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Lyme Disease Presenting as a Dermal Hypersensitivity Reaction
No full textBackground:
Lyme disease is a well-recognized illness commonly associated with skin manifestations such as erythema migrans. However, atypical presentations can complicate diagnosis, particularly when they deviate from classic clinical and histological findings.
Methods:
We report a potential case of Lyme disease presenting as a dermal hypersensitivity reaction (DHR), with clinical findings resembling urticaria rather than urticarial vasculitis. Skin biopsy findings were reviewed, and Lyme serology testing was performed.
Results:
The biopsy did not demonstrate the characteristic superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate typically seen with erythema migrans. The patient\u27s history included prior tick exposures, but while Lyme IgM was positive, the Lyme IgG testing was negative, suggesting no prior Lyme exposure. With PCR and repeat IgG scheduled the patient was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
Conclusions:
This case highlights an atypical presentation of potential Lyme disease and underscores the importance of considering Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis of DHR, especially in patients with a history of tick exposure. In cases of DHR, a thorough clinical history regarding arthropod bites and tick exposure should guide targeted testing for Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses.
Keywords:
Lyme disease, dermal hypersensitivity reaction, erythema migrans, atypical presentation, tick-borne diseas
Educational behavioral strategies for students who have encountered adverse childhood experiences
No full textAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect approximately 1 in 4 children in the United States, often resulting in behavioral and developmental challenges within school settings. This qualitative case study applied Thomas et al.’s (2019) trauma-informed framework to examine the extent to which 15 Title I elementary teachers in a rural West Virginia district implemented evidence-based practices to address trauma-related behaviors. Using semi-structured virtual interviews and a peer-reviewed protocol, data were thematically analyzed across key domains including trauma screening, interdisciplinary collaboration, positive behavior intervention systems (PBIS), cognitive-behavioral strategies, restorative practices, multitiered systems of support (MTSS), social emotional learning (SEL), and family engagement. Findings revealed although teachers consistently employed relationship-based and restorative practices, formal trauma screening tools were rarely used, and MTSS implementation lacked consistency. SEL curricula, particularly Mind Up, were increasingly adopted to meet students\u27 emotional and behavioral needs. Teachers reported relying on both informal and formal cognitive-behavioral strategies, favoring instructional over punitive responses. Although collaborations with ACEs-related professionals were valued, there was a clear desire for more structured partnerships. Family engagement emerged as both promising and complex, and teachers cited gaps in resources, and systemic support as barriers. The data from this study can guide district leaders in supporting professional development and resource allocation aimed at strengthening trauma-informed practices in schools
Ingesting and inhaling: understanding the synergistic effects of high-fat diet and nicotine e-vape on the brain and metabolic health
No full textSmoking is a major public health concern. Despite decades of accumulated evidence of the negative health consequences, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with about 500,000 deaths each year. Whereas the use of combustible cigarettes has declined in the United States, the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has increased drastically. Nicotine, the psychoactive ingredient in tobacco and ENDS products, has been shown to induce its reinforcing properties by directly activating dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons within the ventral tegmental area. It is well-documented that the activation of the ventral tegmental area by nicotine stimulates the release of dopamine, which projects to the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. In addition to its neurophysiological complications, the usage of nicotine-containing products is associated with chronic diseases such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes. The surge in the mortality rate and comorbidities associated with smoking has prompted efforts to identify factors that enhance nicotine abuse liability. One of the factors currently under investigation is obesity-inducing diets (e.g. high-fat and high-sugar diets). Preliminary findings suggest that excessive consumption of obesity-inducing diets could cause neuroadaptive changes in the reward pathway, potentially influencing drug use. Despite this knowledge, few studies have examined the exact neurochemical mechanisms mediating high-fat diet-induced obesity and nicotine addiction in preclinical models. To address this limitation, Chapters 1 and 2 of this dissertation review the neurobiological properties of nicotine and obesity through the lens of the dopamine reward pathway. In Chapter 3, we examine the influence of high-fat diet on nicotine reinforcement- and motivation-related behavior in a model system that mimics human vaping. In Chapter 4, we explore the synergistic effects of obesogenic diet and vaporized nicotine exposure on ventral tegmental area dopamine physiology, cell integrity, and metabolic health in adult mice. Additionally, this dissertation investigates whether nicotine doses and/or popular flavoring additives found in nicotine-containing products mediate vaping-related behaviors in diet-induced obese adult mice. With the rise in fast-food culture and the continued high numbers of smoking-related deaths, these findings offer an insight into the exact mechanisms modulating comorbid conditions such as obesity and smoking (including vaping)
Dexmedetomidine adjunctive ketamine to enhance attenuation of methamphetamine-induced agitation
No full textAgitation caused by methamphetamine (METH) use is a common and serious issue in emergency settings. While sedatives like benzodiazepines are often used, they can be dangerous, especially when breathing is already compromised due to METH-opioid co-exposure. Dexmedetomidine (DEXMED) is a safer alternative that provides sedation without major effects on breathing, but it can lower heart rate and blood pressure when used at high doses. This thesis project focused on finding whether combining low-dose DEXMED with ketamine (KET) can safely and effectively manage METH-induced agitation in a rat model. Using METH to trigger hyperactivity, we will test whether this combination could reduce agitation and offer better sedation than DEXMED alone while possibly yielding a more so ideal side effect profile than that of higher DEXMED doses
Finding evidence for understanding the level of technology integration by teacher candidates: a mixed methods analysis to support CAEP standards
No full textAccrediting bodies, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), are increasingly focused on how teacher preparation programs integrate technology. As part of the Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) teacher candidates demonstrate essential classroom skills through submission of teaching videos, lesson plans, and reflections. This study examined which of these three document types provides the strongest evidence of technology use among teacher candidates. Using a technology integration model, the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM), this study quantitatively assessed the levels of technology integration and characteristics of the learning environment visible in a stratified random sample of 150 submitted documents. The study found that lesson plans provided the strongest evidence of technology use among teacher candidates. The study also found that technology use was concentrated at the Entry level and most common within the Active learning environment across all submissions. Interviews to gather insights from TPA evaluators regarding their experiences with identifying technology use in candidate submissions provided qualitative data. Interview participants confirmed the visibility of teacher candidate technology use evidence was most apparent in lesson plans, and more difficult to identify in videos and reflections. Evaluators offered several strategies to enhance technology integration and assessment, such as using the TIM to support lesson planning, cross-verifying data with other existing evaluation processes, incorporating virtual observations during student teaching, conducting follow-up surveys with teacher candidates, aligning TPA standards with International Society for Technology in Education Standards (ISTE), and reinstating and modifying a technology course. Recommendations for future research include replication of the study, using a targeted survey to conduct a longitudinal study, using a triangulation approach to analyze multiple teaching documents, in-depth examination of a structured technology model, investigating the relationship between a structured technology integration model and how teacher candidates’ planning and decision-making evolve, and looking at the long-term impact of early introduction of a technology model in a teacher preparation program
20251020: Vocational Tech Materials
No full textThese items include materials from the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University from 1972-1980. Items were received in prior to 1990 but were processed in 2025. Materials in this collection contain information about the votech and other vocational programs either at Marshall or as a strategic guidance of programs offered at Marshall during the collection\u27s date range era. Please download inventory for full list of contents
20251029: Registrar, 1939-2016
No full textThese items include materials from the Office of the Registrar. Items were received in 2025 and include Marshall College Bulletins and Catalogs, primarily, from 1939-2016. Please download the finding aid for a full list of contents
