Medical Specialties Commons^™

Atrial Esophageal Fistula: A Case Report And Review, David Kupshik, Neal Hall, Chris Burns, Brittany Matthews

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Patient Centered Communication, Aelius Khan, Zhe Liu, Thomas Krajewski, Sean Gibbs

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Extensive Intra-Abdominal Adhesions In A Patient With No Previous Abdominal Surgeries, Jared Jackson, Saptarshi Biswas

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Rate Of Live Birth In Women Of Advanced Maternal Age Who Have Used Hormonal Contraception Versus Those Who Have Used Only Non-Hormonal Contraception, Marla Peters, Alex Dye, Alyssa Moffitt, Melissa Crenshaw

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

A Clinical Study Of Venereal And Non Venereal Genital Dermatoses In Women, Lakkireddygari Sujana, Savitha L. Beergouder, Alekhya Rallapalli, Prasanthi Chidipudi, Sujatha Alla

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Any genital lesion or related symptoms are erroneously considered to be sexually transmitted as it is the most covered regions of the body and seems truly to be a forgotten pelvic organ it is the significant and important group of dermatological conditions may be associated with considerable morbidity, discomfort, and embarrassment. The most common conditions seen in a Dermatology Clinic are vulvar dermatoses, which comprise of lichen sclerosis, lichen planus, vulvar eczema, and psoriasis. Other conditions such as vulvar pain syndromes, vulvar disorders associated with systemic diseases, and blistering diseases are also seen.

Materials and Methods: This was a …

Epstein-Barr Virus, But Not Human Papillomavirus, Is Associated With Preinvasive And Invasive Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasias In Zambian Patients, Peter Julius, Stepfanie N. Siyumbwa, Phyllis Moonga, Fred Maate, Trevor Kaile, Gleb Haynatski, Veenu Minhas, Jazmine Snow, Kerstin Peterson, Patience Gihozo, Sam Streeter, Salan Kaur, Annika Evans, Daniela Gonzalez, Kandali Samwel, Guobin Kang, John T. West

LSU-LCMC Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is not fully understood. We assessed the frequency of oncogenic viruses in OSSN by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), Kaposi sarcoma virus, and adenovirus. Cases from Zambia were prospectively enrolled using a cross-sectional study design between November 2017 and March 2020. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data [age, sex, HIV status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) history, CD4 count, plasma viral load] and tumor biopsies were collected from 243 consenting patients. Tumor samples were bisected, and half was used for DNA …

The Impact Of A Medicare Public Health Emergency Policy Change For Continuous Glucose Monitors On Utilization And Total Cost Of Care For Diabetes, Momoka Abe, Katie Norton, Jenifer Smith

Providence Pharmacy PGY1 Program at Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers 2022

Home glucose monitoring was revolutionized in 1999 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first professional continuous glucose monitor (CGM). With the advancements in technology, newer CGMs are available for personal use and have greatly impacted the way diabetes is managed. Although there are data regarding the benefits of CGMs in lowering hemoglobin A1c, data is currently lacking regarding whether the use of CGM affects the number of hospitalization/emergency department visits as well as the effect on cost of care. In addition, while CGMs have been traditionally used in patients with type 1 diabetes due to their …

Lived Experiences Of Support Among Parents Of Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Laxmi Seth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractReceiving a cancer diagnosis for one’s child is a traumatic experience for any parent. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent form of leukemia in children. Treatment-related issues can negatively affect quality of life and cause long-term emotional, social, and financial stress for the parents. The world faced the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While professional support was available for the parents caring for their children undergoing ALL treatment during the pandemic, how these parents experienced support, including through social media, was unknown. Investigating parents’ lived experiences of support, including social media support, during COVID-19 pandemic, was the focus of …

Modified Chitosan For Effective Renal Delivery Of Sirna To Treat Acute Kidney Injury., Weimin Tang, Chinmay M. Jogdeo, Sudipta Panja, Siyuan Tang, Ling Ding, Ao Yu, Kirk W. Foster, Del L. Dsouza, Yashpal S. Chhonker, Heather Jensen Smith, Hee-Seong Jang, Erika I. Boesen, Daryl J. Murry, Babu Padanilam, David Oupicky

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden decrease in renal function and impacts growing number of people worldwide. RNA interference (RNAi) showed potential to treat diseases with no or limited conventional therapies, including AKI. Suitable carriers are needed to protect and selectively deliver RNAi to target cells to fully explore this therapeutic modality. Here, we report on the synthesis of chitosan modified with α-cyclam-p-toluic acid (C-CS) as a novel siRNA carrier for targeted delivery to injured kidneys. We demonstrate that conjugation of the α-cyclam-p-toluic acid to chitosan imparts the C-CS polymer with targeting and antagonistic properties to cells …

Biofilms: Formation, Research Models, Potential Targets, And Methods For Prevention And Treatment, Yajuan Su, Jaime T. Yrastorza, Mitchell Matis, Jenna Cusick, Siwei Zhao, Guangshun Wang, Jingwei Xie

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Due to the continuous rise in biofilm-related infections, biofilms seriously threaten human health. The formation of biofilms makes conventional antibiotics ineffective and dampens immune clearance. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of biofilm formation and develop novel strategies to treat biofilms more effectively. This review article begins with an introduction to biofilm formation in various clinical scenarios and their corresponding therapy. Established biofilm models used in research are then summarized. The potential targets which may assist in the development of new strategies for combating biofilms are further discussed. The novel technologies developed recently for the prevention and treatment …

Performance Of The Universal Vital Assessment (Uva) Mortality Risk Score In Hospitalized Adults With Infection In Rwanda: A Retrospective External Validation Study, Riley Hazard, Danstan Bagenda, Andrew J. Patterson, Julie T. Hoffman, Steven J. Lisco, Olivier Urayeneza, Polyphile Ntihinyurwa, Christopher C. Moore

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

BACKGROUND: We previously derived a Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score to better risk-stratify hospitalized patients in sub-Saharan Africa, including those with infection. Here, we aimed to externally validate the performance of the UVA score using previously collected data from patients hospitalized with acute infection in Rwanda.

METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data collected from adults ≥18 years with acute infection admitted to Gitwe District Hospital in Rwanda from 2016 until 2017. We calculated the UVA score from the time of admission and at 72 hours after admission. We also calculated quick sepsis-related organ failure assessment (qSOFA) and modified …

Methamphetamine Induces The Release Of Proadhesive Extracellular Vesicles And Promotes Syncytia Formation: A Potential Role In Hiv-1 Neuropathogenesis, Subhash Chand, Catherine Demarino, Austin Gowen, Maria Cowen, Sarah Al-Sharif, Fatah Kashanchi, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

Despite the success of combinational antiretroviral therapy (cART), the high pervasiveness of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) poses a significant challenge for society. Methamphetamine (meth) and related amphetamine compounds, which are potent psychostimulants, are among the most commonly used illicit drugs. Intriguingly, HIV-infected individuals who are meth users have a comparatively higher rate of neuropsychological impairment and exhibit a higher viral load in the brain than infected individuals who do not abuse meth. Effectively, all cell types secrete nano-sized lipid membrane vesicles, referred to as extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can function as intercellular communication to modulate the physiology …

Periocular Manifestation Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea As A Novel Perioperative Screening Tool, Megan Folsom, James Gigantelli, Brent Timperley, Kurtis Johnson, Danstan Bagenda, Huiling Pang, Sheila Ellis

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents perioperative challenges with increased risk for complications. Floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) is associated with OSA yet has not been addressed perioperatively. The current standard for perioperative OSA screening includes assessing patient risk factors or the STOP-BANG tool, which requires an active participant. We aimed to confirm a connection between FES and OSA in presurgical patients and develop a screening method appropriate for patients with perioperative OSA risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 162 presurgical pre-anesthesia clinic patients were enrolled. Screening questions determined eligibility. Those who were pregnant or aged < 19 were excluded. Control group included those with a STOP-BANG score < 3. Experimental group included those with BMI > 35 and OSA diagnosis. Examiners photographed participants' …

Effect Of Combined Methamphetamine And Oxycodone Use On The Synaptic Proteome In An In Vitro Model Of Polysubstance Use, Daniel Meyer, Pranavi Athota, Austin Gowen, Nghi M. Nguyen, Victoria L. Schaal, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili, Gurudutt Pendyala

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

Polysubstance use (PSU) generally involves the simultaneous use of an opioid along with a stimulant. In recent years, this problem has escalated into a nationwide epidemic. Understanding the mechanisms and effects underlying the interaction between these drugs is essential for the development of treatments for those suffering from addiction. Currently, the effect of PSU on synapses-critical points of contact between neurons-remains poorly understood. Using an in vitro model of primary neurons, we examined the combined effects of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH) and the prescription opioid oxycodone (oxy) on the synaptic proteome using quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomics. A further ClueGO analysis and …

Distinct Synaptic Vesicle Proteomic Signatures Associated With Pre- And Post-Natal Oxycodone-Exposure, Katherine E. Odegaard, Gabriel Gallegos, Sneh Koul, Victoria L. Schaal, Neetha N. Vellichirammal, Chittibabu Guda, Andrea P. Dutoit, Steven J. Lisco, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili, Gurudutt Pendyala

Journal Articles: Anesthesiology

The current opioid crisis, which has ravaged all segments of society, continues to pose a rising public health concern. Importantly, dependency on prescription opioids such as oxycodone (oxy) during and after pregnancy can significantly impact the overall brain development of the exposed offspring, especially at the synapse. A significant knowledge gap that remains is identifying distinct synaptic signatures associated with these exposed offspring. Accordingly, the overall goal of this current study was to identify distinct synaptic vesicle (SV) proteins as signatures for offspring exposed to oxy in utero (IUO) and postnatally (PNO). Using a preclinical animal model that imitates oxycodone …

The Value Of A Longitudinal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Track For Medical Students: 10-Year Program Evaluation, Jasmine R. Marcelin, Paul Brosnihan, Susan Swindells, Nada A. Fadul, Sara Bares

Journal Articles: Infectious Diseases

We surveyed graduates of a longitudinal medical school human immunodeficiency virus curriculum to evaluate its impact. Respondents felt comfortable caring for people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) and found value from the curriculum regardless of ultimate career path. Programs like this contribute to the development of culturally sensitive clinicians comfortable caring for PWH.

Shark Bite In A Seven Year-Old Female: A Case Report, James Schmid, Jarrett Koper, Jonathan Leggett

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Flight To A Hospital In Paradise: A Case Of Acute Onset Ataxia In A Healthy Child, Prasad Munusamy, David Rosenberg

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Gibbon Surgical Society Email Newsletter - Get To Know Gibbon, Gibbon Surgical Society

Gibbon Surgical Society Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Incidence And Characteristics Of Stroke In Zanzibar-A Hospital-Based Prospective Study In A Low-Income Island Population, Jutta M. Adelin Jørgensen, Dirk Lund Christensen Dirk Lund Christensen, Karoline Kragelund Nielsen, Halima Saleh Sadiq, Muhammad Yusuf Khan, Ahmed Jusabani, Richard Walker

Imaging & Diagnostic Radiology, East Africa

Background: Stroke in adults is a critical clinical condition and a leading cause of death and disability globally. Epidemiological data on stroke in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. This study describes incidence rates, stroke types and antecedent factors among patients hospitalized with stroke in Zanzibar.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of stroke patients at hospitals in Unguja, Zanzibar. Socioeconomic and demographic data were recorded alongside relevant past medical history, medicine use and risk factors. The modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS) was used to assess admission stroke severity and, when possible, stroke was confirmed by neuroimaging. …

The Role Of Emergency Departments For Antimicrobial Stewardship In Covid-19 Pandemic; The Time Is Now, Madiha Ismail, Nazeer Najeeb Kapadia, Sara Usman

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Plethora Of Cranial Nerve Palsies: A Problematic Presentation Of Myasthenia Gravis, Nichole Birdsong, Sean Gibbs, Jerry Banks

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Maintenance Gains From Two Treatment Approaches For Patients Diagnosed With Apraxia Of Speech And Broca’S Aphasia: A Critically Appraised Topic, Kalli B. Whiting

The Graduate Review

Three peer-reviewed research articles demonstrated benefits in using the articulatory-kinematic approaches of sound production treatment (SPT) and speech motor learning (SML) for intervention of patients diagnoses with apraxia of speech (AOS) concomitant with aphasia over the age of 50. This CAT was intended to review and compare the treatment maintenance between the two approaches using a specific search question; however, there was limited evidence for the specified population in that question. Although both approaches warranted positive outcomes, the SML approach may demonstrate a stronger linkage to the underlying features of apraxia of speech based on the method’s rationale. Through the …

A Right Atrial Mass With Fever And Cutaneous Nodules, Feng Gao, Stephanie Koh, Sara Taveras-Alam, Umair Khalid

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary cardiac tumors, although exceedingly rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis during workup of any cardiac mass. Extranodal cardiac lymphomas have a natural aggressive course due to delayed diagnosis. We present a 71-year-old male with a dual-chamber pacemaker who presented with fevers and new cutaneous nodules. He was found to have a right atrial primary anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and had a complete metabolic response after chemotherapy. Our case highlights the importance of a multimodality approach in the diagnosis of cardiac tumors and during follow-up after treatment.

2022-2023 Student Research Fellowship Recipients, University Of New England College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Peter Morgane Research Fellowships

2022-2023 recipients of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine's Peter Morgane Research Fellowship.

Exploring The Relationship Between Covid-19 Unit Designation And Nurse Burnout Syndrome, Jamie Roney, Gisele Nicole Bazan, Tiffany Patterson, Kelsey Sawyer, Erin Whitley, Sahar Mihandoust, Joann Long

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic globally impacted healthcare due to surges in infected patients and respiratory failure. The pandemic escalated nursing burnout syndrome (NBS) across the workforce, especially in critical care environments, potentially leading to long-term negative impact on nurse retention and patient care.

Objectives: To compare self-reported burnout scores of frontline nurses caring for COVID-19 infected patients with burnout scores captured before the pandemic and in non-COVID-19 units from two prior studies.

Methods: A study was conducted using frontline nurses working in eight critical care units based on exposure to COVID-19 infected patients. Nurses were surveyed in 2019 and in …

Dually Active Polycation/Mirna Nanoparticles For The Treatment Of Fibrosis In Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease, Chuhan Zhang, Yu Hang, Weimin Tang, Diptesh Sil, Heather Jensen Smith, Robert G. Bennett, Benita L. Mcvicker, David Oupicky

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

Alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD) is a major cause of liver disorders worldwide. Current treatment options are limited, especially for AALD-associated fibrosis. Promising approaches include RNA interference for miR-155 overexpression in Kupffer cells (KCs), as well as the use of CXCR4 antagonists that inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) through the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. The development of dual-functioning nanoparticles for the effective delivery of antifibrotic RNA together with a CXCR4 inhibitor thus promises to improve the treatment of AALD fibrosis. In this study, cholesterol-modified polymeric CXCR4 inhibitor (Chol-PCX) was synthesized and used to encapsulate anti-miR-155 or non-coding (NC) miRNA in …

Machine Learning Analyses Of Highly-Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Identifies Distinct Tumor And Stromal Cell Populations In Primary Pancreatic Tumors, Krysten Vance, Alphan Alitinok, Seth Winfree, Heather Jensen Smith, Benjamin Swanson Md, Phd, Paul M. Grandgenett, Kelsey Klute, Daniel J Crichton, Michael A. Hollingsworth

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a formidable challenge for patients and clinicians.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution of 31 different markers in tumor and stromal portions of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify immune cell populations to better understand how neoplastic, non-malignant structural, and immune cells, diversify the TME and influence PDAC progression.

METHODS: Whole slide imaging (WSI) and cyclic multiplexed-immunofluorescence (MxIF) was used to collect 31 different markers over the course of nine distinctive imaging series of human PDAC samples. Image registration and machine learning algorithms were developed to largely automate an imaging analysis pipeline identifying distinct cell …

Progress In Protein Structure Prediction: An Xai Perspective, Yosef E. Granillo, Badri Adhikari

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The full extent of the impact of deep learning models on structural biology will depend on their ability to provide novel biological insights. The field of structure prediction, where deep learning has produced miraculously accurate results, is at a critical stage of benefiting from the methods in interpretable deep learning. The exact mechanisms by which advanced computational models learn to interpret protein shapes and functions during their training remain largely unclear. These questions underscore the need for further research, as understanding these mechanisms is crucial for researchers to trust the predictions of these models. However, interpretable machine learning is ripening …

Covid-19 And Diabetes, Radhika Desai

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) have been found to have increased mortality and morbidity for COVID-19 and are at higher risk for severe disease once infected with COVID-19. Clearly, there exists a relationship between T2D and COVID-19 that requires more attention. In order to understand the mechanisms by which T2D contributes to more severe COVID-19 disease, attention was turned to extracellular vesicles (EVs). It was speculated that viral RNA components of the COVID-19 virus may have originated from circulating EVs that came from infected cells and use a Trojan Exosome method to infect host cells. It is necessary to …