Other Medical Sciences Commons^™

Patient-Specific Genome-Scale Metabolic Models For Individualized Predictions Of Liver Disease, Alexandra Manchel, Jan B. Hoek, Ramon Bataller, Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The prevalence of liver disease is steadily increasing, coupled with the limited availability of therapeutic treatments. Recent literature points to metabolic reprogramming as a key feature of liver failure. Hence, we sought to uncover the metabolic pathways and mechanisms associated with liver disease and acute liver failure. We generated patient-specific genome scale metabolic models by integrating RNA-seq data from patient liver samples with a generalized human metabolic model. Flux balance analysis simulations showed a distinct separation of non-alcohol associated and alcohol-associated disease states. Our analysis suggests that the alcohol associated liver has an increased flux through nucleotide and glycerophospholipid metabolic …

Induced Cytotoxicity In Crebbp/Ep300mut Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Thomaia Pamplin

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

INDUCED CYOTOXICTY IN CREBBP/EP300mut HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Thomaia Pamplin

Advisor: Curtis Pickering, Ph.D.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma HNSCC is the most common malignancy in the head and neck. Most cases are found in advanced stages and depending on the location can be treated with surgical resection and/or radiation (XRT), chemotherapy, or chemoradiation. Our lab groups have identified that HNSCC with a mutation in its CREBBP/EP300 genes can be sensitized to XRT when the histone acetyltransferase activity of CREBBP/EP300 is inhibited. This radiosensitization manifests in the form of increased cell death for …

Evaluation Of A Process Change Using An Updated Sedation Protocol, Rachel Allen

Dissertations

Problem: Pediatric delirium is continuing to increase intensive care environments and for patients who require mechanical ventilation and continuous sedative medications. Delirium is harmful to the patient creating lasting neurologic and mental health issues along with prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare cost

Method: For this quality improvement (QI) project, a descriptive observational study was used to evaluate the implementation of a sedation protocol for patients who are mechanically ventilated and on continuous sedative medications. This was completed with the use of retrospective chart reviews three months prior to implementation and three months after the new protocol was implemented. Nurses were …

Descriptive Analysis Of Acute Ischemic Stroke In Covid-19 Patients Through The Course Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amman Bhasin, Jay Liuhong Liu, Keval Shah, Amin Marji, Ricky Sareini, Shishir Rao, Wazim Mohamed, Kumar Rajamani, Parthasarathi Chamiraju, Ayaz Khawaja

Medical Student Research Symposium

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). Here, we characterize our institutional experience with management of COVID-19 and AIS. Baseline demographics, clinical, imaging, and outcomes data were determined in patients with COVID-19 and AIS presenting within March 2020 thru October 2020, and November 2020 thru August 2021, based on institutional COVID-19 hospitalization volume. Of 2512 COVID-19 patients, 35 (1.39%, mean age 63.3 years, 54% women) had AIS. AIS recognition was frequently delayed after COVID-19 symptoms (median 19.5 days). Four patients (31%) were on therapeutic anticoagulation at AIS recognition. AIS mechanism was undetermined or due to …

Micro-Rna Analysis Of Extracellular Vesicles Secreted By Alveolar Macrophages And Epithelial Cells In Response To Cadmium, Anisha Bhakta

Biotechnology Theses

Inhalation of cadmium (Cd) has been an environmental health concern with the increase in industrial activities and smoking. Cd exposure is known to affect several organs such as lungs, kidneys, and liver. In this study, we wanted to understand if Cd inhalation exposure can affect the lungs and other organs in the body. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by all living cells and are known to carry toxicants between organs. We investigated whether Cd exposure could affect exosome biogenesis and their composition. Cd exposure did not affect the viability of A549, a lung epithelial cell line and macrophages derived from …

Multicolor Fluorescence Guided Surgery For Head And Neck Cancer, Dani Szafran-Reeder

University Honors Theses

This project aims to take a novel, NIR nerve-specific fluorophore LGW05-75⁴ and test its compatibility with a tumor-targeting affibody molecule, ABY-029⁶ that has been labeled with IRDye800CW. The overall goal is to show that these two molecules can be co-administered to show the nerves and tumor cells in real-time to better assist surgeons in a full resection while avoiding iatrogenic nerve damage.

An Observational Retrospective Study Of Adverse Events And Behavioral Outcomes During Pediatric Dental Sedation, Kawtar Zouaidi, Gregory Olson, Helen H Lee, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad F Walji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine a university-based dental electronic health records (EHR) database to identify sedation-related adverse events (AEs) and assess patients' behavioral outcomes during routine pediatric dental sedations (PDSs) in a dental school clinic.

Methods: A database was screened for patients younger than 18 years old who had received dental sedation in 2019. The qualifying EHRs were then accessed and sedations were reviewed for AEs, which were categorized using a 12-point classification system and the Tracking and Reporting Outcomes of Procedural Sedation Tool. Patient behaviors were assessed using provider progress notes and categorized as presence/ …

Safety Measures In The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit: An Organizational Assessment, Tina Yates

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Long-term video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is an elective procedure and generally safe. Clinical experts determined the EMU protocols at a level-4 comprehensive epilepsy center were not followed correctly. The project is a retrospective chart audit incorporating Ray’s Bureaucratic Caring theoretical framework with Donabedian’s conceptual model. The project objective is to evaluate if safety measures protocols are implemented appropriately in the EMU and determine whether a need exists for quality improvements.

The project reviewed patients admitted to the EMU from September 2021 through November 2021 who developed a generalized tonic clonic (GTCs) seizure with electrographic epileptiform …

Nanoparticles For Biomedical Applications, Joseph Kim

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

This thesis presents development and evaluation of the potential of three new nanoparticles for biomedical applications. With the rapid growth of the field of nanoscience, researchers have explored developing nanoparticles for various biomedical applications, including imaging, therapy, and drug delivery. This thesis demonstrates the development of two C­₆₀ fullerene based nanoparticles and one boron based nanoparticle to answer key questions related to their biological potential.

In the first part of the thesis, we describe synthesis and characterization of a pure boron nanoparticle containing asolectin phospholipid-based liposome construct prepared using a water-in-oil emulsion method, as a novel alternative agent for …

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Image-Guided Intervention: Quantitative Characterization Of Reagents For Thermochemical Ablation, Emily A. Thompson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Thermochemical ablation (TCA) is a minimally invasive therapy under development for hepatocellular carcinoma, a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. TCA utilizes acid-base chemistry delivered simultaneously to induce local ablation when administered. When delivered via a mixing catheter placed directly into the tumor, acid (e.g., AcOH) and base (e.g., NaOH) react to completion at the catheter tip, producing the acetate salt, water, and releasing heat (Δ>50°C) in sufficient quantities to induce lethal osmotic and thermal stress in tumor cells. However, these two reagents are not distinguishable from tissues with noninvasive imaging modalities, which makes monitoring the delivery of TCA …

Age Moderates The Effect Of Injury Severity On Functional Trajectories In Traumatic Brain Injury: A Study Using The Nidilrr Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Dataset., Laraine Winter, Janell L Mensinger, Helene J Moriarty, Keith M Robinson, Michelle Mckay, Benjamin E Leiby

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Age is a risk factor for a host of poor outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI), with some evidence suggesting that age is also a source of excess disability. We tested the extent to which age moderates the effect of injury severity on functional trajectories over 15 years post injury. Data from 11,442 participants from the 2020 National Institute of Disability and Independent Living Rehabiitation Research (NIDILRR) Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) National Dataset were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. Injury severity was operationally defined using a composite of Glasgow Coma Scale scores, structural imaging findings, and the …

Vampires And Other Diseases: Stochastic Infection Dynamics Of Small Populations, Marijn Jaarsma

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

Mathematical models are powerful tools often applied in the field of epidemiology. The type and shape of the model will differ between different types of diseases. In this study, stochastic dynamical models are applied to the entertaining example of vampires, and the results of this analysis are compared to real-life diseases with small populations of infected. The data used comes from pop-culture depictions of vampires in literature, television shows, movies, and fan pages associated with these depictions. The aim of this study is to serve as an educational tool for modeling diseases with small populations to predict and control the …

Impact Of Interleukin-34 On The Promotion Of Bone Osteolysis And Neuroinflammation In Experimental Models Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Anny Ho

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing health concern and is the most common type of dementia worldwide. Emerging evidence indicates that aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, one of the hallmark features of AD neuropathology, can increase RANKL-mediated osteoclast activity leading to the prevalence and severity of inflammatory osteolysis, e.g., osteoporosis and periodontal bone loss. Conversely, osteolytic lesions are associated with increased risk of dementia diagnosis indicating that there is a direct link between dementia and inflammatory osteolysis. It was demonstrated that the neuronal cells primarily produce interleukin-34 (IL-34) and microglia, macrophages, and osteoclast precursors express colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), a …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Various Essential Oils Against The Sars Cov-2 Virus, Elizabeth Wagstaff, Chandrelyn Kraczek, Jack Brandon Lopez

Annual Research Symposium

A poster presentation and abstract for the Roseman Symposium. The project focuses on testing 3 essential oil blends and two disinfectants containing an essential oil blend against SARS CoV-2 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project procedure involves plaque assays, disinfection, and neutralization techniques.

Evaluation Of Hippocampal Allostatic Load-Associated Factors In Animal Models Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Relevance To Human Ptsd, Dennis Parker Kelley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with elevated allostatic load, nearly double the risk for metabolic syndrome, reduced hippocampal volume, and contextual memory processing deficits. Emerging evidence suggests that these stress effects may predispose individuals to the development of PTSD, and there is a known relationship between chronic stress and metabolic dysfunction. In this work, we utilized two rat models of PTSD to explore these connections. We used an acute predator odor stressor to investigate the relationship between PTSD-like behaviors and mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus of rats, and we observed that conditioned place avoidance was associated with reduced mitochondrial …

Distance Runners In Appalachia: A Survey Of Injuries, Training, And Dietary Habits, Justine Falcone Md, Katherine Langley Md, Brenden Balcik Md, Rosanna Sikora Md, Melinda Sharon Mph, Aaron Monseau Md

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objectives: The purpose was to examine characteristics of an Appalachian population of runners. The primary aim was to examine risk factors for running related injury (RRI), including mileage per week, experience, and use of applications/training programs. A second aim was to characterize dietary habits among runners. Methods: This study was conducted in September 2015 in North Central Appalachian West Virginia. The Morgantown Marathon consists of three races offered every September: an 8K, half marathon, and full marathon. Surveys were offered to runners ages 18 and older during packet pick-up. For this survey study, questions consisted of multiple choice and open-ended …

Investigating The Role Of Nlrp3 Inflammasome In Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Urszula O. Warncke

Theses and Dissertations

Paclitaxel and oxaliplatin are commonly used antineoplastic drugs that cause chemotherapy-induce peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in up to 90% of patients. The sensory symptoms of CIPN include numbness, loss of proprioception, tingling, spontaneous burning, shooting or electric shock-like pain, mechanical and thermal allodynia, and cold hypersensitivity among others. Affected patients struggle with daily activities, have a low quality of life, and might stop cancer treatment. Unfortunately, there are no effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatments for these side effects. Many studies point to the involvement of inflammation as a major contributor of CIPN pathology. We investigated the effects of genetic (NLRP3 …

Increasing Awareness Of Personal Harm Reduction Interventions In The Clinical Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Shawn Theberge

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

The ever-rising concern for safety in the healthcare setting has become increasingly prevalent and levels of hostility and violence more publicly visible. Over the last decade both patients and clinicians have been targeted in healthcare facilities at record levels. These incidents have created an environment of not only risk but increased anxiety and feelings of uncertainty for most clinical personnel. The study will initially measure clinician’s viewpoint of the clinical setting that they work in; and over the span of the project, track and evaluate the effects of the interventions on clinicians’ overall feelings and perceptions. The expected outcome …

A Case Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome In The Setting Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Stephen Driscoll

Capstone Showcase

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a relapsing-remitting course of abdominal discomfort and change in stool form and/or frequency in the absence of any structural or biochemical abnormalities. Currently there is debate on its pathogenesis but there is no definitive conclusion. Treatment consists of primarily playing symptomalogic catch-up with anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrheals, stool softeners, or laxatives depending on which symptoms the patient is currently experiencing. Patients with IBS typically struggle to control their symptoms long term, like the patient described in this case study. This case study explores a possible link between IBS and its’ most …

Treatment Of Hypothyroidism: Desiccated Thyroid Extract, Aimee Fong

Capstone Showcase

The treatment of hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine (T4) has been well studied and FDA approved. However, many patients continue to have signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism while on Levothyroxine treatment despite reaching appropriate thyroid levels. An additional thyroid treatment known as desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) is made from dried pig thyroid glands and is advertised as a “natural” alternative to Levothyroxine. Despite lack of FDA approval and studies surrounding DTE, clinicians have prescribed DTE to patients, many of whom reported relief of their symptoms. The following poster highlights the approach to the treatment of hypothyroidism with Levothyroxine and DTE and outlines …

The Safety Of Covid-19 Vaccines In Pregnancy, Lauren Zacharias

Capstone Showcase

SARS-CoV-2 has caused over 800,000 deaths in the United States since it was first detected here in 2020. Despite there being 3 available COVID-19 vaccines in the US, and recommendations by the CDC and countless other public health agencies that any potential risks are outweighed by the benefit of the vaccines, only 31% of pregnant women in the US are vaccinated against COVID-19 due to unfounded claims by an anti-vaccination movement that COVID mRNA vaccines cause infertility. This presentation explores where these claims originated, why they are untrue, the risks of COVID-19 infections in pregnancy, and the potential benefits of …

Antibiotics May Be Unnecessary In The Treatment Of Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis, Madison Gump

Capstone Showcase

Acute diverticulitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide and is increasing in prevalence. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, changes in bowel habits, nausea, and vomiting. Traditionally, this disease has been treated with antibiotics, but new research has emerged that has provided evidence that it may be safe to treat acute uncomplicated cases without antibiotics. This represents an area of medicine where it may be possible to reduce the use of unnecessary antibiotics and, therefore, contribution to bacterial antibiotic resistance. The current research studies do have some limitations and future studies with larger, more diverse patient populations and …

Auto- Ethnography With A Deep Dive Into Changes Mental Health During The Pandemic And A Look Into The Way The Pandemic Has Shaped Nursing Protocols For Recent Nursing College Graduates, Audrey Shaffer, Sarah Bereznay

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In this project we completed a deep dive into how the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped our mental health and has affected our preparation for careers as registered nurses through a series of auto- ethnographic narrative journals using scholarly articles to support this idea. By utilizing personal narratives, we analyzed and reflected upon the cognitive and mental changes we experienced throughout this pandemic. We fulfilled this by comprising two personal narratives with inquiries pertaining to each shared narrative by utilizing the common themes of being nursing students and living through a pandemic. Within these personal narratives, we discussed how the pandemic influenced …

Autologous Cellular Therapy For Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Crossover Trial, Charles S Cox, Jenifer Juranek, Steven Kosmach, Claudia Pedroza, Nivedita Thakur, Allison Dempsey, Kimberly Rennie, Michael C Scott, Margaret Jackson, Akshita Kumar, Benjamin Aertker, Henry Caplan, Fabio Triolo, Sean I Savitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We examined an autologous mononuclear-cell-therapy-based approach to treat cerebral palsy using autologous umbilical cord blood or bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells. The primary objective was to determine if autologous cells are safe to administer in children with cerebral palsy. The secondary objectives were to determine if there was improvement in motor function of patients 12 months after infusion using the Gross Motor Function Measure and to evaluate impact of treatment on corticospinal tract microstructure as determined by radial diffusivity measurement. This Phase 1/2a trial was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study in children aged 2–10 years of age with cerebral palsy enrolled …

Effectiveness Of Stabilized Hypochlorous Acid In Acute Peritonitis Treatment: A Murine Surgical Study, Benjamin Michael Pomeroy

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Peritonitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the mesothelial cells that line the peritoneal cavity and is commonly induced by bowel perforations. This medical emergency is treated through antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention followed by tissue irrigation (lavage). Acute treatments aim to remove the bacterial burden, however recurring peritoneal infections occur at high rates and contribute to patient morbidity. These recurring infections are likely due to the inability of lavage solutions to remove the entire massive intra-abdominal bacterial load due to intestinal perforation. Numerous antiseptic solutions and antibiotic additives have been evaluated in their ability to improve source control by abdominal …

Does Quran Memorization Influence Adolescents’ Intelligence Quotient And Memory Level?: A Cross-Sectional Study In Malaysia, Ismarulyusda Ishak, Amira Aqilah Shaidin, Dzalani Harun, Nor Malia Abdul Warif, Vanitha Mariappan, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Ahmad Rohi Ghazali, Farah Wahida Ibrahim, Normah Che Din

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The process of memorizing various reading materials enhances the brain capacity to process, store, and assemble memories and increases the intelligence quotient (IQ) level. However, the connection between the memorization of Quran and the enhancement of memory level is not fully understood. Hence, a cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the correlation between Quran memorization and the IQ level among Muslim adolescents from selected Islamic schools in Selangor, Malaysia.

Methods: The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence was used to measure the student’s IQ level, whereas Digit Span and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test were used to evaluate …

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, Amy N. Wagner

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) causes 35% of myocardial infarctions in women under the age of 50 years old. Typically, these are healthy, active women without risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery syndromes. SCAD is a myocardial infarction caused by a coronary arterial dissection and not atherosclerotic plaques. Because of this, those effected do not present with the typical risk factors associated with acute atherosclerotic coronary syndromes. Therefore, clinicians must maintain a high level of suspicion for SCAD in young, healthy, women presenting with chest pain. Observation and pharmacological therapies are the preferred methods of treatment for a SCAD event. …

Conservative Management Of Low Back Pain, Se Won Lee, Dan Nguyen, Denny Mack, Eric Aguila, Mary Thomas, Karyn Doddy

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Low back pain (LBP) is frequently encountered in outpatient clinics and affects individual patients and society in general with decreased physical function, quality of life, disability, and/or economic burden. Although most acute LBP resolves on its own, recurrent and chronic LBP is a common reason for outpatient clinic visits. This review explores pragmatic approaches to LBP in the clinical setting, focusing on recognizing prognostic factors, initial approaches to evaluation, including selective imaging, and conservative management including patient education, therapeutic exercises and bracing.

Substance Abuse Relapse Is Not About Willpower But Is The Culmination Of Psychological And Socioeconomic Stress, Paul A. Steffes

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

The author reflects on the impact of non-judgmental listening on patient care outcomes.

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging For The Early Prediction Of Treatment Response In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Benjamin C. Musall

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer which lacks upregulated hormone receptors. Because of this, it is not vulnerable to clinically available targeted therapies. When treated with standard of care neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST), TNBC only shows approximately a 40% rate of pathologic complete response (pCR). A biomarker which could predict TNBC response to NAST early during treatment would be useful, as it would allow for non-responders to be triaged to alternative therapies and potentially allow for the treatment of responders to be de-escalated.

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be used to probe and …