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Policy Review Of The Aha Clinical Practice Guideline For Congestive Heart Failure: Evaluating Best Practices, Brenda E. Garcia

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant public health challenge that impacts various populations and contributes to rising hospital admission rates.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this scholarly project was: For healthcare policymakers and interprofessional teams (P), how does a policy review of the American Heart Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Heart Failure (I), guided by the CDC’s Polaris Framework (C), conducted over a 12-week period (T), evaluate alignment with evidence-based practices and potential for adoption in the care of patients with congestive heart failure (O)?

Evidence: This scholarly project focused on reviewing the current clinical guidelines …

Act With Nmosd: A Targeted, Telehealth-Delivered Mental Health Intervention For Patients & Caregivers, Darcy C. Esiason, Patrick J. Smith, Charles L. Peppers, Emily Wakschal, Leigh Andrews, Chelsi N. Nurse, Hallie M. Kushner, Christopher F. Drescher, Heather Bruschwein, Wendy Erler, Tom Hattrich, Ankita Deshpande, Michael Levy, Thomas P. Leist, C. Virginia O'Hayer

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The rare, unpredictable, debilitating nature of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) constitutes a unique psychological burden. This single-arm, pilot clinical trial examined the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) tailored to meet the psychological burden of NMOSD, a brief telehealth-delivered intervention, targeting this burden.

METHODS: Forty-three adults with NMOSD (76 % aquaporin-4 seropositive (AQP4+)) in USA, with elevated anxiety and/or depression completed 6-weeks of an experiential talk therapy designed to increase psychological flexibility and valued action, specifically tailored to address the psychological burden of NMOSD: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) w NMOSD. Patients attended via Zoom, along with …

Participant Engagement In A National Longitudinal Study Of Covid-19: Insights From The Inspire Study, Kris Pui Kwan Ma, Tracy Stober, Michael Gottlieb, Rachel E. Geyer, Kristin L. Rising, Sharon Saydah, Michelle Santangelo, Kristyn Gatling, Dylan Grau, Ralph C. Wang, Juan Carlos Montoy, Ahamed Idris, Samuel Macdonald, Mandy J. Hill, Ryan Huebinger, Maria G. Prado, Nicole L. Gentile, Erica Spatz, Caitlin Maliki, Jocelyn Dorney, Joann G. Elmore, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert A Weinstein, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Kari A. Stephens

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To examine participants' motivations and their experiences throughout a decentralized, longitudinal COVID-19 study in the U.S.

METHODS: We recruited 355 participants from the Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE) between November 2022 - March 2023 to answer five qualitative survey questions anonymously. We used an inductive content analysis approach to analyze the data.

RESULTS: We identified five key themes from the analysis, which reflected participants' a) motivations to join the study, b) study benefits, c) perceptions of survey questions, d) experiences with the research process, and e) preferences for disseminating research findings. Participants were motivated to …

Clinicopathologic Risk Factors For Post-Operative Complications After Enucleation Of Pancreatic Neoplasms, Isheeta Madeka, Steven Yi, Julia S. Evans, David Baek, Haresh V. Naringrekar, Harish Lavu, Charles J. Yeo, Avinoam Nevler, Wilbur B. Bowne

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic enucleation is a parenchymal-sparing procedure used for highly select patients with pancreatic neoplasms. We aim to utilize a multi-institutional health research network platform (TriNetX) and a single, high-volume center to assess complications and identify risk factors associated with post-operative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) after pancreatic enucleation.

METHODS: A two-tiered retrospective study was conducted. We identified 423 patients from TriNetX, and 34 patients from a single-institution IRB-approved database who underwent pancreatic enucleation between 2004-2025 and 2012-2023, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine risk factors associated with post-operative complications and occurrence of POPFs.

RESULTS: In the TriNetX cohort, …

Amaurosis Fugax Progressing To Retinal Artery Occlusion With Anterior Migration Of A Retrobulbar Embolus On Orbital Color Doppler Imaging, Ari H. August, Turner D. Wibbelsman, Erik Massenzio, Sarah E. Thornton, Danijel J. Peričić

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Orbital color Doppler imaging (CDI) is useful in the evaluation of sudden monocular vision loss, providing information on etiology which may guide management. We present two cases of amaurosis fugax progressing to retinal artery occlusion (RAO) associated with migration of a hyperechoic particle within the central retinal artery (CRA) and altered vascular dynamics found on CDI.

OBSERVATIONS: Both patients presented with amaurosis fugax, and CDI revealed a hyperechoic particle 2.8 mm from the optic nerve head in both patients. Patient 1 was found to have severe aortic stenosis and a thoracic aortic aneurysm and was managed with dual antiplatelet …

Experience Matters: An Application Of The Operative Value Index For Lumbar Fusions, Danyal Quraishi, Advith Sarikonda, D. Mitchell Self, Steven R. Glener, Arbaz A. Momin, Emily L. Isch, Ashmal K. Sami, Matthews Lan, Nicholas Clark, Ashwini Sharan, Srinivas Prasad, Jack Jallo, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Alex R. Vaccaro, James Harrop, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: As healthcare systems transition to value-based care models, it is critical to understand factors influencing costs and outcomes in neurosurgery. This study utilizes Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to assess the impact of surgeon experience and case volume on costs, clinical outcomes, and operative value in lumbar fusions. While TDABC has been applied in various surgical specialties, its use in neurosurgery, particularly in analyzing surgeon-specific factors, remains limited.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center, analyzing lumbar instrumented arthrodesis procedures from 2017 to 2019. Primary variables included surgeon experience (years) and case volume (annual procedures). Confounding …

Timing Of Nodal Metastasis In Patients With Eyelid Sebaceous Carcinoma And Implications For Surveillance And Survival, Tracy Lu, Casey Anthony, Xinyang Jiang, Jing Ning, Ryan Goepfert, Bita Esmaeli

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/aims: Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare cancer with periocular predilection. Studies focused on patterns and timing of nodal metastasis are scarce.Our aim is to report patterns of regional nodal metastasis in patients with eyelid SC, including results of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).

Methods: All consecutive patients with eyelid SC treated during 1999-2023 were retrospectively reviewed.All subjects had standard of care surgery for eyelid SC and regional lymph node evaluation using physical examination and ultrasonography (US) at baseline and during the surveillance period. 38 patients with negative findings on US had SLNB to rule out microscopic metastasis.The frequency and …

An Alternative Neural Basis Underlying Leptin Resistance, Hongli Li, Cunjin Su, Yuanzhong Xu, Mette Q Ludwig, Jon Davis, Qingchun Tong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Overconsumption of a palatable Western diet, a condition linked to central leptin resistance, contributes extensively to the current obesity epidemic. In this context, intensive efforts have focused on detailing the molecular mechanisms underlying leptin resistance. Here, we demonstrate that chronic inhibition of hypothalamic arcuate GABAergic neurons (ArcGABA) effectively reduced diet-induced obesity (DIO). Interestingly, palatable food exposure increased the activity level of ArcGABA neurons, which do not express the leptin receptor (non-LepR neurons; nonresponsive to leptin). Chronic activation of ArcGABA non-LepR neurons led to massive obesity, which was associated with normal leptin-induced pSTAT3 signaling but phenotypic leptin resistance; i.e., high leptin …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Gut Microbiome And Metabolome Correlates Of Response And Toxicity With Idecabtagene Vicleucel, Satabdi Saha, Lubna Rehman, Abdur Rehman, Faezeh Darbaniyan, Donna M Weber, Melody Becnel, Mahmoud Gaballa, Sheeba K Thomas, Hans C Lee, Chia-Chi Chang, Reetakshi Arora, Meghan Menges, Salvatore Corallo, Marco L Davila, Frederick L Locke, Mark R Tanner, Sattva S Neelapu, Elizabeth J Shpall, Christopher R Flowers, Robert Z Orlowski, Robert R Jenq, Michael D Jain, Christine Peterson, Doris K Hansen, Neeraj Y Saini, Krina K Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may influence the responses and toxicities associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. We conducted whole-genome shotgun sequencing on stool samples (N = 117) collected at various times from patients with multiple myeloma (n = 33) who underwent idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) anti-B-cell maturation antigen CAR-T therapy. We observed a significant decrease in bacterial diversity after ide-cel infusion, along with significant differences in the bacterial composition linked to therapy response and toxicities. Specifically, we found significant enrichment of Flavonifractor plautii, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Blautia fecis, and Dysosmobacter species in ide-cel responders. A notable finding …

Belumosudil Reduces Oral Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Tissue Inflammation And Fibrosis: A Rockstar Companion Study, Rubina Sharma, Noa G Holtzman, Iskra Pusic, Corey Cutler, Nathaniel Treister, Rohtesh S Mehta, Amin S Alousi, Nadarajah Vigneswaran, Ayesha Javaid, Francis Boksa, Drashty P Mody, Ana C Costa-Da-Silva, Olivier Schueller, Sandrine Macé, Yu Yao, Ran Ji, Beifang Hu, Kathy Marshall, Bruce R Blazar, Stephanie J Lee, Steven Z Pavletic, Jacqueline W Mays

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Belumosudil (KD025), an oral, selective, Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitor, is approved for third-line treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Previous studies demonstrated that ROCK2 inhibition reduces blood interleukin-17 (IL-17) activity and promotes regulatory T-cell (Treg cell) recovery. However, these studies did not evaluate immune responses within cGVHD-affected tissues. This study assessed tissue-level immune dynamics in 20 patients with oral cGVHD from the phase 2 ROCKstar trial, before and after 6 months of belumosudil treatment, focusing on key effector sites (oral mucosa [OM], minor salivary glands [MSGs], and skin) and the peripheral blood. After belumosudil treatment, reduction in …

Detection Of Oncogenic Fusions In Colorectal Cancer Using A Partner-Agnostic Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Andrew J Pellatt, Reagan M Barnett, Sante Gnerre, Kristin Edwards, Jason A Willis, Michael J Overmann, Kanwal Raghav, Christine M Parseghian, Arvind Dasari, M Pia Morelli, Alisha Bent, Madhulika Eluri, Nicholas Hornstein, Leylah M Drusbosky, Scott Kopetz, Van K Morris

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Gene fusions exist with low prevalence in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the clinical utility of fusion testing in advanced CRC remains unclear. We sought to identify oncogenic fusions in patients with advanced CRC using a fusion partner-agnostic circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assay to better understand their clinical relevance.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using de-identified data from 18,558 patients with advanced CRC who underwent ctDNA next-generation sequencing with Guardant360® from 2017 to 2022. These samples were subsequently reanalyzed with a partner-agnostic bioinformatics method to identify both clonal and non-clonal fusions. We analyzed for associations between fusions and MSI-H …

Fractional Flow Reserve From Coronary Ct: Evidence, Applications, And Future Directions, Arta Kasaeian, Mohadese Ahmadzade, Taylor Hoffman, Mohammad Ghasemi-Rad, Anoop Padoor Ayyappan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as the leading noninvasive imaging modality for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), offering high-resolution visualization of the coronary anatomy and plaque characterization. The development of fractional flow reserve derived from CCTA (FFR-CT) has further transformed the diagnostic landscape by enabling the simultaneous evaluation of both anatomical stenosis and lesion-specific ischemia. FFR-CT has demonstrated diagnostic accuracy comparable to invasive FFR. The combined use of CCTA and FFR-CT is now pivotal in a broad range of clinical scenarios, including the evaluation of stable and acute chest pain, assessment of high-risk and complex plaque …

No Evidence Of Pitavastatin Effect On Muscle Area Or Density Among People With Hiv, Kristine M Erlandson, Triin Umbleja, Heather J Ribaudo, Michael T Lu, Jana Taron, Marissa R Diggs, Pamela S Douglas, Kathleen V Fitch, Carl J Fichtenbaum, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Katharine Breaux, Rosalba Gomez Morones, Craig A Sponseller, Judith S Currier, Gerald S Bloomfield, Sarah M Chu, Alex B Lu, Carlos D Malvestutto, Steven K Grinspoon, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Skeletal muscle area (MA) and muscle density (MD) are key determinants of physical function and typically decline with increasing age. Statins have well-known musculoskeletal effects but whether statins impact MA or MD is not well established, especially in the setting of randomized treatment.

Methods: REPRIEVE is a double-blind randomized trial evaluating the effect of pitavastatin for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with HIV (PWH). Thoracic paraspinal, pectoralis, and infraspinatus MA and MD were assessed among Mechanistic Substudy participants with CT at baseline and month 24.

Results: Of 804 substudy participants, 510 remained on study treatment …

No Evidence Of Pitavastatin Effect On Muscle Area Or Density Among People With Hiv, Kristine M Erlandson, Triin Umbleja, Heather J Ribaudo, Michael T Lu, Jana Taron, Marissa R Diggs, Pamela S Douglas, Kathleen V Fitch, Carl J Fichtenbaum, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Katharine Breaux, Rosalba Gomez Morones, Craig A Sponseller, Judith S Currier, Gerald S Bloomfield, Sarah M Chu, Alex B Lu, Carlos D Malvestutto, Steven K Grinspoon, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (Rapid ART) is a key strategy for the Ending the HIV Epidemic inititative. In Harris County, Texas, a priority Ending the HIV Epidemic jurisdiction, 57% of persons with HIV receive care at 1 of 5 public agencies that receive funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and HIV/AIDS Bureau. This program administers grants to clinics and local/state programs to deliver medical and support services (Part A) for low-income persons with HIV. In 2019, …

No Evidence Of Pitavastatin Effect On Muscle Area Or Density Among People With Hiv, Kristine M Erlandson, Triin Umbleja, Heather J Ribaudo, Michael T Lu, Jana Taron, Marissa R Diggs, Pamela S Douglas, Kathleen V Fitch, Carl J Fichtenbaum, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Katharine Breaux, Rosalba Gomez Morones, Craig A Sponseller, Judith S Currier, Gerald S Bloomfield, Sarah M Chu, Alex B Lu, Carlos D Malvestutto, Steven K Grinspoon, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Skeletal muscle area (MA) and muscle density (MD) are key determinants of physical function and typically decline with increasing age. Statins have well-known musculoskeletal effects but whether statins impact MA or MD is not well established, especially in the setting of randomized treatment.

Methods: REPRIEVE is a double-blind randomized trial evaluating the effect of pitavastatin for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with HIV (PWH). Thoracic paraspinal, pectoralis, and infraspinatus MA and MD were assessed among Mechanistic Substudy participants with CT at baseline and month 24.

Results: Of 804 substudy participants, 510 remained on study treatment …

A Whole-Brain Voxel-Based Analysis Of Structural Abnormalities In Ptsd: An Enigma-Pgc Study, Cheryl R Z See, Shuqing Si, C Lexi Baird, Courtney C Haswell, Ahmed Hussain, Miranda Olff, Dick J Veltman, Jessie L Frijling, Mirjam Van Zuiden, Saskia B J Koch, Laura Nawijn, Li Wang, Ye Zhu, Gen Li, Yuval Neria, Xi Zhu, Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Amit Lazarov, Jennifer S Stevens, Kerry Ressler, Negar Fani, Tanja Jovanovic, Sanne J H Van Rooij, Milissa L Kaufman, Lauren A M Lebois, Isabelle M Rosso, Elizabeth A Olson, Justin T Baker, Scott R Sponheim, Seth G Disner, Nicholas D Davenport, Amit Etkin, Adi Maron-Katz, Murray B Stein, Martha E Shenton, Dan J Stein, Jonathan Ipser, Sheri-Michelle Koopowitz, Soraya Seedat, Stefan Du Plessis, Leigh L Van Den Heuvel, Shmuel Lissek, Hannah Berg, Thomas Straube, David Hofman, Lee A Baugh, Gina L Forster, Raluca M Simons, Jeffrey S Simons, Vincent A Magnotta, Kelene A Fercho, Xin Wang, Andrew S Cotton, Erin N O'Leary, Hong Xie, Daniel W Grupe, Jack B Nitschke, Richard J Davidson, Christine L Larson, Terri A Deroon-Cassini, Carissa W Tomas, Jacklynn M Fitzgerald, Jennifer Urbano Blackford, Bunmi O Olatunji, Evan M Gordon, Geoffrey May, Steven M Nelson, Ruth Lanius, Jean Théberge, Maria Densmore, Richard W J Neufeld, Chadi G Abdallah, Christopher L Averill, Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Ifat Levy, John H Krystal, Elbert Geuze, Remko Van Lutterveld, Emily L Dennis, David F Tate, David X Cifu, William C Walker, Elisabeth A Wilde, Nic J A Van Der Wee, Robert R J M Vermeiren, Steven J A Van Der Werff, Katie Mclaughlin, Kelly Sambrook, Matthew Peverill, Joaquim Radua, Lauren E Salminen, Neda Jahanshad, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Anthony James, Lucia Valmaggia, Paul M Thompson, Rajendra A Morey, Matthew J Kempton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.

Methods: T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and …

Left Atrial Remodeling Parameters And Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels In Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation, Osama Amin, Ahmed Alaarag, Haidy Khattab, Mahmoud Abou-Omar

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Left atrial (LA) remodeling, categorized by functional and structural variations, is predominant in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, implying atrial strain, may lead management by indicating LA remodeling severity. This study was instructed to correlate BNP levels with LA volume index (LAVI) in HFpEF patients with nonvalvular AF against sinus rhythm (SR), to evaluate diagnostic implications.

Methods: This two-center, observational, cross-sectional study (April 2023–October 2024) registered 340 patients with de novo HFpEF (140 AF, 200 SR). Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50%, valvular disease, …

The Use Of Physical Therapy In Gymnastics: A Systematic Review, Anna Bergman

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Gymnastics is a popular sport with hundreds of thousands of participants. Gymnastics also has a high injury rate among participants. Unfortunately, gymnastics requires specific rehabilitation and not much information exists on how to properly rehab gymnasts. The goal of this paper was to find existing literature about treating gymnasts’ injuries and analyze the results. Finally, recommendations were made in terms of future research.

Thrombocytopenia In Patients With Plasmodium Vivax In Colombia Is Associated With Anti-Phosphatidylserine Autoantibodies And Il-6, Ifnγ, Il-10 And Tgf-Β, María Camila Velasco-Pareja, Catalina Tovar-Acero, Miriam E. Cantero Guevara, Ana Rodriguez, Juan Rivera-Correa, María Fernanda Yasnot-Acosta

Publications and Research

Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed human protozoan in the world. It is a causative agent of malaria, with thrombocytopenia being a frequent complication. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of P. vivax infection on plasma cytokine/chemokine levels and anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) autoantibodies, to explore their potential role in thrombocytopenia during P. vivax malaria in Córdoba, Colombia. We included patients with P. vivax malaria and thrombocytopenia (MT); patients with malaria without thrombocytopenia (M) and healthy controls (HC). Plasma cytokines/chemokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-10, IFNγ, IL-12p70, TGF-β1/IP-10, MCP-1, IL-8) were quantified. Evaluation of autoantibodies was performed by …

Hospitalization Trends For Thromboembolic Events In Atrial Fibrillation: A 12-Year National Analysis, Moises Vasquez, Crystal Yan, Natacha Vargas, Samuel Vasquez, Litsa Lambrakos, Alex Velasquez, Jeffrey Goldberger, Raul Mitrani

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants and percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices were approved for use in 2010 and 2015, respectively. It is unknown to what extent, if any, these new stroke preventive therapies have impacted hospitalizations for thromboembolic (TE) events.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate temporal trends in AF-related hospitalizations for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and systemic embolism (SEE) in the U.S. from 2010 to 2021.

METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample, we identified hospitalizations for TE events with comorbid AF. Data were grouped into two periods (2010-2015 and 2016-2021). Linear regression assessed trends in TE frequency. …

Adult Congenital Heart Disease As A Career? Examining Encouraging And Deterring Factors In The Global Achd Survey, Katia Bravo-Jaimes, M. H. D. Osama Srour, Petra Jenkins, Raquel Luna-Lopez, Oktay Tutarel, Geetha Kandavello, Carlos-Eduardo Guerrero-Chalela, Edgar García-Cruz, Judith Ackerman, Amalia Elizari, Miriam Valdez-Ramos, Blanche Cupido, Dominica Zentner, Murad Almasri, Sabrina Phillips, Christopher Mcleod, Luke Burchill, Celia Kamath, Renee Bullock-Palmer, Jonathan Windram

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is a global mismatch between the number of adults with congenital heart disease and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists, potentially impacting patient outcomes. This survey explores factors influencing trainees and cardiologists' career choices in ACHD.

METHODS: An online, anonymous global survey on demographics, ACHD as a career choice, encouraging and deterring factors assessed via a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions on recommending ACHD was distributed through targeted emails and social media. Responses meeting a 75% completion criterion were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Among 811 included responses, most were from women (53.5%), aged …

The Effect Of Tranexamic Acid On Blood Coagulation In Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Rotational Thromboelastometry: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Uzung Yoon, David Beausang, Elia Elia, Marc Torjman, Jeffrey Mojica, James J. Purtill, David Nazarian, P. Maxwell Courtney, Yoogoo Kang

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA), is commonly administered prophylactically to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, its effect has never been studied. We hypothesized that no difference exists in the degree of fibrinolysis and blood loss between patients receiving prophylactic TXA and placebo.

METHODS: This double-blinded randomized-controlled trial included 50 patients undergoing primary THA in 2021-2023. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03897621). Rotational-thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were performed to test blood coagulability using non citrated whole blood (NATEM) and blood treated with TXA (T-APTEM). The intervention group received TXA intravenously. The placebo group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The primary outcome measure …

Factors Associated With Self-Report Symptom Screening Adherence In Pediatric Cancer Patients, L. Lee Dupuis, Emily Vettese, Catherine Aftandilian, Vibhuti Agarwal, Christina Baggott, Scott M. Bradfield, Nicole Crellin-Parsons, David R. Freyer, Kara M. Kelly, Allison A. King, Wade Kyono, Ramamoorthy Nagasubramanian, Etan Orgel, Michael E. Roth, Farha Sherani, Lolie Yu, Allison C. Grimes, Melissa P. Beauchemin, Lisa M. Klesges, George A. Tomlinson, Lillian Sung

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Objective was to describe the association between baseline characteristics and the number of Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) assessments completed over an 8-week period. Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial among 10 sites that were randomized to the intervention group. Participants were English- or Spanish-speaking pediatric patients 8–18 years of age newly diagnosed with cancer. Participants were prompted to complete SSPedi three times weekly for 8 weeks. The outcome was the number of SSPedi assessments completed during the 8-week period. Factors associated with the number of assessments were determined using mixed effects Poisson …

Investigating The Necessity Of Adaptive Radiotherapy In Tomotherapy Of Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Ali Chaparian, Mahsa Kianinia, Mahnaz Roayaei, Nadia Najafizade, Abolfazl Kanani, Leili Mahani, Hamidreza Nourzadeh

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Anatomical variations that occur during radiation therapy in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients can lead to significant dosimetric changes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate dosimetric and volume changes in key anatomical structures for different treatment sites in HNC patients, and to determine the percentage of patients who need adaptive radiotherapy (ART) per treatment site.

METHODS: A total of 1,740 megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) images from 58 HNC patients treated with helical tomotherapy (HT) were exported to the PreciseART™ (Accuray) software. Volume changes in the planning target volume (PTV) and the organs at risk (OARs) in …

Dosimetric Comparisons For Determining Optimal Arc Geometry In Multi Target Thoracic Vmat Sbrt Treatment Plans For Patients With Locally Advanced Inoperable Nsclc, Alexandrea M. Reeves

Masters Projects

Non-coplanar beam arrangements have been used for many years in radiation treatment planning. Their use has been known to show an increase in target conformity and gradient index. However, by using non-coplanar beam arrangements, the treatment planning time as well as the treatment delivery time can increase. Despite the increase in treatment planning and delivery complexity and time, previous studies have shown a decrease in OAR doses resulting in a desire to use non-coplanar beams. Previous studies have looked at various body sites and target locations, though no research has been found specifically studying non-coplanar beam arrangement in multi-target treatment …

Injury And Illness: An Analysis Of Team Usa Athletes At The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Ashley N. Triplett, Eric G. Post, Travis Anderson, Olivia Samson, Alexis D. Gidley, Francisco Silva, Lea Thomann, Amber T. Donaldson, Jonathan T. Finnoff, Eric L. Dugan, Jeffrey S. Shilt, William M. Adams

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Injury and illness surveillance is essential for understanding the relative risks of sports participation to develop effective strategies to optimize athlete health, wellness, and performance. Epidemiological studies examining injuries and illnesses among Team USA youth athletes are limited, particularly among athletes competing in Winter sports. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injury and illness incidence rate among Team USA athletes participating in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

METHODS: Injuries and illnesses among 101 Team USA youth athletes (40.6% female; age, 17 ± 1 years) were prospectively documented. Injury and illness prevalence, and incidence rate …

Tlr4 Asp299gly Snp (Rs4986790) Protects From Periodontal Inflammatory Destruction By Altering Tlr4 Susceptibility To Lps Stimulation, Franco Cavalla, Cláudia Cristina Biguetti, Ariadne Letra, Renato Silva, Alexandre R. Vieira, Franz J. Strauss, Gustavo P. Garlet

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Simple Summary

Periodontitis is a common disease that affects the gums and the bone supporting the teeth, often leading to tooth loss. It results from a complex interaction between bacteria and the body’s immune response. Some people are more susceptible than others, and genetics may play a role. In this study, we focused on a genetic variation (called a polymorphism) in a gene known as TLR4, which helps the immune system recognize harmful bacteria. We examined over 1400 individuals from different populations and found that people carrying this specific variation, known as Asp299Gly, were less likely to develop severe periodontal …

Injury And Illness: An Analysis Of Team Usa Athletes At The 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Ashley N Triplett, Eric G Post, Travis Anderson, Olivia Samson, Alexis D Gidley, Francisco Silva, Lea Thomann, Amber T Donaldson, Jonathan T Finnoff, Eric L Dugan, Jeffrey S Shilt, William M Adams

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Injury and illness surveillance is essential for understanding the relative risks of sports participation to develop effective strategies to optimize athlete health, wellness, and performance. Epidemiological studies examining injuries and illnesses among Team USA youth athletes are limited, particularly among athletes competing in Winter sports. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injury and illness incidence rate among Team USA athletes participating in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Methods: Injuries and illnesses among 101 Team USA youth athletes (40.6% female; age, 17 ± 1 years) were prospectively documented. Injury and illness prevalence, and incidence rate …

Responding To The Needs Of Dementia Care Partners: Recommendations For Policy Change At The State And Federal Levels., Walter D. Dawson, Jenn Reed, Allison Lindauer, Sherril B. Gelmon

Institute on Aging Publications

The need to optimize supports of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) care partners through policy innovation is high. This study sought to frame the care and support needs of multiple historically underrepresented populations who may be underserved and/or have difficulty accessing culturally specific services and determine specific policies that may reduce ADRD care partner burden and improve wellbeing. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews ( = 24) with leaders of organizations that support people living with ADRD and focus groups ( = 5) with dementia care partners from four communities historically underserved in the United States (Asian, Black, Indigenous, …

Potential Biological And Genetic Links Between Dementia And Osteoporosis: A Scoping Review, Abayomi N Ogunwale, Paul E Schulz, Jude K Des Bordes, Florent Elefteriou, Nahid J Rianon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The biological mediators for the epidemiologic overlap between osteoporosis and dementia are unclear. We undertook a scoping review of clinical studies to identify genetic and biological factors linked with these degenerative conditions, exploring the mechanisms and pathways connecting both conditions.

Methods: Studies selected (1) involved clinical research investigating genetic factors or biomarkers associated with dementia or osteoporosis, and (2) were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal between July 1993 and March 2025. We searched Medline Ovid, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science databases, Google Scholar, and the reference lists of studies following the guidelines for …