Digital Commons Network^™

Extracorporeal Rescue In Massive Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Unveiled, Kenzo Ramos, Kari Gorder

Journal of Shock and Hemodynamics

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare yet curable cause of pulmonary hypertension from unresolved pulmonary emboli. We present the case of a 48-year-old man with progressive dyspnea and leg swelling, who was found to have bilateral pulmonary emboli with right heart strain. He developed cardiac arrest during thrombectomy, requiring emergent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). Further evaluation revealed acute emboli superimposed on CTEPH. After incomplete thrombectomy and persistent instability, he underwent successful pulmonary endarterectomy with ECMO decannulation, leading to recovery of right ventricular function and discharge in stable condition. This case illustrates that previously unrecognized CTEPH may …

Loss Of Pleasure (Anhedonia): A Sex-Dependent, Cross-Species Consequence Of Unpredictable Signals To The Perinatal Brain, Anna M. Zhou, Madison R. Tetzlaff, Laura M. Glynn, Curt A. Sandman, Hal S. Stern, Tallie Z. Baram, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Reward seeking is an essential component of human behavior. Anhedonia (reduced motivation for and pleasure in reward) is a core feature of several mental illnesses. Early life adversity associates with later impairments in reward behaviors and related psychopathology; however, specific aspects of early adversity that lead to disrupted reward behaviors are unknown. Capitalizing on evidence that unpredictable signals to the developing brain constitute adversity and influence neurodevelopment, we examined whether exposure to perinatal unpredictable maternal signals associated with diminished reward responsivity, and probed causality using experiments in mice. We analyzed a longitudinal human study (N=158 mother/child dyads) and a …

Bridging The Gap In Science Research: Preparing Students For College- Level Research In The Sciences, Victoria Helwig, Yaoguang Li

UConn Library Presentations

Many first-year students enter college unprepared to fully engage with scientific literature and academic library resources. Drawing on experiences from academic librarians working with STEM students, this session explores common gaps in science research skills, including navigating databases, identifying scholarly sources, and understanding the structure of scientific literature. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to better prepare students for college-level research. Discussion questions: What science research skills do students struggle with most when entering college? How can high school instruction better support these skills? Where can librarians and educators collaborate to support student success?

Notch Signaling Regulates The Secretion Of Pro-Metastatic Factors In Extracellular Vesicles In Liposarcoma, Menchus Quan, Yi-Kai Liu, Ying Zhao, Madeline Kay, Kai Sun, Timothy P Gavin, Raphael E Pollock, W Andy Tao, Shihuan Kuang

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Notch signaling is an emerging regulator of liposarcoma (LPS), but its role in mediating communication with the tumor microenvironment (TME) is unclear. Here, we investigate how Notch activation (NICD overexpression) alters the proteomes of LPS-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). We used quantitative mass spectrometry to profile the EV proteome in multiple contexts: cultured LPS cells, LPS tumor, circulating EVs of LPS-bearing mice, and human LPS samples. We found that Notch signaling increases the secretion of EV proteins that favor tumor progression and metastasis but suppresses immune responses in murine LPS cells. Overlapping murine and human LPS data identifies 18 proteins that …

Tic-Related Functional Impairment Drives The Relationship Between Tics And Depression In Youth With Tourette Syndrome, Benjamin J Mitchell, Emily I Braley, Erika S Trent, Steve Barash, Mark F Gordon, Jordan Stiede, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although many youth with Tourette syndrome (TS) have at least 1 comorbid psychiatric condition (eg, obsessive-compulsive disorder), the extent to which TS is associated with depression remains unclear. This cross-sectional study examined relationships among tic severity, tic-related functional impairment, and depressive symptoms in 277 youth with TS. Tic-related impairment, but not tic severity, was associated with both self- and parent-reported depressive symptoms. An age × sex interaction emerged, such that among younger participants, females reported higher depressive symptoms than males; however, this effect was observed only for self-report, not parent report. Additionally, both depressive symptoms and tic severity were associated …

Genetic Associations With Pulmonary Embolism Among Those With A Deep Vein Thrombosis: The International Network Against Venous Thrombosis Consortium, Susana Lozano-Esparza, Gabrielle E Shakt, Jennifer A Brody, Angel Martinez-Perez, Matthew P Conomos, Marine Germain, Katharine R Clapham, Maris Teder-Laving, Astrid Van Hylckama Vlieg, Anni Kauko, Florian Thibord, Ohanna C L Bezerra, Girish N Nadkarni, Gaëlle Munsch, Therese Haugdahl Nøst, Ellen L Goode, Yuekai Ji, Daniel I Chasman, Alexander P Reiner, Constance Turman, Kerri L Wiggins, Colleen M Sitlani, Juan Carlos Souto, Pamela L Lutsey, Tiffany Bellomo, Estonian Biobank, Million Veteran Program, Ruifang Li-Gao, Aleksi Kristian Winstén, Ming-Huei Chen, Ron Do, Lénaick Gourhant, Kristian Hveem, Sebastian M Armasu, Noémie Saut, Nathan Pankratz, Franco Giulianini, Jeffrey Haessler, Mingyang Song, Robert Olaso, Eric Boerwinkle, Daniel Dochtermann, Jose Manuel Soria, Stephen S Rich, David Smadja, Satoshi Koyama, Frits R Rosendaal, Teemu Niiranen, France Gagnon, Ha My T Vy, Neil Zakai, Catherine Lemarie, Anne Heidi Skogholt, Jean-François Deleuze, James S Pankow, Paul M Ridker, Yuxi Liu, Kenneth M Rice, Saiju Pyarajan, Mary Cushman, Jospeh Emmerich, Bruce M Psaty, Pradeep Natarajan, Andrew D Johnson, Marc A Rodger, Pierre Suchon, Francis Couturaud, Pierre-Emmanuel Morange, Weihong Tang, Charles Kooperberg, Christopher Kabrhel, Maria Sabater-Lleal, David-Alexandre Trégouët, Alisa S Wolberg, Scott M Damrauer, Nicholas L Smith

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the latter of which often originates from DVT and can be fatal.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify causal genetic factors that alter risk of PE among those with a presumed DVT.

Methods: Using a case-only design of VTE, we conducted meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in the International Network Against Venous Thrombosis Consortium. Among participants diagnosed with VTE, each study identified those who had a clinically reported PE, with or without a clinically reported DVT; those remaining had isolated DVT. Logistic regression …

Intouch Week Of July 27, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• NYMC Receives $2.7 Million HECap Award
• The Inquiring Minds of Student Research
• Grasslands Garden Blooms into a Community Gathering Space
• Incoming M.D. Students Celebrate Completion of Pre-Matriculation Program
• White Plains Youth Bureau Explore Health Care Careers at NYMC
• Hispanics with Met-ALD Face Higher Rates of Serious Liver Complications
• TCDM Welcomes Class of 2030
• Faculty Spotlight: Jin Li, M.D., Ph.D. ’01: A Lifetime Dedicated to Neurology, Education, and Community Service

Dupilumab For Patients With Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis, Amber U Luong, Joshua M Levy, Sarah K Wise, Joseph K Han, Mamoru Yoshikawa, Luo Zhang, Rodney Schlosser, Prerna Ranganathan, Paula Dakin, Jennifer Maloney, George D Yancopoulos, Andrew P Fontenot, Neelam A Phadke, Lacey R Robinson

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background: Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is a severe subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis characterized by fungal hypersensitivity and accentuated type 2 inflammation. Dupilumab-a fully human mAb blocking IL-4/13, approved for type 2 inflammatory diseases, including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps-may benefit patients with AFRS.

Objective: We sought to understand the effect of dupilumab in AFRS.

Methods: In this phase 3 trial, patients with AFRS age ≥6 years were randomized to dupilumab or matched placebo for 52 weeks. The primary end point was Lund-Mackay computed tomography score, quantifying sinus opacification, at 52 weeks. Secondary end points were multiplicity-controlled and hierarchically tested.

Results: …

Wellness Literature Review – 2025, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Clinician well-being remains a persistent challenge, with ongoing burnout and psychological distress despite efforts by systems and individuals. This Journal of Wellness annual review covers studies published in 2025.

Methods: The Editors searched PubMed and Google Scholar for prospective and interventional studies / clinical trials in humans, with focus on well-being. Authors utilized artificial intelligence (AI)–based large language model (LLM) (ChatGPT, OpenAI^TM) to assist with preliminary identification of relevant studies, however authors noted significant AI-associated errors and outright misrepresentations requiring hand curated product generation and manual PubMed searches.

Literature in Review: We continue to appreciate a shift …

Rsv Can Infect The Human Nasal Epithelium Via The Basolateral Route And Shows Distinct Subgroup Infectivity And Basal Cell Tropism, Ashley Murray, Divya Nagaraj, Emily M Schultz, Gina Aloisio, Erin Nicholson, Sarah E Blutt, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes millions of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised populations every year. RSV infection initiates in the upper respiratory tract and can progress to the lower airways, resulting in bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and even death. RSV primarily infects epithelial cells apically, but we hypothesized that basolateral exposure of the respiratory epithelium could provide an alternative mechanism of infection that contributes to LRTI development. Using a human nose organoid-air-liquid interface (HNO-ALI) model, we performed apical and basolateral inoculations with contemporaneous RSV strains (RSV/A/Ontario [RSV/A/ON] and RSV/B/Buenos Aires [RSV/B/BA]) representing the two RSV …

Editorial: Emerging Treatment Approaches For Substance Use Disorders, David Martinez Garza, Ilya O. Blokhin, Jonathan Brett, Ihsan Salloum

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Intouch Week Of July 20, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Military Health Professions Symposium Highlights Pathways to Serve in Medicine
• PHEP Participants Explore Research, Medicine, and Career Paths
• The Start of a New Era in Clinical Education
• ADHD Emerges as Overlooked Risk Factor in ACL Surgery Outcomes
• Future Physicians Strengthen Emergency and Disaster Medicine Skills Through Intensive Summer Training
• MEC Plaza Renovation Gets Underway
• Research Continues to Thrive at TCDM
• Student Spotlight: Azzam Althomali, M.P.H. '22, Has Devoted His Career to the Safety of Others

Overcoming Igf1r-Mediated Resistance To Oncolytic Hsv1 And Radiotherapy Via Triple Combination Therapy, Alexandra A Miller, Min-Hye Noh, Jin Muk Kang, Jiyeon Kim, Lily Nguyen, Amanda S Kouaho, Grace Nguyen, Minxin Huang, Stephanie M Bean, Joshua Davis, Matthew P Mullarkey, Sunil Krishnan, Zhongming Zhao, E Antonio Chiocca, Tae Jin Lee, Ji Young Yoo

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

FDA-approved oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (oHSV) therapy has emerged as a promising viro-immunotherapy for solid tumors. However, tumor- and tumor microenvironment (TME)-associated adaptations following viral treatment, such as feedback immune suppression, neoangiogenesis, and enhanced tumor aggressiveness, often hinder complete tumor eradication. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to oHSV is crucial to enhancing its clinical impact. We recently discovered that oHSV induces Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) secretion, shaping an immunosuppressive TME. Similarly, radiotherapy (RTx) activates the IGF1/IGF1R and YAP1 signaling pathways, further promoting therapeutic resistance. In this study, we investigated how oHSV-induced Insulin-like growth factor 1 …

Epilepsy-Associated Digenic Variants Affecting An Actin-Mitochondria-Glutamate Pathway Promote Seizure Susceptibility, Shenzhao Lu, Mengqi Ma, Shabab B Hannan, Mingxi Deng, Hu Chen, Zhijian Yu, Lindsey D Goodman, Haein Kim, Yun Zhao, Sandeep Kumar Dubey, Wen-Wen Lin, Xueyang Pan, Debdeep Dutta, Vishnu Anand Cuddapah, Jill A Rosenfeld, Xi Luo, Zhandong Liu, Joshua M Shulman, Hugo J Bellen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, yet more than half of individuals with a presumed genetic cause still lack a molecular diagnosis despite the identification of over 1,000 monogenic epilepsy genes. This diagnostic gap is unlikely to be resolved by improved variant detection alone, suggesting that variants affecting the same biological pathway may combine to cause disease. By studying epilepsy-associated actin regulatory genes, we identified a conserved "actin-mitochondria-glutamate (AMG) pathway". We demonstrate that reduced actin polymerization promotes DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission, increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and enhances glutamatergic transmission, leading to seizures. The glial innate immune pathway, a …

Comparative Evaluation Of Radioisotope Accumulation In Stems And Leaves Of Wild Flora In Nineveh Governorate For Environmental Pollution Indicator, Amina Q. Al-Bakri, Ayman Albanna, Mazin N. Fadhel

BioMed Visions Journal

It is a comparative assessment of natural deposition of radioisotopes in wild plants' stems and leaves from 11 sites of Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. Levels of ^226Ra, ^232Th, and ^40K activities were determined using high-resolution gamma spectrometry, and radiological equivalent indices—Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq), Absorbed Dose Rate (D), Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), Annual Gonadal Dose Equivalent (AGDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), and hazard indices (Hex, Hin, Iγ) were determined. All results indicated invariably greater radionuclide accumulation in leaves than in stems at every station. Mean Raeq in leaves was 63,473 Bq/kg and in stems 60,854 Bq/kg, and the highest …

Physicians' Perspective Regarding The Prevention Of Antibiotics Resistance, Wathah Zuhair Mohammed Siddiq, Nadia Hazem Saied

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Antibiotics' resistance is one of the global health problems. The misapplication and misuse of antibiotics ultimately result in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic prescription is a complex processes that affected by many factors; these factors are mutually reliant and related to physicians' knowledge, healthcare providers' participation, healthcare system itself, patients and the general public. Aim of the study: To identify physicians' perspective concerning antibiotics resistance. Methodology: A cross sectional study was used to find physicians' view about antibiotics resistance. The sample consist of 300 physicians who working in different governmental health institutions in Mosul City. Data was collected from study population …

The Incidence Of Some Intestinal Protozoa: Entamoeba Histolytica, Blastocystis Hominis And Giardia Lamblia Among Iraqi Individuals At Baghdad Province, Amani M. Jasim, Rabia A. Aboud, Mohamed Q. Al-Aybi

BioMed Visions Journal

This study investigates incidence of Entamoeba histolytica, Blastocystis hominis and Giardia lamblia at Baghdad province during during the months of 2024. Samples were collected from patients admitted Baghdad hospitals during a period of January to the end of December 2024 and examine by Macroscopic Examination by direct wet mounts and Concentration Methods using formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation or zinc sulfate flotation to concentrate ova/cysts analyzed .The findings indicate that no significant differences among study groups individuals infected with Entamoeba histolytica out of 222,133 individulas infected with Entamoeba histolytica (32%) females most frequently infected than males (27%).Giardia lambilia according to gender …

Ethical, Regulatory, And Equity Challenges Of Ai In Pharmaceutical Advertising, Samer Imad Mohammed, Fadia Thamir Ahmed

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots are significantly altering pharmaceutical advertising by facilitating personalized patient engagement and enhancing treatment optimization. Their adoption presents substantial ethical, regulatory, and equity challenges that require thorough analysis. Objectives: The objectives of this review are to analyze: (1) the implementation of AI technologies, such as chatbots and predictive analytics, in pharmaceutical advertising; (2) ethical risks, including algorithmic bias and misinformation; (3) deficiencies in global regulatory frameworks, specifically those of the FDA and EMA; and (4) effects on health equity, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using several databases with …

Clinical, Hormonal, And Metabolic Characteristics Of Kurdish Women With Pcos In Duhok, Iraq: Influence Of Body Mass Index, Suzan Omer Rasool, Zana Sabri Qasim

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive problems, and obesity exacerbates these symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive profiles of women with PCOS, as well as to investigate how body mass index (BMI) influences these variables. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 PCOS-diagnosed women at Azadi Teaching Hospital's Gynaecology Department in Duhok, Iraq. Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal data were gathered, and individuals were divided into two groups depending on their BMI: normal and elevated. Results: Elevated prolactin (>23.4 ng/mL) was observed in 38.9% …

Cytotoxicity Of Dimethyl Sulphoxide On Viability Of Peripheral Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Rana Nidhamaldeen Al-Nuri, Francesco Ipsevich, Lazim Subhi Sheet

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are cells that can differentiate according to the tissue they are lying in. The transplantation of such cells is either autologous or allogeneic. Autologous storage is required until the patient finishes his intensive chemotherapy. Whilst allogenic storage is required until finding the suitable matched recipient for this cellular therapy. Storage is in deep frozen state (–80° C) with cryoprotectant compound. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) has been used as cryoprotectant due to its electrophilic property that makes H-bond between DMSO and H₂O, which is 2.6 times stronger than the H bond between two water molecules. …

Evaluation The Attitudes Toward Prevention Of Communicable Diseases On Health Care Workers At Al-Sadr Hospital In Iraq's Najaf Governorate, Ahmed Ali Mohammed Alshamarti, Wisam Abdul Ameer Ali Farid, Atheer Kadhim Ibadi, Sabreen Ali Hassoni

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Communicable diseases are responsible for a heavy burden on human health. Health workers were the front line in preventing these diseases. Wrong or positive attitudes of health workers can reflect negatively or positively on infection control efforts. The primary objective of study evaluating attitudes levels between health care workers towards transferable diseases. The secondary objective, assessing association with social-demographic characteristics of health workers. Materials and Methods: The data from Al-Sadr Hospital, by use a frequency study started from the 1^st of December 2021 to the 30^th of May in 2022. The sample from 384 health care workers …

Grated Green Apple And Its Therapeutic Role In Gastrointestinal Disorders: An Analytical Study Of The Effect Of Pectin In Alleviating Diarrhea, Hamza A Saadallah, Mohammed. Ahb. Al-Krdoshi, Noor M Sultan, Farah Y Gaddawi, Marwa R. S Al Shaaban, Abd Al-Bar Al-Farha, Safa M Salim

BioMed Visions Journal

Gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea, represent a significant global health burden, necessitating the exploration of effective and accessible therapeutic strategies. Dietary interventions, particularly those containing soluble fibers such as pectin, have emerged as promising solutions due to their profound impact on gut health and its microbiota. This meta-analysis systematically reviews the current scientific understanding of the multifaceted role of pectin in alleviating diarrhea, with a particular focus on the unique contribution of grated green apple. The analysis delves into pectin's physicochemical properties and mechanisms of action—including water binding, modulation of the gut microbiota, production of short-chain fatty acids, and support of …

Evaluation Of Antifungal Properties Of Shiitake And The Effects Of Its Extracts On Some Pathogenic Fungi, Asal Faiz Hameed Aldabbgh, Abdalkarim S. Hasan Alnuaimi, Inaam Jasim Mohamad

BioMed Visions Journal

The present study aims to investigate the inhibitory effect of shiitake mushrooms on some common fungi found in the soil of Mosul City. The fungal extract from Shiitake was prepared using ethanol or water. Different concentrations of the extract were prepared to analyze the antifungal properties of the mushroom by first making a stock solution and then adding specific amounts to the plates containing (Potato Dextrose Agar) PDA medium to achieve the desired concentrations. The active components found in Shiitake were pinpointed through the use of HPLC. The findings revealed how the aqueous extract of Shiitake affected Trichoderma sp. Penicillium …

Pharmacy Students' Perceptions And Attitudes Toward Online Learning: Insights From A Cross-Sectional Study In Iraq, Heba M. Attash, Luma M. Al-Obaidy, Harith Kh. Al-Qazaz, Fahad Saleem

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: The rapid shift to online learning during the pandemic has reshaped pharmacy education in Iraq, yet student perceptions remain underexplored. This study examines how pharmacy students view online and hybrid models, with attention to gender, location, and access to technology. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between October 2024 and January 2025 with 386 fourth- and fifth-year pharmacy students from differrent universities across Iraq. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated tools, assessing demographics, learning preferences, and attitudes toward digital education. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: Most participants were …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Cvid Reveals Pervasive Detrimental Noninfectious Manifestations, Robert B Lindell, Samir U Sayed, Jose S Campos Duran, Sydney A Sheetz, Apoorva Babu, Montana S Knight, Andrea A Mauracher, Ceire A Hay, Peyton E Conrey, Julie C Fitzgerald, Nadir Yehya, Stephen T Famularo, Teresa Arroyo, Richard Tustin, Hossein Fazelinia, Edward M Behrens, David T Teachey, Lisa R Forbes Satter, Alexandra F Freeman, Jenna Re Bergerson, Steven M Holland, Jennifer W Leiding, Scott L Weiss, Mark W Hall, Deanne M Taylor, Rui Feng, E John Wherry, Nuala J Meyer, Sarah E Henrickson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill children, yet heterogeneous immune responses complicate the development of targeted therapies and the host immune factors driving sepsis pathobiology remain unclear.

METHODS

We integrated deep immune phenotyping, plasma proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and phosphoflow cytometry in a prospective cohort of 88 critically ill children to elucidate the mechanisms underlying immune heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Unsupervised clustering of plasma cytokines identified 3 immunologic subgroups, including a high-severity group (“Group C”) characterized by hypercytokinemia driven by IL-6 and IFN-γ. Group C exhibited distinct alterations in immune cell frequency and activation, with a …

Strategies To Increase Attendance In Substance Use Disorder Group Treatment: Results From A Randomized Controlled Trial, Liliane Cambraia Windsor, Heather A Jones, Carla Ellis, Kennya Hooper, Andrea Rucker, Salma Musaad, Moses Okumu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Attendance in substance-use-disorder group-treatment is challenging with only 32% of patients attending at least one session (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2023 admissions to and discharges from substance use treatment services reported by single state agencies, Bethesda, 2025). The present study tested a set of strategies to increase group session attendance in Community Wise, an innovative evidence-based group-intervention delivered in harm-reduction-community-based agencies and designed to reduce alcohol and substance use among people with substance-use-disorders living in predominantly Black and disinvested communities. We examined: (1) …

Impact Of Non-Selective Beta-Blockers On Acute Kidney Injury Outcomes In Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis, Simone Incicco, Kavish R Patidar, Adrià Juanola, Ann T Ma, Anna Barone, Anand V Kulkarni, José Luis Pérez Hernández, Sumeet K Asrani, Brian Wentworth, Carlo Alessandria, Nadia Abdelaaty Abdelkader, Yu Jun Wong, Qing Xie, Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, Sung-Eun Kim, Yasser Fouad, Aldo Torre, Eira Cerda Reyes, Javier Díaz-Ferrer, Rakhi Maiwall, Douglas A Simonetto, Maria Papp, Eric S Orman, Giovanni Perricone, Cristina Solé, Christian M Lange, Alberto Queiroz Farias, Gustavo Pereira, Sebastian Marciano, Paolo Caraceni, Thierry Thévenot, Nipun Verma, Jeong Han Kim, Julio D Vorobioff, Jacqueline Cordova-Gallardo, Vasilisa R Grechishnikova, Raoel Maan, Juan Pablo Roblero, Claudio Toledo, Stefania Gioia, Eduardo Fassio, Mónica Marino, Puria Nabilou, Victor Vargas, Manuela Merli, Luciana Lofego Goncalves, Liane Rabinowich, Aleksander Krag, Lorenz Balcar, Adrian Gadano, Francois Durand, Shiv K Sarin, Pere Ginès, Paolo Angeli, Elsa Solà, Salvatore Piano, International Club Of Ascites Global Aki Team

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background & aims: Non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) are widely used to prevent decompensation in cirrhosis. Guidelines recommend discontinuing NSBBs in patients with cirrhosis and acute kidney injury (AKI), although this recommendation is based largely on expert opinion and limited evidence. We evaluated the impact of NSBB use on AKI outcomes in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: This multicenter study enrolled patients hospitalized for decompensated cirrhosis and AKI. Data on NSBB treatment, including type, dose, and continuation, discontinuation, or tapering, were collected. Outcomes were compared between patients receiving and not receiving NSBBs and between those who discontinued/tapered and those who did not. Inverse …

Llm-As-A-Judge For Infection Prevention And Control And Antimicrobial Resistance Impact: Comparing Three Main Llms Vs. Human Experts' Assessment, Marcello Di Pumpo, Leonardo Villani, Maria Rosaria Gualano, Danilo Buonsenso, Francesca Raffaelli, Daniele Donà, Patrizia Laurenti, Vittorio Maio, Stefania Boccia, Walter Ricciardi

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to generate health information, yet their reliability as evaluators remains unclear. This study investigated the feasibility of an LLM-as-a-judge methodology in the context of infection prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), comparing automated ratings with human expert benchmarks.

METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of an expert-annotated dataset of health messages. Three leading LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) independently evaluated the same messages using an adapted DISCERN tool across five domains: information reliability, quality, AMR impact, persuasiveness, and overall score. We utilized descriptive statistics, intra-rater reliability tests, and mixed-effects ordinal regression to analyze divergence …

Subjective Sleep Disruption, Coping, And Anxiety And Related Symptoms In The Perinatal Period: Findings From A Longitudinal Study, Rebecca C Cox, Caroline P Hoyniak, Jack Samuels, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Gerald Nestadt, Eric A Storch, Rashelle Musci, Paul Nestadt, Lauren M Osborne, Mary Kimmel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Study objectives: Anxiety is common during the perinatal period and is associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes, highlighting a need to identify predictors of perinatal anxiety. Accumulating research implicates sleep disruption in perinatal anxiety and related symptoms, including obsessive-compulsive symptoms. We examined the associations among insomnia symptoms and sleep duration with perinatal anxiety, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the moderating role of coping from pregnancy through postpartum.

Methods: A sample of 231 women (agemean = 32.97 ± 4.36 years; 74% white) completed interview and self-report measures of sleep, coping, perinatal anxiety, obsessive beliefs, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in early …

Unbiased Avidity-Based Isolation Of Antigen-Specific T Cells, Amanda Montoya, Meredith L Frank, Peixin Jiang, Hui Nie, Minying Zhang, Emily Bontekoe, Jared K Slone, Ludovica L Posta, Sofia Rosy Caterina Sorice, Tina Cascone, Maura Gillison, Don L Gibbons, Jianjun Zhang, Eleonora Dondossola, Lydia Kavraki, Pamela L Wenzel, John V Heymach, Alexandre Reuben

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background: Cancer immunotherapies have significantly improved treatment efficacy and patient survival by exploiting antigen-specific T cells to eliminate cancer cells. However, current approaches for identifying and isolating antigen-specific T cells typically require prior knowledge of target antigens, limiting discovery, and reducing the ability to consistently detect rare tumor-reactive T cells. We therefore sought to develop an unbiased platform for the identification and enrichment of antigen-specific T cells using naturally processed and presented tumor antigens.

Methods: We developed ATTACH (Assessment of T cells Tethered to Antigen Class I Histocompatibility), a microfluidic platform that applies controlled shear stress and leverages tumor cells …