Medical Specialties Commons^™

Comparison Of Associated Autoimmune Disease Diagnoses In Myasthenia Gravis And Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Alecca Como, Jacob Keeley, Daniel Menkes

Posters

Autoimmune diseases often co-exist given the non-specific nature of the immune response. For example, myasthenia gravis [MG], a well-established autoimmune disease, has a 2.36-fold increased risk of developing thyroid diseases as compared to normal controls. 1,2 In contrast, multiple sclerosis [MS] is a disorder in which the immune system subserves an important pathogenic role, although there is insufficient evidence to definitively classify it as an autoimmune disease. 3,4 Since the etiology of MS has yet to be identified, and the specific autoimmune mechanism requires further elucidation, the comparison of its coassociated autoimmune diseases with that of a well-studied neuroautoimmune disease, …

Targeted-Sequencing Evaluation For Fzd4 Variants In Familial Exudative Vitreo-Retinopathy, Mary Drekh, Wendy Dailey, Vincent Le, Savyo Krikor, Kimberly A. Drenser, Kenneth P. Mitton

Posters

• The Familial hereditary vision loss disease may present with symptoms including retinal detachment, folding, neovascularization, or vitreous hemorrhage due to peripheral retina avascularity.
• The manifestation of FEVR genetically has been associated with a loss of function mutation of the Wnt/bcantenin-signaling pathway involving 7 genes (FZD4, NDP, CTNNB1, KIF11, LRP5, TSPAN12, and ZNF408). In our patient population of 72 individuals the distribution of FZD4 gene variants leading to FEVR has been recorded.
• The Frizzled4 gene (FZD4) codes for the G-coupled protein receptor and effects Wnt/b-cantenin-signaling pathway In endothelial cells.
• What frequency of FEVR from our patient pool will have FZD4 variants …

Physician-Patient Face Masking’S Influence On Post-Intravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis Rates, Conner Liddle, Antonio Capone Jr, Matthew Trese

Posters

Intravitreal injections (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medications and intravitreal steroids are standard treatment options for variety of retinal diseases. Serial IVIs are often required to achieve disease control, but IVIs are not without risk. Recognized serious complications of IVIs include but are not limited to retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and acute endophthalmitis.1 Although post-IVI endophthalmitis is uncommon, it is a feared complication because of the potential for irreversible vision loss. Given that IVIs are one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the United States, it is essential to ensure that steps are taken to mitigate …

Age At Lung Cancer Diagnosis In Females Versus Males Who Never Smoke By Race And Ethnicity, Batel Blechter, Jason Y Y Wong, Li-Hsin Chien, Kouya Shiraishi, Xiao-Ou Shu, Qiuyin Cai, Wei Zheng, Bu-Tian Ji, Wei Hu, Mohammad L Rahman, Hsin-Fang Jiang, Fang-Yu Tsai, Wen-Yi Huang, Yu-Tang Gao, Xijing Han, Mark D Steinwandel, Gong Yang, Yihe G Daida, Su-Ying Liang, Scarlett L Gomez, Mindy C Derouen, W Ryan Diver, Ananya G Reddy, Alpa V Patel, Loïc Le Marchand, Christopher Haiman, Takashi Kohno, Iona Cheng, I-Shou Chang, Chao Agnes Hsiung, Nathaniel Rothman, Qing Lan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: We characterized age at diagnosis and estimated sex differences for lung cancer and its histological subtypes among individuals who never smoke.

METHODS: We analyzed the distribution of age at lung cancer diagnosis in 33,793 individuals across 8 cohort studies and two national registries from East Asia, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Student's t-tests were used to assess the study population differences (Δ years) in age at diagnosis comparing females and males who never smoke across subgroups defined by race/ethnicity, geographic location, and histological subtypes.

RESULTS: We found that among Chinese individuals diagnosed with lung cancer …

Ehealth Cancer-Related Fatigue Intervention Single Arm Study, Anne Fleischer, Samantha Gelhaus, Emily Flohre, Caroline Frazee, Mary I. Fisher, Carrie Pickering

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Purpose/Hypothesis: Cancer related fatigue (CRF), a sense of physical, emotional and cognitive tiredness not relieved by rest, negatively affects function. Prevalence is reported to be 59-100% throughout the care continuum. Exercise and psychosocial interventions are supported as effective treatment options, yet barriers to personalized care include time and distance to travel for care. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of personalized exercise prescribed by physical therapy (PT), and occupational goal setting and tasks prescribed by occupational therapy (OT) on physical function.

Number of Subjects: 16 adults with cancer and fatigue ≥4/10.

Materials and Methods: Over …

The Effect Of Using A Meal Tracking Smartphone Application In Overweight And Obese Adolescents With Prediabetes Or Type 2 Diabetes To Improve Bmi And Hba1c, Lauren Torhorst

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Obesity has become one of the most common chronic pediatric illnesses worldwide and is closely linked to the onset of prediabetes and subsequent Type 2 Diabetes (T2D); therefore, preventing and treating childhood obesity has become a high priority (Hampl et al., 2023). The purpose of this Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) project is to lower Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in overweight and obese youth with prediabetes and T2D using a meal tracking smartphone application. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model (JHNEBP) was utilized to pilot this project between two pediatric endocrinology offices located in Southeast Wisconsin. …

Evaluating Blood Pressure Methods In Non-Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Two-Site Prospective Observational Study, Desiree Cihelka

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Purpose. Blood pressure (BP) management is difficult and complex in the treatment of acute non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Despite mean arterial pressure (MAP) being the most reliable measure of noninvasive automatic oscillometric (NIBP) in clinical practice, clinicians instead rely on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) values to guide clinical practice. Given the widespread use of NIBPs for obtaining BP values in the acute care setting, we determine the agreement between SBP, DBP, and MAP measured by NIBP, manual cuff, and Arterial lines (A-lines) in patients with ICH. Study Aims. To understand the agreement between SBP, DBP, and …

Methenamine Prophylaxis Reduces Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections, Salwan Al Hani, Matthew Sims

Posters

• Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infection in the US and are often managed with antibiotics in clinical practice.
• A recurrent UTI is defined as 2 or UTIs each 6 months or 3 or more UTIs each year.
• Methenamine is an antiseptic compound approved by the FDA to prevent rUTIs but is seldom used in clinical practice.
• Under acidic conditions, methenamine is converted to 6 molecules of formaldehyde, a compound which prevents bacterial growth.
• This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of methenamine for prevention of recurrent UTIs.

The Hiv Care Continuum - A Quality Improvement Project To Reconnect With Hiv-Positive Patients Lost To Follow-Up Care, Kate Romero, Janet Lombardi, Carmen Demarco, Paul C. Johnson

Posters

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): incurable illness transmitted through sex, blood, and trans placentally • Consistent management of HIV prevents progression to AIDS.
• 2013 study à HIV-positive patients who failed to attend their follow-up visit within 4-6 months of the prior visit were more likely to have virologic failure.
• Not much published on barriers to care, but one prior study found barriers shown in Figure 2 below – What are barriers to care faced by HIV-positive patients in Southeast Michigan?

Hiv Diagnosis And Linkage To Care In The Emergency Department, Gabrielle Rowlison, Christopher F. Carpenter

Posters

• It is estimated that 1.2 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States, and that 14% of this population are unaware of their status.
• Approximately 40% of community transmissions happen between people who do not know they have HIV.
• Current CDC recommendations are that anyone seeking treatment for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) be routinely screened for HIV.
• The Emergency Department (ED) is an ideal place to test for HIV, especially in areas with underinsured populations and high rates of ED visits.
• The HIV testing rate in Corewell Health (CH) East’s ED was previously found …

Near-Surface Dose Correlates With Moist Desquamation And Unplanned Reconstructive Surgery In Patients With Implant-Based Reconstruction Receiving Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy, Patrick Thrasher, Ronald Levitin, Bryan S. Squires, Allison J. Hazy, Michael J. Maywood, Anthony P. Delise, Muayad F. Almahariq, Nayana Dekhne, Lauren Oliver, Peter Y. Chen, Kailee J. Walters, Diane Dudley, Joshua T. Dilworth

Posters

Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) utilized as part of a breast cancer treatment regimen reduces the risk of disease recurrence in appropriately selected patients.1,2,3,4,5 However, PMRT increases risk of radiationrelated toxicities that can interfere with breast reconstruction post-mastectomy.6 Following mastectomy, implant-based reconstruction can increase patient satisfaction and quality of life7,8; complications induced by PMRT such as infection and tissue contracture, though, increase risk for implant loss and may ultimately require further surgeries for the patient.

PMRT is delivered based on treatment plans that are optimized to provide appropriate radiation dosages to tissues along the chest wall while simultaneously limiting exposure of …

The Impact Of Patch Placement Using Fluoroscopy Guidance On Outcome Of Electrical Cardioversion Of Atrial Fibrillation, Joshua France, Luai Madanat, Nolan Shoukri, Daniel Walsh, Ilana Kutinsky, Sujana Gundlapalli, Abhay Bilolikar, Anil Kumar Anil, Brian Williamson, Elvis Cami, Michael Gallagher, Richard Bloomingdale, David E. Haines, Nishaki Mehta

Posters

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and is Conclusions increasing in prevalence, especially as the population ages.1 Proper management of AF is imperative to prevent long-term complications including hemodynamic impairment and thromboembolic events which result in significant morbidity, mortality, and health care cost.2 Electrical cardioversion (EC) is frequently used to restore sinus rhythm in patients with AF.3, 4 However, it can be unsuccessful in up to 10-12% of patients.5 Despite the increased utilization of EC for the treatment of AF, guidelines provide little procedural guidance on methods to maximize EC success rates. Current European and American …

Hypofractionated Regional Nodal Irradiation In Breast Cancer, Joseph Salib, Allison Hazy, Joshua T. Dilworth

Posters

• In women with breast cancer requiring whole breast irradiation therapy (WBI), current guidelines endorse moderately hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HWBI), which includes a shorter, 3-4-week regimen of radiation with a higher dose per daily fraction in comparison to conventional whole breast irradiation (CWBI), which includes a 5-6.5-week regimen.
• Patients with certain risk factors may benefit from treatment to the regional lymph nodes (RNI), which include the ipsilateral axillary, internal mammary and supraclavicular chains.
• Some centers have been slower to adopt short-course treatment when regional lymph nodes also require treatment (H-RNI), despite a reduction in the number of treatments for the …

Clinical Outcomes Of Hypofractionated Whole Breast Irradiation In Early Stage, Biologically High-Risk Breast Cancer, Eva Leung, Benjamin D. Willen, Thomas J. Quinn, Muayad F. Almahari, Peter Y. Chen, Maha Saada Jawad, Gregory S. Gustafson, Michelle Ka Yan Wu, Joshua T. Dilworth

Posters

• Whole breast irradiation (WBI) has been used in the treatment of breast cancer patients after partial mastectomy.
• There has been increasing utilization of hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HWBI), defined as a larger daily dose and fewer fractions compared to conventionally fractionated whole breast irradiation (CWBI). However, HWBI for patients with early-stage, biologically high-risk breast cancer remains relatively low.
• We define biologically high-risk breast cancer as either triple negative (estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) negative), Her-2 amplified, and/or patients with a high-risk multigene assay.
• The 2018 ASTRO guidelines form the basis for treating breast cancer patients with …

The Effects Of Untreated Reflux On The Incidence Of Feeding Difficulties In Neonates, Anne Grossbauer, Anya Costeloe, Prasad J. Thottam

Posters

• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is the involuntary regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus and commonly occurs in infants.
• It is associated with various consequences related to feeding difficulty, such as feeding resistance, oral aversion, dysphagia, laryngomalacia, and failure to thrive.2
• There is a paucity in the literature regarding the incidence rate of feeding difficulties in latepreterm and full-term neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
• Many NICUs employ the use of anti-reflux medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2As), to treat GERD.3
• The use of these medications is debated and variable due to perceived …

Clinical Differences In Isolated Post-Capillary Pulmonary Hypertension And Combined Pre- And Postcapillary Pulmonary Hypertension, Emily Schneider, Bhavinkumar D. Dalal

Posters

PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PH) = RESTING MEAN PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE (MPAP) > 20 MMHG.

The World Health Organization recognizes five groups of pulmonary hypertensions:

• • Estimated that > 50% of patients with left heart disease are also affected by pulmonary hypertension.1
• 1 in 4 Americans will develop heart failure in their lifetime.
• Gold standard for diagnosis of PH is a right heart catheterization (RHC).3
• Global burden of PH remains unknown as this illness is poorly surveilled and cases remain underestimated.4,5

Barriers To Mental Health Treatment Among Medical Students: Preclinical Vs. Clinical Years, Urvashi Singh, Agnes Wrobel

Posters

Our study aims to:

• Investigate medical students’ attitudes towards seeking assistance from mental health professionals.
• Compare the importance of various barriers that deter help-seeking in preclinical vs. clinical years of medical education.

Pulmonary Embolism In Pregnancy And Early Postpartum – Identifying Significant Variables To Improve Risk Stratification, Nida Haider, Bhavinkumar Dalal

Posters

• Pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in developed countries1
• The causative Virchow triad (venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulable state) is enhanced in pregnancy making pregnancy an independent risk factor1
• Due to significant overlap between normal physiological changes in pregnancy and clinical symptoms of PE, the threshold for CTPA, confirmatory imaging for PE with potentially harmful effects due to ionizing radiation, is low with increasing incidence of false positives2

Understanding Infectious Disease Consultation Role For Septic Patients In The Medical Intensive Care Unit, Marisa Stratelak, Cloe Nazeer, Bhavinkumar Dalal

Posters

• Sepsis is a medical emergency requiring immediate recognition and prompt treatment.
• 1 in every 3 hospitalized patients who die have sepsis1.
• The mortality rate for patients with severe sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU) is 32.2%2.
• Early intervention with fluid resuscitation and intravenous antibiotics can reduce mortality rates by 7-9%3.
• Infectious disease (ID) consultation on antimicrobial therapy in the ICU is associated with reduced ICU mortality and ICU length of stay (LOS)4.
• Gaps in literature exist regarding frequency of ID consultation for septic patients in the ICU, including comparing outcomes of patients with and without ID consultation.
• It is …

Water-Soluble Contrast Challenge In The Management Of Pediatric Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: A Systematic Review, Max Fliegner, Daniel Finn, Spencer Wilhelm, Nathan Novotny, Anthony Stallion

Posters

Background: Adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is a serious complication of intra-abdominal surgery1 Water-soluble contrast (WSC) challenges have been used for medical management in the adult population2,3

Knowledge Gap: The therapeutic value of water-soluble contrast challenge in the pediatric population with ASBO is under-studied3,4

Research Question: Does administration of water-soluble contrast challenge reduce the need for surgery in pediatric patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction?

Patient Population Representation In Medical Education Textbooks: Gender Imbalance Of Diagnostic Images, Yasin Sahin, Abdul-Majid Khan, Nicolas Baker, Joshua Daniel, Jacob Keeley

Posters

Gender inequality: a longstanding issue that has been gaining overdue attention. Even within esteemed institutions such as medical schools, gender biases persist. Society trusts that those who attend medical school are given the knowledge needed to provide care and support during their most vulnerable moments as patients. While the education may be there, the “patients” may not be represented accurately. Future healthcare professionals must provide care for all patients, a diverse group encompassing all genders, ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

In 2019, the United States Census Bureau reported that the population was about 49% male and 51% female.¹ Therefore, medical students …

Quantitative And Comparative Analysis Of Dream Content In Parkinson’S Disease Patients Pre- And Postdeep Brain Stimulation, Sarvar Oreizi-Esfahani, Michael Staud

Posters

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder stemming from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in impaired neuronal activation which primarily affects the body’s motor function1. Common symptoms include tremor, rigidity, akinesia and loss of balance.

PD also exerts significant effects on sleep patterns. The Default Mode Network (DMN), a series of hubs in the brain with increased metabolic rate during rest, are implicated in the process of dreaming2. Differential activation of these regions may alter the content and quality of one’s dreams2. PD has been shown to impact the function of the DMN and as …

You’Re Testing My Patients: Clinicians’ Preferences For Structured Reporting And Measurement Data, Davit Melik, Adela Pouzar, Allan Brazier, Sayf Al-Katib

Posters

Radiological reports are a crucial part of patient care and management. Radiologists play a major role in patient care by interpreting imaging studies and making recommendations to referring physicians. 1,2,3 Although some physicians may prefer to initially interpret the imaging studies by themselves, radiologists’ reports have been shown to be significantly more accurate and detailed, which ultimately results in better patient care. 1,4,5,3 Thus it is important for radiology reports to be timely and as accurate as possible to improve overall patient care. The clarity of communication between radiologists and referring physicians in these reports remains an important factor in …

Incidence Of Symptomatic Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis In Respect To Subcutaneous Port Venous Access Site In Adults: A Retrospective Review, Catherine Bark, Alexsandra Biel, Corinne G. Bowditch, Paul Bove, Jimmi Mangla

Posters

Subcutaneous ports are an essential component of care in patients who require long-term central venous access and are commonly indicated for patients that require chemotherapy, infusions, intravenous (IV) antibiotics or frequent blood draws.1,2 The catheter of the subcutaneous port is commonly inserted through the subclavian vein and internal jugular vein via percutaneous insertion, or the external jugular vein and cephalic vein via surgical cutdown of the vein.

One of the most common port-related complications is venous thromboembolic (VTE) events with rates of symptomatic VTE as high as 13.6%.4,6–11 Patients with symptomatic upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can present with …

Breast Irradiation Is Well Tolerated In Carriers Of A Pathogenic Atm Variant, Leah R. Rotenbakh, Andrew H. Zureick, Dana Zakalik, Thomas J. Quinn, Vincent P. Grzywacz, Peter Y. Chen, Joshua T. Dilworth

Posters

• The ataxia telangiectasia mutant (ATM) gene is implicated in DNA damage repair.
• A pathogenic germline variant of the ATM gene is present in approximately 1% of the population.
• ATM gene variant increases radiation sensitivity and elevates the life-time risk of developing breast cancer by two- to four-fold.
• Potential for increased radiosensitivity poses concern for the utilization of radiation therapy (RT) for oncologic treatment in patients with the ATM gene variant.
• Current data regarding RT tolerance are limited and conflicting in this patient population.
• Current guidelines for hereditary breast cancer management issued jointly by the American Society for Radiation Oncology, American …

A Multimodal Approach To Decreasing Hesitancy Of The Influenza Vaccine In The Family Care Setting, Carley J. Ellenberger

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The uptake of the influenza vaccine is the most effective and proactive action an individual can take to defend themselves against the influenza outbreak each season; therefore, it is recommended that everyone at least six months of age and older should receive the annual flu vaccine (CDC, 2022; WHO, 2023). Unfortunately, influenza vaccine hesitancy is demonstrated on a global level affecting the uptake compliance annually each influenza season despite the millions of people that experience influenza symptoms annually (CDC, 2022, WHO, n.d.; Healthy People 2030, n.d.). The PICOT question for this project was in adults, over the age of 18, …

Differential Expression Of Microrna Mir-145 And Mir-155 Downstream Targets In Oral Cancers Exhibiting Limited Chemotherapy Resistance, Conner Belnap

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: New evidence has suggested that non-coding microRNAs play a significant role in mediating and modulating chemotherapy resistance, particularly among oral cancers. One recent study found that the expression of miR-145 and lack of miR-155 expression strongly correlated with a limited chemotherapy resistance to Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil and Paclitaxel , although the mechanism(s) responsible for these observations remain unidentified.

Methods: Using commercially available cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), RNA was isolated using phenol:chloroform extraction. The isolated RNA was converted into cDNA by reverse transcription and subsequently screened for the presence or absence of downstream targets of miR-145 and …

Occupational Therapy-Led Tai Chi: Elevating Perceived Competence In Daily Activities Among Semi/Fully Retired Adults, Lester Buenviaje

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This doctoral capstone project explored the impact of a Tai Chi intervention led by the occupational therapy student researcher, on self-perceived competence and engagement in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) among semi/fully retired adults at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using the Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) questionnaire, the project measured changes in participants' confidence and abilities before and after the participation of the Tai Chi program.

The Tai Chi intervention was a six-week Tai Chi program designed to accommodate the physical and cognitive capabilities of semi-retired and retired adults. This program not only …

A Comparison Of Spinal Reflex Function And Morphological Adaptations Of The Achilles Tendon Between Individuals Chronically Post-Stroke And Healthy Controls, Migi Contreras, Mira Seekins, Johanna Mendez, Trevor Diez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Hypothesis: The hallmark gait deviation in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis is slow walking speed. Reduction in gait speed after stroke is influenced by decreased propulsive forces, which may likely be related to impaired spinal circuit function and spasticity of the paretic plantarflexors. Chronic muscle tone maladaptations in paretic ankle plantarflexors can result in altered Achilles tendon (AT) morphology, therefore leading to altered mechanical properties, force transmission capabilities and subsequent insufficient propulsive forces during walking. The purpose of this study is to characterize the chronic maladaptations in both the spinal Ia afferent loop excitability and AT morphology after stroke lesions in …

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (Cvst): A Retrospective Study, Nia Acharya

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This retrospective study investigates the long-term management of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) in 51 patients over a 3-month follow-up. The analysis covers demographics, risk factors, CVST presentation, associated diseases, thrombophilia, laboratory results, and antithrombotic treatments. CVST, a rare thrombosis of dural/cerebral sinuses, poses life-threatening risks with an annual incidence aligning with literature, notably affecting young individuals. Underlying causes range from rare disorders to common triggers, complicating diagnosis, especially during pregnancy. Imaging techniques aid diagnosis, with systemic anticoagulation preferred despite bleeding risks. Noteworthy findings include a higher incidence in women, predominantly presenting with headaches. Two cases of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic …