Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Synthesis And Study Of Stable Organic Radicals For Mri Contrast Agents And New Materials, Sabina Dhakal

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The first part of this dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a thermally robust S =1/2 phototetrazolinyl monoradical and the development of synthetic methodologies for a high-spin (S = 1) phototetrazolinyl diradical. Electrochemical studies of the phototetrazolium cation (precursor to the monoradical) revealed a remarkably narrow electrochemical band gap (Ecell ≈ 0.82 V), suggesting promising electrical conductivity. Thermal analysis of the monoradical demonstrated excellent stability, with the onset of decomposition at 232 °C. Building on the excellent thermal stability and promising properties for electrical conductivity of the monoradical, we developed two condensation-based synthetic routes that provide viable …

Overview Of Huntington's Disease And Emerging Treatment Strategies: A Narrative Review, Alexis J. Vega, Gabriel V. Hernandez, Pearse A. O'Malley, Connor J. Robin, Amanda N. Parra, Giustino Varrassi, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan D. Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The symptoms of HD include severe motor dysfunction, cognitive issues, and emotional dysregulation. These combined issues are not only debilitating but also lead to depression/anxiety, increased suicide rates, and caregiver burnout. Our narrative review summarizes several recent studies examining the efficacy and differences among emerging treatment strategies for HD. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, focusing on recent studies that describe molecular genetic manipulation of the HTT gene/huntingtin protein. The results of our narrative review reveal …

Dual-Level Pattern Tree For Visual Field Improves Glaucoma Progression And Polygenic Risk Prediction, Luo Song, Lucy Q. Shen, Louis R. Pasquale, Michael V. Boland, Sarah R. Wellik, Carlos Gustavo De Moraes, Ayellet Segre, Janey L. Wiggs, Constance Turman, Jonathan S. Myers, Tobias Elze, Nazlee Zebardast, David S. Friedman, Jae H. Kang, Mengyu Wang

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To develop a dual-level pattern tree to characterize visual field (VF) loss subtypes that can be used to better predict glaucoma progression and glaucoma polygenic risk scores (PRSs).

METHODS: This study included 113,030 patients from three datasets, each used for a specific purpose: (1) model training, (2) progression forecasting, and (3) PRS correlations. We applied archetypal analysis to cluster 24-2 VFs into trunk patterns and their branch patterns. The Cox regression model was used to forecast VF progression using mean deviation (MD) slope, MD-fast slope, total deviation (TD) pointwise slope, and visual field index (VFI) slope. Multivariable regression analyses …

A Feasibility Study Of Sexual Organ-Dose Sparing Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy In Female Low Rectal Cancer Patients Treated With Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy, Margaret Downes, Victoria Olsen, Andre Williams, Rendi Sheu, Maria Thor, Lucy Greenwald, Vishruta Dumane, Kristin Hsieh, Ayesha Ali, Orly Morgan, Michael Buckstein, Deborah Marshall

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is a significant toxicity of pelvic radiation therapy (RT) for female rectal cancer patients and may be more common with intensity-modulated techniques compared to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). However, limited research has evaluated dose sparing of female sexual organs at risk (OARs), particularly erectile tissues that are critical for sexual function.

PURPOSE: This feasibility study aimed to demonstrate the practicality of contouring and sparing female sexual OARs in rectal cancer RT by generating sexual organ-sparing volumetric modulated arc therapy (SO-VMAT) plans from a small 3D-CRT cohort and comparing dose distributions to guide future planning.

METHODS: Nine …

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (Osce) For Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Utilizing Ultrasound Guidance And Landmark Technique, Madison Mize, Mckayla Moore, Peyton Shell

Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this doctoral project was to create learning and evaluation tools for interscalene brachial plexus blocks (ISBPB) to be used by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). ISBPB is a regional anesthesia technique used to provide anesthesia for procedures of the shoulder and upper arm. CRNAs and students can use these tools to refresh their current knowledge and enhance their regional anesthesia skills.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and cognitive aid for ISBPB utilizing landmark and ultrasound-guided techniques were evaluated by the USM …

Dual-Task Interaction Between Vestibular Function And Cognitive Processing Using The P300 Event-Related Potential, Laurel Elise Money-Nolan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Previous research has established links between vestibular function and cognitive processing, aging and cognitive function, and aging and vestibular function. Theories of cognitive resource allocation discuss how cognitive resources, such as attention, are devoted towards and divided between tasks when multitasking. This dual-task study, utilizing a balance task and a listening/cognitive task, across the young- and middle-aged adult age range, aimed to evaluate potential relationships between vestibular function, cognition, and age, and to examine how cognitive resources might be allocated under dual-task conditions.

The dual-task protocol in this study utilized an oddball paradigm with tonal stimuli to measure the P300 …

Ceftriaxone Use Evaluation At The Medical Ward, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital In Bhutan: A Retrospective Analytical Study, Kezang Tshering, Mongal Singh Gurung, Sonam Wangda, Pelden Chejor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives Ceftriaxone is the most commonly prescribed cephalosporin antibiotic in hospital settings. The overall prescribing compliance with the national antibiotic guidelines remained unassessed at Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), Bhutan. Methods A retrospective analytical study was conducted by evaluating the medical records of patients who received ceftriaxone between January and December 2020 in the Medical Ward, JDWNRH. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26. Results A total of 201 (17.82%) patients, with a mean age of 54.83 years (SD ± 20.93), received ceftriaxone, and pneumonia (49.25%) was the most frequently documented indication. …

Muscle Imaging Assessments In Sarcopenia: A Statement From China National Center For Orthopedics (Nco) And The East Meets West Action Group Of The European Calcified Tissue Society (Ects), Ling Wang, Shuai Lu, Jiahua Feng, Kairui Ma, Fangfang Duan, Renxian Wang, Xiaoguang Cheng, Yajun Liu, Yuuki Imai, Hailing Chen, Claus C. Glüer, Giuseppe Guglielmi, Annegreet G. Vlug, Jianmin Liu, Klaus Engelke, Mei Li, Marc Sim, Salvatore Minisola, Xieyuan Jiang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, significantly impacts patient outcomes. Accurate assessment of muscle mass is essential for its diagnosis. Currently the agreement on how to use imaging for sarcopenia detection is still debated and how well the muscle imaging assessments correlate with muscle function needs further agreement. Recognizing the critical role of imaging in this process, the China National Center for Orthopedics (NCO) and the East Meets West Action Group of European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) convened a working group endorsed by the Board of the ECTS. This paper aims to evaluate the utility …

Safety Of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis In Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: A Systematic Review, Leonardo J. Uribe-Cavero, Fabian A. Chavez-Ecos, Kiara Camacho-Caballero, José Carlos Grados-Pintos, Patricia Vera-Maccha, Anthony Siguas-Huasasquiche, Dinesh Sharma, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is widely used to assess body composition. However, its safety in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) remains uncertain owing to potential electromagnetic interference (EMI). Objective This study aimed to evaluate potential complications associated with clinical-grade BIA use in patients with CIEDs, based on currently available evidence. Methods We conducted a systematic review of studies published up to December 26, 2024, identified through PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events, including EMI, device malfunction, or arrhythmias. Results Of 3668 records, 6 cohort studies (n = …

Avaren-Fc's Effects On Lymphoma Cells., Jacob Hahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the therapeutic potential of Avaren-Fc (AvFc), a novel lectin fusion protein that integrates the Fc region of human IgG1 with the engineered lectin Avaren, specifically targeting lymphoma. The study delineates the in vitro binding capabilities of Avaren-Fc with a human B-cell lymphoma cell line, a canine B-cell lymphoma cell line, healthy canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and healthy human PBMCs. AvFc was shown to exhibit significant binding to human lymphoma cells. Furthermore, the direct cytotoxicity of Avaren-Fc against canine lymphoma cells, canine lymphoma cells and healthy canine PBMCs was assessed. It was found that there is …

Safety Evaluation Of Epicertin, An Oral Biotherapeutic Candidate For Treating Ulcerative Colitis: A 28-Day Repeated Dose Toxicity Study., Jimmy Fernando Cifuentes Jimenez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic, relapsing inflammation of the colon and rectum with limited treatment options. Among them, immunosuppressive agents have a high rate of adverse side effects and do not cure the disease. EPICERTIN (EPT), a recombinant variant of the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) with a C-terminal hexapeptide extension consisting of a KDEL endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention motif, is a promising oral biotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of UC. EPT has demonstrated mucosal healing activity in mouse models of colitis and human colonic explants. EPT's mechanism of action involves binding to GM1 …

Ensuring Safety And Optimization In Total Joint Arthroplasty Of Cancer Patients: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Complication Risks And Modifiable Risk Factors, Tara Korbal, Robert Branstetter Iv, Matthew Cable, Deryk Jones, Lizheng Shi, Lauren Hall, Andrew Chapple

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to determine whether an active cancer diagnosis results in an increased risk of perioperative TJA complications and postoperative mortality. The secondary objective is to analyze the effects of demographic factors on perioperative complication rates in cancer patients undergoing TJA. MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients with active cancer diagnoses undergoing total joint arthroplasty from 2014 to 2020 were included in this retrospective analysis. Patient data was obtained through ReachNet, which consisted of data from the University Medical Center, Tulane University Medical Center, Ochsner Health System, and Baylor Scott & White Health. ICD-9/10 …

Benchmarking Dna Foundation Models For Genomic And Genetic Tasks, Haonan Feng, Lang Wu, Bingxin Zhao, Chad Huff, Jianjun Zhang, Jia Wu, Lifeng Lin, Peng Wei, Chong Wu

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The rapid evolution of DNA foundation models promises to revolutionize genomics, yet comprehensive evaluations are lacking. Here, we present a comprehensive, unbiased benchmark of five models (DNABERT-2, Nucleotide Transformer V2, HyenaDNA, Caduceus-Ph, and GROVER) across diverse genomic and genetic tasks including sequence classification, gene expression prediction, variant effect quantification, and topologically associating domain (TAD) region recognition, using zero-shot embeddings. Our analysis reveals that mean token embedding consistently and significantly improves sequence classification performance, outperforming other pooling strategies. Model performance varies among tasks and datasets; while general purpose DNA foundation models showed competitive performance in pathogenic variant identification, they were less …

The Impact Of Extramedullary And Paraskeletal Plasmacytomas On Treatment Outcomes In Multiple Myeloma Treated With Teclistamab: U.S. Myeloma Immunotherapy Consortium Real-World Experience, Aimaz Afrough, Danai Dima, Beatrice Razzo, Utkarsh Goel, Aishwarya Sannareddy, Oren Pasvolsky, Mariola Vazquez-Martinez, Christopher Ferreri, Rahul Banerjee, Jack Khouri, James Davis, Mahmoud Gaballa, Alex Lieberman-Cribbin, Masooma Rana, Kelley Julian, Faiz Anwer, Leyla Shune, Shaun Dejarnette, Ariel Grajales-Cruz, Evguenia Ouchveridze, Gabriel De Avila, Sandra Susanibar-Adaniya, Andrew Portuguese, Daniel Schrum, Erin Eberwein, Hitomi Hosoya, Lekha Mikkilineni, Gurbakhash Kaur, Joseph Mcguirk, Adriana Rossi, Megan Herr, Omar Castaneda, Frederick Locke, Shahzad Raza, Yi Lin, Shebli Atrash, Douglas Sborov, Peter Voorhees, Shambavi Richard, Alfred Garfall, Surbhi Sidana, Krina Patel, Doris Hansen, Andrew Cowan, Larry Anderson, Hans Lee

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Teclistamab, a bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), is effective in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), but its impact on patients with soft tissue plasmacytomas is unclear. We studied 385 RRMM patients treated with teclistamab at 13 U.S. centers through September 2023, with follow-up to April 2024. Soft tissue plasmacytomas were classified as true extramedullary disease (EMD; not contiguous with bone) or paraskeletal plasmacytomas (PSK; contiguous with bone). Patients with the simultaneous presence of both were classified as true-EMD, reflecting its adverse prognosis. Of those, 109 (28%) had true EMD, 33 (9%) had PSK, and 243 (63%) had …

Geographic And Socioeconomic Predictors Of Early Follow-Up Loss In Patients Undergoing Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors (Pitnets) Resection: A Retrospective Review Of 1143 Cases, Daniel Quintana, Rithvik Ramesh, Robert C. Osorio, Wesley Shoap, Paul Mcmillan Villalobos, Philip V. Theodosopoulos, Sandeep Kunwar, Jose Gurrola, Ivan H. El Sayed, Manish K. Aghi, Ezequiel Goldschmidt

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative follow-up after PitNET resection is essential for monitoring tumor recurrence and endocrinological deficits. Despite advances in telehealth, loss to follow-up remains a persistent challenge across neurosurgical patients. This study aims to identify factors to identify patients are at higher risk of being lost to follow-up after surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,143 adult patients who underwent PitNET resection between 2012 and 2019 at a single institution. Clinical and radiological data were analyzed to assess loss to follow-up in the cohort. Multivariable logistic and negative binomial regression models were used to identify factors independently associated with …

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio As A Marker Of Skin Disease Activity In Older Children With Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Shreya Swaminathan, Nidhi Naik, Susan Shenoi, Sarah Vandenbergen, Jessica L. Turnier, Zilan Zheng, Jessica Neely, James S. Andrews, Christian Lood

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Neutrophils contribute to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. While the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with disease activity in adult dermatomyositis, its clinical utility in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is unknown.

METHODS: Demographic, medication use, autoantibody profile, disease activity markers, and laboratory data from 97 JDM patients was collected using retrospective chart review. Patients were age-stratified (0–9 vs. 9–21 years of age), as white blood cell count stabilizes at 9 years. The relationships between NLR with JDM disease activity measures were analyzed using spearman’s correlation.

RESULTS: Patients were primarily white (56.7%) and female (71.1%). Older children had …

Factfinders For Patient Safety: Minimizing Complications In Radiofrequency Neurotomy: Part I-Implantable Devices; Part Ii-Preprocedural Bvnrfn Imaging, David Hao, Gerald Yeung, Haewon Lee, Zheyan Chen, Ben Laplante, Paul Kitei, Reza Ehsanian, David Levi

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

This series of FactFinders presents a brief summary of the evidence and outlines recommendations regarding minimizing risks with radiofrequency neurotomy procedures. The evidence in support of the following facts is presented: (1) While data on the safety of radiofrequency neurotomy in patients with implanted devices are limited, the procedure can likely be performed safely with careful adherence to best practices and manufacturer recommendations. (2) Basivertebral nerve radiofrequency neurotomy can be performed safely and effectively at the L3 through S1 vertebral levels. Scrutiny of preprocedural imaging may minimize risk. Although the transpedicular approach is preferred, patient anatomy may dictate a non-transpedicular …

Development Of A Non-Faradaic Impedimetric Biosensor Based On Reduced Graphene Oxide For The Detection Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf), Mariana N. Martins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurological disorders affect millions of people worldwide. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the rising number of cases significantly increases global healthcare costs. Therefore, early detection of biomarkers at the onset of the disease is essential for early diagnosis. This study presents an electrochemical biosensor designed for the detection of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in human plasma, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to enhance signal sensitivity. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) was employed to deposit rGO flakes on the electrode surface, improving conductivity and sensor performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor changes in impedance associated with BDNF binding events, …

Liver-Directed Base Editing Of Abcc6 Prevents Ectopic Calcification In A Variant-Humanized Mouse Model Of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum, Lauren C. Testa, Dora Obiri-Yeboah, Hooda Said, Ping Qu, Michael A. Levine, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Kiran Musunuru, Qiaoli Li, Xiao Wang

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder characterized by ectopic calcification of elastic fibers throughout the skin, retina, and arteries. It is caused by pathogenic variants in ABCC6 , which encodes a transmembrane transporter that primarily localizes to hepatocytes. Loss of ABCC6 function in hepatocytes leads to systemic deficiency of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent inhibitor of calcification; such depletion of PPi from the circulation is responsible for multisystemic ectopic calcification seen in PXE. Therefore, liver-targeted variant correction by genome editing and subsequent restoration of systemic PPi may offer a one-and-done therapeutic approach for PXE. The ABCC6 …

The Associations Between Meniscus Tear Location And The Prevalence And Severity Of Cartilage Wear In Different Knee Compartments Using An Arthroscopic Grading System, Tara Korbal, Claudia Leonardi, Amy Bronstone, Vinod Dasa

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Meniscus tears are associated with progressive cartilage degeneration and worsening osteoarthritis. Although several previous studies have explored the relationship between meniscus tears and cartilage damage, few have examined the relationship between tear location and cartilage wear in all knee compartments using an arthroscopic grading system. Objectives: Evaluate the association between meniscus tear location and the prevalence and severity of high-grade cartilage wear in knee compartments. Methods: A total of 210 patients were categorized into groups based on meniscus tear location: medial meniscus tear (MMT, n = 106), lateral meniscus tear (LMT, n = 41), and medial-lateral meniscus tear (MLMT, …