Digital Commons Network^™

A Flea-Borne Mystery: Unraveling Murine Typhus In A Patient With Unexplained Encephalopathy, Jose J. Loayza Pintado, Jorge A. Aboytes, Cesar Uribe

School of Medicine Publications

Murine typhus is a flea-borne rickettsial infection caused by Rickettsia typhi, commonly seen in endemic regions like Southern California and Texas. While it typically presents with fever, rash, and headache, neurological symptoms such as altered mental status are rare. We present a case of a 66-year-old male in southern Texas with alcohol use disorder who developed progressive confusion, decreased appetite, and subjective fevers. He was found to have severe hyponatremia, acute kidney injury, and atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Despite supportive care and empiric antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, his encephalopathy persisted. Further history revealed exposure to …

Navigating Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Parents' Journeys With Suicidal Adolescents In Australian Emergency Departments, Demee Rheinberger, Lauren Mcgillivray, Fiona Shand, Sally Ann Pollard, Susanne Oliver Armstrong, Julia Lessing, Katherine Boydell

The Qualitative Report

Rates of emergency department (ED) presentations for suicide crisis (thoughts, feelings, plans and behaviours) in adolescents are increasing. Parents play a key role in supporting adolescents during and after the ED presentation, however little is known about parental experiences in the ED. Interviews with 20 parents from across Australia were undertaken to help understand this experience. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in three themes which explore the impact of the suicide crisis and ED presentation on the parents’ sense of identity. First, parents’ identity was threatened as they were faced with the juxtaposition between the role of protector …

Development Of A Novel Biomarker Platform For Profiling Key Protein-Protein Interactions To Predict The Efficacy Of Bh3-Mimetic Drugs, Andrew J Kinloch, Faiyaz Rahman, Bahriye Karakas, Muhammad Shahid, Bora Lim, Stephanie J Bouley, James A Walker, Erinna F Lee, Walter D Fairlie, Kevin R Kelly, Michael H Cardone

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

One of the hallmarks of cancer cells is their failure to respond to the cellular mechanism of apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family of proteins regulate apoptosis. Their ability to do so can be measured using several methods that in turn anticipate the fate of the cancer cell in response to apoptosis-inducing treatment. These assays ultimately identify the readiness of the cancer cell to undergo apoptosis, which is referred to as the mitochondrial priming state. These metrics, however, have been challenging to implement in the clinic.

Multicenter Evaluation Of A New Strip-Based Blood Glucose System For Point-Of-Care Testing In Critical And Non-Critical Care Settings, Michael Goodman, Sven Bercker, Nancy Breitenbeck, Cristina Canada-Vilalta, Daisy D Canepa, William A Clarke, Christopher W Farnsworth, Edward O Ganser, Nienke Geerts, Barbara Goldsmith, Gary Headden, Debra Hoppensteadt, Birgit Klapperich, Ryan Matika, Gabrielle Miles, Sagori Mukhopadhyay, James H Nichols, Rebecca M O'Dell, Zubaid Rafique, Andre Schuetzenmeister, Robbert Slingerland, Ann F Stankiewicz, Jonathan R Swanson, Nam K Tran, Alan H B Wu, Brad S Karon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Evaluation of the performance of Cobas® Pulse (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), a new blood glucose (BG) monitoring system (BGMS; referred to here as BGMSA) intended for point-of-care testing using samples from patients in diverse clinical settings by intended point-of-care test operators.

Methods: Arterial, capillary, venous, or heel stick whole blood (WB) samples from patients in non-critical and critical care settings were collected and analyzed using BGMSA and the Nova StatStrip® BGMS (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA; referred to here as BGMSB), and a hexokinase comparator (Cobas 6000 Analyzer Series; Roche Diagnostics GmbH). The blood glucose measurement accuracy was assessed …

Barriers To Clinical Cosmetic And Laser Dermatology Research In The Academic Setting By Source Of Funding: A Systematic Review, Bianca Y. Kang, Saranya P. Wyles, Yakir Levin, Rawaa Almukhtar, Stephanie R. Jackson Cullison, Jayne S. Joo, Sami K. Saikaly, Shalinie Mahadeo, Michael Ong, Sophia Salingaros, Maria Hordinsky, Sarah A. Ibrahim, Devina Mehta, Shoko Mori, Edit B. Olasz Harken, Diana Bolotin, Kira Minkis, Murad Alam

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Clinical research is a cornerstone of academic dermatology, including research in cosmetic and laser procedures. However, numerous barriers exist to conducting clinical research in an academic setting as compared to private practice. The objective of this study was to describe the barriers to clinical research in cosmetic and laser dermatology in the academic setting under three common funding scenarios: (1) industry sponsored, (2) unfunded, investigator-initiated, and (3) publicly funded, investigator-initiated. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify 17 publications regarding funding of clinical dermatology research. Inductive content analysis was used to extract, categorize, and understand the barriers …

Anti-Viral Cd8 Central Memory Veto Cells As A New Platform For Car T Cell Therapy, Wei-Hsin Liu, Anat Globerson Levin, Assaf Lask, Galit Horn, Tova Waks, Bar Nathansohn Levi, Irit Milman Krentsis, Einav Shoshan, Xiaohua Su, Maksim Mamonkin, Richard E Champlin, Yair Reisner, Esther Bachar Lustig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Central memory CD8 T cells exhibit marked veto activity enhancing engraftment in several mouse models of T cell-depleted bone marrow (TDBM) allografting. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can be prevented by stimulation of mouse or human memory CD8 T cells against their cognate antigens under cytokine deprivation, in the early phase of culture followed by further expansion with IL21, IL15, and IL7. Thus, human anti-viral CD8 central memory veto T cells generated from CMV and EBV-positive donors are currently evaluated in a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Centre (MDACC). Results in 15 patients indicate a low risk of GVHD. Considering that …

Colorectal Cancer And The Risk Of Mortality Among Individuals With Suicidal Ideation, Srikanta Banerjee, Jagdish Khubchandani, Stanley Nkemjika

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Suicide is a major public health problem that has grown at alarming rates in the last two decades. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths in the United States in both males and females. However, the influence of suicidal ideation (SI) on the association between CRC and risk of mortality has not been well examined.

METHODS: For this study, the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative survey of United States adults aged 20 years or older, was utilized. CRC survivorship was determined from self-reported data on CRC, and mortality …

Neovascular Pruning By Ido1 Inhibitors Can Potentiate Immunogenic Cytotoxicity Of Ischemia-Targeted Agents To Synergistically Enhance Anti-Pd-1 Responsiveness, Shih-Chun Shen, Souvik Dey, James B. Duhadaway, Erika Sutanto-Ward, Maurice T. Hampton, Serguei V. Kozlov, George C. Prendergast, Alexander J. Muller

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Strategies for deploying indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)-targeted therapies for use against cancer have focused on IDO1's role in promoting peripheral immune tolerance that shields tumors from effector T cells. However, preclinical investigation of both primary and metastatic tumor development in the lungs has uncovered a previously unappreciated role for IDO1 in directing a counterregulatory response to interferon (IFN)-γ that realigns the local inflammatory environment to promote tumor neovascularization. Understanding how to therapeutically leverage the ability of IDO1 inhibitors to subvert inflammatory neovascularization within the tumor microenvironment has potential ramifications for future clinical development of these compounds.

METHODS: Pulmonary metastases …

The Tweak/Fn14 Signaling Mediates Skeletal Muscle Wasting During Cancer Cachexia, Meiricris Tomaz Da Silva, Anirban Roy, Anh Tuan Vuong, Aniket S Joshi, Cristeena Josphien, Meghana V Trivedi, Sajedah M Hindi, Vihang A Narkar, Ashok Kumar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by progressive skeletal muscle wasting. The TWEAK-Fn14 system regulates muscle mass in diverse conditions. However, its role in the regulation of muscle mass during cancer cachexia remains less understood. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of Fn14 are induced in skeletal muscle of multiple mouse models of cancer cachexia. Muscle-specific deletion of Fn14 reduces myofiber atrophy in mouse models of pancreatic and lung cancer cachexia. Silencing of Fn14 in KPC pancreatic cancer cells prior to their implantation in mice attenuates tumor growth without affecting myofiber size. Muscle-specific deletion of Fn14 reduces the gene …

Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 In Lung Diseases, Hongli Liu, Cristian Coarfa, Arzoo N Charania, Jennifer L Larson-Casey, Ivan O Rosas, Chao He

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), also known as osteopontin (OPN) or early T lymphocyte activation protein 1 (ETA-1), is a multifunctional protein involved in numerous biological processes, including immune modulation, stress response, and tissue remodeling. The role of SPP1 in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) has become an area of increasing interest, given its elevated expression in various ILDs such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD), and pneumoconiosis, especially with recent data derived from single-cell RNA sequencing. In addition to ILDs, SPP1 has been implicated in infectious granulomatous lung diseases, lung and pleural malignancies, airway diseases, and COVID-19. …

From Rags To Riches: Ai-Powered Retrieval Augmented Generation (Rag) For Just-In-Time Learning And Accelerated Onboarding In High Turnover Icus, Celestino Castanon Md, Alison A. Smith Md, Phd, Patrick Greiffenstein Md, Jennifer M. Brewer Md, Roslyn Alexander Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Optimization Of Preoperative Skin Preparation To Reduce Cesarean Section Surgical Site Infections, Meghana Reddy Md, Elisia Dupre Mph, Stacey L. Holman Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Standardizing Ngs Testing For All Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Quality Improvement Approach, Casey Treuting Md, Zachary Leblanc Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Improving Overall Resident Encounter Completion Using A Scheduled Reminder System, Evan Villemez Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Assessing Ed Provider Response After Prehospital Administration Of Buprenorphine For Patients With Oud, Scott Sabo Md, Sage Teasley Mph, David Rayburn Md, Mph

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Benefits In Performing Penicillin Challenges In The Outpatient Clinic To Reduce Hospital Costs, Jamie Tran Md, Charles Woodall Do, Dexter Matrana Do

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Expansion Of A Rapid Reentry Program To Improve Viral Suppression And Retention In Hiv Care, Danielle L. Gilbert Do, Mph, Shafay Shams Md, John G. Phillips Md, Paula S. Seal Md, Mph

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

A Root Cause Analysis In Delay Of Clinic Rooming Time, Angus M. Harper Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

A Single Center Retrospective Analysis Of Missed Appointments For Chemotherapy Infusions, Lily Z. Chen Md, Deanna Huffman Do, Rachel Mcmullen Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Alert To Action: Implementing Artificial Intelligence-Driven Clinical Decision Support Tools For Sepsis, Alexander Fixler Md, Blake Oliaro Md, Marshall Frieden Md, Christopher Girardo Md, Fiona Winterbottom Cns, Lisa Fort Md, Jason Hill Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Direct Naloxone Distribution In The Emergency Department Increases Naloxone Access For Patients Following Accidental Overdose, Kasha Bornstein Md, Mph, Msc, Bridgette Egan Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Protocol Optimization For Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Quality Initiative To Decrease Epinephrine Administration, Jessica Aird Do, Aaron Singer Md, David Rayburn Md, Mph, Meg Marino Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Screening For Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Addys Boyd Hernandez Md, Suneeta S. Ganji Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Increasing The Detection Of Pediatric Oncology Patients At Risk For Malnutrition Using A Specialized Screening Tool, Casey Treuting Md, Cori A. Morrison Md, Jourdan A. Mills Rd

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Improving Informed Consent Practices In Family Medicine: Aquality Improvement Initiative, Stephen O. Igwe Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

A First Response Gap: Implementing Naloxone Training For Campus Security Amid New Orleans’ Opioid Crisis, Shawn J. Marcell, Brian Copeland Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Creating A Research Database For Louisiana State University Health – New Orleans, Luke D. Yesbeck Do, Hope M. Oddo Md, Shane E. Sanne Do

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Goals Of Care Conversations In Clinic–Gauging Patient Motivation, Daniel Cho Md, Lilian Pham Md, Anet Kirkconnell Md, Lauren Tran Md, Aaron Hochman-Zimmerman, Houston Bonnyman Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Brief Educational Supplement Of Colon Cancer Screening Alternatives And Its Impact On Orders Placed By Primary Care Providers, Kimberly Tu Md, Cynthia Kudji Sylvester Md, Martin Gantt Md, Michael Do Md, Shawn Brignac Md, Chardiel Delgado Miranda Md, Lindsay Liles Md, Lindsay Liles Md, Lindsay Liles Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.

Improving Hepatitis A And B Vaccination Rates In Adults With Hepatitis C And Chronic Liver Disease In An Internal Medicine Residents Clinic, Amit Rajkarnikar Md, Ashwin Narayana Md, Sri Pranvi Boyapati Md, Archa Rajesh Do, Ahmed Fazal-Ur-Rehman Md, Jacob L. Cunningham Md, Heath M. Scott Do, Hoang Michael Nguyen Md, Christopher R. Chedid Md

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Forum

No abstract provided.