Digital Commons Network^™

Redrawing Anatomy: Addressing Female Genital Underrepresentation In Educational Texts, Clara E. Krohn

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The fight for female equality in the historically male dominated medical field is an ongoing battle. This project focuses primarily on the underrepresentation of female genitalia in undergraduate academic textbooks. A dissected pelvis of a female cadaver was initially examined. Pictures were obtained with scale bars to accurately depict size of the structures included. Underrepresented structures such as the clitoris and the broad ligament were closely examined along with the reproductive system as a whole. The pictures compiled along with further research were used to design a portfolio of diagrams and a survey to be later administered. The survey was …

Age-Related Ultrastructural Differences In The Dorsal Cortex Of The Inferior Colliculus In The Fischer Brown Norway Rat, Kylee M. Tenney, Dakota Smallridge, Gillian Barach, Gurveer Singh, Erin Beskitt, Justine Busby, Syllissa Duncan, Alexa Wawrzyniak, Brenda Vega, Nick Tokar, Andrew Ohl, Jesse Young, Jeffrey Mellott

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The inferior colliculus is a nucleus in the auditory midbrain that plays an important role in sound and speech processing through how it encodes temporal precision. Temporal precision depends on the balance of inhibition and excitation within the IC. This balance degrades during aging. Age-related changes in synapses have been described in the lemniscal IC as a contributing factor for this imbalance. However, it is unknown if aging affects synapses throughout the non-lemniscal IC in a similar manner. We sought to determine this by examining the dorsal cortex of the IC. The ICd is a non-lemniscal nucleus that is well …

Propofol Vs Dexmedetomidine: Impact On Reintubation And Respiratory Depression, Dominic J. Hamad, Stephanie Wodrich, Logan Campola

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol on breathing recovery in ICU patients who have been mechanically ventilated. Specifically, we want to find out whether one sedative is more likely than the other to lead to respiratory depression or reintubation after sedation is stopped. These outcomes are important because they directly affect patient safety, ICU length of stay, and overall recovery. Our team will conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials found through databases like PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. We will focus on adult ICU populations and only include studies that report on relevant …

Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms And Quality Of Life Among College Students, Lina Saint-Hilaire

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to examine the influence of certain lifestyle factors on the presentation of allergic rhinitis symptoms and the quality of life of college students. Factors of interest include residential setting, household cleaning habits, age of symptom onset, and exposure to household pets. Additional analysis includes assessment of the impact of allergic rhinitis symptoms on sleep. Using a cross-sectional survey design, student responses were self-reported through a paper survey distributed during tabling days at the University of Central Florida (UCF) main campus. Eligible participants had to be 18 years or older and current UCF graduate and undergraduate students. Survey …

Bodies Of Knowledge: The Accuracy Of Medical Anatomical Drawings From The 14th To The 18th Century, Marina G. Mitchell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

From the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries, European anatomical illustration underwent major transformations in response to changing scientific methods, technologies, and visual conventions, reflecting critical transitions in anatomical history. Scientific evolution allowed these images to achieve increasing structural precision and internal detail, though they frequently diverged from anatomical forms as they are understood today. This study examines how anatomical inaccuracies across five centuries emerged not from ignorance, but from deliberate mediation between purpose, observation, pedagogy, artistic convention, and cultural ideology. Through close analysis of works in visual comparison to their modern counterparts, this thesis identifies specific deviations from the twenty-first …

Social Determinants Of Health Affecting Cardiovascular Health Among South Asian Americans, Ann Mary Thomas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: South Asian Americans experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease, yet the social determinants contributing to these disparities remain understudied.

Objective: This systematic review examines the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping cardiovascular outcomes among South Asian Americans.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science using predefined search terms related to South Asian populations, cardiovascular health, and SDOH. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 reporting guidelines, and study screening and management were performed using Covidence. A total …

Distribution And Morphology Of Catecholaminergic Axons And Terminals In Flat-Mounts Of The Whole Left Ventricles Of Rats: Tracing, Digitization And 3d Scaffold, Emily Liu

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiac sympathetic innervation plays a vital role in regulating various heart functions, and its remodeling has been linked to a range of cardiovascular diseases. To understand cardiac sympathetic innervation and remodeling, it is important to elucidate the topographical distribution and morphology of sympathetic axons in the whole left ventricle. However, immunohistochemistry (IHC) on whole heart tissues presents challenges due to their thickness, as conventional methods label only small sections. This disrupts tissue integrity and neural connections. To overcome this, we developed a whole flat-mount technique to process the rat heart (ventricle thickness: 3 mm). We performed cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging …

The Development And Implementation Of A Computational Framework To Simulate Patellofemoral Joint Mechanics, Mahmood Rashedi

Master’s Theses

Anterior knee pain affects approximately 25% of adults and is associated with altered joint mechanics. Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) models vary widely in complexity, with no established gold standard. Musculoskeletal models efficiently estimate joint loading but do not capture tissue-level mechanics, whereas finite element (FE) models provide tissue-level predictions at greater computational cost. This thesis developed a workflow to evaluate relationships between musculoskeletal model-predicted PFJ loads and FE-predicted cartilage mechanics, examined the impact of altered quadriceps activation, and introduced improved computational models.

Marker trajectories and ground reaction forces were collected from four adults (2 male, 2 female) during walking and squatting. …

Investigating Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Cardiometabolic Outcomes Among Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: An Umbrella Review, Gianna C. Santoni

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinological disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Due to the possibility of a genetic component affecting women with PCOS, evidence supports varying health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups. This literature aims to answer the question: Does the prevalence of cardiometabolic outcomes differ among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome across racial/ethnic groups? This umbrella review was conducted in accordance with JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRIOR reporting guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420261303872) before completion. PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCOhost, and Web of Science via EBSCOhost were searched from …

Endometriosis From Initiation To Innovation: Immune Microenvironments, Clonal Lesion Biology, And The Emerging Therapeutic Pipeline, Bindu Santhamma, Jessica Chacon, Eva Deemer, Dorota Stary, Shayla A. Hernandez, Ramadevi Subramani, Rajkumar Lakshmanaswamy, Klaus J. Nickisch, Surinder K. Batra, Hareesh B. Nair

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease that, despite its benign histology, displays several cancer-relevant features, including clonal expansion, somatic alteration-associated lesion evolution, tissue invasion, apoptosis resistance, immune evasion, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and metabolic adaptation. These features are particularly important in ovarian endometriosis, where recurrent hemorrhage, iron-driven oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory remodeling may promote malignant transformation. This review examines endometriosis through an oncologic framework by integrating current evidence on disease initiation, clonal lesion evolution, and the peritoneal, ovarian, and deep-infiltrating microenvironments. We discuss how epithelial, stromal, immune, endothelial, mesothelial, and neural components cooperate to support lesion survival, dissemination, vascularization, fibrosis, …

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Among Early Adolescents Using A Game-Based Digital Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Lihong Ou, Elizabeth Reifsnider, Kimberly Arcoleo, Ashish Amresh, Michael Todd

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among adolescents remains below public health targets despite strong evidence of vaccine effectiveness in preventing HPV-related cancers. Digital interventions (e.g., serious games) may improve HPV vaccine uptake, but evidence for effects on vaccination behavior remains limited. Methods: This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluated a co-designed, game-based digital intervention to increase HPV vaccine initiation among unvaccinated youth aged 11-14 years and their parents. The sample included 64 parent-adolescent dyads (33 intervention and 31 usual care dyads). The primary outcome was HPV vaccine initiation at 2-month follow-up. Results: A significantly greater proportion of …

Skeletal Muscle Myofiber Development In Non-Human Primate Offspring Deprived Of Estrogen In Utero, Phillip J. Gauronskas, Terrie J. Lynch, Eugene D. Albrecht, Gerald J. Pepe

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: We previously showed that baboon offspring born to mothers deprived of estrogen during the second half of gestation exhibited insulin resistance prior to and after the onset of puberty. Moreover, the size of skeletal muscle myofibers and the number of microvessels important for delivery of insulin/glucose to myofibers were lower in near-term fetuses deprived of estrogen during pregnancy, and myofiber capillarization remained reduced in post-pubertal offspring deprived of estrogen in utero. However, it remains to be determined whether skeletal muscle size is restored to normal in animals deprived of estrogen in utero after the onset of puberty/gonadal estrogen production. …

Hu308, A Selective Cannabinoid Type-2 Receptor Agonist, Mitigates Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein-Induced Acute Lung Injury In Mice, Janette Lockett, Gregory Nicholson, Nicholas Richards, Ryan Washington, Nagaraja Nagre

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to pose major health challenges despite effective vaccination efforts. The sustained occurrence of breakthrough infections and emerging variants of the virus highlights the need for additional therapeutic strategies. Given the anti-inflammatory role of the cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), we examined the effect of CB2R activation in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit 1 (S1SP)-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

Methods

ALI was induced in mice by intratracheal (i.t.) administration of S1SP, followed by treatment with the CB2R agonist HU308 (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal: i.p.) 1 h …

Mucin 5ac Modulates Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity Through Epigenetic Reprogramming Of Precursor Cells, Rachel J. Kehrberg, Namita Bhyravbhatla, Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani, Xiaoqi Li, Gopalakrishnan Natarajan, Imran Khan, Randall E. Brand, Maneesh Jain, Surinder K. Batra, Sushil Kumar

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by extensive desmoplasia, with heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as a major component. However, the contribution of distinct precursor cells to CAF heterogeneity remains poorly defined. This study investigated the role of Muc5ac in modulating CAF heterogeneity by maturing precursor cells, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs), and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), into different CAF subsets. RNA sequencing of precursor cells treated with conditioned media from Muc5ac-proficient or -deficient cancer cells revealed distinct transcriptional profiles. Muc5ac significantly modulated the expression of Dnmts and Tets in AD-MSCs, promoting the acquisition of extracellular matrix …

Overcoming Radiation Resistance: Ferroptosis Induction To Sensitize Solid Tumors To Radiation Therapy, Joseph Carmicheal, Caden M. Fritson, Alexandra Seas, Heidi M. Vieira, Surinder K. Batra

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Radiation therapy (RT) is a mainstay of treatment for a myriad of cancers, often utilized for tumors that are unable to be resected, as well as an adjunct to surgery and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, many cancers are resistant to RT-induced damage and subsequent cell death. This has spurred the pursuit of novel radiation sensitizers that could potentiate the effects of this widely used and important treatment modality. Since its discovery as a regulated cell death mechanism in 2012, ferroptosis has been studied for its connection to cancer and other known oxidative pathways. With this, the interplay between RT and ferroptosis in …

Neurotensin Drives Theca Cell Migration During Ovulation In Primates, Jessica S. Miller, Megan A. G. Sage, Thomas E. Curry Jr., Diane M. Duffy

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Theca cells are a critical steroidogenic cell type of the ovarian follicle and corpus luteum. The ovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)) stimulates theca cell relocation from the stroma surrounding the dominant follicle to full integration into the developing corpus luteum. Luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin also stimulates granulosa cells to produce local mediators of ovulation, including the peptide neurotensin (NTS). To determine if hCG-stimulated NTS regulates theca cell relocation within the ovulatory follicle, vehicle or an NTS receptor antagonist was injected into a macaque dominant follicle, and ovaries were removed 48 h after hCG administration. Additional …

P38 Mapk Is Involved In Epigenetic Regulation Of Fibrotic Genes In Replication Induced Senescence In Lung Fibroblasts, Shan Zhu, Jennifer Q. Zhou, Kan Wang, Ming-Lei Guo, Yan Sanders

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Fibroblast activation is essential for tissue repair following injury; however, prolonged activation drives pathological fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive and age-associated lung disease, is characterized by aberrant fibroblast activation, with increasing evidence implicating senescent and near-senescent fibroblasts in its pathogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. In this study, we investigated whether histone modification is involved in TGF-β1 treated lung fibroblasts and contributes to the fibrotic phenotype. Human IMR90 lung fibroblasts at low and high population doubling levels (LPDL and HPDL), as well as primary IPF fibroblasts, were used in this study. In response to TGF-β1, both …

Dysregulation Of Alternative Splicing Patterns In The Ovaries Of Reproductively Aged Mice, Adnan T. Alsamaraee, Vanessa L. Correll, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Pavla Brachova, Nehemiah S. Alvarez

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Female reproductive aging is characterized by progressive deterioration of ovarian function, yet the molecular mechanisms driving these changes remain incompletely understood. Here, we used long-read direct RNA-sequencing to map transcript isoform changes in mouse ovaries across reproductive age. Comparing young and aged mice after controlled gonadotropin stimulation, we identified widespread alternative splicing changes, including shifts in exon usage, splice site selection, and transcript boundaries. Aged ovaries exhibited increased isoform diversity, favoring distal start and end sites, and a significant rise in exon skipping and intron retention events. Many of these age-biased splicing events altered open reading frames, introduced premature stop …

Estrogen Deprivation During Primate (Papio Anubis) Pregnancy: Impact On Systemic Microvascular Flow And Cardiovascular Development And Function After Birth In Offspring, Sifa Turan, Jeffery S. Babischkin, Graham W. Aberdeen, Gerald J. Pepe, Eugene D. Albrecht

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Suppressing estradiol (E₂) during baboon pregnancy lowers offspring skeletal muscle capillary density, vital for insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and induces insulin resistance. We examined whether E₂ deprivation also impairs microvascular flow and cardiac function.

Methods

Offspring of untreated baboons, letrozole-treated baboons, or letrozole plus E₂ (maternal s.c. injections during the second half of gestation) underwent contrast-enhanced microbubble ultrasonography to quantify microvessel flow and echocardiography to assess cardiac performance.

Results

Letrozole reduced maternal serum E₂ by 95% (p <  0.01). In letrozole offspring, microbubble flux rate (β) fell 55% (p <  0.02), replenishment was 5 s slower (p <  0.03), and microvessel flow declined 40% (p = 0.05); all were restored by added E₂. Indices of systolic (isovolumic contraction), diastolic (isovolumic relaxation), global performance (Tei index), and cardiac output were unchanged.

Conclusion

Prolonged gestational E₂ deprivation programs a reduction in microvascular flow without altering cardiac function; maternal E₂ prevents this, supporting E₂'s role in …

Brief Pulses Of High-Level Fluid Shear Stress Enhance Metastatic Potential And Rapidly Alter The Metabolism Of Cancer Cells, Amanda N. Pope, Devon L. Moose, Guy O. Hudson, Hank R. Weresh, Marion R. Dykstra, Aabha Y. Joshi, Patrick Breheny, Eric B. Taylor, Michael D. Henry

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) face challenges to their survival, including mechanical and oxidative stresses that are different from cancer cells in solid primary and metastatic tumors. The impact of adaptations to the fluid microenvironment of the circulation on the outcome of the metastatic cascade is not well understood. Here, we find that cancer cells exposed to brief pulses of high-level fluid shear stress (FSS) exhibit enhanced invasiveness and anchorage-independent proliferation in vitro and enhanced metastatic colonization/tumor formation in vivo. Cancer cells exposed to FSS rapidly alter their metabolism in a manner that promotes survival by providing energy for cytoskeletal remodeling …

Stat4-Dependent Regulation Of Neuroinflammation In Atherosclerosis, Natalie Stahr, Alina K. Moriarty, Shelby D. Ma, W. Coles Keeter, Woong-Ki Kim, Larry D. Sanford, Elena V. Galkina

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Atherosclerosis is linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline, with chronic inflammation being a common feature of both pathologies. IL-12 activates STAT4 to regulate myeloid cell functions, and blockade of this pathway alleviates cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's models. However, the mechanisms connecting vascular pathology to neuroinflammation remain unclear. Here, we examine whether STAT4 functions as a common mediator of neuroinflammation in atherosclerosis. We demonstrate that LysM^Cre-specific STAT4 deficiency ameliorates deficits in long-term memory in low-density lipoprotein-deficient (Ldlr^-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD-C). STAT4 deficiency moderately reduces Ser199-phosphorylated Tau burden. Atherosclerosis alters brain immune …

Cocaine Upregulates Microglial Lipid Droplet Formation Through Increasing Lipid Synthesis Activity In Vitro And In Vivo, Yan Cheng, Brooke Russell, Liam Liyang Guo, Aryan Patel, Yan Y. Sanders, Ming-Lei Guo

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

A novel subtype of microglia, lipid droplet accumulation microglia (LDAMs), has been identified in the aged brain, which is characterized by sustained inflammation and senescent-like phenotypes. LDAMs are deeply involved in promoting brain aging as well as the pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Cocaine can alter brain lipidomic profiles, induce microglial activation, and accelerate brain aging. This suggests that cocaine might affect microglial lipid metabolism, which ultimately aggravates aging-related neurological disorders in people with addictions. In this study, we explored the effects of cocaine on microglial lipid metabolism. Our results showed that chronic cocaine administration altered brain lipid profiles and …

Inhibition Of Histone Demethylase Lsd1 Suppresses Cd47 Expression And Enhances Efficacy Of Cd47 Blockade In Breast Cancer, Fengjie Jiang, Yu Shen, Bing Li, Michael Henry, Nancy Davidson, Yi Huang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background CD47 functions as a “don’t eat me” checkpoint, inhibiting macrophage-mediated phagocytosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). While anti-CD47 therapies can restore immune surveillance, their efficacy in TNBC is often limited by immune evasion and drug development challenges.

Methods We investigated the crosstalk between the histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and CD47 signaling in TNBC using in silico datasets, isogenic cell lines, conditional BRCA1 knockout models, and syngeneic mouse models. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, protein ubiquitination, chromatin immunoprecipitation, chemotaxis, flow cytometry, and phagocytosis assays were employed to examine the epigenetic regulation of CD47 by LSD1 and …

The Effects Of Abused Drugs On Ferroptosis Pathways: Potential Therapeutic Targets For Substance Use Disorders, Tamara Bouchard, Brooke Russell, Liam Liyang Guo, Tina Nguyen, Yan Cheng, Yan Y. Sanders, Ming-Lei Guo

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain major public health concerns worldwide, particularly in developed countries. SUDs are characterized by persistent neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction in the brain. Despite decades of extensive investigation, the detailed mechanisms underlying SUDs remain elusive. Ferroptosis is a highly regulated cell death process deeply affected by iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and antioxidant systems. It has been implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ischemic stroke. Recently, emerging evidence has highlighted the role of ferroptosis in drug-induced pathological changes. Various types of abused …

The Effects Of Abused Drugs On Ferroptosis Pathways: Potential Therapeutic Targets For Substance Use Disorders, Tamara Bouchard, Brooke Russell, Liam Liyang Guo, Tina Nguyen, Yan Cheng, Yan Y. Sanders, Ming-Lei Guo

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain major public health concerns worldwide, particularly in developed countries. SUDs are characterized by persistent neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction in the brain. Despite decades of extensive investigation, the detailed mechanisms underlying SUDs remain elusive. Ferroptosis is a highly regulated cell death process deeply affected by iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and antioxidant systems. It has been implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ischemic stroke. Recently, emerging evidence has highlighted the role of ferroptosis in drug-induced pathological changes. Various types of abused substances including alcohol, cocaine, …

The Structure Of The Native Cardiac Crossbridge In The Rigor State, Cristina M. Risi, Tyler Nguyen, Betty Belknap, Howard D. White, Jose R. Pinto, Prescott B. Chase, Vitold E. Galkin

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Cardiac contraction is driven by double-headed myosin cycling on cardiac thin filaments, where troponin-tropomyosin regulates myosin access to actin. Prior high-resolution structural studies used a single-headed myosin bound to bare actin, thereby limiting insight into coordination between myosin heads and the influence of troponin-tropomyosin on actomyosin interactions. Here, we report a high-resolution structure of the native cardiac rigor cross-bridge formed by heavy meromyosin bound to the thin filament. We show that direct communication between the two bound heads, uneven interactions between the heads and tropomyosin, and spatial constraints imposed by troponin govern myosin placement along the thin filament. Additionally, the …

Kidney Dysfunction, Biochemical Changes, Dna Alteration, And Mapks Regulation Following Chronic Exposure To Regular And Occasional Hookah Smoke In Mice, Naserddine Hamadi, Anas Nemmar, Sumaya Beegam, Nur Elena Zaaba, Ozaz Elzaki, Abderrahim Nemmar

All Works

Regular hookah smoking (Reg-HS) has become a major global public health issue, linked to significant health risks, including kidney damage. A less frequent pattern of use, known as occasional hookah smoking (Occ-HS), is also common; however, there has been little progress in understanding the direct impact of Occ-HS on kidneys. To investigate how varying frequencies of HS inhalation affect the kidney, we exposed mice to nose-only HS under two regimens, occasional (30 min once weekly) and regular (30 min five times per week) for a duration of 6 months. This study explored the impact on renal damage, inflammatory responses, oxidative …

Prolonged Qt Interval In Hiv-1 Infected Humanized Mice Treated Chronically With Dolutegravir/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine, Ali Namvaran, Julian V. Garcia, Mahendran Ramasamy, Kayla Nguyen, Farzaneh Tavakkoli Ghazani, Bryan T. Hackfort, Prasanta Dash, Reagan E. Fisher, Benson J. Edagwa, Santhi Gorantla, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. …

Combined Snare And Buddy-Balloon Strategy For Failed Valve Crossing In Valve-In-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Hira Sarfraz, Muhammad U. Javed, Parth K. Parikh, Joshua A. Cohen, Raymond L. Benza, Matthew R. Summers, Deepak R. Talreja

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Retrograde valve crossing during valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV TAVR) may fail despite modern delivery systems.

Case Summary

A 67-year-old man with a degenerated 27-mm Magna Ease bioprosthesis and unfavorable aortic geometry (kinked ascending aorta at a prior surgical graft site) underwent ViV TAVR, where retrograde valve crossing failed despite multiple stiff guidewires and snare traction alone. Successful delivery of a 29-mm Evolut FX+ was ultimately achieved by combining gooseneck-snare traction for coaxial realignment with a partially inflated Tyshak buddy balloon acting as a mechanical ramp across the surgical valve frame.

Discussion

This case demonstrates a structured, stepwise …

Ash/Isth 2026 Guidelines For Anticoagulant Prophylaxis In Pediatric Patients At Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism, Marisol Betensky, Muayad Azzam, Rachel Bercovitz, Rukhmi V. Bhat, Tina Biss, Brian Branchford, Leonardo R. Brandão, Anthony K.C. Chan, E. Vincent S. Faustino, Qais Hamarsha, Julie Jaffray, Sophie Jones, Hassan Kawtharany, Bryce A. Kerlin, Jana Khawandi, Grace Krider, Nicole Kucine, Riten Kumar, Christoph Male, Paul Monagle, Marie-Claude Pelland-Marcotte, Leslie Raffini, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Sarah E. Sartain, Clifford M. Takemoto, Cristina Tarango, C. Heleen Van Ommen, Maria C. Velez, Sarak Vesely, John Wiernikowski, Suzan Williams, Hope P. Wilson, Gary Woods, Reem A. Mustafa

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

High-quality data on anticoagulant prophylaxis for pediatric VTE prevention are scarce. Key research priorities include the development and validation of subgroups-specific VTE risk assessment models, and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of risk-stratified anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies across different pediatric subgroups.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity in children, particularly among hospitalized patients and those with chronic medical conditions. There is a lack of consensus on anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies.

OBJECTIVE: These evidence-based guidelines from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) are intended to support patients and health …