Digestive, Oral, and Skin Physiology Commons^™

The Utility Of Fecal Calprotectin In The Diagnosis And Management Of Microscopic Colitis, Busara Songtanin, Abbie Evans, Kenneth Nugent, Vanessa Costilla

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Background: The incidence of microscopic colitis has increased over time. To date, there is no specific biomarker for microscopic colitis, and the diagnosis relies on histopathological tissue obtained during colonoscopy which is an invasive and costly procedure. Unlike Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the utility of fecal calprotectin in diagnosing or monitoring microscopic colitis has not been established, and studies on the role of fecal calprotectin in microscopic colitis are limited. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the utility of this biomarker in the diagnosis of microscopic colitis. Methods: The medical records of patients who have been diagnosed with collagenous …

Accidental Extravasation Of Mitomycin C Into The Subcutaneous Tissue, Johnathon Chung, Brooke Walterscheid, Jose Lopez-Vera, Hytham Rashid, Mike K. Liang

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Mitomycin C (MMC) is a common chemotherapeutic agent used to treat a variety of solid tumors. Cutaneous adverse events are rare, but MMC is a known vesicant reported to cause tissue necrosis and sloughing, erythema, and ulceration if incorrectly infused into the subcutaneous tissue. Definitive treatment of extravasation injuries due to MMC depends on the severity of the cutaneous manifestation, which includes stopping the infusion, removing the catheter, or possible debridement.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 70-year-old female with extensive soft-tissue injury secondary to extravasation of MMC that required hospital admission and surgical intervention to remove …

Oral Health In Relation To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Anika L. Gram

Honors Thesis

Oral health has seen significant changes through the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people experienced the lifestyle alteration of wearing a mask for a major portion of their day-to-day life, and some went to the dentist significantly less than they did pre-pandemic. The literature review explores dental practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also examines mask-wearing behaviors both before and during the pandemic and the research that has been conducted previously regarding the potential effects of mask-wearing. Despite the decrease in use of masks post-pandemic, many healthcare professionals continue to wear masks daily. Additionally, in the event of future disease outbreak, it …

Clinical And Biological Factors With Prognostic Value In Acute Pancreatitis, Mihai Faur, Dan Dumitrescu, Dan Sabau, Ciprian Tanasescu, Dan Cretu, Denisa Tanasescu, Vlad Denis Constantin, Calin Mohor

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas, which can remain localized at the level of the gland or can extend to the peripancreatic and retroperitoneal tissues. The use and interpretation of paraclinical examinations at the onset can predict the form of evolution of acute pancreatitis (mild or severe). Depending on the evolution, these data are useful in determining the type of surgical intervention that might be necessary based on severity.

We present a retrospective study consisting of 118 patients diagnosed and hospitalized with acute pancreatitis during 2016-2020 in the Surgery I section of the Sibiu County Emergency …

Innovative Therapeutic Approach To Chemical Burns Produced By Vesicants; An Experimental Study, Cristina Anca Secara, Otilia Liudmila Cinteza, Diana Popescu, Claudia Valentina Popa, Camelia Andreea Hirjeu, Oana Cristina Voinea, Luiza Georgia Serbanescu, Andreea Marilena Pauna, Mihail Tudosie

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Vesicants are compounds that cause severe toxic effects on various tissues. Such chemical action causes tissue necrosis, with clinical expression of skin lesions with a burning character and characteristic blisters. Clinical toxic effects of cutaneous vesicles are correlated with the absorbed dose and exposure time. The goals of the study are to evaluate in vitro the skin toxicity produced by the vesicant chemical compound 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulfide (CEES), to develop a complex antidote formula, and to optimize the therapeutic efficacy by inclusion in controlled release systems. The experimental protocol aims at the in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the vesicant …

Eating Disorders In Men: A Comprehensive Summary, Connor James Spratt, Liam Alexander Mackenzie Myles, Emanuele Maria Merlo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Eating disorders (EDs) have detrimental effects on an individual’s physical and mental health, along with significant interpersonal, social and economic effects. Furthermore, men who are suffering with an ED face unique challenges with this. Men suffering with EDs have historically received little attention within ED research, diagnosis and intervention. However, the number of men suffering with these issues is significant and growing. Understanding of EDs tend to ignore male experiences, meaning many are left to suffer in silence until the ED has developed to a critical point. However, many now recognize the need to understand the issues facing men suffering …

Dental Fear, Anxiety, And Phobia; Causes, Diagnostic Criteria And The Medical And Social Impact, Nadya Avramova

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Despite technological advances in modern medical science and practice, many people still associate dental treatment with unpleasant emotional sensations and pain. According to the current literature, dental fear and anxiety are psychological barriers that negatively affect frequency of patient attendance which results in avoidant behavior and poorer oral health-related quality of life.

This paper was therefore aimed at discussing basic theoretical aspects concerning diagnostic criteria, causes, and impacts of dental fear, anxiety, and phobia. Clarifying their differential diagnostic characteristics, clinical features and specific causes may play an important role in proper diagnosing, positive influencing, and management of this group of …

Stones, Bones, And Groans With Cancerous Overtones - A Rare Case Of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Presenting As Hypercalcemia, Evan Becker, Caitlyn Moss, Steve Chung

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can present in a variety of ways including fever, weight loss, weakness, and drenching night sweats. Uncommonly, hypercalcemia of malignancy can be associated with DLBCL through multiple mechanisms that include synthesis of parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) or elevated calcitriol levels. It is estimated that hypercalcemia in the setting of DLBCL is present in 18% of newly diagnosed cases. This report details a case of an 80-year-old man with history of chronic anemia and CKD stage 3b that presented with weakness, decreased oral intake, and self-reported weight …

The Role Of The Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 2 In Pancreatic Cancer: Mechanisms Of Tumor Immunosuppression And Intestinal Radioprotection, Carolina Garcia Garcia

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with dismal prognosis. The only curative option for patients is surgery, but over 80% of patients are not surgical candidates. Unfortunately, PDAC is resistant to the three remaining options. PDAC is characterized by a profoundly hypoxic and immunosuppressive stroma, which contributes to its therapeutic recalcitrance. Alpha-smooth muscle actin+ (αSMA+) cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal component, as well as mediators of stromal deposition. The hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF1 and HIF2) coordinate responses to hypoxia, yet, despite their known association to poor patient outcomes, their functions within the PDAC tumor microenvironment (TME) …

Women's Health: Optimal Nutrition Throughout The Lifecycle, Edith J M Feskens, Regan Bailey, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Hans-Konrad Biesalski, Heather Eicher-Miller, Klaus Krämer, Wen-Harn Pan, James C. Griffiths

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Sex differences are an important consideration when researching and establishing policies for nutrition and optimal health. For women's health, there are important physiologic, neurologic, and hormonal distinctions throughout the lifecycle that impact nutritional needs. Distinct from those for men, these nutritional needs must be translated into appropriate nutrition policy that aims to not only avoid overt nutritional deficiency, but also to promote health and minimize risk for chronic disease. Through a series of webinars, scientific experts discussed the advances in the understanding of the unique nutritional needs, challenges and opportunities of the various life stages for women across the life …

Evaluating The Microbiome To Boost Recovery From Stroke: The Embrs Study, Tyler Hammond

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Accumulating evidence suggests that gut microbes modulate brain plasticity via the bidirectional gut-brain axis and may play a role in stroke rehabilitation. A severely imbalanced microbial community has been shown to occur following stroke, causing a systemic flood of neuro- and immunomodulatory substances due to increased gut permeability and decreased gut motility. Here we measure post-stroke increased gut dysbiosis and how it correlates with gut permeability and subsequent cognitive impairment.

We recruited 12 participants with acute stroke, 12 healthy control participants, and 18 participants who had risk factors for stroke, but had not had a stroke. We measured the gut …

Antibiotics May Be Unnecessary In The Treatment Of Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis, Madison Gump

Capstone Showcase

Acute diverticulitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide and is increasing in prevalence. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, changes in bowel habits, nausea, and vomiting. Traditionally, this disease has been treated with antibiotics, but new research has emerged that has provided evidence that it may be safe to treat acute uncomplicated cases without antibiotics. This represents an area of medicine where it may be possible to reduce the use of unnecessary antibiotics and, therefore, contribution to bacterial antibiotic resistance. The current research studies do have some limitations and future studies with larger, more diverse patient populations and …

Effectiveness Of Stabilized Hypochlorous Acid In Acute Peritonitis Treatment: A Murine Surgical Study, Benjamin Michael Pomeroy

MSU Graduate Theses

Peritonitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the mesothelial cells that line the peritoneal cavity and is commonly induced by bowel perforations. This medical emergency is treated through antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention followed by tissue irrigation (lavage). Acute treatments aim to remove the bacterial burden, however recurring peritoneal infections occur at high rates and contribute to patient morbidity. These recurring infections are likely due to the inability of lavage solutions to remove the entire massive intra-abdominal bacterial load due to intestinal perforation. Numerous antiseptic solutions and antibiotic additives have been evaluated in their ability to improve source control by abdominal …

Machine Learning Approach To Distinguish Ulcerative Colitis And Crohn’S Disease Using Smote (Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique) Methods, Kris Ghimire, Walter Lai, Yasser Omar, Thad Schwebke, Jamie Vo

SMU Data Science Review

Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) affects a sizable portion of the US population, causing symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Despite the disease’s prevalence, the precise cause is not fully understood. This study consists of endoscopic and histological data from patients diagnosed with IBD and a control population for reference. The machine learning models' focus is to classify patients into IBD types. Several models were analyzed, including decision trees, logistic regression, and k-nearest neighbors. In addition, various methods of SMOTE were applied to determine the most effective transformation and ensuring that the dataset is balanced. The best model with …

Esophageal Atresia Associating Gastrointestinal Malformations: A Study Of Clinical Approach, Dan Alexandru Iozsa, Andreea Cristina Costea, Nicolae Sebastian Ionescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Digestive tract malformations requiring surgical repair in association with esophageal atresia are rare occurrences. Because of this uncommon presentation of esophageal atresia, its evaluation and management are often difficult, requiring extensive workup and multiple surgical procedures. We present our experience with esophageal atresia associating gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in the last 10 years. Clinical and surgical perspectives were pointed willing to make relevant observations in matters of diagnosis and treatment strategy in these patients. Therefore, 7 cases resembling this pattern were identified – duodenal atresia and anorectal malformation being the most common coexistent malformations. All the cases exhibited technical and procedural …

Synthesis Of Nanofibers For The Development Of Artificial Tactile Sensor, Pertab Rai

English Language Institute

Tactile sensation in human skin is performed by specialized cells called mechanoreceptors. Factors such as surgical procedures, skin burns, injury, and nerve damage may lead to impaired sensation. For these reasons, various methods and approaches are developed to revive tactile sensation. In this poster, a step-by-step procedure to synthesize nanofibers for the development of artificial tactile sensor is presented.

The Crosstalk Between Insulin Resistance, Systemic Inflammation, Redox Imbalance And The Thyroid In Subjects With Obesity, Nicoleta Răcătăianu, Nicoleta Valentina Leach, Sorana D. Bolboacă, Maria Loredana Soran, Mirela Flonta, Ana Valea, Andrada-Luciana Lazăr, Cristina Ghervan

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

We aimed at assessing the interaction between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), insulin resistance (IR), circulating levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the thyroid parameters in obese subjects. Methods. Obese subjects without thyroid pathologies or diseases associated with systemic inflammation and OS were recruited. Insulinemia, visceral fat thickness, metabolic and thyroid parameters were assayed. Circulating levels of MCP-1 and MDA were used to quantify inflammation and OS. Results. A number of 160 obese subjects were included. The MCP-1 level increased with the degree of obesity and HOMA-IR. MCP 1 was positively associated with antithyroperoxidase antibody (TPOab) levels …

Non-Dental Oral Cavity Findings In Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Madalina-Gabriela Indre, Darius Sampelean, Vlad Taru, Angela Cozma, Dorel Sampelean, Mircea Vasile Milaciu, Olga Hilda Orasan

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is known as the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, leading to substantial morbidity, although associated mortality is rare. Based on the appearance of esophageal mucosa on upper endoscopy, GERD is divided into erosive esophagitis (ERD) and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). Heartburn and acid regurgitation are the typical symptoms of the disease, although some patients may present atypical manifestations such as epigastric pain, nausea, asthma, chronic cough, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sleep disturbances, otitis, and sinusitis. Other signs, such as oral mucosal lesions may result from GERD by direct acid or acidic vapor contact in the …

Linking The Brain And Bone Through Fat, Elisabeta Malinici, Anca Sirbu, Miruna Popa, Simona Fica

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Over the past years, bone and adipose tissue have gained interest from researchers in the light of their secretory profiles, being able to produce active molecules, with the final effect of regulating energy homeostasis. Both adipocytes and osteoblasts originate in the pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell and this common origin has been proposed as the core of the fat-bone relationship. The central nervous system might be the third player in this association, capable of integrating signals. Numerous adipose tissue secreted factors that influence energy homeostasis and bone have been described: leptin, adiponectin, lipocalin 2, and inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1, IL-6 and …

Alcohol Consumption And Cognitive Aging: Can It Be Beneficial?, Margarita Velikova, Bistra Galunska, Raya Dimitrova, Zlatislav Stoyanov

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

We present a literature review which summarizes the data supporting one of the alternative perspectives on the effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive aging – the possible positive effect of low to moderate drinking. Some of the main theories about aging, the mechanisms of brain aging, and the pathogenesis of cognitive decline and dementia are briefly described. In this context, the putative mechanisms of the protective action of non-alcoholic components in alcoholic beverages or low doses of ethanol against oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, brain insulin resistance, and production of amyloid-β peptides are presented. The review article does not favor …