Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

The Acute Care Mobility Assessment Is A Promising Tool For Evaluating Day-To-Day Mobility In Clinical Settings: Linguistic And Convergent-Validity In Danish Geriatric Patients, Britt Stævnsbo Pedersen, Lea Kromann Johansen, Thomas Kallemose, Thomas Bandholm, Cynthia J. Brown, Mette Merete Pedersen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Low in-hospital mobility is highly prevalent and can cause hospital-associated-disability. In both research and clinical care, valid and reliable outcome measures of in-hospital mobility are necessary. The Acute Care Mobility Assessment (ACMA) provides a single measure of hospital out-of-bed mobility and may be a promising tool. The purpose of this study was to perform a cross-cultural validation to facilitate international uptake. Methods: We performed a linguistic validation (translation, cognitive interviewing, cultural adaptation) of the ACMA in Denmark and investigated the convergent-validity of the Danish version (ACMA-DK) in older hospitalized (+65) Danish adults by evaluating the correlation between the ACMA-DK …

Incidence, Risk Factors And Clinical Outcomes Of Pericardial Effusion In Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients, Muhammad Zubair Khan, Yevgeniy Brailovsky, Mohammad Alfrad Nobel Bhuiyan, Gregary D. Marhefka, Abu S. M. Faisal, Adrija Sircar, Parker O'Neill, J. Eduardo Rame, Sona Franklin, Muhammad Waqas, Hadia Shah, Indranee Rajapreyar, René J. Alvarez

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Development of pericardial effusion in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can be detrimental to health outcomes. This study aims to elucidate the prevalence and risk factors for pericardial effusion in patients with LVADs.

AIM: To elucidate risk factors associated with the presence of pericardial effusion in patients with LVADs and compare the clinical outcomes of those with and without pericardial effusion. The secondary goal is to determine the incidence of pericardiocentesis and pericardial window placement in patients with LVADs experiencing pericardial effusion.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample database between 2016 and 2018. Statistical …

Plane Xanthoma, Connor A. Sheehan, Theresa N. Tran, Jason B. Lee, Jeffrey Y. Liu, Sylvia Hsu

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Utility Of Cenegermin For The Management Of Neurotrophic Keratopathy After Penetrating Keratoplasty, Alexandra R. Zaloga, Ashley Khalili, Brandon D. Ayres, Brenton D. Finklea, Beeran B. Meghpara, Christopher J. Rapuano, Zeba A. Syed

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to report the outcomes of patients treated with cenegermin 0.002% for neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) following penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective case series included patients evaluated at a tertiary care hospital who completed an 8-week course of cenegermin for NK within 12 months following PK. The primary outcome measure was NK stage, while secondary outcomes included complete epithelial healing, epithelial defect size, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline and four time points during and following treatment. We also evaluated disease progression.

RESULTS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients were included and demonstrated significant improvement …

Do Female Patients Experience Worse Outcomes Than Male Patients After Inguinal Hernia Repair? An Analysis Of The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative Database, Amrita Iyer, Sunjay Kumar, Martina Rama, Sourav Podder, Li-Ching Huang, Sami Tannouri, Talar Tatarian, Francesco Palazzo

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common general surgery operations. Some evidence suggests that female patients are at greater risk of chronic postoperative pain and hernia recurrence. We investigated rates of chronic inguinal pain and recurrence after inguinal hernia repair in both male and female patients using the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database.

METHODS: The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative database was queried for patients undergoing elective, unilateral inguinal hernia repair who completed 30-day clinical follow-up and baseline and 1-year European Registry for Abdominal Wall Hernias Survey surveys. Both open and minimally invasive cases were included. …

Next-Generation Biomaterials For Load-Bearing Tissue Interfaces: Sensor-Integrated Scaffolds And Mechanoadaptive Constructs For Skeletal Regeneration, Rahul Kumar, Kyle Sporn, Pranay Prabhakar, Phani Paladugu, Akshay Khanna, Alex Ngo, Chirag Gowda, Ethan Waisberg, Ram Jagadeesan, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Advancements in load-bearing tissue repair increasingly demand biomaterials that not only support structural integrity but also interact dynamically with the physiological environment. This review examines the latest progress in smart biomaterials designed for skeletal reconstruction, with emphasis on mechanoresponsive scaffolds, bioactive composites, and integrated microsensors for real-time monitoring. We explore material formulations that enhance osseointegration, resist micromotion-induced loosening, and modulate inflammatory responses at the bone-implant interface. Additionally, we assess novel fabrication methods-such as additive manufacturing and gradient-based material deposition-for tailoring stiffness, porosity, and degradation profiles to match host biomechanics. Special attention is given to sensor-augmented platforms capable of detecting mechanical …

Microscopic Nucleic Acid-To-Protein Ratio: A Label-Free Approach For Pancreatic Cancer Detection, Sky Gao, Keerthi Priya Jangili, Alfred Akinlalu, Emmanuel Ogberefor, Tommy Gao, Kalpana Devaraj, Dali Sun

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

Accurate and timely diagnosis remains a major clinical challenge, hindered by the limitations of conventional histopathological methods, which often rely on labor-intensive staining protocols and subjective interpretation by specialized pathologists. These methods can fail to capture the full molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity of tumors, leading to increased diagnostic time, cost, and variability. To overcome these challenges, we developed a novel label-free ultraviolet (UV) microscopic imaging technique that exploits the intrinsic optical absorption properties of cellular nucleic acids and proteins. By modifying standard brightfield microscopes, our approach quantitatively measures the nucleic acid-to-protein ratio (NPr), enabling high-resolution visualization and discrimination between malignant …

Detecting Early Changes In Cartilage Collagen And Proteoglycans Distribution Gradients In Mice Harboring The R992c Collagen Ii Mutant Using 2d Correlation Infrared Spectroscopy, Jolanta Fertala, Andrzej Steplewski, Andrzej Fertala

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Collagen II is a vital structural component in developing bones and mature cartilage. Muta- tions in this protein cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a disease characterized primarily by altered skeletal growth and manifesting with a range of phenotypes, from lethal to mild. This study examined transgenic mice harboring the R992C (p.R1124C) substitution in colla- gen II. Previous research demonstrated significant growth abnormalities and disorganized growth plate structure in these mice, and histological signs of osteoarthritic changes in the knee joints of 9-month-old mice with the R992C mutation. Our study focuses on detecting early structural changes in the articular cartilage that occur before …

Topical Lifitegrast Therapy For Dry Eye Disease, Lama Assi, Salim C. Lutfallah, Tsz Wing Yim, Su Hsun Liu, Sharon J. Duffy, Jayne Weiss

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. To assess the effectiveness and safety of topical lifitegrast therapy alone or in combination with artificial tears, compared with a placebo, artificial tears alone, or no treatment for dry eye disease.

Urgent Implementation Of Point-Of-Care Testing For Group A Streptococcal Infection In A Uk Children’S Emergency Department, Ruth Shorrocks, Philip J. Turner, Thomas Fanshawe, Umasha Ukwatte, Jim Gray, James Taylor, Liliana Graveto, Gail Hayward, Chris Bird

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: In late 2022, Western Europe and the United States experienced increased incidences of scarlet fever and life-threatening invasive group A strepto- coccal (iGAS) infections, especially among children. The outbreak was widely reported in the media in the United Kingdom, leading to increased emergency department (ED) attendances and threatened supplies of antibiotics. Our ED rapidly introduced point-of-care testing for GAS pharyngitis with the aim of rationalizing antibiotic prescribing.

Methods: We rapidly implemented the use of a molecular-based (polymerase chain reaction) point-of-care test for all children scoring 3 or higher on the McIsaac clinical prediction rule for GAS pharyngitis in children …

Early Recurrent Midgut Volvulus Post Ladd's Procedure In A Newborn: A Case Report, Nicole Clarke, Joanna Sajdlowska, John Paul Bustamante, Nishith Bhattacharyya

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Ladd's procedure is the standard surgical intervention for intestinal malrotation. Although generally curative, rare cases of early postoperative complications, including adhesions or recurrent volvulus, can necessitate reoperation. We present the case of a full-term newborn girl who underwent emergent Ladd's procedure on Day 3 of life for malrotation with volvulus. She was discharged on postoperative Day 17 but returned the following day with recurrent bilious emesis. Imaging suggested partial obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy revealed recurrent volvulus with two twists at the duodenojejunal junction, which was successfully reduced. The patient recovered well and was discharged on postoperative Day 8. This case underscores …

Economic Value Of Intra-Articular Knee Oa Therapies: A U.S. Perspective, Vinod Dasa, Wilson Ngai, Kevin Steele, Ronald Preblick, Heather Watson, Kevin L. Ong

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

AIMS: This study compared the six-month medical/pharmacy costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) for knee OA patients undergoing intra-articular therapy with different classes of hyaluronic acid (HA) (by molecular weight) or corticosteroid (ICS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients across high molecular weight (HMW) HA, medium molecular weight (MMW) HA, low molecular weight (LMW) HA, and ICS therapy groups were matched from a U.S. claims database (Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database), with a final size of 6,234 patients per group. Adjusted six-month medical/prescription costs per patient per month (PPPM), and HCRU rates and costs, were determined. Secondary endpoints included complication rates …

The "Dual-Port" Approach To The Posterior Incisura: A Quantitative Cadaver Study Of A Combined Endoscopic Paramedian Supracerebellar Infratentorial And Occipital Interhemispheric Transtentorial Approach, Wesley Shoap, Ezequiel Goldschmidt, Roberto Rodriguez Rubio

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The posterior incisura is a deep and surgically challenging area with complex neurovasculature. Endoscopic paramedian supracerebellar infratentorial approaches (EPSCITAs) have improved access and visualization of this region. However, endoscope and instrument conflict within this deep and narrow corridor remains a key limitation. This study evaluates the feasibility of a combined EPSCITA and endoscopic occipital interhemispheric transtentorial approach (EOIHTTA) with the aim of improving surgical freedom and visualization in this region. METHODS: Five embalmed and latex-injected cadaveric donors were dissected bilaterally (10 sides total). Measurements were taken at the EPSCITA port and then were repeated after addition of the EOIHTTA …

Cardiovascular Health In Cardiac Rehabilitation: Applying The American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 Framework In A Center-Based Cohort, Audry Chacin-Suarez, Tomoaki Hama, Matthew P. Johnson, Helayna Abraham, Thomas P. Olson, Laprincess C. Brewer

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive secondary cardiovascular disease program with structured lifestyle interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. The American Heart Association cardiovascular health (CVH) framework measures health-promoting behaviors and clinical factors, but it has not been rigorously evaluated in the CR setting.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients attending CR from January 2018 to September 2020. Patients were evaluated at baseline (pre-CR) and completion (post-CR) using 3 clinical factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c) and 4 health behaviors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and diet). CVH score was computed as a composite of each …

Slow-Growing Lung Mass In A Patient With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I: Consider Carcinoid Tumor, Ramin Talebi, Charalambos C. Solomides, Nathaniel R. Evans Iii, Gregory C. Kane

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

A 23-year-old man with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) with pancreatic tail masses and Cushing syndrome (status after transsphenoidal adenomectomy) presented with a slow-growing, asymptomatic right lower lung lobe mass confirmed to be an atypical carcinoid tumor by pathologic staging following successful basilar segmentectomy with mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Pulmonary carcinoid tumor (PCT) is a rare neoplasm in patients with MEN 1, but there is limited data on trends in atypical versus typical carcinoid tumors in these patients. This case emphasizes the need to characterize these trends given the implications for metastatic potential and 5-year survival, which can help guide …

Brivaracetam For Spinal Cord Injury-Related Neuropathic Pain: Results Of A Pilot Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, Leslie R. Morse, Ricardo A. Battaglino, Nguyen Nguyen, Brian Devries, Abigail Welch, Ana Lucia Battaglino, Clas Linnman, Michael Stillman, Robert Wudlick, Joda Glossner, Grant Anderton, Richard Goldstein, Scott P. Falci

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Assess feasibility, safety, and tolerability of 3 months of oral brivaracetam for severe (9-10/10) spinal cord injury-related neuropathic pain.

METHODS: We conducted a multisite pilot study where adults were randomized to 3 months of brivaracetam (100 mg BID) or placebo. Pain was assessed via the Brief Pain Inventory, the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Dataset (version 2.0), and a daily pain diary.

RESULTS: We enrolled 24 participants across 2 sites and 14 participants were included in the final analysis (n = 8 placebo, n = 6 brivaracetam). The drug was tolerated with expected, nonserious side effects (nausea if …

Evaluation Of The Wound Healing And Anti-Microbial Activity Of Hydroethanolic Extracts Of Young And Old Leaves Of Vernonia Amygdalina Delile, Du-Bois Asante, Christian Kweku Adokoh, Elvis Ofori Ameyaw, Desmond Omane Acheampong, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Precious Barnes, Gideon Agyeah, Ruben Phillips, Julie Sartori

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Vernonia amygdalina Delile (VA) has been reported as an important herb for the management of wound in traditional medical settings. However, the evaluation of the wound healing and antimicrobial effect of the young and old leaves of VA is lacking. Objective This study sought to determine the cutaneous wound healing and in vitro anti-microbial activities of the young and old leaf extracts of VA. Methods Mineral elements that aid in wound healing and vitamin C levels were evaluated in the young and old leaves of VA. Phytochemical analysis of the hydroethanolic leaf extracts of the young leaves (HEthYL) and …

Advancing Novel Contrast Agents For Applications In Fluorescence-Guided Neurosurgery Using Fluorescence Cryotomography, Augustino Vittorio Scorzo

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is an emerging surgical technique that aims to help surgeons identify tissue types to assist in surgical decision making - ideally providing “cut-by-color” guidance. A primary application for this approach is the identification of tumor tissue to achieve more accurate and complete tumor removal while simultaneously minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. The cornerstone of tumor visualization for FGS is the administration of fluorescent contrast agents, or in some cases metabolic precursors, designed to accumulate specifically in tumor tissue, and a wide range of agents that use different targeting mechanisms are currently under investigation. Although these …

The Dubr/Mir-210-5p/Retsat Axis In Cholesterol-Associated Steatohepatitis: Clinical Signatures And Molecular Mechanisms, Hana Mahmoud Abdelzaher

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) represents an increasing global health challenge, with cholesterol-associated steatohepatitis (CASH) emerging as a distinct pathological entity warranting investigation. While CASH demonstrates unique features compared to traditional triglyceride-driven steatohepatitis, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates a novel regulatory axis involving DPPA2 Upstream Binding RNA (DUBR), miR-210-5p, and retinol saturase (RETSAT). 170 patient samples revealed progressive axis dysregulation in disease states, with RETSAT emerging as a highly accurate diagnostic marker (AUC=1.000). Using novel in vitro models of MASH and CASH, we demonstrated that miR-210-5p modulation significantly affects lipid accumulation and cellular phenotype, with …

24-Month Patient-Reported Outcomes For A Novel Lumbar Total Joint Replacement, Ahilan Sivaganesan, Marissa Koscielski, Ashmal Sami, J. Alex Sielatycki, Jeffrey Goldstein, Brady Riesgraf, Craig Humphreys, Scott Hodges

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lumbar fusion remains a prevalent treatment for degenerative conditions; however, its limitations have sparked interest in alternative motion-sparing procedures. Our study evaluates 24-month postoperative patient-reported outcomes from an OUS pilot clinical study on a novel lumbar total joint replacement (TJR) for degenerative conditions.

METHODS: Data was collected from 63 patients, of which 56 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Self-reported measures collected for this study are Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Minimal Symptom State (MSS), Minimal Clinical Important Difference (MCID), Substantial Clinical Benefit (SCB). This retrospective analysis of prospective, IRB-approved collected data reports 24 month patient-reported outcomes …