Does Temporal Lobe Resection Cure Seizures in Epileptics?

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not temporal lobe resection cures seizures in epileptics. Study Design: Systematic review of three English language, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials, published between 2001 and 2012 Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials comparing temporal lobe resection surgery to antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of epileptic seizures, and one randomized controlled trial comparing 3.5 cm temporal lobe resection to 2.5 cm temporal lobe resection in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Studies were obtained by the author through the PubMed database. Outcomes Measured: Primary outcome measured by the three studies was control of seizures, and additional outcomes measured included quality of life and cognitive function. Results: The three randomized controlled trials found that temporal lobe resection treatment significantly decreased the frequency and severity of seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy that was refractory to pharmacotherapy. Two of the three studies showed that temporal lobe resection resulted in significantly higher rates of freedom from seizures and significantly higher quality of life as compared to treatment with antiepileptic drugs alone. All three studies showed that surgery poses an increased risk of complications and adverse events, including decline in cognitive function. Conclusions: Data suggests that temporal lobe resection surgery is more effective than medical therapy alone in decreasing the frequency and severity of seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy that is refractory to pharmacotherapy. Temporal lobe resection is not a definitive cure for seizures in epileptics, but research presented in these three studies shows that surgery is superior to pharmacotherapy alone in controlling seizures. Further research is needed to determine long-term efficacy in seizure reduction post-surgically, as well further assessment of cost and safety of temporal lobe resection

Understanding the Personality of a Coworker

The concept of personal intelligence (PI) refers to an individual\u27s capacity to accurately reason about personality and personality-related information in themselves and others (Mayer, 2008). Understanding personal intelligence has various practical applications, including the workplace, where it has been shown that individuals with higher PI exhibit lower levels of counterproductive work behavior and perceive their work environments as more supportive (Mayer et al., 2018). In a recent study by Peters and colleagues (2021), participants were asked to describe their interactions with difficult coworkers, and their sophistication in the narratives was evaluated by judges. The study found that there was a positive correlation between sophistication and personal intelligence (r = .43, p \u3c .001) (Munro, 2022), suggesting that personal intelligence is detectable in employees. Munro\u27s findings were consistent with Peters et al. (2021), further supporting the notion that personal intelligence is discernible in employees and linked to the construct of personal intelligence. The present study broadens the scope of Munro\u27s sample, augmenting it with an expanded cohort, and introduces refined analyses of the dataset

Impact of Informal STEM Learning

Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) has been the conceptual framework for a significant amount of research assessing changes in self-efficacy and interest in learning experiences for students (Lent, Brown & Hackett, 1994). This theory focuses on the development and influences of occupational choice (Brown & Lent, 2006) and helps to explain how one develops occupational interests to make career choices (Lent, Brown & Hackett 2002; Brown & Lent 2006). Variables that affect career development include self-efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, and personal goals (Brown & Lent, 2006). When students have high selfefficacy and positive outcome expectations, they tend to develop interest in an activity, and subsequent goals that increases involvement in the activity (Brown & Lent, 2006). An informal STEM learning experience can be defined as “lifelong learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that takes place across a multitude of designed settings and experiences outside of the formal classroom” (CAISE, 2017). These types of authentic learning experiences might lead to a greater interest, higher self-efficacy and positive outcomes in the areas of STEM, and therefore an increase in STEM academic and career decisionmaking. This study aims to determine how an informal STEM learning experience impacts interest, self-efficacy, and career intentions in STEM.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2023/1039/thumbnail.jp

Together We Stand, Divided We Fall: Formulating An Interprofessional Care Plan For Alex Simpson

Research poster documenting the following project: Utilizing interprofessional team immersion to develop interprofessional skills among other health care professions to plan for the best course of care for our patient, Alex Simpson.https://dune.une.edu/cecespring2020/1011/thumbnail.jp

Quantifying Ant Populations to Measure Biodiversity in Morehead, KY

To effectively conduct conservation efforts, we can use biodiversity to assess the condition of our environment. Biodiversity has been commonly defined as the variety and variability among living organisms within an area. When our ecosystems are at their best, they clean water, purify air, maintain soil, regulate climate, recycle nutrients, and provide food. Everything within an ecosystem is interdependent, so biodiversity is an important factor and indicator of environmental health. Indicators help us to measure and monitor pressures or threats in land and water use, habitat loss or invasive species, the state of species and ecosystems, the conservation response, and the benefits to people. Many different organisms have been used to assess biodiversity, such as plants, mammals, birds, butterflies, beetles, etc. Ants are a great candidate for biodiversity research, as they are found in many types of habitats, are diverse, extremely numerous, fulfill a variety of ecological roles, are sensitive to environmental change, and are conveniently easy to collect. Our most used method of collection is sorting through leaf litter. We collected leaf litter from three sites in Rowan County: Eagle Lake, Stony Cove, and Rodburn Hollow. We used Berlese funnels to extract the specimens from the litter, organized, identified, and counted them in order to analyze the biodiversity. Over the past three years we have collected almost 7,000 ants, including 18 genera. We plan to use the Shannon and Simpson indices to better evaluate alpha and beta diversity among our three study sites using ants.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2022/1030/thumbnail.jp

Healthcare providers’ experiences screening for intimate partner violence among migrant and seasonal farmworking women: A phenomenological study

Background Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population, but few health-care providers screen patients for IPV. While researchers have examined screening practices in health-care settings, none have exclusively focused on MSFW women. Objective The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of health-care providers who have screened for and/ or addressed IPV with MSFW women patients. Design Researchers utilized descriptive phenomenology to capture the lived experiences of these health-care providers. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-stage framework. Setting and participants Interviews were conducted with nine female participants – all of whom: (i) were clinically active health-care providers within the MSFW community, (ii) were bilingual in English and Spanish or had access to a translator, (iii) had treated MSFW patients who had experienced IPV and (iv) were at least 18 years of age. Results Participants’ experiences were reflected in four emergent themes: (i) provider-centered factors, (ii) patient-centered factors, (iii) clinic-centered factors and (iv) community-centered factors. Participants described barriers to establish routine IPV assessment, decrease patient ambivalence and increase on-site support and community resources. Discussion and conclusions This study aimed to generate a greater understanding of the experiences of health-care providers with screening for and addressing IPV with MSFW patients. Implications and recommendations for research, clinical practice and policy are provided

Integrin α6 and EGFR Signaling Converge at Mechanosensitive Calpain 2

Cells sense and respond to mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) via integrins. ECM stiffness is known to enhance integrin clustering and response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), but we lack information on when or if these mechanosensitive growth factor receptors and integrins converge intracellularly. Towards closing this knowledge gap, we combined a biomaterial platform with transcriptomics, molecular biology, and functional assays to link integrin-mediated mechanosensing and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. We found that high integrin α6 expression controlled breast cancer cell adhesion and motility on soft, laminin-coated substrates, and this mimicked the response of cells to EGF stimulation. The mechanisms that drove both mechanosensitive cell adhesion and motility converged on calpain 2, an intracellular protease important for talin cleavage and focal adhesion turnover. EGF stimulation enhanced adhesion and motility on soft substrates, but required integrin α6 and calpain 2 signaling. In sum, we identified a new role for integrin α6 mechanosensing in breast cancer, wherein cell adhesion to laminin on soft substrates mimicked EGF stimulation. We identified calpain 2, downstream of both integrin α6 engagement and EGFR phosphorylation, as a common intracellular signaling node, and implicate integrin α6 and calpain 2 as potential targets to inhibit the migration of cancer cells in stiff tumor environments

A Biomaterial Screening Approach Reveals Microenvironmental Mechanisms of Drug Resistance

Traditional drug screening methods lack features of the tumor microenvironment that contribute to resistance. Most studies examine cell response in a single biomaterial platform in depth, leaving a gap in understanding how extracellular signals such as stiffness, dimensionality, and cell–cell contacts act independently or are integrated within a cell to affect either drug sensitivity or resistance. This is critically important, as adaptive resistance is mediated, at least in part, by the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor microenvironment. We developed an approach to screen drug responses in cells cultured on 2D and in 3D biomaterial environments to explore how key features of ECM mediate drug response. This approach uncovered that cells on 2D hydrogels and spheroids encapsulated in 3D hydrogels were less responsive to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-targeting drugs sorafenib and lapatinib, but not cytotoxic drugs, compared to single cells in hydrogels and cells on plastic. We found that transcriptomic differences between these in vitro models and tumor xenografts did not reveal mechanisms of ECM-mediated resistance to sorafenib. However, a systems biology analysis of phospho-kinome data uncovered that variation in MEK phosphorylation was associated with RTK-targeted drug resistance. Using sorafenib as a model drug, we found that co-administration with a MEK inhibitor decreased ECM-mediated resistance in vitro and reduced in vivo tumor burden compared to sorafenib alone. In sum, we provide a novel strategy for identifying and overcoming ECM-mediated resistance mechanisms by performing drug screening, phospho-kinome analysis, and systems biology across multiple biomaterial environments