Medical Specialties Commons^™

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Developing A Stand-Alone Children’S Hospital In Southern Nevada: Needs, Opportunities, And Economic Development Considerations, Tripp Umbach

Policy Briefs and Reports

This independent study developed by Tripp Umbach demonstrates how an independent, research-intensive, stand-alone children’s teaching hospital can significantly enhance the health status of Southern Nevada’s children, reduce outmigration, attract children from neighboring states, and stimulate the healthcare economy. Tripp Umbach evaluated the need for a children’s hospital, the barriers to overcoming its absence, and the advantages of establishing a stand-alone children’s hospital in Southern Nevada for diverse audiences throughout Nevada and nationally.

Cerebellopontine Angle Meningioma Mimicking Acute Stroke, Milan Terzic, Yash B. Patel

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Cerebellopontine angle meningiomas are slow-growing benign tumors of the brain with a largely indolent course until compressive and mass effects occur with adjacent neural structures. Clinical presentations are variable and dependent on the rate of growth and location and tend to progress over a longer period. Acute presentations are less common and require consideration of ubiquitous etiologies. A 62-year-old male with a history of hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, dyslipidemia, and gout presented to the emergency department with a sudden onset of dizziness, loss of balance, and persistently elevated blood pressure. The examination was positive for left dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, and tandem …

Breathless Laughter: Tackling Tussive Syncope In The Shadows Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Milan Terzic, Yash B. Patel

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Cough is a common complaint in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Most cases are caused by upper airway syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, bronchitis, or infections. Complications that can be life-threatening include syncope and arrhythmias. Our case is of a 67-year-old obese male who had a chronic cough that led to syncope. The chronic cough was present for months, non-responsive to symptomatic treatment, and negative on outpatient work up with no clear common causes leading to hospitalization. After extensive imaging and cardiopulmonary work up yielding normal results, his underlying obstructive sleep apnea and therapy noncompliance was a likely cause. After …

Impact Of Frailty On Patient Morbidity And Outcomes Following Surgery For Urolithiasis: A Nsqip Analysis, David Fu, Kaeli Samson, Bryant Van Leeuwen, Andrew J. Blazek, Andrew Christiansen

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background: Kidney stones are prevalent, and surgical treatment is based on multiple factors. Frailty is the collective decline of organ systems that can lead to adverse events and is considered prior to surgery for risk-benefit analysis. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) utilizes risk-adjusted data to monitor outcomes, provide quality benchmarks, and decrease complications. The impact of frailty with the modified 5-item frailty index has not previously been evaluated for patients undergoing urolithiasis procedures.

Methods: Data was collected from 1329 patients who underwent surgery for urolithiasis. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause morbidity. Associations between variables, including those …

Development Of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy In 46-Year-Old With Refractory Crohn's Disease, Margarita Pipinos, Andrea Klooz, Maria E. Tecos, Andrew Kamien

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Rampant autoimmune disease has the potential to ravage the entirety of the body in a systemic fashion. Rarely, it has been reported for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy develop as a result of refractory inflammatory bowel disease. Balancing the comprehensive cares required to support both the cardiovascular system and treat the underlying autoimmune condition care present unique challenges. Here, we describe a patient who developed late-onset Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after prolonged systemic stress as a result of uncontrolled Crohn’s disease. While this patient unfortunately did succumb to the disease process, it is our hope that highlighting these rare cases may progress care for future …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

Inter-Institutional Analysis Of Skin Of Color Representation In Dermatological Lecture Content At Md And Do Medical Schools, Oluwafunke Oluwatosin Ogunremi, Blake Fredericksen, John Komas, Sana Ismail, Siri Knutsen-Larson Md, Valeriy Kozmenko Md, Afia Albin Do

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the lecture materials provided in medical schools through a diversity lens. Skin pathologies manifest distinctively on various shades of skin and physicians must be equipped with the proper knowledge to identify and diagnose these conditions accurately and promptly. For most medical students, images in prominent textbooks and lecture slides are their first encounter with disease presentations. Therefore, it is important to analyze the diversity of skin tones in the content that is being delivered. Specifically, the use of images featuring darker skin tones compared to those depicting lighter skin tones. This study …

A Systematic Review: Mirror Neurons & Schizophrenia, Yashesvi Sharma, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

This research project establishes a link between Mirror Neuron System (MNS) activity and this information's implications in treating and understanding schizophrenia, specifically, schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms.

The Impact Of Kangaroo Care On The Weight Gain Of Premature Infants, Heather Vincequere

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Premature birth remains a global health concern, affecting approximately 15 million infants annually (WHO, 2023). Kangaroo Care (KC), involving skin-to-skin contact between caregivers and infants, was developed as a promising intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of prematurity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of KC on weight gain among preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Doctors Hospital of Augusta (DHOA). A quasi-experimental quantitative posttest-only design was employed, with eight preterm infants (< 37 weeks gestation) participating in KC for at least 30 minutes daily. Daily weight measurements were collected over a four-week period and compared to the expected weight gain for infants receiving traditional incubator care. Results revealed a statistically significant increase in weight gain among infants receiving KC compared to the historical average for infants in traditional incubator care (t (7) = 2.443, p = 0.022). A large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.864) further supported the significance of these findings. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and convenience sampling, this study emphasizes that KC enhances weight gain in preterm infants, thus improving overall health outcomes. Implementation of KC requires ongoing support from nurse leaders to ensure proper education and successful integration into routine care practices. Nonetheless, continued research with larger samples and improved randomization is warranted to fully understand the long-term benefits of KC in neonatal care settings.

Student Perspectives On Transition From Bachelor’S To Master’S Degree For Professional Athletic Trainers: Advantages And Disadvantages, Bobbi A. Severt, Michael B. Phillips, Janet Kesterson Isbell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of students interested in a career in athletic training on the degree change and what they perceive as advantages and disadvantages to pursuing a master's level professional degree in athletic training. Method: A case study was conducted using an interpretivism framework informed by a constructionism theoretical stance. A focus group of six current undergraduate pre-athletic training students and individual interviews of three pre-athletic training graduates along with current and historical documents were used to collect data. An inductive approach was used to analyze data along with reflexive thematic analysis …

Effects Of Maternal-Infant Golden Hour On Breastfeeding, Julina A. Wall-Penner, Katilyn Rasmussen, Madeline Suderman

SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Abstract

This study examines the effects of immediate maternal-infant skin-to-skin contact, and how those effects compare to mothers and babies who have delayed or skin-to-skin. Skin-to-skin contact, also known as “the golden hour”, is a remarkable practice that occurs immediately after birth. During this intimate bonding experience, the newborn is placed directly on the mother's chest, their tiny body nestled against her warm skin. Studies have shown numerous benefits from this practice. Breastfeeding success through early initiation is one the benefits this study focuses on. This cohort observational study is recommended to take place at Hays Medical Center with mothers …

Revolutionizing Denture Excellence: An Invigorating In-Vitro Exploration Of Organic Products In Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Nighila Ravindran, Sneha Joseph, Aswani Surya K

Annual Research Symposium

The denture base comes into contact with diverse substances in the oral cavity, acting as a reservoir for microorganisms like corynebacterium, streptococcus, lactobacillus, and candida. This colonization elevates the risk of complications such as denture stomatitis and candidiasis. Commercial denture cleaners have explored the use of natural ingredients, less commonly employed but offering various advantages. These ingredients aim to mitigate the potential issues associated with microbial colonization on denture surfaces, contributing to improved oral hygiene for denture wearers. The exploration of natural elements reflects a nuanced approach to denture care, considering both efficacy and less conventional alternatives.

Investigating Racial And Ethnic Healthcare Disparities In Screenable Ob/Gyn-Related Cancers, Lara Laughrey

Annual Research Symposium

This is a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature addressing healthcare inequity based on race and ethnicity with a specific focus on Ob/Gyn-related management and treatment of screenable cancers.

Assessment Of Emotional Intelligence Among Students In Dental College, Gowri Nandana S Final Year Student, Sudeep C. B Professor And Head Of The Department Of Public Health Dentistry

Annual Research Symposium

Over an extended period, the examination of intelligence predominantly centered on the adaptive deployment of cognitive abilities. In more recent times, scholars such as Gardner (1983) and Sternberg (1988) have proposed comprehensive frameworks for comprehending intelligence. Pioneering the concept of "emotional intelligence," Salovey and Mayer (1990) posited that emotional intelligence encompasses three distinct categories of adaptive capabilities: the evaluation and expression of emotions, the regulation of emotions, and the utilization of emotions in problem-solving. The objective is to evaluate emotional intelligence among dental students across various educational institutions.

Quality Of Life In Orthodontics, Claudia Eisenhuth, Gabriel Eisenhuth, Connor Schwartz, Amir Mohajeri, Man Hung, Tiffany Nelson, Ryann Glenn

Annual Research Symposium

Orthodontic treatment goes beyond mere cosmetic enhancement; it significantly impacts various aspects of an individual's quality of life. Beyond the physical benefits of improved oral function and prevention of dental issues, orthodontics also yields profound psychological benefits. Aligned teeth enhance self-confidence, reduce social anxiety, and contribute to better relationships and professional opportunities. Moreover, addressing dental concerns through orthodontic treatment reduces psychological distress and promotes overall happiness and satisfaction. Real-life case studies vividly illustrate the transformative effects of orthodontic interventions, emphasizing the importance of considering quality of life outcomes in dental care.

Investigating The Interplay Between Glucose Regulation, Neural Activity, And Motivation: A Novel Approach Utilizing Vibration Stimulation, Blake D. Harris, Patrick Tanner Brain, Alessandra Maisie Rivera, Tiffany Nguyen, James Barber, Amar Paul, John Dougherty Jr., Matthew Jennings, Bridger Gunter, David W. Sant, Christina A. Small, Scott Steffenson, Kyle B. Bills

Annual Research Symposium

This research explores the intricate relationship between glucose regulation, neural activity, and motivation in key brain regions, including the hypothalamus, basal ganglia, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and nucleus accumbens (NA). We aim to unravel the potential relationship of these factors on dopamine (DA) release and the broader implications for mental health, glucose regulation, well-being, and overall health. Our innovative approach involves using a chair that causes heterodyned whole-body vibration designed to stimulate DA release from the VTA and NA, areas associated with motivation and rewards.

Exploring The Interconnected Role Of The Oral Microbiome And Periodontal Disease In The Development And Progression Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Malak Al-Regib, Claudia M. Tellez Freitas

Annual Research Symposium

This comprehensive review explores the complex linkage among the oral microbiome, periodontal disease, and the onset and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Neuropsychological Findings In Idiopathic Adult-Onset Epilepsy Case Study: Noorda Com Student Investigation, Jacob Warner, Michael Milius, Jordyn Huecker, Tiffany Nguyen, Luke Sanders, Joseph Harbold, Kennedy Madrid, Nicholas Curtis, Chase Taylor, James Barber, Jayne Stuter, Ethan Zaugg, Aaron Andrews, John A. Kriak, David W. Sant, Kyle B. Bills

Annual Research Symposium

We report the case of a 25-year-old male patient with idiopathic adult-onset epilepsy. The patient presented with a chief complaint of recurrent seizures and no identifiable cause. These seizures were associated with a lack of extremity control, muscle spasms, and loss of cognitive function. His condition began while living in Thailand, where he experienced multiple environmental stressors including hostile living conditions and tense situations, approximately five years before being seen in the clinic. Over the past several years, the seizures have not ceased, and the patient now notes a loss or decrease of several special senses.

Development Of A Protocol For Obtaining Biological Samples For Genetic Testing From Remote Individuals, Noah R. Schultz, Brandon J. Burger, Jacob Warner, Alfred Amendolara, Jameson Williams, Molly Henley, Layla Risdon, Alessandra Maisie Rivera, Amanda Page, Millicent Jiang, Denisse Castaneda, Garret Phillips, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

Pharmacogenomic sequencing allows individuals to learn more about how they will respond to certain medications but requires shipping of a biological sample. One complication of sending biological samples to remote laboratories is stability. Blood generally yields sufficient quantities of high-quality DNA but requires a clinic visit. Saliva and buccal swabs are routinely used for DNA extractions, but the DNA quality is notoriously low due to the presence of bacteria in the mouth. Additionally, elderly individuals have difficulty producing enough saliva for testing, and the tubes contain several milliliters of liquid and shipping requires special considerations. Dried blood spot cards, which …

Dna Extraction Method Development For Solid Tissues, Ryan Powers, Noah R. Schultz, Brandon J. Burger, John Dougherty Jr., Ezenna Obilor, Alexander Ruiz, Corwin Frey, Nathaniel Hill, Lara Laughrey, Patrick Tanner Brain, Sara Mcmahon, Parker Feltner, Steven Tung, Daoud Sajady, Elden Jenkins, Julian Jarquin, Serin Baker, Aaron Andrews, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

Although germline variation testing is traditionally performed using DNA obtained from blood or other liquid samples, determining somatic variation in cancer samples requires DNA extraction directly from tissues. Additionally, epigenetic markers, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are tissue-specific and change in selected disease states. However, several substances present in tissues are known to inhibit downstream reactions, including polymerase chain reaction PCR). For this project, we are assessing the quantity and quality of DNA obtained from extractions of various vital organs using 30 different commercially available DNA extraction kits to determine optimal kits for each tissue.

Investigating The Genetics Of Chronic Intractable Migraine With Reactive Hypoglycemia, C Yvonne Russell, Jacob Warner, Brandon J. Burger, Jordan Cutshall, Naeel Uddin, Patrick Tanner Brain, Alessandra Maisie Rivera, Braden Cunningham, Kailee Edwards, Katie Beechay, Luke Sanders, Zachary Ta, John A. Kriak, David W. Sant, Kyle B. Bills

Annual Research Symposium

Migraines affect roughly 1-in-6 males and 1-in-5 females in the United States. Of these, approximately 5-30% experience intractable migraines, or migraines resistant to abortive treatments. Despite this large population, relatively little is known about intractable migraines compared to other types of migraines. Our recent work indicates that reactive hypoglycemia is common among these individuals. Additionally, empirical evidence suggests that individuals in families with chronic intractable migraines are more likely to have the same condition than people of the general population, suggesting a possible genetic link between both migraines and metabolic abnormalities. Previous Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have found several …

Investigating The Role Of Chaos In Minimizing Tumor Growth, Maxwell Geiger

Annual Research Symposium

Chaos is a type of motion found in mathematical systems that is highly sensitive to initial conditions. While many biological systems described in literature have been analyzed for the presence of chaotic dynamics, there are still many that are yet to be discovered. The goal of this project is to reassess Itik and Banks’ discovery of chaotic behavior in their population dynamics model of cancer growth. Once chaotic behavior is confirmed, we want to investigate how chaos could possibly be controlled to minimize tumor growth and discover novel treatments for cancer patients.

Ligaplant: Recreating Natural From Artificial, Disha Kamavisdar

Annual Research Symposium

Missing teeth can be substituted by the use of the dental implants. The most widely used implants in the current scenario are the osseointegrated implants with various shortcomings and the most prominent one is the lack of the periodontal ligament. To overcome this, implants with periodontal ligaments can be procured and this can be possible by the application of the tissue engineering concept along with suitable implant material.

Application Of In-Silico Computational Biology Strategies To Demonstrate Mechanism Of Oral Cancer Cell Death By Natural Peptide, Dr Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

This research work is designed to identify biomolecules from Earthworm Coelomic Fluid (ECF) of Eudrilus Eugeniae (EE) that can inhibit oral cancer cells from proliferating. The study aims to construct a homology model of the 18 kDa protein from ECF of EE (18-ECFP) with molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) to enable its molecular docking with pro-apoptotic caspase receptors with determination of binding energy scores. The study also evaluates the anti-cancer potential of 18-ECFP on SCC-9 cells in vitro by wet lab techniques.

Pathogenic Implications Of Candidal Species In Both Oral Cancer And Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders - A Review, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv, Kuntala Mondal

Annual Research Symposium

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the 6th most common cancer in worldwide. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel quid chewing are its major risk factors other factors that can lead to OSCC include excessive sun exposure, viral or fungal infection, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene. The carcinogenesis of OSCC occurs gradually and oral epithelial dysplasia is considered a potential histologic precursor of OSCC. Most OSCC cases are preceded by clinically evident oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The aim of this review is to correlate the association between Candida species and oral potentially malignant disorders and its possible mechanisms …

Immunohistochemical Expression Of Cyclin D1 In Dentigerous Cyst, Odontogenic Keratocyst And Unicystic Ameloblastoma- An In-Vitro Study, Kuntala Mondal, Sv Sowmya, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Cyclin D1, a G1 cyclin member, regulates the transition of the cell cycle from the G1 phase to the S phase. The uncontrolled and elevated expression of cyclin D1 has been associated with rapid growth, heightened proliferative activity and increased histologic aggressiveness. Unicystic ameloblastoma pertains to cystic lesions that present clinical, radiographic, or gross features akin to jaw cysts. Nevertheless, upon histological scrutiny, these lesions display a distinctive ameloblastomatous epithelium lining the cystic cavity, with or without luminal or mural proliferation. This cystic variant of tumor bears substantial resemblances to dentigerous cysts, and occasionally, both entities can become indistinguishable upon …

An Immunohistochemical Panel For The Accurate Differentiation Between Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma And Pleomorphic Adenoma, Kuntala Mondal, Sv Sowmya, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Salivary Gland Tumors (SGTs) are a diverse group of neoplasms, with a wide range of histological subtypes, some of which can exhibit overlapping features. Amongst this group of tumors, Pleomorphic Adenoma (PA) and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) stand out as prevalent entities originating from the salivary glands. The accurate differentiation between these two entities is crucial for treatment planning, as it influences decisions regarding the extent of surgical resection. Because of the overlapping histopathological features, it is difficult to differentiate these two lesions with the help of conventional Hematoxylin & Eosin (H& E). The evaluation of Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers holds pivotal …

Cheiloscopic Characteristics Detection And Pattern Classification By Machine Learning Technique, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv

Annual Research Symposium

Machine Learning (ML) is a field enhancing the rapid growth of technology. Though use of digital softwares for cheiloscopic investigations have been attempted with limited success, the use of ML based techniques are scarce and seldom have been employed in forensic odontology. The present study aimed to identify cheiloscopic patterns through machine learning based methods and to correlate the segmented patterns with age and gender of individuals.