Medical Biotechnology Commons^™

Developing Antibodies Against Galectin-3 And Galectin-9 To Target Endometriosis, Ashleigh Burger, Noah Farnsworth, Jared J. Reisnouer, Cheyenne Vue

2026 Symposium

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by pelvic pain and the formation of endometrial-like tissue on the outside of the uterine lining. This condition affects nearly 10% of women across the globe and confirming whether someone has endometriosis requires visualization in surgery. While the specific causes of this disease remain unclear, the over-expression of the Galectins 3 and 9 in ectopic endometrial tissues suggests a role in the development and maintenance of the condition. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are highly specific proteins with potential as diagnostic or treatment tools. The goal of this study is to generate antibodies against Gal3 and Gal9. …

The Effects Of Body Mass Index On Fertility And In Vitro Fertilization, Morgan R. Kidd

Honors College Theses

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most widely used type of assisted reproductive technology for treating infertility arising from a number of conditions. As obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, infertility has been discovered to have a direct correlation. Individuals that fall below or above the healthy body mass index range are found to have disrupted regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in diminished reproductive health. Those that are diagnosed as infertile due to conditions caused by the effects of low body mass index or high body mass index may seek assisted reproductive technologies to intervene in achieving …

Corticobasal Syndrome With Mixed Pathology In The Absence Of Grn Mutation: A Clinico-Pathological Case Of Ftld-Tdp With Coexisting Alzheimer’S And Lewy Body Pathology, Hugo Zamarron, David Irwin, Jeffery Phillips, Edward Lee, Matthew Tisdall, Corey Mcmillan

Research Colloquium

Background: Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by often asymmetric fronto-pariteal and extra-pyramidal features that is traditionally associated with tauopathy, but pathological findings are heterogenous, including other forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and mixed pathologies of aging. We present clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of asymmetry in a unique patient with CBS and underlying FTLD with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP), co-occurring with other age-related pathologies.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old man presented with progressive cognitive and motor dysfunction including asymmetric parkinsonism, left-sided dystonia and rigidity, apraxia, visuospatial impairment, and a subtle social disorder including apathy and social withdrawal. The …

Using Atrial Pacing Trials After Tavr To Assess Conduction Abnormalities And Predict Need For Pacemaker Implantation, Hemish M. Philip, Matthew R. Summers, Shirish R. Yasa, Hasani Amir, Daiwik P. Munjwani, Thomas A. Cook, Matthew G. Jackson

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Abstract:

Background: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is the standard of care for many patients with severe aortic stenosis who cannot undergo surgical intervention. However, conduction disturbances remain a frequent complication, particularly with self-expanding valves. This often leads to permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). At Sentara Heart Hospital, atrial pacing at 140 bpm is standard practice during TAVR to assess AV conduction.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether preserved 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction during routine atrial pacing at 140 bpm after self-expanding TAVR predicts a low likelihood of requiring PPI, thus yielding a high negative predictive value (NPV).

Methods: We …

Development Of Overt Hypo-Attenuated Leaflet Thickening Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Stephonda Lewis, Hemish M. Philip, Matthew Summers

Cardiovascular Research Symposium

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a cornerstone therapy for severe aortic stenosis. Up to one-third of patients develop hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) within the first year post-TAVR. HALT, a form of leaflet thrombosis, can progress to leaflet immobility and structural deterioration. Despite its significance, no unified approach exists for screening or management of HALT after TAVR.

Case Presentation: A 64-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath on exertion. Exam revealed a 3/6 systolic murmur, and echocardiogram confirmed severe aortic stenosis. She underwent TAVR with resolution of symptoms and was discharged on clopidogrel (Plavix) as single antiplatelet therapy. Two …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Digitally Fabricated Interocclusal Wafer Versus Wafer-Less Distal Segment Repositioning For Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (Bsso) In Skeletal Mandibular Deformities (Randomized Controlled Trial), Hesham Osama Morsi Ass.Lect., Mohammed Abdelsalam Omara Ass.Prof., Mostafa Ibrahim Shindy Prof, Galal Gamal El Behairy Prof.

Dentistry

Objective: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of condylar positioning between 2 computer-guided orthognathic surgical protocols: a waferless screw hole plate locating (WSL CPD) technique versus an occlusal splint with distal extending arms (OWDA-CPD) approach. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients requiring mandibular orthognathic surgery (class II or III deformities) were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n=12 each). Group I underwent a waferless protocol utilizing 3D-printed osteotomy and screw hole locating guides, while group II received an occlusal splint with distal extensions for condylar positioning. Preoperative and postoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were used to assess condylar displacement in …

A Systematic Review Of Persisting Tissue Health Challenges Amid Insulin Delivery System Advancements: Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (Csii) And Lipohypertrophy In Diabetic Patients, Marlena Muszynska, Emily Awdish

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

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, …

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 …

Management Targeted Genetic Evaluation Of An Idiopathic Neuropathy Cohort Through Attrv Amyloidosis Screening, Kristy A. Fisher, Santiago Diaz, Jeffrey Gelblum, Charles Brock, Niraja Suresh, Meghan Towne

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

While the reported prevalence of polyneuropathies is 1%-3%, the incidence of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in the United States is estimated to be 1 in 100 000 individuals. Polyneuropathies are known to be difficult to treat and lead to significant morbidity. The aim of pain management is symptomatic treatment, with varying approaches to progression prevention being based on the causative pathophysiology.

We assessed the prevalence of hereditary amyloid transthyretin variant (ATTRv) amyloidosis, a progressive autosomal dominant multisystem disease caused by the abnormal formation and extracellular deposition of transthyretin protein fibrils in various tissues, in an idiopathic polyneuropathy population by using …

Assessing The Impact Of Storage Conditions On Rna From Human Saliva And Its Application To The Identification Of Mrna Biomarkers For Asthma, Poorna Manasa Bhamidimarri, David Fuentes, Laila Salameh, Bassam Mahboub, Rifat Hamoudi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Human saliva was used to develop non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers to establish saliva as an alternate to blood and plasma in translational research. The present study focused on understanding the impact of sample storage conditions on the extraction of RNA from saliva and the RNA yield, to be applied in clinical diagnosis. In this study, genes related to asthma were used to test the method developed.

Methods: Salivary RNA was extracted from three subjects using the Qiazol® based method and quantified by both spectrophotometric (NanoDrop) and fluorometric (Qubit®) methods. RNA integrity was measured using a bioanalyzer. Quantitative PCR was …

Changes In Walking Function And Neural Control Following Pelvic Cancer Surgery With Reconstruction, Geng Li, Di Ao, Marleny M Vega, Payam Zandiyeh, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Alexander N Penny, Valerae O Lewis, Benjamin J Fregly

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Surgical planning and custom prosthesis design for pelvic cancer patients are challenging due to the unique clinical characteristics of each patient and the significant amount of pelvic bone and hip musculature often removed. Limb-sparing internal hemipelvectomy surgery with custom prosthesis reconstruction has become a viable option for this patient population. However, little is known about how post-surgery walking function and neural control change from pre-surgery conditions.

Methods: This case study combined comprehensive walking data (video motion capture, ground reaction, and electromyography) with personalized neuromusculoskeletal computer models to provide a thorough assessment of pre- to post-surgery changes in walking function …

Advancing Risk Stratification In Hfpef: Unveiling The Potential Of Cardiac Fibrosis Markers For Early Diagnosis And Enhanced Patient Outcomes, Mariam Abdeen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) challenges clinicians due to its diverse presentation and limitations in traditional diagnostic criteria. This study delves into the potential of cardiac fibrosis markers like galectin-3, NT-proBNP, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) to enhance diagnostic precision and patient outcomes in HFpEF. A systematic review of sixteen relevant studies revealed that these biomarkers offer promise for early detection and improved risk assessment. For instance, TMAO indicates systemic implications of HFpEF, while galectin-3 shows predictive value across heart failure types. Additionally, machine-learning models incorporating multiple biomarkers predict significant risk of adverse outcomes. Despite these advances, challenges like …

Synthetic Cationic Helical Polypeptides For The Stimulation Of Antitumour Innate Immune Pathways In Antigen-Presenting Cells, Daeyong Lee, Kristin Huntoon, Yifan Wang, Minjeong Kang, Yifei Lu, Seong Dong Jeong, Todd M Link, Thomas D Gallup, Yaqing Qie, Xuefeng Li, Shiyan Dong, Benjamin R Schrank, Adam J Grippin, Abin Antony, Jonghoon Ha, Mengyu Chang, Yi An, Liang Wang, Dadi Jiang, Jing Li, Albert C Koong, John A Tainer, Wen Jiang, Betty Y S Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Intracellular DNA sensors regulate innate immunity and can provide a bridge to adaptive immunogenicity. However, the activation of the sensors in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by natural agonists such as double-stranded DNAs or cyclic nucleotides is impeded by poor intracellular delivery, serum stability, enzymatic degradation and rapid systemic clearance. Here we show that the hydrophobicity, electrostatic charge and secondary conformation of helical polypeptides can be optimized to stimulate innate immune pathways via endoplasmic reticulum stress in APCs. One of the three polypeptides that we engineered activated two major intracellular DNA-sensing pathways (cGAS-STING (for cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes) …

Evaluating Bone Fracture Healing Utilizing Doppler Imaging Modes, Shear Wave Elastography, X-Ray And Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry In A Rabbit Model, Priscilla Machado, Rachel Blackman, Ji-Bin Liu, Flemming Forsberg, Traci Fox

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

The healing of a bone fracture is a complex, multistage process consisting of inflammation in the local tissue, angiogenesis, callus formation, and eventually, remodeling and restoration of the bone to its original morphology. It is estimated that 5-10% of fractures do not heal properly and exhibit non-union of the fractured bone segments, with long-term complications compared to properly healed fractures. There is great clinical benefit in the ability to have early detection of impending non-union fractures, and diagnostic ultrasound can be used to image formation of the callus in a healing fracture through the use of different imaging modes. …

Design And Validation Of A Multiplex Qpcr Assay For The Diagnosis Of Bacterial Vaginosis, Morgan G. Shriver, Richard Sunday, Zi-Xuan Wang, Scott Gygax

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

Current diagnostic criteria and treatment options for bacterial vaginosis (BV) commonly result in the misdiagnosis and/or mistreatment of the active infection, as well as subsequent reinfection with BV. This project aims to design and validate a multiplex qPCR assay as a means to accurately detect and quantify populations of dysbiotic Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera Type 1 & Type 2, Bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 2 (BVAB2), as well as the commensal Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Lactobacillus gasseri in vaginal specimen for the accurate diagnosis of BV. As these bacterial species are generally unable to be …

Epithelial And Mesenchymal Olfactory Stem Cells Gathered With Minimally-Invasive Micro-Brush, Tyler Petersen

Medical Student Research Symposium

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes devastating lifestyle and financial consequences for the patient. Treatment strategies emphasize neuroprotection, but not regeneration. In this regard, stem cells are an innovative field of study that has the potential to regenerate neural tissue, thereby increasing a person’s ability to regain function. The purpose of this project is two-fold: to attain olfactory stem cells located in the nasal canal in a minimally-invasive way and to gather neural cells from the epithelium and mesenchymal cells in the lamina propria. Cells were gathered with sterile nasal micro-brushes, stored, and grown in flasks. After cells reached confluency, they …

Important Features For Protein Foldings In Two Acyl Carrier Proteins From Enterococcus Faecalis, Seoyeong Yoo, Jiwon Yeon, Eunhee Kim, Yangmee Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The emergence of multi-drug resistant Enterococcus faecalis raises a serious threat to global public health. E. faecalis is a gram-positive intestinal commensal bacterium found in humans. E. faecalis can endure extreme environments such as high temperature, pressure, and high salt, which facilitates them to cause infection in hospitals. E. faecalis has two acyl carrier proteins, AcpA (EfAcpA) in de novo fatty acid synthesis (FAS) and AcpB (EfAcpB) which utilizes exogenous fatty acids. Previously, we determined the tertiary structures of these two ACPs and investigated their structure-function relationships. Solution structures revealed that overall folding of these two ACPs is similar to …

The Impact Of Local Physiology On The Corrosion Of Orthopedic Alloys, Madison Nicole Brown

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is used in the treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. It is one of the most common elective surgeries performed with predictions expecting significant increases in the number of procedures performed over the next decade. However, the patient satisfaction rate after TKA is as low as 80%. Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) is regularly used for TKA protheses due to the alloy’s mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of this alloy relies on a passive oxide layer. This oxide layer can be impacted by phagocytic cells which can leave pits and craters on implant …

Degradable Staples And Delivery Device, Meha Elango, Jessica Cabrera, Makayla Scarpitti, Kareemat Melaiye

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The scope of this project is to design a method to secure skin grafts to healthy tissue. The ultimate goal for the proposed method is to be dissolvable in some form. Currently, skin grafts procedures utilize staples in most cases to hold a skin graft in place, but there are disadvantages that come with it. Staples are easy to place, but time consuming during the removal procedure. They also cause a lot of pain and discomfort for the patient. The goal of this project is to determine a way a secure skin grafts to healthy skin in order to reduce …

Biomechanical Outcomes Of Distinct Tka Surgical Alignments And Implant Designs, Alexis Kathleen Nelson-Tranum

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has advanced over the past two decades from traditional post-operative neutral alignment methods with an overall goal of implant longevity to ones that are more personalized to better replicate individual native knee kinematics. Personalizing TKA knee kinematics to better replicate a patient’s native knee kinematics has evolved in response to a reported 20% dissatisfaction by patients with their TKA. These personalization advancements include innovations in surgical alignment techniques include the kinematic alignment (KA) and joint line obliquity (JLO) restoration, in contrast to the mechanical alignment (MA) technique that places everyone into the same mold. Additionally, …

Air-Jet Bioprinting Of Stem Cell-Encapsulated Alginate Micro-Droplets For Organoid Biomanufacturing, Mirabella B. Stump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomanufactured 3D-organoids show promise for modeling and treating various conditions, particularly insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type-1 diabetes). Pancreatic islet organoids serve as sustainable sources of insulin-producing β-cells, potentially restoring insulin regulation in patients and providing a long-term solution for diabetes. Hydrogel droplet printing is an emerging technique in regenerative medicine due to its advantageous tunability and biocompatibility; however, challenges of consistency, quality control, and scalability persist. To address these issues, we developed a novel air-jetting based droplet bioprinting system for the generation of monodispersed alginate micro-droplets. The objective of this project was to incorporate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into …

Liposome Synthesis And Evaluation In The Hek-293 Cell Line, Christine Skibinski

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Liposomes were synthesized using the thin film method. A lyophilized power of egg-derived phosphatidylcholine, stearylamine, and cholesterol were added to ethanol and dried under argon to form a lipid cake. The lipid cake was rehydrated with dPBS and sonicated at 60°C forming a heterogenous batch of liposomes. Our results revealed the average size of the liposomes, determined by Dynamic Light Scattering, was approximately 223.1nm, while demonstrating a weakly positive zeta-potential of 1.9± 8.07mv. Next, we tested the antitumor action of the liposomes in the HEK-293 cell line via an MTT assay. We observed that the liposomes were able to inhibit …

Impact Of Lyophilization On Porcine Hemoglobin Properties., Mustafa Almosawi

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Blood transfusion is the single most often performed lifesaving procedure in hospitals worldwide. Unfortunately, packed red blood cells (RBCs) used for transfusion can only be stored for 42 days at 4 °C before being discarded due to irreversible damage that occurs during storage. Any reduction in available RBCs for an extended period can lead to blood shortages. To increase the shelf-life of RBCs, we investigated freeze-drying (lyophilizing) in the presence of the non-toxic sugar trehalose as a method for long-term preservation. However, the oxidative stress of the lyophilization and storage processes can compromise the functionality of these cells, and the …

Engineered Protac-Cid Systems For Mammalian Inducible Gene Regulation, Dacheng Ma, Qichen Yuan, Fei Peng, Victor Paredes, Hongzhi Zeng, Emmanuel C Osikpa, Qiaochu Yang, Advaith Peddi, Anika Patel, Megan S Liu, Zheng Sun, Xue Gao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Gene regulation via chemically induced dimerization (CID) is useful for biomedical research. However, the number, type, versatility, and in vivo applications of CID tools remain limited. Here, we demonstrate the development of proteolysis-targeting chimera-based scalable CID (PROTAC-CID) platforms by systematically engineering the available PROTAC systems for inducible gene regulation and gene editing. Further, we show orthogonal PROTAC-CIDs that can fine-tune gene expression at gradient levels or multiplex biological signals with different logic gating operations. Coupling the PROTAC-CID platform with genetic circuits, we achieve digitally inducible expression of DNA recombinases, base- and prime-editors for transient genome manipulation. Finally, we package a …

Editorial: Advanced Bioremediation Technologies And Processes For The Treatment Of Synthetic Organic Compounds (Socs), Volume Ii, Kunal R Jain, Chirayu Desai, Eric D Van Hullebusch, Datta Madamwar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Measurement Of Protac Intracellular Accumulation, Xin Yu, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In recent years, Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to remove disease-associated proteins by utilizing cells' own destruction machinery. To achieve successful degradation of a protein of interest (POI), the heterobifunctional PROTAC molecules must penetrate into the cells first, followed by target engagement and formation of the POI-PROTAC-E3 ligase complex. Based on this understanding, the assessment of cell permeability and in cell target engagement are of great importance to evaluate the efficacy of PROTAC candidates. PROTAC molecules can be classified as non-covalent and covalent, and covalent PROTACs can be further divided into …

Utilizing Bloodless Medicine To Decrease Infection Rates In Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Literature Review, Samantha Saint Fort

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aim: To determine if a significant relationship exists between bloodless medicine practices and decreased infection rates in oncology patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by performing a literature review.

Background: It is not uncommon for healthcare professionals to encounter Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) seeking medical treatment in the acute care hospital setting and outpatient clinics alike. However, JW's pose a unique challenge to healthcare providers. Their refusal of blood transfusions makes them a population of interest within the medical community. The refusal of blood transfusions also poses a serious challenge to successful treatment in oncology JW patients, and many hospitals will …

Aptamer Proteomics Of Serum Exosomes From Patients With Primary Raynaud's And Patients With Raynaud's At Risk Of Evolving Into Systemic Sclerosis, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Simon T. Dillon, Xuesong Gu, Towia A. Libermann, Sergio A. Jimenez

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: A major unmet need for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) clinical management is the lack of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon at high risk of evolving into SSc.

OBJECTIVE: To identify proteins contained within serum exosomes employing an aptamer proteomic analysis that may serve to reveal patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon at risk of developing SSc.

METHODS: Exosomes were isolated from serum samples from patients with Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon and from patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon harbouring serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) who may be at high risk of evolving into SSc. The expression of 1,305 proteins was quantified …