Medical Specialties Commons^™

Modulate Obesity And Related Metabolic Complications For Yielding Improvements In Ibd Outcomes (Modify-Ibd): Consensus On Obesity And Cardiometabolic Comorbidities In Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Systematic Reviews And The Rand/Ucla Appropriateness Method, Jalpa Devi, Sami Samaan, Priya Sehgal, Mouhand Mohamed, Matthew Vincent, Shannon Coombs, Michelle Doering, Edward L. Barnes, Amanda M. Johnson, Andres J. Yarur, Parakkal Deepak

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Obesity and related cardiometabolic comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, are increasingly prevalent among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These conditions influence disease activity, therapeutic response, surgical outcomes and overall quality of life, yet evidence remains fragmented. The Modulate Obesity and relateD metabolic complIcations For Yielding improvements in IBD outcomes (MODIFY-IBD) initiative aims to synthesise evidence and generate consensus recommendations to guide practice and future research in this area. This study describes a protocol for a structured evidence synthesis and Research And Development/University of California, Los …

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Review, Kenneth A Ellenbogen, Mihail G Chelu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Heart failure (HF) affects more than 64 million individuals worldwide, and acute HF is associated with 1-year mortality rates of 23.6% in North America and Europe. Cardiac dyssynchrony from conduction system disease may cause HF progression, particularly in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.

Observations: Electrical dyssynchrony in HF most commonly presents as left bundle-branch block and affects 20% to 30% of patients with reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy, which includes biventricular pacing and conduction system pacing, restores synchronous ventricular contraction and is recommended for patients with symptomatic HF despite optimal medical therapy, LVEF of …

Migrainous Thoracalgia In A Patient With Chronic Migraine And Coronary Vasospasm: A Case Report, Dean Zeldich, Victor S. Wang, Cyril David, Clinton Lauritsen, Claire E.J. Ceriani

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Migrainous thoracalgia (MT) refers to chest pain (CP) potentially arising from a neurologic etiology, often temporally linked to migraine. We present a 57-year-old woman with chronic migraine who developed recurrent CP typically following migraine attacks. Despite multiple cardiac evaluations, including cardiac MRI and catheterizations, she was diagnosed with fibromuscular dysplasia, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and coronary microvascular disease. Her CP partially responded to nitroglycerin and improved modestly with migraine control using ubrogepant and calcium channel blockers. During admission for refractory migraine, she received intravenous lidocaine, magnesium, ketorolac, and neuroleptics, resulting in several months of CP remission despite brief migraine relief. …

Expert Recommendations To Strengthen Chikungunya Outbreak Surveillance And Reporting For Traveler Health Protection, Daniel C. Payne, Karoun H. Bagamian, Jeffery Goad, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Michael A. Johansson, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Eyal Leshem, Francesca F. Norman, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Henrik Salje, Stephen Thomas, Scott C. Weaver, Lindsey A. Laytner, Rebecca Sturgis, Suzanne K. Scheele, Davidson H. Hamer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus, has surged dramatically in the past two decades. Chikungunya outbreaks can intensify rapidly, with infections posing a significant endemic health burden in tropical/subtropical areas and for travelers. Health professionals require timely and accurate outbreak information to adequately protect travelers and assess chikungunya risk. However, detection is often insufficient in the areas most susceptible to outbreaks, leading to diagnostic and reporting delays. Consequently, travelers are often unaware of increased chikungunya infection risk at their destination. We assessed chikungunya surveillance and reporting resources, and we developed expert recommendations for traveler health protection. Because …

Ctdna For Mrd Assessment Is Prognostic And Predictive In Newly Diagnosed And Relapsed/Refractory Lymphoma., Natalie Galanina, Madiha Iqbal, Sarah Tomassetti, Darryl Nousome, Antony Tin, Cassandra P Gillespie, Heather Youngberg, Philip Miller, Meenakshi Malhotra, Hayley Widden, Angel Rodriguez, Minetta C Liu, Mayur Narkhede, Basem M William

Oncology Articles

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a novel biomarker to assess tumor burden, molecular residual disease (MRD), and treatment response in various cancers. To our knowledge, this study reports the largest real-world cohort to date evaluating ctDNA testing, ctDNA-MRD detection, and ctDNA clearance dynamics in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory lymphoma. We analyzed plasma from 144 patients with stage I to IV primary lymphoma (aggressive B-cell lymphoma, n = 110; aggressive T-cell lymphoma, n = 13; indolent B-cell lymphoma, n = 15; indolent T-cell lymphoma, n = 6; median, 7 samples per patient). ctDNA was evaluated using a personalized, tumor-informed, multiplex polymerase …

A Multi-Agent Large Language Model Framework To Automatically Assess Performance Of A Clinical Ai Triage Tool, Adam Flanders, Yifan Peng, Luciano Prevedello, Robyn Ball, Errol Colak, Prahlad Menon, George Shih, Hui-Ming Lin, Paras Lakhani

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Radiology reports can be used as a surrogate for performance of clinical AI tools. Radiology reports were analyzed by an ensemble of eight open-source LLM models and a internal version of GPT-4o using a single multi-shot prompt that assessed for presence of ICH. Performance of the open-source models, consensus of models and GPT-4o were compared to human report review. Three ideal consensus LLM ensembles were tested for rating the performance of the triage tool. The capability of each LLM varied. The highest AUC performance was achieved with llama3.3:70b and GPT-4o. Using MCC the ideal combination of LLMs were: Full-9 Ensemble, …

Smaller Right Ventricle Results In Poorer Exercise Performance In Young Patients With Repaired Tetralogy Of Fallot, Christiane Mhanna, Katerina Kourpas, Takeshi Tsuda

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Severe right ventricular (RV) dilatation and exercise intolerance are considered indications for pulmonary valve replacement in surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were performed in rTOF patients with pulmonary insufficiency (PI). Oxygen pulse (OP), calculated as oxygen consumption (V̇O

CONCLUSIONS: A smaller RV was associated with worse exercise performance, indicating exercise intolerance is independent of RV dilatation in young rTOF with PI and represents a unique pathological entity responsible for reduced exercise performance.

A Disorder-Aware Computational Framework To Identify Structurally Tractable Targets In Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy, Mak B. Djulbegovic, Nedym Hadzijahic, David J. Taylor Gonzalez, Michael Antonietti, Sidra Zafar, Ajay E. Kuriyan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains a major cause of failure after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair and lacks effective pharmacologic therapies. Although epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is central to PVR pathogenesis, the structural determinants governing the tractability of EMT regulators, particularly those involving intrinsic disorder, remain poorly defined. We developed a disorder-aware, artificial intelligence-enabled computational framework to evaluate EMT-associated proteins in PVR and prioritize structurally tractable regulators for structure-based targeting.

DESIGN: A computational, hypothesis-generating study employing an in silico screening and structural modeling pipeline.

SUBJECTS: No human subjects or biological specimens were included. The dataset comprised 25 EMT-associated proteins implicated in PVR, …

Circulating Extracellular Vesicles Suggest Race-Associated Transcriptomic Differences In Preterm Birth: A Pilot Study, Bruna Corradetti, Xiyu Ge, Kristina W Whitworth, Elaine Symanski

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and disproportionately affects Black women in the United States. While racial disparities in PTB are well documented, the molecular pathways underlying these differences remain incompletely understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are circulating lipid-bound particles that carry coding and non-coding RNAs reflecting cellular stress states and may serve as integrative molecular indicators of pregnancy biology. In this hypothesis-generating pilot study, EVs were isolated from maternal plasma collected at delivery from non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women with preterm and full-term births. EV concentration and size were assessed, and EV-associated mRNA …

Implementation Of A Language-Concordant Follow-Up Protocol To Reduce Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube Complications: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Marisol Ornelas

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purposes/Aims: Complications of percutaneous nephrostomy tubes (PCN) are common after discharge. Language barriers place patients at higher risk for misunderstanding discharge instructions. This evidence-based project evaluated whether a bilingual follow-up protocol three days post-discharge reduces PCN complications in patients.

Methodology: This project utilized the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model. The project leader reviewed the literature, synthesized the evidence, and developed a standardized PCN discharge training and bilingual PCN follow-up protocol.

Implementation: Unit nurses received training to standardize the PCN discharge process. Nurses educated PCN patients using the standardized process at the time of discharge. Three days …

Associations Between Neighborhood Disadvantage, Cannabis Use, And Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients With Cancer, Brittney Greene, Shilpa Ghosh, Craig Colder, Salimah Meghani, Brooke Worster, Rebecca Ashare

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use is proliferating among oncological populations. However, research is limited on whether cannabis routes and sources are associated with neighborhood disadvantage and whether it moderates the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This analysis evaluates the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and cannabis source and route, and their association with PROs.

METHODS: Analyses included 106 patients with cancer from varying levels of neighborhood disadvantage. Logistic regressions tested the association of neighborhood disadvantage with cannabis source (i.e., regulated vs. unregulated) and route (i.e., inhaled vs. consumed/other formulations). Multilevel regressions tested the association of neighborhood disadvantage with PROs (e.g., …

Surgical Site Infection Prevention And Education With Breast Reconstruction Patients - An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Monica Gaspard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction and Background

Breast cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal cell growth that develops from interactions including genetics, environment, and cellular functions (Taurin & Alkhalifa, 2020). Breast cancer is common in women, and breast reconstruction is a main course of treatment (Taha et al, 2023). One in eight women may have breast cancer in their lifetime (Tedesco & Loerzel, 2020). In the United States, 151,641 breast reconstruction surgeries were reported in 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgery (Perez et al., 2024). The infection rate after breast reconstructive surgery can be as high as 25% and occurs within …

Enhanced Recovery Of High-Quality Dna From Limited Ffpe Tissue For Advancing Cancer Genomics, Shweta Singh, Sierra Vidaurri, Astrid Perez, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Monica Betancourt-Garcia, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

School of Medicine Publications

Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are crucial assets in cancer research. However, despite the availability of commercial DNA purification kits, researchers face persistent challenges. The limited tissue availability, formalin-induced crosslinking, and DNA fragmentation in FFPE blocks often results in low DNA yield and compromised quality, hindering downstream applications. In this study, we optimized and standardized DNA purification methods to achieve high-yield, high-integrity DNA, making it ideal for DNA library preparation and high-throughput sequencing. Therefore, we optimized DNA extraction protocols using two Qiagen kits, the QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit and the QIAamp DNA FFPE Advanced Kit. The optimized methods …

Deep Cuts: Bearing Witness To The Erosion Of Evidence, Maya Lakshmi Srinivasan Md

Masters Theses

In my Master of Fine Arts thesis in Printmaking at the Rhode Island School of Design, I examine the intersection of my dual practices as a general surgery resident and artist. Both disciplines require precision, incision, and tactility to navigate the human condition. My art practice is a method of processing the emotional toll of surgical training and the simultaneous societal erosion of scientific authority. My thesis work focuses on challenging the rise of medical pseudoscience and anti-intellectualism. The focal piece in this installation, In Tallow We Trust, consists of three woodblock relief prints at the scale of an …

International Multi-Center Study To Quantify The Effect Of Deep Venous Drainage After Surgical Resection Of Spetzler-Martin Grade Ii-Iii Brain Arteriovenous Malformations, Avi A. Gajjar, Rashad Jabarkheel, Mohamed M. Salem, Basel Musmar, Sandeep Kandregula, Hammam Abdalrazeq, Nimer Adeeb, Assala Aslan, Nathan Ramachandran, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Hamza Adel Salim, Adam A. Dmytriw, Christopher S. Ogilvy, Mustafa K. Baskaya, Douglas Kondziolka, Jason Sheehan, Howard Riina, Abdallah Abushehab, Kareem El Naamani, Najib Muhammad, Ahmed Abdelsalam, Natasha Ironside, Deepak Kumbhare, Sanjeev Gummadi, Cagdas Ataoglu, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Abdullah Keles, Sandeep Muram, Daniel Sconzo, Arwin Rezai, Omar Alwakaa, Pierce Davis, Salem M. Tos, Ufuk Erginoglu, Johannes Pöppe, Rajeev D. Sen, Alan S. Boulos, John C. Dalfino, Christoph J. Griessenauer, Robert M. Starke, Laligam N. Sekhar, Michael R. Levitt, David J. Altschul, Neil Haranhalli, Malia Mcavoy, Hussein A. Zeineddine, Adib A. Abla, Saman Sizdahkhani, Sravanthi Koduri, Michael R. Gooch, Robert H. Rosenwasswer Md, Christopher Stapleton, Matthew Koch, Peng R. Chen, Spiros Blackburn, Ketan Bulsara, Louis J. Kim, Omar Choudhri, Bryan Pukenas, Joshua S. Catapano, Darren Orbach, Edward Smith, Pascal J. Mosimann, Alexandra R. Paul, Pascal Jabbour, Ali Alaraj, Mohammad A. Aziz-Sultan, Aman B. Patel, Amey Savardekar, Christina Notarianni, Hugo H. Cuellar, Bharat Guthikonda, Jacques Morcos, Michael Lawton, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Visish M. Srinivasan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Deep venous drainage (DVD) is considered a negative prognostic factor in AVM surgery, yet its effect on postoperative functional decline remains incompletely defined. This study evaluates whether DVD predicts worsened functional status after surgical resection of Spetzler-Martin Grade II-III AVMs. This retrospective multicenter study analyzed 129 patients with Spetzler-Martin Grade II-III AVMs across nine centers in North America and Europe who underwent primary surgical resection. We excluded cases with prior endovascular or stereotactic interventions. The primary outcome measured was poor functional status, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 3-6 at last follow up. Among 129 patients with Spetzler-Martin Grade …

Minimally Invasive Versus Burr Hole Craniostomy For Chronic Subdural Haematoma Evacuation: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Shaan Patel, Shiva A. Nischal, Angelette Mendonca, Kush M. Kale, Santosh Guru, Pious D. Patel, Kevin Hines, Jack Jallo, Srinivas K. Prasad

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has emerged as an appealing alternative to burr hole craniostomy (BHC) for chronic subdural haematoma (cSDH), offering reduced operative trauma and anaesthetic exposure. However, whether these procedural advantages translate into comparable outcomes remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the safety, effectiveness, and procedural performance of MIS versus BHC for cSDH evacuation, with attention to device-specific outcomes.

METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL (10th November 2025) identified randomised and observational studies directly comparing MIS techniques, including twist-drill craniostomy (TDC), subdural evacuating port systems (SEPS), and YL-1 devices, with BHC. …

Cd11c+ Cd8 T Cells Cause Ifn-Γ-Dependent Autoimmune Neuroinflammation That Is Restrained By Pd-1 Signaling, Daniel Hwang, Gholamreza Azizi, Larissa Lumi Watanabe Ishikawa, Maryam S. Seyedsadr, Arin Cox, Soohwa Jang, Ezgi Kasimoglu, Abdolmohamad Rostami, Guang-Xian Zhang, Bogoljub Ciric

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

In multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, CD8 T cells outnumber CD4 T cells, suggesting that they contribute to MS pathology. However, little is known about the role of CD8 T cells in MS, partly due to the prevalent use of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models mediated by CD4 T cells, which have limited involvement of CD8 T cells. Importantly, MS and EAE differ in both their distribution of CNS lesions and neurologic deficits, indicating differences in CNS inflammation. MS lesions are more commonly found in the brain, whereas EAE lesions are more frequent in the spinal cord. Additionally, neurologic deficits in …

Joint Disease And Demographic Factors In Clinical Populations Of Medically Underserved Communities, Blake C. Martin, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Michael Sander

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The Rio Grande Valley is a medically underserved, demographically unique population that warrants the exploration of various conditions.

Objectives: We sought to analyze the demographic disparities between the different types of common joint conditions in this community. We hypothesized that osteoarthritis would be the most common joint condition and that the demographics between the various joint conditions would vary depending on age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort, from January 1, 2018, to September 4, 2024. Patients’ charts were obtained using the ICD-10 diagnosis codes M15-M19 for osteoarthritis, M05-M06 for rheumatoid arthritis, M10 or M1A …

Mapping Rna Structure Assembly And Remodeling In Biomolecular Condensates, Steven Boeynaems, Joshua A Riback, Furqan M Fazal, Anthony M Mustoe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Biomolecular condensates concentrate RNA and protein machinery that facilitate RNA processing, ribonucleoprotein assembly, and gene regulation. Some evidence supports that condensates can modulate RNA folding, but measuring RNA structure within native condensates remains an unsolved challenge. Here we introduce RAID-MaP, a strategy that combines APEX proximity labeling with dimethyl sulfate (DMS) chemical probing to measure RNA structure within defined subcellular compartments. We applied RAID-MaP to resolve late stages of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) folding within the granular component (GC) of the nucleolus, revealing that both the 18S and 28S rRNAs feature widespread differences in structure compared to assembled ribosomes consistent with …

Targeted Suppression Of Spp1 Inhibits Tumor Invasion And Metastasis In Nrf2 Hyperactivated Cisplatin Resistant Hnscc, Shiro Takamatsu, Sylvia Flores, Patricia D Castro, Tsung-You Tsai, Arisa Nishikawa Kaga, Kento Okamoto, Mitchell J Frederick, Vlad C Sandulache, Humam Kadara, Jeffrey N Myers, Abdullah A Osman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Cisplatin remains the standard systemic therapy for the definitive treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), however, resistance to cisplatin continues to be a major barrier to effective treatment, particularly in tumors with NRF2 hyperactivation. Recent studies identify secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1/osteopontin) as a key NRF2 target frequently overexpressed in cancers, where it drives aggressive tumor behavior, metastasis, chemoresistance, and, in some cases, immune suppression. Our recent data highlight SPP1 as one of the top 10 NRF2-upregulated genes in cisplatin-resistant HNSCC. However, its specific role in therapy resistance and metastasis in HNSCC remains unclear. Here, we investigate …

O-Glcnacylation As A Metabolic Integrator In Cardiovascular Physiology And Disease

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Implementing Preoperative Anxiety Screening To Enhance Patient-Centered Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Adam Chaban, Abigail Limary, Amir Ghafarian, Joyce Li, George Mckelvey, Wael Saasouh

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Preoperative anxiety affects 40–80% of surgical patients and is associated with poorer perioperative experiences. Despite evidence linking preoperative anxiety to increase postoperative pain, sleep disturbances, morbidity and delayed recovery, structured anxiety assessment is not routinely integrated into outpatient pre-anesthesia workflows. The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) is a validated tool that quantifies patient anxiety and information needs. This quality improvement (QI) project aims to implement APAIS screening in a Pre-Anesthesia Testing (PAT) clinic and evaluate its feasibility, workflow integration, and acceptability.

Methods: This QI initiative will be conducted in adult elective surgery patients at the Detroit Medical …

Ghastly Growths And Bone Chilling Cases Pediatric Tumor Diagnosis Demystified, Alexander Aly Restum, Arif Musa

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Pediatric skeletal tumors range from benign to malignant and require multimodal imaging for accurate diagnosis. Recognizing key features enables early detection, guides management, identifies underlying syndromes, and improves outcomes. This presentation provides an educational overview of pediatric tumor evaluation.

Methods:
We conducted a focused review of peer-reviewed literature and representative pediatric imaging studies to outline the radiologic characteristics of common benign and malignant bone tumors in children. Core imaging patterns, diagnostic challenges, and modality-specific advantages were synthesized to create a practical interpretive framework for radiologists.

Results:
The reviewed literature and imaging demonstrated consistent defining features across pediatric bone tumors. …

The Prevalence And Effects Of Gestational Maternal Allergy: A Narrative Review, Alice Werynski Bs, Kang Chen Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title:

The Prevalence and Effects of Gestational Maternal Allergy: A Narrative Review

Authors:

Alice Werynski B.S, Kang Chen Ph.D

Background:

Maternal allergies are a prevalent yet overlooked category of gestational disease. Pregnancy is characterized by a Th2 dominant immunological environment, and because many allergic diseases also rely on Th2 cytokines and IgE-mediated pathways, allergy during pregnancy may impact symptoms and influence maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods:

This narrative review summarizes and compares literature on the prevalence of allergic conditions in pregnancy, their immunologic mechanisms, and their effects on maternal health, fetal development, and treatment safety. The search was conducted through …

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Variations And Strategies For Injury Prevention: A Systematic Review, Hana Abdelmeguid, Bamdad Tayyari, Yuvedha Senthil Velan, Michael J. Montalbano Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Objective

Anatomical variations in the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), namely extra-laryngeal terminal bifurcation and non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve, are known risk factors for RLN injury during surgery and represent a considerable jeopardy for iatrogenic damage like vocal cord paralysis. This systematic review aims to identify strategies for protecting RLN during thyroid surgery from nerve damage.

Methods

A search was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PUBMED for articles published till February 2023 while strictly adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Subject headings and keywords related to anatomical variations, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and surgical prevention …

Evaluating Normothermic Machine Perfusion For Dcd Liver Transplants: Outcomes, Costs, And Value Implications, Meet S. Patel, Alisha Williams, Kyrillos Ayoub, Noor Kamaladin, Charles S. Day

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: As liver transplantation expands to include marginal donor organs, technologies such as the TransMedics Organ Care System (OCS) offer the potential to improve graft viability and clinical outcomes. However, limited institution-level evidence exists evaluating the cost-outcomes balance of OCS use in Donation-After-Circulatory-Death (DCD) liver transplantation. This study assesses the clinical, operational, and economic value of OCS implementation within a high-volume transplant center.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of all DCD liver transplants performed at Henry Ford Hospital from January 2021 to April 2024. Outcomes were compared between traditional cold storage (2021; n=23) and OCS perfusion (2023–2024; n=82). …

From Learners To Leaders: A Peer-Led Simulation Program For Anesthesia Procedural Skills Training In Medical Students, Noah S. Kos, Ryan Beyers, Chloe Sutlick, Benjamin Sun, Tochi Mbagwu, Dr. John D. Mitchell Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: From Learners to Leaders: A Peer-Led Simulation Program for Anesthesia Procedural Skills Training in Medical Students

Authors: Noah Kos, Ryan Beyers, Chloe Sutlick, Benjamin Sun, Tochi Mbagwu, John D. Mitchell, M.D.

Background: Procedural skill competency is vital in medical education, but limited faculty availability poses challenges. We implemented a peer-led simulation program teaching peripheral IV insertion (PIV) and endotracheal intubation, with a focus on student leadership.

Methods: Sixteen peer educators, trained by attendings, conducted monthly workshops from July-October 2025. Students practiced at PIV and intubation stations, assessed via validated rubrics (17 items for PIV, 21 for intubation; 5-point scale). …

Health Practices And Use Of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants In The United States: A Pilot Study, Parita Patel, Anil N.F. Aranha

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Health Practices and Use of Traditional Medicine Among Asian Indian Immigrants in the United States: A Pilot Study

Authors

Parita Patel, MPH¹; Anil N.F. Aranha, PhD^1,2

Medical Education¹, Internal Medicine², Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Traditional and alternative medicine (TAM), including Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, and home remedies, remains widely used among Asian Indian (AI) immigrants in the United States alongside Western medicine. Cultural familiarity, family influence, and perceived safety shape these practices. This pilot study examined TAM prevalence, patterns, and perceptions among AI immigrants and …

Comparing Injury Incidence Between Major League Soccer And The English Premier League During The 2024/2025 Season: A Retrospective Cohort Study, William Gadbois, Youssef Salama, Kevin Reck, Scott Mohamed El-Sayed Yaekle

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background

Major League Soccer (MLS) and the English Premier League (EPL) differ substantially in geographic footprint, travel requirements, competition structure, and scheduling. These structural differences may influence player injury risk, yet no study has directly compared injury incidence between the two leagues within the same competitive season. In 2024, MLS introduced a centralized, standardized injury-reporting system that improved transparency and created a unique opportunity for direct comparison with the EPL.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study will analyze all reported time-loss injuries during the 2024 MLS and 2024–25 EPL seasons. Injury data will be collected from publicly available league reports, club …

Environmental Mercury Alters Immune Pathways Linked To Autoimmune Risk In Mice Mirroring Humans, Maurgan Lee, Paul Stemmer, Randall Gill, Allen Rosenspire, Anil Aranha, Heather Gibson

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background and Purpose: Mercury is a pervasive environmental contaminant, and human epidemiologic studies have linked chronic low-level exposure to increased autoimmune disease-risk. Dysregulated lymphocyte activation and impaired signaling tolerance are central mechanisms in human autoimmunity. Protein phosphorylation governs lymphocyte differentiation and function, alterations in phosphoproteomic networks may represent a signature of immune disruption. This study evaluates how low dose mercury exposure modifies B and T cell abundance and intracellular signaling patterns in BALB/c and Diversity Outbred (DO) mice.

Methods: BALB/c and DO mice were exposed to low dose HgCl2 in their water for two weeks or provided standard water controls. …