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Influence Of Family Health History And Parental Education On Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, And Lipid Levels In 5th Grade Children: A Secondary Data Analysis Of The Cardiac Project, Madha Rani Das, Lee A. Plyes, Eloise Elliott, Christa L. Lilly

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Childhood obesity and related cardiovascular risks reflect the interplay of genetic predispositions and socioeconomic adversity. Appalachia’s poverty, limited health care, and educational gaps worsen family health risks, driving early cardio-metabolic problems in children, highlighting the need for effective interventions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the association of family health history and parental education with BMI, BP, and lipid profiles among 5^th grade children in West Virginia (WV).

Methods: The study used WV CARDIAC data from 2006–2009. Outcomes were BMI, SBP/DBP, and fasting lipids (HDL, LDL, TG). Predictors were parental education and family health history …

Positive Psychology Interventions For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) Among Earthquake Survivors In Nepal, Niusha Karki, Melissa C. Henry, Mark M. Leach

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

Natural disasters produce both community and individual trauma; Nepal’s 2015 and 2023 earthquakes exemplify this enduring impact. Previous literature has discussed the effects of PTSD and other mental health concerns post-disasters, providing some context to the difficulties in providing counseling services to those in need. However, little is known about unique psychological, cultural, and contextual factors in Nepal and how their influence and understanding may result in modifying traditional PTSD counseling interventions found in much of the existing professional literature. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to propose a culturally responsive, strengths-based framework that integrates positive psychology interventions, positive …

Individualised Homoeopathic Treatment Of Menstrual Distress In Adolescent Girls- A Case Series, Neha Kalra, Ritika Saxena, Anjula Narang, Subhash Kaushik

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Introduction: Menstrual distress is a broad term describing the constellation of physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms that occur about menstruation and cause discomfort or disruption to daily life. These symptoms can include abdominal cramps, backache, breast tenderness, mood swings, irritability and sleep disturbances. This complex impact ex tends beyond pain alone and reflects the multifaceted burden that menstruation may impose. This case series brings forth eight adolescent girls suffering from menstrual distress, who were successfully treated with individualised Homoeopathy. Case summary: The results of this case series demonstrate a mean reduction in total Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q) score …

Effects Of Auricular Point Acupressure On Inflammatory Signaling In Chronic Low Back Pain: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Nada Lukkahatai, Hongyu Wang, Xinran Huang, Wanqi Chen, Hulin Wu, Jennifer Kawi, Zhiyin Yu, Constance M Johnson, Paul Christo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Auricular point acupressure (APA) has shown promise for pain relief, but its biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the effects of APA on inflammatory cytokines and explored the relationships between changes in inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes in older adults with chronic low back pain (cLBP).

Method: This secondary analysis utilized plasma samples from a three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) (NCT03589703) with 272 participants aged 65 years and older with cLBP. The participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to the targeted APA (T-APA), nontargeted APA (NT-APA), or education control (CG) groups for four weeks. Cytokine levels were …

Isg15 Dysregulates Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrial Contacts And Calcium Homeostasis In Ataxia Telangiectasia, Oygul Mirzalieva, Ryan E. Reed, Arthur L. Haas, Meredith A. Juncker, Patrick Logarbo, Jennifer M. Klein, David Worthylake, Shyamal D. Desai

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Dysregulation of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial (ER:Mit) contacts and mitochondrial calcium (mitCa2+) homeostasis are found in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T). However, the cellular basis of these defects remains unclear. Previously, we demonstrated that the aberrantly elevated Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15 (ISG15) pathway inhibits protein polyubiquitylation, its dependent protein turnover, and mitophagy pathways in A-T. Literature indicates that silencing of mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase 1 (MUL1) stabilizes mitofusin2 (MFN2) and attenuates mitCa2+ uptake from ER to Mit (mitCa2+influx) in primary neurons. We have replicated these findings in apparently healthy fibroblasts. We hypothesized that elevated ISG15 may inhibit ubiquitin-dependent MUL1-mediated degradation …

6c Potency Of Terminalia Chebula Reveals Secondary Metabolites And Induces Apoptosis In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells (Tnbcs), Apoorva Parimoo, Shama Aphale, Prajakta D. Patil, Ruchika Kaul Ghanekar

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy in women globally, and TNBCs, being ER-/PR-/Her2-, pose challenges in treatment options. Complementary and alternative medicines, including homoeopathic remedies, have gained popularity as potential anti-cancer agents to mitigate the side e ects of conventional drugs. Previously, the anticancer activity of homoeopathic potencies of Terminalia chebula (MT, 3X, 6C, and 30C) against breast cancer cell lines has been reported. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of anticancer activity of 6C potency of T. chebula against the TNBC cell line, MDAMB231 and to understand the phytochemical composition of 6C potency. Methods: …

Homoeopathic Intervention In Dual Autoimmune Disorders: A Case Report On Management Of Vitiligo And Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Nitin Kumar Saklani

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Vitiligo and Hashimoto Thyroiditis often occur as chronic autoimmune disorders that require careful evaluation and individualised management. This case study examines the usefulness of homoeopathic interventions in addressing the complexities of Vitiligo and Hashimoto Thyroiditis through evidence-based methodologies. Case Summary: A 57-year-old woman initially sought medical attention for a noticeable whitish discolouration on the left side of her lips. Subsequent evaluations unveiled the presence of hypothyroidism, marked by elevated Anti-TPO levels, exposing the dual autoimmune nature of her condition. The patient’s concerns centered on the aesthetic impact of vitiligo on her lips and the broader health implications …

Physicochemical, Pharmacognostic Standardisation And Phytochemical Analyses Of The Homoeopathic Drug Justicia Adhatoda, Bibaswan Biswas, Satish Patel, Digvijay Verma, Satyajit Maity, Shilpi Singh, Paulami Majumdar, Narasimha Kumar Gv

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Justicia adhatoda (J. adhatoda), also well known as Vasaka in India is a medicinal plant chiefly used to treat respiratory ailments in traditional and alternative medical systems. Objective: This study aimed to establish the physicochemical, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical standardisation parameters of the drug. The study involved the measurement of physicochemical parameters and chemical profiling of the raw drug. The chemical characteristics of the in-house mother tincture (prepared from in-house raw drug) and commercial mother tinctures available in India were also evaluated to assess the quality of commercially available mother tinctures. Materials and Methods: The present study …

Potency Dependent Angiogenic Effect Of Bellis Perennis On In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay, Jayanthdevan V, Winston Vargheese V, Anish Fathima K, Lohita S

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Hormesis is the biological response of an organism for a particular dosage of a substance. The lower dose stimulates and higher dose inhibits. J Compton Burnett, an eminent homeopath, prescribed Bellis perennis for breast and uterine tumours, which suggests it could be due to the antiangiogenic property or angiogenic inhibiting property and clinically also it is used for healing of fractured bone and wound healing which may be due to angiogenic promoting property. This experiment deals with the dose dependent effect of Bellis perennis on In Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay. Objective: To evaluate the Hormesis effect of Bellis …

The Concise Guide To Pharmacology 2025/26: Catalytic Receptors, Stephen P. H. Alexander, Doriano Fabbro, Chloe J. Peach, Alasdair J. Gibb, Eamonn Kelly, Alistair A. Mathie, Emma L. Veale, Jane F. Armstrong, Elena Faccenda, Simon D. Harding, Christopher Southan, Jamie A. Davies, Annie Beuve, Peter Brouckaert, Clare Bryant, John C. Burnett, Richard W. Farndale, Andreas Friebe, John Garthwaite, Adrian J. Hobbs, Gavin E. Jarvis, Laura Kilpatrick, Doris Koesling, Michaela Kuhn, Birgit Leitinger, David Macewan, Tom P. Monie, Lincoln R. Potter, Michael Russwurm, Harald H. H. W. Schmidt, Johannes-Peter Stasch, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2025/26 marks the seventh edition in this series of biennial publications in the British Journal of Pharmacology. Presented in landscape format, the guide provides a comparative overview of the pharmacology of drug target families. The concise nature of the Concise Guide refers to the style of presentation, being clear, accessible, and well-structured, rather than the scope of the content, which spans approximately 500 pages. The Concise Guide summarises the key pharmacological properties of around 1900 human drug targets, and nearly 7000 interactions, involving around 4400 ligands. While the content is a substantially condensed version of …

Sex Differences In Bile Acid Homeostasis And Excretion Underlie The Disparity In Liver Cancer Incidence Between Males And Females, Megan E Patton, Sherwin Kelekar, Lauren J Taylor, Angela E Dean, Qianying Zuo, Rhishikesh N Thakare, Sung Hwan Lee, Emily C Gentry, Morgan Panitchpakdi, Pieter Dorrestein, Yazen Alnouti, Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, Ju-Seog Lee, Milton J Finegold, Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the common liver cancer, exhibits higher incidence in males. Here, we report that mice lacking bile acid (BA) regulators, Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR also termed NR1H4) and Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP also termed NR0B2), recapitulate the sex difference in liver cancer risk. Since few therapeutic options are available, we focused on understanding the intrinsic protection afforded to female livers. Transcriptomic analysis in control and NR1H4 and NR0B2 double knockout livers identified female-specific changes in metabolism, including amino acids, lipids, and steroids. To assess translational relevance, we examined if transcriptomic signatures obtained from this murine HCC model correlate …

Regenerative And Wellness Medicine: A Boon Or Barrier To Surgical Innovation In Degenerative Spine Care?, Álvaro Dowling, Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Morgan P. Lorio, Óscar L. Alves, Rossano Kepler Alvim Fiorelli, Sergio Luis Schmidt, Hansen A. Yuan, Alexander R. Vaccaro

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Regenerative and wellness medicine is rapidly reshaping health care, particularly in the management of degenerative spine conditions. Noninvasive or minimally invasive options such as stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and holistic wellness programs are increasingly selected by patients who wish to avoid the risks, costs, and prolonged recovery associated with elective spine surgery.

PURPOSE: This perspective article examines whether regenerative and wellness approaches function primarily as a boon or a barrier to innovation in spine surgery and explores their impact on traditional, insurance-based surgical care models.

METHODS: Using a narrative, opinion-based framework, this article synthesizes current trends …

Role Of Gut Microbiome In Oncogenesis And Oncotherapies, Renuka Sri Sai Peddireddi, Sai Kiran Kuchana, Rohith Kode, Saketh Khammammettu, Aishwarya Koppanatham, Supriya Mattigiri, Harshavardhan Gobburi, Suresh K. Alahari

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The gut microbiome has emerged as a key regulator of human health, influencing not only metabolism and immunity but also the development and treatment of cancer. Mounting evidence suggests that microbial dysbiosis contributes to oncogenesis by driving chronic inflammation, producing genotoxic metabolites, altering bile acid metabolism, and disrupting epithelial barrier integrity. At the same time, the gut microbiome significantly modulates the host response to oncotherapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and especially immunotherapy, where microbial diversity and specific taxa determine treatment efficacy and toxicity. This review synthesizes current evidence on the role of the gut microbiome in both oncogenesis and oncotherapies, focusing …

Radiographic Assessment Of Anterior Maxillary Sites Prior To Immediate Implant Placement: A Retrospective Study On Cbct, Elissa El Alam, Abdallah Menhall, Nabil Ghosn, Pierre Lahoud

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective radiographic study was to measure alveolar bone width at the alveolar crest, intraosseous root length, apical bucco-palatal bone thickness and apical bone height at the anterior maxillary teeth prior to immediate implant placement. Dehiscence and fenestration at these sites were also reported.

Methods: 50 CBCTs were included in this study. Measurements were taken on the right and left sides of the central incisor, lateral incisor, and canine using a 3d slicer program. Frequency of fenestration and dehiscence at these sites were also reported.

Results: Mean bone width at the alveolar crest of the central …

Effect Of Different Deep Margin Elevation Thicknesses Versus No Elevation On The Fracture Resistance Of Indirect Restorations: An In-Vitro Study, Fleurene Daraze, Karim Corbani, Brigitte Douaihy, Hadi Jomaah, Cynthia Kassis

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate whether different deep margin elevation (DME) thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm) influence the fracture resistance and fracture type of molars restored with CAD/CAM lithium disilicate overlays, compared to no elevation.

Methods: Seventy-six extracted human molars were randomly divided into four groups (n=19) based on Deep Margin Elevation thickness: 0 mm (control), 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. Standardized Class II cavities were prepared with cervical margins extending 1 mm below the cementoenamel junction. DME was performed using a low-viscosity hybrid composite. Using a CAD/CAM workflow, overlays were designed and milled …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Solubility Of Three Commonly Used Root Canal Sealers When Exposed To Xylene And Endosolv: An In Vitro Study, Aparna Palekar, Piyush Mantri, Basawaraj Biradar, Mukund Singh, Vaidehi Joshi, Pushpal Ingle

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This in vitro study compared the solubility of three root canal sealers, AH Plus (epoxy resin-based), MTA Fillapex (MTA-based), and Cerafill RCS (bioceramic), in two solvents: Xylene and Endosolv.

Methods: Sixty standardized cylindrical specimens were prepared using the three sealers of interest. The specimens were divided into six groups (n = 10) and immersed in either Xylene or Endosolv for 10 minutes. Solubility was assessed by calculating the percentage weight loss before and after immersion. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (α= 0.05).

Results: All sealers exhibited statistically significant solubility in both solvents (p …

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Impact And Prevention - A Narrative Review, Swarna Radhakrishnan, Harini Ramendran, Priyanga Thirunavukkarasu

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent one of the most pervasive and costly occupational health challenges worldwide. Affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, and supporting blood vessels, these conditions arise from a complex interplay of physical, psychosocial, organizational, and individual risk factors present across diverse work environments. From factory floors and construction sites to offices and healthcare settings, WMSDs contribute substantially to pain, disability, reduced productivity, absenteeism, and diminished quality of life. This narrative review synthesizes existing literature on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and socioeconomic impact of WMSDs, with particular attention to high-risk occupational sectors. It further discusses prevention …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Accurate Diagnosis Of Chronic Non-Bacterial Osteomyelitis Of The Jaw In Young Patients: An Assessment Of Clinical And Laboratory Data, Alexander Yu Kugushev, Andrey V. Lopatin, Suzan Dagher

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: Chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is a rare autoinflammatory bone disorder predominantly affecting pediatric and adolescent populations. The clinical presentation is heterogeneous, with persistent pain and swelling representing the most frequent and often initial symptoms. These manifestations are commonly localized to the mandible, although involvement of other skeletal sites, including long bones, clavicle, and vertebrae, may occur in more advanced cases. Beyond localized symptoms, some patients exhibit mild systemic features such as low-grade fever, fatigue, or malaise; however, these systemic signs are generally less pronounced than those observed in infectious osteomyelitis. The diagnostic evaluation of CNO is intricate and necessitates …

Interdisciplinary Full-Mouth Rehabilitation Addressing Midline Shift And Gingival Discrepancies Through Crown Lengthening And Root Reshaping Procedures: A Case Report, Ghida Lawand, Roudy Khayat, Stephanie Khalaf, Tamara Rebeiz, Hani Tohme

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

This report describes a minimally invasive approach to address midline deviation and gingival discrepancies in a 50-year-old patient seeking rapid aesthetic results. Treatment included prosthetic crown lengthening, selective root modification, and biologic shaping to correct a 3 mm midline shift. Digital smile design and CAD/CAM technology guided the fabrication of zirconia restorations, achieving improved midline alignment, gingival harmony, and smile aesthetics with high patient satisfaction. This technique provides an efficient alternative for complex aesthetic cases.

Management Of Anterior Teeth Affected By Molar Incisor Hypomineralization Using Resin Infiltration Technique: A Case Report, Atika Bouabid, Selsebil Laajimi, Yamina Elelmi, Fatma Masmoudi, Ahlem Baaziz

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Background: Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) is a developmental enamel defect affecting first permanent molars and often incisors, presenting unique restorative challenges. In line with minimally invasive dentistry, the “Würzburg concept” promotes conservative management strategies with resin infiltration.

Objectives: This case report investigates the impact of modifications to the ICON resin infiltration protocol on esthetic outcomes and adhesion in MIH-affected anterior teeth.

Method: Three clinical cases involving MIH lesions on anterior teeth were treated using the Icon® resin infiltration system by DMG (Hamburg, Germany).

Results: Preconditioning hypomineralized enamel with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite followed by resin infiltration enhances the physical integrity of composite …

Evaluating The Analgesic Activity Of The Ethanolic Leaf Extract Of Ipomoea Aquatica (Convolvulaceae), Blessy H. Vale, Lenny Shai Somer, Julie Mae Suico, Roselle L. Remulta, Junnin Gay Garay

Pacific Journal of Health

Ipomoea aquatica, commonly known as water spinach, is a leafy vegetable widely consumed in tropical and subtropical regions for its nutritional benefits. This study investigated the potential analgesic activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of I. aquatica, as no prior scientific evidence supports its role in acute pain management. Male Swiss albino mice were used in an acetic acid-induced writhing test, with aspirin as the positive control and plain normal saline solution (PNSS) as the negative control. The extract was administered at low, medium, and high doses. In the writhing test, I. aquatica significantly inhibited the writhing response …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Collagen Type Ii-Targeting Lentiviral Gene Therapy For Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva, Betul Celik, Sampurna Saikia, Shaukat Khan, Krishna Sai Musini, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS IVA) is caused by pathogenic variations in the GALNS gene, leading to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in tissues and causing progressive skeletal lesions. While conventional lentiviral vectors (LVs) provide long-term stable expression, they do not deliver therapeutic levels to bone and cartilage. We hypothesized that engineering the LV envelope with a collagen type II-targeting peptide (WYRGRL) increases the binding affinity of the LVs for bone and cartilage. These modified vectors carrying the CBh and COL2A1 promoters delivered the GALNS gene to MPS IVA newborn mice via intravenous (IV) or intraarticular (IA) administration. The peptide-modified LVs exhibited markedly increased …

Loss Of The Maternal Effect Gene Nlrp2 Impairs Embryonic And Extra-Embryonic Development, Revealing A Novel Genetic Cause Of Congenital Anomalies†, Momal Sharif, Zahra Anvar, Imen Chakchouk, Sara H El-Dessouky, Roni Zemet, Eric C Kao, Wessam E Sharaf-Eldin, Ying-Wooi Wan, Zhandong Liu, Pengfei Liu, Michael Jochum, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Maternal-effect genes (MEGs) play a crucial role in early mammalian development, and their dysfunction can lead to severe embryonic and extra-embryonic abnormalities. NLRP2, a MEG that encodes a subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) protein, has been implicated in preimplantation development, but its role after implantation remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the developmental consequences of maternal Nlrp2 loss-of-function in a maternal knockout (KO) mouse model at embryonic day 11.5. Embryos derived from Nlrp2-KO females have abnormal yolk sac vasculature, increased embryonic resorption, craniofacial abnormalities, neural tube defects, and congenital heart defects. Placental architecture is disrupted with an altered junctional zone …

A Spatiotemporal Model Of Cxcl10 As A Master Regulator Of Immune Evasion And Metastasis In Osteosarcoma, Benjamin B Gyau, Tsz-Kwong Man

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) is implicated in the progression of osteosarcoma (OS), the most aggressive pediatric bone malignancy. However, its role often presents a profound clinical paradox: although high circulating levels are strongly linked to poor prognosis, its canonical function is to recruit anti-tumor immune cells. This review unravels these contrasting roles by proposing a novel spatiotemporal model. We argue that in the early stages, immune-evading OS cells initiate the formation of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in the lungs, creating a localized inflammatory environment that becomes the primary source of elevated circulating CXCL10. As the disease progresses, …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Sex Differences In The Association Of Vascular Risk And Apoe Genotype With Cognitive Decline And Dementia: Evidence From A U.S. Longitudinal Study, Longjian Liu, Jintong Hou, Saishi Cui, Xiaopeng Zhao, Zuolu Liu, J. Craig Longenecker, Nathalie S May, Jin Jun Luo, Rose Ann Dimaria-Ghalili, Howard J. Eisen

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the association between vascular factors and cognitive outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of blood pressure metrics (hypertension, systolic blood pressure [SBP), pulse pressure, ankle and brachial pressures, and ankle to brachial pressure index [ABI]) with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

METHODS: We conducted a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (begun in 1987-1989) in the United States. We analyzed a total of 12,268 participants aged 45-64 years who had validated exposure measurements, cognitive function tests (first administrated 1990-1992), and followed up for incidence …

Tumor Biology And Access To Care And Metastatic Breast Cancer Outcomes, Matthew R. Dunn, Sarah C. Van Alsten, Marc A. Emerson, Katherine Reeder-Hayes, Terry Hyslop, Melissa A. Troester

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To understand how access to care influences metastatic breast cancer burden (MBC) while accounting for molecular tumor characteristics, and identify interventions to reduce metastatic disease burden.

METHODS: The Carolina Breast Cancer Study is a population-based cohort with invasive breast cancer (diagnosed 2008-2013). Both de novo metastasis (stage IV at diagnosis) and distant recurrence were evaluated (12 years of follow-up. Tumor data were from medical records, pathology reports, and RNA expression data. Social variables and access to care were from participant surveys. Generalized linear models were used to estimate associations of biological and access characteristics with MBC; Cox models were …