Digital Commons Network^™

Functional Analysis Of Genes Enriched In Male Reproductive Organs: Validation Via Fertility Assessment Of 14 Knockout Mouse Lines, Kazumasa Takemoto, Katarzyna Kent, Kaori Nozawa, Shingo Tonai, Ahn H Pham, Terumi Fujimoto, Thomas X Garcia, Martin M Matzuk, Masahito Ikawa, Keizo Tokuhiro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tissue-restricted gene expression serves as a key indicator of functional importance within specific organs. Despite advances in high-throughput sequencing and genome editing over the past decade, this principle remains the gold standard for identifying candidate genes for functional studies. In reproductive biology, testis-restricted expression is anticipated to indicate genes crucial for gametogenesis, given the conserved features shared between spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Concurrently, rapid evolution of spermatogenesis-related genes is well documented and thought to arise through duplication and subsequent mutation of ubiquitously expressed genes. In this study, we established 14 knockout (KO) mouse lines for male reproductive organ-enriched genes, all of …

Highly Effective Combination Of Brg1/Brm Inhibitor With Bet Inhibitor Or Decitabine For High-Risk Mecom-Rearranged Aml, Warren Fiskus, Christopher P Mill, Jessica Piel, Mike Collins, Murphy Hentemann, Branko Cuglievan, Christine E Birdwell, Kaberi Das, John A Davis, Hanxi Hou, Antrix Jain, Anna Malovannaya, Lauren B Flores, Tapan M Kadia, Naval Daver, Koji Sasaki, Koichi Takahashi, Danielle Hammond, Jian Wang, Sanam Loghavi, Xiaoping Su, Courtney D Dinardo, Ruud Delwel, Kapil N Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In AML with 3q26.2 rearrangements (r) the distal GATA2 hematopoietic enhancer becomes aberrantly relocated leading to activation of EVI1 expression. EVI1 is a transcriptional regulator that plays a role in proliferation and maintenance of a stem cell-like phenotype in AML. BRG1 (SMARCA4) and BRM (SMARCA2) are the mutually exclusive ATPases of the BAF (BRG1/BRM-associated factor) chromatin remodeling complexes. They regulate access to enhancers/promoters and gene-expressions orchestrating AML stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. AML with 3q26.2 rearrangements are clinically challenging and prognosis remains very poor. FHD-286 is an orally bioavailable, selective inhibitor of BRG1/BRM under clinical development in AML. Present studies …

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.

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Foundations In Physics And Image Acquisition: An Innovative Hands-On Active Learning Workshop, Cherie Tator, Saul Flores, Alan Riley, Kiyetta Alade

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: We developed an innovative, active learning workshop to introduce foundations of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) physics and instrumentation. The workshop design aimed to reduce cognitive load and encourage learner-centered engagement through hands-on exploration that reinforces key principles and connects theory to practice.

Methods: First-year medical students participated in small-group, student-driven exercises to explore POCUS machine controls, transducers, and image acquisition skills. Each group was supported by a faculty member to guide activities and ensure accuracy. Students scanned pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and olives with pits; these items were selected for their low cost, sonographic characteristics, and recognizability. Later in the semester, …

Host- And Pathogen-Related Determinants Of Pulmonary Versus Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis, Begna Tulu, Thomas Theo Brehm, Reinout Van Crevel, Tobias Dallenga, Andrew R Dinardo, Keertan Dheda, Johanna Eggeling, Wendemagegn Enbiale, Matthias I Gröschel, Jialun Hao, Vinod Kumar, Arjan Van Laarhoven, Rolanda Londt, Gareth Prosser, Philippa Randall, Norbert Reiling, Jan Rybniker, Ulrich E Schaible, Erwin Schurr, Isabelle Suarez, Sebastian J Theobald, Robert J Wilkinson, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) primarily manifests as pulmonary TB (PTB), but extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) remains a major clinical challenge. Distinct diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties arise from differences in immune responses, pathogen behaviour and host susceptibility. However, the factors driving disease localisation are still incompletely understood. We conducted a comprehensive narrative review of studies examining differences between PTB and EPTB in terms of epidemiology, mycobacterial factors, genetic and epigenetic determinants, host immune responses, transcriptomic profiles, cytokine and chemokine patterns, and immunophenotypes. EPTB is more common among females, children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals with deficient granuloma formation. This review is intended to provide …

A Year In Review On Tuberculosis And Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Disease: A 2026 Update For Clinicians And Scientists, Simone Tunesi, Graham Bothamley, Gunar Günther, Yousra Kherabi, Liga Kuksa, Berit Lange, Christoph Lange, Natalie Lorent, Francesca Saluzzo, Martina Sester, Xenia Emilie Sinding Iversen, Marc Tebruegge, Conor Tweed, Anca Vasiliu, Lorenzo Guglielmetti, Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (Tbnet)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, while infections from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) represent a growing public health threat. In its 20th year of activity, the Tuberculosis Network European Trials group (TBnet; www.tbnet.eu) is one of the leading research networks in Europe. In this review, we summarize the main advances in TB and NTM that occurred in 2025.

Methods: We conducted a non-systematic review of articles published in 2025, with a strong emphasis on research with current or potential impact on clinical practice. We also selected the most impactful papers regarding the management of adult …

Improving Compliance With Safe Sleep Guidelines For Vulnerable Patients In A Community Safety Net Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Andrew Beverstock, Samantha Carlton, Hillary Lee, Thomas Lu, Kelsi Morgan, Ashlee Smith-Patel, Kelli Phillips, Joseph Hagan, Pablo Lohmann, Caraciolo Fernandes, Lisa Owens, Daniela Dinu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) often coexists with fetal growth restriction (FGR). The observed-to-expected (O/E) total fetal lung volume (TFLV) is used to assess CDH severity, predict outcomes, and direct fetal interventions. Expected TFLV measurements traditionally rely only on gestation age (GA). This simulation assesses how incorporating weight-adjusted GA norms affects O/E TFLV calculations in patients with isolated CDH and FGR.

Methods: A simulated dataset (n=1,005) utilized published mean fetal weight and TFLV references. Computer-generated variables included observed weights (3rd-10th %ile), O/E TFLV (10-65 %), and percent liver herniation (0-42 %). GA estimates were corrected by weight and used to …

A Review Of Current Research And Barriers To Access: Exploring Disparities In Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, Nikita Das, Ali A Mohamed, Akshat Katyayan, Meena Vessell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) impacts at least 30% of pediatric epilepsy patients, adversely affecting neurodevelopment and quality of life, as well as risk of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). While surgical intervention has proven to be an effective treatment for DRE, disparities in access to surgical care persist. Compared to adults, pediatric patients face unique challenges, including delayed recognition of surgical candidacy, limited access to specialized epilepsy centers, complex care coordination, and socioeconomic barriers.

Summary: This review explores the current state of pediatric epilepsy surgery, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving seizure freedom, improving neurocognitive outcomes, and reducing long-term healthcare …

Strategies And Challenges For The Recruitment Of Young Healthy Participants In The Dietary Approaches To Longevity And Health (Dial Health) Pilot Trial, Hannah E Cabre, Courtney M Peterson, Gareth R Dutton, Kimberly L Drews, Stephanie T Broyles, Robert Dubin, Laura Q Rogers, Catherine Champagne, Dennis T Villareal, Daniel S Hsia, Leanne M Redman, Corby K Martin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Understanding the impact of nutrition on human aging requires long-term trials in young, healthy, unmedicated adults. As part of the Dietary Approaches for Longevity and Health (DiAL Health) pilot project, we evaluated strategies for recruiting this population for aging-related dietary intervention studies.

Methods: We analyzed recruitment costs to enroll 70 participants (ages 25-49, BMI 22.0-29.9 kg/m2) across two DiAL Health sites and used NHANES data (2017-March 2020) to estimate the proportion of U.S. adults meeting partial trial eligibility. Additionally, a formative study surveyed 492 U.S. adults (≥18 years) to assess interest in aging-focused dietary trials.

Results: Of 2049 applicants …

Prevalence Of Substance Use In Northwest Syria: A Cross-Sectional Study, Isabel Draper, Dania Albaba, Heba Mesbah, Huda Taktak, Nidhal Saadoun, Mohammad Alhusein, Elharit Alissa, Anas Barbour, Zaher Sahloul, Nidal Moukaddam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Syria has undergone significant socio-political turmoil since 2011 as internal conflict displaced portions of the population, destroyed infrastructure, and destabilized the economy. In the context of multilevel healthcare system disruptions, there have been increasing reports of substance use. This study seeks to evaluate patterns of substance use in Northwestern Syria.

Methods: Trained staff administered questionnaires to community members in Azaz, Syria. Questions focused on the substance use prevalence, societal and public health impacts, and perspectives on treatment availability.

Results: 480 individuals were surveyed (80·88% male, 19·12 % female; 43·39% were 18-25 yrs, 11·5% reported personal substance use). H-booz (amphetamines), …

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 …

Differences In Gene Expression May Contribute To The Racial Differences In The Risk Of Masld, Ivan P Gorlov, Olga Y Gorlova, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), exhibits marked racial disparities in incidence, progression, and clinical outcomes. While diet, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors have been shown to influence these disparities, biological mechanisms underlying racial differences in MASLD risk remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that race-associated variation in hepatic gene expression may contribute to differential susceptibility and progression of MASLD. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed publicly available gene expression data from liver biopsies obtained from over 300 Black and White individuals undergoing bariatric surgery. Gene expression profiles were compared across four histological stages: …

Identification Of Cand1 As A Dna-Dependent Protein Kinase-Regulated Coactivator Of Androgen Receptor And The Arv7 Splice Variant, Ross A Hamilton, Basil Paul, Ping Yi, Kimal Rajapakshe, Anil K Panigrahi, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Anna Malovannaya, Nancy L Weigel, David M Lonard, Charles E Foulds

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

ARv7, the most prevalent androgen receptor (AR) variant in castration-resistant prostate cancer, lacks the ligand binding domain (LBD), rendering it resistant to LBD-targeted therapies. Identifying new therapeutic targets requires defining the coregulators and associated regulatory enzymes that govern AR and ARv7 transcriptional activity. Here, we have developed a cell-free DNA pulldown assay employing androgen response elements (AREs) to isolate and characterize the AR- and ARv7-associated coregulator complexes formed on DNA. Mass spectrometry analyses of ARE DNA pulldowns revealed previously unrecognized AR and ARv7 associating coregulators, such as cullin-associated NEDD8-dissociated protein 1 (CAND1), in addition to previously known coregulators. ARv7 showed …

Hybrid Sars-Cov-2 Immunity Among Frontline Workers In A High-Tourism Setting: A Community-Based Serosurvey In Ambergris Caye, Belize, June 2022, Oluwadara Okeremi, Ella Hawes, Anh N Ly, Russell Manzanero, Sarah M Gunter, Shannon E Ronca, Allison Lino, Allyson Hidalgo, Meghan Si, Allison Stewart-Ruano, Adriana Maliga, Eric J Nilles, Gerhaldine Morazan, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tourism is central to Belize's economy, yet the influx of international travelers may contribute to infectious disease introduction and transmission among local workers, including SARS-CoV-2. In June 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study among tourism and government workers in the tropical island tourism center of Ambergris Caye, Belize. The goal of this study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence for both vaccination (anti-spike protein) and natural infection (anti-nucleocapsid protein), vaccine uptake, history of COVID-like symptoms, and risks for infection two years into the pandemic. Workers from 30 hotels and government agencies were enrolled. Participants completed questionnaires to capture demographics, …

From Local Burden To Global Threat: Neglected Tropical Diseases In An Era Of Climate Change And Human Mobility, Francisco Javier Membrillo, Juan-Carlos Navarro, Diana Marcela Pava-Garzón, Jill Weatherhead, José A Suárez, Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Potential Of Hookworm Proteins In Promoting Regulatory Immune Responses To Modulate Trypanosoma Cruzi Induced Liver Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Maria Jose Villar, Cristina Poveda, Bin Zhan, Maya Gonsoulin, Kathryn M Jones

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes significant liver pathology, and current antiparasitic treatments often worsen hepatic damage. Hookworm-derived proteins have shown immunomodulatory effects in inflammatory diseases, including T. cruzi-induced myocarditis.

Objective: This study evaluates recombinant hookworm proteins AIP-1 and AIP-2 for treating liver inflammation in a murine model of chronic Chagas disease (CD).

Methods: Female BALB/c mice infected with T. cruzi were treated with AIP-1 or AIP-2 (1 mg/kg) for seven days. Controls were untreated or received aspirin (25 mg/kg) for 14 days. Liver tissues were analyzed for parasite burden (quantitative polymerase chain reaction - qPCR), histopathology (H&E, Picrosirius Red), …

Suicidal Ideation In Spinocerebellar Ataxia, Levi Peppel, Ruo-Yah Lai, Christian Rummey, Puneet Opal, Jeremy D Schmahmann, Christopher M Gomez, Henry Paulson, Theresa A Zesiewicz, Susan Perlman, George Wilmot, Sarah H Ying, Chiadi U Onyike, Khalaf O Bushara, Michael D Geschwind, Karla P Figueroa, Stefan M Pulst, Sub H Subramony, Antoine Duquette, Tetsuo Ashizawa, Ali G Hamedani, Marie Y Davis, Sharan R Srinivasan, Matthew R Burns, Nadia Amokrane, Lauren R Moore, Vikram G Shakkottai, Liana S Rosenthal, Sheng-Han Kuo, Chi-Ying R Lin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Suicidal ideation has not been extensively studied in spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). The authors examined whether individuals with SCAs have increased suicidal ideation and related factors.

Methods: The authors studied patients with genetically confirmed SCAs enrolled in the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia cohort, examining the percentages of patients with SCA subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 6 who reported suicidal ideation and comparing findings with nationally representative data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Clinical characteristics that may contribute to suicidal ideation in SCAs, including age, disease duration, sex, ataxia severity, depression, …

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 …

Clinical Factors And Diagnoses Associated With Inappropriate Urine Culture Ordering In Primary Care, Marissa Valentine-King, Barbara W Trautner, Michael A Hansen, Roger Zoorob, Lisa C K Danek, Kenneth Muldrew, Forrest Hudson, Robert L Atmar, Larissa Grigoryan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for inappropriately ordered urine cultures in primary care.

Design: Cross-sectional study using chart reviews.

Setting: Two primary care, safety-net clinics in Houston, Texas.

Patients: Non-pregnant adults without a urinary catheter who had a urine culture and a primary care visit between 11/2018 and 3/2020.

Methods: We classified patients lacking physician documentation of the following symptoms as having an inappropriately ordered urine culture: dysuria, frequency, urgency, hematuria, fever, chills, costovertebral angle tenderness, nephrolithiasis, and pain (suprapubic, pelvic, or flank). We extracted patient demographics, visit-related diagnostic codes, past medical history, and urine culture results. Diagnostic …

Evolving Burden Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease And Its Complications In A Us Nationwide Healthcare System, Basim Ali, Ronald Samuel, Jennifer R Kramer, Liang Li, Xian Yu, Yumei Cao, Roxanne Desiderio, George Cholankeril, Steven M Asch, Hashem B El-Serag, Fasiha Kanwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing public health problem. Measuring the burden of cirrhosis and its complications in people with MASLD is important to inform health care delivery.

Methods: We aimed to quantify the changes in the burden of MASLD-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a nationwide U.S. healthcare system. We used data from the Veterans Health Administration to examine temporal trends between 2010 and 2021 in the annual incidence and prevalence of cirrhosis and HCC in a large cohort of patients with MASLD, and to compare them to those in patients with hepatitis C …

Survodutide For Treatment Of Obesity: Baseline Characteristics Of Participants In A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Trial (Synchronize™-1), Carel W Le Roux, Sean Wharton, Biykem Bozkurt, Elke Platz, Gabriele Bleckert, Samina Ajaz Hussain, Martina Brueckmann, Elena Startseva, Isabel M Kloer, Lee M Kaplan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aims: Survodutide, a novel glucagon receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor dual agonist, elicited significant weight loss in a phase 2 trial in individuals with obesity without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Two multinational phase 3 trials are investigating survodutide for obesity management in individuals with or without T2D. We report the baseline characteristics of participants in the SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial in adults with obesity without T2D (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06066515).

Materials and methods: Participants aged ≥18 years with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 kg/m2 with ≥1 obesity complication without T2D were randomized 1:1:1 to double-blind, once-weekly, subcutaneous injections of survodutide (up-titrated to 3.6 …

Executive Summary Of The Kdigo 2026 Clinical Practice Guideline For The Management Of Anemia In Chronic Kidney Disease (Ckd), Jodie L Babitt, Jeffrey S Berns, Biykem Bozkurt, Rebecca S Cheung Khedairy, Yarieli Cuevas, Emmanuel E Effa, Michele F Eisenga, Steven Fishbane, Yelena Z Ginzburg, Volker H Haase, S Susan Hedayati, Siah Kim, José A Moura-Neto, Evi V Nagler, Patrick Rossignol, Manisha Sahay, Tetsuhiro Tanaka, Angela Yee-Moon Wang, David C Wheeler, Karen A Robinson, Lisa M Wilson, Renee F Wilson, Amy Earley, Elie A Akl, Marcello Tonelli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2026 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) represents an update to the guideline published in 2012. Its scope includes diagnosis and evaluation of anemia; use of iron to treat iron deficiency and anemia in CKD; use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia in CKD; and red blood cell transfusions to treat anemia in CKD. The guideline has been developed with patient partners, healthcare providers, and researchers around the world, with the goal to generate a useful resource for healthcare providers and …

Findings And Recommendations From The State Of The Art (Sota) Conference On Nursing Research To Improve Veteran Outcomes, Amelia E Schlak, Sarah Krein, Laura A Petersen, David Atkins, Catherine Battaglia, Elizabeth Burkhart, Renee Colsch, Marguerite Daus, Heather Gilmartin, Nipa Kamdar, Melissa Knox, Ann Kutney-Lee, Christine M Olney, Kathryn Rugen, Tracy Weistreich, Sheila Cox Sullivan, On Behalf The Nursing Sota Planning Committee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest employer of nurses in the United States, has more than 120,000 nursing personnel providing care to over 9 million Veterans across diverse settings. Despite nursing's central role in delivering and sustaining care, research on strengthening the nursing workforce and optimizing nursing practice has remained underdeveloped in VHA. To address this gap, VHA's Office of Research and Development, in partnership with the Office of Nursing Services, convened a State of the Art (SOTA) conference in November 2023 focused on nursing. The Nursing SOTA brought together nurses, researchers, operational leaders, and other stakeholders to review …

Using Medication Pass Analysis To Examine Longitudinal Changes In Va Inpatient Nurse Staffing And Workload Before And Through The Covid-19 Pandemic: 2019-2022, Melissa K Knox, Chase S Eck, Lynette Dorsey, Paras D Mehta, Christine Yang, Laura A Petersen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in extended disruption to the health care system. National-level data-driven comparisons of inpatient nurse staffing and workload before and during the pandemic have been limited.

Objectives: Assess the extent to which registered nurse (RN) staffing and workload changed from prepandemic levels in a national integrated health care system.

Research design: Longitudinal descriptive analysis. Medication pass analysis using bar code medication administration data for the peak-time medication pass (PTM) assessing year-over-year changes from 2019 to 2022. To assess significance of year-over-year changes in means we used the Welch 2-sample t test.

Subjects: Staff (N=42,999) administering PTM …

Healthcare Transition In Spina Bifida: A National Mixed Method Study, Betsy Hopson, Kathy H Huen, Molly B Richardson, Rhonda G Cady, Jennifer T Queally, Judy Thibadeau, Ellen Fremion

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with spina bifida (SB) face substantial challenges during the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, including fragmented systems, limited adult provider availability, and gaps in self-management readiness. Despite national guidelines, little is known about how transition practices are implemented across the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) Clinical Care Partner (CCP) network. This study examined clinician perspectives on current practices, barriers, facilitators, and definitions of successful healthcare transition (HCT).

Methods: Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, we first conducted a 47-item survey with clinicians from SBA CCP clinics (n = 20/32; 62.5 % response rate). …

Safety And Efficacy Of Vadadustat Versus Darbepoetin Alfa For Chronic Kidney Disease-Related Anemia In Patients Receiving Dialysis By Baseline Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Dose, Alan Jardine, Steven K Burke, Wenli Luo, Todd Minga, Mark J Sarnak, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Rajiv Agarwal, Glenn M Chertow, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Mark J Koury

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron supplementation are standard treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD)-related anemia. Targeting higher hemoglobin values in CKD increases cardiovascular risk. Whether the increased risk is from higher ESA doses or higher hemoglobin levels is uncertain, but alternative therapies are sought for patients requiring high ESA doses. Phase 3 INNO2VATE trials in patients with dialysis-dependent CKD (DD-CKD) demonstrated vadadustat's noninferiority compared with darbepoetin alfa. To determine vadadustat's potential to treat anemia, including in patients requiring high ESA doses, its safety and efficacy were compared with those of darbepoetin alfa across prespecified baseline ESA dose subgroups in …

Ptpn1 Regulation Via Ybx1-Ptbp1 Interaction Promotes Fibroblast Activation And Fibrotic Remodeling In The Lung, Huibing Liu, Cong Xia, Yingying Zhang, Yulong Gan, Lianhui Cheng, Xuqian Wang, Airu Chang, Wenyu Zhao, Bin Li, Yaxuan Wang, Yajun Li, Ivan Rosas, Juntang Yang, Guoying Yu, Lan Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology. Its pathogenesis involves complex multicellular interactions and signaling pathways, with fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) being critical for fibrogenesis. Although the transcription factor Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) regulates processes such as cell proliferation, transcription, translation, and DNA repair, its role in IPF remains undefined. Here, we demonstrate that YBX1 overexpression significantly promotes transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced pulmonary FMT, leading to substantially increased extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in primary human (PHLFs) and mouse (PMLFs) lung fibroblasts. Conversely, YBX1 inhibition markedly suppresses TGF-β1-driven aberrant fibroblast migration and activation. Mechanistically, YBX1 …

The ‘Obesity Paradox’ In Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation. A Specialized Narrative Review, Johao Escobar, Iqra Riaz, Muzamil Khawaja, Hafeez Ul Hassan Virk, Joshua Hahn, Fu''Ad Al-Azzam, Zhen Wang, Mahboob Alam, Markus Strauss, Chayakrit Krittanawong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obesity has long been identified as a noteworthy risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including aortic stenosis. Nevertheless, an unexplained phenomenon known as the obesity paradox has arisen in the context of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), inquiring conventional beliefs. The obesity paradox refers to better clinical outcomes observed in obese individuals undergoing TAVI. These include reduced all-cause mortality, lower rates of procedural complications, and improved long-term survival rates compared to their lean counterparts. Several theories have been proposed to explain the obesity paradox in TAVI. One of the most popular is the adipose tissue-mediated cardioprotective effect hypothesis. It is known …

Mindful Diagnostics In Culture-Negative Endocarditis: Early Noninvasive Diagnosis Of Tropheryma Whipplei By Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna, Ashita Jain, Sarwat Khalil, Muhammad R Sohail, Laura C Lelenwa, Enrique Garcia-Sayan, Kenneth K Liao, Ahmed Hamdi, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tropheryma whipplei was identified by plasma microbial cell-free DNA sequencing within 4 days in severe culture-negative endocarditis after antibiotics had already been started. The result supported earlier diagnostic clarification and antimicrobial de-escalation before valve pathology was available, illustrating a practical diagnostic-stewardship role for noninvasive sequencing in high-acuity endocarditis.

Comparing Rotational Thromboelastometry And Standard Coagulation Assays For Predicting Intraoperative Bleeding In Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Kirby Deshotels, Trung Nguyen, Jun Teruya, Muhammed Umair M Mian, Kelby Fuller, Sanjiv Harpavat, Anna Banc-Husu, Amir Navaei, John Goss, Moreshwar Desai, Arun Saini

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Utility of preoperative rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) over standard coagulation assays (SCAs) in predicting intraoperative bleeding during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in children with liver failure (LF) remains unclear.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort of pediatric OLT recipients, we compared the predictive values of preoperative ROTEM parameters (intrinsic pathway (INTEM) maximum clot firmness (MCF), extrinsic pathway (EXTEM) clotting time (CT), INTEM CT, and fibrinogen-based (FIBTEM) MCF) and the corresponding SCAs (platelet count, international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen level, respectively) for significant intraoperative bleeding (blood loss of > 22 mL/kg; i.e., ≥ 85th percentile for …