Digital Commons Network^™

Prism-Xqtl: Pleiotropic Relationships Integrated With System-Level Multiomic Qtl Analysis For Causal Genes And Molecular Mediators In Alzheimer’S Disease, Nitesh Enduru, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Most Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) reside in noncoding regions, complicating causal interpretation.

Methods: We developed PRISM-xQTL (Pleiotropic Relationships Integrated with System-level Multiomic QTL), integrating pleiotropy, co-localization, Mendelian randomization, and mediation analyses across multiomic quantitative trait loci (QTLs; expression QTL [eQTL], methylation QTL [meQTL], splicing QTL [sQTL], proteomic [pQTL], single-cell [sc-eQTL]). Seventy pleiotropic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) shared between AD and 11 immune disorders were analyzed. AlphaGenome assessed functional regulation, and The Alzheimer's Cell Atlas (TACA) database was used for drug-target relevance of FCER1G.

Results: Across 54 Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) tissues, 410 SNP-gene-tissue co-localizations …

A Guide To Transcriptomic Deconvolution In Cancer, Yaoyi Dai, Shuai Guo, Yidan Pan, Carla Castignani, Matthew D Montierth, Peter Van Loo, Wenyi Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer tissues are heterogeneous mixtures of tumour, stromal and immune cells, where each component comprises multiple distinct cell types and/or states. Mapping this heterogeneity and understanding the unique contributions of each cell type to the tumour transcriptome is crucial for advancing cancer biology, yet high-throughput expression profiles from tumour tissues only represent combined signals from all cellular sources. Computational deconvolution of these mixed signals has emerged as a powerful approach to dissect both cellular composition and cell-type-specific expression patterns. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide to transcriptomic deconvolution, specifically tailored for cancer researchers, presenting a systematic framework for selecting and …

Stimulated Cytokine Production, Attachment, And Emotional Well-Being In Dementia Spousal Caregivers, Daniel L Argueta, Sarah Roberts, Kelly N Brice, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Vincent D Lai, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Bryan T Denny, Charles Green, Samantha Henry, Luis D Medina, Paul E Schulz, Jennifer Stinson, Cobi Heijnen, Christopher P Fagundes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Proinflammatory cytokine production may be related to poor emotional adjustment in dementia spousal caregivers. People who display attachment insecurity may be at increased risk for adverse caregiving experiences and poor psychosocial outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to understand whether proinflammatory cytokine production was associated with anticipatory grief, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms and whether those relationships were stronger for caregivers higher on attachment anxiety or avoidance.

Method: A sample of 103 dementia spousal caregivers provided self-report data on demographics, health information, and psychosocial outcomes. We also determined lipopolysaccharide-induced whole-blood interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-10 production and combined …

Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds To Engineer The Dormant Landscape Of Microscopic Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis, Sabrina N Vandenheuvel, Lucia L Nash, Abigail J Clevenger, Claudia A Collier, Oscar R Benavides, Sanjana Roy, Brinlee Goggans, Aelita Salikhova, Anvitha Tharakesh, Svasti Haricharan, Amber N Stratman, Scott Kopetz, Alex J Walsh, Shreya A Raghavan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recurrent liver-metastatic colorectal cancer contributes to high mortality. Recurrence occurs when dormant, microscopic residual disease survives initial treatment to escape dormancy. In their dormant, microscopic state within the liver, these metastatic lesions are undetectable by clinical diagnostic imaging until they form overt, chemoresistant metastases. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying dormancy in colorectal cancer liver metastases is a significant knowledge gap, motivating the engineering of nuanced in vitro models of disease. The current work presents an engineered model of liver-metastatic colorectal cancer dormancy. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds are used to provide microscopic colorectal cancer cell clusters with a biomimetic, …

Local Delivery Of Mir-27a* Using Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Cavitation Inhibits Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth, Nikhil S Chari, Cheng Chen, Thiruganesh Ramasamy, Xucai Chen, Geetika Wadhwa, Anurag N Paranjape, Stephen Y Lai, Flordeliza S Villanueva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Ultrasound-targeted microbubble (MB) cavitation (UTMC) is an image-guided therapeutic oligonucleotide delivery platform utilizing intravenously injected gas-filled ultrasound contrast agents, which carry the therapeutic on the MB shell. During transit of MBs in the microcirculation of target tissue, ultrasound causes MB oscillation, facilitating endocytosis-independent payload uptake within insonified cells. Here, we tested the hypothesis that UTMC-mediated miR-27a* delivery will reduce tumor growth rate and result in accumulation of miR-27a* within tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment.

Methods: We used UTMC to deliver miR-27a* to SCC-VII cells in vitro and in SCC-VII mouse tumor models. Pulsed ultrasound was delivered during intravenous …

Who Classification Of Skin Tumours: Key Updates In The Fifth Edition, Gabrielle Goldman-Lévy, Raymond Barnhill, Boris C Bastian, Werner Kempf, David Elder, Pedram Gerami, Wayne Grayson, Dmitry Kazakov, Daniela Massi, Jane Messina, Arnaud De La Fouchardière, Alexander J Lazar, Thomas Brenn, Brian Rous, Andrew Field, Anthony Gill, Jennelle C Hodge, Joseph D Khoury, Katia Leite, Shahin Sayed, Puay Hoon Tan, Rosalie Elenitsas, Eduardo Calonje, Lyn M Duncan, Liang Zhiyong, Holger Moch, Rajendra Singh, Harshima Wijesinghe, Ian Cree, Dilani Lokuhetty

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours (WCT) serves as a foundation for global diagnostic standards in tumour pathology. Similar to other volumes in this series, the Skin Tumours (Skin5) edition follows a standardized approach. This edition introduces two new chapters: 'Tumours of the nail unit' and 'Metastases to skin', along with new entities across relevant chapters. This review article provides an overview of the updates in Skin5 based on currently published evidence, with emphasis on newly introduced chapters and newly described entities that involve the skin, in particular, epidermal, melanocytic and appendageal tumours.

A Comparative Study Of Statistical Methods For Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes In Spatial Transcriptomics, Yishan Wang, Chenxuan Zang, Ziyi Li, Charles C Guo, Dejian Lai, Peng Wei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) provides unprecedented insights into gene expression patterns while retaining spatial context, making it a valuable tool for understanding complex tissue architectures, such as those found in cancers. Seurat, by far the most popular tool for analyzing ST data, uses the Wilcoxon rank-sum test by default for differential expression analysis. However, as a nonparametric method that disregards spatial correlations, the Wilcoxon test can lead to inflated false positive rates and misleading findings. This limitation highlights the need for a more robust statistical approach that effectively incorporates spatial correlations. To this end, we propose a Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) …

Melody: Mediation Analysis In Logistic Regression For High-Dimensional Mediators And A Binary Outcome, Sunyi Chi, Xingyu Li, Peng Wei, Xuelin Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mediation analysis is a pivotal tool for elucidating the indirect effect of an environmental factor or treatment on disease through potentially high‐dimensional omics data, such as gene expression profiles. However, traditional mediation analysis methods tailored for binary outcomes often rely on the rare disease assumption in logistic regression and provide inadequate measures of total mediation effect when multiple mediators have effects in different directions. In this paper, we develop a MEdiation analysis framework in LOgistic regression for high‐Dimensional mediators and a binarY outcome (MELODY). It leverages a second‐moment‐based measure analogous to the ��2 for linear models to quantify the total …

The Concept Of Environmental Injustice In Allergy And Asthma, Ekta Perera, Christopher Codispoti, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: This review examines how environmental injustice contributes to disparities in allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. It focuses on the role of social, geographic, and economic inequities in shaping disease prevalence, severity, and access to care among underrepresented racial and ethnic communities.

Recent findings: Recent studies emphasize the persistent exposure of low-income and racially marginalized populations to environmental hazards such as air pollution, substandard housing, and climate-related changes, factors that are linked to increased prevalence and severity of allergic diseases. While environmental policies have led to overall improvements in air quality, disparities in exposure …

Investigating The Oxygen Dependence Of Flash-Rt Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging, Trey Waldrop, Grace Murley, Brett Velasquez, Elise Konradsson, Denae Neill, Luke Connell, Alan Lopez Hernandez, Abagail Delahoussaye, F William Schuler, Jorge De La Cerda, Ziyi Li, Mark D Pagel, Emil Schüler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The FLASH effect occurs when radiation given at ultra-high dose rates spares healthy tissue while achieving isoeffective tumor control relative to conventional (CONV) dose rate irradiation. Limited data has implicated oxygen in the FLASH effect. This study investigated the effect of tissue oxygen tension (pO2) on gastrointestinal (GI) FLASH sparing in mice.

Methods: pO2 was quantified in vivo by electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI)- noninvasive oximetry through spin probe injection and magnetic resonance co-registration- and a phosphorescent quenching microsensor. B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2 J/J female mice were imaged while breathing 10%, 21%, and 95% oxygen. C57BL/6 mice of both sexes underwent microsensor …

Tbr2-Dependent Parallel Pathways Regulate The Development Of Distinct Iprgc Subtypes, Takae Kiyama, Ching-Kang Chen, Halit Y Altay, Yu-Jiun Chen, Leviette Sigala, Dan Su, Steven Eliason, Brad A Amendt, Chai-An Mao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) are the conduit between the retina and brain regions responsible for non-image-forming and image-forming vision. In mice, six ipRGC subtypes have been discovered based on morphological characteristics, functions, and molecular profiles. All ipRGCs arise from Tbr2-expressing RGCs during developmental stages and subsequently diverge and differentiate into the six mature, distinct subtypes in adult retinas. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the formation and maturation of the six ipRGC subtypes remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that two Tbr2-dependent transcription factors, Iroquois‑related homeobox 1 (Irx1) and T-box containing factor 20 (Tbx20), are key downstream …

Leveraging Large Language Models For Heuristic Usability Assessment Of Medical Software: Insights With The Radiation Planning Assistant, Laurence E Court, Jacobus Smit, Lourens Strauss, William Shaw, Andrea Marais, Christoph Trauernicht, Nanette Joubert, Elaine Smith, Shona Badre, Graeme L Lazarus, Thekiso Khotle, Lauren Netherton, Wanda Van Heerden, Carlos Cardenas, Monica Serban, Jan Seuntjens, Christine V Chung, Pavel Govyadinov, Meena Khan, Saurabh Nair, Tucker Netherton, Lifei Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Usability engineering is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical software, as design-related issues are a leading cause of use errors in clinical settings. Heuristic evaluation provides a practical approach to identifying usability problems, but its outcomes depend heavily on expert interpretation. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, offer a potential means to augment heuristic evaluation by generating structured, context-aware usability feedback. This study explored the use of ChatGPT to support heuristic assessment of the Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA), a web-based radiotherapy planning tool designed to support clinical teams in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: ChatGPT …

Neurological Recovery After Ich Is Mediated By The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Bilirubin Interplay Through Improved Erythrophagocytosis, Xiurong Zhao, Shun-Ming Ting, Guanghua Sun, Jaroslaw Aronowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hematoma clearance after ICH is a pro-hemostatic process aiming at repair/recovery and is achieved through microglia/macrophages (MMΦ)-mediated erythrophagocytosis. Upon the engulfment of masses of erythrocytes and toxic hemolysis products, hemoglobin and heme, phagocytes convert them to bilirubin (BrB). Bilirubin is essentially not soluble in water and when overproduced, it precipitates within the cell causing injury. Thus, keeping bilirubin soluble and at a low intracellular level is needed for proper function of MMΦ. Here, using cultured microglia (MG), we found that intracellular formation of BrB in microglia during erythrophagocytosis coincides with the activation of transcription factor AhR, and AhR target genes …

Venous Thromboembolism In Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Treated With Cd19 Car-T Therapy: Single-Institution Study, Neha Venkatesh, Kevin Milligan, Julia Parrish, Yun Qing, Ryan Sun, Paolo Strati, Jeremy Ramdial, Amy Ayers, Sairah Ahmed, Cristhiam Rojas Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs) are a common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized LBCL treatment, with high remission rates but also significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in CAR-T therapy patients is understudied.

Objective: This study aims to determine the incidence and characteristics of acute VTE in LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy and identify baseline clinical features associated with VTE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 172 adult LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy from January 2018 to November 2019 at MD …

Taurine Supplementation And Human Heat Tolerance: Mechanisms, Evidence, And Integration With Heat Acclimation, Cooling, And Hydration, Siavash Naddafha, Jeffrey R. Stout, Cassandra Evans

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Heat exposure during strenuous exercise increases core temperature and cardiovascular strain, impairing performance and elevating the risk of heat illness. Standard countermeasures include heat acclimation, cooling, and hydration/electrolyte planning. Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid present in excitable tissues and widely used as an oral supplement; emerging human trials suggest it can augment thermoregulation, primarily by enhancing eccrine sweating and evaporative heat loss. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic and applied evidence on taurine during exercise in hot environments and evaluates potential interactions with acclimation, cooling strategies (pre- and per-cooling), and hydration practices. Across a small number of randomized, mostly double-blind …

Loss Of Beta-Cell Identity And Function As A Mechanism Of Secondary Failure Of Sulfonylurea Therapy In Diabetes, Sumit Patel, Zihan Yan, Maria S Remedi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Sulfonylureas, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D), often lose effectiveness over time when used as monotherapy; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate the mechanisms of sulfonylurea failure, glibenclamide-releasing pellets were implanted in KK mice, a polygenic model that spontaneously develops T2D. KK mice receiving placebo pellets (KK-Placebo) developed hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Notably, KK mice implanted with glibenclamide (KK-Glib) showed improved blood glucose levels during the first 7 days, returning to KK-Placebo levels thereafter. KK-Glib mice exhibited reduced plasma insulin levels and insulin secretion in response to a glucose challenge compared with the …

Single-Cell Atlas Of The Transcriptome And Chromatin Accessibility In The Human Retina, Jin Li, Jun Wang, Ignacio L Ibarra, Xuesen Cheng, Malte D Luecken, Jiaxiong Lu, Aboozar Monavarfeshani, Wenjun Yan, Yiqiao Zheng, Zhen Zuo, Samantha Lynn Zayas Colborn, Berenice Sarahi Cortez, Leah A Owen, Brittney Wick, Xuan Bao, Jongsu Choi, Maximilian Haeussler, Nicholas M Tran, Karthik Shekhar, Joshua R Sanes, J Timothy Stout, Shiming Chen, Yumei Li, Margaret M Deangelis, Fabian J Theis, Rui Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Single-cell sequencing has revolutionized the scale and resolution of molecular profiling of tissues and organs. Here we present an integrated dual-modal reference atlas of the most accessible portion of the mammalian central nervous system, the retina. We compiled around 3.9 million cells from 125 donors of diverse ancestral backgrounds, including 8 published studies and 2.7 million unpublished data points, to create a comprehensive human retina cell atlas (HRCA) with more than 130 cell types identified. We annotated each cluster, identified marker genes and characterized cis-regulatory elements and gene regulatory networks. Our analysis uncovered differences in transcriptome, chromatin and gene regulatory …

Hyperglycemia, Receptor For Advanced Glycation End Products, And Small Airways Dysfunction In Asthma, Paula Sierra Salas, Dennis T Villareal, Vickram Tejwani, Amrit Koirala, Cristian Coarfa, Meredith C Mccormack, Nicola A Hanania, Tianshi David Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Diabetes and insulin resistance are associated with higher risk of asthma exacerbation and preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), but the pathophysiology is unclear. These conditions may cause small airways dysfunction (SAD), which is an under-recognized cause of PRISm.

Objective: To determine whether insulin resistance and poor glucose control associate with SAD and to explore whether proteins prognostic of diabetes end-organ complications predict lung function abnormalities.

Methods: We recruited a prospective cohort of adults with physician-diagnosed asthma. Fasting insulin, glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and concentrations of 13 proteins prognostic of diabetes end-organ complications were measured. Static insulin resistance was calculated by …

Cressent: A Bioinformatics Toolkit To Explore And Improve Ssdna Virus Annotation, Ricardo R Pavan, Matthew B Sullivan, Michael J Tisza

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

ssDNA viruses are important components of diverse ecosystems; however, it remains challenging to systematically identify and classify them. This is partly due to their broad host range and resulting genomic diversity, structure and rapid evolutionary rates. In addition, distinguishing genuine ssDNA genomes from contaminating sequences in metagenomic datasets (e.g. from commercial kits) has been an unresolved issue for years. Here, we present CRESSENT (CRESS-DNA Extended aNnotation Toolkit), a comprehensive and modular bioinformatic pipeline focused on ssDNA virus 'genome-to-analysis' and annotation. The pipeline integrates multiple functionalities organized into several modules: sequence dereplication, decontamination, phylogenetic analysis, …

Multi-Trait And Multi-Ancestry Genetic Analysis Of Comorbid Lung Diseases And Traits Improves Genetic Discovery And Polygenic Risk Prediction, Yixuan He, Wenhan Lu, Yon Ho Jee, Mu-Yi Shih, Ying Wang, Kristin Tsuo, David C Qian, James A Diao, Hailiang Huang, Chirag J Patel, Jinyoung Byun, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Christopher I Amos, Yen-Chen Anne Feng, Matthew Moll, Michael H Cho, Alicia R Martin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

While respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma share many risk factors, most studies investigate them in isolation and in predominantly European-ancestry populations. Here, we conducted the most powerful multi-trait and multi-ancestry genetic analysis of respiratory diseases and auxiliary traits to date, identifying 25 new loci associated with lung function in individuals of East Asian ancestry. Using these results, we developed PRSxtra (cross-trait and cross-ancestry), a multi-trait and multi-ancestry polygenic risk score (PRS) approach that leverages shared components of heritable risk via pleiotropic effects. PRSxtra significantly improved the prediction of asthma, COPD and lung cancer compared …

Validation Of The French Translation Of The Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (Mds-Nms) In Parkinson's Disease, Clément Desjardins, Stéphan Grimaldi, Sheng Luo, Luowen Yu, Christopher G Goetz, Glenn T Stebbins, Pablo Martinez-Martin, Monica M Kurtis, Tiago A Mestre, Alvaro Sanchez-Ferro, Michelle H S Tosin, Roberta Balestrino, Chi-Ying R Lin, Carmen Gasca-Salas, Tatiana Witjas, Olivier Colin, David Maltete, Luc Defebvre, Caroline Giordana, Mahmoud Charif, Claire Thiriez, Chloé Laurencin, Mélissa Tir, Gwendoline Dupont, Philippe Remy, Christine Tranchant, Sophie Drapier, Alexandra Samier, Isabelle Benatru, Sara Sambin, Jean-Christophe Corvol, Fatma Khelifi, Margherita Fabbri, Olivier Rascol, Ns‐Part Cohort Study Group And The Mds Coa Translation Steering Committee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Minifast: A Sensitive And Fast Miniaturized Microscope For In Vivo Neural Recording, Jill Juneau, Guillaume Duret, Joshua P Chu, Blake Madruga, Conor C Dorian, Alexander V Rodriguez, Savva Morozov, Daniel Aharoni, Jacob T Robinson, François St-Pierre, Peyman Golshani, Caleb Kemere

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Significance: Observing the activity of large populations of neurons in vivo is critical for understanding brain function and dysfunction. The use of fluorescent genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) in conjunction with miniaturized microscopes is an exciting emerging toolset for recording neural activity in unrestrained animals. Despite their potential, current miniaturized microscope designs are limited using image sensors with low frame rates, sensitivity, and resolution. Beyond GECIs, there are many neuroscience applications that would benefit from the use of other emerging neural indicators, such as fluorescent genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) that have faster temporal resolution to match neuron spiking, yet …

Deep Brain Stimulation Response Circuits In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Andreas Horn, Ningfei Li, Garance M Meyer, Ron Gadot, Nicole R Provenza, Sameer A Sheth

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In the field of deep brain stimulation (DBS), two major themes are currently making significant progress. First, the framework of connectomic DBS, in which circuits that are associated with improvements of specific symptoms are described and targeted to improve and potentially personalize treatment. Second, the concept of brain sensing and adaptive DBS, which aims at identifying neural biomarkers that may guide stimulation in a closed-loop fashion.

In DBS for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), substantial progress has been made on both ends, over the last five years. Together, results begin to draw a picture of exactly which circuit is …

Integrated Transcriptomic Landscape Of Medulloblastoma And Ependymoma Reveals Novel Tumor Subtype-Specific Biology, Sonali Arora, Nicholas Nuechterlein, Matt Jensen, Gregory Glatzer, Philipp Sievers, Srinidhi Varadharajan, Andrey Korshunov, Felix Sahm, Stephen C Mack, Michael D Taylor, Taranjit S Gujral, Eric C Holland

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Medulloblastoma and ependymoma are common pediatric central nervous system tumors with significant molecular and clinical heterogeneity. While molecular subgrouping has enabled classification into molecular subtypes, the extent of heterogeneity within these subgroups remains poorly defined.

Methods: We collected bulk RNA sequencing data from 888 medulloblastoma and 370 ependymoma tumors to establish a comprehensive reference landscape. After rigorous batch effect correction, normalization, and dimensionality reduction, we generated a unified landscape to explore gene expression, signaling pathways, RNA fusions, and copy number variations.

Results: Our transcriptional analysis revealed distinct clustering patterns, including two primary ependymoma compartments, EPN-E1 and EPN-E2, each with …

The Hidden Link Between Endometriosis And Obesity: A State-Of-The-Art Review, Shefali N Desai, Christina C Reed, Yamely Mendez, Qiannan Yang, Xiaoming Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis remains an under-researched disease with a wide range of symptoms. Endometriosis reduces a woman's quality of life and professional productivity, yet its exact causes, risk factors, and treatment have yet to be elucidated. Body mass index and endometriosis have been observed to be inversely related; however, this relationship may only be a correlation rather than a causation. Obesity may play a role in the inflammation and cell proliferation associated with endometriosis through the complex signaling pathways of adipokines. A literature review was done on endometriosis and obesity to gain insight and synthesize knowledge about opportunities to improve endometriosis care, …

Utilization Of Intensive Care Interventions In Critically Ill Patients With Candidemia Versus Bacteremia: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study, Mary North Jones, Masayuki Nigo, Stefano Casarin, James Kurian, Aarjav Sanghvi, Enshuo Hsu, Stephen L Jones, Ashton Connor, David B Corry, Cesar A Arias, Max W Adelman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Candida species are one of the most common causes of ICU-onset bloodstream infection (BSI). Yet, there is no robust guidance on when to initiate empiric antifungals for ICU patients suspected of BSI. We compared patients with ICU-onset candidemia vs. ICU-onset bacteremia to determine which patients may benefit from empiric antifungals.

Design: We compared characteristics between patients with bacteremia vs. candidemia at time of culture. We determined risk factors for death and constructed a multivariable regression to determine if candidemia is an independent risk factor for death.

Setting/patients: We included ICU patients from a hospital system in Houston, Texas (n …

13 C-Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test Normative Values In Healthy Children: A Multicenter Study With Comparison To Symptomatic Children, Katja Karrento, Bruno P Chumpitazi, Liyun Zhang, Pippa Simpson, Robert J Shulman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Diagnosing pediatric gastroparesis presents a significant challenge due to lack of normative data in children. We aimed to determine normative values for gastric emptying using the nonradioactive 13 C-Spirulina gastric emptying breath test ( 13 C-GEBT) in a large cohort of healthy children (HC) and examine differences compared to children with gastroparesis-like symptoms (GLS).

Methods: A total of 301 HC ages 7-18 years completed the 13 C-GEBT with 10 different breath samples × 4 hours. 13 CO 2 excretion rate (kPCD) was determined by change in 13 CO 2 / 12 CO 2 . Outcome variables included: kPCD at …

Unusual Endoscopic Remission In An Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Refractory Case Of Severe Ulcerative Colitis During Upadacitinib Therapy, Carine A Halaby, Charlotte F Kim, Richard Kellermayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Induction Of Yin Yang 1 (Yy1) Overexpression In Mature Adipocytes Promotes Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue And Systemic Insulin Resistance In Mice, Line Pedersen, Christy M Gliniak, Thomas Myhre Dale, Qingzhang Zhu, Chao Li, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Clair Crewe, Jiahui Luo, Lauren Palluth, Yi Zhu, Philipp E Scherer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The ubiquitous transcription factor Ying Yang 1 (YY1) plays a fundamental role in multiple biological processes and is believed to regulate up to 10 % of all human genes. In thermogenic brown adipose tissue, YY1 has been linked to controlling mitochondrial gene expression and regulating cellular oxidative respiration, protecting against diet-induced obesity and alterations in energy balance. The role of YY1 in non-thermogenic, white adipose tissue, on the other hand, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that adipocyte-specific induction of YY1 promotes dysfunctional adipose tissue and systemic insulin resistance in mice. Long-term YY1 induction in mature adipocytes leads to reduced …

Participant Retention In A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Of Participants With Pancreatitis And Factors Associated With Attrition, Radmila Choate, Jun Xu, Jeffrey J Easler, Samuel Han, Anna E Phillips, Melena D Bellin, William E Fisher, Evan L Fogel, Chris Forsmark, Phil A Hart, Stephen J Pandol, Walter G Park, Jose Serrano, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Liang Li, Darwin L Conwell, Dhiraj Yadav

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Participant retention is essential in prospective studies to minimize bias and maintain validity. This study aimed to estimate retention rates and identify factors influencing attrition in a multicenter cohort (PROCEED) of US adults with acute/recurrent acute pancreatitis (AP/RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: Participants from the PROCEED study with AP/RAP or CP eligible for follow-up within the designated visit window were included. Retention was defined as completing at least one follow-up visit during the observation period. Retention was analyzed by follow-up mode (in-person and/or medical record review) and disease type (AP/RAP and CP). Retention factors were assessed using univariate …