Other Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Short Chain Volatile Fatty Acids In The Breastmilk Of Normal And Overweight/Obese Mothers, Ellen Gaskill, W Andrew Clark, Kristy L. Thomas, Amy Wahlquist, Michelle E. Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

INTRODUCTION: Health professionals emphasize the importance of breastfeeding in the development of children up to 6-months of age. It is known that short chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs) are a byproduct of nutrient fermentation by gut microbiome. These SCVFAs interact with the gut/brain axis and are known to influence infant development. Therefore, a reflection of maternal gut microbiome could likely be found in breastmilk (BM) due to diffusion of SCVFAs across the gut wall into the blood. Previous research in our laboratory has shown differences in the SCVFA fecal fermentation profile between individuals with normal (N) versus overweight/obese (OWOB) body …

Uno Student Access To Emergency Contraception: A Needs Assessment, Annika Kuchar

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Emergency contraception (EC) is a common method of contraception that helps prevent ovulation before implantation of an egg inside a uterus. Among college students, EC can be utilized to prevent unplanned pregnancies that could potentially prevent someone from completing their degree. College students can face unique barriers when trying to access EC including transportation, privacy, financial, or mental/emotional barriers. The purpose of this study was to determine what barriers students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) face when trying to access EC, and what future accommodations they would utilize if given the option. The study surveyed 147 UNO …

Associations Of Lifestyle And Sociodemographic Factors With Dietary Supplement Use In College Students, Sydney Chratian

Senior Honors Projects

Background: Dietary supplement use has been shown to be significantly prevalent in the United States, especially among the young adult population. Studies have reported increasing use of dietary supplements among college students in the US. However, little research has investigated the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in this population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dietary supplement use and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in college students and examine the attitudes and beliefs of college students on dietary supplements.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted …

Adapting And Responding To A Pandemic: Patient And Family Advisory Councils In Children's Hospitals During Covid-19, Pam Dardess, Deborah L. Dokken, Ndidi I. Unaka, Jesse Hsu, Mindy Hoang, Andrew F. Beck, Beverley H. Johnson

Patient Experience Journal

This mixed-methods study investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) within children’s hospitals in the United States. Specifically, the study sought to understand how PFACs adapted operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, how patient and family advisors (PFAs) were engaged in the response to COVID-19, and the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic with PFAC diversity, equity, and inclusion. The study consisted of a survey distributed to 228 children’s hospitals, with a 73% response rate, and in-depth interviews with selected survey respondents (n=12). While COVID-19 temporarily disrupted PFAC operations and forced rapid …

Book Review: The Ophthalmic Laser Handbook, William L. Miller Od, Ms, Phd

Optometric Clinical Practice

Book Review: Freisberg L, Lighthizer N, Skorin, Jr. L, Stonecipher K, and Zimmerman A. The Ophthalmic Laser Handbook. First Edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2021. $102.00, 350 pages, Paperback ISBN: 978-1975170172, e-book ISBN: 978-1975170219

Case Report: Bartonella Quintana-Associated Neuroretinitis, Kelly Seidler Od, Kelly A. Malloy Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Neuroretinitis is a self-limiting condition which typically causes monocular vision loss with good potential for visual recovery. It may be idiopathic or associated with infectious or inflammatory conditions which can carry systemic implications. Neuroretinitis classically presents with disc edema followed by development of a macular star pattern of exudates. It is most commonly attributed to Cat Scratch Disease, or Bartonella henselae infection. However, there have been few published reports of Bartonella quintana associated neuroretinitis.

Case Report: A 60-year-old patient presented with unilateral vision loss preceded by flu-like illness. The patient had exposure to a recently adopted cat. …

Bilateral, Full-Thickness Macular Holes While Undergoing Chemotherapy, Sarah Dieter Od, Brett Garee Od Ms, Susan Zacatelco Od, Julie Henry Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Bilateral, full-thickness macular holes are a rare condition that can substantially affect quality of life. Macular hole diagnosis and treatment is key for these patients.

Case Report: A 71 year old Caucasian male presented with a chief complaint of distance blur in both eyes, worsening over the past 1-2 weeks. He had no diagnosis of diabetes. He added that his prostate cancer had spread and that his last treatment ended 9 days ago. He was ultimately diagnosed with bilateral, full-thickness macular holes. Referral to a retinal specialist for surgical management yielded good results.

Conclusion: This is …

Cefuroxime-Induced Toxic Maculopathy: A Cataract Co-Management Conundrum, Leonid Skorin Jr., Do, Od, Ms

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Cefuroxime-induced toxic maculopathy can occur when an incorrect dilution is injected intracamerally after cataract surgery. This results in a guarded visual prognosis. Cefuroxime-induced toxic maculopathy can also occur sporadically even when the medication dilution is the standard correct dosage. These patients usually recover their vision by the first postoperative week.

Case Report: A 72-year-old Caucasian female developed cefuroxime-induced toxic maculopathy after uneventful cataract surgery. Investigation of the case confirmed that she had a sporadic response to the cefuroxime. It was verified that she received the standard correct dilution of cefuroxime intracamerally. The patient showed a significant improvement in her …

Medication-Induced Oculomotor Dysfunction: A Report Of Two Cases, Eric Lee Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Consideration of current medications and their interactions as a source of new onset oculomotor dysfunction is imperative for providing good eye care. Medication etiology should be particularly suspected when the symptoms begin with the initiation of a new medication and resolved with discontinuation of the same medication.

Case Reports: Presented are two cases demonstrating that it is prudent to be aware of medications capable of inducing oculomotor dysfunction. Each case reveals instances of acute oculomotor dysfunction after the initiation of a central nervous system affecting medication. Case 1 details a partial pupil sparing third nerve palsy after initiating the …

Longstanding Crystalline Retinopathy Secondary To Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection, Katherine Thomas Od, Jeffery Curry Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Crystalline retinopathy has many disparate etiologies with varying potentials in visual outcome. Due to the potential severity of these outcomes, differentiation of etiology is critical to guide both follow up and treatment regimen. Diagnosis can be facilitated with a thorough medical history, clinical presentation, and imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Case Report: This case demonstrates a rare incidence of crystalline retinopathy in a 65-year-old male attributed to a single intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection with 8 year follow up data, followed by a review of other types of crystalline retinopathy secondary to pharmaceutical agents.

Conclusion: A complete …

It’S As Easy As Learning To Fly A Plane, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

Radiographic Predictors Of Functional Outcome In Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis Surgery, Patrick Thornley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objective: To confirm the importance of sagittal spinal alignment on functional outcome with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) surgery and to identify the radiographic parameters that predict functional outcomes after DLS surgery.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected functional and radiographic outcomes of the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network DLS database. All patients underwent either decompression, posterolateral fusion or interbody fusion surgery with a minimum of one-year postoperative follow-up.

Results: Most patients improve or remain unchanged in their sagittal spinal alignment regardless of surgery type with fusion procedures not experiencing statistically significantly improved alignment changes to decompression alone. By …

Surgical Intervention With Adjunctive Cryotherapy For Canine Conjunctival Hemangiosarcomas Versus Hemangiomas, Lisa M. Hoard

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Conjunctival hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas are vascular tumors that affect the tissue in the eyes of canines. While relatively rare, these tumors can be costly to remove, and have a possibility of recurrence. Therefore, more understanding of the nature of these tumors and recurrence rates is of importance to the veterinary ophthalmologist. To date, there is limited data in the literature (2 retrospective studies) that examine the development, treatment, and recurrence of these vascular tumors; furthermore, the analyses do not examine the potential recurrence of tumors after treatment with therapies adjunctive to surgery (such as cryoablation, radiotherapy, and others). For this …

Fumarate-Based Polymers: Oligo(Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Fumarate) And Poly(Butylene Fumarate) For Tissue Engineering Heart Valve And Bone Tissue, Christian T. Denny

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Tissue engineering is an emerging field that came from the fields of medicine, materials science, and engineering. The foundation of tissue engineering uses a paradigm that incorporates cells, biomaterials, and exogenous factors to create living tissues for medical, pharmaceutical, and research purposes. Within the last 100 years, biomaterials have been developed to solve many medical and research problems. As biomaterials have developed throughout the years new materials have been developed to have specific properties appropriate for medical applications. Fumarate is a naturally derived molecule in the body and has been found useful for developing polyesters that can be crosslinked into …

Direct Entry Midwives: Political Factors Shaping Variation In Regulation, Gabrielle Shlikas

The Compass

No abstract provided.

Alumni Journal - Volume 93, Number 1, Loma Linda University, School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
7 | This and That
12 | Alumni News
13 | Students
14 | School of Medicine News
16 | AIMS Report
18 | Department Reports: Psychiatry and Neurosurgery

APC 2022
22 | APC 2022 in Review

Features
35 | Alumni Spotlight
36 | Whole Person Care Today
39 | Arthur N. Donaldson, Class of 1915
42 | The Call

In Memoriam
44 | Featured Obituary: Brian S. Bull '61
45 | Alumni Remembered

A Push For Inclusive Data Collection In Stem Organizations, Nicholas P. Burnett, Alyssa M. Hernandez, Emily E. King, Richelle L. Tanner, Kathryn Wilsterman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Professional organizations in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) can use demographic data to quantify recruitment and retention (R&R) of underrepresented groups within their memberships. However, variation in the types of demographic data collected can influence the targeting and perceived impacts of R&R efforts - e.g., giving false signals of R&R for some groups. We obtained demographic surveys from 73 U.S.-affiliated STEM organizations, collectively representing 712,000 members and conference-attendees. We found large differences in the demographic categories surveyed (e.g., disability status, sexual orientation) and the available response options. These discrepancies indicate a lack of consensus regarding the demographic groups that …

The Prevalence Of Red-S Among College Athletes, Johnny Nguyen

Graduate Research Posters

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S) is a phenomenon established by the International Olympic Committee to expand on the previously known condition as the female athlete triad, to include male athletes. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports is a physiological functioning impairment due to athletes with low energy availability. Low energy occurs when athletes expend more energy (calorie burn with activity) than they consume (daily caloric intake) for an extended period. Leading to alter or impaired physiological function. College is a period where individuals gain their independence. Collegiate student-athletes are learning to juggle multiple aspects of their life. Along with excelling …

Applications Of Unsupervised Machine Learning In Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: A Review, Chelsea Parlett-Pelleriti, Elizabeth Stevens, Dennis R. Dixon, Erik J. Linstead

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Large amounts of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) data is created through hospitals, therapy centers, and mobile applications; however, much of this rich data does not have pre-existing classes or labels. Large amounts of data—both genetic and behavioral—that are collected as part of scientific studies or a part of treatment can provide a deeper, more nuanced insight into both diagnosis and treatment of ASD. This paper reviews 43 papers using unsupervised machine learning in ASD, including k-means clustering, hierarchical clustering, model-based clustering, and self-organizing maps. The aim of this review is to provide a survey of the current uses of …

Senior Academic Ranks In Us Anesthesiology Programs: Differences Between Women And Men And Examination Of Independent Factors For Success, Brenda Lee, Farhad Zahedi, Ina Zaimi, Roman Schumann

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Gender equality among faculty is a challenge in academic medicine, including anesthesiology. We investigated the likelihood that several factors were associated with academic success in the United States (US), defined as having achieved a senior academic rank (SAR) in a US anesthesiology training program.

Methods: We collected data available on the Internet on 131 anesthesiology programs, including faculty academic rank, gender, number of faculty, graduate status from an American medical school, fellowship training status, number of residents, number of program fellowships, and geographic location. SAR was defined as either associate professor or professor. Data were analyzed with logistic regression. …