Digital Commons Network^™

Syndecan-1-Targeted Therapeutic Antibody Impairs Macropinocytosis And Elicits Antitumor Immunity In Pancreatic Cancer, Zecheng Yang, Madelaine S Theardy, Shuaitong Chen, Yongkun Wei, Mitsunobu Takeda, Yue Zeng, Xiaofei Wang, Jun Yao, Jennifer Li, Prapassorn Thirasastr, Jangho Park, Yangxi Zheng, Long T Vien, Khalida M Wani, Huamin Wang, Sisi Gao, Tim Heffernan, Lawrence Kwong, Ignacio I Wistuba, Laura Bover, Giulio F Draetta, Haoqiang Ying, Wantong Yao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies, with a 5-year survival rate of just 13%. While the development and early clinical use of small molecules targeting oncogenic KRAS mutations, key drivers of PDAC, have shown promise, resistance to these targeted therapies remains a significant challenge. We recently identified Syndecan-1 (SDC1), a highly expressed heparan sulfate proteoglycan, as a critical KRAS effector protein that promotes nutrient salvage and tumor growth. Here, we report the development of a human-specific monoclonal antibody (anti-SDC1 mAb) that inhibits PDAC cell proliferation in vitro and suppresses PDAC tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, …

Molecular Profiling And Tumor Biomarker Analysis Of Gog281/Logs: A Positive Late-Phase Trial Of Trametinib For Recurrent/Persistent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma, Robert L. Hollis, Austin Miller, Heather A. Lankes, Kwong-Kwok Wong, William Rodgers, David Millan, Karen Carty, Robert L. Coleman, Kathleen N. Moore, Angeles Alvarez Secord, David M. O'Malley, John K. Chan, Andrea R. Hagemann, Stephanie Gaillard, Saketh R. Guntupalli, Mitchell I. Edelson, Peter G. Rose, Oliver Dorigo, Susana Banerjee, Ailith Ewing, Michael Churchman, Anil K. Sood, C. Simon Herrington, Charlie Gourley, David M. Gershenson

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

PURPOSE: Low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC) is a distinct form of ovarian cancer characterized by younger patient age and relative chemoresistance. The GOG281/LOGS trial (NCT02101788) investigated the efficacy of the MEK inhibitor trametinib compared with physician's choice standard-of-care (SOC) in patients with LGSOC with persistent/recurrent disease. The study demonstrated significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in the trametinib-treated arm.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Two hundred and sixty patients with recurrent/persistent LGSOC were enrolled and randomly assigned in GOG281. We performed molecular analysis of 170 patients with available tumor specimens, comprising whole-exome sequencing and phospho-ERK (pERK) IHC, to identify biomarkers of clinical benefit from …

Spatiotemporal Histogenesis Of The Developing Human Cerebellum Reveals Dynamic Layering Of Bergmann Glia, Guanyi He, Simon Du, Henry Tan, Sri Yellampally, Anders W Erickson, Virginia Fernandez, Ferechte Encha-Razavi, Kimberley A Phillips, Christine Haberler, Nicole Amberg, Victor Borrell, Paul A Northcott, Michael D Taylor, Kathleen J Millen, Parthiv Haldipur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bergmann glia (BG) are a specialized glial population essential for cerebellar development, yet their developmental timeline and molecular identity in the human cerebellum remain poorly understood. Here, we combined detailed histopathological analysis with spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA sequencing to generate a developmental atlas of human cerebellar BG. Histology revealed that BG emerge around 11 post-conception weeks (PCW), initially serving as a scaffold for Purkinje cells (PCs) migrating into the PC layer of the cerebellar cortex. Following the establishment of a multilayered PC arrangement, BG form a distinct parallel layer separated from the PCs by the lamina dissecans (LD), with …

Engineering Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cd4 T Cells For Alzheimer's Disease, Pavle Boskovic, Rotem Shalita, Wenqing Gao, Hailey Vernon, Yu Lin Deng, Marco Colonna, Robbie G Majzner, Ido Amit, Jonathan Kipnis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the prevailing cause of age-associated dementia worldwide. Current standard of care relies on antibody-based immunotherapy. However, antibody-based approaches carry risks for patients, and their effects on cognition are marginal. Increasing evidence suggests that T cells contribute to AD onset and progression. Unlike the cytotoxic effects of CD8

Larval Zebrafish Minimize Energy Consumption During Hunting Via Adaptive Movement Selection, Thomas Darveniza, Robert Wong, Shuyu I Zhu, Zac Pujic, Biao Sun, Matthew Levendosky, Ramesh Agarwal, Michael H Mccullough, Geoffrey J Goodhill

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Animals must balance behavioral goals with the energetic costs of movement. How such trade-offs are implemented algorithmically during natural behavior, and how they adapt to changing energetic constraints, remains poorly understood. Here we show that larval zebrafish adjust their motor strategies during prey hunting to minimize energy expenditure. Using high-speed video tracking and 3D computational fluid dynamics simulations, we quantified the energy costs (in Joules) of different movement types across three developmental stages. While the structure of discrete movement types ("bouts") remained stable with age, their selection probabilities changed depending on their energetic cost, such that more expensive bouts were …

Cannabis And Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, And Legalization Support, Carla J Berg, Cassidy R Loparco, Darcey M Mccready, Laura C Schubel, Patricia A Cavazos-Rehg, Erin Kasson, Shriya Thakkar, Diane M Ndisebuye, Y Tony Yang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This study assessed the correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among young adults in the United States (US). Using 2025 data among adults ages 18-34 (

When Nutrition Fails: Modeling Protein Malnutrition-Driven Vulnerability In Hepatic Drug Metabolism And Inflammatory Stress, Vijitha D. Kantety, Victor Jiminez Jr.

Annual Research Symposium

Background

Protein malnutrition remains a major global health problem and frequently co-occurs with alcohol use, opioid exposure, and infectious disease, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. The liver is central to both metabolism and inflammatory regulation, yet the effects of a malnutrition-like nutrient environment on hepatic responses to combined metabolic and inflammatory insults are not well defined. Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), a key enzyme involved in opioid metabolism, is highly sensitive to inflammatory signaling and may be especially vulnerable under conditions of nutritional deficiency. This project aims to 1) develop an in vitro model of nutritionally competent versus amino acid–restricted …

Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer To The Penis Resulting In Malignant Priapism And Urethral Obstruction, Courtney Stewart, Joon Yau Leong, William Kevin Kelly, Mihir Shah

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

A 76-year-old male with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer was found to have metastatic disease to the urethra and penis on PSMA PET scan. This resulted in constant pain due to obstruction of blood flow through the corpora cavernosum resulting in priapism and urethral obstruction. The patient underwent a radical penectomy, partial urethrectomy and perineal urethrostomy creation. Final pathology confirmed metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. Although rare, prostate cancer can metastasize to the corpora spongiosum or cavernosa. Treatment options are limited, and surgical excision with urinary diversion is likely to provide the most durable outcomes for one's quality of life.

Metformin Exposure After Glioblastoma Diagnosis And Mortality: A Large Population-Based Study, Vittorio Maio, Roshani Shah, Manisha Lin, Patrick J. Moeller, Iyad Alnahhas, Richard Hass, Wenyin Shi, Scott W Keith

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain malignancy with limited therapeutic options and poor survival outcomes. Recent real-world studies and early-phase clinical trials evaluating metformin have yielded mixed findings. This study assessed the association between post-diagnosis metformin exposure and all-cause mortality in a large population-based cohort of older adults with GBM.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database. Adults aged ≥66 years diagnosed with GBM between 2007 and 2018 were included, excluding those with other malignancies or diagnoses made by autopsy or death certificate. Metformin exposure was modeled as …

Relationship Between Navigation Success, Diagnostic Accuracy, And Ventilation Strategy: Retrospective Chart Review Of 224 Consecutive Navigational Bronchoscopic Procedures Performed Under General Anesthesia, Basavana Goudra, Prarthna Chandar, Divakara Gouda, Harrison Yang, Ganan Muhunthan, Suvan Sundaresh, Michael Stuart Green

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Navigational bronchoscopy (NB) enables precise sampling of peripheral and central pulmonary nodules using shape-sensing or electromagnetic guidance. A major challenge is anesthesia-induced atelectasis, which alters lung anatomy, reduces registration accuracy, and is known to lower diagnostic accuracy. To counteract this, ventilatory protocols such as the Ventilatory Strategy to Prevent Atelectasis (VESPA) and the Lung Navigation Ventilation Protocol (LNVP) have been recommended. Their adoption and clinical impact, however, remain uncertain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 224 consecutive NB procedures performed under general anesthesia at a single academic medical center (January 2020–August 2024). Demographic, anesthetic, and ventilatory data were …

Sting-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Combined With Radiotherapy Potentiates Antitumor Response In A High-Grade Glioma Model, Shashwat Tripathi, Hinda Najem, Lisa Hurley, Ruochen Du, Crismita Dmello, Heba Ali, Kathleen Mccortney, Karl J Habashy, Peng Zhang, Craig M Horbinski, Lara Leoni, Ryan J Avery, Rimas V Lukas, Timothy L Sita, David R Raleigh, Sean Sachdev, Roger Stupp, Maciej S Lesniak, David M Ashley, Daniele Procissi, Michael A Curran, Irina Balyasnikova, Amy B Heimberger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiation therapy (RT) is the standard of care for glioblastoma but is not curative. Triggering the cGAS/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway with potent agonists, such as 8803, exerts activity across high-grade glioma preclinical models. To determine if the combination of 8803 with RT warrants consideration in the up-front treatment setting and to clarify the underlying mechanisms of therapeutic activity, C57BL/6J mice harboring intracerebral CT-2A or QPP8v gliomas were treated with RT, intratumoral 8803, or both. The treatment with the combination resulted in 80% long-term survival in the CT-2A model but not in the radiation-resistant QPP8v model. This therapeutic effect …

Mutant Kras In Brain Endothelial Cells Promotes Vascular Inflammation And Impairs Vascular Integrity In Brain Arteriovenous Malformation, Jung-Eun Park, Bridger H Freeman, Hyejin Park, Sehee Kim, Adrian E Bafor, Ohnmar Myint, Song Gao, Zhen Xu, Jakob Körbelin, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Peng Roc Chen, Eunhee Kim, Eun S Park

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Somatic KRAS (KRASG12V) mutation in endothelial cells (EC) induces brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) that could lead to vascular instability and ultimately bleeding. However, the causes of bAVM instability remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that KRASG12V expressing cultured ECs (KRAS-G12V-EC) have increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and reduced expression of blood-brain-barrier (BBB) junction constituents. The conditioned medium from KRAS-G12V-EC can activate BV2-microglia (BV2-MG) and conditioned media from this primed BV2-MG can compromise the expression of EC-junction constituents when added to wild-type ECs. In an in vitro BBB model, KRAS-G12V-EC form a dysfunctional EC barrier that is further disrupted, leading to lower …

Strspy2.0: Unlocking The Potential Of Long Reads For Forensic Dna Profiling, Courtney L Hall, Rupesh K Kesharwani, Katherine E Mcbroom Henson, Bupe Kapema, Nicole R Phillips, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Roxanne R Zascavage

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Forensic human identification relies on length-based differences in short tandem repeats (STRs) across autosomal and Y chromosomes, which require separate reactions and provide limited resolution. While next-generation sequencing offers greater discriminatory power, most platforms are expensive and restricted to traditional lab settings. Nanopore sequencing has the potential to change this with the real-time, portable MinION sequencer. However, forensic-specific tools that generate STR profiles compatible with established length-based databases are lacking. To address this, we developed STRspy2.0, which simultaneously profiles autosomal and Y-STRs using nanopore reads. STRspy2.0 produced accurate profiles for 54 multiplexed control libraries and 41 mock casework samples (blood, …

Assessment Perception: Delivery Matters, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Chelsey Simmons

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Perception shapes how individuals experience the world and guides their actions toward personal goals. In counseling, clients’ accurate understanding of assessment results is essential for informed decision-making and effective treatment engagement. Mental health clinicians have an ethical responsibility to communicate findings in ways that safeguard client welfare and empower both clients and stakeholders to collaborate in care. This conceptual manuscript introduces the BRIEF (Brief, Relevant, Interpretive, Empathetic, and Factual) Feedback Integration Framework, a structured model for delivering assessment feedback ethically and accessibly. Integrating cognitive, developmental, and cultural considerations. BRIEF provides counselors, supervisors, and educators with a practical strategy for improving …

Addressing Saintly Corrections: An Integrative, Developmental Approach To Counselor Bias Management, Travis Walker, Jennifer M. Cook

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

No person is without biases, even the most culturally adept among us. Managing biases is critical to counselors’ continued journey of understanding clients contextually and holistically. In this article, we describe two novel bias management concepts: A specific type of bias called saintly corrections and the more clinically fruitful approach of realistic corrections. We define and illustrate saintly and realistic corrections, outline a multifold approach (i.e., cognitive complexity, cultural identity development, and the multicultural orientation model) for remediating saintly corrections, and offer recommendations counselor educators can use during planned and contextual learning opportunities, including an example of a contextual …

Evolving Strategies In Prostate Cancer: Emerging Approaches And Unmet Needs From The Bridging The Gaps In Prostate Cancer Expert Panel, Rana Mckay, Benjamin Maughan, Alicia Morgans, Neal Shore, Evan Yu, Ravi Madan, Jacob Berchuck, Bradley Carthon, Steven Finkelstein, Leonard Gomella, Michael Gorin, Andrew Hahn, Stacy Loeb, Vivek Narayan, Daniel Petrylak, Charles Ryan, Karine Tawagi, Phuoc Tran, Tanya Dorff

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The expansion of treatment options for prostate cancer (PC) has improved disease-specific and overall survival outcomes but has also raised questions about the optimal level of treatment needed for patients based on their individual prognosis and accounting for potential toxicity, incorporating quality of life considerations.

METHODS: A panel of experts met to discuss current controversies in the care of patients with PC across the disease continuum. Multidisciplinary experts review advances and persistent uncertainties in biomarker-guided assessment, imaging, and systemic therapy for prostate cancer. The discussion outlines priority gaps in evidence that must be addressed to optimize individualized patient care. …

P-15 Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft In Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Randomized, Controlled, Investigational Device Exemption Study Demonstrating Improved Composite Clinical Success, James Harrop, John E. O'Toole, Michael P. Steinmetz, Rick C. Sasso, Christopher D. Chaput, K. Brandon Strenge, Greg Maislin, Jeffrey P. Mullin, Thomas B. Freeman, Anthony Guanciale, Howard Lantner, Michael E. Janssen, David G. Schwartz, John M. Small, Wellington K. Hsu, Paul M. Arnold

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized, controlled pivotal study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether P-15L (PearlMatrix P-15 Peptide Enhanced Bone Graft) is noninferior in effectiveness to local autograft when applied in single-level instrumented transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: P-15L, an FDA-designated Breakthrough Drug-Device, is a composite drug-device combination bone graft containing P-15, a 15-amino acid polypeptide, which enhances cell binding, proliferation, and differentiation, resulting in bone formation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Skeletally mature patients, aged 22 to 80 years, with degenerative disc disease (DDD) were randomized 1:1 to P-15L (investigational) or to the local autograft (control) during single-level …

Global Public Health Feasibility: Digital Dentistry In Geriatric Population, Merna Amr Saleh

Theses and Dissertations

Oral health is a critical yet often overlooked determinant of well-being among older adults in Egypt, where mobility limitations, geographic barriers, and low awareness of preventive practices exacerbate dental disparities. DentalPal, a teledentistry-based mobile application, was developed to provide older adults with remote dental consultations, oral hygiene advice, and triage guidance. The platform enables users to submit oral photographs or radiographs for assessment, seek second opinions, and initiate follow-up chats directly with the healthcare provider. This flexible design allows users to access dental consultations on demand while ensuring continuity of care The question that guided this study was how older …

Facebook Interaction As A Potential Marker Of Cognitive Decline: Pilot Study, Esraa M. Qansuwa

Theses and Dissertations

One of the critical challenges in brain disorder research is the early identification of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who may later develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other dementias. MCI in older adults is frequently associated with diminished social engagement and observable behavioral changes. With the rapid expansion of social media platforms and advances in Machine Learning (ML), digital traces from online activity present a novel and scalable avenue for mental health screening. In particular, predictive ML approaches have demonstrated strong potential in building reliable classifiers for early detection of neurocognitive decline. This study introduces an innovative framework that …

Uncovering Potential Therapeutic Targets For Spinal Cord Injury; Insights From Single-Cell And Cross-Species Transcriptomics, Sara Samy Abouzekry

Theses and Dissertations

Central nervous system (CNS) injury remains a devastating healthcare problem. Despite years of research, it remains almost impossible to achieve meaningful functional repair following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinal cord injury (SCI), a highly devastating subset of CNS trauma, is considered a challenge due to the extremely limited regenerative capacity of the nervous system in adult mammals. In contrast, certain species display remarkable repair abilities followed by moderate regenerative ability in neonatal mammals, indicating that regeneration is shaped by the evolutionary context as well as the developmental age.

To uncover the core molecular mediators of …

Prephiral Bacterial Infectious Agent Triggers Neuroinflammatory Responses And Neurobehavioral Impairment In Wild-Type Mice, Hadeer Atalah

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, present an increasing global challenge, with chronic neuroinflammation identified as a principal factor alongside genetic, environmental, and infectious influences (Boyd et al., 2022).  Epidemiological data associate bacterial infections with a 40% heightened risk of Parkinson's disease; however, the mechanisms—especially the direct connection between peripheral sepsis and the silent onset of central nervous system pathology absent acute meningitis—are inadequately investigated (Smeyne et al., 2021), particularly concerning common pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae in high-burden areas such as Egyptian ICUs, where it constitutes 30% of cases (Alkompoz et al., 2023). This study filled the gap by creating …

A Damaging Mutation In Col6a3 Alters The Mechanobiologic Response Of Chondrocytes Derived From Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Zainab Harissa, Niek Bloks, Nancy Steward, Sara F Tufa, Douglas R Keene, Yolande F M Ramos, Ingrid Meulenbelt, Farshid Guilak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease associated with genetic, biological, and mechanical risk factors that act, in part, to alter chondrocyte homeostasis. Our recent exome sequencing studies identified a damaging genetic variant in COL6A3, a monomeric unit of collagen type VI and a distinguishing component of the pericellular matrix (PCM) of articular cartilage, a transducer of mechanical and biochemical signals for the chondrocyte. To study the effect of this genetic variant, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived chondrocytes, genetically edited to harbor the COL6A3 mutation, were used as an in vitro model to investigate chondrocyte mechanobiology and pathobiology. The COL6A3 …

Re: Genetic Screening Of Genome-Wide Association Studies-Derived Risk Loci For Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Confirmation In The North Indian Population, Mostafa Saadat

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Face And Content Validation Analysis Of The Professional Pain Preparation Questionnaire For Use In Physical Therapist Education, Rodiel Kirby Baloy

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Physical therapy educational preparation for the management of individuals in pain may be determined based on the themes of: (1) level of academic preparation, (2) educational hours spent studying pain, including postgraduate training and certification, and (3) clinical experience. This study assessed the face and content validity of a tool, the Professional Pain Preparation Questionnaire (PPP-Q), to assess expert perception as to the value and relevance of each of the identified domains.

Methods: Twelve respondents were enlisted for face validity, and five experts were recruited for content validity. Descriptive statistics, specifically frequency and percentage, were used to describe …

Primary Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis: Natural History, Pathogenesis, And Treatment, Edward J. Filippone, John L. Farber

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

Primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is an ultrarare disease characterized by immunofluorescence microscopy as either immune-complex mediated (IC-MPGN) or C3 glomerulopathy (C3), the latter subdivided by electron microscopy to C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) and dense deposit disease (DDD). Both IC-MPGN and C3G typically have obvious C3 staining differentiating them from other causes of MPGN histology. Secondary causes must be excluded, including infections, autoimmune disease, and neoplasia. Clinical presentations are variable, including urinary sediment abnormalities, nephrotic syndrome, or a rapidly progressive course. The prognosis is unfavorable with about 50% reaching kidney failure by 10 years. Recurrence following transplantation is frequent, and allograft survival …

From Military Service To Civilian Life: Nature Intervention In Vha Psychiatric Care, Austin T.B. Corbett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing nature- based interventions in locked psychiatric units of the Veterans Health Administration to support veterans during military- to- civilian transition who experience severe mental health crises. The transition from military service to civilian life represents one of the most significant psychological adjustments and individuals can experience, involving fundamental changes in identity, social structure, purpose, and daily routine. This transition creates vulnerability for developing mental health conditions including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Veterans experiencing severe health mental crises during transition often require intensive inpatient psychiatric care, yet current VHA …

Bridging Biology And Biomaterials: In Silico Discovery Of Bioactive Surface Molecules To Enhance Osseointegration, Samuel Thomas, Akash Patel, Shilpa Bhandi, Frank W. Licari, Shankargouda Patil

Annual Research Symposium

This study presents a biologically guided strategy to enhance dental implant osseointegration by integrating peri-implant transcriptomic analysis with molecular docking simulations to identify bioactive surface molecules that may promote osteoblast attachment, extracellular matrix formation, and early bone healing. By aligning implant surface chemistry with host tissue biology, this translational in silico workflow offers a rapid, cost-effective pathway toward next-generation bioactive coatings designed to improve healing, strengthen bone–implant integration, and support long-term clinical success.

Clinical Practice Guideline For Universal Anxiety Screening For Advanced Practice Providers, Kelechi Blanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on anxiety screening in a primary care setting using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) screening tool. The practice problem addressed general anxiety disorder and the need for standardized assessments for risk, as recently been recommended by the U.S. Prevention Service Task Force (USPSTF). Anxiety disorder is common but frequently untreated, due in part to low rates of screening. Lack of an evidence-based guideline for anxiety screening may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inconsistencies. The practice-focused question was, Does the evidence support development of an evidence-based CPG for universal anxiety screening in …

Validity Of The Turkish Version Of The Oral Frailty Index-8 And Its Relationship With Frailty, Malnutrition, And Sarcopenia In Older Adults, Süleyman Emre Koçyi̇ği̇t, Bi̇lal Kati̇poğlu, Yilmaz Önal, Kübra Bahar Baykan, İlknur Şeker Kaya, Fatma Sena Dost, Özge Dokuzlar, Esra Ateş Bulut, Ali̇ Ekrem Aydin, Derya Kaya, Ahmet Turan Işik

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8) is a reliable screening for oral frailty. In our study, while presenting the Turkish reliability and validity study of the OFI-8, we also aimed to establish a cut-off value for oral frailty in Turkish population.

Materials and methods: Patients who presented to the outpatient clinic between January 2024 and January 2025 were evaluated. The test’s internal consistency and test–retest reliability were assessed. Divergent validity was evaluated using frailty scores, muscle strength, and nutritional status. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to determine the optimal cut-off values for identifying frailty, malnutrition, and probable …

Tumor Targeting With Peptide-Drug Conjugates: Showcasing Key Progress And Hurdles, Keykavous Parang, Thuy Do, Clare Dinh, Dorna Davanidavari, Max Foroughi, Troy Khong, Mahsa Moazen, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) are modular, targeted therapeutics composed of a homing peptide linked to a cytotoxic or modulating drug payload via a cleavable/non-cleavable linker. PDCs utilize peptide targeting to enhance the delivery of potent drugs to tumors, providing advantages such as superior tissue penetration, reduced immunogenicity, and simpler manufacture compared to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). A comparison of PDCs versus ADCs highlights that PDCs’ small size (~1-3 kDa) enables deeper tumor penetration and faster clearance, whereas ADCs (~150 kDa) benefit from prolonged circulation but suffer from limited tissue diffusion. This review surveys recent advances in PDC design and application. We discuss …