Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons^™

Identifying The Relationship Between Post-Concussion Mental Health And Athletic Status: Is It The Same For All Demographics?, Mary Lorraine Zsolway, Jamie Shoop

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether athletic status was linked to fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression post-concussion, as well as to explore whether the impact of athletic status on mental health varied by demographics (i.e. age, sex, race, insurance status). The results of this study may assist in identifying at-risk individuals early to help prioritize those who may benefit from early referral to mental health resources.

Introduction: Mental health concerns post-concussion are relatively common, with roughly 1 in 3 individuals experiencing these symptoms. It has been previously shown that youth who participate in …

Community Healthcare Workers (Chw) High-Risk Stabilization Study: Does The Ability Of Chws At Mobile Covid Clinics To Link Patients With Uncontrolled Diabetes To A Physician Improve Short Term Outcomes?, Mo Hadaya, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Jaimy D. Jabon, Kenneth W. Stagliano, Richard T. Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Uncontrolled diabetes may cause preventable but significant effects. One major preventative measure is early screening; there are hopes that community healthcare workers can increase awareness and screening availability, especially in underserved populations. We hosted and recorded logs of patients at mobile COVID health clinics, educating those with uncontrolled diabetes and connecting them to healthcare. We then looked to see if any patients had improvements in blood glucose to non-diabetic levels. 378 patients were logged, but only 138 were in events that had a significant amount of repeat visits. Twenty-five of them had blood sugar indicative of uncontrolled diabetes. Out of …

The Effects Of Sleep Quality, Covariates And A Possible Intervention, Pranav S. Reddy, Mia Tarditi, Adarsh Gupta, Richard Jermyn, Venkat Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sleep is an essential biological process needed to maintain adequate physiologic function. Research has provided growing evidence that chronic failure to get enough sleep is associated with increased risk for obesity, depression, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Sleep deprivation is threatening the health of up to 45% of the world's population. Furthermore, sleep disorders were found to be associated with significantly higher rates of health care utilization and cost, accounting for $94.9 billion in costs each year in the United States. Earlier data from this project demonstrated a correlation between sleep quality and pain. METHODS: Patients were recruited …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Comparing The Efficacy Of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy To Pulsed Radio Frequency In Reducing Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain In Post-Stroke Patients, Christian Gamboa, Jonathan Elias

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with 162,553 deaths per year in 2023 alone. Despite technological advances, pain management post-stroke remains limited. To date, hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) has an 80-84% prevalence in the United States in post-stroke patients. Non-invasive treatments such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and pulsed radio frequency (PRF) are commonly used modalities to manage HSP. Given this information, it is important to assess the efficacy of different interventions in order to efficiently manage pain in this patient population. To date there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses comparing the …

Blood Brain Barrier Disruption And Glutamatergic Excitotoxicity In Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars Cov-2 Infection Cognitive Impairment: Potential Biomarkers And A Window Into Pathogenesis, Joga Chaganti, Govinda Poudel, Lucette Adeline Cysique, Gregory J Dore, Anthony Kelleher, Gael Matthews, David Darley, Anthony Byrne, David Jakabek, Xin Zhang, Marrissa Lewis, Nikhil Jha, Bruce James Brew

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Objective: To investigate the association between blood–brain barrier permeability, brain metabolites, microstructural integrity of the white matter, and cognitive impairment (CI) in post-acute sequelae of SARS-COV-2 infection (PASC).

Methods: In this multimodal longitudinal MRI study 14 PASC participants with CI and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. All completed investigations at 3 months following acute infection (3 months ± 2 weeks SD), and 10 PASC participants completed at 12 months ± 2.22 SD weeks. The assessments included a standard neurological assessment, a cognitive screen using the brief CogState battery and multi-modal MRI derived metrics from Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) perfusion Imaging, …

Ketamine For Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review, Jaylyn Thompson, David F. Lo, Alexis Foschini, Suvan Sundaresh, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The purpose of this review is to explore perinatal ketamine’s potential for reducing postpartum depression after cesarean section. Articles reviewed from Pubmed, Cochrane, and Web of Science using specific search terms. 8 final papers were used for review after excluding duplicates and irrelevant titles and abstracts. Ketamine showed potential in reducing postpartum depression symptoms post C-section, although some studies reported no significant effects. All studies were randomized control trials. Ketamine may help prevent or lessen postpartum depression symptoms post C-section, but more research is needed to understand dosing and its casual relationship with PPD in this context.

Effect Of Dosage On Severity Of Dysphagia In A Toxicological Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Shivam Patel, Taylor Good, Nicholas Zanghi, Francois Gould

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a prevalent and devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressively worsening motor symptoms affecting locomotor and oropharyngeal function. There is limited research in animal models on swallowing dysfunction in PD. To examine how neurodegeneration in PD produces progressive impairment in the oropharyngeal and locomotor processes, rotenone, a type II mitochondrial inhibitor, was injected into Lewis rat models to reproduce a parkinsonian phenotype. We hypothesized that the animal models injected with the rotenone will exhibit both oropharyngeal dysfunction and locomotor deficiency with an increased deficit that correlates with prolonged treatment. We utilized 18 rats receiving either 2.75 mg/kg …

A Review Of Risk Factors, Adverse Outcomes, And Counseling Strategies Among Pregnant Individuals With Eating Disorders, Alexandra Fontaine, Emily Meale

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) among women of childbearing age have become more prevalent on the global level. Identifying at-risk populations of women having EDs before, during, or after pregnancy is essential for clinicians to improve treatment and decrease the likelihood of negative maternal and/or fetal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose is to determine risk factors for women who have EDs throughout pregnancy, to identify negative pregnancy outcomes of women suffering from EDs, and to explore treatment and counseling options through the postpartum period. Methods: This literature review mainly utilizes sources from PubMed and the National Institute of Health databases. An expansive …

What Stigmas Still Exist For Weight Loss Medications?, Abdullah Panah, Philip Collins Do

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background and Hypothesis:

Medications for weight loss are becoming far more common as more tolerable formulas have come to the market with some medications offering results almost on par with bariatric surgery. However, studies show a stigma still persists around the discussion and perception around using weight loss medications. The authors of this study hypothesized that one of the biggest hurdles patients face for weight loss medications are the stigmas associated with taking these medicines and approaching the topic.

Methods:

This was a survey-based project that consisted of an anonymous, voluntary questionnaire which was provided to patients during their regular …

Trichotillomania Case Report, Kimberly Kluglein, David F. Lo, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Trichotillomania is a psycho-dermatologic disorder involving self-inflicted hair loss through pulling. Often complicated by anxiety and depression. Multifactorial etiology and limited evidence-based treatment options makes management difficult. Treatment approaches include a combination of pharmacotherapy, CBT, HRT, and ACT. Case presentation involves a 24-year-old female, diagnosed with treatment-resistant trichotillomania who achieved remission and hair regrowth through mindset reframing, physical barriers, and community support. Novel approaches focusing on mindset and community support can yield positive outcomes.

Moving On Up: A Case Study Of Hiv And Covid-Induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Victoria Wong Murray, Rebecca Chae, Isobel Moyer, Cindy Hou

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

COVID and HIV are both common diseases, with COVID affecting an estimated 775 million and HIV affecting 39 million people worldwide. Guillain-Barre is a rare but feared complication of immune stimulation in which the body generates autoantibodies against gangliosides, found in the nodes of Ranvier, in the myelin, and in the ganglia; causing ascending paralysis.

A mid-30s man with HIV maintained on Genvoya presented to the Jefferson Health New Jersey Early Intervention Program clinic with fatigue, fever, cough, and congestion and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the following day. Two weeks later, he presented to the emergency department complaining of …

Ultrasound Versus Radiography For Evaluating Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Sayed H. Aftab, Santiago Martinez-Correa, Minh-Huy Huynh, Wondwossen T. Lerebo, Jorge Delgado, Rebecca Denis, Misun Hwang

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purpose:

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an abdominal inflammatory condition that is common in premature neonates. Although abdominal radiograph (AR) remains the imaging standard for NEC, it may miss up to 50% of early signs of NEC and has been described to have a sensitivity as low as 15.4% for detecting pneumoperitoneum. Abdominal ultrasound (US) is portable, non-invasive, and allows real-time bowel integrity, movement, and perfusion assessment. We aim to evaluate the concordance between US and AR in detecting NEC features and the diagnostic performance of both modalities in detecting pneumoperitoneum.

Methods and materials:

We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center …

Addressing The Black Maternal Mortality Rate, Kennedy Sanders, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Kate Whelihan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: As of 2021, the Black maternal mortality rate in the United States was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births as compared to the national average of 32.9 and the White American average of 26.61. It has been demonstrated that this discrepancy is not fully explained by socioeconomic status. Doulas are professionals who provide support and guidance throughout pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Encouraging the use of doulas may be an effective approach to improve the birth experience for Black mothers. Methods: A literature review was performed using PubMed and the following search strings: maternal mortality rate (+race, +race +ethnicity, …

A Deep Dive Into The Relationship Between Sleep Deprivation And Pain Perception: A Cross-Population Analysis, Adam T. Friedman, Kevin Regan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Sleep deprivation and pain perception significantly impact one another through altered sleep parameters such as Total Sleep Time (TST) and Sleep Efficiency (SE). Particularly in neuropathic pain, disturbed sleep exacerbates pain by disrupting neurobiological mediators like opioids and serotonin. Our research examined how sleep loss affects pain in chronic conditions versus healthy individuals. This research underpins our analysis of how interventions, possibly nutritional, could improve sleep quality and modulate pain perception, exploring this relationship across diverse populations and conditions.

Methods: Our study reviewed peer-reviewed articles published since 2010 on sleep deprivation and pain perception. We searched PubMed, focusing on …

Vitamin Level Differences Across The Asd Spectrum, Rohan Mehra, Wendy F. Aita, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: In the United States, 2.7% of children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Environmental factors such as vitamin levels, including D, B9, and B12, may have a significant impact on the risk of development. Children conceived in winter months, with low sunlight and Vitamin D levels, have a higher risk of developing ASD. Vitamin B12 deficiency is generally linked with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Additionally, vitamin B9 deficiency of a mother during gestation is linked to a higher risk of her child developing ASD.

Purpose: To assess potential differences in vitamin levels between patients of differing …

The Benefits And Risks Of Pudendal Nerve Block And Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation In Pudendal Neuralgia, Pooja A. Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Context: Pudendal neuralgia is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome worsening throughout daily activities. Although temporarily relieved when standing or lying down, it is often misdiagnosed, improperly treated, and/or refractory to treatment leading to a negative impact on quality of life. The lack of research in proper diagnosis and interventional management (such as dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) and pudendal nerve block) further contributes to the delay in relief from the chronic pain. Objective: The goal of this scoping review is to assess if research exists on benefits and risks of pudendal nerve block and dorsal root ganglion and …

Utilizing Microwave Ablation In Combination With Vertebroplasty Is An Effective Method In Reducing Cancer Related Back Pain, Disability, And Opioid Use: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jonathan Elias, Lothar Vidal, Richard Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: It is estimated that metastases from primary malignant neoplasms affect the spine around 30%-70% of the time. Many times, these osteolytic tumors will cause the degradation of the vertebrae, leaving patients in a tremendous amount of pain, disability, and dependence on opioids as analgesics. Microwave ablation (MWA) followed by vertebroplasties (VP) has been a developing treatment for such a condition; however, there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses examining the method’s effectiveness thus far.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzes the 4-week and 12-week outcomes of patients with metastatic spinal cancer treated with the combinatorial treatment …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Parkinson’S Disease Related Gait Function: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sami Dakhel, Jonathan Elias, Alexander King

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease often experience a shuffling gait, alongside many other symptoms, due to the degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) operates by non-invasively applying an electrical current to the cutaneous receptive field formed by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear. We sought to determine if taVNS would serve as a non-invasive alternative to addressing Parkinson’s related gait dysfunction.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzes the effectiveness of taVNS on the reduction of gait dysfunction caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

Methods: The systematic review …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Hyaluronic Acid And Dextrose Prolotherapy Injections In The Treatment Of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Sara Ragab, Sami Dakhel, Jonathan Elias, Hesham Abdelfattah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE), commonly referred to as tennis elbow, is characterized by micro-tears to the tendon origin that attaches to the outer portion of the elbow, with the extensor carpi radialis brevis being the most commonly affected tendon. It presents most often amongst manual workers and athletes that participate in repetitive movements. Patients may experience burning and aching sensations that can potentially radiate down to the wrist. Hyaluronic acid is a primary component of synovial fluid and has anti-inflammatory properties and also provides lubrication to joints. Prolotherapy involves injection of an irritant, most commonly dextrose, into the common extensor …

Doxazosin Immediate Release As Alternative Treatment For Nightmares In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report, Danyaal Khan, Christie Richardson, Martin Forsberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nightmares and flashbacks are common debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can disrupt daily functioning in patients. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used off-label for the treatment of PTSD intrusion symptoms, although its short half-life is limiting. Doxazosin, another alpha-1 antagonist, is starting to be investigated in the treatment of PTSD-related nightmares due to its smaller side effect profile and longer half-life. In our case report, we present a case of a patient with PTSD-related nightmares who was successfully treated with doxazosin following relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of prazosin. The success of doxazosin immediate …