Virus Diseases Commons^™

A Case Of Hhv-6 Viral Meningitis, Mohammad A. Rattu, Wayne Tamaska

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges and associated with abnormal cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The lack of bacterial growth in cultures, most commonly referred to as aseptic meningitis, is frequently caused by viruses [2]. Viruses have become more common as the prevalence of bacterial meningitis has decreased secondary to vaccination use, with viral meningitis being the most common form among countries. Viral meningitis will present with fever, headache, photophobia, neck stiffness and nausea and vomiting. Younger children however may not show any signs of meningeal irritation. Viral meningitis is usually self-limiting and with good prognosis; however, …

Investigating Risk Factors Contributing To The High Incidence Of Covid-19 Among The Diné People Of The Navajo Nation, Elizabeth Lila Reynolds

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: COVID-19 became international news in December 2019 and subsequently impacted global health. The research shows that the Diné people of the Navajo Nation were one of the most severely impacted populations¹. The Navajo Nation is a region spanning Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah that is composed of North American indigenous people known as the Diné. Purpose: To explore the risk factors contributing to the increased rates of COVID-19 infection and severity of infection among the Diné people. Methods: This literature review research process utilized PubMed and JAMA to find scholarly articles on this topic. Search terms …

What Is The Efficacy Of The Newly Developed Hpv Vaccine, Cecolin, In Providing Protection Against Hpv-Induced Cervical Cancers In Females Aged 9-14 Years Old, Yolanda Williams

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In low to middle income countries, there's a rise in invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Affordability emerges as a crucial factor influencing this trend. This research is based on the development of a new HPV vaccine made in China called Ceolin priced at $47 and its efficacy to be incorporated into the WHO vaccination program. A peer review was conducted based on an ongoing randomized phase 3 clinical trial of a 2 dose regimen bivalent Cecolin vaccine (types 16,18) . The study includes 1025 females aged 9-14 years old split amongst 5 groups. The control group received Gardasil at the …

Out Of Time: Altered Mental Status And Temporal Seizure On Background Of Dementia & Uti, Jennifer Nguyen, Victoria Wong Murray, Judith Anne Lightfoot, Mukarram Razvi, Kasturi Etukuru

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Herpes simplex virus is common in the US, with an estimated seroprevalence of HSV-1 of 40% and HSV-2 of 11%. Although herpes encephalitis is rare, with an incidence of roughly 1/100,000 individuals per year in the US, the mortality rate of 70% and rapid progression make identification and treatment imperative.

An 85 year old woman was brought to the emergency department from nursing home with altered mental status of unknown duration in refractory status epilepticus on a background of dementia, history of multiple falls, and indwelling foley catheter in addition to hypertension and bilateral knee replacement. EEG demonstrated abnormal discharges …

Determinants Of Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents And Caregivers, Priya Srivastava

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

•Vaccination efforts in the United States and globally are one of the largest contributors to pediatric preventative health

•Routine immunizations in the U.S for children ≤ 10 years old cover 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. As a result, an estimated 732,000 deaths, 21 million hospitalizations, and 322 diagnosed cases of diseases have been prevented between 1993 and 2013.

•Vaccines remain a point of contention with pediatricians and their patients' caregivers

•Many parents maintain hesitancy to give vaccines; to a number of reasons. Perceived risk and fear of side effects from vaccines more than the disease itself, can cause out-of-proportion concern

•Misinformation spread …

Potential Mechanisms For New Onset Atrial Fibrillation In Covid-19 Patients, Raghav Gupta, Yara Assadi, Shaniece Nicole Lawrence, Erika Jeanie Pitsker, Michael Scott Bickford Jr., Victoria Amber Saniko

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: This study shows the prevalence of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in COVID-19 patients and highlights the most prevalent explanatory pathologic theories for the correlation.

Methods: The authors carried out a literature review over PubMed using the keywords “atrial fibrillation” and “long-term COVID.” 48 articles were reviewed. Articles relating to new onset of atrial fibrillation in COVID-19 patients were included while articles posted before 2020, not related to COVID and atrial fibrillation were excluded.

Results: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in COVID patients is often reported to be around 17%, however 44% of patients within Intensive Care units (ICU) have atrial …

A Novel Approach To Hiv Testing: Group Harm Reduction And Testing For High Risk Women In Nj, Gabrianna A. Andrews

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Outreach programs have been implemented aimed at providing healthcare to minority populations and those considered high-risk for acquiring HIV. Variables such as these cause hesitance in community members, preventing HIV screenings and adherence to follow-ups. This study provides and evaluates a new approach: group HIV testing. Data was collected from 6/2/2023 to 4/19/2024 by surveying participants at the end of the interaction. 87.5% of participants rated their care at the mobile clinic as ‘Excellent’, 8% as ‘Very Good’, and 4.5% as ‘Good’. 95.6% of participants ranked Group Harm Reduction Counseling as ‘Definitely’ helpful. 84.4% of participants did not find that …

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 …

Pediatric Neurotropic Infection Alters Synaptic Development In The Developing Brain, Anuoluwapo Grace Fadare, Yashika S. Kamte, Manish N. Chandwani, Lauren A. O'Donnell

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Many neurotropic viruses cause more significant pathology in younger hosts as their brains are still developing. This experiment asked how central nervous system (CNS) viral-infections affect the development of synapses in the pediatric brain during infection and post-infection. Synaptogenesis is at its peak in pediatric mice (10 days old) and we hypothesized that a neurotropic infection could disrupt synaptic proteins. We used a transgenic mouse model where measles virus (MV) infects only mature neurons, leading us to question whether synapses were impacted. We examined synaptic markers in the cerebellum and hippocampus in MV-infected and uninfected mice 9 days and 90 …

‘Not So Atypical’: An Atypical Presentation Of West Nile Virus And Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Matthew Orap, Sana Tahir, Ugonna Ononuju, Naresh Kumar

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is defined by acute areflexic paralysis, usually starting in the distal lower extremities, and ascending to the upper extremities. It is associated with albuminocytologic dissociation, which involves elevated protein levels and normal cell counts in the cerebrospinal fluid. One of the types of GBS, called Miller-Fischer Syndrome (MFS), is characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. This case report focuses on a 49-year-old male with an atypical presentation of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome can be classically caused by Campylobacter jejuni. However, there can be other infectious causes as well, namely Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Varicella-Zoster virus, …

Case Report: Varicella Zoster Virus Encephalitis Presenting With Monochorea, Chetna Thawani, Frank Wheeler

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Meningoencephalitis is a broad range of symptoms as a sequela of inflammation of the CNS system. It is a diagnosis that is often missed, especially in atypical presentations. We describe a case of HSV encephalitis that presented to the ER afebrile with atypical arm movements, most similar to a monochorea, and discuss other cases in the literature of atypical presentations of this disease.

Chilling Complications: A Case Of Covid-Associated Cold Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (Aiha), Julian Coz, Kishan B. Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cold Agglutinin disease (CAD) also known as Cold Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) is a form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia wherein cold agglutinins (IgM autoantibodies against red blood cell (RBC) antigens) bind during cold temperatures causing clinical symptoms related to RBC agglutination resulting to hemolytic anemia. Clinicians should recognize that Cold Agglutinin disease can be secondary to an underlying pathology such as COVID-19. Here we describe an unusual case of Cold Agglutinin Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia which was diagnosed in the Emergency Department with the presence of COVID-19 and with a hospital course complicated by acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral …

Evaluating The Association Of Influenza Vaccination On Long-Term Covid-19 Symptoms In U.S. Adults, Ratnakar Pingili

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective. To evaluate the association of influenza vaccination in the past 12 months with Long COVID effects and clinical and sociodemographic factors.

Methods. Cross-sectional study with data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), covering 415,132 non-institutionalized U.S. adults with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and influenza vaccination reported within the last 12 months. Logistic regression was conducted between influenza vaccination (exposure) and Long COVID (outcome), controlling for demographic variables, pre-existing health conditions, and socioeconomic status.

Results. Of 120,603 participants, 21.89% reported Long COVID symptoms and 42.04% had received an influenza vaccine. Findings indicate a statistically significant 13% reduction …

Long-Term Healthcare Utilisation, Costs And Quality Of Life After Invasive Group B Streptococcus Disease: A Cohort Study In Five Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, Farah Seedat, Simon Procter, Ziyaad Dangor, Shannon Leahy, Sridhar Santhanam, Hima John, Quique Bassat, Celine Aerts, Amina Abubakar, Carophine Nasambu

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction There are no published data on the long-term impact of invasive group B Streptococcus disease (iGBS) on economic costs or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in low-income and middle-income countries. We assessed the impact of iGBS on healthcare utilisation, costs and HRQoL in Argentina, India, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa.

Methods Inpatient and outpatient visits, out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare payments in the 12 months before study enrolment, and health-state utility of children and caregivers (using the EuroQol 5-Dimensions-3-Level) were collected from iGBS survivors and an unexposed cohort matched on site, age at recruitment and sex. We used logistic or Poisson …

A Comparative Analysis Of Hiv/Aids In France And The United States: Historical Context And Preventative Actions, Rebecca A. Liebsack

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is the result of transmission of a zoonotic disease known as simian immunodeficiency virus. The pandemic has had profound social and economic consequences and continues to be present today. France and the United States’ response to the discovery of HIV will be compared and the impact that HIV/AIDS had on their countries and future responses. They had rather similar responses, however, the United States had a slower initial response compared to France. Both had similar takeaways such as aiming at improving prevention and utilizing tactics developed during the start of the pandemic like frequent testing and vaccines.

Exploring Binding Pockets In The Conformational States Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Trimers For The Screening Of Allosteric Inhibitors Using Molecular Simulations And Ensemble-Based Ligand Docking, Grace Gupta, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding mechanisms of allosteric regulation remains elusive for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, despite the increasing interest and effort in discovering allosteric inhibitors of the viral activity and interactions with the host receptor ACE2. The challenges of discovering allosteric modulators of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins are associated with the diversity of cryptic allosteric sites and complex molecular mechanisms that can be employed by allosteric ligands, including the alteration of the conformational equilibrium of spike protein and preferential stabilization of specific functional states. In the current study, we combine conformational dynamics analysis of distinct forms of the full-length spike protein trimers and …

Coordinated Nasal Mucosa-Mediated Immunity Accelerates Recovery From Covid-19, Steven P. Cass, Dan V. Nicolau, Jonathan R. Baker, Christine Mwasuku, Sanjay Ramakrishnan, Mahdi Mahdi, Peter J. Barnes, Louise E. Donnelly, Rocio T. Martinez-Nunez, Richard E.K. Russell, Mona Bafadhel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Understanding the interplay of immune mediators in relation to clinical outcomes during acute infection has the potential to highlight immune networks critical to symptom recovery. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the immune networks critical to early symptom resolution following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods In a community-based randomised clinical trial comparing inhaled budesonide against usual care in 139 participants with early onset SARS-CoV-2 (the STOIC study; clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04416399), significant clinical deterioration (reported need for urgent care, emergency department visit, hospitalisation: the primary outcome), self-reported symptom severity (Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome questionnaire) …

Uncovering Capillary Endothelial Cells Response During Lung Injury-Repair, Celine Shuet Lin Kong

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Once thought to be a homogenous population, capillary endothelial cells (ECs) have embodied organotypic specialization and heterogenous properties, both during homeostasis and tissue injury. In the lung, capillary ECs consist of two distinct populations, CAP1 and CAP2s; how each population responds to diverse tissue injury is incompletely understood. In this thesis, I report the induction and function of a truncated isoform of Ntrk2, Ntrk2^-tk (lacking the tyrosine kinase domain) in multiple injury models. Using a combinatorial approach of single-cell multiome, mouse genetics and viral infection models, I found that Ntrk2^-tk is broadly induced in CAP1s after the initial …

Exploring The Correlates And Predictors Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy And Uptake Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In Tennessee, Charles Olomofe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background

The administration of the COVID-19 vaccines has met with resistance and hesitance from different population groups including people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). It is concerning to know that PLWHAs are showing a higher rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than the general population. The objective of this study is to synthesize the literature and determine the correlates and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PLWHA using primary and secondary data.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted to identify and summarize studies on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PLWHA using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Extension for …

Sexual Satisfaction, An Indicator Of Sexual Health And Well-Being? Insights From Sti/Hiv Prevention Research In European Men Who Have Sex With Men, Karel Blondeel, Massimo Mirandola, Lorenzo Gios, Cinta Folch, Christiana Noestlinger, Maddalena Cordioli, Petra Sutter, Marleen Temmerman, Igor Toskin

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction Although sexual health has been holistically defined to include sexual satisfaction, it has been largely absent in health services and sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes in many parts of the world. We propose sexual satisfaction as a useful indicator, as one of the proxy measures for sexual health and well-being and as a component of well-being in general.

Methods The Sialon II project is a multicentre biological and behavioural cross-sectional community-based survey implemented across 13 European cities during 2013–2014 among men who have sex with men. Sexual satisfaction was explored using one single item: ‘How satisfied are …