigenetic Regulation Of Genes Related To Diabetic Retinopathy In Retinal Endothelial Cells, Elizabeth L. Turner, Jonathon Reynolds, Walker Kay, Marianne Becnel, Matthew Conway, Alexander Kim, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Immunomodulating Effects Of Morphine Dependence And Withdrawal In A Rat Model, Mark Stoll

Annual Research Symposium

Would you like to know what happens to the immune system during opioid drug withdrawal?

Infiltrating Cd8+ T Cells Exacerbate Alzheimer’S Disease Pathology In A 3d Human Neuroimmune Axis Model, Jefin Jose, Devam Purohit

VCU's Medical Journal Club: The Work of Future Health Professionals

In this study, Jorfi et al. employed a neuroimmune axis model containing neurons, astrocytes, and microglia to examine the role of immune cells in Alzheimer's disease. Jorfi et al. found that T cells selectively infiltrated the BRAIN compartment of the neuroimmune axis model as compared to B cells and monocytes. Jorfi et al. further found that CD8+ T cells demonstrated heightened cytotoxicity in the Alzheimer's disease brain, illuminating the role of immune cells in neurodegeneration. Upon further examination, the CXCR3-CXCL10 signaling pathway was found to have an important role in inflammation.

A Genome-Wide In Vivo Crispr Screen Identifies Essential Regulators Of T Cell Migration To The Cns In A Multiple Sclerosis Model, Jefin Jose

VCU's Medical Journal Club: The Work of Future Health Professionals

Kendirli et al. (2023) used a CRISPR screen to determine the proteins involved in T cell migration into the CNS in multiple sclerosis. Overall, eighteen facilitators and five brakes to T cell infiltration into the CNS were identified. Kendirli et al. specifically identified ITGA4, FERMT3, and HSP90B1 to make up the adhesion module, CXCR3, GNAI2, and TBX21 to make up the chemotaxis module, and GRK2 and S1PR2 to make up the egress module. This study demonstrated the ability of a CRISPR screen to identify elements in a disease process and thus identify targets for future multiple sclerosis therapies.

Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease Presenting With Renal Failure And Extensive Deep Venous Thrombosis, Alec Rhodes, Zainab Shakir, Lakshmi Tatineni, Sivatej Sarva, Ramesh Kesavan

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Multiple Sclerosis In A 32-Year-Old Female With History Of Prolactinoma, Aleeza Ali, Jesse Simon, Adekunle Bamgboye

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2023

Among disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS), excluding trauma, multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of permanent disability in young adults. This condition is characterized by IgG autoantibody-mediated destruction of oligodendrocytes in the brain and spinal cord. Although the origin of MS is not fully understood, some suggest that prolactin may be involved in the development of the disease process evidenced by the fact that it predominately affects women of childbearing age, and the diverse role of prolactin (PRL) as a peptide hormone, cytokine, and immune modulator. Here we review the case of a 32-year-old female with …

Severe Case Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In A 36-Year-Old Male, Aleeza Ali, Max Kaito, Stanley Dennison, Hanan Zisling, Esam Khalifa, John Romano

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2023

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease that is capable of involving almost any organ in the body, leading to significant morbidity and mortality in affected patients. SLE is characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies that react with antigens and form immune complexes, resulting in tissue damage and a potential wide array of manifestations, including arthralgias, lupus nephritis, pleuritis, and delirium. Experts cite the effect of estrogens or factors related to the X chromosome as possible explanations regarding the increased prevalence of SLE in women over men, with ratios of up to 15:1. Here, we discuss the case of a …

Metformin-Induced Giant Cell Arteritis: An Uncommon Case Of Drug-Induced Vasculitis, Christine Angeles, Wendy Lee

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Kikuchi Disease: A Rare Recurrence, R Levi Sundermeyer, Jessica Bautista

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Severe Ivc Thrombosis Presenting As Abdominal Pain In Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Arya Nikjoo, Aswin Srinivasan, Ali Abbasi

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Pembrolizumab-Induced Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Jessica Thomas, Alexandra E. Thomson, Savannah Grunhard, Rohit Bishnoi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

A Unique Presentation Of Libman-Sacks: Non-Bacterial Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis, August Rakutt, Lauren Hampton, Johnathan Frunzi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Bulbar-Predominant Presentation Of Myasthenia Gravis: Poster Presentation, Duncan Mckinney, Rumana Khan, Edward Griffin

Capital Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Regulatory B-Cells In Allergic Disease, Melissa Dang, Justin Yu, Greg Schlessinger

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Hairy Cell Leukemia Presenting As Group B Streptococcus Cellulitis And Abscesses, Hannah Berrett, Mattias D'Anna, Ajay Iyer, Zachary Hancock, Meg Laures, Muzaffar Iqbal

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Neurolupus In A Previously Healthy Young Caucasian Male, Kavanya Feustel, Joshua Ralston, Kelly Schulte, Jeffrey Ramsey, Deren Goker, Jacob Keeling, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

Pandas Exacerbation Post-Tonsillectomy, Acute Response To Fentanyl & Dexamethasone, Austin Peralta-Fogle, Jeffrey Ramsey, Natasha Fazel, Ryan Spilman

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

A Curious Case Of Biopsy Proven Usual Interstitial Pneumonia, Austin Makadia, Vishesh Persaud, Saiara Choudhury, Asad Chohan, Abhay Vakil

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Recognizing The Many Facets Of Crohn’S Disease, Alexander Howell, Rachel Murray, Ann Church, Karthik Krishnamurthy

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2023

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of An Educational Handout On Knowledge, Awareness And Attitudes Of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Among Participants At A Needle And Syringe Exchange Site, Mckenzie Buckel

DNP Projects

Background: In 2018, the total number of HIV cases in the United States was 1.2 million. Almost 186,500 of these cases were attributed to intravenous drug use. With the adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) there is approximately a 49% decrease in the rates of HIV among people who inject drugs and the most significant barrier to PrEP among this population is a lack of awareness and knowledge.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine participants’ of a needle and syringe exchange site knowledge, awareness and attitudes of PrEP after reviewing an educational handout about PrEP.

Methods: A quasi …

Regulatory Mechanisms Controlling Store-Operated Calcium Entry, Goutham Kodakandla, Askar M Akimzhanov, Darren Boehning

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Calcium influx through plasma membrane ion channels is crucial for many events in cellular physiology. Cell surface stimuli lead to the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP

Alveolar Macrophages In Lung Cancer: Opportunities Challenges, Cheng-Yen Chang, Dominique Armstrong, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are critical components of the innate defense mechanism in the lung. Nestled tightly within the alveoli, AMs, derived from the yolk-sac or bone marrow, can phagocytose foreign particles, defend the host against pathogens, recycle surfactant, and promptly respond to inhaled noxious stimuli. The behavior of AMs is tightly dependent on the environmental cues whereby infection, chronic inflammation, and associated metabolic changes can repolarize their effector functions in the lungs. Several factors within the tumor microenvironment can re-educate AMs, resulting in tumor growth, and reducing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy in patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer …