Digital Commons Network^™

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Hepatitis B Patients In Jakarta, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Hashem S. Arkok, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, Nurhayati Adnan Prihartono, Dipo Aldila

Kesmas

Hepatitis B remains a major public health problem in Indonesia. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of hepatitis B patients in Jakarta to identify gaps in prevention and control and to explore relationships among KAP components. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 128 patients at a government hospital in South Jakarta, using a structured questionnaire that collected demographic information and assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hepatitis B transmission and prevention. Despite moderate knowledge levels, major gaps remained. Only a small proportion (10.9%) correctly identified common symptoms, transmission routes (10.2%), and possible complications (18.8%). Misconceptions about transmission …

Development And Validation Of An Indonesian Questionnaire For Assessing Paracetamol Self-Medication Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice, Widyana Sagita Putri, Rani Sauriasari, Priharika Septyowati

Kesmas

Paracetamol is a widely used over-the-counter medicine for self-medication and is often perceived as completely safe. However, inappropriate use may result in hepatotoxicity and other adverse effects, particularly at high doses. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the general Indonesian population’s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding paracetamol self-medication. The validation procedure consisted of three stages: content, face, and construct validation. Three experts assessed the relevance of the items using the Content Validity Index, and five respondents were interviewed to assess the linguistic clarity and comprehensibility of the questions. Construct validity and reliability were assessed …

Determinants Of Musculoskeletal Disorder In Formal And Informal Workers In Indonesia, Herlina J. El-Matury, Nabila Syahlan, Mohd Rafee B. Baharuddin

Kesmas

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability globally and are strongly influenced by occupational conditions. Evidence comparing MSD risk between formal and informal workers remains limited, particularly in developing countries. This study examined the association between individual and job-related factors with MSD symptoms among formal and informal workers in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,089 workers in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, from August 2024 to December 2025. Participants were recruited using stratified convenience sampling from both the formal (office and health workers) and informal (drivers, traders, and farmers) sectors. MSD symptoms were assessed using the Nordic …

Determinants Of Behavioral Intention To Change Sexual And Reproductive Health Practices Among Adolescents: A Hierarchical Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, Md Mizanur Rahman, Gerraint Gillan Ahi, Rafazila Ramli, Rasitasam Safii, Jacey Lynn Minoi, Stephanie Chua Hui Li, Ahmad Sofian Bin Shminan, Lee Jun Choi

Kesmas

Conventional and web-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions are increasingly used with adolescents, yet their comparative effectiveness and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study compared the two formats and examined the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs as predictors of changes in intention to adopt health-protective SRH practices (including contraceptive use, service utilization, and parent–child communication) among Malaysian adolescents. A randomized controlled trial allocated adolescents to conventional or web-based SRH education. Intention-to-change behavior towards sexual and reproductive health scores was assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months; change scores were modeled using hierarchical linear regression, including intervention type, …

Environmental Contamination Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus And Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus In Primary Care Clinics: Implications For Occupational Safety, Subki Ahmad, Normah Awang, Ermie Abdull Hamid, Anuar Ithnin, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin, Noraizah Muhd Nor

Kesmas

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) are major contributors to healthcare-associated infection, yet data from primary care clinics remain limited. This study assessed environmental contamination in eight clinics in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, and evaluated associated environmental factors. Samples were collected from environmental surfaces and equipment in Medical Officer and Patient Treatment Rooms, then cultured and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Environmental parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, air movement, and room density, were measured. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney, and multiple linear regression analyses. MRSA was detected on 19.8% of environmental surfaces (patient treatment beds (47.3%) and side …

The Feasibility Of Long-Term Care Within Indonesia’S National Health Insurance Scheme: A Qualitative Study, Atikah Adyas, Wan Aisyiah Baros, Khaterina Kristina Manurung, Dedy Revelino, Dewi Susanna, Vetty Yulianty, Anita Pebrina Lubis, Arum Atmawikarta, Iis Sinsin Nuryasini, Ahmad Jet Alamin

Kesmas

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, along with the aging of the population, has reduced individual independence and increased the demand for long-term care (LTC). This study aimed to assess the feasibility of integrating home healthcare services into Indonesia’s National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. A qualitative study using purposive sampling was conducted in Bandar Lampung, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta, Indonesia, selected based on disease burden, proportion of older adults, and regional development. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observation between August and September 2024, involving 68 informants, including regulators, community members, and health facility staff. …

Factors Associated With Public Health Centers’ Achievement Of Health Service Target In Yahukimo District, Highland Papua Province, Indonesia, Emaus Heluka, Venty Suryanti, Indasah Indasah, Prima Dewi Kusumawati

Kesmas

The achievement of the Minimum Service Standards (MSS) in Yahukimo District, Highland Papua Province, Indonesia, warrants examination. This study aimed to analyze factors associated with the achievement of health service targets among Public Health Centers (PHCs) in Yahukimo District. An ecological study design was employed. The participants were 400 health workers from 33 PHCs and were examined using Likert-scale questionnaires. Data were processed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to assess the association of each variable. The results showed that health target indicators were associated with the achievement of health service targets (T = 3.320; p-value = 0.012). Health …

Toxitarget: A Multi-Omics Database For Toxicant-Responsive Molecular Targets, Ravindra Kumar, Tianyi Fu, Prashant Kumar Kuntala, Benpeng Miao, Shuhua Fu, Daofeng Li, Target Ii Consortium, Frederick L Tyson, Marisa S Bartolomei, Cheryl L Walker, Ting Wang, Bo A Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Environmental toxicant exposures can induce widespread alterations in both the transcriptome and epigenome of mammals, and directly contribute to the increased risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and neurological disorders. To evaluate how early-life toxicants produce long-term impacts on the transcriptome and epigenome in mice, the Toxicant Exposures and Responses by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription II (TaRGET II) Consortium generated a landmark resource comprising 3607 multi-omics datasets from longitudinal studies in mice. The molecular changes in responding to distinct environmental toxicants, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), bisphenol A (BPA), tributyltin (TBT), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dioxin (TCDD), …

Does Patient History Influence Capsular Contracture? An Exploratory Analysis With Machine Learning, Thomas M. Johnstone, Daniel Najafali, Jennifer K. Shaw, Justin M. Camacho, Chancellor Johnstone, Rahim S. Nazerali, Gordon K. Lee

Faculty Publications

Background: Capsular contracture (CC) is a frequent and distressing complication of breast augmentation and reconstruction. Although numerous patient-, surgical-, and implant-related risk factors have been proposed, reliable population-level predictors remain inconsistent across studies. This study evaluates whether administrative medical history, as encoded by ICD and CPT codes, contains sufficient predictive signal to identify patients at risk for CC using machine learning. Methods: Patients were queried from the MerativeTM MarketScan® Research Databases from 2003 to 2017 with CPT codes for implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation. ICD codes were then used to identify all events and conditions of a patient’s history. Hyperparameter-tuned …

A Comparison Between Carlin And Dna Typewriter In Crispr-Mediated Lineage Tracing, Fengshuo Liu, Xiang Zhang, Yipeng Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: CARLIN and DNA Typewriter are two major breakthroughs in CRISPR-based lineage tracing technology. It is essential to understand the potential and performance of these methods in lineage tracing, which provides important guidance on experimental design.

Results: In this study, we systematically compare these two strategies using a unified stochastic simulation framework with known ground-truth lineages. By explicitly modeling CRISPR editing dynamics, barcode evolution, and cell division processes, the framework enables quantitative benchmarking of lineage reconstruction accuracy across diverse experimental parameter regimes. Both methods are evaluated using multiple accuracy metrics, including Robinson-Foulds accuracy and triplet accuracy, allowing a comprehensive assessment …

Toxitarget: A Multi-Omics Database For Toxicant-Responsive Molecular Targets, Ravindra Kumar, Tianyi Fu, Prashant Kumar Kuntala, Benpeng Miao, Shuhua Fu, Daofeng Li, Frederick L Tyson, Marisa S Bartolomei, Cheryl L Walker, Ting Wang, Bo A Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Environmental toxicant exposures can induce widespread alterations in both the transcriptome and epigenome of mammals, and directly contribute to the increased risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and neurological disorders. To evaluate how early-life toxicants produce long-term impacts on the transcriptome and epigenome in mice, the Toxicant Exposures and Responses by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription II (TaRGET II) Consortium generated a landmark resource comprising 3607 multi-omics datasets from longitudinal studies in mice. The molecular changes in responding to distinct environmental toxicants, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), bisphenol A (BPA), tributyltin (TBT), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dioxin (TCDD), …

When Lupus Begins In The Heart: New-Onset Lupus Perimyocarditis Presenting As Acute Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Ripudaman Singh, Cesar Gutierrez

Research Symposium

Background: Acute decompensated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a middle-aged patient without traditional cardiovascular risk factors presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. While acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and pulmonary embolism must be rapidly excluded, a systematic evaluation is required to identify less common etiologies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease commonly presenting as pericarditis. Lupus myocarditis is a life-threatening complication with high morbidity and mortality that can present as DCM. Presentation of previously undiagnosed SLE as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to DCM is rare and occasionally reported. We describe a case of new-onset SLE initially …

Acquired Left Ventricular Noncompaction Physiology In Lupus Myocarditis: An Unclassified Cardiomyopathy Phenotype, Ripudaman Singh, Eduardo D. Flores Md, Facc

Research Symposium

Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare structural abnormality of the left ventricular myocardium, characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses due to incomplete compaction during embryogenesis. Clinical presentation is highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic cases to arrhythmias, thromboembolism, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is primarily imaging-based, with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using the Jenni criteria as standard. These criteria include excessive apical or midventricular trabeculations with a noncompacted-to-compacted ratio >2:1 at end-systole, a thin compacted epicardial layer (≤8.1 mm), and color Doppler flow within the recesses. When echocardiography is inconclusive, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is recommended. …

Lessons From Adults Who Lived Through Parental Divorce As Adolescents, Nirav M. Patel

Pacific Journal of Health

Experiencing parental divorce during adolescence is a significant life event that can have long-term emotional and psychological effects [1]. This qualitative study focuses on how adults who experienced parental divorce between the ages of 10 and 17 reflect on their emotional, social, and academic experiences during that time. Nine adults participated in semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed, coded, and analyzed by the researcher using Dedoose software. Key findings that emerged from the interviews include emotional struggles, coping strategies, family support, the impact on school, and advice for today’s youth who are currently experiencing divorce. The findings emphasize that open communication, …

Abiraterone-Induced Resistant Hypokalemia And Hypertension: A Preventable Complication, Ripudaman Singh, Seokwon Choi, Aramide Tijani, Fatimah Bello

Research Symposium

Background: Abiraterone, a cytochrome P17 (17a-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase) inhibitor used in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), suppresses androgen and cortisol synthesis, leading to elevated ACTH and accumulation of mineralocorticoid precursors such as 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone, both possessing potent mineralocorticoid activity^1,2,3. Concomitant prednisone is recommended to prevent this cascade, as its omission can lead to clinically significant mineralocorticoid excess manifesting as severe hypokalemia, hypertension, and fluid retention⁴. This preventable complication remains underrecognized, particularly in elderly patients who are frequently exposed to polypharmacy. Here, we report a patient with metastatic CRPC on abiraterone therapy who presented with acute wrist pain, …

Severe Ldl-C Elevation With Negative Monogenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Testing: A Case Of Polygenic Hypercholesterolemia, Ripudaman Singh, Daniela Hernandez

Research Symposium

Background: Severe hypercholesterolemia, defined as a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥190 mg/dL, is most often attributed to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a monogenic autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in genes essential for LDL-C catabolism, including the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and LDL receptor adaptor protein 1 (LDLRAP1). Clinically, FH is characterized by markedly elevated LDL-C levels and an increased risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Homozygous individuals typically present in childhood, while heterozygous individuals are more commonly diagnosed in adulthood. However, a substantial proportion of patients with an …

Limits Of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement: Asymmetry Persists Despite Performance Gains, Talia Thompson, Monique Mokha

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols are commonly used to improve power, yet their influence on inter-limb force symmetry remains unclear. This study examined the effects of a PAPE protocol on inter- and intra-session symmetry and performance during a countermovement (CMJ. Ten American football players preparing for the National Football League’s draft completed a complex PAPE protocol consisting of two baseline CMJ trials on dual uniaxial force plates, followed by three sets of maximum effort lower-body lifts (e.g., split squats) alternated with two CMJ trials. Jump height (JH), reactive strength index modified (RSImod), and asymmetry indices for concentric impulse (CIA), eccentric …

Extending The Global Impact Of Dnp Education: Integrating Scholarly Dissemination And International Practice Projects, Cynthia Plonien, Pricilla Muisyo, Deborah Behan, Kristine Cope, Cathy Brown

Nursing Faculty Publications & Presentations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at the University of Texas at Arlington initiated a global outreach effort in 2024 through two complementary strategies: expansion of a digital repository to support dissemination of DNP scholarly work and implementation of pilot DNP projects in Kenya. Together, these initiatives represent an integrated model for global engagement that combines knowledge dissemination with application of practice-based scholarship. The repository has facilitated international access to DNP projects, demonstrating significant global reach across multiple countries. Concurrently, a pilot project in Kenya was established through a strategic in-country professional partnership, enabling culturally relevant and sustainable implementation …

Impact Of Eating Disorder Type On General Population Perceptions Of Stigma And Likelihood Of Comorbidity, Gabri Notov, Grace Schroeder, Kaz Skelton, Kevin Summers, Sarah Huff

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Eating disorders carry a significant risk of mortality, necessitating further research. Previous work has examined how stigma influences treatment seeking in other mental health conditions, creating a potential area for improving disordered eating outcomes. Additionally, prior meta-analyses have discovered high comorbidity of other mental health diagnoses with disordered eating. Some work has attempted to examine the perception of comorbid mental health problems alongside eating disorders, but this construct has not been studied in depth within general populations. To date, no work has simultaneously examined stigmatization and knowledge of common mental health problems with disordered eating in this population. This study …

Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scoring Implementation In A Critical Access Hospital, Jasmine A. Hobbs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Posters and Presentations

Mechanically ventilated patients who are boarding in rural emergency departments face an increased risk of inconsistent sedation management due to the lack of standardized protocols and the extended transfer times to higher levels of care. The variability in sedation practices can lead to both under- and over-sedation, which negatively affects patient comfort, safety, and clinical outcomes. Research suggests that sedation protocols incorporating the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) can shorten mechanical ventilation duration and improve clinical outcomes. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted educational intervention on improving nursing knowledge and comfort with the RASS …

Lovastatin Potentiates The Function Of Α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Murat Oz

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Statins are currently one of the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs. In recent years, in addition to their well-known effects on the cardiovascular system, statins have been shown to exert beneficial effects in the progression of various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: In this study, the effects of lovastatin on the function of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors expressed in rat hippocampus and Xenopus oocytes were investigated. Results: In whole-cell patch clamp studies in hippocampal neurons, 21-day chronic (20 mg/kg), but not acute (20 min), lovastatin treatment caused significant potentiation of choline (a selective agonist for α7 nACh receptors)-induced currents …

Clonal Reshaping And Clinical Outcomes After Rechallenge In Ici-Associated Myocarditis: Integrated Single-Cell And Tcr Repertoire Analysis, Jian Zhang, Xiaozhen He, Yerui Zhang, Xianling Qian, Yu Song, Shilong Zhang, Zheng Li, Zhiming Wang, Bo Lu, Qingqing Cai, Leilei Cheng, Yan Wang

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis (ICIAM) poses significant challenges for cancer immunotherapy, particularly regarding the safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) rechallenge.

METHODS: The present study analyzed 23 cases of ICIAM by integrating longitudinal clinical data with single-cell RNA sequencing and T-cell receptor profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from three representative patients before and after ICB rechallenge. The single-cell cohort comprised two patients who experienced recurrent irAEs upon rechallenge and one patient who did not develop recurrent irAEs.

RESULTS: Among 12 patients (52%) who experienced recurrent irAEs upon rechallenge, myocarditis recurrence occurred in 8 cases, …

Target Trial Of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists Versus Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors And Mortality In Hemodialysis, Dustin Le, Duncan Kilpatrick, Walter K. Kraft, Morgan E. Grams, Bernard G. Jaar, Jung-Im Shin

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The comparative effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists (GLP-1s) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (DPP-4s) in hemodialysis is unknown.

METHODS: Using 2011 to 2021 US Renal Data System and Medicare claims data, we emulated a target trial comparing new users of GLP-1s versus DPP-4s with patients who survived ≥ 90 days on in-center hemodialysis before medication initiation. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS: We identified 3671 GLP-1 and 12,039 DPP-4 users. After IPTW, mean age was 63 years, 52% male, 63% White, and mean body mass …

Panda-Plus-Bench: A Clinical Benchmark For Evaluating The Robustness Of Ai Foundation Models In Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Joshua L. Ebbert, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Artificial intelligence foundation models are increasingly deployed for prostate cancer Gleason grading, where GP3/GP4 distinction directly impacts treatment decisions (active surveillance vs. intervention). However, these models may achieve high validation accuracy by learning specimen-specific artifacts rather than generalizable biological features, limiting real-world clinical utility. We introduce PANDA-PLUS-Bench, a curated benchmark dataset derived from expertly annotated prostate biopsies designed specifically to quantify this failure mode. The benchmark comprises nine carefully selected whole slide images from nine unique patients containing diverse Gleason patterns, with non-overlapping tissue patches extracted at both 512 × 512 and 224 × 224-pixel resolutions across eight augmentation conditions. …

Unbiased Niche Labeling Maps Immune-Excluded Niche In Bone Metastasis, Zhan Xu, Fengshuo Liu, Yunfeng Ding, Tianhong Pan, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Yujiao Han, Jun Liu, Igor L Bado, Weijie Zhang, Ling Wu, Yang Gao, Xiaoxin Hao, Liqun Yu, Xuan Li, David G Edwards, Hilda L Chan, Sergio Aguirre, Michael Warren Dieffenbach, Elina Chen, Siyue Wang, Yichao Shen, Dane Hoffman, Luis Becerra Dominguez, Charlotte Helena Rivas, Xiang Chen, Hai Wang, Yibin Kang, Zbigniew Gugala, Robert L Satcher, Xiang H-F Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metastatic cancer cell fate is shaped by the local microenvironment niches. To unbiasedly define the cellular and molecular features of metastatic niches, we developed sortase A-based microenvironment niche tagging (SAMENT), which selectively labels cells encountered by cancer cells during metastasis. Applying SAMENT across multiple cancer models and target organs revealed shared niche features, including macrophage enrichment and T cell depletion, alongside marked organ-specific phenotype heterogeneity in niche macrophages. In bone, metastatic niches are enriched for macrophages expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) with active ERα signaling. Conditional deletion of Esr1 in macrophages significantly impaired bone colonization by enabling T cell infiltration. …

The 2026 Fifa World Cup: Communicable Disease Risks And Advice For Visitors To Canada, The United States, And Mexico, Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales, Ivan Arturo Rodríguez-Sabogal, Beatriz Elena Porras-Pedroza, Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez, Daniel Grisales-Nieto, Florencia Escarrá, Pasesa Pascuala Quispe-Torrez, Francisco Javier Membrillo, Tomás Orduna, Susana Lloveras, Tânia S S Chaves, Miguel M Cabada, Cecilia Perret, René Echavarría, Ana F Ribeiro, Melinda Tanabe, Fernando Bazzino, Maximiliano Ramirez, Baruch Diaz, Karen Mirna Loro Morejón, Karen Daly, Reinaldo Rosas, Maria Belen Lopez, Cristina Miranda, Marisa Liliana Fernandez, Yasemin Özsürekçi, Wasin Matsee, Yenddy Carrero, Cristian Biscayart, Sergio Cimerman, Maria L Avila-Aguero, Roberto Debbag, Jose Brea, Alejandro Risquez, Jaime David Acosta-España, Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez, Carlos Espinal, Carlos N Torres-Martinez, Marta González-Sanz, Aula Abbara, Jill Weatherhead, Mario Masana

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Pregnancy Outcomes After In Utero Exposure To Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Morgan Bou Zerdan, Bruna Kfoury, Eliane Aoun, Sarah Diane Hmaidan, Roni Nitecki Wilke, Jeffrey A How, Terri L Woodard, Pamela T Soliman, Laurie J Mckenzie

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the management of cancers affecting reproductive-age patients, yet their impact on pregnancy outcomes remains incompletely understood. We describe two cases of maternal and fetal outcomes associated with ICI exposure during pregnancy and present a comprehensive literature review.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2024) to identify patients exposed to ICIs during pregnancy. Clinical data including cancer type, treatment timing, pregnancy course, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected. A narrative literature review was also performed using PubMed to identify reported cases …

Icam1high Neutrophils Sculpt Tumor Evolution And Metastasis Through Symbiotic Adhesion And Reverse Migration, Ling Wu, Zhan Xu, Jun Wang, Fengshuo Liu, Yunfeng Ding, Yang Gao, Siyue Wang, Jun Liu, Hilda L Chan, Weiguo Wu, Yi-Hsuan Wu, Liqun Yu, Xiaoxin Hao, Xuan Li, David G Edwards, Cher Sha, Tobie D Lee, Nan Guan, Sergio Aguirre, Luis Becerra-Dominguez, Dane Hoffman, Xiang Chen, Charlotte Helena Rivas, Xiaoyuan G Yan, Igor L Bado, Weijie Zhang, Qian Zhu, Arun Sreekumar, Robert L Satcher, Xiang H-F Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Neutrophils are a prominent component of the tumor microenvironment that can have both pro- and anti-tumor functions. By analyzing neutrophils across different human cancers, we revealed an ICAM1high subset enriched in the tumor microenvironment, which were also observed in murine triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) models. ICAM1high neutrophils exhibited an enhanced capacity for cell-cell adhesion specifically with tumor cells retaining epithelial features, and this adhesion conferred mutual advantages to both cell types. In contrast, cancer cells with mesenchymal-like phenotypes were vulnerable to neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity due to decreased cell adhesion and elastase resistance. These opposite effects drove tumor evolution toward a …

Development Of A Second-Generation Rarα Selective Antagonist As An Orally Bioavailable, Effective, Safe, And Reversible Male Contraceptive, Rui Shi, Kristen John, Xuan Qin, Ehfazul Haque, Taimeng Liang, Narsihmulu Cheryala, Feng Li, Henry L Wong, Gunda I Georg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We report the design and SAR studies of benzopyran-, benzofuran-, and benzothiophene-derived inhibitors of the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) for male contraception. SAR studies identified critical features influencing activity, such as the optimal positioning of antagonism moieties and substituents, leading to the discovery of (S)-4-(5-(2,8-dimethyl-5-(p-tolyl)-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)­benzoic acid (compound 23). Compound 23 is a highly potent RARα inhibitor (IC50 = 0.051 nM) with excellent selectivity (>1650-fold over RARβ and >1960-fold over RARγ) and ADMET properties. Compound 23 is orally bioavailable and reduces sperm counts in mice for a full male contraceptive effect …

Modeling The Impact Of Treatment During An Ongoing Tuberculosis Outbreak, Bach Le, Anna Robicheaux, Jude Shive, Alana Wells, Erin N. Bodine

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

In response to a significant tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, Kansas, this study presents a compartmental model of ordinary differential equations to evaluate the impact of standard antibiotic treatment. The model incorporates latent, active, and treated disease states. Parameter values were informed by epidemiological data and uncertain parameter value ranges were explored systematically through uncertainty analysis using constrained Latin hypercube sampling. Cumulative infections and deaths, and the basic reproduction number, were computed over a five-year simulation period. Sensitivity analyses using partial rank correlation coefficients identified symptomatic treatment rate and transmission rate as primary drivers of cumulative infections and …