Digital Commons Network^™

Basic Bronchoscopy Competence Achieved During A One-Day Workshop For A Multidisciplinary Critical Care Team: A Simulation-Based Study, Jayakrishnan B, Saif Musabah Al-Mubaihsi, Hasan Al-Sayegh, Ahmed Zaher Al-Abri, Issa Saif Alqarshoubi, Jehan Al-Abri, Sami M Bennji

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Fibreoptic bronchoscopy has become a key procedure in critical care, transitioning from pulmonologists to intensivists. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-day simulation-based training programme in acquiring basic bronchoscopy skills.

Methods: A one-day workshop was conducted at Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre, University Medical City, Muscat, Oman, in October 2024 with didactic lectures, small group skill stations, virtual bronchoscopy simulations and hands-on training using manikins and a novel, cost-effective, 3D-printed airway model. The pre-course knowledge of the attendees and their gain in skill were assessed with a 50-question survey tool.

Results …

Mapping The Neuroexposome: Integrative Analysis Of Dementia Risk Factors Through Multi-Omics And Environmental Profiling In The Egyptian Population., Mai Ahmed Saadzaghloul Othman

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Dementia represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of the twenty-first century, with the global burden projected to reach 153 million cases by 2050. Egypt, as the most populous Arab nation, faces a corresponding rise in age-related diseases, yet comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries remain severely limited. The neuroexposome framework, integrating genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and metabolic alterations, offers a powerful strategy to characterize the complex interplay between internal and external risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease Related Dementias (ADRD).

Objectives: This thesis aimed to: (1) examine the distribution of APOE alleles …

The Gut Microbiome, The Gut-Brain Axis, And College Student Well-Being, Idi Mckay

University Honors Theses

This literature review examines how diet, stress, environmental exposure, and food accessibility may influence college students' mental health and academic performance through the gut microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Current microbiome research often focuses on early childhood development, clinical disease populations, or older adults, while overlooking college-age students who experience significant social, environmental, and biological transitions. College students frequently face food insecurity, irregular eating patterns, chronic stress, inconsistent sleep schedules, and reduced access to nutrient-dense foods, all of which may influence microbial diversity and overall gut health.

This thesis explores how modern campus environments and lifestyle factors may contribute …

Statewide Multi-Year Wastewater Sequencing Reveals Dual Origins Of Hiv-1 Signal, Justin R Clark, Dylan Chirman, Harihara Prakash, Austen Terwilliger, Marlene Mcneese, Matt Ross, Mike Tisza, Sara J Javornik Cregeen, Loren Hopkins, Jennifer Deegan, Catherine L Troisi, Eric Boerwinkle, Kristina Mena, Fuqing Wu, Jason T Kimata, Marc Johnson, Devon Gregory, Faith E Fletcher, Thomas P Giordano, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus which has infected 90 million people and resulted in over 40 million deaths. Despite advances in diagnostics, treatment, and prophylaxis, HIV-1 continues to spread due to undiagnosed and untreated infections. Traditional monitoring methods are ineffective when access to testing is limited or people do not seek care, particularly given the long period between infection and symptom onset, allowing undetected transmission to continue. Here, we use a hybrid-capture sequencing approach to track HIV-1 signal in municipal wastewater in 15 different cities over nearly 3 years. We obtain near-complete genomic coverage of HIV-1, enabling …

From Combustion Emissions To Neurotoxicity: Brain Health Risks Of Military Burn Pits Exposure, Katherine M. Eggers, Zoe A. Keller, Paul Barach, Julie M. Tomáška, Joshua P. Nixon, Janeen H. Trembley, Tammy A. Butterick

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Military burn pits used during post-9/11 U.S. military deployments functioned as uncontrolled combustion systems and were widely utilized to dispose of large volumes of outdoor waste by burning. Burn pits involved heterogeneous waste materials burned under variable temperature and oxygen conditions. These combustion environments generated complex, toxic, multipollutant airborne emission mixtures that included particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This narrative review synthesizes epidemiologic, experimental, and mechanistic evidence linking burn pit emissions to disruption of the lung–brain axis and adverse neurological outcomes. We specifically aim to address a critical gap in understanding how combustion-derived …

Equine-Assisted Therapy For Dementia: A Pilot Rct On Standardizing Sessions To Improve Cognition, Mood, And Quality Of Life, Madeline Alford, Maria Dos Prazeres Da Silva Gonçalves Dr., Maria Manuela Da Silva Leite Dr.

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating equine-assisted therapy (EAT) into memory workshops for older adults with mild to moderate dementia. EAT is hypothesized to enhance cognitive function, promote physical activity, and improve mood through multisensory experiences. To ensure consistency and replicability, a standardized 8-session cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) protocol was developed, structuring interventions across cognitive, emotional, and motor domains.

Methods: A 3-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials .gov: NCT06662578) was conducted with 36 older adults diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: equine-assisted therapy workshop (EATW), traditional …

Long Term Evaluation Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Local Cooling Anesthesia During Intravitreal Injections: The Cool-2 Trial, Arshad M. Khanani, Samir N. Patel, Charles C. Wykoff, Gun-Ho Kim, Ajay E. Kuriyan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a medical device providing cooling anesthesia to the eye as local anesthesia for intravitreal (IVT) injections.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: As a multicenter, open label, dose escalation clinical trial, subjects receiving at least 3 IVT injections in the study eye were recruited to participate. All patients received subconjunctival lidocaine as their anesthesia for previous IVT injections. Subjects receiving IVT injections were assigned (non-randomized) to four groups in which the cooling device was applied to the conjunctiva at the location of the intravitreal injection: Group 1: -10˚C for 20 seconds; Group 2: -15˚C for 10 seconds; …

Forced Dependency: The Subjugation Of Women Through Medicine In Ancient Greece And Rome, Evelyn J. Polovich

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

In the ancient Mediterranean men were in charge of every facet of life, including women’s medicine. They forced women out of the oversight of gynecology and reformed it into a method of control that they could assert in order to force women into a position of submission. This paper aims to bring the ways in which ancient medicine was influenced by cultural ideas and worked to subjugate women and allow men to gain further control over their autonomy. This research was inspired by the works of ancient physicians like Hippocrates, Soranus, and Galen, as well as contemporary sources that critique …

Immunoinformatic Based Development Of A Multi-Epitope Precision Vaccine Targeting Glycoprotein And Rdrp Of Oropouche Virus: An Innovative Approach To Counter Emerging Public Health Threats, Mohammed Alissa, Muhammad Suleman

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To design high immunogenic vaccine against the Oropouche virus (OROV). The OROV is a neglected arbovirus endemic to Central and South America, causes oropouche fever, which can progress to severe complications such as meningitis and hemorrhagic symptoms.

Methods: We utilized immunoinformatic and molecular dynamic simulation approaches to design highly immunogenic vaccines against OROV. This observational study, carried out between January and August 2024 in Saudi Arabia. As it involves an in-silico method, ethical consent was not required.

Results: Docking analysis confirmed the stable interaction of the designed vaccines with human toll-like receptors (TLR)-3, producing binding scores of –300.78, –306.19, …

Interleukin-6 Inhibition For Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammed Y. Alasmary, Mohammed J. Almalki, Faisal H. Almalki, Waleed D. Khubzan, Mohammed H. Rajab, Mohammed S. Almalki, Hussam A. Almalki, Omar M. Alsuwat, Hussam M. Alghannami

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To explore the outcomes associated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway blockade, using tocilizumab, in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non (NSTEMI). Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) denotes myocardial necrosis due to ischemia and presents in distinct electrocardiographic phenotypes. Inflammation driven by IL-6 contributes to ischemia-reperfusion injury, with tocilizumab showing promise in reducing myocardial damage and improving outcomes.

Methods: This work followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Framework and was registered in international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO). Relevant studies were identified through structured searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up …

Effect Of Anesthetic Agents On Middle Ear Pressure: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Nasser Almujaiwel, Reem Alkublan, Latifah Almakoshi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To assess and compare the effects of these agents on middle ear pressure (MEP). Anesthetic agents can significantly alter MEP, which is a critical factor in middle ear surgeries that require stability to prevent complications. Different anesthetics, including inhalational and intravenous agents, have varying effects on MEP.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus, following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies that evaluated MEP changes before and after anesthesia using tympanometry were included. Relevant data, such as anesthetic type, patient demographics, MEP measurements, and reported complications, were …

Decorin Promotes Nascent Proteoglycan Retention In Cartilage Matrix By Strengthening Collagen Ii-Aggrecan Integration, Thomas Li, Gabriela Canziani, Yuchen Liu, Neil Patel, Biao Han, Mingyue Fan, Annie Porter, Bryan Kwok, Chao Wang, Qing Li, David E. Birk, Renato V. Iozzo, Irwin M. Chaiken, X. Lucas Lu, Robert L. Mauck, Lin Han

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), a hydrated collagen II-aggrecan composite, undergoes dynamic turnover during both normal homeostasis and disease-associated remodeling. This study elucidates a crucial role for decorin in promoting the retention and stability of nascent aggrecan within this matrix. By applying bio-orthogonal click-labeling, we demonstrate that loss of decorin accelerates the release of nascent aggrecan under both physiological and inflammatory conditions, without affecting its preferential localization to the pericellular matrix. Conversely, supplementation with exogenous decorin mitigates inflammation-induced loss of nascent aggrecan, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target. At the molecular level, decorin exhibits strong binding affinity for aggrecan, and …

In Vivo Orf Overexpression Screening Identifies Ccn4 As A Regulator Of Glioblastoma Growth Validated Across Multiple Models, Pushan Dasgupta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite current multimodal therapies for glioblastoma (GBM), its prognosis remains grim. Thus, a tremendous need exists to identify new genetic drivers that may serve as potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma (GBM). We describe an in vivo overexpression screening strategy to identify drivers of glioblastoma where we have leveraged TCGA datasets to conduct a functional genomics screen of prioritized open reading frames (ORFs) that are overexpressed and/or amplified in GBM. To interrogate these potential drivers within a more relevant physiological context, the screening was accomplished in vivo in an orthotopic patient-derived glioma stem-like cell (GSC) model. Among 5 positive "hits" from …

Pregnancy In Type I Interferon Receptor (Ifnar2) Knockout Sheep Challenges The Accepted Paradigm For Pregnancy Recognition In Ruminants, Christopher J. Davies, Evan K. Peterson, Aaron J. Thomas, Andrea L. Giles, Young-Min Lee, Irina A. Polejaeva, Heloisa M. Rutigliano

Veterinary Clinical and Life Science Faculty Publications

The effects of type I interferons, including interferon tau (IFNT), previously thought to be the signal for pregnancy recognition in ruminants, are mediated by the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR), a heterodimer comprised of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. The genes encoding IFNAR were disrupted in fetal fibroblast cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and lambs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Subsequently, a herd of IFNAR2^+/− sheep was developed and used to produce IFNAR2^−/− lambs. Functional knockout of IFNAR was confirmed by failure of fibroblast cell lines from IFNAR2^−/− sheep to respond to interferon alpha or IFNT in a …

Outcomes In Single Versus Two-Stage Surgical Stabilization Of Complex Bilateral Chest Wall Injury: A Single-Center Experience., Alexis A Schweibinz, Jaya S Varre, Anna Graham, William B Devoe

Surgery Articles

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) continues to show benefit for severe chest wall injury (CWI) with improvement in morbidity and mortality following stabilization. Complex bilateral injuries pose a clinical and technical challenge. Currently, there is no formal recommendation for an approach to repair such injuries, whether that be bilateral SSRF within the index case or staged repair. We sought to describe our institutional experience with this subset of patients, identify factors that may influence the decision to pursue single- versus two-stage procedures, and assess the potential benefit of combined bilateral SSRF during the index operation.

METHODS: A retrospective, …

Notch1 Acts As A Tumor Suppressor That Induces Early Differentiation In Head And Neck Cancer, Chenfei Huang, Shhyam Moorthy, Qiuli Li, Kazi M Ahmed, Kalil Saab, Defeng Deng, Jiping Wang, Xiayu Rao, Jiexin Zhang, Yuanxin Xi, Jing Wang, Zhiyi Liu, Noriaki Tanaka, David A Wheeler, Eve Shinbrot, Rami Saade, Curtis R Pickering, Tong-Xin Xie, Adel K El-Naggar, Abdullah A Osman, Kunal Rai, Patrick A Zweidler-Mckay, John V Heymach, Lauren A Byers, Faye M Johnson, Vlad C Sandulache, Jeffrey N Myers, Pedram Yadollahi, Mitchell J Frederick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Inactivating NOTCH1 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were described over a decade ago, suggesting a tumor suppressor function - unlike its oncogenic role in other tumors. Today, much debate persists regarding a putative oncogenic role in HNSCC as well, with reports that NOTCH1 signaling drives tumor growth and a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. In this work, comprehensive experiments unequivocally demonstrate that NOTCH1 is a tumor suppressor in HNSCC regardless of mutation or activation status and that it reduces CSC frequency. We developed a signature of NOTCH1 activation showing the pathway is associated with very early …

Otologic Manifestations Of Temporomandibular Disorders, Fatemeh Ebrahimi, Ali Akbar, Vivian Jin, Vivian F Kaul, Craig B Pearl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects a third of the adult population and has been associated with otologic symptoms. These symptoms are frequently misattributed to primary otologic diseases, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to summarize the reported prevalence, proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms, and management strategies of otologic manifestations in patients with TMD.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the MeSH terms "temporomandibular joint disease" and "otologic symptoms." Five additional searches were performed using "temporomandibular disease/dysfunction" combined with each of the five most common otologic symptoms. Meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, reviews, and systematic reviews were …

Intramuscular Nad⁺ Therapy And Neuroenergetic Symptom Modulation: An Exploratory Retrospective Human Pilot Study, Zachary J. Dickey Do, Kirtan Patel Bs, Randy Aldret Edd, Cscs, Atc, Navneet Sharma Md, Glenn Goodwin Do

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Background: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is a central regulator of neuronal energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, and axonal integrity. Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and repetitive subconcussive exposure, neurons undergo a neurometabolic crisis characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation, increased ATP demand, and depletion of intracellular NAD⁺ pools. Pre clinical models demonstrate that NAD⁺ depletion contributes to central energy dysregulation, cognitive dysfunction, and axonal and neuronal degeneration through disruption of NAD⁺-dependent pathways including SIRT1-mediated mitochondrial resilience, PARP1-driven NAD⁺ consumption, and SARM1-associated axonal breakdown. Despite growing preclinical evidence supporting NAD⁺based neuroprotection, human clinical data remains absent.

Methods: A real-world clinical pilot …

Virtual Patient-Specific 3-Dimensional Specimen Maps For Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Planning In Mucosal Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Whitney Jin, Michael C. Topf, Marina Aweeda, Kavita Prasad, Olivia Prosak, Sindhura Sridhar, Zachary Kohutek, Sean All, D. W. Nathan Kim, Anthony Cmelak, Ryan Whitaker, Alexander Langerman, Kyle Mannion, Melanie Hicks, Sarah Rohde, Robert Sinard, Eben Rosenthal, Natalie A. Lockney

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Adjuvant radiation therapy planning for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is challenging due to postoperative anatomic changes, contributing to variability in clinical target volume (CTV) delineation and risk of geographic miss or unnecessary dose expansion. Patient-specific 3-dimensional (3D) specimen maps may offer a novel approach to improve the localization of high-risk margins and facilitate multidisciplinary communication.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this prospective, noninterventional feasibility study, 3D scanning and virtual pathologic mapping of surgical specimens were performed as part of routine pathologic processing. Annotated 3D maps were integrated into the radiation therapy planning workflow and reviewed by the …

Bridging The Gap: The Critical Next Steps For Implementing Genetic Risk Scores In Myocardial Infarction Prevention In Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Almohammadi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No Abstract for this article type.

Best Practices For Interprofessional, Community-Based Interventions In Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Among Adults Aged 50 And Older, Julie Joseph Mrs

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is rapidly increasing among adults aged 50 years and older in the United States, posing a significant public health challenge. In 2021, an estimated 38.4 million Americans had diabetes, with adults aged 50years and above constituting a disproportionately large segment of this population. Evidence suggests that community-based lifestyle and educational interventions are effective in reducing the risk of T2DM among older adults. These interventions particularly promote dietary modification, increased physical activity, and diabetes education. Integrating the expertise of nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, physicians, and other professionals through interprofessional collaboration strengthens diabetes prevention and …

Imaging And Non-Imaging Approaches For The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis-What Lies Ahead?, Indrani Bhattacharjee, Catalina Le Cacheux, Eric B. Ortigoza, Jonathan Dillman, Sherwin S. Chan, Alain Cuna

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains one of the most serious gastrointestinal emergencies in preterm infants, and imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and clinical management. Historically, evaluation has relied primarily on abdominal radiography, which remains widely available and embedded in established diagnostic frameworks. However, the hallmark radiographic signs of NEC (i.e., pneumatosis intestinalis, portal venous gas, and free air) reflect relatively advanced manifestations of intestinal injury that indicate established mucosal disruption or transmural necrosis. Bowel ultrasound has increasingly complemented radiography by enabling real-time assessment of bowel wall integrity, perfusion, motility, and intra-abdominal fluid, providing physiologic information that may refine clinical …

Rehabvr: A Virtual Reality System For Upper-Body Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, Winnie Brenda Wanjiru Waiya

Computer Science Senior Theses

Physical therapy is a central component of rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions, yet adherence to prescribed treatment remains persistently poor. Jack et al. identified pain, boredom, and insufficient feedback as key barriers to treatment adherence in physiotherapy outpatient settings,¹ and Rucinski et al. confirmed that non-adherence rates in orthopaedic populations remain between 50 and 70%, with patients who disengage facing elevated risk of reoperation, progressive functional decline, and poor clinical outcomes.² According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.71 billion people globally live with musculoskeletal conditions,³ with shoulder pain specifically carrying a community prevalence ranging from 0.67 to 55.2% worldwide and …

Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Pcdh7 Inhibit Tumor Growth And Enhance Immune Responses In Kras-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nicole Novaresi, Poorva Ghosh, Shayna Thomas-Jardin, Hui Deng, Xuejun Fan, Zhiqiang Ku, Wei Xiong, Xiaorong Zhou, Jingfei Zhu, Huiyu Li, Mahesh S Padanad, Bethany Smith, Chul Ahn, John D Minna, Zhiqiang An, Ningyan Zhang, Kathryn A O'Donnell

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

We identified an important oncogenic role for protocadherin 7 (PCDH7), a cell surface protein frequently overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma and associated with poor clinical outcome. Pcdh7 depletion reduces tumor burden and prolongs survival in KrasLSL-G12D; Tp53fl/fl mice. These findings nominate this cell surface protein as an actionable therapeutic target and highlight the therapeutic potential of PCDH7 inhibition for non–small cell lung cancer. We report the development and characterization of high-affinity anti-PCDH7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation and suppress tumor growth in multiple mutant KRAS–driven models. A lead mAb (mAb7) sensitized tumors …

Amc-F1 Regulates Mitochondria-Autophagy Crosstalk Independent Of Nutrient Stress, Yuqin Wang, Raksha K Rao, Trung Vu, Ayano Sekine, Zhengmei Mao, Nami Mccarty

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Mitochondria and autophagy are fundamental yet distinct regulators of cellular homeostasis. Here, we identify AMC-F1 (Autophagy-Mitochondria Coupling Factor 1; formerly TRIM44) as a central integrator of mitochondrial bioenergetics and autophagy. Using Amcf1 knockout and knock-in mouse models, we demonstrate that AMC-F1 bidirectionally regulates these pathways: its loss reduces mitochondrial respiration and autophagic flux, whereas its overexpression promotes mitochondrial elongation and increases autophagy independently of nutrient stress. Transcriptomic analyses reveal AMC-F1-dependent regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis programs that engage autophagy, involving mitochondrial respiratory chain complex genes under basal conditions and mitochondrial organization factors under starvation-induced autophagy. Although dispensable under homeostasis, this coupling …

Disease-Causing Mfn2 Mutants Impair Mitochondrial Fission Dynamics By Distinct Drp1 Dysregulation, Daniel Lagos, Pamela R. De Santiago, Nicolás Pérez-Bravo, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Josefa Vial-Brizzi, Diego Troncoso-Chandía, Oliver Podmanicky, Rita Horvath, Verónica Eisner

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondria undergo fusion and fission. While DRP1 regulates fission, fusion is controlled by OPA1, MFN1, and MFN2. The balance between these processes and the crosstalk between machineries remains poorly understood. MFN2 mutations cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 A (CMT2A), affecting mitochondrial fusion and morphology. However, their role in fission is unclear. Using skin fibroblasts from CMT2A patients (L248H and M376V MFN2 mutations) and wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing these variants, we studied how MFN2 mutations impact mitochondrial dynamics beyond fusion. We analyzed mitochondrial morphology and dynamics by live-cell confocal microscopy and tested fusion/fission protein levels, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular …

Histone Deacetylase Enzyme Activity Is Not The Universal Anticancer Target Of Hdac Inhibitors, Chaitra Rai, Hang Ruan, Xue Li, Wenbo Li, Hyun-Hwan Jeong, Chengchuang Song, Panpan Liu, Yingjie Chang, Hao Fang, Udhaya Kumar S, Yuxiang Sun, M James You, Dongyin Guan, Zhandong Liu, Leng Han, Xuben Hou, Zheng Sun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are approved for treating hematologic cancers and are currently being evaluated in hundreds of clinical trials for various cancers and other diseases, although their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Here, our unbiased bioinformatics analyses found that, for most cancer types, expression levels or genetic variants of histone deacetylase (HDACs) do not consistently correlate with carcinogenesis, do not predict cancer patient survival, and do not associate with cellular responses to HDIs. Whole-genome CRISPR library screens did not identify HDACs as genes affecting cellular responses to HDIs. Overexpression of dominant-negative Class I HDACs causes similar protein hyperacetylation …

Current Status Of Anthelmintic Resistance In Meat Goats: A Comparative Efficacy Study Of Albendazole And Fenbendazole In Maha Sarakham, Thailand, Minta Pipatsakulpak, Usanisa Boonum, Kotchakorn Roongruang, Benjawan Sae-Chue, Sukanya Leethongdee, Songsak Chumpawadee, Nattaya Watwiengkam, Pongphol Pongthaisong

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes threatens sustainable goat production globally. While resistance is well-documented in many regions, data from Thailand remain limited. This study determined the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and assessed the efficacy of albendazole and fenbendazole in meat goats in Maha Sarakham province, northeastern Thailand. A two-stage cross-sectional study was conducted on 10 meat goat farms between August 2021 and March 2022. In Stage 1, fecal samples from 150 goats were examined using simple flotation and sedimentation techniques to identify parasite morphology. In Stage 2, the McMaster technique was employed to quantify fecal egg counts (FEC). Twenty-six goats …

Loss Of Mct1 Mediated Lactate Uptake Causes Delayed Endplate Maturation And Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Maria Tsingas, Konstantinos Tsingas, Mei Smyers, Wujuan Zhang, Aaron R. Goldman, Eulisa Lawrence, John A. Collins, Makarand V. Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

During skeletal growth, it is thought that the lactate secreted by the glycolytic nucleus pulposus (NP) cells exits the intervertebral disc into circulation via endplates. Our current studies challenge this long-held notion. Mice with early postnatal, endplate, and annulus fibrosus-specific deletion of lactate importer, MCT1, exhibited disc degeneration characterized by NP cell loss and pronounced endplate structural changes. Using metabolic and transcriptomic approaches, we demonstrate that MCT1 loss inhibits endplate chondrocyte differentiation and that lactate serves both as a crucial TCA metabolite and promotes protein and histone lactylation and gene expression. These findings suggest that during skeletal growth, NP-derived lactate …

Transgenic Hookworm Secretes Anti-Tetrodotoxin Human Single Chain Antibody, Kumar Sachin Singh, Suman Bharti, Bruce A Rosa, Mahdiyeh Bigham, Samuel C Uzoechi, Young-Jun Choi, John C Martin, Danielle Kemper, Slavica Pavlovic Djuranovic, Darren A Pickering, Rachael Ryan, Bethany K Bracken, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Eric C Carnes, Wannaporn Ittiprasert, Matthew Moyle, Paul J Brindley, Alex Loukas, Sergej Djuranovic, Makedonka Mitreva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Biologics, protein- and peptide-based drugs derived from living organisms or cell lines have emerged as effective therapies across a broad range of indications. However, parenteral administration and the need for frequent dosing increase costs and limit compliance, creating an urgent need for innovative platforms capable of continuously, safely, and efficiently delivering sustained biologics in situ within the host. Here, we describe a bioengineered hookworm platform to manufacture and deliver biologic therapeutics in vivo. As proof of concept, we engineer the Ancylostoma ceylanicum secretome by inserting a human single-chain variable fragment antibody (s16-HuScFv) into its genome. Transgene expression does not perturb …