Medical Toxicology Commons^™

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (Pps, Elmiron) Maculopathy Demonstrates The Importance Of Coordinated Care From A Low Vision Perspective, Charlotte I. Spada Od, Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri Od, Patricia Sanchez Diaz Dvm, Phd, Jeffrey Rabin Od, Phd

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS, Elmiron®) is a widely used medication to reduce pain caused by interstitial cystitis, a bladder disorder most often affecting females. PPS maculopathy is a novel form of toxic retinal disease often not recognized or mistaken for other retinal conditions such as macular degeneration due to the initial similarities on fundus exam. However, when visualized using fundus autofluorescence, affected eyes show characteristic hyper/hypo-autofluorescent patterns.

Case report: A patient taking PPS for 10 years presented with macular changes and complaints of blurry vision and nyctalopia. Clinical, electrodiagnostic, and genetic testing were performed including fundus autofluorescence and …

Rhythms Of Hippocampal Function And Memory After Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Lilliana May Sanchez

Psychology ETDs

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders involve morphologic and neurobiological abnormalities in offspring subjected to prenatal alcohol exposure. Although not as well studied as high exposure, moderate prenatal alcohol exposure represents the most common and undetected form in humans. While learning and memory deficits have been well characterized at the behavioral level in humans with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and in animal models of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure, few studies have determined the circuit or systems level mechanisms of the behavioral deficits. A complete understanding of the neural bases of memory deficits after moderate prenatal alcohol exposure is needed to ultimately identify …

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations In Georgia And Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks, Khloe R. Osborne

Honors Theses

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations in Georgia and Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks

One of the most daunting challenges of the industrial world is air pollution. Within this broad spectrum, there is an inhalable particle group named PM2.5, which contains black carbon. Black carbon has evidence that supports the generation and worsening of adverse health impacts, which may include birth complications, cognitive deficits in children, pulmonary aggravation, asthma, cardiovascular issues, neurological degenerative patterns, and cancer risk. This is especially seen in vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and those who already suffer from weakened health, many of which reside in the southern …

When Venom Isn’T The Only Threat: Roseomonas Mucosa Bacteremia Following A Snake Bite, Cyrus Davati, Kishan Patel, James A. Espinosa Md, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Snake bites in the ED  overall are rare in the United States. While mortality is low due to modern interventions, the sequelae - including tissue necrosis, digit amputation, and subsequent infection  remain a significant concern.  Here we present the case of a  presumptively non-venomous snakebite, which  was associated with R. mucosa bacteremia.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibition Improves Fetal Growth In A Rat Model Of Preeclampsia, Laura E. Coats, Nathan Campbell, Dylan Solise, Gabrielle M. Chamoun, Adam Z. Rawls, Alexandra Demesa, Ty Turner, Baoying Zheng, Barbara T. Alexander, Babbette Lamarca

Physiology & Biophysics

Introduction

Hallucinations And Diabetes – Could It Be The Hip? An Interesting Case Of Cobalt Poisoning, Mahrukh Tariq, Zauraiz Anjum

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Cobalt (Co) poisoning has been described historically in beer-drinkers when cobalt was used as an additive. In present times, this type of poisoning is usually caused by occupational exposure or metal prosthesis breakdown. We present a case of Co poisoning from metal prosthesis breakdown with exceptionally high levels, and thus, some unique symptoms. Interestingly our patient not only had symptoms commonly associated with Co poisoning, e.g., paresthesia, sensory-neural hearing loss, acute kidney failure, but also developed new onset diabetes, which is not commonly associated with this type of pathology. Moreover, when we had this patient under our care, we had …

Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation Reported To The North American Snakebite Registry, Joshua Unger, Spencer Greene

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Isolated Clonidine Ingestions In Pediatric Patients, Spencer Greene, Caleb King, Sharan Campleman

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

In Vitro Dihalobenzene Nephrotoxicity In Isolated Kidney Cells, Jana Ahmed Sherif

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Brominated and chlorinated benzenes are common industrial chemicals linked to kidney injury. This study evaluated the nephrotoxicity of several mono- and dihalogenated derivatives using isolated kidney cells from male Fischer 344 rats. LDH release and trypan blue exclusion were measured after 30- and 60-minute exposures to 0.25–1.0 mM to test compounds. Toxicity increased with increased concentration and longer times. Mixed-halogen bromobenzenes, particularly 1-bromo-4-chlorobenzene, showed one of the highest toxicity levels, while 1,4dichlorobenzene was the most toxic chlorobenzene. Antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbate, and αtocopherol) markedly reduced injury, indicating oxidative mechanisms play a role in toxicity. cytochromes P450 (CYP) inhibitors (piperonyl butoxide and …

Inhibition Of Fatty Acid Synthase Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy And Delays Acquired Resistance To Braf-Targeted Therapy In Colorectal Cancer, Mariah E. Geisen, Elisane W. Tessmann, Courtney O. Kelson, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Abu Saleh Mosa Faisal, Ellen J. Beswick, Yasmine Baca, Stephanie Rock, Jill M. Kolesar, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

The presence of BRAF ^V600E mutations is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although the FDA-approved combination of encorafenib and cetuximab provides clinical benefit in this population, only 22% of patients respond and most eventually develop resistance. This study investigated the mechanisms of resistance to PLX8394, a second-generation BRAF inhibitor. Using primary and established BRAF ^V600E CRC cells, we show that the development of resistance to PLX8394 results in cross-resistance of cells to encorafenib. Moreover, the acquired resistance is associated with increased proliferation, invasion, and upregulation of lipid metabolism, including increased expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a …

A Hybrid Response Surface Methodology And Machine Learning Framework For Quantifying Effects Of Physicochemical Parameters On Pfas Distribution, Harsh V. Patel, Jazmin Green, Hyoshin Park, Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Renzun Zhao

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Predicting PFAS adsorption across diverse adsorbents and environmental matrices remains challenging because adsorbent physicochemical properties, PFAS molecular descriptors, and operational conditions simultaneously influence adsorption. This study develops and evaluates a unified hybrid modeling framework that integrates Response Surface Model (RSM) with machine-learning algorithms to quantify how six key variables, surface area, Log K_ow, pH_pzc, pK_a, log dose, and log-initial concentration, affect PFAS distribution coefficients (Log K_d). A data set of more than 1000 adsorption observations spanning 15 PFAS compounds, multiple adsorbent types, and a broad operational range was compiled and preprocessed using …

Toxicity Following Antiemetic Ingestions Reported To The Toxicology Investigators Consortium Core Registry, Jacob Fisher, Spencer Greene, Sharan Campleman

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Medical Toxicology: A Safety Net For Snakebite Victims, Braden Capt, George Warpinski, Sharan Campleman, Anne-Michelle Ruha, Spencer Greene

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Brain-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Potentially Mediate Crosstalk With Peripheral Organs In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ramzi H. Hamdalla, Vibha B. Bhaskar, Changhai Tian

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Brain-Derived Extracellular vesicles (BDEVs) are emerging mediators of intra- and interorgan communication in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). A growing body of evidence suggests that BDEVs play an important role in modulating intercellular communication within the central nervous system in the pathogenesis of many NDs. By transporting non-coding RNAs (e.g., miRNAs) and important pathological proteins, BDEVs also influence peripheral organs and contribute to the progression of disease in the central nervous system (CNS). This review extends the understanding of NDs beyond solely brain dysfunction and gives a novel framework for the progression of …

Hsp90 Inhibitor, At13387 Mitigates Chronic Lung Injury In Pre-Pubertal Mice: A Therapeutic Axis In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Pavel A. Solopov, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) can provoke severe chronic pulmonary injury. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller airways, higher respiratory rate, and stronger inflammatory response; yet no countermeasures exist for HCl-induced chronic lung injury in the pediatric population. We have previously demonstrated the involvement of HSP90 during HCl-induced lung injury in pre-pubertal (p24) mice, who develop stronger persistent inflammation with higher NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but less pulmonary fibrosis compared to adults. Here, we tested the hypothesis that post-treatment with the second-generation HSP90 inhibitor AT13387 (Onalespib), administered subcutaneously beginning 24 h after HCl instillation, would prevent HCl-induced chronic lung …

Exploring Anticholinergic Neurotoxicity: Diphenhydramine's Impact On Neuro-2a Cell Morphology, Expression, And Viability, Jordan B. Mcintyre

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Anticholinergic medications, such as diphenhydramine (commonly known as Benadryl), are increasingly recognized for their association with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease. These medications, which inhibit the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for the formation and utilization of the central and peripheral nervous system, have been implicated in conditions such as dementia and may impact fundamental cellular processes like neurogenesis and cell proliferation. This study investigates the effects of diphenhydramine on neurogenesis when introduced to Neuro-2a cells during differentiation. For all studies cells were plated on coverslips or in 6-well plates with differentiation media containing 0 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL, …

Investigating The Role Of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine For Cancer Symptom Management In Older Adults: A Rapid Review, Isabelle C. Karshner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Patients with cancer often experience symptoms related to disease, complications, and treatment. One potential method of alleviating these symptoms is traditional Chinese herbal medications (TCHM). This rapid review explores the role of traditional Chinese herbal medications in treating cancer-related symptoms in older adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this rapid review is to gain and provide a better understanding of the effects of TCHM on cancer-symptom management in the older adult population. This review explores the association between TCHM and effects on cancer symptoms in older adults, including interactions, toxicity, and signs/symptoms of TCHM use that may be useful information …

Limitations Of Plasma Exchange In Yellow Phosphorus-Induced Acute Liver Failure: A Case Report, Vihitha Vunnam, Swathi B.S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Yellow phosphorus is a highly toxic compound commonly used in rodenticides and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality following ingestion. Toxicity typically evolves through an initial gastrointestinal phase, a deceptive latent period, and a final phase characterized by fulminant hepatic failure and multiorgan dysfunction. We report the case of an 18-year-old male who intentionally ingested two tubes of Ratol containing 3% yellow phosphorus. After initial vomiting and transient clinical stability, he developed rapidly progressive acute liver failure with severe coagulopathy, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, hepatic encephalopathy, acute pancreatitis, pancytopenia, acute kidney injury, metabolic derangements, and recurrent hypoglycemia. Serial laboratory trends demonstrated …

Thyroid Storm At Sea: A Case Report Of Algae-Induced Thyrotoxicosis, Alynna Knaub, Amanda Cecchini, John Janousek, Laura Strojny, Jairo Noreña, Zachary Pawlikowski

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (IIT), also known as the Jod-Basedow phenomenon, is a rare yet recognized cause of hyperthyroidism. While iodinated contrast is the most frequent trigger, iodine-rich supplements such as seaweed products or supplements can also precipitate thyrotoxicosis, particularly in individuals with prior chronic iodine deficiency or preexisting thyroid nodular disease. We present a case of thyroid storm following short-term ingestion of Irish sea moss as part of a “crash diet.” A 37-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus, well controlled on subcutaneous insulin therapy, presented with nausea and vomiting after 6 days of following a restrictive diet consisting solely of …

At1-Aa Induced Hypertension During Pregnancy Contributes To Developmental Programming Of Hypertension In Female Offspring, Nathan Campbell, James P. Lemon, Melissa Helmich, Dylan Solise, Alexandra Demesa, Ella Goolsby, Evan Lamarca, Evangeline Deer, Denise C. Cornelius, Ty Turner, Lorena M. Amaral, Baoying Zheng, Babbette Lamarca

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Preeclampsia (PE), new-onset hypertension during pregnancy, is accompanied by organ dysfunction, in addition to placental dysfunction, and is associated with chronic inflammation and fetal growth restriction. Agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-AA) are produced in PE women and induce a PE-like phenotype when infused into pregnant rats. PE offspring are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension; however, AT1-AA’s role in these risks is unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that AT1-AA exposure during pregnancy contributes to hypertension in adult offspring. We infused AT1-AA (1:40) starting on gestational day (GD) 14, allowed the dams to give birth, …