Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Human Microbiomes For Disease Prediction And Treatment, Henok Ayalew Tegegne, Tor C Savidge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The human microbiome consists of diverse microorganisms that inhabit various body sites. As these microbes are increasingly recognized as key determinants of health, there is significant interest in leveraging individual microbiome profiles for early disease detection, prevention, and drug efficacy prediction. However, the complexity of microbiome data, coupled with conflicting study outcomes, has hindered its integration into clinical practice. This challenge is partially due to demographic and technological biases that impede the development of reliable disease classifiers. Here, we examine recent advances in 16S rRNA and shotgun-metagenomics sequencing, along with bioinformatics tools designed to enhance microbiome data integration for precision …

Validating A Novel Capability Of Assessing Pathways Of Animal Water Gain And Loss, Zachary T. Steele, Karen Caceres, Zachary A. David, Lisa M. Shollenberger, Alexander R. Gerson, Seth D. Newsome, John P. Whiteman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding variations in the routes by which wild animals gain and lose water is challenging, and common methods require longitudinal sampling, which can be prohibitive. However, a new approach uses Δ′¹⁷O_BW (Δ′¹⁷O of animal body water), calculated from measurements of δ′¹⁷O and δ′¹⁸O in a single sample, as a natural tracer of water flux. Δ′¹⁷O_BW is promising, but its relationship to organismal variables such as metabolic rate and water intake have not been validated. Here, we continuously measured oxygen influxes and effluxes of captive deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and manipulated their water intake and metabolic rate. We used …

A Murine Model Of Gestational Diabetes Reveals Masld Risk And Alterations In Markers Of Hepatic Mitochondrial Metabolism, Grace E Shryack, Alexa A Krause, Simone Hernandez Ruano, Laura C Schulz, Kathleen A Pennington, R Scott Rector

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) impacts roughly 1 in 7 pregnancies and results in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in 30% of these women. Nonetheless, there exists a dearth of investigation into the relationship between GDM and MASLD. Here, we sought to investigate the potential role of hepatic mitochondrial function in GDM and MASLD.

Methods: One week prior to conception and throughout pregnancy, mice were fed either a low-fat control diet (CD) or a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet to induce an established model of GDM. Maternal livers were collected at day 0, 6.5, 13.5 and 17.5 of pregnancy. Hepatic …

Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The safety and quality of tattoo and permanent makeup (PMU) pigments are subject to increased scrutiny due to their potential to cause adverse effects like anaphylaxis, photoallergic responses, and long-term toxicity. These undesirable reactions governed by their chemical structure possess varied physicochemical properties and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) characteristics. These properties control the pigment behavior during application, stability, and interaction with human tissue. The correlation between these physicochemical characteristics and ADME parameters of tattoo/PMU pigments remain under-explored despite the current advances in toxicology. Our study aims to address and bridge the gap by leveraging open-access QSAR computational toxicology …

Utilizing Probiotics To Reduce Diet Induced Dysbiosis And Inflammation In Myelodysplastic Syndromes Susceptible Mice, Tejaswee Bolloju

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Human gut microbiota is helpful in digestion by helping in breaking complex carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers and many other physiological functions. The Western diet which is high in fat and carbo hydrate percentage alters gut microbiota and leads to growth of pathogenic bacteria and altered gut flora referred to as dysbiosis, which in turn cause gut inflammation and increased permeability of gut and it causes translocation of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which causes low grade systemic inflammation. Disturbance in gut microbiota correlated with metabolic conditions like obesity and leads to progression of hematologic diseases like Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are …

New Genetic Tools To Define The Pathophysiology Of Inborn Errors Of Cobalamin Metabolism Impacting Mammalian Development, Tiffany Chern, Xuefei Tong, William G Bauer, David J Quispe-Parra, Xia Gao, Kamryn N Gerner-Mauro, Ross A Poché

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The congenital, autosomal recessive disorder combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria - cblC type, is the most common inborn error of cobalamin (vitamin B12) metabolism. In its early onset form, cblC profoundly impacts fetal development of the central nervous system, hematopoietic system, and other tissues. Previously, mutations in the MMACHC gene, which encodes a protein required for the intracellular trafficking and enzymatic processing of free cobalamin into active coenzyme forms, were found to cause cblC. These coenzymes are required in two metabolic pathways which produce either succinyl-CoA in the mitochondria or methionine in the cytosol. However, due to a lack of …

A Reflection-Spectroscopy Measured Skin Carotenoid Score Strongly Correlates With Plasma Concentrations Of All Major Dietary Carotenoid Species Except For Lycopene, Qiang Wu, Cheryl Webb Cherry, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Melissa N Laska, Neal Craft, Nancy E Moran

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Skin carotenoids can be measured non-invasively using spectroscopy methods to provide a biomarker of total dietary carotenoid and carotenoid-rich fruit and vegetable intake. However, the degree to which skin carotenoid biomarkers reflect intakes of specific carotenoids must be determined for specific devices. Previously, findings were mixed regarding the correlation between reflection spectroscopy (RS)-assessed skin carotenoids and individual plasma carotenoid concentrations. The current study expands on prior analyses to examine the cross-sectional associations between adult RS-assessed skin carotenoids and individual carotenoid species intakes and plasma concentrations, controlling for potential covariates. We hypothesized that RS-assessed skin carotenoid scores would strongly correlate with …

Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite And T3 Profiles Of Orphaned Elephants Differ From Non-Orphaned Elephants In Zambia, Daniella E Chusyd, Janine L Brown, Steve Paris, Nicole Boisseau, Webster Mwaanga, Moses Kasongo, Lisa Olivier, Stephanie L Dickinson, Bailey Ortyl, Tessa Steiniche, Steven N Austad, David B Allison, Michael D Wasserman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Elephants provide valuable insight into how early-life adverse events (ELAEs) associate with animal health and welfare because they can live to advanced ages, display extensive cognitive and memory capabilities, and rely heavily on social bonds. Although it is known that African savanna elephants that experienced ELAEs, such as being orphaned due to human activities, have altered behavioral outcomes, little is known regarding the physiological consequences associated with those stressors.

Methods: We compared fecal glucocorticoid (fGCM) and thyroid (fT3) metabolites as well as body condition scores (BCS) in rescued and rehabilitated orphaned (early-dry season: n = 20; late-dry season: n …

Food-Related Behaviors Of Rural (Asaase Kooko) And Peri-Urban (Kaadjanor) Households In Ghana, Prince Kwabena Osei, Megan A Mccrory, Matilda Steiner-Asiedu, Edward Sazonov, Mingui Sun, Wenyan Jia, Tom Baranowski, Gary Frost, Benny Lo, Alex Kojo Anderson

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: "Food-related behaviors" range widely and include food acquisition, storage, cooking, meal sharing, eating practices, among others. Food-related behaviors can influence nutritional status and health outcomes, and likely vary between rural and peri-urban households; however, there is limited documentation on such differences.

Objective: To assess food-related behaviors of rural and peri-urban households in Ghana to inform the design and implementation of a field study to validate passive wearable camera technologies for dietary assessment.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study in rural (Asaase Kokoo) and peri-urban (Kaadjanor) communities, Ghana. Forty key informants (20 rural and 20 peri-urban) were interviewed about …

Regulatory B Cells, The Key Regulator To Induce Immune Tolerance In Organ Transplantation, Jinfeng Liao, Yixin Yang, Jisong Li, Zheng Liu, Siyuan Song, Yu Zeng, Yi Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

In solid organ transplantation, especially renal transplantation, for the induction of immune tolerance, accumulating evidence has revealed that Regulatory B cells (Breg) play a crucial role in stimulating immune tolerance, alleviating immune responses, and improving graft survival. We describe the heterogeneous nature of Bregs, focusing on their defining surface markers and regulatory functions. Meanwhile, the major cytokine secretion function and the correlation between Breg and Treg or other immune checkpoints to balance the immune responses are addressed. Furthermore, we summarized the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways or costimulatory stimuli for the differentiation from naïve B cells. More importantly, we summarized the …

Functional And Traditional Medical Management Of Endometriosis: An Integrative Review, Madison G. Daniels

Senior Honors Theses

Endometriosis, a progressive disease that affects many women worldwide, has been managed primarily through hormonal medication, pain management and surgical intervention. However, there is a growing desire among women to use more natural and holistic methods to control the progression of this disease as well as effectively manage the severe symptoms that accompany it. This integrative review examines the efficacy of functional management as compared to traditional medical management. The pathophysiology of each treatment method and provide statistical evidence as to its efficacy. The progression of the disease, symptom management, and related side effects are all taken into consideration in …

Perspectives On Demyelinating Disease: An Overview Of Multiple Sclerosis, Nathaniel Howard Williams

Senior Honors Theses

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of central nervous system (CNS), primarily concerning oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS and the neurons that are ensheathed in myelin. MS is the most common demyelinating disease, affecting as many as 300,000 yearly in the United States alone. Much debate centers on whether MS onset is primarily caused by autoimmune reactions or intrinsic dysfunction in oligodendrocytes, which prompts an immune-mediated response. Those who review the current literature on MS may become quickly overwhelmed by the volume and variety of available material. The purpose of this review is to present a …

The Effect Of Hypochlorous Acid On Cultured Osteoblast And Escherichia Coli, Cristina Flaquer Fusté

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a naturally occurring compound in neutrophils, has been used as an antimicrobial in wound treatment. Osteoblasts, bone-forming cells, within the bone tissue play a large role in bone fracture healing. Orthopedic infections are challenging to treat and highly morbid, including surgical site infection of arthroplasty procedures or infection in the setting of compound fractures. HOCl is being considered as a surgical antiseptic to decrease infections in orthopedic surgical procedures. This study therefore seeks to determine the effects of HOCl on osteoblasts and E. coli. Cultured osteoblasts were incubated with varying concentrations of HOCl to examine osteoblast …

Reelin Regulation Of Striatal Physiology And Cocaine Reward, Kasey Lynn Brida

All ETDs from UAB

Drugs of abuse activate defined neuronal populations in brain reward structures such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which are thought to promote the enduring synaptic, circuit, and behavioral consequences of drug exposure. While the molecular and cellular effects arising from experience with drugs like cocaine are increasingly well understood, the mechanisms that sculpt NAc neuron participation are largely unknown. Here, we leveraged unbiased single-nucleus transcriptional profiling to identify expression of the secreted glycoprotein Reelin (encoded by the Reln gene) as a marker of cocaine-activated neurons within the rat NAc. Multiplexed in situ detection confirmed selective expression of the immediate early …

Changing Climate, Changing Health: Perspectives From General Population In Mysuru, Lekhashree A, Manirsha P V, Paranthaman Chinnasamy, Srishti Arya, Sunil Kumar D

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Climate change has emerged as a major public health concern, contributing to rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, increasing heat waves, unpredictable rainfall, and deteriorating air quality have intensified climate-sensitive health conditions. This study aims to assess the health impacts of climate change among the general population of Mysuru.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 residents of Mysuru (April–June 2024). Participants were recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was performed using SPSS v26, with descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Among 400 participants, …

Development Of A Mediation Model Of Pain Cognition In Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Daniel M. Sop

Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a hallmark of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and organ damage. While acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) have been extensively studied, the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and its interplay with brain function remain unclear. This dissertation investigates the relationships between cerebral blood flow (CBF), fluid cognition, and pain sensitivity in adults with SCD, utilizing advanced imaging techniques and validated assessment tools.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were employed to measure CBF and brain activity, respectively. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), and …

Scopolamine-Induced Modulation Of Serotonin And Dopamine Transporters Activity: Behavioral And Molecular Insights Into Rapid Antidepressant Action, Deepak Karunakaran

Theses and Dissertations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects over 350 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by profound dysregulation of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) systems that govern mood, reward processing, and motivation. The serotonin transporter (SERT) and dopamine transporter (DAT), both dynamically regulated through phosphorylation, serve as critical determinants of synaptic monoamine signaling. Despite decades of therapeutic development, current antidepressants require 4-6 weeks to achieve efficacy, and approximately one-third to half of patients develop treatment-resistant depression. The emergence of rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine represents a paradigmatic shift, demonstrating symptom relief within hours; however, ketamine's therapeutic potential remains constrained by abuse liability, dissociative …

Establishing A Conventional Linac-Based Electron Flash Beam, Justin Defrancisco

Theses and Dissertations

Problems: A rediscovered radiotherapy technique, FLASH, involves increasing the dose rate to >40 Gy/s. For a given dose, FLASH is shown to decrease the normal tissue complication probability without affecting the tumor control probability. More preclinical studies are necessary to confirm and enable these desirable properties on humans. Current preclinical investigations have diverse constraints, requiring FLASH apparatuses with flexible parameters and accurate control. However, there are limited FLASH platforms available, the existing ones are costly. Our institution is not in possession of any such infrastructure. Even if available, dosimetry and beam control in FLASH are extremely lacking. There is …

A Comparison Of Two Motivational Tasks In Male And Female Rats Under Acute Stress, Stephanie M. Muscott

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Motivation is a complex concept that contributes to or is embedded within many different behaviors. As such, it can be difficult to assess motivation directly, but many researchers have attempted to measure motivation to understand its role in behavior and in diseases associated with a dysregulation of motivation, such as drug addiction or depression. To better understand motivation, behavioral tests frequently use palatable foods to measure motivation as defined by the amount of effort a rat will demonstrate to achieve the reward. Much of research has focused on highly controlled experimental settings, such as lever pressing in an operant box …

Mechanisms And Environmental Factors Shaping The Ecosystem Of Brain Macrophages, Silvia Penati, Simone Brioschi, Zhangying Cai, Claudia Z Han, Marco Colonna

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Brain macrophages encompass two major populations: microglia in the parenchyma and border-associated macrophages (BAMs) in the extra-parenchymal compartments. These cells play crucial roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and immune surveillance. Microglia and BAMs are phenotypically and epigenetically distinct and exhibit highly specialized functions tailored to their environmental niches. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown that both microglia and BAMs originate from the same myeloid progenitor during yolk sac hematopoiesis, but their developmental fates diverge within the brain. Several works have partially unveiled the mechanisms orchestrating the development of microglia and BAMs in both mice and humans; however, many questions remain unanswered. …

A Systematic Review And Evaluation Of Mobile Health Apps Designed For Parents Who Are Preparing Or Caring For Medically Complex Infants, Anne Chevalier Mckechnie, Nellie Munn Swanson, Ratchada Jantraporn, Kristin M Elgersma, Taylor Iwaszko Wagner, Suhyun Park, Anna Trebilcock

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background: Parents learning about their children with medical complexity often use numerous health-related resources, including mobile health applications (mHealth apps). mHealth apps could provide broad access to key information and support, lower healthcare costs, and improve care. The quality of mHealth apps for this population has been a concern, but is currently unknown. The objective of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the quality of publicly available mHealth apps designed for parents who are preparing or caring for medically complex infants.

Methods: A systematic search strategy was applied to identify mHealth apps in the Apple and Google Play …

Reproducibility And Repeatability Of 18f-(2s, 4r)-4-Fluoroglutamine Pet Imaging In Preclinical Oncology Models, Gregory D Ayers, Allison S Cohen, Seong-Woo Bae, Xiaoxia Wen, Alyssa Pollard, Shilpa Sharma, Trey Claus, Adria Payne, Ling Geng, Ping Zhao, Mohammed Noor Tantawy, Seth T Gammon, H Charles Manning

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Measurement of repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) is necessary to realize the full potential of positron emission tomography (PET). Several studies have evaluated the reproducibility of PET using 18F-FDG, the most common PET tracer used in oncology, but similar studies using other PET tracers are scarce. Even fewer assess agreement and R&R with statistical methods designed explicitly for the task. 18F-(2S, 4R)-4-fluoro-glutamine (18F-Gln) is a PET tracer designed for imaging glutamine uptake and metabolism. This study illustrates high reproducibility and repeatability with 18F-Gln for in vivo research.

Methods: Twenty mice bearing colorectal cancer cell line xenografts were injected with ~9 …

Selective Inhibition Of Canonical Stat3 Signaling Suppresses K-Ras Mutant Lung Tumorigenesis And Reinvigorates Anti-Tumor Immunity, Michael J Clowers, Zahraa Rahal, Sung-Nam Cho, Avantika Krishna, Bo Yuan, Leticia G Hamana Zorrilla, T Kris Eckols, Moses M Kasembeli, Samuel Liu, Stephen Peng, Marco Ramos-Castaneda, Annamarie L Thompson, Carlos Ignacio Rodriguez Reyna, Katherine E Larsen, Maria T Grimaldo, Shanshan Deng, Nastaran Karimi, Cody Chou, Walter V Velasco, Melody Zarghooni, Sayan Alekseev, Luisa M Solis Soto, Edwin J Ostrin, Humam Kadara, Suhendan Ekmekcioglu, David J Tweardy, Seyed Javad Moghaddam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: K-ras mutant lung adenocarcinoma (KM-LUAD) is a difficult-to-treat cancer subtype in which chronic inflammation pervades the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Pro-inflammatory pathways dampen the response to treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, necessitating therapies that target this inflammatory signaling network in the TIME. One of the lynchpins of chronic inflammation in KM-LUAD is signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).

Methods: Here, we tested the anti-tumor and early immunotherapeutic efficacy of TTI-101, a selective small-molecule inhibitor of canonical STAT3 signaling, in a K-rasG12D mutant lung cancer mouse model (CC-LR).

Results: Treatment of CC-LR mice with TTI-101 resulted in reduced …

Inhibition Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Transforms Carotid Occlusion-Mediated Benign Oligemia Into De Novo Large Cerebral Infarction, Ha Kim, Jinyong Chung, Jeong Wook Kang, Dawid Schellingerhout, Soo Ji Lee, Hee Jeong Jang, Inyeong Park, Taesu Kim, Dong-Seok Gwak, Ji Sung Lee, Sung-Ha Hong, Kang-Hoon Je, Hee-Joon Bae, Joohon Sung, Eng H Lo, James Faber, Cenk Ayata, Dong-Eog Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Maternal Immune Activation Causes Oligodendrocyte Deficits In The Hypothalamus, Kate Miller

All ETDs from UAB

Maternal immune activation (MIA) refers to the occurrence of an inflammatory immune response during any stage of pregnancy. This manifests as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and can be caused by air pollution, obesity, or viral infection. When this occurs during the first trimester in humans, it increases the offspring’s susceptibility to developing neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ), in males more commonly than females. In addition to behavioral manifestations of neuropsychiatric disorders, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common comorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of three or more symptoms including but not limited to hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and …

Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …

The Bacterial Sensing Nuclear-Oligomerization Domain 2 Receptor In The Brain: Location And Potential Function, Julia Smyth

Dissertations

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-2 (NOD2) is a cytosolic receptor, activated by bacterial peptides that initiates innate immune responses through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Caspase-1 pathways. While the role of NOD2 in inflammation outside the central nervous system (CNS) is well-established, especially in the gastrointestinal system, its expression and function in the brain remain poorly defined. Previous genetic studies suggest a link between NOD2 and neurological and psychiatric conditions, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and schizophrenia. However, information regarding NOD2 expression, localization, and function in the CNS is limited. In this work, we investigated NOD2 expression, localization, and regulation …

Upregulation Of Delta Opioid Receptor By Meningeal Interleukin-10 Prevents Relapsing Pain, Kufreobong E Inyang, Jaewon Sim, Kimberly B Clark, Matan Geron, Karli Monahan, Christine Evans, Patrick O'Connell, Sophie Laumet, Bo Peng, Jiacheng Ma, Cobi J Heijnen, Robert Dantzer, Grégory Scherrer, Annemieke Kavelaars, Matthew Bernard, Yasser A Aldhamen, Joseph K Folger, Alexis Bavencoffe, Geoffroy Laumet

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic pain often includes periods of transient amelioration and even remission that alternate with severe relapsing pain. While most research on chronic pain has focused on pain development and maintenance, there is a critical unmet need to better understand the mechanisms that underlie pain remission and relapse. We found that interleukin (IL)-10, a pain resolving cytokine, is produced by resident macrophages in the spinal meninges during remission from pain and signaled to IL-10 receptor-expressing sensory neurons. Using unbiased RNA-sequencing, we identified that IL-10 upregulated expression and antinociceptive activity of δ-opioid receptor (δOR) in the dorsal root ganglion. Genetic or pharmacological …

Neutrophils Unveiled In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Sheighlah Mcmanus, Priyanka Khare, Maria Teresa S Bertilaccio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This review explores neutrophils' roles in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), highlighting their functions within the immune system. While neutrophils are known for fighting infections, their altered behavior in CLL significantly impacts disease progression. This review notes the reduced phagocytic abilities of neutrophils and the increased formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in patients with CLL. It also examines the effects of CLL treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies, on neutrophils' count and function, stressing the need for improved strategies to manage therapy-induced immune dysfunction. This review also provides detailed information about the interactions between neutrophils and other immune elements …

Protecting Organs-At-Risk In Cancer Therapies Through Temporary Organ Displacement: A Comprehensive Review, Rance B Tino, Michael Li, Amirreza Heshmat, Ayush Suresh, Anasimone Guillaume, Kristy K Brock, Bruno C Odisio, Eugene J Koay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiation therapy (RT) and locoregional ablation are cornerstones of modern oncology, yet their therapeutic potential is frequently limited by the challenge of sparing healthy organs-at-risk (OARs) from treatment-related complications. Temporary organ displacement (TOD) techniques directly address this issue by creating a physical separation using 'spacers' during treatment, thereby minimizing collateral damage while enhancing therapeutic precision. The clinical benefits, including improved tumor control, reduced morbidity, and enhanced survival, are documented across malignancies of the head and neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. To create a unified framework for this evolving field, this comprehensive review provides a systematic classification of TOD techniques based …