Medical Specialties Commons^™

Socialization Interventions For Older Adults In Assisted Living Facilities: A Systematic Review, Anoop S. Muvva

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Older adults, defined as individuals over the age of 65, are a growing population in the United States, with projections estimating this group will reach approximately 80 million persons by 2050. Over 90% of older adults are diagnosed with a chronic condition, which can make it difficult to carry out the activities of daily living. As a result, some older adults reside in assisted living facilities, where dedicated staff provide daily support. However, issues in the delivery of care within these settings, including unmet socialization needs and complications among care staff, may contribute to social isolation. Programs designed to address …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

The Knowledge, Experiences, And Attitudes Of Nurses Regarding Trauma-Informed Care For Sexually Abused Intrapartum Patients, Kayleigh Mcgraw

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Labor and delivery nurses care for women from diverse backgrounds who are preparing for a life-changing event, often marked by fear, excitement, sadness, and joy. However, 1 in 5 women in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape, and for these survivors, labor can become re-traumatizing. Many report flashbacks, dissociation, and a sense of “being back in the rape” during childbirth. Research further links prior sexual assault to unplanned cesareans, traumatic births, and childbirth-related PTSD. Trauma-informed care (TIC) provides a framework to reduce these risks by encouraging providers to understand trauma, recognize signs of distress, and act to …

Timelines Of Care: Analyzing Treatment Access For Women With Ongoing Reproductive Health Needs, Nyla M. Keith

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mandates in the United States created pressure on an already strained healthcare system post-COVID-19 pandemic. With new regulations placed upon abortion care forcing the closing of low-cost health clinics such as Planned Parenthood, legislation that has made health insurance more expensive, and rising pharmaceutical prices, women’s OB/GYN care in America has struggled to meet patient needs. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to four clinics in the Orlando area to assess patients' perceived access to care and identify barriers to receiving OB/GYN care. The survey took approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete, was available in print and online …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Glass-Ceramic Nanoparticles And Nanobubbles For Integration Into Bone Regenerative Biomaterials, Sun Latt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoporosis affects over 200 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, leading to fragility fractures that significantly diminish quality of life. Current clinical bone cements, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), are limited by poor osseointegration, toxic monomers, and an inability to address the underlying pathophysiology of osteoporosis. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and systematic in vitro evaluation of a sol-gel-derived, magnesium-incorporated glass-ceramic (GC) nanoparticle within the CaO-MgO-SiO₂ system for incorporation into a novel hydrogel bone cement and bioresorbable magnesium implants. XRD confirmed a biphasic amorphous-crystalline diopside composition, and TEM …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Relationships Between Quadriceps Neuromuscular Function And Time From Surgery Following Acl Reconstruction Are Sex-Specific, Tatiana Restrepo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with persistent quadriceps dysfunction, including muscular weakness and altered spinal and cortical excitability. While recovery has been widely studied, most investigations focus on isolated domains and fixed postoperative time points. Emerging evidence suggests females often experience slower or less complete quadriceps recovery compared to males, yet the time-dependent nature of these sex-specific outcomes remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to examine whether relationships between time since ACLR and quadriceps neuromuscular outcomes differ by sex across muscular, spinal, and cortical domains. Adults aged 18–35 with a history of primary, unilateral ACLR were …

A Systematic Literature Review Of The Menstrual Cycle And Its Impact On Aerobic Performance In Female Athletes, Jaymie G. Loidolt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this systematic review is to examine existing literature regarding the menstrual cycle and its impact on aerobic performance in female athletes. This comprehensive review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 method of analysis. All studies included involved normally menstruating females conditioned in endurance sport. Studies analyzing anaerobic sports, abnormally menstruating females, or physically inactive females were excluded. The databases used included: PubMed, Sport Discus, and Web of Science. The results of these were imported into JBIsumari for deduplication, title and abstract, and full text screening. The results conclude objective performance variables are unchanged regarding the phase of …

Colon Cancer In Appalachian Kentucky: Unique Genetic, Microbiome And Obesity Findings In A Cohort Comparison, Zeta Chow, Jinpeng Liu, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Tong Gan, Akila Mansour, Nuha Shaker, Caroline Dravillas, Rebecca Hoyd, Eric B. Durbin, Dana L. Napier, Tianyan Gao, Kurt Schaberg, Lyen Huang, Neli Ulrich, Erin Siegel, Stephen Edge, Linda Cook, Bodour Salhia, Michelle L. Churchman, Jill Kolesar, Daniel Spakowicz, B. Mark Evers, Therese J. Bocklage

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

We investigated colon cancer genomics and microenvironmental features in the Appalachian Kentucky population, a group with the highest incidence of colon cancer in the United States. We assessed two inter-related risk factors for colon cancer (obesity and abnormal gut bacterial microbiome) and their genetic associations within this population. To evaluate potential unique characteristics of the high-incidence cohort, we compared 99 propensity-matched colon cancer tumors from Appalachian Kentucky patients to 95 non-Appalachian patient tumors to evaluate driver mutations, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) mutational signatures, immune cell …

Hexavalent Chromium Promotes Malignant Transformation Via Enhanced Translation Of Suv39h1, Yiwei Gu, Yanan Cao, Qing Ye, Yujing Zhang, Zhishan Wang, Chengfeng Yang, Side Liu, Qing-Bai She

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a widespread environmental carcinogen linked to lung cancer and other malignancies. Although genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of Cr(VI)-induced carcinogenesis have been extensively investigated, the role of translational control has remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that chronic low-dose Cr(VI) exposure in BEAS-2BR human bronchial epithelial cells activates eIF4E-driven cap-dependent translation through mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation and inactivation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1. Pharmacological inhibition of this pathway markedly suppresses Cr(VI)-induced cell transformation, cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties, and DNA damage. Comparable inhibitory effects are observed following raptor knockdown, which disrupts mTORC1, or expression of a constitutively active non-phosphorylatable …

Rna-Micelles As Self-Assembling Structures For Efficient Co-Delivery Of Synergistic Sirna And Nucleoside Analogues To Treat Crc Lung Metastasis, Kai Jin, Piotr G. Rychahou, Daniel W. Binzel, B. Mark Evers, Peixuan Guo

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

SiRNA has been widely studied in cancer gene silencing over the last 25 years. However, few siRNA-based therapeutics have been approved by the FDA. An RNA-micelle platform provides a powerful therapeutic tool through simple one-step, high-yield production that is capable of efficient colorectal cancer lung metastasis treatment, a current lethal condition with a short survival rate post-diagnosis. Here, it is reported that the use of RNA-micelles co-carrying siRNA and nucleoside analogues to completely inhibit lung metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The major advantage of the RNA-micelle is the successful co-delivery of siRNA and chemotherapeutic agent in a single delivery vehicle …

Geographic Clusters Of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Incidence In The Us, 2008–2022, Todd Burus, Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, Ashish A. Deshmukh, Haluk Damgacioglu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Objective: Despite known state and regional differences, United States (US) county-level patterns of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancer incidence remain unexplored. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed US county-level HPV-associated cancer incidence rates from 2008 to 2022 using the US Cancer Statistics Incidence Analytic Database to identify geographic clusters of high and low incidence. Clusters were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic and assessed for differences in cluster-level sociodemographic characteristics and sex-and-site-specific incidence. Results: We found 373 hot spot and 409 cold spot counties, with median incidence rates of 16.14 and 10.62 per 100,000, respectively. Hot spot counties were particularly …

Case Report: Prolonged Response To Cabozantinib And Pembrolizumab In Treatment-Refractory Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Anna M. Reagan, Hannah G. Mcdonald, Jaewon Kang, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Caroline G. Wright, Charles J. Bailey, Carleton S. Ellis, Kaylyn R. Collette, Reema A. Patel, Mayte Murillo, Samantha F. Stokley, Michael J. Cavnar, Prakash Pandalai, Mautin T. Barry-Hundeyin, Jessica Moss, Joseph Kim

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Immunotherapy has yet to demonstrate durable efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) despite the fact that pancreatic cancer cells have higher levels of immune checkpoint expression than other cancer cell types in which immunotherapy efficacy has been well established. We observed effective cytotoxicity with the combination therapy of pembrolizumab (an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, mAb) and cabozantinib (an anti-MET small molecule) in vivo. This served as the basis for an investigator-initiated phase II clinical trial (NCT05052723). The trial was open to patients with treatment-refractory metastatic PDAC with a single-arm treatment protocol of pembrolizumab and cabozantinib. Here, we report the case of …

Survival Of Patients Diagnosed With Cancer During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Todd Burus, Haluk Damgacioglu, Bin Huang, Thomas C. Tucker, Ashish A. Deshmukh, Krystle A. Lang Kuhs

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Importance  The effects of COVID-19 pandemic–related disruptions on cancer diagnosis in the US have been widely observed, but their impact on short-term survival has not been assessed.

Objective  To examine 1-year cause-specific survival (CSS) rates among patients diagnosed with cancer during 2020 and 2021 using high-quality cancer registry data.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This population-based cohort study of cancer survival between 2015 and 2021 used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 21 Registries (SEER-21) database. The population included individuals with an invasive cancer diagnosis and complete follow-up reported to registries included in SEER-21 between January 1, 2015, and December 31, …

A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Of Lapatinib And Paclitaxel In Recurrent Ovarian Cancer, Connie D. Cao, Joseph Robert Mccorkle, Donglin Yan, Hoda Saghaeiannejad Esfahani, Rani Jayswal, Dava W. Piecoro, Ning Li, Lauren Baldwin, Rachel W. Miller, Christopher P. Desimone, Charles S. Dietrich, Frederick R. Ueland, Jill M. Kolesar

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Objective: The development of ABCB1-mediated resistance limits the clinical efficacy of paclitaxel. Lapatinib is a small-molecule reversible tyrosine kinase and ABCB1 inhibitor that could prevent resistance. Our objective was to determine a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination of paclitaxel and lapatinib.

Methods: A phase 1 dose-escalation study utilizing a Bayesian optimal interval (BOIN) design in recurrent ovarian cancer patients was conducted. Patients were pretreated with pulsed lapatinib in the 48 h preceding weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m²) in 28-day cycles for up to three cycles. We evaluated three lapatinib doses, escalating from 750 to 2000 mg …

Dna-Pkcs Promotes Therapy Resistance And Metastatic Recurrence In Neuroblastoma, Mahnaz Norouzi, Subin Kim, Beibei Zhu, Chi Wang, Natalie Wu, Katherine Somers, Eddy Shih-Hsin Yang, B. Mark Evers, Eric J. Rellinger, Piotr G. Rychahou

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose: High-risk neuroblastoma presents a serious clinical challenge with survival rates below 50%. Disease relapse most commonly occurs at distant metastatic sites and remains the primary driver of poor outcomes, emphasizing the need for therapies to target drivers of relapse.

Experimental design: This study identified DNA-PKcs as a critical determinant of poor survival and metastatic relapse in neuroblastoma patients. We evaluated which therapeutic modality—chemotherapy or radiotherapy—when combined with DNA-PKcs inhibition, more effectively reduces metastatic burden and prevents recurrence.

Results: Colony-forming assays revealed that established neuroblastoma colonies resist doxorubicin alone and require high-dose doxorubicin paired with DNA-PKcs inhibition to suppress progression. …

A Unique Protein Adjuvant For Precision Immunotherapy To Prevent Recurrence Of Surgically Resected Colorectal Cancer, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Rajesh Mani, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Effectively activating protective CD8⁺ T cell immunity specifically against cancer antigens is an important pathway to prevent the growth of various types of cancers. A major obstacle in this approach is variations in cancer antigens among patients. A valuable material to overcome the antigen variation among cancer patients is the use of each individual’s own cancer cells for immunization. In colorectal cancer (CRC), approximately one-third of the patients who receive curative surgical resection have a recurrence of cancer. Therefore, the use of surgically resected CRC for immunotherapy to specifically activate the protective CD8⁺ T cells against their own …

Mental Health Needs Of Families Of Patients In Intensive Care Units And The Role Of Mobile Health: Survey Study, Anthony Faiola, Saira Soroya, Zhonglin Hao, Reinhold Munker

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: The experiences of patients with COVID-19 and their families manifested the most devastating effects of family separation since the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic and, with it, a call for solutions to patient isolation and its effect on family mental health.

Objective: This study examined the recent experiences of families of critical care (intensive care unit; ICU) patients related to anxiety and depression (AD), satisfaction with clinician-family communication, and counseling from mental health and social services. This study explored correlations between these factors and family interest in mobile health (mHealth) designed to improve information flow and communication from patient bedside …

Survival Outcomes Of First-Line Therapy In De Novo Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma With Histologic Subtypes: A National Cancer Database Analysis, Zin W. Myint, Feitong Lei, Bin Huang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: Urothelial carcinoma with histologic subtypes represent an aggressive and understudied population frequently excluded from prospective clinical trials. Evidence guiding optimal first-line systemic therapy in de novo metastatic disease with histologic subtypes remains limited.

Method: Patients with de novo stage IV urothelial carcinoma with histologic subtypes diagnosed between 2016 and 2021 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Eligible patients received first-line chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or concurrent chemoimmunotherapy (both modalities initiated within 30 days). Overall survival (OS) was compared across groups using Kaplan–Meier methods and compared using log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression. Result: Among 800 patients, 596 (74.5%) received …

Person‑Level Health Factors Partially Mediate The Association Between Lesbian, Gay, Or Bisexual (Lgb) Identity, Allostatic Load, And Cancer Mortality In Nhanes, Justin Xavier Moore, Alisha Patel, Missy Spears, Tracy Casanova, Heidi L. Weiss, Marvin E. Langston, Keith J. Watts, Donte Boyd, Prajakta Adsul, Meredith S. Duncan, Sydney Howard

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose: Individuals identifying as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (LGB) with high allostatic load have more than double the cancer mortality risk of heterosexual individuals with high allostatic load. This study explored how person-level health factors mediate the relationship between individuals identifying as LGB with high allostatic load and subsequent risk of cancer mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 12,470 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2010) linked to the National Death Index through 31 December 2019. Survey-weighted Cox regression assessed associations of individuals identifying as LGB and allostatic load with cancer mortality. Person-level health factors …

Oncology Clinicians’ Attitudes On Hormonal Therapy After Chemoradiotherapy For Cervical Cancer, Morgan S. Levy, Marilyn Huang, Charles S. Dietrich, Denise Fabian

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Value Of Sequential Next-Generation Sequencing And Multiple Molecular Tumor Board Reviews For Patients With Solid-Tumor Malignancies, Allison L. Swiecki-Sikora, Lydia Williams, Ning Li, Donglin Yan, Evan Bryon, Derek B. Allison, Rachel W. Miller, Charles S. Dietrich, Jill M. Kolesar

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose: Multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards (MTBs) have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes in various malignancies. Sequential next-generation sequencing (NGS) is widely performed at the time of recurrence, which may lead to multiple MTB reviews. This study assessed the clinical benefit of multiple MTB reviews for sequential NGS.   Methods: A retrospective cohort review was performed to compare patients reviewed once at a single-institution MTB and those reviewed multiple times for the same diagnosis with sequential NGS between January 2016 and December 2023. Demographics were compared, and regression and survival analysis was performed.   Results: In all, 3,702 patients were included, 3,446 (91.6%) were …

Case Report: Prostate Adenocarcinoma With Peritoneal Carcinomatosis And Elevated Cea Mimicking Colorectal Cancer: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Hala Majeed, Nathan R. Shelman, Jitesh A. Patel, Janeesh S. Veedu, Insija I. Selene, Ashlyn Whitesell, Zin W. Myint

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

This case report describes an exceptionally rare manifestation of prostate adenocarcinoma presenting with peritoneal carcinomatosis, rectal obstruction, and markedly elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), closely mimicking colorectal cancer. A 65-year-old man with localized high-grade prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason 4 + 4) underwent robotic prostatectomy in November 2020, followed by salvage radiation and stereotactic body radiation therapy for early biochemical recurrence. He achieved an excellent response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with abiraterone and prednisone, maintaining an undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level for over 2 years. In late 2024, the patient developed hematochezia, narrow stools, and abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a rectal …

Eef2k Promotes Immune Evasion In Melanoma Via Cyclin D1–Mediated Stabilization Of Pd-L1, Yijie Ren, Darby J. Ballard, Anil Kumar, Andy F. Song, Mitiksha Gupta, Xiaofang Xiong, Xingcong Ren, Jugal Kishore Das, Jin-Ming Yang, Jianxun Song

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a stress-responsive regulator of protein synthesis implicated in melanoma progression, but its role in tumor immune evasion remains poorly defined. We investigated how eEF2K influences programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression through modulation of Cyclin D1. We analyzed gene expression and dependency datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Cancer Dependency Map. Protein–protein interactions were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. Cyclin D1 was inhibited pharmacologically with palbociclib. Immune responses were evaluated in murine B16-OVA and human A2058 melanoma models using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry after genetic or pharmacologic modulation of eEF2K and Cyclin D1. …

Asthma Integrative Review: Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Asthma Exacerbation, Abigail Williams, Dazya Crayton, Nicole Stasiak, Sabrina Stich

Master's Projects

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness defined by airway inflammation and episodes of exacerbation. Pharmacological intervention remains the treatment of choice; however, there is growing evidence to support moderate intensity aerobic exercise as adjunct therapy to promote asthma control. The integrative review evaluates current evidence supporting the PICO question: In adults with mild to moderate asthma, what is the effect of prescribed aerobic exercise on reducing exacerbations? A systematic search of CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing, MEDLINE, and PubMed identified eligible studies. The inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed quantitative articles written in English and published within the past five years. In addition, …

Extradigital Glomus Tumor Mimicking Incisional Neuroma After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report, James W. Li, Michael J. Sayegh, Heng Hong, Zhongyu Li

Stony Brook Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Journal

This case report describes a patient who was presented with severe incisional pain following an uncomplicated total knee arthroplasty. There was suspicion for an incisional neuroma; however, excisional biopsy revealed an extradigital glomus tumor. The patient had immediate symptom resolution post-operatively. Clinicians should maintain a suspicion for the possibility of extra-digital glomus tumors at sites of prior extremity surgery, causing exquisite tenderness and pain.

Cervical Laminectomy For Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Is There A Role In The Modern Day? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Christopher S. Lozano, Armaan K. Malhotra, Husain Shakil, Vishwathsen Karthikeyan, Neevya Balasubramaniam, Uzondu Agochukwu, Ankit I. Mehta, Aditya Vedantam, C. Rory Goodwin, Nathan Evaniew, Aminul I. Ahmed, Ricardo Rodrigues-Pinto, Michael Fehlings, James S. Harrop, Shekar N. Kurpad, Jefferson R. Wilson

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study DesignSystematic Review and Meta-Analysis.ObjectivesTo compare clinical outcomes in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients treated with laminectomy alone (LA) vs laminectomy with fusion (LF) and determine post-laminectomy kyphosis incidence.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE from inception-September 2024 for studies comparing LA and LF for DCM. Outcomes assessed included post-laminectomy kyphosis, neurological recovery outcomes, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and complication rates. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models.ResultsTwenty-seven studies including 3286 patients (2272 LA and 1014 LF), met the inclusion criteria. The pooled incidence of post-laminectomy kyphosis in the LA patients was 2.02 events per 100 person-years (95% CI: …

Colorectal Cancer Screening In Carceral Settings: Barriers And Opportunities To Improve Early Detection Among Incarcerated Individuals, Daven K. Sarikonda Ba, Elijah Marquez Bs, Alexander Seidel Ba, Christine Larrea Bs, Jack S. Gurwin Bs, Maria Karla Bermúdez Piñero Ba, Suraj Suresh M.D., Laura Benjamins Md, Mph, Faap, Aahivs

Population, Patient, Physician and Professionalism Projects

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with screening shown to significantly reduce mortality. However, incarcerated individuals experience substantially lower CRC screening rates and often present with more advanced disease than non-incarcerated individuals. Our project’s objective was to review the state of CRC screening in U.S. carceral settings, along with exploring possible alternatives to address the substantial disparity in CRC screening rates experienced by the incarcerated population.

A Case Of Median Raphe Cysts In 8-Year-Old Male, Christina Guo, Marshall Hall, Garrett Furth, Henry Lim, Olivia Gruver, Dustin Wilkes, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: The median raphe cyst is a rare, benign, congenital condition characterized by small, fluid-filled cysts that develop along the ventral midline of male external genitalia. These cysts are usually asymptomatic during infancy and childhood but tend to grow in size as the patient grows. These can become cosmetically concerning or symptomatic due to swelling, irritation, and discomfort. They may also present social and psychological stress to patients and families. We present a case of median raphe cysts in an 8-year-old male.

Case Presentation: An 8-year-old male without a prior medical history who presented to dermatology for penile lesions. He …

Evaluating The Alt-70 Model For Cellulitis Management In The Emergency Department, Marshall Hall, Paige Loux, Henry Lim, Jeffrey Durbin, Garrett Furth, Olivia Gruver, Christina Guo, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Cellulitis is a common skin infection that classically presents with unilateral lower extremity erythema, swelling, and pain. The diagnosis is made clinically. Many conditions may mimic cellulitis that are collectively referred to as “pseudocellulitis.” These include stasis dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and gout. The Alt-70 model is a validated clinical prediction tool for differentiating cellulitis from pseudocellulitis. It is unclear if it is utilized or if it has changed clinical practice in the emergency department setting.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study utilizing the HCA Healthcare Data Warehouse. The Alt-70 model was applied using …