Translational Medical Research Commons^™

The Importance Of Contrast Sensitivity, Color Vision, And Electrophysiological Testing In Clinical And Occupational Settings, Frances Silva

Theses & Dissertations

Visual acuity (VA) is universally accepted as the gold standard metric for ocular vision and function. Contrast sensitivity (CS), color vision, and electrophysiological testing for clinical and occupational settings are warranted despite being deemed ancillary and minimally utilized by clinicians. These assessments provide essential information to subjectively and objectively quantify and obtain optimal functional vision. They are useful for baseline data and monitoring hereditary and progressive ocular conditions and cognitive function. The studies in this dissertation highlight the value of contrast sensitivity, color vision, and cone specific electrophysiological testing, as well as the novel metrics obtained with potential practical clinical …

Neurotropic Manifestations As A Potential Risk Factor For Schizophrenia Following In Utero Exposure To Sars-Cov-2, Mir Ali R Talpur, Omar H. Elsayed, Rif S. El-Mallakh

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: COVID-19 infection is associated with neurologic and psychiatric morbidity that suggests a direct effect of the virus or secondary effect of an inflammatory process. These neuropsychiatric consequences may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia in the offspring of women who become infected with COVID-19 during their pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a directed narrative review of the literature focusing on the proposed pathophysiological processes that lead to schizophrenia and known pathological consequences of COVID-19 infection.

Results: Schizophrenia in adult offspring has been associated with maternal infections during pregnancy by a wide range of respiratory and neurotropic pathogens. Spikes in the incidence …

Interpreting P Values In 2023, Jennifer K. Homa-Bonell

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

If recent experiences shared among the biostatistician community are indicative of a sea change in research, then a most-welcome culture shift in dialogue surrounding the proper use and interpretation of the P value, which measures statistical probability, is underway. This editorial strives to offer guidance for researchers who would like to incorporate more comprehensive reporting in their research, namely, a broader discussion that goes beyond looking at the P value by itself and includes effect size estimates, confidence intervals, and clinical implications when interpreting quantitative results. Another evolving development in clinical research is the preferred language when referring …

Calcium Carbonate As A Potential Intervention To Prevent Labor Dystocia: Narrative Review Of The Literature, Sabahat Raees, Marie Forgie, Rita Mitchell, Emily Malloy

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Anecdotally, there are attestations from clinicians of calcium carbonate being used successfully for laboring people experiencing labor dystocia. The goal of this narrative review was to provide a synopsis of pertinent literature on calcium use in obstetrics to explore the potential benefit of calcium carbonate as a simple and low-cost intervention for prevention or treatment of labor dystocia. To answer how calcium and carbonate physiologically contribute to myometrium contractility, we conducted a literature search of English-language peer-reviewed articles, with no year limitation, consisting of the keywords “calcium,” “calcium carbonate,” “calcium gluconate,” “pregnancy,” “hemorrhage,” and variations of “smooth muscle contractility” and …

Professionalism And Moral Injury In A Capitalist Healthcare System, James Peter Meza Md, Phd, Kassem Soufan Md, Michael Francis Do, Abbass Berjaoui Md

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

Professionalism cautions against profit while capitalism exists for profit. This case is a structural analysis of capitalism in a clinical setting that reveals physicians to be simultaneously wage laborers and professionals. Capitalism generates profit. Professionalism views profit as a conflict of interest that erodes trust in the doctor-patient relationship. Managing these conflicting values causes moral injury for physicians, which is a driver of physician burnout.

Mechanical Thrombectomy For Intermediate Risk Pulmonary Embolism, James Peter Meza, Marissa Costello Md, Angela Moughni Md, Nicholus Yee Md

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

An informed consent article using a set of publications to develop an informed consent conversation for a patient with an acute pulmonary embolism being considered for pulmonary artery thrombolysis.

On The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Increased Glucose Availability Sensitizes Pancreatic Cancer To Chemotherapy, Ali Vaziri-Gohar, Jonathan J. Hue, Ata Abbas, Hallie J. Graor, Omid Hajihassani, Mehrdad Zarei, George Titomihelakis, John Feczko, Moeez Rathore, Sylwia Chelstowska, Alexander W. Loftus, Rui Wang, Mahsa Zarei, Maryam Goudarzi, Renliang Zhang, Belinda Willard, Li Zhang, Adam Kresak, Joseph E. Willis, Gi-Ming Wang, Curtis Tatsuoka, Joseph M. Salvino, Ilya Bederman, Henri Brunengraber, Costas A. Lyssiotis, Jonathan R. Brody, Jordan M. Winter

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Effective alternative therapies have yet to emerge, as chemotherapy remains the best available systemic treatment. However, the discovery of safe and available adjuncts to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy can still improve survival outcomes. We show that a hyperglycemic state substantially enhances the efficacy of conventional single- and multi-agent chemotherapy regimens against PDAC. Molecular analyses of tumors exposed to high glucose levels reveal that the expression of GCLC (glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit), a key component of glutathione biosynthesis, is diminished, which in turn augments oxidative anti-tumor damage by chemotherapy. Inhibition of GCLC phenocopies …

Implementation Barriers Of Multidisciplinary Care In Chronic Kidney Disease Through A Cfir Framework: A Narrative Review, Max J. Goodman, Amalia Jereczek

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

Introduction: 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, which affects multiple organ systems and requires multidisciplinary care. Multidisciplinary care is an inherently broad and complex topic, and while it is being implemented across healthcare in the United States and abroad, multidisciplinary care outcomes are poor in this patient population. It is possible that there exists gaps in the literature regarding implementation and replication of multidisciplinary care interventions such that healthcare practices are unable to fully take advantage of multidisciplinary care publications for chronic kidney disease. This narrative review utilizes the five domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research …

Comparison Of The Biological Basis For Non-Hiv Transmission To Hiv-Exposed Seronegative Individuals, Disease Non-Progression In Hiv Long-Term Non-Progressors And Elite Controllers, Joseph Hokello, Priya Tyagi, Shelly Dimri, Adhikarimayum Lakhikumar Sharma, Mudit Tyagi

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (HESIs) are a small fraction of persons who are multiply exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but do not exhibit serological or clinical evidence of HIV infection. In other words, they are groups of people maintaining an uninfected status for a long time, even after being exposed to HIV several times. The long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), on the other hand, are a group of HIV-infected individuals (approx. 5%) who remain clinically and immunologically stable for an extended number of years without combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Meanwhile, elite controllers are comprise a much lower number (0.5%) of HIV-infected persons …

Crosstalk Between Diacylglycerol Kinase And Protein Kinase A In The Regulation Of Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation, Miguel Angel Hernandez-Lara, Santosh Kumar Yadav, Stanley Conaway, Sushrut D. Shah, Raymond B. Penn, Phd, Deepak A. Deshpande, Phd

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) regulates intracellular signaling and functions by converting diacylglycerol (DAG) into phosphatidic acid. We previously demonstrated that DGK inhibition attenuates airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation, however, the mechanisms mediating this effect are not well established. Given the capacity of protein kinase A (PKA) to effect inhibition of ASM cells growth in response to mitogens, we employed multiple molecular and pharmacological approaches to examine the putative role of PKA in the inhibition of mitogen-induced ASM cell proliferation by the small molecular DGK inhibitor I (DGK I).

Methods: We assayed cell proliferation using CyQUANT™ NF assay, protein expression …

A Review Of Isomirs In Colorectal Cancer, Molly A. Lausten, Bruce M. Boman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

As advancements in sequencing technology rapidly continue to develop, a new classification of microRNAs has occurred with the discovery of isomiRs, which are relatively common microRNAs with sequence variations compared to their established template microRNAs. This review article seeks to compile all known information about isomiRs in colorectal cancer (CRC), which has not, to our knowledge, been gathered previously to any great extent. A brief overview is given of the history of microRNAs, their implications in colon cancer, the canonical pathway of biogenesis and isomiR classification. This is followed by a comprehensive review of the literature that is available on …

Building Up Cal Poly Global Brigades Student Group: Reflections On Designing And Implementing One Undergraduate-Led Community Info Session, Caroline Nicole Smith, Jafra D. Thomas

Kinesiology and Public Health

Intro: Global Brigades, an international non-profit organization, trains college students and other pre-professionals in community-based health promotion by mobilizing community service trips around the world, which are taught and led by local community groups. Cal Poly’s Global Brigades student group was founded in 2018, and thus far, they have carried out three annual, medically-focused brigades to Honduras (two in-person, one virtual).

Purpose: The aim of this report is to present the findings of one experiential senior project to promote Cal Poly’s Global Brigades student group^[1] (conducted January to March 2023).

Methods: The student designed material for …

Test-Retest Reliability Of Virtual Reality Devices In Quantifying For Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect, Prithul Sarker, Nasif Zaman, Joshua Ong, Phani Paladugu, Molly Aldred, Ethan Waisberg, Andrew G. Lee, Alireza Tavakkoli

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Background: The swinging flashlight test (SFT) is one of the most prominent clinical tests for detecting the relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). A positive RAPD localizes the lesion to the affected afferent pupil pathway and is a critical part of any ophthalmic exam. Testing for an RAPD, however, can be challenging (especially when small), and there is significant intrarater and interrater variability.

Methods: Prior studies have shown that the pupillometer can improve the detection and measurement of RAPD. In our previous research, we have demonstrated an automatic SFT by utilizing virtual reality (VR), named VR-SFT. We applied our methods to …

The Effects Of Dual Iqos And Cigarette Smoke Exposure On Airway Epithelial Cells: Implications For Lung Health And Respiratory Disease Pathogenesis, Pritam Saha, Siddhi Jain, Ipsita Mukherjee, Samir R. Panda, Amir A. Zeki, V.G.M. Naidu, Pawan Sharma

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Background Cigarette smoking remains a primary cause of chronic lung diseases. After a steady decline, smoking rates have recently increased especially with the introduction of newer electronic nicotine delivery devices, and it is also emerging that dual- or poly-product usage is on the rise. Additionally, with the introduction of IQOS (a heated tobacco product) globally, its impact on human health needs to be investigated. In this study we tested if dual exposure (cigarette smoke (CS)+IQOS) is detrimental to lung epithelial cells when compared with CS or IQOS exposure alone.

Methods Human airway epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were exposed to either CS, …

Comparing Performance Of Spectral Image Analysis Approaches For Detection Of Cellular Signals In Time-Lapse Hyperspectral Imaging Fluorescence Excitation-Scanning Microscopy, Marina Parker, Naga S. Annamdevula, Donald Pleshinger, Zara Ijaz, Josephine Jalkh, Raymond Penn, Deepak Deshpande, Thomas C. Rich, Silas J. Leavesley

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology has been applied in a range of fields for target detection and mixture analysis. While HSI was originally developed for remote sensing applications, modern uses include agriculture, historical document authentication, and medicine. HSI has also shown great utility in fluorescence microscopy. However, traditional fluorescence microscopy HSI systems have suffered from limited signal strength due to the need to filter or disperse the emitted light across many spectral bands. We have previously demonstrated that sampling the fluorescence excitation spectrum may provide an alternative approach with improved signal strength. Here, we report on the use of excitation-scanning HSI …

Gp38 As A Vaccine Target For Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Gabrielle Scher, Dennis A. Bente, Megan C. Mears, Maria N.B. Cajimat, Matthias J. Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus that causes severe hemorrhagic disease in humans. There is a great need for effective vaccines and therapeutics against CCHFV for humans, as none are currently internationally approved. Recently, a monoclonal antibody against the GP38 glycoprotein protected mice against lethal CCHFV challenge. To show that GP38 is required and sufficient for protection against CCHFV, we used three inactivated rhabdoviral-based CCHFV-M vaccines, with or without GP38 in the presence or absence of the other CCHFV glycoproteins. All three vaccines elicited strong antibody responses against the respective CCHFV glycoproteins. However, only vaccines containing GP38 …

Protocol Of A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Assessing Transperineal Prostate Biopsy To Reduce Infectiouscomplications, Jim Hu, Alec Zhu, Andrew Vickers, Mohamad Ezzeddine Allaf, Behfar Ehdaie, Anthony Schaeffer, Christian Pavlovich, Ashley E. Ross, David A. Green, Gerald Wang, Serge Ginzburg, Jeffrey S. Montgomery, Arvin George, John N. Graham, Benjamin T. Ristau, Andres Correa, Jonathan E. Shoag, Keith J. Kowalczyk, Tenny R. Zhang, E.M. Schaeffer

Einstein Health Papers

Introduction Approximately one million prostate biopsies are performed annually in the USA, and most are performed using a transrectal approach under local anaesthesia. The risk of postbiopsy infection is increasing due to increasing antibiotic resistance of rectal flora. Single-centre studies suggest that a clean, percutaneous transperineal approach to prostate biopsy may have a lower risk of infection. To date, there is no high-level evidence comparing transperineal versus transrectal prostate biopsy. We hypothesise that transperineal versus transrectal prostate biopsy under local anaesthesia has a significantly lower risk of infection, similar pain/discomfort levels and comparable detection of non-low-grade prostate cancer.

Methods and …

Noninvasively Monitoring Of Cerebral Blood Flow In Piglet Models Of Graded Hemorrhage And Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Injury Using Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy And Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Randolph Sinahon, Danielle Shoshany, Shadi Malaeb, Mert Deniz Polat, Meltem Izzetoglu, Kurtulus Izzetoglu

St. Chris Research Day

No abstract provided.

Functional Evaluation Of A Novel Rpl30 Mutation And Its Role In Diamond Blackfan Anemia (Dba), Alexandra Prosser, Alexandria Cockrell, Danny Miller, Chris Seidel, Tamara Potapova, John M. Perry, Midhat Farooqi, Erin M. Guest, Jennifer Gerton

Research Days

Background: Bone marrow failure is life-threatening and requires prompt, intensive treatment, which is dependent upon identification of genetic drivers. Although there has been investigation into associated genetic mutations, especially in Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), the relationship between genotype and phenotype remains unclear.DBA has been identified as a ribosomopathy, also known as a disease associated with defects in ribosome biogenesis. We identified a novel heterozygous variant (c.167+769C >T) in the noncoding region of RPL30 in a patient with clinical diagnosis of DBA. Clinical RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) suggests the variant generates a novel splice acceptor site resulting in truncated RPL30 transcripts. Elucidation …