Digital Commons Network^™

What's New In Ovarian Cancer, Jessica L. Kozuki

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

No abstract provided.

Associations Of First Trimester Co-Use Of Tobacco And Cannabis With Prenatal Immune Response And Psychosocial Well-Being, Kristin Ashford, Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Andrea Mccubbin, Amanda T. Wiggins, Sheila Barnhart, Joshua A. Lile

Perinatal Research and Wellness Center Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: This study aims to describe the association of first trimester co-use of tobacco and cannabis with maternal immune response and psychosocial well-being, relative to tobacco use only.

METHODS: A preliminary midpoint analysis included 138 pregnant women with biologically verified tobacco use, 38 of whom (28%) also tested positive for recent cannabis use. Maternal perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and serum immune markers (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, CRP, MMP8), were collected, although cytokine data were only available for 122 women.

RESULTS: Participant average age was 29.1 years, approximately half had a high …

Is A Varicocelectomy Beneficial In The Era Of Assisted Reproductive Technologies?, Chukwuka Oscar Nnoli

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Clinical varicoceles are the most frequent physical finding associated with infertile men and impaired semen parameters. There is evidence that suggests varicocele repair improves semen parameter and increases the chances of natural pregnancy. Today, varicocele repair is often combined with assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in Vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In this literature review, data examining whether varicocelectomy before ART leads to improved pregnancy outcomes is reviewed. Current data suggest that there is a significant clinical benefit when correcting a varicocele in oligospermic men before IVF/ICSI. Similarly, men with non-obstructive azoospermia also …

Pelvic Examinations For Ovarian Cancer Screening In Asymptomatic Adult Women, Riann Sue Collar

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

There is discrepancy amongst organizations and the medical community whether bimanual pelvic examinations should be performed in asymptomatic women for routine screening. The purpose of this literature review was to determine whether bimanual pelvic examinations are beneficial for screening for ovarian cancer in comparison to no screening. In addition, research was conducted to see if healthcare providers’ professional beliefs align with the evidence and national recommendations, to determine women’s thoughts and beliefs regarding pelvic examinations, and if bimanual pelvic exams are not a valid screening tool for ovarian cancer, what are other screening methods available. Throughout reviewing peer reviewed articles …

Platelets To The Rescue? A Literature Review Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Platelet-Rich Plasma For Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis, Timothy Simonich

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common joint disorders in the United States with rising prevalence due to obesity and an aging population. Regarding non-surgical approaches to management, there has been growing interest in the use of intra-articular injections (IAI) of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). However, there has been a lack of strong evidence to support its use in clinical practice guidelines. In this literature review, two search methods were utilized in an effort to, first, inform clinicians about PRP and, second, to shed light on recent clinical control trials regarding the safety and efficacy of …

The Effect Of Osmotic Stimulation Of Copeptin On Glucose Metabolism In Healthy Adults, Lisa Tjorven Jansen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is currently affecting 30 million Americans. To combat disease onset, lifestyle interventions have been focused on. Low water intake, alongside elevated concentrations of circulating copeptin, has been linked to increased risk for. However, it is unknown whether this effect on glucose regulation is acute or chronic. Furthermore, no study to date assessed the effects of copeptin independent of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Purpose: The purpose of these studies was therefore two-fold: 1) to establish high endogenous copeptin concentrations independent of RAAS, and 2) to assess glucose metabolism following a standardized oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during high concentrations of …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In Glomerular Disease., Pietro A. Canetta, Jonathan P. Troost, Shannon Mahoney, Amy J. Kogon, Noelle Carlozzi, Sharon M. Bartosh, Yi Cai, T Keefe Davis, Hilda Fernandez, Alessia Fornoni, Rasheed A. Gbadegesin, Emily Herreshoff, John D. Mahan, Patrick H. Nachman, David T. Selewski, Christine B. Sethna, Tarak Srivastava, Katherine R. Tuttle, Chia-Shi Wang, Ronald J. Falk, Ali G. Gharavi, Brenda W. Gillespie, Larry A. Greenbaum, Lawrence B. Holzman, Matthias Kretzler, Bruce M. Robinson, William E. Smoyer, Lisa M. Guay-Woodford, Bryce Reeve, Debbie S. Gipson, Curegn Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

There is scant literature describing the effect of glomerular disease on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The Cure Glomerulonephropathy study (CureGN) is an international longitudinal cohort study of children and adults with four primary glomerular diseases (minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy). HRQOL is systematically assessed using items from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Informative System (PROMIS). We assessed the relationship between HRQOL and demographic and clinical variables in 478 children and 1115 adults at the time of enrollment into CureGN. Domains measured by PROMIS items included global assessments of health, mobility, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep …

Effects Of Exercise On Eeg Activity And Standard Tools Used To Assess Concussion, David M Devilbiss, Jena L Etnoyer-Slaski, Emily Dunn, Christopher R Dussourd, Mayuresh V Kothare, Stephen J Martino, Adam J Simon

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

A variety of cognitive assessment tools are used to determine the functional status of the brain before and after injury in athletes. Questionnaires, neuropsychological tests, and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been recently used to directly assess brain function on and near the playing field. However, exercise can affect cognitive performance and EEG measures of cortical activity. To date, little empirical evidence exists on the effects of acute exercise on these measures of neurological function. We therefore quantified athlete performance on a standardized battery of concussion assessment tools and EEG measurements immediately before and after acute exercise to simulate conditions of …

Recent Progress In The Theranostics Application Of Nanomedicine In Lung Cancer., Anubhab Mukherjee, Manash Paul, Sudip Mukherjee

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes around 80% to 90% of deaths. The lack of an early diagnosis and inefficiency in conventional therapies causes poor prognosis and overall survival of lung cancer patients. Recent progress in nanomedicine has encouraged the development of an alternative theranostics strategy using nanotechnology. The interesting physico-chemical properties in the nanoscale have generated immense advantages for nanoparticulate systems for the early detection and active delivery of drugs for a better theranostics strategy for lung cancer. This present review provides a detailed overview of the …

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Co-Morbidity In Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis And Literature Review, Edwin S. Meresh, Hewa Artin, Cara Joyce, Steven Birch, David Daniels, Jack H. Owens, Alvaro J. La Rosa, Murali S. Rao, Angelos Halaris

Biostatistics Collaborative Core: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic medical condition characterized by widespread pain, sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. Sleep disorders are thought to play a prominent role in the etiology and symptomatic management of FM, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In order to provide collaborative care, we need a better understanding of any overlapping presentation of FM and OSA. We conducted a site-wide review of patients from 2012–2016 to identify FM patients diagnosed with OSA.

Methods: Charts were reviewed in patients aged 18 and above from 2012–2016 using ICD codes from a clinical data repository. Intersection of patients with a diagnosis …

Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: Presentation And Management, Răzvan C. Petca, Răzvan I. Popescu, Cristian Mareș, Claudia Mehedințu, Bogdan Mastalier, Dumitru Cristinel Badiu, Nicoleta Măru, Vlad D. Constantin, Aida Petca

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is characterized by the presence of lipid-laden foamy macrophages with both acute and chronic phase inflammatory cells. The aim of the study is to present our experience about patients with Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. 29 patients were evaluated through a complete anamnesis and the preoperative management included routine blood and biochemical tests, urine culture and renal ultrasound, intravenous urography and computed tomography (CT). All patients underwent open nephrectomy followed by the pathological exam. The main symptoms of these patients were fever and flank pain. Preoperative laboratory tests revealed anemia, leukocytosis and increasing levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and …

The Correlation Between Histopathological And Ultrasound Findings Regarding Cesarean Section Scars – A Three-Year Survey Study, Oana D. Bălălău, Nicolae Bacalbașa, Cristian Bălălău, Carolina Negrei, Bianca Gălățeanu, Octav Ghinghină, Cristina Răduță, Liana Pleș, Anca D. Stănescu, Vasile A. Dumitru

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

The cesarean operation represents a major surgery, with a higher risk of postoperative complications and longer postoperative recovery than vaginal delivery.

Due to the increasing frequency of cesarean sections, the ultrasound imaging of the uterine scar has become a particularly useful tool in identifying its potential long-term complications. This should be done pre-conceptively and quarterly or whenever necessary during pregnancy.

Currently, there are only few histopathological studies on the uterine scar, trying to assess the myometrial repair and certain factors that influence the quality of the scar.

The study was performed on a batch of 123 patients with previous C-sections, …

Microbiota Signatures In Type-2 Diabetic Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease - A Pilot Study, Gratiela P. Gradisteanu, Roxana A. Stoica, Laura Petcu, Ariana Picu, Adrian P. Suceveanu, Teodor Salmen, Diana S. Stefan, Cristian Serafinceanu, Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc, Anca P. Stoian

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

The human microbiota is paramount for normal host physiology. Altered host-microbiome interactions are part of the pathogenesis of numerous common ailments. Currently, much emphasis is placed on the involvement of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), impaired glucose tolerance, and other metabolic disorders (i.e. obesity). Several studies found highly significant correlations of specific intestinal bacteria with T2DM. A better understanding of the role of the microbiome in diabetes and its complications might provide new insights in the development of new therapeutic principles.

Our pilot study investigates the microbiota patterns in Romanian type-2 diabetic patients with diabetic …

Photodynamic Therapy As A New Therapeutic Approach Of Oral Lichen Planus, Sandra Milena Tocut, Madalina Irina Mitran, Cristina Iulia Mitran, Mircea Tampa, Maria Isabela Sarbu, Gabriela Loredana Popa, Simona Roxana Georgescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic, immunologically mediated disease, defined by periods of exacerbation and quiescence. The disease is associated with a low mortality risk, but in some instances, morbidity can be important, especially in extensive, erosive forms, with a significant impact on the quality of life. OLP is a chronic T-cell mediated inflammatory disease involving the oral cavity, the most common lesions being located on the oral mucosa, tongue and gums. Its etiology remains in part unknown, but several factors proved to be involved in the development of the disease (drugs, dental materials, infectious agents, psychological factors, autoimmunity …

Endothelial Dysfunction In Adolescents And Young Adults With Nonalcoholic Liver Disease, Cristiana G. Moise, Octavian Istrătoaie, Ionuț Donoiu, Edme R. Mustafa, Georgică C. Târtea, Diana R. Tudorașcu, Ion Rogoveanu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Nonalcoholic liver disease is a global public health problem that increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients. This paper discusses endothelial dysfunction among patients (adolescents and young adults) with nonalcoholic liver disease.

On the one hand, evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with advanced nonalcoholic liver disease and that nonalcoholic fatty liver is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease independent of the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome components.

On the other hand, nonalcoholic liver disease, especially the non-inflammatory form of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, may not only be a …

Oncogenesis- Kaleidoscopic And Multi-Level Reality, Firmilian Calota, Cristian Mesina, Stelian Stefanita Mogoanta, Dragos Calota

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Oncogenesis is an extremely complex phenomenon. The mechanisms by which cancer is induced is only partially known. Consequently, therapeutic targets may be uncertain and results are often unsatisfactory. The purpose of this paper is to develop a trans-level and multiple transdisciplinary perspective describing the kaleidoscopic reality of oncogenesis. This manner of understanding oncogenesis as a complex process characterized by a non-linear dynamic, far from equilibrium and with unpredictable evolution, transcends the classical perspective and requires a paradigm shift. This approach is also facilitated by recent studies that focus on group phenomena, with emerging behaviors in a continuous phase transition. Biological …

The Risk Of Bleeding And Encephalopathy In Surgical Patients With Liver Cirrhosis, Petrișor Banu, Salvatore Settineri, Emanuele Maria Merlo, Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello, Nicolae Bacalbașa, Carolina Negrei, Bianca Gălățeanu, Octav Ghinghină, Ioana Păunica, Cristian Bălălău

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Liver cirrhosis is a disease with an increasing incidence. Surgical procedures in patients with cirrhosis are also increasing, due to a longer life expectancy in these patients and also to the improvement of therapeutic and diagnostic resources.

Digestive hemorrhage in the cirrhotic patient requires emergency medical intervention (intensive therapy, endoscopic or even surgical approaches), being at the same time a factor that precipitates episodes of encephalopathy, i.e. the conventional complication of cirrhosis. Hepatic encephalopathy represents one of the most severe clinical events of cirrhosis, being associated with high morbidity and mortality. The causes of hepatic encephalopathy are briefly presented in …

Ethical Aspects In Managing Patients Diagnosed With Digestive Cancers; A Review Of Literature, Andrada Dumitru, Cornelia Nitipir, Gabriel Preda, Dragos Radu Marcu, Dumitru Cristinel Badiu, Gheorghe Andreea, Corina Silvia Pop, Laura Marina Serban, Roxana Hulea, Silviu Pituru

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Numerous bioethical recommendations are now available in the complex process of communication with cancer patients. In this review, we have focused on the complex process of managing patients with different types of oncologic digestive diseases, immediately after the diagnosis is made.

We have analyzed the literature data on the topic. MEDSCAPE and PubMed databases have been studied. Issues such as telling the truth to patients with digestive cancer, the physician's responsibility in the psychological management of patients and their relatives, the nurses’ duties, the consented death, the practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) as well as the clinical research …

Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Require Β1 Integrins To Promote Anchorage-Independent Growth., Rachel M. Derita, Aejaz Sayeed, Vaughn Garcia, Shiv Ram Krishn, Christopher D. Shields, Srawasti Sarker, Andrea Friedman, Peter Mccue, Sudheer Kumar Molugu, Ulrich Rodeck, Adam P. Dicker, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The β1 integrins, known to promote cancer progression, are abundant in extracellular vesicles (EVs). We investigated whether prostate cancer (PrCa) EVs affect anchorage-independent growth and whether β1 integrins are required for this effect. Specifically using a cell-line-based genetic rescue and an in vivo PrCa model, we show that gradient-purified small EVs (sEVs) from either cancer cells or blood from tumor-bearing TRAMP (transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate) mice promote anchorage-independent growth of PrCa cells. In contrast, sEVs from cultured PrCa cells harboring a short hairpin RNA to β1, from wild-type mice or from TRAMP mice carrying a β1 conditional ablation …

Prevention Of Oral Mucositis In Cancer Patients, Patricia E. Biel

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Oral mucositis [OM] is one of the most severe non-hematological problems related to cancer treatments and can impact quality of life. It is linked to poorer outcomes due to the associated weight loss, pain, dehydration, and risk of developing life-threatening infections. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if OM is preventable with the use of an oral care protocol and zinc supplementation when compared to use of oral care protocols alone. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model was used to guide project implementation in an outpatient oncology office. Recommendations were developed from an exhaustive review …

Contribution Of Retrotransposons To Breast Cancer Malignancy, Isaac D. Raplee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The components contributing to cancer progression, especially the transition from early to invasive are unknown. Consequently, the biological reasons are unclear as to why some patients diagnosed with atypia and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) never progress into invasive breast cancer. The “one gene at a time” approach does not sufficiently predict progression. To elucidate the early stage progression to invasive ductal cancer, expression signature of transcripts and transposable elements in micropunched samples of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue was conducted. A bioinformatics pipeline to analyze poor quality, short reads (>36 nts) from RNA-Seq data was created to compare …

Information And Readiness Build Resilience: The Role Of The Disaster Information Management Research Center, Stacey J. Arnesen, Florence Chang

Collaborative Librarianship

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) established the Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) in 2008 based on its history of providing health information for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The NLM long range plan (Charting a Course for the 21st Century: NLM's Long Range Plan 2006-2016) called for creation of a center to show "a strong commitment to disaster remediation and to provide a platform for demonstrating how libraries and librarians can be part of the solution to this national problem". NLM was urged to "ensure continuous access to health information and effective use of libraries and …

An Analysis Of Major Issues For Culturally-Minded Professionals In Women's Health Care, Victoria Clark

Senior Honors Theses

Women's health care professionals, such as general physicians, obstetricians and gynecologists, midwives, nurses, and doulas, in the US need to be aware of cultural issues and disparities. Minorities and migrant women experience cultural challenges and disparities when receiving health care in the US. Without cultural sensitivity, patient care is compromised. Pregnancy and childbirth practices vary widely by culture, and potential differences in perspectives, beliefs, and treatment of these are critical issues for women’s health care professionals to study. Female genital cutting (FGC), obstetric fistulas (OF), and female cancer are also discussed in this paper.

The Correlation Between The Microbiome And Neurodegenerative Disorders Such As Alzheimer Disease, Aurora Mokris

Honors Theses

Recent studies suggest that there are 1.3 times as many microbial cells as human cells in the body (Abbot, 2016). Another study claims that the combined genomes of this microbiota is 150 times that of the human genome (Zhuang & Shen, 2018). If you have ever had the feeling that you are not alone in an empty room you are most certainly correct. Your body is teeming with millions of organisms living in mutualistic symbiosis with you and surrounding microbes, but at times, this seemingly harmonious relationship can be disturbed, resulting in serious physical and psychological changes to the human …

Ucp1 Expression-Associated Gene Signatures Of Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue., Kanta Chechi, Jinchu Vijay, Pierre Voisine, Patrick Mathieu, Yohan Bossé, Andre Tchernof, Elin Grundberg, Denis Richard

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Multiple reports of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression have established its presence in human epicardial adipose tissue (eAT). Its functional relevance to eAT, however, remains largely unknown. In a recent study, we reported that adrenergic stimulation of eAT was associated with downregulation of secreted proteins involved in oxidative stress-related and immune-related pathways. Here, we explored the UCP1-associated features of human eAT using next-generation deep sequencing. Paired biopsies of eAT, mediastinal adipose tissue (mAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (sAT) obtained from cardiac surgery patients, with specific criteria of high and low expression of UCP1 in eAT, were subjected to RNA sequencing. …

Are Serum Leptin Levels Predicted By Lipoproteins, Vitamin D And Body Composition?, Aysha Habib Khan, Syeda Sadia Fatima, Ahmed Raheem, Lena Jafri

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

BACKGROUND: Both obesity and vitamin D deficiency are important health issues in Pakistan. The connection between body composition, Vitamin D and leptin in young adults is important to be studied as body composition may affect bone health and therefore the possibility of osteoporosis in later life. Few studies have attempted to investigate the effect of body composition and leptin with vitamin D in adolescence. AIM: To investigate the association of serum leptin with body composition, lipids and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 167 apparently healthy adults. Demographics were recorded, bioelectrical impedance analysis was …

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2dm) “Remission” In Non-Bariatric Patients 65 Years And Older, Srikanth Tangelloju, Bert B. Little, Robert J. Esterhay, Guy Brock, A. Scott Lajoie

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Objective: To analyze the factors associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) “remission” in non-bariatric Medicare patients 65 years and older.

Research Design and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of a Medicare Advantage health plan was conducted using administrative data. An individual was identified as T2DM if the individual had: ≥ 2 medical claims for T2DM coded 250.xx excluding type 1 diabetes; or ≥ 2 pharmacy claims related to T2DM; or ≥ 2 combined medical claims, pharmacy claims for T2DM in 12 months. A T2DM individual was in “remission” if they had no T2DM related claims for more than 12 …

Small Molecule Kras Agonist For Mutant Kras Cancer Therapy., Ke Xu, Dongkyoo Park, Andrew T Magis, Jun Zhang, Wei Zhou, Gabriel L Sica, Suresh S Ramalingam, Walter J Curran, Xingming Deng

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer patients with KRAS mutation(s) have a poor prognosis due in part to the development of resistance to currently available therapeutic interventions. Development of a new class of anticancer agents that directly targets KRAS may provide a more attractive option for the treatment of KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

RESULTS: Here we identified a small molecule KRAS agonist, KRA-533, that binds the GTP/GDP-binding pocket of KRAS. In vitro GDP/GTP exchange assay reveals that KRA-533 activates KRAS by preventing the cleavage of GTP into GDP, leading to the accumulation of GTP-KRAS, an active form of KRAS. Treatment of human lung cancer …

Histological Chorioamnionitis Induces Differential Gene Expression In Human Cord Blood Mononuclear Leukocytes From Term Neonates., Suhita Gayen Nee’ Betal, Swati Murthy, Michael Favara, Gina Fong, Joanna Chan, Sankar Addya, Thomas H. Shaffer, Jay S. Greenspan, Vineet Bhandari, Irfan Rahman, Zubair H. Aghai

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an infection of fetal membranes and complicates 5.2% to 28.5% of all live births. HCA is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in both premature and term neonates. Exposure to HCA may have long-term consequences, including an increased risk for allergic disorders and asthma later in childhood, the mechanism(s) of which are still not yet well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the mRNA transcriptome of cord blood mononuclear leukocytes from term neonates to identify key genes and pathways involved in HCA. We found 366 differentially expressed probe IDs with exposure to HCA …

Body Mass Index In Multiple Sclerosis Modulates Ceramide-Induced Dna Methylation And Disease Course, Kamilah Castro, Achilles Ntranos, Mario Amatruda, Maria Petracca, Peter Kosa, Emily Y. Chen, Johannes Morstein, Dirk Trauner, Corey T. Watson, Michael A. Kiebish, Bibiana Bielekova, Matilde Inglese, Ilana Katz Sand, Patricia Casaccia

Advanced Science Research Center

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) results from genetic predisposition and environmental variables, including elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) in early life. This study addresses the effect of BMI on the epigenome of monocytes and disease course in MS.

Methods: Fifty-four therapy-naive Relapsing Remitting (RR) MS patients with high and normal BMI received clinical and MRI evaluation. Blood samples were immunophenotyped, and processed for unbiased plasma lipidomic profiling and genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of circulating monocytes. The main findings at baseline were validated in an independent cohort of 91 therapy-naïve RRMS patients. Disease course was evaluated by a two-year longitudinal follow up …