Medical Specialties Commons^™

Efficacy And Safety Of Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma In Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Mila B. Ortigoza, Hyunah Yoon, Keith S. Goldfeld, Andrea B. Troxel, Johanna P. Daily, Yinxiang Wu, Yi Li, Danni Wu, Gia F. Cobb, Andrew N. Dentino

School of Medicine Publications

Importance: There is clinical equipoise for COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of CCP compared with placebo in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving noninvasive supplemental oxygen.

Design, setting, and participants: CONTAIN COVID-19, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of CCP in hospitalized adults with COVID-19, was conducted at 21 US hospitals from April 17, 2020, to March 15, 2021. The trial enrolled 941 participants who were hospitalized for 3 or less days or presented 7 or less days after symptom onset and required noninvasive oxygen supplementation.

Interventions: A unit of …

Candida Pericarditis Presenting With Cardiac Tamponade And Multiple Organ Failure After Combined Damage Control Thoracotomy And Laparotomy With Splenectomy In A Trauma Patient: Case Report And Review Of Literature, R. A. Siller, Jeffrey Skubic, J. L. Almeda, Adolfo E. Kaplan

School of Medicine Publications

Candida pericarditis is a rare condition which has previously been described after cardiothoracic surgery and immunosuppressive states (Geisler et al., 1981; Eng et al., 1981; Kraus et al., 1988; Kaufman et al., 1988; Tang et al., 2009; Glower et al., 1990; Carrel et al., 1991; Rabinovici et al., 1997; Canver et al., 1998; Farjah et al., 2005; Gronemeyer et al., 1982 [1-11]). We describe the case of a 19-year-old male blunt trauma patient, who survived a damage control thoracotomy and laparotomy with splenectomy, who later developed a loculated Candida pericardial effusion, complicated with cardiac tamponade and multiple organ failure, and …

Steviol Represses Glucose Metabolism And Translation Initiation In Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Sonam Kumari, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Manish Tripathi, Bilal B. Hafeez, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan, Meena Jaggi

School of Medicine Publications

Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis and lowest survival rate among all cancers. Pancreatic cancer cells are highly metabolically active and typically reprogrammed for aberrant glucose metabolism; thus they respond poorly to therapeutic modalities. It is highly imperative to understand mechanisms that are responsible for high glucose metabolism and identify natural/synthetic agents that can repress glucose metabolic machinery in pancreatic cancer cells, to improve the therapeutic outcomes/management of pancreatic cancer patients. We have identified a glycoside, steviol that effectively represses glucose consumption in pancreatic cancer cells via the inhibition of the translation initiation machinery of the molecular components. Herein, we …

Combined Amplification And Sound Therapy For Individuals With Tinnitus And Coexisting Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Purushothaman Ganesan, Hansapani Rodrigo, Jason Schmiedge, Rob Reiter, Simham Swapna, Vinaya Manchaiah

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The heterogeneity of tinnitus perception and its impact necessitates a tailor-made management approach in everyone. The current study examined the effects of residual inhibition in combined amplification and sound therapy in individuals with tinnitus and coexisting hearing loss.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with tinnitus and coexisting hearing loss between 2016 and 2019. A total of 72 patients provided with combined amplification and sound therapy were divided into 3 groups based on residual inhibition: (i) complete residual inhibition, (ii) partial residual inhibition, and (iii) negative residual inhibition. Tinnitus severity was measured using the Tinnitus …

Bay Leaf Extract‐Based Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Probe For Tissue And Cellular Imaging, Benilde Adriano, Nycol Cotto, Neeraj Chauhan, Vinitha Karumuru, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali M. Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

The development of fluorescence dyes for near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has been a significant interest for deep tissue imaging. Among many imaging fluoroprobes, indocyanine green (ICG) and its analogues have been used in oncology and other medical applications. However, these imaging agents still experience poor imaging capabilities due to low tumor targetability, photostability, and sensitivity in the biological milieu. Thus, developing a biocompatible NIR imaging dye from natural resources holds the potential of facilitating cancer cell/tissue imaging. Chlorophyll (Chl) has been demonstrated to be a potential candidate for imaging purposes due to its natural NIR absorption qualities and its wide …

Scaling A Community-Wide Campaign Intervention To Manage Hypertension And Weight Loss, Belinda M. Reininger, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, Minjae Lee, Paul G. Yeh, Amanda C. Davé, Soo Kyung Park, Tianlin Xu, Alma G. Ochoa-Del Toro

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

Public health impacts can be achieved when evidence-based interventions are implemented to those most in need. Too often implementation never or slowly occurs. The community-wide campaign intervention Tu Salud ¡Si Cuenta! has evidence of improving health outcomes related to chronic disease among low-income, Latinos. Using the RE-AIM Framework, this study examined if the scaled-up version of the intervention is associated with improvements in hypertension and obesity in 12 locations. Each element of the RE-AIM framework was examined. For "Effectiveness," we examined outcomes overall and by implementing location. We used linear and logistic regression to assess if exposure in the intervention …

Dna Damage Is Overcome By Trip13 Overexpression During Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity, Taketsugu Hama, Prashanth K.B. Nagesh, Pallabita Chowdhury, Bob M. Moore Ii, Murali M. Yallapu, Kevin R. Regner, Frank Park

School of Medicine Publications

Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent to treat a wide array of cancers that is frequently associated with toxic injury to the kidney due to oxidative DNA damage and perturbations in cell cycle progression leading to cell death. In this study, we investigated whether thyroid receptor interacting protein 13 (TRIP13) plays a central role in the protection of the tubular epithelia following cisplatin treatment by circumventing DNA damage. Following cisplatin treatment, double-stranded DNA repair pathways were inhibited using selective blockers to proteins involved in either homologous recombination or non-homologous end joining. This led to increased blood markers of acute …

Case Report: Pafah1b1 Mutation And Posterior Band Heterotopia With Focal Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Treated By Responsive Neurostimulation, Frank G. Gilliam, Paddy Ssentongo, Michael Sather, Yuka I. Kawasawa

School of Medicine Publications

Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH), also known as double cortex syndrome, is a malformation of cortical development caused by inherited or somatic gene variants. We present a case of a young adult with posterior SBH and electroclinical features of focal neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy. Genomic blood analysis identified a pathogenic somatic mosaicism duplication variant of the PAFAH1B1 gene. Despite bilateral cortical MRI abnormalities, the interictal and ictal EEG findings indicated a focal epileptogenic region in the left posterior temporal region. Chronic responsive cortical neurostimulation across two four-contact depth electrodes placed 5mm on either side of the maximal interictal spiking identified during …

Dermatomyositis- Related Intestinal Dysmotility, Christine Loftis, Rosa White, Emilia C. Dulgheru

School of Medicine Publications

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory myopathy (IIM) characterized by proximal muscle weakness and pathognomonic skin lesions. A 69-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of DM 1 month prior, treated with corticosteroids and immunomodulators, presented to our inpatient rehabilitation with worsening dysphagia and constipation. At the time of our evaluation, physical examination was notable for erythematous papules over the metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, elbows, and knees as well as a violaceous rash on the face. Muscle strength was diminished bilaterally with proximal distribution being affected greater than distal. Laboratory studies were notable for the creatine kinase (CK) level of 31 …

Acquired Factor Viii Deficiency Presenting As Gross Hematuria In A Hispanic, Pregnant Patient With Previously Undiagnosed Connective Tissue Disease, Christine Loftis, Emilia C. Dulgheru, Rosa White

School of Medicine Publications

Acquired factor VIII deficiency is a bleeding disorder caused by the presence of autoantibodies against clotting factor VIII. We report a case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman who presented with gross hematuria secondary to acquired factor VIII deficiency in the presence of a previously undiagnosed connective tissue disease. *is article includes a literature review of pregnancy-related cases of acquired factor VIII deficiency. We also reviewed various therapeutic approaches for the management of the acquired factor inhibitor which include achieving hemostasis and elimination of the inhibitor via immunosuppressive agents. *is case report describes the rare presentation of acquired factor VIII deficiency …

Apoe Gene Associated With Cholesterol-Related Traits In The Hispanic Population, Stephanie Lozano, Victoria I. Padilla, Manuel Lee Avila, Mario Gil, Gladys E. Maestre, Kesheng Wang, Chun Xu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Genetic variants in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene are associated with lipid metabolism and lipid-related traits in the non-Hispanic population. There have been limited studies regarding the association between the APOE gene and hypercholesterolemia in the Hispanic population; therefore, our aim for this study is to examine the APOE gene’s associations with cholesterol level and its related phenotypes. The APOE gene consists of three different alleles, ε2, ε3, and ε4, with ε4 being associated with dementia and cardiovascular diseases. A total of 1,382 subjects were collected from the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC, N = 1320) and the …

Endovascular Thrombectomy In Patients With Large Core Ischemic Stroke: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis From The Select Study, Amrou Sarraj, Elena Pizzo, Kyriakos Lobotesis, James C. Grotta, Ameer E. Hassan, Michael G. Abraham, Spiros Blackburn, Arthur L. Day, Mark J. Dannenbaum, William Hicks

School of Medicine Publications

Background It is unknown whether endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is cost effective in large ischemic core infarcts.

Methods In the prospective, multicenter, cohort study of imaging selection study (SELECT), large core was defined as computed tomography (CT) ASPECTS(CTP) ischemic core volume (rCBF

Results From 361 patients enrolled in SELECT, 105 had large core on CT or CTP (EVT 62, MM 43). 19 (31%) EVT vs 6 (14%) MM patients achieved modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0–2 (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.11 to 9.62, P=0.03) with a shift towards better mRS (cOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.31, P=0.04). Over the projected …

Real-Time Mobile Teleophthalmology For The Detection Of Eye Disease In Minorities And Low Socioeconomics At-Risk Populations, Lama A. Al-Aswad, Cansu Yuksel Elgin, Vipul Patel, Deborah Popplewell, Kalashree Gopal, Dan Gong, Zach Thomas, Devon Joiner, Cha-Kai Chu, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose: To examine the benefits and feasibility of a mobile, real-time, community-based, teleophthalmology program for detecting eye diseases in the New York metro area.

Design: Single site, nonrandomized, cross-sectional, teleophthalmologic study.

Methods: Participants underwent a comprehensive evaluation in a Wi-Fi-equipped teleophthalmology mobile unit. The evaluation consisted of a basic anamnesis with a questionnaire form, brief systemic evaluations and an ophthalmologic evaluation that included visual field, intraocular pressure, pachymetry, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, posterior segment optical coherence tomography, and nonmydriatic fundus photography. The results were evaluated in real-time and follow-up calls were scheduled to complete a secondary questionnaire form. Risk …

Frontotemporal Dementias In Latin America: History, Epidemiology, Genetics, And Clinical Research, Jorge J. Llibre-Guerra, Maria Isabel Behrens, Mirna Lie Hosogi, Lucia Montero, Teresa Torralva, Nilton Custodio, Erika Mariana Longoria-Ibarrola, Margarita Giraldo-Chica, David Aguillón, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: The historical development, frequency, and impact of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are less clear in Latin America than in high-income countries. Although there is a growing number of dementia studies in Latin America, little is known collectively about FTD prevalence studies by country, clinical heterogeneity, risk factors, and genetics in Latin American countries.

Methods: A systematic review was completed, aimed at identifying the frequency, clinical heterogeneity, and genetics studies of FTD in Latin American populations. The search strategies used a combination of standardized terms for FTD and related disorders. In addition, at least one author per Latin American country summarized …

Circulating Fatty Acids Associated With Advanced Liver Fibrosis And Hepatocellular Carcinoma In South Texas Hispanics, Jingjing Jiao, Suet-Ying Kwan, Caroline M. Sabotta, Honami Tanaka, Lucas Veillon, Marc O. Warmoes, Philip L. Lorenzi, Ying Wang, Peng Wei, Jose Luis Almeda, Joseph B. Mccormick, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Hispanics in South Texas have high rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Liver fibrosis severity is the strongest predictive factor of NAFLD progression to HCC. We examined the association between free fatty acids (FA) and advanced liver fibrosis or HCC in this population.

Methods: We quantified 45 FAs in plasma of 116 subjects of the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, 15 Hispanics with HCC, and 56 first/second-degree relatives of Hispanics with HCC. Liver fibrosis was assessed by FibroScan.

Results: Advanced liver fibrosis was significantly associated with low expression of very long chain (VLC) saturated FAs …

Lipocalin 2 Promotes Inflammatory Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis And Skin Invasion, Emilly S. Villodre, Xiaoding Hu, Richard Larson, Pascal Finetti, Kristen Gomez, Wintana Balema, Shane R. Stecklein, Ginette Santiago-Sanchez, Savitri Krishnamurthy, Juhee Song

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of primary breast cancer characterized by rapid onset and high risk of metastasis and poor clinical outcomes. The biological basis for the aggressiveness of IBC is still not well understood and no IBC-specific targeted therapies exist. In this study, we report that lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a small secreted glycoprotein belonging to the lipocalin superfamily, is expressed at significantly higher levels in IBC vs non-IBC tumors, independently of molecular subtype. LCN2 levels were also significantly higher in IBC cell lines and in their culture media than in non-IBC cell lines. High expression was …

Characterization Of Oral Cavity And Oropharyngeal Cancer In The Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jared A. Sperling, Rachel Giese

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Cancers of the oral cavity (OC) and oropharynx (OP) account for 3% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. A primary cause of death among the Hispanic population in the United States is cancer, accounting for 20% of annual mortality. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a medically-underserved area of South Texas with a large Hispanic population facing health disparities. In this study, we examine the incidence and mortality of OC and OP cancer in the RGV. CDC population-level incidence and mortality rate per 100,000 of OC/OP cancer among patients in the RGV counties of Hidalgo and Cameron …

Investigating The Protective Role Of Irbp Against Oxidative Stress In Diabetic Retinopathy, Matthew N. Parvus, Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, Reanna Rodriguez, Daniela Gonzalez, Andrew Tsin

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Introduction:

Diabetic retinopathy is an ocular condition caused by a multitude of factors as a result of elevated blood glucose. One of the primary mechanisms of damage is a result of oxidative stress. It has been found that levels of IRBP in the vitreous are decreased in the setting of diabetic retinopathy, which could be associated with damage from resulting oxidative stress.

Purpose:

This article will address the protective role of IRBP in diabetic retinopathy by discussing the overexpression and under expression of IRBP and its resulting effect on the retina. Increased levels of IRBP in rats with diabetic retinopathy …

The Epidemiology, Evaluation, And Assessment Of Lateral Ankle Sprains In Athletes, G. Javier Cavazos Jr., Lawrence B. Harkless

School of Medicine Publications

Approximately 30,000 ankle injuries occur every day in the United States. With the incidence estimated at more than 3 million a year and at a rate of 2.15/1,000 in the U.S. alone, medical specialists and other healthcare providers caring for the foot and ankle must take notice. Despite the millions of ankle injuries sustained annually, the true incidence may be underestimated, as fewer than half of individuals with ankle sprains seek medical attention from healthcare professionals. The economic burden associated with the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment is close to $4 billion annually. Ankle sprains account for half of all sports …

Intradural Extramedullary Primary Central Nervous System Melanoma Of The Craniovertebral Junction During Pregnancy: Observations And Outcomes, Fabiola Valenzuela, Sohum Desai

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Primary central nervous system (CNS) melanoma is a rare lesion derived from neural crest precursors. While its management is analogous to metastatic spinal melanoma, the literature does not describe this entity clearly in pregnant patients and the unique implications it presents. Here, we describe the case of a pregnant patient who presented with primary CNS melanoma of the cervical spine.

Case Description: A 27-year-old pregnant patient presented with a 3-month history of neck and interscapular pain. MRI of the cervical spine demonstrated a ventral intradural extramedullary mass adjacent to the C2-C3 vertebral bodies causing severe cord compression. The patient …

Serotonergic Therapy In Epilepsy, Frank Gilliam, Hrvoje Hećimović, Matthew S. Gentry

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose of review

The serotonergic system is implicated in multiple aspects of epilepsy, including seizure susceptibility, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and comorbid depression. Despite the complexity of serotonin’s effects on various neuronal networks, ongoing research provides considerable insight into the role of serotonin in human epilepsy. This review explores the potential roles of serotonergic therapies to improve clinical outcomes in epilepsy.

Recent findings

In recent decades research has markedly increased our knowledge of the diverse effects of serotonin on brain function. Animal models of epilepsy have identified the influence of serotonin on seizure threshold in specific brain regions, …

Retrospective Analysis Of Bleeding Events After Central Venous Catheter Placement In Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Waqas Haque, Maria A. Alvarenga, Suchith Vuppala, Manasa Reddy, Ravi Sarode

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Background

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic disorder caused by severe deficiency of ADAMTS13. Platelets are transfused prophylactically in non-TTP patients for central venous catheter (CVC) with a count× 109/L to prevent bleeding. However, transfusing platelets in TTP prior to CVC placement remains controversial due to concern for arterial thrombosis and mortality. At our center, platelet transfusion is contraindicated in TTP, therefore, we analyzed data for bleeding complications following CVC placement.

Study Design and Methods

95 acute episodes of TTP were identified. Twenty-six episodes were excluded for insufficient documentation or no CVC placement. The charts of 69 remaining episodes …

Primary Hyperhidrosis In Children: A Review Of Therapeutics, Courtney Remington, Jennifer Ruth, Adelaide A. Hebert

School of Medicine Publications

Primary hyperhidrosis, an idiopathic disease that commonly affects the palms, soles, axillae, or craniofacial region, is characterized by perspiration in excess of what is required for physiologic cooling. This disease begins in childhood or adolescence and negatively impacts emotional, physical, and psychologic well‐being. This review explores current therapeutic options for primary hyperhidrosis in the pediatric population, including topical therapies, oral therapies, non‐surgical and procedural interventions, and adjunctive therapies. In addition, this review identifies new and emerging treatments and highlights the need for further research and therapeutic options for this impactful disease.

Relative And Absolute Risk To Guide The Management Of Pulse Pressure, An Age-Related Cardiovascular Risk Factor, Jesus D. Melgarejo, Lutgarde Thijs, Dong-Mei Wei, Michael Bursztyn, Wen-Yi Yang, Yan Li, Kei Asayama, Tine W. Hansen, Masahiro Kikuya, Gladys E. Maestre, Benjamin Gavish

School of Medicine Publications

BACKGROUND Pulse pressure (PP) reflects the age-related stiffening of the central arteries, but no study addressed the management of the PP-related risk over the human lifespan.

METHODS In 4663 young (18-49 years) and 7185 older adults (≥50 years), brachial PP was recorded over 24-hour. Total mortality and all major cardiovascular events combined (MACE) were co-primary endpoints. Cardiovascular death, coronary events and stroke were secondary endpoints.

RESULTS In young adults (median follow-up, 14.1 years; mean PP, 45.1 mmHg), greater PP was not associated with absolute risk; the endpoint rates were ≤2.01 per 1000 person-years. The adjusted hazard ratios expressed per 10-mmHg …

Outcome After Surgical Stabilization Of Rib Fractures Versus Nonoperative Treatment In Patients With Multiple Rib Fractures And Moderate To Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (Cwis-Tbi), Jonne T. H. Prins, Esther M. M. Van Lieshout, Francis Ali-Osman, Zachary M. Bauman, Eva-Corina Caragounis, Jeff Choi, D. Benjamin Christie Iii, Peter A. Cole, William B. Devoe, Julie Whitis

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Outcomes after surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) have not been studied in patients with multiple rib fractures and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We hypothesized that SSRF, as compared with nonoperative management, is associated with favorable outcomes in patients with TBI.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was performed in patients with rib fractures and TBI between January 2012 and July 2019. Patients who underwent SSRF were compared to those managed nonoperatively. The primary outcome was mechanical ventilation-free days. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit length of stay and hospital length of stay, tracheostomy, occurrence of complications, neurologic outcome, …

Streptococcus Pneumoniae, S. Mitis, And S. Oralis Produce A Phosphatidylglycerol-Dependent, Ltas-Independent Glycerophosphate-Linked Glycolipid, Yahan Wei, Luke R. Joyce, Ashley M. Wall, Ziqiang Guan, Kelli L. Palmer

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a Gram-positive bacterial cell surface polymer that participates in host-microbe interactions. It was previously reported that the major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae and the closely related oral commensals S. mitis and S. oralis produce type IV LTAs. Herein, using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based lipidomic analysis, we found that in addition to type IV LTA biosynthetic precursors, S. mitis, S. oralis, and S. pneumoniae also produce glycerophosphate (Gro-P)-linked dihexosyl (DH)-diacylglycerol (DAG), which is a biosynthetic precursor of type I LTA. cdsA and pgsA mutants produce DHDAG but lack (Gro-P)-DHDAG, indicating that the Gro-P moiety is derived from phosphatidylglycerol …

A Concise Review Of The Multimodality Imaging Features Of Renal Cell Carcinoma, Ali Morshid, Elif S. Duran, Woongsoon J. Choi, Cihan Duran

School of Medicine Publications

The evaluation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is routinely performed using the multimodality imaging approach, including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). Ultrasonography is the most frequently used imaging modality for the initial diagnosis of renal masses. The modality of choice for the characterization of the renal mass is multiphasic CT. Recent advances in CT technology have led to its widespread use as a powerful tool for preoperative planning, reducing the need for catheter angiography for the evaluation of vascular invasion. CT is also the standard imaging modality for staging and follow-up. MRI …

Estudio De Asociación Entre La Estirpe Histológica Y El Estadio Clínico De Los Tumores Testiculares Con Los Marcadores Tumorales [Correlation Study Of Histologic Pattern And Clinical Stage Of Testicular Tumors With Tumor Markers], Edson David Rodríguez-Valle, Miguel Maldonado-Ávila, Yunuen Rodríguez-Sánchez, Fabiola Arévalo-García, Jorge Jaspersen-Gastelum, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, Arturo Reading-Bernal, Joel Nava-Palacios, Eloy Rico-Frontana, Mario Silvino Almanza-González

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Testicular tumor is the most frequent solid tumor in men between 20 and 34 years of age. Testicular tumors can be histologically divided into germ cell tumors, which present in 90–95% of cases, and non-germ cell tumors, which present in around 5%. Tumor markers are crucial for the diagnosis, classification, and prognosis of testicular tumors, as well as for surveillance after treatment. Objective: To know the actual prevalence of testicular cancer at our service, determine the clinical and pathologic characteristics of testicular cancer, and correlate tumor marker levels with histologic pattern and clinical stage of the disease. Methodology: A …

Complications And Comorbidities In Hispanic Patients Who Develop Traumatic And Nontraumatic Acute Compartment Syndrome, Jorge Alejandro Bernal, Annelyn Torres-Reveron, Jose Andres Gonzales

School of Medicine Publications

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a medical emergency that remains under-recognized and understudied. This study aimed to identify risk factors for the traumatic and non-traumatic presentation of ACS within a majority Hispanic population. A four-year retrospective analysis of medical records in a single institution revealed 26 with traumatic and 21 non-traumatic patients presenting with ACS. Traumatic ACS occurred in younger males following fractures, as previously described in the field. After controlling for age differences, non-traumatic ACS occurred in older patients with multiple comorbidities, increased use of statins, and anticoagulants as compared to the traumatic ACS group. A large proportion (80%) …

Comparing The Trends Of Postpartum Depression Screening Scores During And Before The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elif S. Duran, Dung Dang, Tony Ogburn

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Introduction:

Postpartum depression includes major and minor depressive disorders affecting women in the time period after childbirth. The studies reviewed in our literature found that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of postpartum depression for women. Our study location, the Rio Grande Valley is one of the hardest-hit locations by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Our patient population is also one with the higher risk factors for postpartum depression. As such, we are expecting the psychological impact of the pandemic to be even more magnified, and thus, actions need to be taken to support the vulnerable population …