Medical Specialties Commons^™

Blood Biomarkers In Down Syndrome: Facilitating Alzheimer’S Disease Detection And Monitoring, Melissa E. Petersen, Lisi Flores-Aguilar, Elizabeth Head, Laia Montoliu-Gaya, Andre Strydom, Sarah E. Pape, Juan Fortea, Nicholas J. Ashton, Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, Sid E. O’Bryant, Dwight German, Florin Despa, Mark Mapstone, Henrik Zetterberg

Neurology Faculty Publications

Blood-based biomarkers continue to be explored for disease detection, monitoring of progression, and therapeutic outcomes as the diagnostic determination of Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome (DS-AD) remains challenging in clinical settings. This perspective highlights the current status of this effort. Overall, amyloid (A), tau (T), and neurodegeneration (AT[N]) blood-based biomarkers have been shown to increase with disease pathology for individuals with DS. Phosphorylated tau biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181) have been consistently shown to track disease progression for DS-AD and are likely good candidates for use in clinical settings. Biomarkers of inflammation (glial fibrillary acidic protein) also show promise; however, additional work …

Inflammatory Mediators And The Rage Pathway In Placental Tissues Of Pregnancies Complicated By Severe Preeclampsia, Neelima Chandra, Thomas D. Kimble, Kathleen R. Heim, Sharon M. Anderson, Andrew P. Wong, Andrea R. Thurman, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disorder of pregnancy associated with abnormal placentation, vascular anomalies, and systemic inflammation and hypertension. Previous research assessing inflammatory triggers of the condition used plasma, amniotic fluid, or explant samples. Studies using placental tissue from either vaginal or cesarean deliveries are confined to semiquantitative analysis using subjective scoring methods and generally involve a small sample size.

Methods: In this study, we have quantified the expression of inflammatory mediators by immunohistochemical image analysis of archived placental tissues obtained from cesarean delivery of preeclamptic, chorioamnionitic, and normal pregnancies.

Results: Among the inflammatory mediators, we found a …

Sex-Dependent Changes In Risk-Taking Predisposition Of Rats Following Space Radiation Exposure, Elliot Smits, Faith E. Reid, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Alvarado Arriaga, Charles Nguyen, Richard A. Britten

Department Radiation Oncology & Biophysics Faculty Publications

The Artemis missions will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a crucial steppingstone for future Mars exploration. Astronauts on these ambitious missions will have to successfully complete complex tasks, which will frequently involve rapid and effective decision making under unfamiliar or high-pressure conditions. Exposure to low doses of space radiation (SR) can impair key executive functions critical to decision making. This study examined the effects of exposure to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulated radiation (GCRsim) on decision-making performance in male and female rats with a naturally low predisposition for risk-taking (RTP) prior to exposure. …

A Two-Hit Model Of Executive Dysfunction: Simulated Galactic Cosmic Radiation Primes Latent Deficits Revealed By Sleep Fragmentation, Richard A. Britten, Ella N. Tamgue, Paola Arriaga Alvarado, Arriyam S. Fesshaye, Larry D. Sanford

Department Radiation Oncology & Biophysics Faculty Publications

Future Artemis-class missions to Mars will expose astronauts to prolonged space radiation (SR), sleep disruption, and operational demands requiring greater autonomy, placing decision making and executive function at heightened risk. Both SR and sleep fragmentation (SF) independently impair cognition, yet their combined effects remain poorly understood. Using the Associative Recognition Memory and Interference (ARMIT) task, we assessed cognitive performance in male rats exposed to 10 cGy of Galactic Cosmic Ray simulation (GCRsim), SF, or both. Under well-rested conditions, GCRsim-exposed rats exhibited overt deficits in the C.1.2 stage, performing at chance when reinforcement contingencies shifted, consistent with impaired cognitive flexibility. In …

The Role Of Social Isolation In Shaping Health Outcomes In Older Adults: A Regional Analysis, Vince Falco, Lynn Wiles, Jonathan Romero, Leorey Saligan

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Social isolation is a critical public health concern in older adults and is linked to a range of adverse health outcomes across diverse sociodemographic groups. This study investigated the associations between social isolation with physical and mental health of older adults residing in Hampton Roads, a racially diverse region in Southeastern Virginia, home to a large population of senior military veterans. Secondarily, the study explored how social determinants of health (SDoH) and comorbid medical conditions influenced the relationship of social isolation with physical and mental health of these seniors. Physical and mental health were measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement …

Antihypertensive Potential Of Euphorbia Hirta And Leptadenia Hastata In Adrenaline-Induced Wistar Rats, Fagbohun Oyenike Bushirat, Emmanuel Ogar Ochonung, Messiah Innocent Atapia, Hassan Abdulsalam Adewuyi, Sakariyau Aido Waheed, Adebimpe Oluwatoyin Hameedah, Chizoba Victory Obunadike, Adeleye Adegboyega Edema, Samad Hussein, Abiola Mohammed Usman, Tolulope Olukayode Jaiyeola

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background: Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide, contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The use of plant-based therapies, such as Euphorbia hirta and Leptadenia hastata, has gained attention for their potential antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, and organ-protective effects.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the phytotherapeutic approach to hypertension using E. hirta and L. hastata extracts in adrenaline-induced hypertensive Wistar rats

Methods: Utilizing an adrenaline-induced hypertensive rat model, we assessed the effects of E. hirta and L. hastata leaf extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) on systolic blood pressure, renal function, lipid metabolism, and hematological parameters.

Results: Antioxidant activity: …

Novel Insights Into Beta Cell Er Stress Chop And It's Role In Hfpef Development, Balaji Srinivas, Paula Fortuno, Hongmei Peng, Jiang Xu, Hamid Suhail, Hani N. Sabbah, Nour-Eddine Rhaleb, Khalid Matrougui

Department of Physiological Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a multifactorial cardiovascular disorder characterized by diastolic dysfunction and often associated with hypertension and metabolic disturbances. We aimed to determine the inter-relationship between C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in b-cells and HFpEF development.

Methods: Eight-week-old male mice b-cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- were randomly divided into four groups: control b-cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- mice subjected to standard diet and water. b -cell^flox/flox and b-cell^CHOP-/- mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and L-NAME (0.5 g/L) for five weeks. A comprehensive cardiovascular, metabolic, and histological evaluation was conducted.

Results: Following …

Ancestry-Dependent Immunologic And Prognostic Effects Characterize The Prostate Cancer Urinary Proteome, Annie Ha, Jaron Arbet, Zhuyu Qiu, Amanda Khoo, Brian P. Main, Meinusha Govindarajan, Matthew Waas, Stanley K. Liu, O. John Semmes, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Paul C. Boutros, Thomas Kislinger

Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center Faculty Publications

Urine is an attractive biomarker analyte for non-invasive longitudinal monitoring of health and disease, particularly for diseases of the genitourinary tract, like prostate and bladder cancer. The composition of an individual's urine reflects both genetic and lifestyle characteristics that differ across geographies and populations, like diet, hydration and other socio-economic factors. While men of African ancestry have elevated prostate cancer risk, it is unclear to what extent this influences urinary biomarkers. We therefore quantified the urinary proteomes of 329 localized prostate cancer patients: 135 self-identifying as White and 194 self-identifying as Black. We identified 110 proteins that significantly differed between …

Upper Airway Soot And Facial Burns Do Not Necessitate Intubation, Jessica Burgess, John Dubensky

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction

Identifying which patients are at risk for respiratory decompensation, whether from airway compromise or inhalation injury, is an important component of initial burn resuscitation. Findings that traditionally suggest the need for intubation include cutaneous burns to the face and neck, soot seen in the upper airway, and carbonaceous sputum. However, evidence suggests that a significant number of pre-burn center intubations are ultimately unnecessary. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if head and neck burns or sputum seen in the upper airways were correlated with the need for intubation.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of adults admitted …

Leveraging Snomed Ct For Patient Cohort Identification Over Heterogeneous Ehr Data, Xubing Hao, Yan Huang, Licong Cui, Xiaojin Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

SNOMED CT is extensively employed to standardize data across diverse patient datasets and support cohort identification, with studies revealing its benefits and challenges. In this work, we developed a SNOMED CT-driven cohort query system over a heterogeneous Optum® de-identified COVID-19 Electronic Health Record dataset leveraging concept mappings between ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM and SNOMED CT. We evaluated the benefits and challenges of using SNOMED CT to perform cohort queries based on both query code sets and actual patients retrieved from the database, leveraging the original ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM as baselines. Manual review of 80 random cases revealed 65 cases containing 148 true positive …

Inferred Developmental Origins Of Brain Tumors From Single-Cell Rna-Sequencing Data, Su Wang, Rachel Naomi Curry, Malcolm F Mcdonald, Hyun Yong Koh, Anders W Erickson, Claudia L Kleinman, Michael D Taylor, Ganesh Rao, Benjamin Deneen, Arif O Harmanci, Akdes Serin Harmanci

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The reactivation of neurodevelopmental programs in cancer highlights parallel biological processes that occur in both normal development and brain tumors. Achieving a deeper understanding of how dysregulated developmental factors play a role in the progression of brain tumors is therefore crucial for identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) provides an opportunity to understand how developmental programs are dysregulated and reinitiated in brain tumors at single-cell resolution. The aim of this study is to identify the developmental origins of brain tumors using scRNA-Seq data.

Methods: Here, we introduce COORS (Cell Of ORigin like CellS), a computational tool …

Facilitated Group Care For Maternal And Child Health Model Fidelity: A Scoping Review, Ashley Gresh, Phoebe Parker, Anne Batchelder, Jalana Lazar, Christina X. Marea, Camilla Bjelland, Rohan D. Jeremiah, Giovanna Cristina Machado-Kayzuka, Hayden Geibel, Dhruvi R. Patel, Esnath Kapito, Kathleen F. Norr, Crystal L. Patil

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Group care is a transformative model of prenatal, postnatal, and well-child care. The Centering-based group care model has three core components: health care, interactive learning, and community building. It has been implemented in 33 countries with associated improved maternal and child health outcomes. Maintaining fidelity to the model is essential for its effectiveness. However, to date no standardised measure of fidelity to the group care model exists. This review aimed to explore how fidelity is measured in group care and identify common themes to understand what is essential to maintain fidelity. We used the scoping review framework by Arksey & …

Risk And Protective Factors For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids) In Low-Resource Communities In Kolkata India: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study Of Semi-Structured Interviews And Survey Data, Susan Samreth, Alexandra Leader, Jillian Kiely, Turja Chakrabarti, Rupa Kapoor

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and infant sleep practices are widely documented and studied in high-resource countries. Knowledge of SUID/SIDS occurrence, risk factors and protective factors in low or middle-resource countries such as India is lacking. This was an exploratory study using a mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach to better understand infant sleep practices and the various factors that may influence them amongst caregivers in 5 low-income communities in Kolkata, India. Twenty-eight and 22 caregivers of infants < 12 months old were recruited using a convenience sampling approach to participate in semi-structured interviews (phase 1) and a survey (phase 2), respectively. This research was conducted in partnership with Pratit International, a locally based NGO dedicated to providing comprehensive health care to disenfranchised communities in Kolkata. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data found that infant caregivers frequently described risk factors (e.g., bedsharing, soft sleep surface, infant sleep position, objects in sleep area, environmental smoke exposure, low rates of pacifier use) and protective factors (e.g., breastfeeding, routine immunization/prenatal care, low rates of caregiver substance use) that have been associated with SIDS in high resource communities. Qualitative data revealed that certain caregivers' reasons for infant sleep position were rooted in cultural beliefs. Prenatal and postnatal sleep education given by a healthcare professional were limited and awareness of safer sleep advice in the community was low. These study findings suggest the need to provide safer sleep education resources in a culturally appropriate manner and can help guide future research on potential interventions such as the baby box.

Patterns Of Exclusive, Dual And Poly Tobacco Products Use Among Cancer Survivors In The United States, Ateeqa Ijaz, Miranda E. Gehris, Paul T. Harrell, Aditya Chakraborty, Rime Jebai, Wei Li, Olatokunbo Osibogun, Seyedeh Yasaman Alemohammad, Ziyad Ben Taleb, Ebbie Kalan

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Purpose

Identifying tobacco products use (TPU) patterns among cancer survivors (CSs) is critical to optimize survivorship care. This study examines exclusive cigarette/e-cigarette, dual (two tobacco-products) and poly (≥ 3 tobacco-products) use among CSs (vs. no cancer history) and its sub-types: smoking-related-cancers (SRCs) vs. non-smoking-related cancers (NSRCs) while also exploring socio-demographic factors.

Methods

The study analyzed 86,551 adults from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey, including 10,846 (9.7%) CSs. Participants were categorized and analyzed based on their CSs status and TPU patterns. Weighted logistic regression models assessed the relationship between TPU and CSs status while adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

CSs …

The Role Of Doulas In The Health Care Continuum For Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorder: Perspectives Of Patients, Doulas, And Healthcare Providers, Dashaunda Taylor, Derek A. Chapman, Caitlin E. Martin, Cynthia C. F. Romero, Gerard Moeller

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives/Goals: The goals of this research are to 1) determine the prevalence of perinatal doula services use in Virginia, with a focus on individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), 2) evaluate awareness of doulas among pregnant and postpartum people with SUD, and 3) assess provider knowledge and interaction with doulas for the care of this population. Methods/Study Population: Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to evaluate patient and healthcare provider knowledge regarding doula services and the patient–doula–healthcare provider relationship. Surveys and semi-structured interviews will be administered to doulas, pregnant and postpartum women, and healthcare providers in this mixed-methods …

Assessment Of Primary Malignancy Risk Following Initiation Of Biologic Therapy In Psoriasis Patients, Chunghwan Ro, Ana Ormaza Vera, Waleed Adawi, Alexander Yap, Clinton W. Enos

Department Dermatology Faculty Publications

Limited evidence exists regarding the long-term oncologic safety of biologic therapies, particularly interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) and IL-23i, in the management of psoriasis. This propensity-score-matched retrospective-cohort study assessed the risk of developing a primary malignancy within 10-years following exposure to an FDA-approved biologic among psoriasis patients compared to biologic-naïve controls. After propensity-score-matching, 32,230 biologic-exposed patients were further grouped into cohorts of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi, n=16,011), IL-23i (n=5,604), IL-12/23i (n=3,856), and IL-17i (n=5,467). During a 10-year period, TNFi-treated patients had a reduced risk of developing any primary malignancy compared to biologic-naïve psoriasis patients [HR 0.80(0.73-0.87)]. Similarly, a lower incidence …

Multi-Locas Gwas Mapping And Candidate Gene Analysis Of Anticancer Peptide Lunasin In Soybean (Glycine Max L. Merr), Rikki Locklear, Jennifer Kusumah, Layla Rashad, Felicia Lugaro, Sonia Viera, Nathan Kipyego, Faith Kipkosgei, Daisy Jerop, Shirley Jacquet, Mythy Addelmajid Kassem, Jiazheng Yuan, Elvira De Mejia, Rouf Mian

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Soybean (Glycine max) peptide lunasin exhibits significant cancer-preventive, antioxidant, and hypocholesterolemic effects. This study aimed to identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with lunasin content and to annotate the candidate genes in the soybean genome. The mapping panel of 144 accessions was gathered from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection, encompassing diverse geographical origins and genetic backgrounds, and was genotyped using SoySNP50K iSelect Beadchips. The lunasin content in soybean seeds was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, with lipid-adjusted soybean flour prepared from seeds obtained from the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN) of USDA-ARS in 2003 and …

Surgical Management Of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, Lisa M. Kenney, Marybeth Hughes

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are heterogeneous malignancies arising from enterochromaffin cells that can arise from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and pancreas. Surgical management is the cornerstone of treatment, with the optimal approach tailored by tumor grade, size, location, and presence of metastasis. This review discusses the current strategies for the surgical management of NETs of the gastroenteropancreatic tract. Methods: A review of the available literature was conducted to evaluate surgical approaches to NETs. Consensus guidelines were incorporated to synthesize evidence-based recommendations. Results: For gastric NETs, surgical approach depends on Rindi Classification, WHO grade, and tumor size, with endoscopic approaches favored …

Therapy-Based Strategies To Support Tummy Time In Infants Post-Hospital Discharge: A Scoping Review Protocol, Ketaki Inamdar, Sonia Khurana

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Tummy time is essential for infant development, yet many caregivers face significant challenges with adherence due to behavioral and contextual barriers. While numerous tummy time interventions exist, a limited understanding of their behavioral components hinders effective replication and implementation. This scoping review aims to identify multidisciplinary interventions used to promote tummy time in infants aged 0–12 months, evaluate their impact on adherence, developmental and health outcomes, and examine the behavior change techniques employed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, a comprehensive search will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science Core Collection, …

Large-Bore Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis In The Management Of Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Primary Results Of The Peerless Randomized Controlled Trial, Wissam A. Jaber, Carin F. Gonsalves Md, Stefan Stortecky, Samuel Horr, Ripal T. Gandhi, Keith Pereira, Jay Giri, Sameer J. Khandhar, Khawaja Afzal Ammar, David M. Lasorda, Brian Stegman, Lucas Busch, David J. Dexter, Ezana M. Azene, Nikhil Daga, Fakhir Elmasri, Chandra R. Kunavarapu, Mark E. Rea, Joseph S. Rossi, Joseph Campbell, Jonathan Lindquist, Adam Raskin, Jason C. Smith, Thomas M. Tamlyn, Gabriel A. Hernandez, Parth Rali, Torrey R. Schmidt, Jeffrey T. Bruckel, Juan C. Camacho, Jun Li, Samy Selim, Catalin Toma, Sukhdeep Singh Basra, Brian A. Bergmark, Bhavraj Khalsa, David M. Zlotnick, Jordan Castle, David J. O'Connor, C. Michael Gibson, For The Peerless Committees And Investigators

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: There are a lack of randomized controlled trial data comparing outcomes of different catheter-based interventions for intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism.

METHODS: PEERLESS is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial that enrolled 550 patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism with right ventricular dilatation and additional clinical risk factors randomized 1:1 to treatment with large-bore mechanical thrombectomy (LBMT) or catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). The primary end point was a hierarchal win ratio composite of the following (assessed at the sooner of hospital discharge or 7 days after the procedure): (1) all-cause mortality, (2) intracranial hemorrhage, (3) major bleeding, (4) clinical deterioration and/or escalation …

Virtual Learning In Emergency Medicine Residency Programs, Ashley Rider, Laura Oh, Rahul Bhat, Michael Gottlieb, Bruce Lo, Ulemu Luhanga, Shayne Gue, Jason Laenngfeld, Sarah Greenberger, Jeffery Hill, Jonathan Heidt

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational systems worldwide faced significant disruptions as in-person learning became unfeasible. In response, many institutions, including graduate medical education programs, swiftly transitioned to virtual learning platforms to adapt to these challenges. The rapid and unplanned pivot in learning format resulted in temporary negative impacts on residency training. Conversely, the experience of the rapid shift may have resulted in some long-term benefits while also preparing programs for future disruptions. This review aimed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of virtual learning, potential mitigation strategies for the realized disadvantages, and potential areas of future research.

The Impact Of Ultra-Processed Foods On Cardiovascular Diseases And Cancer: Epidemiological And Mechanistic Insights, Olorunfemi Oyewole Babalola, Ebenezer Akinnusi, Paul Olamide Ottu, Kpomah Bridget, Godspower Oyubu, Samuel Ayomikun Ajiboye, Sakariyau Adio Waheed, Amafili Chibuzo Collette, Hameedah Oluwatoyin Adebimpe, Chibuzo Valentine Nwokafor, Ebenezer Ayomide Oni, Precious Olayinka Aturamu, Opeyemi Iwaloye

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly recognized as contributors to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer due to their adverse compositional and mechanistic effects. UPFs, distinguished by their high content of unhealthy fats, sodium, refined sugars, and synthetic additives, significantly increase dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity, which are key risk factors for CVDs. Chronic consumption leads to systemic inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Additives such as artificial sweeteners and sodium nitrites in UPFs are associated with carcinogenesis through mechanisms involving genotoxicity and promotion of inflammatory microenvironments. This review critically evaluates existing epidemiological, mechanistic, and clinical evidence …

Application Of Telc Model To Better Elucidate Neural Stimulation By Touch, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Aim: This study is to better understand how the transient ion transport activity of touch receptors could change the graded potential to stimulate an action potential firing.

Methods: The latest transmembrane-electrostatically localized protons/cations charges (TELC) theory is employed for numerical analysis to calculate the neural touch signal transduction responding time required to fire an action potential spike.

Results: A neural action potential spike was constructed successfully using newly developed time-dependent TELC-based neural transmembrane potential integral equations (Equations 5, 6, and 7). The results explicated that the TELC curve has an inverse relationship with neural transmembrane potential since its curve appears …

Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The safety and quality of tattoo and permanent makeup (PMU) pigments are subject to increased scrutiny due to their potential to cause adverse effects like anaphylaxis, photoallergic responses, and long-term toxicity. These undesirable reactions governed by their chemical structure possess varied physicochemical properties and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) characteristics. These properties control the pigment behavior during application, stability, and interaction with human tissue. The correlation between these physicochemical characteristics and ADME parameters of tattoo/PMU pigments remain under-explored despite the current advances in toxicology. Our study aims to address and bridge the gap by leveraging open-access QSAR computational toxicology …

Designing A Narrative-Based Video Game For Adolescents Coping With A Parent's Cancer, Sophia Hamilton, Xubing Hao, Sharon Andrews, Eveyln Roldan, Carlos Martinez, Jane Hamilton, Muhammad Tuan Amith, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We developed the narrative video game Sophia that immerses users in the story of a 13-year-old girl during her father's 18-month battle with glioblastoma and her journey toward resilience during her high school years following his passing. The game is designed to engage adolescents coping with parental cancer in multiple gameplay modes and levels, the character, and the outcome of the story as a way to build connections and explore the themes of illness, dying, bereavement, and resilience. The scenes at each level correspond to the stages of glioblastoma illness as well as the teenage milestones she passes through without …

Investigating The Ideal Candidate For The Fda’S Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids, Jamie N. Mayer

Capstone Showcase

Hearing loss is an underdiagnosed and undertreated medical condition affecting millions of Americans across a variety of ages and stages of life. Over-the-counter hearing aids are a new category of hearing aids created by the FDA. By targeting affordability and accessibility, over-the-counter hearing aids reduce barriers to care that individuals with hearing loss may face. There is a major impact of hearing loss on adults, specifically, for our elderly population who struggle with communication, staying engaged socially, and the additional stress of comorbid conditions. Elderly adults have the potential to derive immense benefit from over-the-counter hearing aids, specifically for those …

Structural And Interpersonal Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake In Vulnerable Populations Of The United States, Alyea Wood

Capstone Showcase

Since its introduction in late 2020, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine has had the lowest rates in marginalized populations like minorities, elderly, and those of low socioeconomic status. Decreased rates of vaccination uptake in these groups has resulted in increased burden of disease and subsequently higher rates of hospitalization and death. Many inequities in poor COVID-19 health outcomes can be explained by examining common predictive factors that determine vaccination rates in these United States populations. This special article research aims to explore these various predictive factors with the goal to provide targeted strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially …

Recommendations For Diagnosis And Treatment Of Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea In Females Of Reproductive Age, Monica Foster

Capstone Showcase

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) accounts for approximately 30% of total cases of secondary amenorrhea in women of reproductive age. HA is defined as the absence of menses due to inadequate secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus leading to lack of secretion of gonadotropins from the anterior pituitary gland and steroid hormones from the ovaries. This feedback loop, called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, regulates reproductive activity in animals and humans. When this system is disrupted in females due to a hormonal imbalance, menstrual abnormalities may emerge. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is defined as the absence of menses in which anatomic …

Ketamine Infusion Treatment For Depression, Isabella Schwing

Capstone Showcase

Depression remains a significant public health challenge in the U.S., affecting millions of adults and contributing to both psychological and financial burdens. Major depressive disorder impacts approximately 14.5 million U.S. adults, with about 30% of cases classified as treatment-resistant depression. Traditional antidepressant therapies, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, often have delayed onset and limited efficacy, leaving a substantial portion of patients without adequate relief. Given these limitations, there is an urgent need for alternative treatment options.

Recent research has highlighted ketamine as a promising intervention for Major Depressive Disorder and Treatment Resistant Depression. Initially identified as …

Contact Pathway Factors As Potential Modifiers Of Bleeding Related To Factor Xi Deficiency, Ivy R. Han, Leah Rosenfeldt, Courtney Young, Bal Krishan Phd, Rachel Cantrell Phd, Cassie Sprague, Mousa Kharnaf, William Abplanalp, Joseph Palumbo Md

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Factor XI (FXI) deficiency, also known as Hemophilia C, is characterized by mild to moderate bleeding symptoms. However, the factors that modify bleeding severity in FXI deficiency are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether components of the contact activation pathway can act as modifiers of bleeding in the context of FXI deficiency. Using a tail vein transection (TVT) model in rats, we assessed bleeding in four experimental groups: wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats, Prekallikrein knockout (PKK^-/-) rats, rats treated with a FXI-inhibiting antibody, and PKK-/- rats treated with the FXI antibody.

Under anesthesia, each rat underwent a …