Digital Commons Network^™

Limosilactobacillus Reuteri Promotes Melatonin Release From Human Intestinal Organoids Via 5′Ectonucleotidase Activity, Heather A Danhof, Ludwig Ermann Lundberg, Stefan Roos, Robert A Britton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri have been used to prevent or treat various conditions; however, the mechanisms by which they exert beneficial effects are not completely understood. Infant colic is one example in which L. reuteri DSM 17938 reduces clinical symptoms. While the etiology of colic is unknown, abnormal melatonin levels in infants have been suggested as a possible contributor. L. reuteri DSM 17938 has been shown to produce adenosine from AMP via production of the extracellular enzyme 5′ectonucleotidase (5′NT). Adenosine is a potent signaling molecule that impacts several important aspects of host physiology, including the release of melatonin from the …

Mucin-Derived Sugars Act As Metabolic Brakes Controlling Growth Initiation In Akkermansia Muciniphila, Bryan D Lakey, Katherine J Wozniak, Robert A Britton, Jeffrey J Tabor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Akkermansia muciniphila is a key member of the gut microbiota and plays important roles in host metabolism and health. In the colon, A. muciniphila extracts nutrients from oligosaccharide-rich mucin glycans that comprise the mucosa. However, this environment is complex and shaped by dietary inputs, microbiome metabolism, and mucin glycan composition varying across hosts, gastrointestinal regions, and physiological states. How strains of A. muciniphila integrate these nutrient signals into growth initiation and niche colonization remains unclear. Here, we compare physiological responses of a human- and mouse-derived strain of A. muciniphila, finding that dietary sugars differentially affect these isolates, suggesting host-associated …

Gut-Derived Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles: The Microbial Dark Matter Contributing To Host Inflammation And Cardiometabolic Disease, Blayne Oliver, Michael Sun, Young Seo Lee, Ssanggoo Cho, Tianyi Zhu, David Durgan, Gary Sweeney

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) represent a growing global health burden, with chronic inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis emerging as central contributors to their pathogenesis. Among the diverse microbial products influencing host physiology, bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) have gained attention as potent mediators of interkingdom communication. These nanoscale vesicles, secreted by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, carry a complex cargo of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that interact with host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to modulate immune and metabolic responses. BEVs can traverse intestinal barriers, disseminate systemically, and accumulate in cardiometabolic tissues, where they influence inflammation, insulin sensitivity, …

When Probiotics Guidelines Differ: A Practical Guide For Clinicians And Researchers, Howard Bauchner, Daniel J Merenstein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many professional organizations publish clinical practice guidelines for the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders. Generally, no two guidelines align perfectly, and some differ markedly. These discrepancies occur because clinical practice guidelines are not purely mechanical outputs of data synthesis. They are shaped by structured interpretation, value judgments, and predefined thresholds for uncertainty. These elements become particularly visible when effect sizes are small, heterogeneity is high, and outcomes vary in clinical relevance-as is the case with probiotic research. This article examines why discordance among probiotic guidelines is predictable and provides practical guidance for clinicians who must decide among conflicting recommendations …

Steroid Receptor Coactivator 3-Deficient Regulatory T Cells Eradicate Multiple Solid Tumors In Syngeneic Mouse Models, Yuri Park, Adam M Dean, Yan Xia, Jianming Xu, Clifford C Dacso, David M Lonard, Sang Jun Han

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is highly expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and is important for their immunosuppressive activity. Recently, we demonstrated that disrupting SRC-3 expression in Tregs eliminates triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer in syngeneic animal models by generating an anti-tumor immune microenvironment without inducing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Further analysis of these mice revealed that SRC-3 knockout (KO) Tregs infiltrated breast tumors and facilitated the infiltration of CD8

Is Your Cyst Really A Ganglion Cyst? A Case Report Of Angioleiomyoma Mimicking A Plantar Fascia Cystic Lesion, Christopher Anjorin Ms Dpmc, Joseph Bender Dpm

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Ganglion cysts are among the most common benign soft tissue masses encountered in podiatric clinical practice, and their diagnosis is often presumed based on location, clinical observation, and transillumination. However, this case highlights a diagnostic idiosyncrasy: a lesion clinically presumed to be a ganglion cyst within the plantar fascia was ultimately identified as an angioleiomyoma following surgical excision and histopathological evaluation. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when assessing cystic lesions, particularly those that transilluminate, as benign vascular tumors may closely mimic more common entities in both clinical presentation and imaging. More importantly, what if …

Deep Brain Stimulation In Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review Of Neuropsychological Outcomes, Nora Huey

Doctoral Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory impairment, and disruption of neural networks involved in cognitive functioning. Although existing treatments may provide symptomatic benefit, there remains a need for interventions capable of slowing or stabilizing disease progression. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a potential neuromodulatory intervention for early-stage AD through stimulation of memory- and cognition-related neural circuitry. This dissertation employed a systematic review research methodology to examine teh neuropsychological and neurobiological outcomes associated with DBS targeting the fornix (DBS-f) and nucleus basalis of Meynert (DBS-NBM) in individuals with early-stage AD over 12–24 …

Multiomic And Single-Cell Analysis Of Tumors And Their Immune Microenvironment For Personalized Cancer Therapy, Kartik Singhal

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Precision oncology aims to match cancer treatment to the biology of an individual patient’s tumor. However, tumors that share a diagnosis can differ in their molecular features, cellular composition, clinical course, and response to therapy, making it difficult to determine which treatment will benefit an individual patient. This dissertation integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and single-cell multiomic computational analysis to characterize tumors across their somatic alterations, transcriptional cell states, microenvironment, and the immune response they elicit.

The first study describes a rare case of donor-derived follicular lymphoma following kidney transplantation. Genomic profiling showed that the donor and recipient tumors shared 31 somatic …

Phytochemical And In-Vitro Cytotoxic Analyses Of Flavonoid Species Isolated From Chromolaena Leivensis, Luke A. Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a leading cause of death worldwide, cancer and its treatments remain a primary source of interest among researchers. Modern studies are looking into bioselective cytotoxicity to create new chemotherapies that do not have the same harsh side effects as those we use today. Natural product research has a promising future for the development of such treatments. Specifically, polar flavonoids may be the key to a bioselective treatment. Such flavonoid species are native to plants, often within flower petals or within the body. A natural antioxidant, they are designed not to harm healthy cells. This study focuses on the plant …

Characterizing Children With Chronic Kidney Disease And Severe Proteinuria In The United States: A Retrospective Analysis Using Electronic Health Records., Bradley A. Warady, Simone Heeg, Alfredo E. Farjat, Rachel Knapp, Siir Su Saydam, Alexander Vowinkel, Alain Gay, James Potts, Andrea Scalise, Gordana Atanackovic, Sascha Van Boemmel-Wegmann

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: In recent years, real-world data have been increasingly used to enrich data from interventional studies on treatment effectiveness. To explore the viability of hybrid study designs in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), we assessed the feasibility of identifying a real-world cohort of children with CKD and severely increased proteinuria who satisfied adapted eligibility criteria from the FIONA trial.

METHODS: We used data from the Optum® de-identified Electronic Health Record dataset (Optum® EHR) to identify and characterize children with CKD and severely increased proteinuria in records from January 2013 to December 2022. Patients were identified based on two sets of …

Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index Among Children And Adolescents With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report From The Chronic Kidney Disease In Children Study., Susan M. Halbach, Jennifer Roem, Michael F. Schneider, Joshua Samuels, Susan L. Furth, Bradley A. Warady, Joseph T. Flynn, Ckid Study Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: To quantify the association between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and hypertensive status, and to identify additional predictors of AASI, including body mass index (BMI), proteinuria, and mineral metabolism, in children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 654 participants during 1283 study visits in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) prospective cohort study. AASI was calculated from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data as 1 minus the slope coefficient from a least squares linear regression of diastolic blood pressure (BP) on systolic BP. Hypertensive status was determined by clinic BP and …

Methylated Cfdna May Distinguish Between High- And Intermediate-Risk Uveal Melanoma: A Pilot Study, Mike Wu, Daniël P. De Bruyn, Ruben G. Boers, Aaron B. Beasley, Daan M. Hazelaar, Stavros Makrodimitris, Joachim B. Boers, Jolanda Vaarwater, Ronald O.B. De Keizer, Robert M. Verdijk, Nicole C. Naus, Dion Paridaens, Saskia M. Wilting, Elin S. Gray, Wilfred F.J. Van Ijcken, Joost Gribnau, Annelies De Klein, Erwin Brosens, Emine Kiliç

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a metastatic risk that depends on the molecular subclass. This subclass can be determined through molecular characterization of tumor-derived tissue. With eye-sparing treatments, tumor tissue is rarely available for molecular testing. We hypothesized that minimal invasive biomarkers such as methylated cell-free DNA (cfDNA) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used for prognosis and monitoring of patients. Methods: Plasma cfDNA was isolated from healthy blood donors (HBDs, N = 19) and UM patients (N = 22). Plasma was collected at baseline (localized disease, N = 13) and during follow-up (metastatic …

In-Hospital Mortality Patterns And Readmissions In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis Of The Role Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Saad Afzal Khan, Trishna Parikh, Adishwar Rao, Akriti Agrawal, Aarohi Parikh, Sarah Shin, Maulin Patel, Kha Dinh, Bela Patel, Bindu Akkanti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to understand the impact of PH on in-hospital mortality and quantify the 30-day readmission rate among patients with COPD. For this cross-sectional study, we used the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2017-2020 to identify adults ≥18 years with COPD. Patients were stratified according to PH diagnosis. Baseline characteristics between groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test and two-sample t-test. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics and confounders. The 30-day readmission rate and prevalence of PH subgroups by baseline …

When Defense Turns Destructive: Unraveling The Global Rise Of Autoimmune Disease And Sex-Based Disparities, Avery R. Hammersmith

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This article examines the evolution of autoimmunity from its early rejection under the theory of "horror autotoxicus" to its current status as a pressing global epidemic. While early 20th-century scientists believed the body possessed inherent safeguards against self-attack, mid-century discoveries of autoantibodies established that the immune system can indeed target healthy tissues, leading to chronic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Current data reflect a significant surge in these disorders, with a reported 19.1% increase in incidence and a 12.5% increase in prevalence between 1985 and 2015. Within the United States, the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies, …

Comments On Prevalence Of Cerebrovascular Disease In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Pharmacological Stress Test, Xiaowei Wang, Jingwen Wei

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Reply To The Letter Comments On Prevalence Of Cerebrovascular Disease In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Pharmacological Stress Test., Muhammad S. Muhammad Hagrass, Haytham S. Ghareeb

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Forniceal Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Memory In Rett Syndrome Mice By Promoting The Maturation Of Newborn Hippocampal Neurons, Qi Wang, Bin Tang, Zhenyu Wu, Huda Y Zoghbi, Jianrong Tang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is associated with an increase in hippocampal neurogenesis and memory benefits, but the causal mechanism is unclear. Here, we use a mouse model of Rett syndrome, a severe learning disability syndrome caused by MECP2 loss of function, to find that DBS promotes the maturation and integration of newborn dentate granule cells (DGCs) into the neural circuit. Suppressing hippocampal neurogenesis prevented DBS from improving learning and memory. Newborn methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2)-deficient DGCs in Rett syndrome mice showed attenuated development and synaptic dysfunction, but DBS rescued DGC dendritic arborization, synaptogenesis, and long-term synaptic plasticity. DBS achieves this, …

Multiple Quality Control Checkpoints Safeguard Small Nuclear Rna Biogenesis And Prevent Assembly Of Aberrant Spliceosomes, Tiantai Ma, Claire Huntington, Zhuoyi Song, Rea M Lardelli, Eric L Van Nostrand, Jens Lykke-Andersen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Defective small nuclear (sn)RNAs are produced from hundreds of human snRNA pseudogenes and mutant snRNA genes associated with human developmental disorders. Machineries that prevent defective snRNAs from disrupting pre-mRNA splicing remain poorly defined. Here, we identify multiple checkpoints in snRNA biogenesis monitored by quality control machineries that subject defective snRNAs to degradation and prevent their assembly into spliceosomes. We show that variant U1 snRNAs produced from human pseudogenes, some at rates approaching canonical snRNAs, are impaired in 3' cleavage and targeted for degradation by the NEXT-exosome while failures in subsequent protein assembly steps promote NEXT-exosome- or terminal uridylyl transferase 4/7-mediated …

Impact Of Neighborhood And Individual Social Drivers Of Health On Outcomes Following Congenital Heart Surgery., Andrew Well, Heather Van Diest, Brett R. Anderson, Wei Zhang, Kathleen Carberry, Alexandra Lamari-Fisher, Jeremy Affolter, Erin A Gottlieb, Jeffery P. Jacobs, Charles D. Fraser, Carlos M. Mery

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background Despite advances in congenital heart surgery (CHS) and improvements in outcomes, disparities continue to exist. Social Drivers of Health (SDoH) have been associated with many aspects of health and wellness including congenital heart disease. The goal was to evaluate the impact of individual and neighborhood-level SDoH on outcomes following CHS.

Methods Retrospective review of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database from 2014 to 2022 linked via ZIP code with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). ZIP codes were ranked by their SVI score with the first quintile the least vulnerable and …

Natural History Of Pi-Rads 3 Lesions On Serial Prostate Mpmri, Ron Marom, Yuval Rand, Meitar Atias, Sophie Barnes, Ibrahim Fahoum, Gal Keren-Paz, Mario Sofer, Ofer Yossepowitch, Snir Dekalo, Avi Beri, Roy Mano

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: PI-RADS 3 lesions on prostate multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) are indeterminate findings with debated management. We evaluated their radiologic evolution on follow-up mpMRI and correlated imaging changes with biopsy outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 166 men with at least one PI-RADS 3 lesion on initial mpMRI and at least one follow-up mpMRI without intervening treatment. Lesions were classified at follow-up as regressed (downgraded to PI-RADS ≤ 2), stable (remained PI-RADS 3), or progressed (upgraded to PI-RADS 4-5). Lesions were stratified by zonal location. MRI-targeted biopsy results were reviewed when available (n = 64).

Results: On follow-up, 52% of lesions regressed, …

The Use Of Infra-Red Spectroscopy To Assess Intact Skin Of Various Skin Tones, Mary Lee A. Potter, Stacie Sosa, Charlott Polm, Sherry Campton, Wisam Salameh, Ronnie Klein, Yaniv Cohen

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Pressure injuries (PI) continue to be a serious medical complication in the acute care setting. Industry leaders advocate for the use of objective technologies to provide accurate and quantifiable skin assessments for all patients across diverse skin tones. The Infra-Red Spectroscopy Scanner (IRSS) is a novel non-invasive decision support system (DSS) electro-optic technology that uses near infra-red spectroscopy to examine and assess physical and chemical changes prior to visual skin breakdown in real-time.

Methods

A 2-phase prospective open-label pilot device study was launched under protocol IRM-02-1123 (USA version 3.0, November 1, 2023). In both Phase 1 and Phase 2, …

Bathrooms As A Patient Safety Blind Spot In Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review And Nursing Practice Framework, Carmelo Villani

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Emergency department (ED) bathrooms preserve privacy and dignity but interrupt direct observation. Risks described across clinical publications and professional guidance include falls, unrecognized deterioration, overdose, hazardous ingestion, infection, inaccessible environments, and unmet elimination needs. This review integrated those risks and translated them into a nursing practice framework.

Methods

For the structured narrative review, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus were searched on July 30, 2026, without date, language, age, or publication-type filters. Backward and forward citation chasing and a targeted search for professional documents supplemented database searching. Publications were categorized by ED relevance and synthesized thematically. Professional guidance was analyzed …

Systemic Treatment Considerations For Psoriasis In Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Case Report And Ingredient Review, Emily Saurborn, Ian Depew, Madelyn Ross, Mckenzie Lambiotte, Shane Cook

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by an overactive immune system, leading to increased keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis. Treatment ranges from topical solutions to systemic therapy and lastly, biologics. However, the latter options are typically manufactured with mammalian-derived ingredients. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an acquired IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, an enzyme required for digesting carbohydrates in mammalian products. In addition to dietary avoidance of mammalian products, patients with AGS may need to avoid certain medications due to their formulations.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 53-year-old female with a severe alpha-gal allergy evaluated in the …

Une Com Fall Research Bulletin October 2026, Une Com Research & Scholarship

Osteopathic Student Research Symposia

Bulletin including abstracts from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s 2026 Fall Research Update and Lightning Talk event.

Recognizing Coronary Artery Disease In Women, Krista Ohmie Pa-C, Cck, Aacc

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The purpose of this review is to identify sex-specific factors in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women as it continues to be the number one cause of their mortality. A search of the literature was conducted using PubMed as well as resources from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association with multiple articles identified for use. The risk of cardiovascular disease in women is affected by traditional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, but is compounded by length of estrogen exposure, pregnancy, and higher rates of systemic inflammation. Systemic barriers such as …

Ultrasound-Stimulated Microbubbles In Cancer Therapy: A Review Of Clinical And Translational Evidence, Seyedeh M. Khatami, Arash Rahmani, Ji-Bin Liu, John Eisenbrey

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (USMB) have evolved from a diagnostic contrast technology into an investigational cancer therapy. Acoustically driven microbubble cavitation generates localized mechanical effects that can permeabilize cell membranes, disrupt tumor vasculature, and transiently open biological barriers. This review synthesizes the clinical and translational evidence for USMB-based oncologic therapy across its three principal applications: radiosensitization, drug delivery, and thermal ablation. A narrative review of English-language literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE through April 2026. Radiosensitization is most clinically advanced in liver malignancies, supported by phase 2 randomized data in hepatocellular carcinoma and an efficacy signal in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, with early-phase trials in …

The Potential Relationship Between Red Complex Tannerella Forsythia And Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Abby Dibble Ms, Kristi M. Soileau

New Orleans Dental Association News

The pathogenesis of periodontitis is no longer attributed to a single infectious organism but rather to a dysbiosis-affiliated microbial community that disrupts host immune response. Within this polymicrobial ecosystem, Tannerella forsythia has emerged as one of the principal periodontal pathogens because of its ability to evade host defenses, promote tissue destruction, and establish cooperative interactions with neighboring microorganisms. As a Gram-negative, obligate anaerobic bacterium belonging to the red complex group, T. forsythia is consistently associated with advanced periodontal disease and is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to both local periodontal destruction and systemic inflammation. A 2024 meta-analysis of ten …

Practical Implementation Of An Osteoarthritis Treatment Program In A Radiation Oncology Center Within Md Anderson’S Cancer Network, Aaron Shaykevich, Adam Grippin, Warren Floyd, Brady Cripe, Alexander Augustyn, Shalin Shah, Samantha Buszek

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background: Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) can add to the workload of radiation oncology services, particularly in small centers with limited capacity and staff. After we launched an OA LDRT program in December 2024, referrals grew rapidly at our rural, single-linac radiation oncology practice at UT MD Anderson’s Cancer Network Partner site (Community Health Network in Indianapolis, IN), leading to long wait times and workflow strain.

Methods: We used load leveling to reserve capacity for cancer care and make OA scheduling predictable. Five 15-minute benign consult slots were set aside each week. Patients then went on a …

Progressive Remodeling Of Global Protein Interaction Networks In A Mouse Model Of Tauopathy, Noah Lampl, Morgan C Stephens, Zihan Wang, Joseph T Nigro, Alejandro Rondon Ortiz, Ryan Hekman, Anna Lourdes F Cruz, Rebecca Roberts, Lulu Jiang, Juan Botas, Andrew Emili, Benjamin Wolozin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Neurodegenerative disease is marked not just by loss of proteins or cells, but by dynamic rewiring of macromolecular interaction networks that precede and drive pathology. Here, we present a temporally resolved, systems-scale map of multi-protein complex remodeling in a tauopathy model, integrating co-fractionation mass spectrometry, quantitative phosphoproteomics, and machine learning to decode phosphorylation-dependent shifts in protein interactomes across disease progression. This interactomic atlas serves as a resource to investigate functional assemblies, including MAPT-Dpysl2 and Cyfip1-actin, as well as ptk2b-Kars/Dars and ptk2b-Msn-Farsb-complexes, that modulate early disease phenotypes in vivo. Notably, it captures the composition, dynamics, and regulatory state of protein complexes …

The Commercialization Of Wellness: Gray Market Peptides & Cancer, Bryan M. Burt

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

No abstract provided.