Digital Commons Network^™

Sodium Supplementation Algorithm To Promote Growth In Infants Who Are Preterm: Randomized Clinical Trial, Brianna M Liberio, Gregory M Sokol, Hannah Rakow, Kelly Mosesso, Valerie Hole, William W Wong, Shaji K Chacko, Jeffrey L Segar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of an algorithm using urine sodium (Na) concentration to guide dietary Na supplementation compared with standard care to promote growth in infants who are preterm.

Methods: A randomized trial was conducted in 4 neonatal units in Indianapolis, Indiana, involving infants between 250/7 to 296/7 weeks gestation with birthweight > 500 g. Study arms consisted of standard care or use of algorithm beginning at 14 to 17 days postnatal age. The primary outcomes were somatic growth (weight, length, and head circumference) measured by change in Z-score between aged 2 weeks and 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Secondary outcomes …

Astrocytic Sox9 Overexpression In Alzheimer’S Disease Mouse Models Promotes Aβ Plaque Phagocytosis And Preserves Cognitive Function, Dong-Joo Choi, Sanjana Murali, Wookbong Kwon, Junsung Woo, Eun-Ah Christine Song, Yeunjung Ko, Debosmita Sardar, Brittney Lozzi, Yi-Ting Cheng, Michael R Williamson, Teng-Wei Huang, Kaitlyn Sanchez, Joanna Jankowsky, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Astrocytes play essential roles in the brain, and their dysfunction is associated with nearly every form of neurological disease. Despite their ubiquity, knowledge of how astrocytes contribute to disease pathogenesis is incomplete; accordingly, harnessing their biology toward therapeutics remains a major challenge. Here we show that the transcription factor Sox9 plays a context-specific role in maintaining astrocyte function and circuit activity in the aging hippocampus and Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. We found that Sox9 overexpression in astrocytes in AD models clears existing amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and preserves cognitive function. Mechanistically, Sox9 promotes the phagocytosis of Aβ plaques by astrocytes …

Mapping The Structural Connections Between The Anterior Cingulate Cortex And The Insula/Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex.Mapping The Structural Connections Between The Anterior Cingulate Cortex And The Insula/Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex, Wei Tang, Javier Guaje, Shreyas Fadnavis, Sarah R Heilbronner, Eleftherios Garyfallidis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is functionally closely related with the insula and the ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC). The ACC and insula are the main hubs of the salience network, a set of functionally related brain regions involved in detecting salient stimuli and coordinating inter-network communication, while communication between ACC and vlPFC is closely linked to inhibitory control. However, despite strong indirect evidence from nonhuman primate (NHP) tract tracing, the structural connections between the ACC and the insula/vlPFC remain poorly understood in the human brain, in part because standard approaches fail to capture this projection. In this study, we …

Amino Acids And Lean Mass Accretion In Preterm Neonates, Antonio C Ramos Dos Santos, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose of review: This review evaluates recent evidence on how total protein and energy intake, amino acid composition, and nutrient delivery modality influence protein synthesis in preterm neonates, with the goal of informing nutritional strategies to support optimal lean mass accretion and growth.

Recent findings: Preterm neonates exhibit anabolic resistance to feeding due to impaired insulin and amino acid signaling in skeletal muscle. Enteral nutrition, especially fortified human milk, supports better lean mass accretion and neurodevelopment than parenteral nutrition. Intermittent bolus feeding and pulsatile leucine supplementation during continuous feeding further enhance mTORC1-dependent translation initiation signaling and protein synthesis efficiency in …

Psychometric Properties Of A Novel Affective Bias Task And Its Application In Clinical And Nonclinical Populations, Prathik Kalva, Kourtney Kanja, Brian A Metzger, Xiaoxu Fan, Brian Cui, Bailey Pascuzzi, John Magnotti, Madaline Mocchi, Raissa Mathura, Kelly R Bijanki

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

To mitigate limitations in self-reported mood assessments, we introduce a novel affective bias task (ABT). The task quantifies instantaneous emotional state by leveraging the phenomenon of affective bias, in which people interpret external emotional stimuli in a manner consistent with their current emotional state. This study establishes task stability in measuring and tracking depressive symptoms in clinical and non-clinical populations. Initial assessment in a large non-clinical sample established normative ratings. Depressive symptoms were tracked relative to task performance in a non-clinical sample, as well as in a clinical cohort undergoing surgical evaluation for severe epilepsy. In both cohorts, a stronger …

Efficacy And Safety Of Pyrimidine Nucleos(T)Ide Therapy In Thymidine Kinase 2 Deficiency, Michio Hirano, Caterina Garone, Richard Haas, Carmen Paradas, Fernando Scaglia, Irene Rebollo Mesa, Carl Chiang, Anny-Odile Colson, Susan Vanmeter, Cristina Domínguez-González

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) (MIM 609560) is an ultra-rare, autosomal recessive mitochondrial myopathy caused by TK2 variants, leading to mitochondrial DNA depletion and/or multiple deletions. People with thymidine kinase 2 deficiency experience progressive myopathy, bulbar weakness and respiratory insufficiency, often losing the ability to walk, eat and breathe independently. Doxecitine and doxribtimine represents the first approved treatment for patients with thymidine kinase 2 deficiency with age of symptom onset ≤12 years by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency; previously, disease management was limited to supportive care. We investigated the efficacy and safety of pyrimidine …

Reframing Trauma-Informed Care For Refugee And (Im)Migrant Health Systems: From Interpersonal Practice To Structurally Embedded Care, Hyojin Im, Sophia Banu, Aisha Koroma, Sarmaya Mustafayeva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

3d Geometric Modelling And Clinical Validation Of Lower Limb And Preliminary 2-Year Post-Operative Clinical Outcomes Of Neutral Boundary Alignment In Total Knee Arthroplasty, Bruno Violante, Lorenzo Deveza, Francesco Pollara, Giovanni Rusconi, Gianroberto Ferreri, Alessandro Annibaldi, Ilwhan Park

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To introduce a novel three-dimensional (3D) modelling concept for lower limb alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), termed neutral boundary alignment (NBA) and to present preliminary clinical data supporting this physics-based custom alignment strategy.

Methods: NBA is defined as the alignment at which the knee joint line is parallel to the ground during the mid-stance phase of gait, achieving static equilibrium with the NBA axis aligned to gravity. A theoretical geometric model of the lower limb was developed, integrating principles of physics to describe this condition. Preliminary clinical validation was performed using radiographic data from an initial cohort of …

When Targeted Gene Testing Falls Short: Case Report Of A Novel Slc4a3 F347s Genetic Variant Associated With Short Qt Syndrome, Chelsea A Boyd, Tyler J Novy, Taylor A Beecroft-Dawson, Connor A Bell, Emily M Bland, Christina Y Miyake

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Gender-Specific Behavior Reductions In Spontaneous Locomotive And Rearing In A Rat Model Of Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Study, Serena Jiyeon Kim, Kevin Cao, Patrick M Dougherty, Kathleen E Mcdonough, Saba Javed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from agents like paclitaxel causes sensory loss and functional impairment, with limited treatment options. To better model patient-relevant outcomes, we used open field video tracking in rodents to assess gait, anxiety, and exploratory behavior. This approach provides a more comprehensive assessment of CIPN-related deficits beyond pain responses.

Methods and materials: Adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats were given paclitaxel (Taxol; 24 mg/kg cumulative dose) or a vehicle over 8 days. Their distance traveled, time spent in the center and outer zones of the OF test, and rearing behaviors were recorded using a PhenoTyper 4500 …

Δnp63 Defines An Exocrine-Committed Subset Of Murine Pancreatic Progenitor Cells, Katarina Coolens, Melissa Van Der Vliet, Jente Van Campenhout, Natalia Del Pozo, Alejo Torres-Cano, Catharina Olsen, Jianming Xu, Rose-Anne Romano, Heiko Lickert, Meritxell Rovira, Isabelle Houbracken, Jonathan Baldan, Francisco X Real, Francesca M Spagnoli, Ilse Rooman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Immune-Mediated Diarrhea And Colitis With Normal Biochemical, Endoscopic And Histologic Findings: A Retrospective Study, Malek Shatila, Sharada Wali, Carolina Colli Cruz, Kei Takigawa, Andres Caleb Urias Rivera, Kian Abdul-Baki, Tanvi Gupta, Elliot Baerman, Linfeng Lu, Irene Jeong-Ah Lee, Raakhi Menon, Hamza Salim, Andrew Sullivan, Varun Vemulapalli, Cristina Natha, Ayesha Khan, Krishnavathana Varatharajalu, Stephane Champiat, Kerry L Reynolds, Lucy B Kennedy, Katy Tsai, Anusha Shirwaiker Thomas, Yinghong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Immune-mediated diarrhea and colitis (IMDC) due to checkpoint inhibition infrequently presents with normal stool biomarkers and no endoscopic or histologic evidence of inflammation. Little is known about the treatment needs and outcomes of this subset of patients. We aimed to describe this entity and clarify the role of immunosuppressive treatments in its management.

Method: This was a single-center, retrospective study of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors who developed clinical symptoms of IMDC, with no evidence of inflammation based on fecal calprotectin or endoscopic/histologic evaluation, between January 2010 and February 2024.

Results: Of 1151 patients with IMDC, 131 (11.4%) …

School-Level Gaps In Mmr Coverage As The Fuel For Measles Outbreaks, Meagan C Fitzpatrick, Chad R Wells, Abhishek Pandey, Lamia Ayaz, Peter J Hotez, Seyed M Moghadas, Alison P Galvani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Midterm Outcomes Of The Self-Expanding Navitor Transcatheter Heart Valve: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Sahar Samimi, Chloe Kharsa, Mangesh Kritya, Joe Aoun, Syed Zaid, Nadeen N Faza, Stephen H Little, Neal S Kleiman, Michael J Reardon, Sachin S Goel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

• A 19-study meta-analysis (7743 patients) found high Navitor technical/device success.
• ≥Moderate PVL was low: 1.3% at 30 days and 0.6% at 1 year.
• Pacemaker implantation was 16.7% at 30 days and 20.4% at 1 year.
• Thirty-day outcomes were favorable: all-cause mortality 1.5% and stroke 1.7%.

Challenges In The Diagnosis Of Concurrent T-Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma And Thymic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: A Case Report, Kristen Oliveira, Mary Doan, Ying Pei, Marwan Yared, Songlin Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The co-occurrence of T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma and thymic neoplasia is a rare event that can present a diagnostic challenge. In this case report, we describe a 31-year-old man who was found to have thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma and T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma 2 years after initial treatment for T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma. The thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma was initially detected in a malignant pleural effusion, and a retrospective review of a preceding lung biopsy suggested the involvement of both tumors within one tissue sample. Immunohistochemical analysis was imperative in highlighting these two elements because despite their unique cytomorphological characteristics, a limited amount of each component was seen …

Esr1 Fusions In Breast Cancer: Functions, Mechanisms And Therapeutic Opportunities, Xuxu Gou, Zoya Farooqui, Charles E Foulds

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Approximately 70% of all breast cancers are driven by estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) that binds the predominant circulating female estrogen, 17ꞵ-estradiol (E2). Because of this, drugs collectively termed “endocrine therapy (ET)” that either suppress E2 level or inhibit the activity of ERα have been used as first-line therapy. While initially effective, resistance to ET drugs occurs with subsequent lethal metastasis. The most common genetic alterations are point mutations in the ESR1 gene within the last exon encoding the ligand-binding domain (LBD), resulting in constitutively active ERα proteins. Recently, new oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) that effectively target these point mutants …

Cultured Ex Vivo Human Brain Tissue Maintains Cell-Type Transcriptional Identities, J P Mcginnis, Sai Mallannagari, Maria Camila Guevara, Joshua Ortiz-Guzman, Benjamin D W Belfort, Suyang Bao, Snigdha Srivastava, Maria Morkas, Emily Ji, Kalman A Katlowitz, Angela Addison, Evelyne K Tantry, Carrie A Mohila, Melissa M Blessing, Nisha Gadgil, Samuel G Mcclugage, David F Bauer, William E Whitehead, Guillermo Aldave, Omar Tanweer, Naser Jaleel, Ali Jalali, Akash J Patel, Sameer A Sheth, Howard L Weiner, Shankar Gopinath, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Daniel Curry, Benjamin R Arenkiel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is growing recognition of the need for human-based models of the nervous system and its diseases. Studies have investigated the electrophysiological properties of neurons in ex vivo human brain tissue, but the maintenance of other cell types remains unclear. We therefore used single-nucleus RNA sequencing of six patient samples to determine how well various cell types maintain their transcriptional identities over two weeks in organotypic slice culture (day 0, with 83 501 nuclei, and day 14, with 45 738). For each patient sample (two pediatric temporal lobectomies, one adult frontal cortex, two glioblastomas, and one medulloblastoma), we generated correlations …

Predictors Of Inpatient Rn Turnover In Rural And Urban Vha Hospitals, Katherine G Bay, Chase S Eck, Melissa K Knox, Paras Mehta, Laura A Petersen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The rising demand for health care delivery and an aging workforce is of particular concern in rural areas, where health care access depends upon an adequate nursing workforce. To address this shortage and optimize care, it is essential to measure when registered nurses (RN) leave inpatient direct care positions (ie, inpatient RN turnover) and identify modifiable factors correlated with RN turnover.

Objectives: Apply a novel method for characterizing inpatient RN turnover to understand factors associated with variation in RNs leaving inpatient positions at rural and urban Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals.

Project design: Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects: Direct care …

Risk Stratification As A Guide To Goal-Oriented Management Of Patients With Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease: A Registry-Based Analysis, Jürgen Behr, Antje Prasse, Hubert Wirtz, Dirk Koschel, David Pittrow, Matthias Held, Jens Klotsche, Stefan Andreas, Martin Claussen, Christian Grohé, Heinrike Wilkens, Lars Hagmeyer, Dirk Skowasch, Joachim F Meyer, Joachim Kirschner, Sven Gläser, Claus Neurohr, Martin Schwaiblmair, Katharina Buschulte, Tobias Veit, Marion Frankenberger, Christopher J Ryerson, Kerri A Johannson, Veronica Marcoux, Jolene H Fisher, Deborah Assayag, Helene Manganas, Nasreen Khalil, Martin Kolb, Michael Kreuter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has high morbidity and mortality with limited treatment options. Goal-oriented management approaches, such as the "treatable traits" concept, have yet to be implemented in IPF. This study aims to identify specific treatment goals in IPF for potential interventions by analysing outcomes from two national registries.

Methods: We used data from the INSIGHTS-IPF registry, comprising 1232 IPF patients, enrolled from 2014 to 2020 as derivation cohort. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data were examined to assess clinical progression and predict 1-year mortality. Variables included forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( …

Lysine Demethylase 4a Is A Centrosome-Associated Protein Required For Centrosome Integrity And Genomic Stability, Pratim Chowdhury, Xiaoli Wang, Richard I Han, Manga Motrapu, Ashley G Boice, Yuya Nakatani, Sofia Vargas-Hernandez, Julia F Love, Claude Chew, Sandra L Grimm, Dereck Mezquita, Frank M Mason, Elisabeth D Martinez, Cristian Coarfa, Cheryl L Walker, Anna-Karin Gustavsson, Ruhee Dere

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Centrosomes play a fundamental role in nucleating and organizing microtubules in the cell and are vital for faithful chromosome segregation and maintenance of genomic stability. Loss of structural or functional integrity of centrosomes causes genomic instability and is a driver of oncogenesis. Here we identify lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A), an epigenetic 'eraser' of chromatin methyl marks, as a centrosome-localized protein, visualized at the nanometer-scale resolution. We additionally uncovered that KDM4A demethylase enzymatic activity is required to maintain centrosome homeostasis and integrity; a previously unknown functionality unlinked to altered expression of genes regulating centrosome number. We find that KDM4A interacts with …

Platelet Extravasation In The Microvasculature: An Under-Appreciated Role For Platelets, Justin A Courson, Vahid Afshar-Kharghan, Alan R Burns, Rolando E Rumbaut

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In recent years, evidence has accumulated highlighting the presence and role of platelet extravasation - wherein platelets accumulate in tissue parenchyma - at a variety of sites throughout the body. While platelets are traditionally known for their roles in hemostasis and thrombosis, it is evident that platelets are potent mediators of inflammation across an array of physiological and pathological contexts. While anucleate and small in size, platelets contain a rich diversity of molecules in their granules capable of modulating cell proliferation, tissue repair, and a host of immune responses. There is growing evidence that platelet extravasation out of the vascular …

Metabolites Produced By Agat+ Cells Support Regeneration In The Planarian Schmidtea Mediterranea, Aubrey M Kent, Carlos Guerrero-Hernández, Carolyn Brewster, Sean Mckinney, Jason A Morrison, Mary C Mckinney, Eric J Ross, Frederick G Mann, Blair W Benham-Pyle, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Planarians exhibit extraordinary regenerative abilities driven by pluripotent neoblasts, yet the roles of post-mitotic progenitor and differentiated cells in this process remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigate the function of agat+ cells, epidermal progenitors expressing members of the arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (agat) gene family, in the regeneration of Schmidtea mediterranea. Comprehensive analysis of all five planarian agat paralogs revealed that agat-1, -2, -3, and -4 are co-expressed in subepidermal populations enriched at wound sites, while agat-5 is minimally expressed. RNAi-mediated knockdown of agat-1 and agat-2 resulted in severe defects: agat-1 primarily disrupted tissue homeostasis, …

Empowering Through Structured Boundaries: An Integral Model For Fostering Balanced Eating And Nutritional Well-Being, Citrine Elatrash, Colleen Macke, Jenna Shi, Theresa Wilson, Sarah H Elsea, Stephanie Sisley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Treating obesity in complex disorders requires individualized health management plans. Effective obesity management in the Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) population has multiple inherent barriers related to their cognitive impairments, anxiety, behavioral disturbances, and sleep disorders. However, to date, no research exists related to strategies caregivers successfully employ to help individuals with SMS manage their food intake and mitigate associated behaviors.

Methods: We performed a qualitative thematic analysis of group interviews from 23 caregivers representing 21 individuals with SMS. Hybrid thematic analysis revealed that successful strategies employed by caregivers in this unique population revolved around a global theme of Empowering Through …

Rare But Relevant? Assessing Variants In Dystonia-Linked Genes In Parkinson's Disease, Lara M Lange, Zih-Hua Fang, Laurel Screven, Ai Huey Tan, Roy N Alcalay, Rim Amouri, Roberta Bovenzi, Matilda Fenn, Joshua L I Frost, Joseph Jankovic, Simona Jasaityte, Zane Jaunmuktane, Beomseok Jeon, Ignacio Juan Keller Sarmiento, Rejko Krüger, Gregor Kuhlenbäumer, Chin-Hsien Lin, Lukas Pavelka, Maria Teresa Periñan, Samia Ben Sassi, Tommaso Schirinzi, Jung Hwan Shin, Joshua M Shulman, Yi Wen Tay, Ryan Uitti, Tom Warner, Zbigniew K Wszolek, Lesley Wu, Ruey-Meei Wu, Kirsten E Zeuner, Cornelis Blauwendraat, Andrew Singleton, Niccolò E Mencacci, Huw R Morris, Shen-Yang Lim, Katja Lohmann, Christine Klein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Dystonia and Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit clinical and genetic overlap, but the relevance of dystonia gene variants in PD remains unclear.

Objective: The aim was to assess the frequency of dystonia-linked pathogenic variants in PD.

Methods: We screened sequencing data from 15,684 individuals (8272 PD, 3200 atypical parkinsonism, and 4212 unaffected) from the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) and Accelerating Medicines Partnership-Parkinson's Disease (AMP-PD) for variants in genes linked to isolated dystonia, dystonia-parkinsonism, and myoclonus-dystonia.

Results: Pathogenic variants were identified only in PD patients. Forty-five PD individuals (0.54%) carried 26 distinct (likely) pathogenic variants in nine dystonia-linked genes, most …

Use Of New Tobacco And Nicotine Products As A Harm Reduction Strategy: A Critical Review Of The Evidence, Carlos Andrés Jimenez-Ruiz, José Ignacio De Granda-Orive, Carlos Rábade Castedo, Harold J Farber, Angélica Ocampo, Susana Luhning, Beatriz Raboso-Moreno, Lola Del Puerto-Garcia, Daniel Buljubasich, Manuel Conrado Pacheco-Gallego, José Antonio Castillo-Vizueta, Rosa Mirambeaux-Villalona, Marcos García-Rueda, Juan Antonio Riesco-Miranda, Ángela Ramos-Pinedo, Jaime Signes-Costa, Ledys Blanquicett-Barrios, Eva De Higes-Martinez, Catalina Casillas-Suarez, Concepción Rodríguez-García, Cristina Villar-Laguna, Gloria Francisco-Corral, Esther Pastor-Esplá, Paz Vaquero-Lozano, Francisco Carrion-Valero, Lourdes Cañón-Barroso, Raúl Sandoval-Contreras, Inmaculada Gorordo-Unzueta, Ruth Pitti-Pérez, María Ángeles Muñoz-Vidal, Susana Calvo-Pascual, Eva Cabrera-Cesar, Germán Díaz-Santos, Maribel Cristóbal-Fernández

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The sale, distribution, and indiscriminate use of new tobacco and nicotine products have multiplied. The most relevant products are: electronic cigarettes (ECs), heated tobacco (HT), and nicotine pouches (NPs). From the tobacco industry and its related health sectors, and even from some health institutions with no clear influence from this industry, the use of all these devices is being promoted as an excellent harm reduction strategy for those conventional tobacco smokers who do not want to or cannot quit smoking. This paper reviewed the lack of scientific evidence of this strategy.

Genomic And Structural Analysis Of Major Antigenic Proteins’ Variability In The Human Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia Persica, Dor Shwartz, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Reinhard K Straubinger, Ofir Segev, Asaf Levy, Job E Lopez, Gad Baneth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Antigenic variation enables immune evasion of pathogens, yet the mechanisms for the rapid change in their antigens without loss of structural and functional features are not fully known. Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes of the genus Borrelia can be used as a model because their variable major proteins (Vmps) drive antigenic variation followed by recurrent waves of bacteremia. In this study we generated the genome of Borrelia persica LMU-C01 and evaluated Vmp structure across relapsing fever Borrelia species. Borrelia persica was found to have a genome of 1.7Mb with one linear chromosome, 12 linear and one circular plasmids. Telomeric hairpin …

Esophageal Myotomy And Risk Of Esophageal Cancer And Mortality In Achalasia: Real-World Cohort Study, Fouad Jaber, Mohamad Ali Ibrahim, Mohammed Jaber, Youssef Soliman, Mai A Khalaf, Tara Keihanian, Fares Ayoub, Mohamed O Othman, Salmaan Jawaid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and study aims: Achalasia is associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. Although esophageal myotomy improves dysphagia, its impact on cancer risk and mortality remains unclear.

Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX research network, including adults (≥ 18 years) with achalasia confirmed by esophageal manometry. Patients were categorized based on treatment of those undergoing esophageal myotomy (peroral endoscopic myotomy [POEM] or laparoscopic Heller myotomy [LHM]) and those managed without myotomy. Patients with prior esophagectomy or malignancies associated with increased esophageal cancer risk were excluded. The primary outcome was incident …

Pd-L1-Centric Whole Blood-Based Immune Signature Profiles Of Tuberculosis Patients During Therapy, Johanna Eggeling, Martina Sester, Christoph Lange, Jan Heyckendorf, Barbara Kalsdorf, Anna M Mandalakas, Andrew R Dinardo, David Lewinsohn, Dagmar Schaub, Tina Schmidt, Eva Tolosa, Maja Reimann, Patricia M Sánchez Carballo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This prospective study investigated whole blood-based immune cell biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) immunoprofiling. Blood samples from 34 healthy controls and 51 tuberculosis patients were analyzed at three timepoints: Prior to therapy (T0), after 14 days of therapy (T1), and at the end of treatment (Te). Using multiparameter flow cytometry, 386 immune cell populations were analyzed. Predictive models were developed using two machine learning algorithms. A TB5LF change score, which was based on five cell populations, effectively distinguished tuberculosis patients from controls (AUC = 0.89) and tuberculosis patients before and at the end of treatment (AUC = 0.92). Similarly, the …

Hemispherotomy For Drug-Resistant Epilepsy In A Low-Resource Setting: Surgical Outcomes And Quality Of Life In 23 Children Treated In A Hybrid Program In Panama, Emmajane G Rhodenhiser, David Bonda, Carmen Baez, Hannah K Weiss, Yosef Dastagirzada, Guzman Aranda, Laurent Bruggeman, Ameeta Grover, Shaun D Rodgers, Ruben Kuzniecky, Yvonne Zelenka-Kuzniecky, Howard L Weiner, Eveline Teresa Hidalgo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Hemispherotomy is an effective treatment for children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). While hemispherotomy techniques and indications have evolved, access remains predominantly constrained to high-resource settings.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of children who underwent hemispherotomy from 2011 to 2023 by a hybrid team, including local Panamanian and US neurologists, neurosurgeons, and EEG technicians and analyzed surgical, epilepsy, and quality of life (QoL) parameters. Follow-up data were collected according to the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) guidelines for children with epilepsy.

Results: Twenty-three children underwent hemispherotomy. The median age at surgery was 10 years (range 2-20). The …

Prevalence Of Clinically Relevant Nightmares And Their Differences By Sex And Diagnosis In Psychiatric Inpatients, Katrina A Rufino, Michelle A Patriquin, Courtney B Worley, Michael R Nadorff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Nightmares have been shown to be associated with numerous forms of psychopathology, but the vast majority of this research has taken place in the general population and very little is known about their relation with psychopathology in those requiring inpatient hospitalization. In a sample of 1170 voluntarily admitted psychiatric inpatients, this study explores the frequency of reported nightmares in psychiatric inpatients with the aim of examining the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis in those with and without clinically relevant nightmares. Participants completed the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-5) at admission. …