Medical Specialties Commons^™

Understanding The Impact Of The Care Connect Washington Program, Hannah Cohen-Cline, Dan Fish, Taylor Doren, Abby Bush

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Inpatient Utilization Among Medicaid Members With Substance Use And Serious Mental Illness In Oregon, Megan Holtorf

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Revealing Spatiotemporal Neural Activation Patterns In Electrocorticography Recordings Of Human Speech Production By Mutual Information, Julio Kovacs, Dean Krusienski, Minu Maninder, Willy Wriggers

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Background

Spatiotemporal mapping of neural activity during continuous speech production has been traditionally approached using correlation coefficient (CC) analysis between cortical signals and speech recordings. A prior study employed this approach using electrocorticography (ECoG) data from participants who underwent invasive intracranial monitoring for epilepsy. However, CC cannot detect nonlinear relationships and is dominated by the correspondence between periods of silence and of non-silence.

New Method

We introduce the mutual information (MI) measure, which can capture both linear and nonlinear dependencies. We validated CC and MI on the sub-second spatiotemporal brain activity recorded during continuous speech tasks. To refine the results, …

Scaffolds With Spatiotemporally Controlled Growth Factor Delivery And Cyclodextrin-Enabled Antagonism Of Growth Factor Receptor Sequestration Promote Cutaneous Wound Healing, Jelena Marjanovic, Veronica Jurczuk, Lilian Valadares Tose, Yarixa Cintron Diaz, Francisco Fernandez Lima, Beatriz Abdo Abujamra, Sara Danker, Sinan Jabori, Devinder Singh, Jamie L. Burgess, Joshua Tam, Mohamadmahdi Samandari, Rivka C. Stone, Stephen C. Davis, Robert S. Kirsner, Marjana Tomic-Canic, Fotis M. Andreopoulos, Ivan Jozic

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Chronic wounds present a major burden to patients, health care professionals, and health care systems worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited and often ineffective. Although initially promising, growth factor-based therapies displayed limited and underwhelming effectiveness largely due to poor bioavailabilbioity and impaired receptor function within the chronic wound microenvironment. Here we demonstrate that chronic wounds exhibit elevated cholesterol synthesis, which disrupts growth factor signaling by sequestering receptors within lipid rafts. To address this, we developed a novel therapy combining growth factors with cyclodextrin in an ECM-mimetic scaffold, enabling localized cholesterol modulation and improved receptor accessibility. We demonstrate that this approach …

Perspective On Alcohol-Induced Organ Damage Via Autophagy-Dependent Cellular Changes, Ahmed Bakheet, Murugadas Anbazhagan, Shirish Barve, Srinivasan Dasarathy, John Dickinson, Wen-Xing Ding, Terrence Donohue, Thiyagarajan Gopal, Anna Gukovskaya, Kusum K. Kharbanda, John J. Lemasters, Natalia A. Osna, Pal Pacher, Lucy Sloan, Luis F. Vilches, Viswanathan Saraswathi, Xiao-Ming Yin, Zhi Zhong, Paul G. Thomes

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

Alcohol-induced organ damage is a major global health concern and a leading cause of disability and mortality. In addition to the liver, chronic alcohol consumption adversely affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems, the gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, kidneys, pancreas, and the brain. Organ damage begins with necrosis (cell death) followed by tissue injury, which triggers immune responses aimed at tissue repair. However, with continued heavy drinking, these reparative responses transition into inflammatory responses which exacerbate tissue injury and accelerate disease progression. Macroautophagy, commonly referred to as autophagy, is a vital and evolutionarily-conserved digestive process in eukaryotic …

Caregiver Policies In The United States: A Systematic Review, Makenna R. Green, M. Courtney Hughes, Sadia Afrin, Erin Vernon

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

In the United States, there are nearly 53 million informal or unpaid caregivers, many of whom experience mental and physical stress related to their caregiving duties and increased financial responsibility. We identified federal and state informal caregiver support policies authorized by specific legislation along with their key provisions and conducted a systematic review of the academic literature related to quantitative evaluations of these policies. Twenty policies, eight academic studies, and four gray literature reports were included in the study, with half of the policies introduced since 2000. Our study criteria yielded few academic valuations tied to caregiver policies and few …

Can Fat Absorption Be Enhanced With A Novel Medical Food?, Cassie Brown

2025

No abstract provided.

Academic Proficiency In Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Robert Opoka, Shubaya Kasule Naggayi, Paul Bangirana, Simple Ouma, Betty Nyangoma, Annet Birabwa, Grace Nambatya, Maxencia Kabatabaazi, Ann Jacqueline Nakitende, Dennis Kalibbala

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Academic proficiency is crucial for advancing learning goals, school advancement, and future economic security. Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at risk of disease-associated learning difficulties. Limited data exist on this topic among school-age children in the region. We aimed to assess academic proficiency in a sample of children with SCA in Uganda compared with unaffected controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were school-going children with SCA, aged 6–12 years, attending Mulago Hospital SCA Clinic, and age-matched sibling controls without SCA. Academic proficiency was assessed by the Wide …

Robotic Transabdominal Preperitoneal Morgagni Hernia Repair, Chris Robert, Furrukh Jabbar

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Morgagni hernia is a rare type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, representing about 3% of all cases. It occurs due to a defect in the development of the diaphragm in the Morgagni foramen, also known as the sternocostal triangle. Case presentation: A 63-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, hypothyroidism, Barrett’s esophagitis, and cirrhosis secondary to alcohol intake (Child Pugh A) presented with increasing shortness of breath and spasmodic right sided chest pain. A diagnostic workup with a CT chest revealed herniation of fat and a portion of the colon into the right chest with adjacent atelectasis of …

Medical Reversals In The Management Of Patients With Ventral Hernia Following Publication Of Randomized Control Trials, Anila Punjwani, Vaibhav Varma, Mike Liang

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Initiation Of Sterile Vaginal Preps Prior To Cesarean Sections: A Quality Improvement Project, Diane Gilbertson, Timothy Kremer, Kimberly Udell

North Texas Research Forum 2025

OBJECTIVE: Research on patients undergoing routine gynecological procedures with a vaginal preparation has demonstrated a significant reduction in post-operative infections by decreasing the burden of vaginal bacteria. Despite this research, as well as evidence that they reduce postpartum endometritis, especially in labor patients or those with ruptured membranes (Lui), vaginal preparations prior to cesarean section are not standard practice. Prior to the initiation of this quality improvement project, no patients delivering at Medical City Arlington received a vaginal preparation prior to a cesarean delivery. The goal of this quality improvement project is to improve clinical care, patient safety, and healthcare …

The Demographics Of Vasopressor Requirements In Covid-19 Patients, Sammy R. Ghaoui, Paloma A. Molina, Romina Flores, Adela Bazbaz, Daryelle Varon, Joseph Varon

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Major League Baseball Pitch Clock: One Year Position Player Injury Analysis, Troy Puga, Nicholas Scigliano, Mckenna Box, John T. Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background In 2023, Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented the pitch clock. The effects of the pitch clock on player injury rates is largely unknown, and some, including the major league baseball players association, have suggested that pitchers may be at an increased risk of injury with its implementation. Position players have received little attention in these discussions, even though they may be at the same theorized risk of injuries. The aim of this study is to determine if implementation of the 2023 MLB pitch clock influenced the incidence of injuries in position players. It is hypothesized that implementation of the …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Rapid Response Training Course, Nasima Mehraban, Caroline Brooke, Vivek Punjabi, Veeranna Vibhuti

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Rapid response teams are crucial in healthcare settings for managing clinical emergencies. To enhance the preparedness of interns in handling such situations, we developed a rapid response training course. This study aimed to evaluate the course's effectiveness by examining changes in residents' self-reported confidence levels before and after completing the training. Methods: A group of interns participated in five simulated rapid response scenarios. Before the training, participants rated their confidence level on a scale from 1 (not confident in running a rapid response) to 10 (very confident). Following the training, they reassessed their confidence level. Pre- and post-training ratings …

Cryptococcal Meningitis In A Patient With Multiple Sclerosis On Fingolimod, Syed Hassan Amir, Teena Mathew

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background: There are a host of pathogens that thrive only when the host is weakened enough to be susceptible – Cryptococcus is one such organism that causes fatal meningitis, primarily in HIV patients. Those immunocompromised by other means are also susceptible. Among them, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) pose a significant challenge as what may initially be considered an MS flare could mask a serious underlying infection. Objective: This case study discusses an MS patient on Fingolimod, an immunosuppressant, that likely made them vulnerable to cryptococcal meningitis. Pathogenesis: Cryptococci are encapsulated yeast that enter the body via inhalation of spores …

Retroperitoneal Schwannoma: An Abnormal Presentation Mimicking A Pelvic Mass, Isabella Sciacca, Christelle Reeves, Cameron Stokes, Steven Seligman

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: A schwannoma is an encapsulated nerve sheath tumor originating from differentiated Schwann cells. They are preferentially localized to the head, neck and extremities with a minor occurrence of 1-3% in the retroperitoneal space. Schwannoma symptoms often are asymptomatic due to slow growth but can present with symptoms according to their location. We report a case of a 45-year-old female with a retroperitoneal schwannoma that mimicked an ovarian mass. Case Summary: A 45-year-old female with a ten-year history of a right ovarian cyst presented with lower abdominal pain, early satiety, hematuria, low back pain and constipation. Transabdominal ultrasound showed right …

Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonist Effects On Outcomes Of Hemiarthroplasty For Femoral Neck Fractures In Diabetics, Mckenna W. Box, Troy Puga, Neil Werthmann, Yingxian Liu, John T. Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: To determine if the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients affects outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures (FNFs). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a local hospital system database was performed using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes to identify T2DM patients who were at least 18 years of age who underwent hemiarthroplasty (HA) for FNFs and were on a GLP-1RA at the time of injury. A random patient sample of those who underwent HA and were not on a GLP-1RA was used as a …

Prehospital Diagnosis Of Acute St-Elevation Myocardial Infraction In A Patient With Situs Inversus Totalis, Victoria Gordon, Jason Jones, Brad Ward, Casey Patrick

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Improving Communication And Follow Up For Incidental Findings From Panscan Imaging, Makenzie Morrissey, Kristen Payne, Randall Rittmann, Chris Robert, Joseph Lim, Danielle Pigneri

North Texas Research Forum 2025

OBJECTIVE: Incidental findings in medical imaging pose a significant challenge in healthcare due to the potential for missed follow-ups, which can lead to adverse outcomes for patients. These findings, which are unrelated to the primary purpose of the imaging study, are increasingly common due to advances in imaging technology and its widespread use. The consequences of missed follow-ups can be severe. For instance, the rate of malignancy in incidental pulmonary nodule id about 5% and follow up fails in 30-70% of cases. This means for every 120 CT chest scans ordered, 1 lung cancer is missed (McWilliams et al., 2013). …

Assessment Of Patient Satisfaction Through The Introduction Of A Post-Procedure Pamphlet In An Outpatient Clinic, Mohammad Rashik, James Aston, Sajid Surve

North Texas Research Forum 2025

This quality improvement project aimed to create a patient pamphlet for the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) clinic at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The pamphlet provides important post-procedure information for patients who undergo treatments like joint injections, platelet-rich plasma therapy, prolotherapy, hydrodissection, botulinum toxin injection, and nerve blocks. These procedures can lead to potential side effects, some of which patients may not be aware of. To address this, the pamphlet includes information on common symptoms, their causes, recommended next steps, and guidance on when to contact the OMM clinic or visit the Emergency Department. The pamphlet was …

When Osteoporosis Masks Multiple Myeloma: A Diagnostic Pitfall, Neil Maithel, Rabia Mahfooz, Easlie Chen, Ali Asghar, Aftab Mahmood

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Lost Work Due To Burn Related Disability In A Us Working Population, Hannan A. Maqsood, Zhaohui Fan, Naveen F. Sangji, Danielle Pigneri

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Burn injuries can require hospitalization, operations, and long-term reconstruction. Burn-injured patients can experience short- or long-term disability. We investigated lost workdays (LWDs), short-term disability (STD), and long-term disability (LTD) in the 12-month period following a burn injury. Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted using a commercial claims database, IBM® MarketScan®. Patients aged ≤65 years with an ICD-10 burn diagnosis from 2018 to 2019 were included. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), procedure and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify patients undergoing burn-related operations. Patients were mapped to data tables for LWDs, STD, and …

Fluid Resiliency Protocol Reduces Ivf Use Without Case Cancellations, Rachael W. Wong, Kailey To, Mallory Gessner, Stephanie Crowley, Evan Claxon, Juan A. Sanchez, Tunmi Anwoju, Zuhair Ali, Mike Liang

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Severe Hypercalcemia In A Patient Taking Chronic Shark Fin Supplements, Sumanth Reddy, Bishwas Upadhyay

North Texas Research Forum 2025

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: In this study, we discuss a case of an 86 year old Vietnamese female who presents with severe hypercalcemia, 15.0, who presented with progressively worsening physical debility which resulted in the patient being wheelchair bound after being found to be taking chronic calcium supplements. Hypercalcemia is a metabolic abnormality that is known to cause muscle weakness, changes in sensorium, dehydrations, nausea, anorexia, polyuria, constipation, fatigue, and depression. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient is an 85 year old female with significant medical history of osteoarthritis who presented to the emergency department for generalized fatigue for the past 2 weeks. Patient reports that …

Efficacy Of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment In Post-Stroke Recovery Patients, Elizabeth White, Dakota Dalton, Alexis Walker, Patrick Vu, Christopher Medina

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Each year, an estimated 795,000 adults in the United States have a stroke, making it the fifth leading cause of death and the tenth leading cause of adult disability. Current literature addresses the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for pain and physical limitations in the post-acute outpatient setting. However, stroke patients can benefit additionally from rehabilitation in the subacute hospital setting as demonstrated by this case study. A 53-year-old Caucasian female presented to the emergency department with a history of slurred speech and right-sided weakness secondary to a left middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. Head computed tomography angiogram (CTA) …

Optimization Of Venous Thromboembolism (Vte) Prophylaxis In Pregnancy And The Postpartum Period, Sereena Jivraj, Isabella Sciacca, Sherrie Dixon, Timothy Kremer

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolisms (PE) continues to be a leading cause of maternal mortality (MM) in the United States. VTE accounts for roughly 9-10% of all maternal deaths. Other countries have adopted anticoagulation protocols to reduce MM rates, but the US has yet to follow suit. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) all vary in their guidelines for thromboembolism prophylaxis. Patients who deliver by Cesarean section (C-section) have higher incidences of MM due …

Bridging Knowledge And Practice: Exploring The Medical City Arlington Internal Medicine Handbook, Laura Montoya, Evangelista Ezenduka, Shivani Agarwal, Mike Nguyen, Fatima Safi, Nikhil Madhav, Dallin Beus, George Yeung, Hayan Kundi

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Internal medicine residents face a wide range of challenging medical conditions during their training and need to be equipped with both the knowledge and flexibility to handle whatever comes their way. As part of a collaborative initiative, we present the Medical City Arlington Internal Medicine Handbook, a practical resource built by residents, for residents. This handbook brings together practical insights, evidence-based practices, and specialized clinical expertise, all with the goal of enhancing the diagnostic and treatment skills of internal medicine practitioners. It covers a broad spectrum of conditions, from common ailments to rare and complex diseases, and provides in-depth management …

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis In A 55-Year-Old Female With Dengue Fever: A Case Report, Martin Twumampofo, Huy Vuong, Karen Valadez-Cuen, Oswaldo Renteria, Hector Zepeda

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Medical Students And Program Directors Attitudes And Opinions On The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Medical Education, Kayla Nguyen, Vishal Patel, Shehroze Akhter, Alexander T. Gibson, Ryan K. Wong, Mike Liang

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Early Source Control: A Case Of Resistant Mrsa, Jack Demirjian, Paul Mathew

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.