Digital Commons Network^™

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

Nanosecond Electric Pulses As A Novel In Situ Vaccination Strategy For Cancer Treatment: Mechanisms, Challenges And Prospects, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond electric pulses (nsEPs) are an emerging pulsed-power technology with unique bioelectric characteristics distinct from conventional long-pulse electroporation. As a tunable physical modality, nsEPs can modulate intracellular structures, membrane dynamics, and signaling pathways. Increasing evidence supports nsEPs as a promising non-thermal tumor ablation approach due to their high spatial precision, preservation of critical tissue structures, and minimal adverse effects. One of the most significant discoveries associated with nsEP tumor ablation is the induction of potent systemic antitumor immunity, particularly in situ vaccination (ISV) effects and, in some cases, abscopal effects against distant untreated tumors. Substantial evidence demonstrates that nsEPs can …

Hsp90 Inhibitor, At13387 Mitigates Chronic Lung Injury In Pre-Pubertal Mice: A Therapeutic Axis In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Pavel A. Solopov, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) can provoke severe chronic pulmonary injury. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller airways, higher respiratory rate, and stronger inflammatory response; yet no countermeasures exist for HCl-induced chronic lung injury in the pediatric population. We have previously demonstrated the involvement of HSP90 during HCl-induced lung injury in pre-pubertal (p24) mice, who develop stronger persistent inflammation with higher NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but less pulmonary fibrosis compared to adults. Here, we tested the hypothesis that post-treatment with the second-generation HSP90 inhibitor AT13387 (Onalespib), administered subcutaneously beginning 24 h after HCl instillation, would prevent HCl-induced chronic lung …

Advancing Cns Tumor Management: Novel Modalities In Surgery, Radiation, And Chemotherapy, Armin David Tavakkoli

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Most tumors affecting the brain and spine are managed through a combination of surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy; however, operative morbidity from invasive surgery, the narrow therapeutic window of conventional radiotherapy, and poor blood-brain barrier penetration of systemic agents are critical barriers that hinder long term tumor control. This thesis presents three complementary strategies to advance brain and spine tumor therapy. First, we investigate laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in the treatment of spinal tumors with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression, replacing “separation surgery” with a minimally invasive, image-guided approach that maximizes tumor ablation while preserving neurologic function. Second, we …

Adipose Tissue-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles In Plasma Reveal Molecular Circuitries Underlying Glucose Intolerance, Shalini Mishra, Yixin Su, Ashish Kumar, Sangeeta Singh, Brian S. Finlin, Fang-Chi Hsu, Jingyun Lee, Cristina M. Furdui, Philip A. Kern, Swapan K. Das, Gagan Deep

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Glucose tolerance (GT) is a major effector for adipose tissue (AT) remodeling in obesity, yet its molecular mechanisms remain incompletely defined. We hypothesized that the biophysical and molecular profiles of AT-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV^AT) change in response to glucose availability and differ by GT status.

Methods: sEV^AT were isolated from plasma of individuals with normal GT (NGT) and impaired GT (IGT) (n = 5/group) at fasting (0 h) and 1 h post glucose challenge during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). sEV^AT were characterized for size, concentration, surface expression of insulin receptor-α (INSRα), proteome, …

Intraosseous (Io) Analgesia Medication Administration In Orthopaedic Surgery: A Brief Review, Jenna Chrabolowski, Troy B. Puga, Abanoub Attallahm, Mckenna W. Box, John T. Riehl

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction

Intraosseous (IO) analgesia is a novel strategy for pain control in orthopaedic surgery. This brief review aims to provide an overview of IO analgesia in orthopaedic surgery.

Methods

A search was conducted across seven databases. Titles and abstracts were screened followed by full-text review for inclusion criteria. Demographics and results were extracted from included articles.

Results

Ten studies met inclusion criteria and involved patients undergoing knee surgery and spinal surgery. IO lidocaine was shown to be effective for postoperative and intraprocedural pain control during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. IO morphine and IO NSAIDs were shown to be effective in reducing …

Occupational Human Papillomavirus Exposure Risks For Laryngeal Surgeons And Phoniatricians: A Joint European Laryngological Society (Els) And Union Of European Phoniatricians (Uep) Delphi Clinical Consensus Statement, Shiying Hey, Alberto Maria Saibene, Milan Amin, Jennifer Anderson, Christoph Arens, Simon Best, Guillermo Campos, Craig Derkay, Gauthier Desuter, Frederik G. Dikkers, Isabel Garcia-Lopez, Ahmed Geneid, Anastasios Hantzakos, Markus Hess, Yakubu Karagama, Marina Mat Baki, Napur Kapoor Nerurkar, Daniel Novakovic, Haldun Oguz, Shazia Peer, Jasmine Prasad, Carlo Robotti, David Vokes, Chi-Te Wang, Malgorzata Wierzbicka, Michal Zabrodsky, Nicolien Van Der Poel

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose

Laser surgical management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease, such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), in the upper aerodigestive tract generates surgical smoke, which may represent a source of occupational viral exposure for laryngeal surgeons, phoniatricians, anesthesia providers and scrub nurses. Despite growing awareness, protective measures remain inconsistently implemented. This study aimed to develop an evidence-informed clinical consensus statement (CCS) to guide occupational HPV risk management in laryngology.

Methods

A modified Delphi consensus process was conducted under the auspices of the European Laryngological Society (ELS) and the Union of the European Phoniatricians (UEP). A panel of 26 international experts undertook …

Animal Models Of Aortic Aneurysm And Dissection: A Comparative Guide For Mechanism, Therapeutic Testing, And Translational Readouts, Shayan Mohammadmoradi, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Aortic aneurysms and dissections are devastating vascular diseases with high mortality, yet no pharmacological therapy has proven effective in halting growth or preventing rupture. Surgical and endovascular repair remain the only treatment options for advanced disease. Animal models have been indispensable in defining mechanisms and testing candidate therapies, but the diversity of protocols, strain-dependent variability, and heterogeneous endpoints complicate interpretation and translation. This review provides an update focused on how to match models to specific research questions. We critically compare commonly used abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models (angiotensin II ± hyperlipidemia, elastase, calcium chloride, β-aminopropionitrile BAPN hybrids, and mineralocorticoid agonist/fludrocortisone …

Leveraging Virtual Reality And Haptics To Teach Surgical Skills: A Usability Study On Retropubic Midurethral Slings, Lauren Siff, Ginger S. Watson, Jerome Dixon, Moshe Feldman, Franklin Bost, Philippe J. Giabbanelli

VMASC Publications

Traditional methods to learn soft-tissue surgical procedures rely on cadaver labs or patient-based learning, which are costly and geographically limited, and raise ethical questions. Virtual reality (VR) with haptic feedback offers a scalable alternative, but most current platforms emphasize bone-based rather than soft-tissue procedures learned by feel. We developed a VR+haptic simulation for preoperative training of retropubic midurethral sling (MUS) surgery. This study examines the usability of this platform with thirteen expert urogynecologic surgeons and subsequently makes improvements (e.g., in haptics) to evaluate the platform with twelve trainees based on the NASA Task Load Index for workload and a UTAUT-informed …

Efficacy And Safety Of Anticoagulation For Pediatric Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Muayad Azzam, Hassan Kawtharany, Marisol Betensky, Aseel Alkhader, Qais Hamarsha, Hadi Khaled Abou Zeid, Razan Mansour, Carine Tabak, Payal Patel, Sarah Lamat Baghdadi, Rachel S. Bercovitz, Rukhmi Bhat, Tina Bliss, Brian R. Branchford, Leonard R. Brandão, Anthony K. C. Chan, E. Vincent S. Faustino, Julie Jaffray, Sophie Jones, Bryce A. Kerlin, Nicole Kucine, Riten Kumar, Christoph Male, Marie-Claude Pelland-Marcotte, Leslie Raffini, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Sarah E. Sartain, Clifford M. Takemoto, Cristina Tarango, C. Heleen Van Ommen, Maria C. Velez, Sara K. Vesely, John Wiernikowski, Suzan Williams, Hope P. Wilson, Gary Woods, Ayesha Zia, Paul Monagle, Reem A. Mustafa

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation therapy versus no anticoagulation in pediatric patients with cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). Eligible studies included pediatric patients with CSVT that compared anticoagulation to no anticoagulation and reported on at least one relevant outcome (mortality, neurological deficit, thrombus resolution, recurrence, and bleeding). Meta-analysis reported risk ratios (RR) or differences (RD) (95% CIs) and absolute effects per 1000 patients. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE. After removing duplicates, we screened 8925 records independently and in duplicate, from …

The Impact Of Gastric Sleeve And Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass On Chief Cell Function And Protein Digestion In Obese Patients, Garikoitz Mikel Gainza

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Obesity has become one of the largest global health concerns of the 21^st century, correlating with numerous associated diseases. To help address the growing prevalence and burden of obesity, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have become two commonly performed surgical procedures done to promote weight loss by altering the anatomical structure of the stomach and surrounding organs of the gastrointestinal system. Although the benefits of improved metabolism linked to these surgical procedures are well studied, their impact on the physiology of gastric cells, and more specifically chief cells as they relate to protein digestion post-surgery, is yet to …

An Anti-Adhesive Compound Modulating The Production Of Staphylococcus Aureus Cell Wall-Anchored Proteins, Allison C. Leonard, Ruina Bao, Cindy Menjivar, Megan J. Myers, Telmo O. Paiva, Zhiyong Zheng, Kirsten A. Berry, Kenneth W. Bayles, Ronald S. Flannagan, Yves F. Dufrêne, Jeffrey L. Bose, David E. Heinrichs, Georgina Cox

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

As one of the leading global causes of death associated with antimicrobial resistance, Staphylococcus aureus frequently colonizes the human nasal cavity and adheres to keratinized skin, establishing reservoirs that drive subsequent infections and emphasize the need for new decolonization strategies. Using a high-throughput, whole-cell screening platform, here we identify geranylgeranoic acid (GGA), a naturally occurring polyunsaturated, branched-chain fatty acid, as having dual activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). At elevated concentrations, GGA exhibits microbicidal effects, whereas at sub‑microbicidal doses, it effectively inhibits MRSA adhesion to keratin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulins. GGA possesses anti-adhesive activity against a panel of multidrug-resistant S. …

Histopathological Effects Of The Intrathecal Chondroitinase Abc Administration In Spinal Cord Injured Rats: A Systematic Review, Mohammad Amin Habibi, Ali Anjomshoa, Mohsen Sadeghi-Naini, Zahra Ghodsi, Samuel Berchi Kankam, Erfan Razavi, Armin Aryannejad, Seyed Mohammad Piri, Akam Ramezani, Rasha Atlasi, Kawthar Mohamed, Sina Shoo, Meysam Kaveh, Akbar Fotouhi, Arman Zeinaddini, James S. Harrop, Alex R. Vaccaro, Michael G. Fehlings, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Introduction: Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) has been considered a potential treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI). We aim to identify and evaluate the histopathological effects of intrathecal ChABC administration in SCI rat models.

Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published from the inception of each database until November 22, 2022.

Results: Of 3857 screened citations, 17 studies met eligibility criteria and were entered into the qualitative analysis. Sixteen studies were of high quality, and one study was of medium quality. The four main rat strains used in studies were Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, Lister hooded, …

Evolution Of A Client‐Level Dataset: 20 Years Of National Child Traumatic Stress Network Data Collection, C. A. Purbeck, A. N. Cooke, L. J. Liang, C. Smith, J. Staten, J. Epstein, H. B. Hodgdon, Jessica Eslinger, A. Wells, J. Goodrich, T. H. Bethel, K. Willett, Y. C. Fu, J. A. Fairbank, E. C. Briggs

Center on Trauma and Children Faculty Publications

Objectives: For 20 years, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's (NCTSN) data collection efforts have been a central mechanism for Clinical Quality Improvement (ClQI). The NCTSN is a federally funded initiative in the United States composed of programs dedicated to raising the standard of care and increasing access to services for children and families who have experienced traumatic events.

Methods: These efforts span three initiatives: the Core Data Set (CDS), the Clinical Improvement through Measurement Initiative (CIMI) Measurement Based Care (MBC), and CIMI Data Sharing (CIMI-DS) that collected and analyzed client-level data to improve care for children and families served …

Applicability Of The Cleveland Clinic Scoring Tool For The Risk Prediction Of Acute Kidney Injury After Adult Cardiac Surgery., Ahmed A Faragalla, Ahmed M Elshiemy, Wael S Nekhila, Sherif M Elboghdady

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Post-cardiac surgery acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant complication associated with increased mortality, longer ICU stays, and higher healthcare costs. The Cleveland Clinic Scoring Tool (CCST) aids preoperative risk evaluation, facilitating tailored prevention strategies. Aim This study evaluates the relevance of the CCST in prospectively assessing AKI risk in adult patients undergoing various cardiac surgeries. Methods This prospective cohort study (tertiary centre, Jan 2021-Aug 2023) assessed the CCST for preoperative AKI risk in adult open-heart surgery (OHS) patients. Consenting adults (≥18) undergoing elective/emergency OHS were included, excluding those with pre- AKI (KDIGO), dialysis-dependent ESRD, aortic dissection, shock, or …

21st Century Perspective On The Changing Pattern Of Nerve Injuries From Gunshot Wounds In The U.S., Thomas A. Decoster

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Gunshot wounds (GSWs) with nerve injuries in the 21st century differ significantly from those reported in the 20th century. The vast majority are now low-velocity civilian injuries, in contrast to high-velocity military injuries previously reported. The rate of nerve injury in civilian GSWs is approximately 5%, compared with the 30% reported in military cohorts. However, the most common pattern of nerve injury in the current civilian population is neurotmesis and partial neurotmesis, in contrast to the majority axonotmesis of the military cohorts. In the 20th century, treatment generally consisted of watchful waiting for signs of spontaneous recovery over three months …

Peripheral Nerve Repair And Reconstruction: Current Techniques, Adjuncts, And Emerging Therapies, Niklaus Skipp, Lana Dokic, Christina Wassef, Jazzlyn Gonzalez, Ana Love, Heather Mercer, Deana Mercer

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

Peripheral nerve injuries require reconstruction when direct, tension-free repair is not possible. A range of reconstructive strategies are used to restore continuity and promote axonal regeneration, including graft-based reconstruction, nerve transfers, conduit-based repair, supercharged end-to-side augmentation, and emerging regenerative therapies. Autologous interfascicular nerve grafts and vascularized grafts remain established techniques, whereas processed nerve allografts provide a donor-sparing alternative. Nerve transfers are increasingly used for proximal injuries with long regeneration distances, and conduits are an option for gaps shorter than 5 mm. Nerve-wrapping techniques are used to reduce perineural scarring and preserve gliding in complex or revision cases. Emerging adjunctive therapies, …

Bovine Colostrum And Late-Onset Sepsis In Premature Infants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (Bcsp Study), Hany Wifky Gendy Michael, Hassan Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, Dalia Abu Elmaaref Mohamed Ibrahim

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Aim: Neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) have a great impact on morbidity and mortality in immature newborns. We performed our trial to examine the impact of enteral bovine colostrum administration upon late neonatal sepsis in premature newborns. Patients &Procedures: The study included neonates who had a birth weight (BW) of 1-1.8 kg, a gestational age (GA) of full 28-34 weeks, and a postnatal age of ≤ 96 hours. A blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was done using two groups; one of them received bovine colostrum daily within the first 96 hours starting from the 2nd day of feeding and for …

Age-Related Ultrastructural Differences In The Dorsal Cortex Of The Inferior Colliculus In The Fischer Brown Norway Rat, Kylee M. Tenney, Dakota Smallridge, Gillian Barach, Gurveer Singh, Erin Beskitt, Justine Busby, Syllissa Duncan, Alexa Wawrzyniak, Brenda Vega, Nick Tokar, Andrew Ohl, Jesse Young, Jeffrey Mellott

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The inferior colliculus is a nucleus in the auditory midbrain that plays an important role in sound and speech processing through how it encodes temporal precision. Temporal precision depends on the balance of inhibition and excitation within the IC. This balance degrades during aging. Age-related changes in synapses have been described in the lemniscal IC as a contributing factor for this imbalance. However, it is unknown if aging affects synapses throughout the non-lemniscal IC in a similar manner. We sought to determine this by examining the dorsal cortex of the IC. The ICd is a non-lemniscal nucleus that is well …

Blood Flow Regulates Metabolism In Hematopoietic Development, Pamela L Wenzel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Blood flow modifies oxygen availability and biomechanical forces within the vasculature of the embryo as the hematopoietic system develops. The aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) envelops the largest artery in the body and is a critical site for the emergence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Herein, I discuss the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and force as determinants of metabolism and fate determination. To address the effects of blood flow on hematopoietic development, I employ mouse embryo models and biomimetic culture. Real-time cell metabolic analyses show that oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) are altered by flow in cultures of …

Commissioning & Daily Qa Of Converted Linac For Electron Flash, Tomaj Javidtash

Theses and Dissertations

Ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) radiotherapy has demonstrated promising normal tissue sparing in preclinical studies; however, the lack of standardized dosimetry, commissioning, and quality assurance (QA) methodologies remains a major barrier to its reproducible and safe implementation. In particular, conventional clinical commissioning and QA protocols are not directly applicable at FLASH dose rates due to challenges associated with detector response, dose-per-pulse effects, and beam control limitations.

This thesis presents the commissioning of a converted Varian 21EX linear accelerator for electron FLASH operation within the Division of Medical Physics at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Radiation Oncology. Comprehensive beam characterization …

Socialization Interventions For Older Adults In Assisted Living Facilities: A Systematic Review, Anoop S. Muvva

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Older adults, defined as individuals over the age of 65, are a growing population in the United States, with projections estimating this group will reach approximately 80 million persons by 2050. Over 90% of older adults are diagnosed with a chronic condition, which can make it difficult to carry out the activities of daily living. As a result, some older adults reside in assisted living facilities, where dedicated staff provide daily support. However, issues in the delivery of care within these settings, including unmet socialization needs and complications among care staff, may contribute to social isolation. Programs designed to address …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Glass-Ceramic Nanoparticles And Nanobubbles For Integration Into Bone Regenerative Biomaterials, Sun Latt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoporosis affects over 200 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, leading to fragility fractures that significantly diminish quality of life. Current clinical bone cements, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), are limited by poor osseointegration, toxic monomers, and an inability to address the underlying pathophysiology of osteoporosis. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and systematic in vitro evaluation of a sol-gel-derived, magnesium-incorporated glass-ceramic (GC) nanoparticle within the CaO-MgO-SiO₂ system for incorporation into a novel hydrogel bone cement and bioresorbable magnesium implants. XRD confirmed a biphasic amorphous-crystalline diopside composition, and TEM …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Rna-Micelles As Self-Assembling Structures For Efficient Co-Delivery Of Synergistic Sirna And Nucleoside Analogues To Treat Crc Lung Metastasis, Kai Jin, Piotr G. Rychahou, Daniel W. Binzel, B. Mark Evers, Peixuan Guo

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

SiRNA has been widely studied in cancer gene silencing over the last 25 years. However, few siRNA-based therapeutics have been approved by the FDA. An RNA-micelle platform provides a powerful therapeutic tool through simple one-step, high-yield production that is capable of efficient colorectal cancer lung metastasis treatment, a current lethal condition with a short survival rate post-diagnosis. Here, it is reported that the use of RNA-micelles co-carrying siRNA and nucleoside analogues to completely inhibit lung metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The major advantage of the RNA-micelle is the successful co-delivery of siRNA and chemotherapeutic agent in a single delivery vehicle …

Eef2k Promotes Immune Evasion In Melanoma Via Cyclin D1–Mediated Stabilization Of Pd-L1, Yijie Ren, Darby J. Ballard, Anil Kumar, Andy F. Song, Mitiksha Gupta, Xiaofang Xiong, Xingcong Ren, Jugal Kishore Das, Jin-Ming Yang, Jianxun Song

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a stress-responsive regulator of protein synthesis implicated in melanoma progression, but its role in tumor immune evasion remains poorly defined. We investigated how eEF2K influences programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression through modulation of Cyclin D1. We analyzed gene expression and dependency datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Cancer Dependency Map. Protein–protein interactions were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. Cyclin D1 was inhibited pharmacologically with palbociclib. Immune responses were evaluated in murine B16-OVA and human A2058 melanoma models using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry after genetic or pharmacologic modulation of eEF2K and Cyclin D1. …

“Shaking The Ladder” Reveals How Analytic Choices Can Influence Associations In Nutrition Epidemiology: Beef Intake And Coronary Heart Disease As A Case Study, Colby J Vorland, Lauren E O'Connor, Beate Henschel, Cuiqiong Huo, James M Shikany, Carlos A Serrano, Robert Henschel, Stephanie L Dickinson, Keisuke Ejima, Aurelian Bidulescu, David B Allison, Andrew W Brown

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Nutrition epidemiological models involve many analytic decisions, such as defining exposures, selecting which covariates to include, or configuring variables in different ways. We explored the impact of analytical decisions on conclusions in nutrition epidemiology using self-reported beef intake and incident coronary heart disease as a case study. We used REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) data, and selected covariates and their configurations from published literature to recapitulate common models used to assess associations between meat intake and health outcomes. Three model sets were designed: sets one and two used continuous and quintile-defined beef intakes, respectively, each with …

Examining Widely Held Propositions On Human Dietary Protein Needs And Benefits: A Critical Review Of The Science That Shapes Both The Data And Our Understanding Of An Essential Macronutrient, Mitchell M Kanter, Sally Aaron, Steven N Austad, Andrew W Brown, Nicholas A Burd, Wayne W Campbell, Mark Cope, Teresa A Davis, John W Erdman, Miguel Freitas, Kristen Hicks-Roof, Samuel Klein, Wantanee Kriengsinyos, Dudley W Lamming, Donald K Layman, Heather J Leidy, Kevin C Maki, Richard D Mattes, Shalene Mcneill, Daniel R Moore, Stefan M Pasiakos, Stuart M Phillips, David Raubenheimer, Wendy Reinhardt, Nancy R Rodriguez, Stephen Simpson, Hans H Stein, Luc J C Van Loon, Connie M Weaver, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The essentiality of protein in the human diet is unequivocal. Yet researchers, clinicians, and lay people often believe numerous propositions about dietary protein despite insufficient supporting or refuting data in some instances. To address this disconnect, and to "pressure-test" current beliefs about dietary protein, the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington convened a workshop in February 2025 titled "Human Dietary Protein Needs and Benefits: A Critical Assessment of Postulated Propositions." More than 20 international experts discussed (1) methodologic issues affecting data acquisition and interpretation; (2) "optimal" dietary protein intakes and effects on muscle protein synthesis rates, muscle protein accretion, …

Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Relationships Between Abdominal Fat Depots And Cardiometabolic Risk In A Sample Of Mexican Adolescents, Luis Ortíz-Hernández, Erica G Soltero, Miguel Camejo, Jesús Valdes

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: The relationship between abdominal fat depots and cardiometabolic risk among youth is inconclusive due to the cross-sectional nature of existing studies and limitations in assessment methods. In this study, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with cardiometabolic risk indicators among Mexican adolescents.

Methods: Participants (n = 169 at baseline and 134 at follow-up) were assessed for diastolic or systolic blood pressure (DBP or SBP), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, glucose, and insulin. VAT and SAT were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Measures …