Nervous System Diseases Commons^™

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 …

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 …

Reprogramming Of Immunometabolic Functions In Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells During Neuroinflammation: Insights From Ischemic Stroke And Sepsis, Shokofeh Rahimpourkaldeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ischemic stroke and sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) are two distinct conditions that share common pathophysiological mechanisms affecting brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Ischemic stroke results from an acute reduction in cerebral blood flow due to thrombosis or embolism, leading to energy failure, oxidative stress, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. SAE, a neurological complication of sepsis, arises from systemic inflammation, endothelial activation, and BBB disruption, leading to cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation. Despite their different etiologies, both conditions involve BMEC dysfunction as a central mediator of neurovascular injury. This dissertation aims to investigate the immunometabolic dysfunction of BMECs in ischemic stroke and sepsis, …

A Rare Case Of Maffucci Syndrome Presenting With Cord Compression And Paradoxical Stroke, Fernando Lugo-Hernandez, Nicholas Farelo-Camargo, Adriana Rivera-Diaz, Mariana Villamizar-Suarez, Marwa Hegagi

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Stroke Rehabilitation: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Clifford Gordon, Olu Oyesanmi, Marc Kallins, Rahul Mhaskar, Sanjiv Tewari, Lisa Gramong, Kristy Ellison-Snow, Cynthia Koski

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Bilateral Thalamic And Basal Ganglia Infarcts Secondary To Deep Venous Sinus Thrombosis In The Setting Of Testosterone Use, Cristian Solano

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Vascular Trigeminal Neuralgia: Dolichoectasia Of Basilar Artery, Adwait Lonkar, Christopher Koebbe, Mariya Milko, Craig Spergel

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Fatal Case Of Central Pontine Myelinolysis With Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Miguel Serrano, Grant Read, Karen Joseph

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Use Of Kratom Tea Supplements For The Treatment Of Self-Diagnosed Anxiety And Its Association With New Onset Seizures In A Young Adult Male, Gloria Travieso-Zadan, Lucas Zadan, Daniel Breznau

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

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 …

A Historic Case Of Relapsing-Remitting Alzheimer's Disease In An Adolescent Attributed To Scarlet Fever., Richard Lathe, Brian J. Balin

PCOM Scholarly Works

We draw attention to a historic case of a boy who suffered from scarlet fever (typically caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes) at age 7 years and went on to develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). His physicians believed that the subsequent dementia was related to the infection. After death at 24 years of age, postmortem brain examination revealed abundant AD-type senile plaques and fibrils, formally confirming AD. Other potential causes of early-onset dementia are discussed, but these are distinct from patient E.H. This case is pertinent regarding the current debate about the potential role of infection in …

Traditional And Non-Traditional Behavioral Tests Demonstrate The Attenuation Of Cognitive Deficits By Therapeutic Hypothermia In A Rat Model Of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Angela Saadat, Cortney Kaszowski, Haree Pallera, Frank Lattanzio, Richard A. Britten, Asna Sulaiman, Stephanie Newman, Alireza Hosseini, Tushar Shah

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is neurological disease caused by the deprivation of oxygen and blood flow to the brain during the developmentally-critical perinatal period. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care treatment for HIE, though cognitive deficits can persistent throughout life despite treatment. The nature of these deficits, and the impacts of TH and sex are not well understood, and this presents a key barrier in the development of novel therapeutics.

Methods: The goal of this study was to enhance the characterization and measurement of cognitive outcomes with tasks that measure spontaneous behaviors in a rodent models of …

Astrocyte Specific Enhancers In The Cortex And Striatum Of Mice, Mikaela Kottelich

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Among glial cells, astrocytes have a prevalent influence on supporting neuronal function and overall brain health. Specifically targeting this cell type for disease treatment is an existing issue. Other cell types tend to express the desired treatment, which is not always wanted and can lead to unintended, negative consequences. Astrocytes contribute largely to maintaining the blood brain barrier, which is disrupted in Parkinson’s disease. Certain genes are thought to be the reason for this disruption, so if they can be specifically targeted in astrocytes with a specific enhancer, the disruption of the disease could be reversed. In our experiment, we …

Regulation Of Neuronal Autophagy By Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als) - Associated Kinase Tbk1: Evaluating The Role Of Ncoa7, Vikram Chatterjee

CMC Senior Theses

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss and the pathological accumulation of misfolded proteins. Autophagy, a lysosome-mediated clearance mechanism, plays a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by removing damaged organelles and protein aggregates. Impairments in autophagy have been increasingly linked to ALS, underscoring its importance in neuronal health. TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a key regulator of selective autophagy, facilitating the recognition and sequestration of specific cargo through phosphorylation of autophagy receptors. Notably, mutations in the TBK1 gene have been identified in ALS patients, directly implicating TBK1 dysfunction in disease pathogenesis. Through …

Effects Of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation On Impulse Control Disorders In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease On Dopamine Replacement Therapy, Katherine Muksuris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and depression. The mainstay treatment for motor symptoms is dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). DRT takes the form of levodopa or dopamine receptor agonists (DAs) and can be associated with impulse control disorders (ICDs). Currently, the approach to mitigating these side effects is to decrease or stop DRT, which may cause motor symptoms to return, making the management of the disorder more difficult. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment for multiple disorders, including its approved use for smoking cessation. It has also shown …

Opioid Tolerance And Withdrawal In The Mouse Colon, James Fune

Theses and Dissertations

Constipation is a major clinical obstacle associated with opioids, prompting patients to discontinue treatment due to pain, discomfort, and psychosocial stressors. Moreover, chronic users become tolerant to the analgesic effects of opioids, but not to their constipating effects. Upon cessation of long-term treatment, serious diarrhea–among other somatic signs of withdrawal–may ensue. These symptoms become a driving factor for relapse, causing patients to restart opioid treatment. In this study, we aim to understand mechanisms that contribute to opioid tolerance and withdrawal in the colon. Previous findings suggest that constipation occurs partly due to the colon’s lack of tolerance to opioids’ inhibitory …

Computational Approaches For Diagnosing Neurological Impairments And Restoring Functional Movement, Serhii Bahdasariants

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Movement is the primary means by which the nervous system converts intention into interaction with the environment. Voluntary limb motion enables standing, walking, reaching, and grasping—actions that underpin self‑care, communication, and economic participation. When diseases or injuries disrupt the pathways that couple neural commands to muscle forces—whether through cortical stroke, spinal cord injury, or peripheral nerve damage—mechanical outcomes such as weakness, loss of coordination, and ultimately reduced mobility emerge. These impairments cascade into secondary complications, increased dependence on caregivers, and diminished quality of life. Quantifying how the lesion alters the mechanics of movement is therefore essential for designing targeted interventions …

Case Report: Wall-Eyed Bilateral Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia From A Pontine Stroke, Renuka Mahatara, Sahil Parikh, Jeffery Bodle

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Case Report Of Fatal Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Associated With Tivozanib In Renal Cell Carcinoma, Chad Michalenko, Ian Whitaker, Abhinav Rao

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Acute Ischemic Stroke In The Setting Of Lambl’S Excrescenses, Natalia C. Badillo, Jay Heckert, Yoan Rodriguez, Ashu Dhanjal

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Neurosyphilis Mortality Trends In The United States (1999–2023): A Cdc Wonder Database Analysis, Amy Mackenzie, Barbara Gracious

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Unmasking Cns Vasculitis: A Neurological Mystery Behind Recurrent Strokes In A Young Patient, Arthika Sakthevel, Vishal Shah, Holden Lewis, Alyssa Rojas, Mohamed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Concomitant Diagnoses Of Lymphoma And Pml In An Hiv-Positive Patient, Madelaine Duarte, Delon Altherr, Mohamed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.