Digital Commons Network^™

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Cpap) In Nonapneic Asthma: A Clinical Review Of Current Evidence, H. M. Karim, A. M. Esquinas, S. Ziatabar, G. Insalaco, S. Skoczyński, I. Šarc, L. Ferini-Strambi, L. P. Özyiğit, T. Hernández-Gilsoul, B. A. Mina, +17 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

© 2020 by Turkish Thoracic Society-. The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in asthma has been a point of debate over the past several years. Various studies, including those on animals and humans have attempted to understand the role and pathophysiology of CPAP in patients with either well controlled or poorly controlled asthma. The aim of this manuscript is to review the currently available literature on the physiologic and clinical effects of CPAP in animal models of asthma and on humans with stable asthma.

Tdp-43 Is Elevated In Plasma Neuronal-Derived Exosomes Of Patients With Alzheimer’S Disease, N. Zhang, D. Gu, M. Meng, M. L. Gordon

Journal Articles

© Copyright © 2020 Zhang, Gu, Meng and Gordon. Background: Recently, TDP-43 has been recognized as a common proteinopathy in the “oldest old” and a neuropathological comorbidity in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, since it has a low concentration in cerebrospinal fluid, the presence of TDP-43 in AD is rarely investigated in vivo. Methods: Twenty-four patients with amyloid PET confirmed AD and 15 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. TDP-43 level in plasma neuronal-derived exosomes (NDEs) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: TDP-43 level was elevated in patients with AD compared with HCs (median 1.08 ng/ml, …

Pathophysiology And Pathology Of Acute Kidney Injury In Patients With Covid-19, J. H. Ng, V. Bijol, M. A. Sparks, M. E. Sise, H. Izzedine, K. D. Jhaveri

Journal Articles

© 2020 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among hospitalized patients with Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the occurrence of AKI ranging from 0.5% to 80%. The variability in the occurrence of AKI has been attributed to the difference in geographic locations, race/ethnicity, and severity of illness. AKI among hospitalized patients is associated with increased length of stay and in-hospital deaths. Even patients with AKI who survive to hospital discharge are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease. An improved knowledge of the pathophysiology of AKI in COVID-19 is crucial to …

Do Not Fall To The Vape Trap!, S. Acharya, S. I. Ali, S. Anwar, A. Glaser

Journal Articles

© 2020 The Author(s) Introduction: Whilst the use of combustible tobacco products continues to decline in the United States, the use of e-cigarettes has seen an explosive rise in recent years. In 2019 an outbreak on EVALI was seen across the country, highlighting the fact that e-cigarettes may not be as harmless as previously perceived. Case description: A 22-year-old male came to the emergency department complaining of vomiting and shortness of breath. Patient reported using a “pod” a day of a “JUUL” e-cigarette. Patient's oxygen requirement continued to increase and was eventually shifted to the intensive care unit and mechanically …

Can The Fut 2 Gene Variant Have An Effect On The Body Weight Of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery? - Preliminary, Exploratory Study, Natalia Komorniak, Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley, Armen Nalian, Wiktoria Wardziukiewicz, Karolina Skoniecznaa-Zydecka, Daniel Styburski, Joanna Palma, Bartosz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Kaseja, Ewa Stachowska

Faculty Publications

Background: The FUT2 gene (Se gene) encoding the enzyme α-1,2-L-fucosyltransferase 2 seems to have a significant effect on the number and type of bacteria colonizing the intestines. Methods: In a group of 19 patients after bariatric surgery, the polymorphism (rs601338) of FUT2 gene was analyzed in combination with body mass reduction, intestinal microbiome (16S RNA sequencing), and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) measurements in stools. Results: Among the secretors (Se/Se polymorphism of the FUT2 gene rs601338, carriers of GG variant), correlations between waist-hip ratio (WHR) and propionate content and an increase in Prevotella, Escherichia, Shigella, and Bacteroides were observed. On …

The Role Of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier 1 (Mpc1) In Heart Failure And Its Implications For Cardiac Recovery, Obadiah Issachar Kirk

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome with high mortality rates around the world. HF also has diverse etiology as many things contribute such as hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, inflammation, and cardiac arrhythmias. Studies have shown that unloading of a failing heart with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can lead to cardiac recovery in a subpopulation of individuals with advanced HF. RNA-sequencing and protein expression analysis of myocardial tissue from HF patients who underwent the LVAD implant and heart transplant indicated that subpopulation of HF patients who responded to LVAD unloading had significantly lower levels of mitochondrial pyruvate …

Agonist-Specific Desensitization Of Pge2-Stimulated Camp Signaling Due To Upregulated Phosphodiesterase Expression In Human Lung Fibroblasts, Francisco J. Nunez, Nancy Schulte, David M. Fogel, Joel Michalski, Stephen I. Rennard, Raymond B. Penn, Myron L. Toews, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by fibroblasts persisting in an activated form, producing excessive fibrous material that destroys alveolar structure. The second messenger molecule cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has antifibrotic properties, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can stimulate cAMP production through prostaglandin E (EP)2 and EP4 receptors. Although EP receptors are attractive therapeutic targets, the effects of long-term exposure to PGE2 have not been characterized. To determine the effects of long-term exposure of lung fibroblasts to PGE2, human fetal lung (HFL)-1 cells were treated for 24 h with 100 nM PGE2 or other cAMP-elevating agents. cAMP levels stimulated by acute exposure to …

Role Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection In Development Of Gastrointestinal Malignancy, Zilola Khashimova

Physician Assistant Studies | Faculty Scholarship

Introduction. Helicobacter Pylori (HP) infection has been associated with chronic inflammation of the stomach and may also be associated with the development of gastrointestinal malignancy.

Purpose of Study: This study will examine the literature related to HP infection associated with the cancers of the stomach.

Materials and Methods: A literature review was conducted on the reported research of HP infection associated with gastric cancer cases.

Results and Discussions: Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that colonizes approximately 50% of the world’s population. Infection with H. pylori causes chronic inflammation and significantly increases the risk of developing …

Ain To Ulnar Motor Nerve Transfer Meta Analysis, Melanie Luikart, Asif M. Ilyas, Md

Phase 1

Background: There are currently few comprehensive studies of end-to-end and “supercharged” reverse end-to-side (SETS) anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) to ulnar nerve transfers for treatment of ulnar neuropathy. The authors performed a literature review existing published literature to evaluate the indications for, and utility of, AIN-ulnar nerve transfer as a treatment method and to inform future treatment decisions.

Methods: A literature review was performed based on the following inclusion criteria: inclusion of anterior interosseous nerve or AIN, ulnar nerve or ulnar motor nerve, transfer or nerve transfer, and outcome, motor, clinical, ulnar neuropathies, ulnar nerve paralysis, treatment or function. Exclusion criteria …

Investigating Aggression In Huntington Disease, Chloe E. Larochelle

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Huntington Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. The onset of the disease is defined by the presence of motor deficits, such as chorea. However, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms often develop before motor onset and typically have a larger impact on patient quality of life. Psychiatric symptoms include depression, anxiety, and OCD, but also aggression and irritability, which have been comparatively understudied due to stigma. Currently, treatments to modify these behaviors in premanifest HD patients are not consistently effective and often have side effects, creating a need for …

Covid-19, Serendipity, And Strange Interlude: Gloria In Absurdicum With An Apology To Ovid, Lawrence Charles Parish, W Clark Lambert

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

The absurd edicts initially issued by several governors, including those of Michigan and New York, prohibiting physicians from ordering hydroxychloroquine for patients suspected of or diagnosed with COV-19 are reprehensible. Their reasoning is beyond the pale.

Hydroxychloroquine was first approved by the FDA in 1955 and has a remarkable safety record in its use as a preventative for malaria and in the treatment of several immunologic and/or light induced diseases. Its use came about serendipitously, and its mechanism of action is unclear, but the fact remains that it seems to work.

Mirna- And Cytokine-Associated Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Joseph P. Flemming, Brianna L. Hill, Mohammed W. Haque, Jessica Raad, Claudine S. Bonder, Larry A. Harshyne, Ulrich Rodeck, Adam J. Luginbuhl, James K. Wall, Iii, Kenneth Y. Tsai, Peter J Wermuth, Andrew M. Overmiller, Mỹ G. Mahoney

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Evaluation For Association Between Maternal Microbiota And Development Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Or Gram-Negative Bacteremia In Preterm Infants, Mei Chi Quek

Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a need for a better understanding of the correlation of vaginal microbiota with adverse preterm outcomes. Our study aimed to explore how the vaginal microbiota influences the outcome of the preterm infants, determine whether fecal microbiota in premature infants differs from that in term infants, and explore the microbiota pattern in preterm neonates who received multiple antibiotics. Method: A prospective cohort design was used to enroll 33 women admitted in spontaneous labor between 25 to 36 weeks, and 33 controls matched for age and parity …

First-Time Characterization Of Viable But Non-Culturable Proteus Mirabilis: Induction And Resuscitation, Reham Wasfi, G. R. Abdellatif, H. M. Elshishtawy, Hossam M. Ashour

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Pathogenic bacteria can enter into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state under unfavourable conditions. Proteus mirabilis is responsible for dire clinical consequences including septicaemia, urinary tract infections and pneumonia, but is not a species previously known to enter VBNC state. We suggested that stress-induced P. mirabilis can enter a VBNC state in which it retains virulence. P. mirabilis isolates were incubated in extreme osmotic pressure, starvation, low temperature and low pH to induce a VBNC state. Resuscitation was induced by temperature upshift and inoculation in tryptone soy broth with Tween 20 and brain heart infusion broth. Cellular ultrastructure and gene …

Determination Of N-Linked Glycosylation Changes In Hepatocellular Carcinoma And The Associated Glycoproteins For Enhanced Biomarker Discovery And Therapeutic Targets, Connor Allen West

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

With hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remaining as the fifth most common cancer in the world, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually, the need for reliable, early stage diagnoses and preventive treatments is crucial. While serum glycoproteins are hepatic in origin, making them excellent targets for HCC biomarkers, they can originate from both cancerous and non-cancerous regions and direct analysis of cancerous tissue itself is lacking. To counteract this, I hypothesized that direct tissue analysis combined with proteomic analysis could be utilized to identify more potential targets specific to HCC for early detection. This was done with a primary focus on glycosylation—as …

Polio To The Rescue; New Frontiers In Glioblastoma Treatment, Syed Sarmad Bukhari, Aneela Darbar, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

Lack of substantial progress in effective treatment of glioblastomamultiforme has led investigators to explore unconventional treatment options including the use of tumour treating fields and oncolyticvirotherapy. Herein the authors have reviewed some of the recent literature on oncolyticvirotherapy for the treatment of glioblastomamultiforme.

Cdca2 Inhibits Apoptosis And Promotes Cell Proliferation In Prostate Cancer And Is Directly Regulated By Hif-1Α Pathway., Yixiang Zhang, Yingduan Cheng, Zhaoxia Zhang, Zhongyuan Bai, Hongtao Jin, Xiaojing Guo, Xiaoyan Huang, Meiqi Li, Maolin Wang, Xing-Sheng Shu, Yeqing Yuan, Ying Ying

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major serious malignant tumor and is commonly diagnosed in older men. Identification of novel cancer-related genes in PCa is important for understanding its tumorigenesis mechanism and developing new therapies against PCa. Here, we used RNA sequencing to identify the specific genes, which are upregulated in PCa cell lines and tissues. The cell division cycle associated protein (CDCA) family, which plays a critical role in cell division and proliferation, is upregulated in the PCa cell lines of our RNA-Sequencing data. Moreover, we found that CDCA2 is overexpressed, and its protein level positively correlates with its histological …

Cervico-Vaginal Inflammatory Cytokine And Chemokine Responses To Two Different Siv Immunogens, Nikki P.L. Toledo, Hongzhao Li, Robert W. Omange, Tamara G. Dacoba, Jose Crecente-Campo, Dane Schalk, Mohammad A. Kashem, Eva Rakasz, Nancy Schultz-Darken, Qingsheng Li, James B. Whitney, Maria J. Alonso, Francis A. Plummer, Ma Luo

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Studies have shown that vaccine vectors and route of immunization can differentially activate different arms of the immune system. However, the effects of different HIV vaccine immunogens on mucosal inflammation have not yet been studied. Because mucosal sites are the primary route of HIV infection, we evaluated the cervico-vaginal inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels of Mauritian cynomolgus macaques following immunization and boost using two different SIV vaccine immunogens. The PCS vaccine delivers 12 20-amino acid peptides overlapping the 12 protease cleavage sites, and the Gag/Env vaccine delivers the full Gag and full Env proteins of simian immunodeficiency virus. We showed …

Traumatic Brain Injury, Julian E. Bailes, Cesar V. Borlongan

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Eyeballing Stroke: Blood Flow Alterations In The Eye And Visual Impairments Following Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion In Adult Rats, Jea-Young Lee, Vanessa Castelli, Brooke Bonsack, Julián García-Sánchez, Chase Kingsbury, Hung Nguyen, Naoki Tajiri, Cesar V. Borlongan

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Middle cerebral artery occlusion in rodents remains a widely used model of ischemic stroke. Recently, we reported the occurrence of retinal ischemia in animals subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion, owing in part to the circulatory juxtaposition of the ophthalmic artery to the middle cerebral artery. In this study, we examined the eye hemodynamics and visual deficits in middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced stroke rats. The brain and eye were evaluated by laser Doppler at baseline (prior to middle cerebral artery occlusion), during and after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Retinal function-relevant behavioral and histological outcomes were performed at 3 and 14 …

Spleen Participation In Partial Mhc Class Ii Construct Neuroprotection In Stroke, John Brown, Chase Kingsbury, Jea-Young Lee, Arthur A. Vandenbark, Roberto Meza-Romero, Halina Offner, Cesar V. Borlongan

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Pathological progression of stroke in the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS and CNS) is characterized by multiple converging signalling pathways that exacerbate neuroinflammation-mediated secondary cell death. This creates a need for a novel type of immunotherapy capable of simultaneously lowering the synergistic inflammatory responses in the PNS and CNS, specifically the spleen and brain. Previously, we demonstrated that partial major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II constructs can be administered subcutaneously to promote histological and behavioural effects that alleviate common symptoms found in a murine model of transient stroke. This MHC class II manipulates T cell cytokine expression in both …

Potential Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alone, Or In Combination, To Treat Traumatic Brain Injury, Alison E. Willing, Mahasweta Das, Mark Howell, Shyam S. Mohapatra, Subhra Mohapatra

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes death and disability in the United States and around the world. The traumatic insult causes the mechanical injury of the brain and primary cellular death. While a comprehensive pathological mechanism of TBI is still lacking, the focus of the TBI research is concentrated on understanding the pathophysiology and developing suitable therapeutic approaches. Given the complexities in pathophysiology involving interconnected immunologic, inflammatory, and neurological cascades occurring after TBI, the therapies directed to a single mechanism fail in the clinical trials. This has led to the development of the paradigm of a combination therapeutic approach against TBI. …

Test–Retest Reliability Of The Friedreich’S Ataxia Rating Scale, Christian Rummey, Theresa A. Zesiewicz, Santiago Perez-Lloret, Jennifer M. Farmer, Massimo Pandolfo, David R. Lynch

Neurology Faculty Publications

The modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS) is a disease specific, exam-based neurological rating scale commonly used as a outcome measure in clinical trials. While extensive clinimetric testing indicates it’s validity in measuring disease progression, formal test–retest reliability was lacking. To fill this gap, we acquired results from screening and baseline visits of several large clinical trials and calculated intraclass correlation coefficients, coefficients of variance, standard error, and the minimally detectable changes. This study demonstrated excellent test–retest reliability of the mFARS, and it’s upright stability subscore.

1. President's Office Records, 1941-1998, The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center

Director's Office Records: Ernst Bertner and R. Lee Clark Archives

The President's Office Records include materials generated and received by the President of the institution, and his staff, during his time in office. The early records also include the materials generated and received by the Director of the institution, and his staff, prior to the time the position of President existed. Additionally, there are records from the President Emeritus office included in the record group.

Expression And Functional Sialome Of Triatomines, Insect Vectors Of Chagas Disease, Maria Tays Mendes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Triatomines are blood-sucking arthropods that transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (ChD). Triatomines use bioactive molecules in the saliva for successful blood feeding and to evade the hemostatic and immune defense system of the hosts. Knowing the saliva composition could be useful for a better understanding which and how insect-derived molecules might influence host-parasite interactions. Previous studies have shown that some saliva-derived proteins and lipids can modulate the host immune system and increase T. cruzi infection. We hypothesize that the triatomine saliva contains a great diversity of lipids and proteins that can modulate the mammalian host immune …

Dynamic Prostatic And Laser-Ablated Lesion Volume Change After Transperineal Laser Ablation In Canine: Preliminary Observation And Its Clinical Significance., Rui-Qing Liu, Ji-Bin Liu, Shao-Bo Duan, Si-Guo Cheng, Zhi-Yang Chang, Hui-Cun Cao, Guang-Shao Cao, Ya-Qiong Li, Na Li, Lian-Zhong Zhang

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

AIM: The purpose of this study is to observe the volume change of prostate and laser-ablated lesions in the canine and to explore the mechanism and clinical significance through histopathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) was performed under the guidance of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in eight canines. Two canines were sacrificed 1 day and 1 week after TPLA, respectively. The remaining six canines were sacrificed after finishing transrectal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (TR-CEUS) at three phases.

RESULTS: The prostatic volumes immediately following TPLA and 1 week later were larger than before TPLA (20.1 ± 3.9 vs 17.1 ± 3.8 ml; …

The Aspet Mentoring Network: Enhancing Diversity And Inclusion Through Career Coaching Groups Within A Scientific Society, Veronica Y. Womack, Bhoomi K. Thakore, Christine V. Wood, David C. Jewett, Remi F. Jones, Susan L. Ingram, Janet A. Clark, Catherine L. Fry, Lynn Wecker, Richard Mcgee

Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences Faculty Publications

Over the past decades, two persisting priorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) training have been: 1) increasing the knowledge of and access to careers beyond academic scientist; and 2) increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce. Previous studies show that a uniquely constructed career coaching group provides strong support and progress for both priorities. This report extends this design into a more sustainable model that is positioned within the professional context of rising young scientists. This new model is based in the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)—the ASPET Mentoring Network. Groups of PhD students and …

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Alleviates The Neuroinflammation Associated With Acquired Brain Injury, Brooke Bonsack, Sydney Corey, Alex Shear, Matt Heyck, Blaise Cozene, Nadia Sadanandan, Henry Zhang, Bella Gonzales-Portillo, Michael Sheyner, Cesar V. Borlongan

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) comprise two particularly prevalent and costly examples of acquired brain injury (ABI). Following stroke or TBI, primary cell death and secondary cell death closely model disease progression and worsen outcomes. Mounting evidence indicates that long-term neuroinflammation extensively exacerbates the secondary deterioration of brain structure and function. Due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, mesenchymal stem cell transplants have emerged as a promising approach to treating this facet of stroke and TBI pathology. In this review, we summarize the classification of cell death in ABI and discuss the prominent role of inflammation. We then …

Advancing Stem Cell Therapy For Repair Of Damaged Lung Microvasculature In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Robert Shell, Hilmi Mustafa, Surafuale Hailu, Alison E. Willing, Paul R. Sanberg, Cesar V. Borlongan

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease of motor neuron degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. Progressive paralysis of the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles leading to respiratory dysfunction and failure is the most common cause of death in ALS patients. Respiratory impairment has also been shown in animal models of ALS. Vascular pathology is another recently recognized hallmark of ALS pathogenesis. Central nervous system (CNS) capillary damage is a shared disease element in ALS rodent models and ALS patients. Microvascular impairment outside of the CNS, such as in the lungs, may occur in ALS, triggering lung damage …

Foraminal Ligaments Tether Upper Cervical Nerve Roots: A Potential Cause Of Postoperative C5 Palsy, Andrew S. Jack, Brooks R. Osburn, Zane A. Tymchak, Wyatt L. Ramey, Rod J. Oskouian, Robert A. Hart, Jens R. Chapman, Line G. Jacques, R. Shane Tubbs

Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Faculty Publications

Background: Nerve root tethering upon dorsal spinal cord (SC) migration has been proposed as a potential mechanism for postoperative C5 palsy (C5P). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate this relationship by anatomically comparing C5–C6 nerve root translation before and after root untethering by cutting the cervical foraminal ligaments (FL).

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine if C5 root untethering through FL cutting results in increased root translation.

Methods: Six cadaveric dissections were performed. Nerve roots were exposed via C4–C6 corpectomies and supraclavicular brachial plexus exposure. Pins were inserted into the C5–C6 roots and …