Medical Specialties Commons^™

Unleashing Wellness: Exploring The Impact Of Pet Therapy On Anxiety Reduction, Quality Of Life, And Treatment Adherence In Pediatric Oncology Patients, Karina Brouwer

Nursing | Senior Theses

Pet therapy is a complementary intervention that involves the interaction between a person and animal, with the focus of improving psychological well-being within diverse populations. In particular, children with oncological disorders have increases in anxiety and stress levels, therefore it is imperative to study the impact of animal interventions within this population. This literature critique explores the impact of pet therapy interventions on anxiety, stress, and quality of life perceptions in pediatric oncology patients. This research proposal will investigate how animal therapy interactions within pediatric oncology patients influence their anxiety levels and perceptions of quality of life and how these …

Advancing School Nursing Practice: A Novel Approach To Screening For Gastrointestinal Disorders In Children, Ashley Bunting, Isabella Cavlan

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Currently, mandated health screenings in California schools are limited to vision, hearing, and scoliosis; this leaves several other body systems unmonitored during the crucial years of childhood development. One such system is the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which plays a vital role in the normal growth, nutrition status, development, and overall health of children. Objective: By developing and implementing a GI-specific screening tool in the outpatient school setting, this research aims to increase the detection of GI disorders in children. Not only that, but school nurses can use this novel screening tool to promote early diagnosis, intervention, and …

Robotic-Assistance In Total Hip Arthroplasty Is Associated With Decreased Dislocation Rates, Gabrielle N. Swartz, Sandeep S. Bains, Jeremy A. Dubin, Reza Katanbaf, Hunter Hayes, James Nace, Michael A. Mont, Ronald E. Delanois

Orthopedic Surgery Resident Research

Background

As the use of robotics in total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues to gain popularity, differences in clinical outcomes when compared to manual techniques have remained unclear. This study aimed to compare postoperative complications between patients undergoing robotic-assisted techniques and manual THA for primary osteoarthritis at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years.

Methods

Using an all-payer national database, we identified 405,048 patients who underwent either robotic-assisted or manual THA for primary osteoarthritis. A propensity match was performed for age, sex, a comorbidity index, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and diabetes, resulting in 7652 patients in each cohort. We assessed postoperative …

In Vivo Scanning Laser Fundus And High-Resolution Oct Imaging Of Retinal Ganglion Cell Injury In A Non-Human Primate Model With An Activatable Fluorescent-Labeled Tat Peptide Probe, Xudong Qiu, Seth T Gammon, Carol Rasmussen, Federica Pisaneschi, Charlene B Y Kim, James Ver Hoeve, Steven W Millward, Edward M Barnett, T Michael Nork, Paul L Kaufman, David Piwnica-Worms

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The optical imaging agent TcapQ488 has enabled imaging of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury in vivo in rodents and has potential as an effective diagnostic probe for early detection and intervention monitoring in glaucoma patients. In the present study, we investigated TcapQ488 in non-human primates (NHPs) to identify labeling efficacy and early signals of injured RGC, to determine species-dependent changes in RGC probe uptake and clearance, and to determine dose-limiting toxicities. Doses of 3, 6, and 12 nmol of TcapQ488 were delivered intravitreally to normal healthy NHP eyes and eyes that had undergone hemiretinal endodiathermy axotomy (HEA) in the inferior …

Case Report: Nocturnal Low-Frequency Stimulation Of The Centromedian Thalamic Nucleus Improves Sleep Quality And Seizure Control, Surya Suresh, Ganne Chaitanya, Ajay Deep Kachhvah, Vladimir Vashin, Manojkumar Saranathan, Sandipan Pati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sleep disturbances and drug-resistant seizures significantly impact people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) offers potential treatment, but its effect on sleep and seizure control needs clarification. In this study, we combined wearable sleep monitoring with electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmation to investigate the impact of nocturnal centromedian nucleus (CM) DBS parameters in a patient with drug-resistant IGE. We found that high-frequency (125 Hz) CM stimulation during sleep severely disrupted sleep macro architecture and exacerbated seizures. Conversely, switching to low-frequency (10 Hz) stimulation enhanced both sleep quality and seizure control. This study underscores the critical need to personalize …

Use Of A Borate-Based Bioactive Glass Martix On Infected, Exposed Hardware, Stephanie N. Campbell, Cyaandi V. Dove, Connor Krolikowski

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Hardware exposure is a challenging complication following foot and ankle surgery due to the high risk of infection, biofilm formation, and delayed healing. In two consecutive cases, the bioactive glass matrix combined with particulate micromatrix successfully eradicated the wound infection and biofilm, resulting in full granulation of the wound and successful wound closure. Here we present a novel bioactive glass matrix that successfully managed exposed hardware in an infected foot, providing a promising treatment strategy for managing these complications and preventing further morbidity.

Cancer-Associated Mdm2 W329g Mutant Attenuates Ribosomal Stress-Mediated P53 Responses To Promote Cell Survival And Glycolysis, Sally Lien, Thomas P Whitbread, Shiva O Shastri, Jamie A Contreras, Ruiying Zhao, Yan Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although amplification/overexpression is the predominant mechanism for the oncogenic properties of MDM2, an increasing number of MDM2 somatic missense mutations were identified in cancer patients with the recent advances in sequencing technology. Here, we characterized an MDM2 cancer-associated mutant variant W329G identified from a patient sample that contains a wild-type p53 gene. Trp329 is one of residues that were reported to be critical to MDM2's binding to ribosomal protein L11 (RPL11). We found that the MDM2 W329G mutant was resistant to the inhibitory effect of RPL11 on MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination and degradation, in line with its defect on RPL11 binding. …

Spinal Cord Evaluation In Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical And Radiological Associations, Present And Future, B Mark Keegan, Martina Absinta, Julien Cohen-Adad, Eoin P Flanagan, Roland G Henry, Eric C Klawiter, Shannon Kolind, Stephen Krieger, Cornelia Laule, John A Lincoln, Steven Messina, Jiwon Oh, Nico Papinutto, Seth Aaron Smith, Anthony Traboulsee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spinal cord disease is important in most people with multiple sclerosis, but assessment remains less emphasized in patient care, basic and clinical research and therapeutic trials. The North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord Interest Group was formed to determine and present the contemporary landscape of multiple sclerosis spinal cord evaluation, further existing and advanced spinal cord imaging techniques, and foster collaborative work. Important themes arose: (i) multiple sclerosis spinal cord lesions (differential diagnosis, association with clinical course); (ii) spinal cord radiological-pathological associations; (iii) 'critical' spinal cord lesions; (iv) multiple sclerosis topographical model; (v) spinal cord atrophy; and (vi) …

Immunomodulatory Effects Of Modified Colostrum, Whey, And Their Combination With Other Natural Products: Effects On Natural Killer Cells, Xuesheng Han, David Vollmer, Xuefei Yan, Yahong Zhang, Mingfa Zang, Chenfei Zhang, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Elena Y. Enioutina

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Objectives Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune system effector cells providing innate defenses against intracellular infections, including viral infections, immune surveillance, and cancer immunoediting. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether modified ultra-filtrated colostrum (UC) and hydrolyzed whey (W) products or their combinations with other natural products with reported immunomodulatory properties will stimulate NK cell cytotoxic activity by activation of granzyme B and IFN-γ production. Methods The ability of study products to stimulate the cytotoxic activity of human-purified CD56+ NK cells and the production of granzyme B and IFN-γ by activated NK cells was evaluated in …

Aligning Eye Care Provider Beliefs With Behaviors: Exploring And Improving Ocular Surface Disease Decision-Making In A Cataract Surgery Clinic, Amy Hellem

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

Millions of cataract surgeries are performed every year in the United States, yet both surgeon reports and patient reports indicate that practices are not utilizing the diagnostic tests and treatments that are advocated in the medical literature to identify and manage ocular surface disease prior to surgery. As a result, patients risk suffering several significant consequences with regard to their vision, comfort and safety. Personal observations from my 25 years of experience working with ophthalmologists and optometrists led to curiosity regarding the root cause of undertreatment of ocular surface disease. Specifically, I had the impression that eye care providers held …

Barriers To A Healthy Diet In An Urban, Underserved Primary Care Clinic And How Food Insecurity Impacts These Barriers​, Carol Schroeder, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala, Susan Evans

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Dietary Quality In An Urban Primary Care Patient Clinic, Aaron Allison, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Body Shamer Within: Incorporating The Teaching Of Weight Bias Internalization Into Weight Bias Education, Jessica Koran-Scholl, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Diet Quality Differences​ Between Residents And Their Patient Population, Steffi Emig Witt, Birgit Khandalavala, Jenenne A. Geske

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Culturally Appropriate Diabetes Education Helps Karen- And Qanjobal-Speaking Patients Lower A1c​, Cruz Longoria, Maggie Hutson, Jenenne A. Geske, Melanie Menning

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Food Insecurity Screening Detects Patients With Poor Diet Quality, Aaron Allison, Jenenne A. Geske, Birgit Khandalavala

Posters and Presentations: Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Zebrafish Drug Screening Identifies Erlotinib As An Inhibitor Of Wnt/ Β-Catenin Signaling And Self-Renewal In T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Majd A. Al-Hamaly, Anna H. Cox, Meghan G. Haney, Wen Zhang, Emma C. Arvin, Shilpa Sampathi, Mary Wimsett, Chunming Liu, Jessica S. Blackburn

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway’s significance in cancer initiation, progression, and stem cell biology underscores its therapeutic potential. However, the clinical application of Wnt inhibitors remains limited due to challenges posed by off-target effects and complex cross-talk of Wnt signaling with other pathways. In this study, we leveraged a zebrafish model to perform a robust and rapid drug screening of 773 FDA-approved compounds to identify Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors with minimal toxicity. Utilizing zebrafish expressing a Wnt reporter, we identified several drugs that suppressed Wnt signaling without compromising zebrafish development. The effi- cacy of the top hit, Erlotinib, extended to human cells, where it …

Postpartum Abdominal Binder Use For Pain Management After Vaginal Delivery – A Randomized Controlled Trial, Laura A. Bute, Elena Fuell-Wysong, Vijay K. Rings, Samantha M. Younglove, Rose A. Maxwell, Sheela Barhan

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective: To investigate the impact of abdominal binder plus usual care versus usual care alone 26 after spontaneous vaginal delivery on pain severity scores. 27 28 Methods: A prospective randomized study was performed, recruiting patients on a Labor and 29 Delivery unit who were anticipating spontaneous vaginal delivery from 2019 to 2022. Patients 30 were randomly assigned to receive an abdominal binder plus usual care or usual care alone 31 within two hours postpartum. Primary outcomes were patient-reported immediate postpartum 32 pain score and average daily pain scores on days 0 and 1 postpartum (using a scale from 0 to …

Human Papilloma Virus Type 16 Seroprevalence Among Men Living With Hiv, Ashley Duff

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Objectives: Individuals living with HIV are at a higher risk for developing human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). There are no methods for early detection; however, HPV16 E6 antibodies have been identified as a promising early marker. The objective of this study was to evaluate seroprevalence and predictors of HPV16 E6 seropositivity among men living with HIV.

Methods:2,334 men aged 40+ living with HIV with blood specimens banked within the Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (TN-CFAR) biorepository were evaluated using HPV multiplex serology. Seroprevalence of HPV16 antibodies was calculated for all HPV16 proteins analyzed (L1, E1, E2, E4, E6, E7). …

Mri-Based Radiomics Model From Mesorectal Fat To Predict Perirectal Lymph Node Status And Extramural Venous Invasion In Colorectal Cancer Patients, Yaniga Swaengdee

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the incidence rate is rising in Asia. Perirectal lymph node metastasis (PLN) and extramural venous invasion (EMVI) are common and associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. While total mesorectal excision is the gold standard for confirming PLN and EMVI, MRI is keys modality for staging. Radiomics, a technique that extracts quantitative features from medical images, allows for the development of predictive models for PLN and EMVI. This study aimed to build and evaluate a predictive model based on mesorectal fat radiomics from MRI images to improve PLN and …

Varian Halcyon Cone Beam Computed Tomography Dose Measurement By Radiophotoluminescent Glass Dosimeter, Kantida Jittrakool

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely used as the primary imaging method in image-guided radiation therapy. The Varian Halcyon system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) requires daily imaging prior to each patient’s treatment. This study focuses on comparing the radiation doses to normal organs across all available kV-CBCT protocols on the Varian Halcyon system. Radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeters (RPLGD) were used to measure doses, placed inside an Alderson Rando phantom positioned at specific anatomical sites including the head, thorax, breast, and pelvis. CBCT scans were performed using preset protocols, with no modifications to parameters. The average organ dose …

Dosimetric Comparison Between Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy On Truebeam And Halcyon Of Boost Plan For Total Body Irradiation, Wanwanut Jaihow

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is a special treatment technique aimed at immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was to compare the dosimetric results of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans of TBI treatment between TrueBeam and Halcyon treatment machines. Eight TBI patients were planned by 6 MV of two lateral opposing with extended SAD technique to 5 meters to receive the prescribed dose of 1200 cGy in 6 fractions at head and legs. A single fraction boosts up the dose ranging from shoulder to mid-thigh. Plans were optimized and calculated in the Eclipse treatment planning system using VMAT by TrueBeam …

Local Diagnostic Reference Level At Nuclear Medicine Centers In Thailand And Myanmar, Yin Moe Aye

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Diagnostic reference level (DRL) has been an effective and practical tool in the optimization of radiation protection in medical exposure to patients. Local DRL represents the median value, or 50th percentile, of the quantity distribution of common nuclear medicine examinations. This study aims to establish LDRL at NM centers in Thailand and Myanmar. Methods: The demographic data of adult patients with body weight 45-75kg, radiation metric parameters including radiopharmaceutical administered activity (MBq), Volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol, mGy), dose length product (DLP, mGy. cm), and scan length (cm), of SPECT, SPECT/CT, and PET/CT imaging were retrospectively collected from January 2023 …

Evaluating Dosimetric Accuracy Of Aaa And Axb Algorithms In Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, May Thu Htet

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The accuracy of dose calculation in heterogeneous media is heavily influenced by the choice of dose calculation algorithm. This study aimed to compare the dosimetric performance of the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB) in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer. Twenty-four lung cancer patients were divided into two groups: free breathing (FB) and deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH). For each patient, three half-arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated using 6 MV flattening filter-free (FFF) beams, prescribing 50 Gy in five fractions to the planning target volume (PTV), using the Eclipse Treatment Planning System. …

Tumor Prognosis In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Deep Transfer Learning With Radimagenet From Ct Images, Parida Petiraksakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor in Southeast Asia. It is characterized by complex anatomical features and aggressive behavior. Accurate prognosis prediction plays a crucial role in the optimization of treatment strategies and improvement of patient outcomes. Although recent advances in deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have demonstrated promising results in medical image analysis, the limited availability of annotated medical imaging datasets remains a significant challenge. Transfer learning (TL), particularly using domain-specific pretrained datasets, such as RadImageNet, offers a practical solution to this limitation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of deep transfer learning models …

Physical And Psychosocial Factors Related To Firefighter Musculoskeletal Disorders, Jennifer Ellen Tinsley Kubala

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Career firefighters must perform physically and psychologically challenging duties in unpredictable and dangerous conditions. Previous investigations have found that firefighters suffer nearly 4 times the recorded musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and workplace injuries compared to private and public sector workers, and take approximately 1.5 days longer to return to normal work. Thus, the burden of firefighter MSD experiences has been a growing area of exploration. The few investigations that have concurrently examined physical and psychosocial consequences experienced by firefighters have found a positive relationship between increased occupational stress reports and MSD experiences. However, these investigations, as well as those that individually …

The Role Of Social Determinants Of Health On Patient Recovery After Critical Illness, Lindsey E. Fresenko

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Patients who survive critical illness have a prolonged recovery which impacts their quality of life and outcomes. The sudden life changes from being critically ill may create or exacerbate social factors or needs also known as social determinants of health. Patients’ SDOH are defined as the environments in which we live, work and play that impact health outcomes. Patients’ SDOH impact their life in early recovery from changes in previous roles to their need for increased financial, physical and emotional support. During this early recovery, patients are often recommended to participate in rehabilitation to improve their physical function. Although, accessing …

Food Allergies, The Immune Response, And Preventative Treatments: Milk, Egg, And Shellfish Allergies, Marissa Dimatteo

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Food allergies have been an increasing concern worldwide with very little information on preventative measures and treatment. They can have long lasting and life-threatening consequences with a wide range of symptoms from hives to anaphylactic shock. Long recommended feeding guidelines, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and gastrointestinal alterations are thought to play a role in the increase in food allergies in infants. Early introduction of food, immunotherapy, and a properly supported gut microbiome have been recommended to decrease the likelihood of developing a food allergy and desensitizing the immune system.

Nursing Care During Natural Disasters, War Zones, And Mass Casualty Incidents: Implications For An Educational And Professional Overhaul, Erin N. White

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Emergency situations around the world are inevitable. Any nurse who practices for any period of time is sure to encounter situations like these. Their hospital may be flooded with traumatic and severely life-threatening patient cases where supplies can become scarce. In these situations, a nurse and all other healthcare personnel are expected to act effectively, efficiently and in a highly organized way. Despite this need, many hospitals fail to implement effective disaster preparedness programs and plans. This leaves healthcare workers at a loss for how to treat patients, communicate within and outside of the hospital, coordinate transport, and all the …

Optimizing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention And Education: In Adult Icu Settings, Danielle Gonzalez

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult intensive care patient units (ICU) is one of the most common and deadly nosocomial infections today. Studies have identified a gap in intensive care nurse ventilator education and compliance with hospital protocols. Overall increasing the rates of VAP and morbidity. Hospitals worldwide have shown a decrease in VAP rates after inheriting "VAP-bundles''. This includes nurse specific interventions and assessments as a preventative measure. However, studies failed to demonstrate which bundle interventions directly correspond to the prevention of VAP. Purpose: Address all components of education, a nurse’s ability to properly identify and understand the …