Digital Commons Network^™

A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Early And Consistent Prenatal Care In The Spanish Speaking Female Population At The Fqhc West Ashley Fetter Clinic, Ana Martinez Conde, Sophia Zia, Joye Fordham, Dennis Besong

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Increasing Patient Enrollment In The Healow App At Fetter Health Care Network, Genevieve Mccloskey, Goodness Ezeanyaso, Collin Cheatle, Dennis Besong

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Transvascular Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspirations (Ebus-Tbna) To Confirm Urothelial Carcinoma Metastasis To The Pulmonary Artery, Kyle Admire, Stephen Gegick

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Tumours within the pulmonary arteries provide a diagnostic challenge due to their similar appearance to pulmonary emboli. Often, the decision to sample is multidisciplinary and the best approach to take is often unknown. Here we describe a case of urothelial carcinoma which metastasised to the mediastinum with evidence of tumour burden within the pulmonary artery. Sampling of this by endovascular and thoracoscopic means was unsuccessful; however, we were able to provide a diagnosis using direct visualization with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). This report is the first of a central pulmonary artery tumour caused by urothelial carcinoma biopsied by …

Mediating Effect Of Social Determinants Of Health Between Race And Phthalate Biomarkers In Pregnancy, Tetsuya Kawakita, Misa Hayasaka, Carole Barake, Trinity Soto, Jillian Fleming, Amir Lueth, Stevens Danielle, Alfred Abuhamad, Ann Pryzybylska, Elena Sinkovskaya, Kelly K. Ferguson, George Saade

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction

Prenatal phthalate exposure is linked to adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes and is consistently higher among non‐Hispanic Black compared to non‐Hispanic White pregnant individuals, yet the factors responsible for these disparities are poorly characterized. We sought to quantify Black–White differences in repeated urinary concentrations of phthalate biomarkers during pregnancy and to estimate the extent to which neighborhood‐level social determinants of health (SDoH) mediate these disparities.

Methods

This secondary analysis used data from the Human Placenta Project Study, a prospective observational cohort study conducted at two academic institutions between 2016 and 2018. Eligible participants had singleton pregnancies, were recruited before …

Hungarian Validation Of The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory - 20 (Pfdi-20) Questionnaire And The Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire - 7 (Pfiq - 7), Barbara Kozma, Bence Kozma, Peter Takacs, Dávid Rátonyi, Nelli Farkas, Attila G. Sipos, Balint Farkas

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Introduction and Hypotheses

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) affect women's quality of life through physical, psychological, and social domains. The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) are validated tools for assessing symptom severity and quality of life impact. The current study aim to investigate the reliability and validity of the Hungarian versions of these questionnaires in women with PFD symptoms.

Methods

This validation study was carried out at the University of Debrecen among women with clinically confirmed pelvic floor disorders. The PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 questionnaires were translated into Hungarian using independent native English speaker in …

The Association Between Social Vulnerability And Racial Disparities In Preterm Birth, Anita Pershad, Gabby Adams, Lindsay Robbins, George Saade, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Objective

To evaluate the association between county-level social vulnerability and preterm birth and assess whether racial disparities vary across levels of vulnerability.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized restricted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention natality data from 2023. We included Black or White births with singleton pregnancies across 3123 US counties from 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Participants were grouped into quartiles based on the county-level Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), with quartile 4 representing the most socially vulnerable populations. The primary outcome was preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks. Secondary outcomes included small for gestational …

Applications And Challenges Of Utilizing Digital Pathology And Ai-Enabled Workflows In Clinical Trials, Manu Sebastian, Harsh Batra, Monika Lamba Saini, Staci Kearney, Lorcan Sherry, Serge Alexanian, Michael Cohen, William Weber, Joe Lennerz, Anil V Parwani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This is a comprehensive review on current utilization and challenges of digital pathology adoption in clinical trials and aims to provide a broad view on its impact on pathology review processes in clinical trials. It provides an overview of current pathology review practices in clinical trials and unique advantages digital pathology adoption can offer. The key areas including existing workflows, use case scenarios in different disease areas in clinical trials, including but not limited to patient identification and pre-screening, and regulatory aspects have been described with relevance. In addition, the review delves into the integration of genomics, AI, image analysis, …

Insurance Disparities In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Comprehensive Review Of Demographics, Outcomes, And Access To Care, Alim Osman, Alexandra R. Nigro, Michael C. Povelaitis, Marc Z. Handler

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects women, African Americans, and individuals of biracial descent. It is associated with substantial physical and psychiatric morbidity, reducing quality of life.

Objective: This review analyzed disparities in treatment outcomes, disease progression, and healthcare access among HS patients based on insurance type.

Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search identified 7 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Owing to data heterogeneity, studies were qualitatively analyzed.

Results: Findings consistently demonstrated that Medicaid patients experienced worse outcomes than those with private insurance or Medicare. Medicaid patients had higher rates of comorbid …

Prepregnancy Overweight And Obesity In Kuwait Birth Cohort Study, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Ali H. Ziyab, Eelaf A. Husain, Maryam M.Y. Mohammad, Maryem A. Shamsah, Noor Salah Alali, Reem Sharaf-Alddin, Majeda S. Hammoud

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of prepregnancy obesity and overweight, and to identify a set of sociodemographic factors that could guide weight management interventions for women prior to conception.

Design, Sample, and Measurements: Pregnant women (N = 989) were recruited in the Kuwait Birth Cohort Study during the period June 2017 to February 2020. Prepregnancy weight and height were self-reported, while current weight and height were measured in a standardized procedure. Data on sociodemographic factors were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by a trained data collector. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the association between sociodemographic …

Characteristics Of Women Who Fast During Pregnancy: Findings From The Kuwait Birth Cohort Study, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Ali H. Ziyab, Reem Al Sabah, Ahmed N. Albatineh, James Blando, Majeda S. Hammoud

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Fasting during pregnancy is a widespread practice in Muslim communities, yet its health implications remain poorly understood. A lack of conceptual frameworks and limited understanding of the characteristics of women who fast during pregnancy have hindered research in this area. This study examines the differences in several nutritional biomarkers between women who fasted and those who did not and identifies factors associated with fasting behaviour. We analysed data from the Kuwait Birth Cohort in which information on fasting, sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviours was collected via structured interviews between 2017 and 2021. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from medical …

The Diversity Of Flavivirus Antibody Dependent Enhancement (Ade) Profiles From A Pediatric Cohort In Mexico, Maiesha Samiha Mahmood

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The Aedes mosquito-borne flaviviruses Zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV-1-4) cause an estimated 400 million annual infections globally and pose an increasing threat to public health. Typically, individuals infected with ZIKV or a DENV serotype generate neutralizing serotype-specific antibodies and non-neutralizing, cross-reactive antibodies that bind multiple flaviviruses. Upon secondary heterotypic infection, pre-existing antibodies can either protect or exacerbate disease through antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). ADE occurs when non- or sub-neutralizing concentrations of cross-reactive antibodies facilitate viral uptake into FcγR-bearing myeloid cells, enabling infection of otherwise non-permissive cells and driving severe disease. To date, ADE has not been characterized at a population …

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

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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

Updates In The Management Of Peanut Allergy, S Shahzad Mustafa, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Matthew Greenhawt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Peanut allergy is a significant rising public health problem affecting both children and adults. Early peanut introduction has been adopted in multiple westernized nations as a preventative strategic measure to reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy, although implementation faces barriers. Multiple therapies to treat peanut allergy have been developed, including oral immunotherapy and omalizumab as approved treatments to provide protection against reactions from accidental exposure and reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, offering options beyond strict avoidance. Strategies in the developmental pipeline include epicutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy. The future is bright for individuals with peanut allergy, as these breakthroughs …

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

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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

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

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

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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

Chemoradiation After Chemotherapy For Metastatic Cervical Cancer Can Provide Chemo-Free Time, Spoorthi Kamepalli, Ashley Chavana, Michelle Ludwig, Madeline Flanagan, Shelly Sharma, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Jan Sunde, Claire Hoppenot

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Stage IVB cervical cancer is treated with a life-prolonging and palliative intent with systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of these patients who had an adequate response to chemotherapy to be eligible for consolidative radiosensitizing chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) and subsequent outcomes.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective review of metastatic cervical cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and evaluated for treatment with consolidative pelvic chemoradiation at a single safety-net hospital system from 2016 to 2024. Demographic data and clinical information were collected from electronic medical records. Stata was used for …

Phase I Study Of Niraparib With Radiotherapy For Treatment Of Metastatic And Locally Advanced Invasive Carcinoma Of The Cervix (Nivix), Piyush Pathak, Eunji Jo, Susan Hilsenbeck, Matthew L Anderson, Alfredo Echeverria, Shelly Sharma, Jan Sunde, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Claire Hoppenot, Michelle Ludwig

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: This Phase I study evaluated the safety and tolerability of concurrent niraparib, an oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1/2 inhibitor, with definitive radiotherapy in women with locally advanced or platinum-sensitive metastatic cervical cancer. Dose escalation followed a Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design with a target dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate of 30%.

Methods: Women ≥18 years with FIGO stage IIIC2 (bulky nodes >1 cm) or stage IV cervical cancer demonstrating response to platinum-based induction chemotherapy were eligible. Niraparib 100 mg was administered daily concurrent with pelvic radiotherapy (45-57.5 Gy via IMRT with nodal boosts) and brachytherapy, continuing 28 days post-radiation. Per …

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies And Validates Genetic Variation In The Rig-I/Mavs Signaling Pathway Associated With Hiv-Related Kaposi Sarcoma In Children And Adults, Casey L Mcatee, Erin Peckham-Gregory, Pagna Sok, Melissa Richard, Luis Olivares, Deborah Marquez-Do, Grace Kisitu, Jeffrey Martin, Nader Kim El-Mallawany, Carl E Allen, Joseph Lubega, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Immune deficiency and infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) are established component causes of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), but they are insufficient to cause disease in most people at risk. Therefore, we hypothesized that genetic variation may contribute to KS risk in children and adults, as well as contribute to its unique epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we conducted a two-phase genome-wide association study (GWAS): a discovery study in perinatally HIV-infected children (45 KS cases, 91 controls), followed by validation of significant results in a sample of adults living with HIV (215 cases, 262 controls). After standard …

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

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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

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

Priced Out Of Treatment: The Exorbitant Cost Of Antiparasitic Drugs In The United States, Cora Alperin, Nhi Nguyen, Megan Duffey, Eva H Clark

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Parasitic infections are often perceived as diseases of low-resource countries, yet they impose a significant and overlooked burden in the United States—especially among immigrants, low-income individuals, and other marginalized populations. This perspectives article examines the case of Mr. X, a landscaper in Houston diagnosed with neurocysticercosis, who faced unaffordable drug costs despite the availability of effective, off-patent treatments. Through his story, we explore the broader issue of pricing for commonly and not-so-commonly prescribed antiparasitic medications, highlighting the role of systemic market failures, regulatory hurdles, and restrictive assistance programs in limiting access to care. The consequences of incomplete treatment include long-term …

Combinatorial Effects Of Multi-Site Stimulation On Depression-Related Brain Regions: Clinical Data Analysis And Predictive Modeling, Atefeh Ghazavi, Koorosh Mirpour, Masoud Soroush, Eleonora Bartoli, Nisha Giridharan, Denise Oswalt, Nicole R Provenza, Anusha Allawala, Wayne Goodman, Sameer A Sheth, Nader Pouratian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Despite growing evidence supporting deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment- resistant depression (TRD), how stimulation delivered across hemispheres or across multiple targets interact to shape large-scale network activity remains poorly characterized.

Objective: Using a unique opportunity to simultaneously stimulate the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) and ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) in subjects with TRD while recording neural activity across putative prefrontal networks underlying depression via intracranial electrodes, we investigated whether bilateral or multi-target stimulation has additive, synergistic/super-additive, or antagonistic/sub-additive effects on power modulation across depression-related brain networks.

Methods: Four DBS leads, and ten stereo-electroencephalography (sEEG) leads were implanted in depression-related prefrontal …

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

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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

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

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

Preoperative Patient Sentiment Is Associated With Postoperative Outcomes In Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, Ross J. Gore, David Mazur-Hart, Mohan K. Sunkara, Aaqib Ali, Qizar Ali, Christopher J. Lynch, Christopher Ames

Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) Publications

Study Design: Prospective observational pilot study of adult spinal deformity surgery patients.

Objective: To determine whether preoperative patient sentiment, quantified using a 21-class valence scale extending the CARP paradigm implemented through an offline Large Language Model, predicts postoperative outcomes.

Summary of Background Data: Predicting adult spinal deformity surgery outcomes remains challenging with traditional clinical and radiographic parameters alone. Although patient psychological factors and expectations significantly influence postoperative satisfaction and quality of life, systematic approaches to capture these factors are underdeveloped. Offline Large Language Models offer scalable, privacy-preserving psychological risk stratification.

Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 18 patients undergoing adult …

Preoperative Patient Sentiment Is Associated With Postoperative Outcomes In Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, Ross J. Gore, David Mazur-Hart, Mohan K. Sunkara, Aaqib Ali, Qizar Ali, Christopher J. Lynch

Center for Secure and Intelligent Critical Systems (CSICS) Publications

Study Design:

Prospective observational pilot study of adult spinal deformity surgery patients.

Objective:

To determine whether preoperative patient sentiment, quantified using a 21-class valence scale extending the CARP paradigm implemented through an offline Large Language Model, predicts postoperative outcomes.

Summary of Background Data:

Predicting adult spinal deformity surgery outcomes remains challenging with traditional clinical and radiographic parameters alone. Although patient psychological factors and expectations significantly influence postoperative satisfaction and quality of life, systematic approaches to capture these factors are underdeveloped. Offline Large Language Models offer scalable, privacy-preserving psychological risk stratification.

Materials and Methods:

We prospectively enrolled 18 patients undergoing adult …

Perspective: Radiotherapy And Body Composition: Unmet Needs In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Alexia J Murphy-Alford, Aaron J Grossberg, Vickie E Baracos, Maha Barbar, Judy Bauer, Jonathan P Bennett, Elena Fidarova, Clifton D Fuller, Anastassia Löser, Amy C Moreno, Anurima Patra, Deepa Puttaswamy, David I Rosenthal, Judy Schoeman, Yavuz Anacak

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiotherapy plays a vital role in cancer treatment, yet its effects on patients' nutritional status can precipitate muscle loss, with significant implications for treatment tolerance and outcomes. Evidence from high-income countries increasingly links radiation-induced muscle loss to adverse clinical outcomes. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries face a stark evidence gap, despite the heightened vulnerability of cancer patients in these settings due to delayed diagnosis, limited access to care, and high rates of co-morbidities. This paper highlights the critical gaps in nutritional care for radiotherapy patients in low- and middle-income countries.

Genomic Determinants Of Response And Resistance To Pirtobrutinib In Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Jennifer R Brown, Bastien Nguyen, Sai Prasad Desikan, Helen Won, Shady I Tantawy, Samuel C Mcneely, Narasimha Marella, Hetal S Randeria, Lauren M Hanson, Andrew Parker, Salomé Calado Botelho, Jennifer A Woyach, Krish Patel, Constantine S Tam, Toby A Eyre, Chan Y Cheah, Nirav N Shah, Paolo Ghia, Wojciech Jurczak, Minna Balbas, Binoj Nair, Paolo Abada, Chunxiao Wang, Denise Wang, Lindsey E Roeker, Varsha Gandhi, William G Wierda

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pirtobrutinib, a noncovalent, reversible Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), demonstrated efficacy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), resistant to covalent BTKi (cBTKi). We analyzed genomic correlations with response and resistance to pirtobrutinib in relapsed/refractory (R/R) patients with CLL pretreated with cBTKi enrolled in the phase 1/2 BRUIN trial. DNA sequencing was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline, on treatment, and at progressive disease (PD). Common alterations at baseline included mutations in BTK (43%), TP53 (38%), SF3B1 (25%), NOTCH1 (23%), ATM (19%), XPO1 (11%), PLCG2 (9%), BCL2 (8%), and 17p deletion (28%). Common baseline BTK mutations included C481S …

Metastasis-Directed Radiotherapy For Oligometastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Of The Bladder And Upper Tract, Patrick Carriere, Omar Alhalabi, Jianjun Gao, Amishi Shah, Sangeeta Goswami, Matthew Campbell, Ruitao Lin, Lauren Mayo, Osama Mohamad, Karen Hoffman, Henry Mok, Charmaigne Lozano, Ashish Kamat, Neema Navai, Kelly Bree, Byron Lee, Charles Guo, Michael Rooney, Chad Tang, Seungtaek Choi, Comron Hassanzadeh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) for oligometastatic cancer is utilized for genitourinary malignancies including prostate and kidney cancers. Clinical research on MDT for urothelial carcinoma (UC) remains sparse, especially as systemic therapy advances have improved outcomes.

Objective: We investigated the role of MDT, specifically radiotherapy, for patients with oligometastatic bladder or upper-tract UC.

Methods: Data were collated on patients with metastatic UC with 5 or fewer metastatic sites undergoing MDT with ablative radiotherapy with or without preceding systemic therapy during January 2016 to July 2024. Endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to …

The Effects Of Fitness Self-Testing With Instant Feedback On Changes In Health-Related Fitness Among Chinese Male College Students, Yongshun Wang, Xiaofen D Hamilton, Rulan Shangguan, Anlu Yang, Na Xiao, Chenhao Wu, Sizhe Liu, Ren Yang, Jiren Zhang, Mark F Hamilton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The decline in health-related physical fitness resulting from physical inactivity remains a critical global public health concern. Technology-supported fitness self-testing has the potential not only to improve students' testing experiences but also to enhance their health-related fitness. However, the effectiveness of such approaches has not yet been systematically examined, and their validity within university populations remains largely unestablished.

Method: A quasi-experimental research design with a control group (n = 45) and an experimental group (n = 44), incorporating pre- and post-tests, was employed in this study. The experimental group completed monthly self-testing sessions accompanied by GAI-generated instant feedback over …

The Lysine Demethylase Kdm4c Is An Oncogenic Driver And Regulates Erk Activity In Kras-Mutant Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Menna-T-Allah Shaheen, Sarah Dhebat, Kimal I Rajapakshe, Bidyut Ghosh, Benson Chellakkan Selvanesan, Shariq S Ansari, Cara L Haymaker, Dorsay Sadeghian, Huamin Wang, Ching-Fei Li, Haoqiang Ying, Anirban Maitra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deregulation of proteins involved in chromatin regulation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C) is one of the chromatin-modifying proteins frequently overexpressed across multiple solid cancers and is linked to chromatin instability, increased cell proliferation, and enhanced stem cell–like behavior. We observed upregulation of KDM4C protein in a panel of human PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared with nonneoplastic controls. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of KDM4C in human and murine PDAC cells reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased survival of orthotopically implanted murine PDAC allografts. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that loss of KDM4C in both human and …

Contralateral Breast Cancer After Radiotherapy And Hormone Therapy In Two Cohorts Of Us Breast Cancer Survivors, Lene H S Veiga, Gretchen L Gierach, Susan A Smith, Rebecca M Howell, Matthew M Mille, Monjoy Saha, Rochelle E Curtis, Cody Ramin, Clara Bodelon, Heather Spencer Feigelson, Erin J Aiello Bowles, Diana S M Buist, Sheila Weinmann, Jacqueline B Vo, Choonsik Lee, Amy Berrington De Gonzalez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Radiotherapy increases contralateral breast cancer risk, while hormone therapy reduces it; their combined effects are unclear.

Methods: Data from two US retrospective cohort studies of 5-year breast cancer survivors (stage I-III, ages 20-84), Kaiser Permanente (KP, 1990-2012) and SEER (1990-2013), were analysed. Contralateral breast radiation doses were estimated for the KP cohort. Multivariable Poisson regression estimated relative risks (RRs) and excess relative risks per Gray (ERR/Gy), stratified by hormone therapy use.

Results: KP cohort (n = 9053) included 353 contralateral breast cancer cases (73% ER+); SEER cohort (n = 244,834) included 10,470 cases (72% ER+). Among women with ER+ …