Digital Commons Network^™

Serum Factors In Primary Podocytopathies, Edward J. Filippone, John L. Farber

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

Primary podocytopathies, including minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), are caused by a circulating factor or factors injurious to the podocyte. An immunologic origin seems likely based on responsiveness to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitors targeting T-cells and rituximab targeting B-cells. Potential non-antibody-mediated circulating factors have been identified, including cardiotrophin-like cytokine 1, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and angiopoietin-like 4, among others. More recent research supports a primary antibody pathogenesis, with anti-nephrin antibodies found in a significant percentage of cases. Such antibodies also predict recurrence after transplantation. Other potential antigenic targets besides nephrin include …

The Evaluation Of Variants Within Eight Collagen Genes Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1, Col5a1, Col11a1, Col15a1, Col22a1, And Col27a1 And A Risk Of Non-Contact Knee Ligament Rupture In Elite Handball Players: A Case-Control Study, Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik, Andrzej Mastalerz, Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Monika Johne, Alison V. September, Aleksandra Garbacz, Katarzyna Komar, Ewelina Maculewicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Knee ligament ruptures are common injuries among athletes. While most previous studies examined single collagen gene polymorphisms, few have investigated haplotype-level associations across multiple genes, particularly in elite handball players. Materials and methods: This case-control study analyzed variants in eight collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1) in 103 elite Polish handball players with non-contact knee ligament rupture and 226 matched controls. Results: The COL22A1 rs11784270 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.88, p = 0.01), with the strongest effect in the …

Scaling Symmetry Of The Hodgkin-Huxley Mathematical Model, Vladimir Valerievich Galanin

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

A computational method based on the application of a scaling transformation to the Hodgkin-Huxley mathematical model of the biological neuron and its generalizations to the case of various neural systems is proposed. The method makes it possible: 1) to obtain invariants of the scaling transformation of the Hodgkin-Huxley model; 2) to find self-similarity regions corresponding to the modes of neural activity; 3) to determine the conditions for the similarity of models of various types of biological neurons; 4) to reduce the order of the system of differential equations of the Hodgkin-Huxley model for neural systems with synchronous activity. The capabilities …

Comparison Of Authentic Urine N-Ethylpentedrone Metabolites To Predicted In Silico And In Vitro Human Hepatocyte Metabolism, Gloria Daziani, Omayema Taoussi, Diletta Berardinelli, Giulia Bambagiotti, Marilyn A. Huestis, Francesco P. Busardò, Jeremy Carlier

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Synthetic cathinones are the second most common class of substances belonging to the category of new psychoactive substances (NPS). N-ethylpentedrone (NEPD) self-administration was reported, making it important to elucidate its metabolic pathway to improve its detection. NEPD is often taken together with other substances; confidently identifying its intake is important for accurate toxicological analysis and understanding its toxicity. NEPD metabolism was studied following incubation with human hepatocytes and analysis by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry paired with Compound Discoverer software (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Prediction of possible metabolites was performed with the online software GLORYx. In vivo NEPD metabolism was evaluated by …

Outcomes Of The Modified Cabrol Technique In Aortic Root Replacement: Early And Midterm Experience, Nayeem Nasher, Joshua R. Chen, Purab Kothari, Colin King, Jacqueline Mcgee, Vishal Shah, Saarah Khairi, Konstadinos A. Plestis

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The modified Cabrol technique has been associated with excellent graft patency. However, prior studies were limited to patients largely on long-term anticoagulation. We sought to analyze outcomes in patients primarily managed without mechanical prostheses.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent aortic root replacement by a single surgeon from 2014 to 2024. Patients who underwent reimplantation of one or both coronary ostia using the modified Cabrol technique with separate interposition grafts were identified. Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were reported. Predictors of mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards, and overall survival was reported using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: …

Growth Plate Skeletal Stem Cells And Their Actions Within The Stem Cell Niche, Natalie Kiat-Amnuay Cheng, Shion Orikasa, Noriaki Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The growth plate is a specialized cartilage structure near the ends of long bones that orchestrates longitudinal bone growth during fetal and postnatal stages. Within this region reside a dynamic population of growth plate skeletal stem cells (gpSSCs), primarily located in the resting zone, which possess self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity. Recent advances in cell-lineage tracing, single-cell transcriptomics, and in vivo functional studies have revealed distinct subpopulations of gpSSCs, which are defined by markers such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), CD73, axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin2), forkhead box protein A2 (FoxA2), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). These stem cells interact intricately …

Early-Life Exposure To Organic Chemical Pollutants As Assessed In Primary Teeth And Cardiometabolic Risk In Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study, Vidya S. Farook, Feroz Akhtar, Rector Arya, Alice Yau, Srinivas Mummidi, Juan Lopez Alvarenga, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Roy G. Resendez, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Provider Education On Phq-9 Depression Screening To Improve Compliance, Obianuju Okafor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide; however, screening in primary care remains inconsistent. Even though the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated screening tool, its use is often limited by insufficient provider training. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of structured provider education on PHQ-9 screening practices, with the purpose of improving provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to screening guidelines in a primary care setting. Guided by Donabedian's Model of Quality Care and Lewin's Change Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the project used a one-group pre/post design at an outpatient …

Dworf Gene Therapy Improves Cardiac Calcium Handling And Mitochondrial Function, Omar Brito-Estrada, Yasuhide Kuwabara, Aaron M Gibson, Keira R Hassel, Michael L Kamradt, Joseph P Verry, N Scott Blair, Michael J Bround, Jiuzhou Huo, Jeffery D Molkentin, Catherine A Makarewich

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Calcium (Ca2+) dysregulation is a hallmark of heart failure, impairing excitation-contraction coupling and contributing to pathological remodeling. The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase isoform 2a (SERCA2a) mediates Ca2+ reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during diastole, but its activity declines in failing hearts. DWORF (dwarf open reading frame), a newly identified cardiac microprotein, enhances SERCA2a activity and improves cardiomyocyte Ca2+ cycling and contractility. SR Ca2+ release also influences mitochondrial metabolism and ATP production. Here, we investigated whether DWORF overexpression improves SR Ca2+ handling, augments mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling, and protects against heart failure progression.

Methods: Transgenic and adeno-associated virus approaches were …

Aggrebots: Configuring Ciliabots Through Guided, Modular Tissue Aggregation, Dhruv Bhattaram, Kian Golestan, Xuanshuo Zhang, Shihong Yang, Zhuowei Gong, Steven L Brody, Amjad Horani, Victoria A Webster-Wood, Amir Barati Farimani, Xi Ren

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ciliated biobots (CiliaBots) are engineered tissues capable of self-actuated propulsion via exterior motile cilia. While correlations have been observed between CiliaBot motility and morphology, direct control of morphological features to deliver desired motility outcomes remains unexplored. Here, we describe the engineering of aggregated CiliaBots (AggreBots) to augment control over CiliaBot structural parameters and, consequently, motility patterns through guided, modular aggregation of human airway epithelial spheroids [referred to as CiliaBot building blocks (CBBs)]. Multi-CBB aggregation generated rod-, triangle-, and diamond-shaped AggreBots, altering tissue geometry without sacrificing surface cilia density or inter-CBB boundary fidelity. The further introduction of

Lysosomal Lrrc8 Complex Impacts Lysosomal Ph, Morphology, And Systemic Glucose Metabolism, Ashutosh Kumar, Yonghui Zhao, Litao Xie, Rahul Chadda, John D Tranter, Ryan T Mikami, Nihil Abraham, Juan Hong, Ethan Feng, David R Rawnsley, Haiyan Liu, Gretchen Meyer, Abhinav Diwan, Rajan Sah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lysosome integrates anabolic signaling and nutrient sensing to regulate intracellular growth pathways. The leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) channel complex forms a lysosomal anion channel and regulates PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, skeletal muscle differentiation, growth, and systemic glucose metabolism. Here, we define the endogenous LRRC8 subunits localized to a subset of lysosomes in differentiated myotubes. We show that LRRC8A affects leucine-stimulated mTOR; lysosome size; number; pH; expression of lysosomal proteins LAMP2, P62, and LC3B; and lysosomal function. Mutating an LRRC8A lysosomal targeting dileucine motif sequence (LRRC8A-L706A;L707A) in myotubes recapitulates the abnormal AKT signaling and altered lysosomal morphology and pH observed in LRRC8A …

Distinct Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Differentially Regulate Skeletal Stem Cells In Calvaria Versus Long Bones During Bone Regeneration, Jea Solidum, Kohei Yamasaki, Youngjae Jeong, Laura Ortinau, Francisco Heralde, Dongsu Park

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calvarial suture skeletal stem cells (Su-SSCs) are a distinct stem cell population for craniofacial bone formation by intramembranous ossification, compared to long bone periosteal SSCs (LB-PSSCs) with endochondral (osteochondrogenic) ossification. However, whether SSC intrinsic or extrinsic factors affect their differentiation process has not been well elucidated. Here, using an inducible Prx1-CreER-EGFP+/−;Rosa26-tdTomato mouse model, we observed that endogenous Prx1+ Su-SSCs and their orthotopic transplantation into calvarial injury do not form cartilage intermediates at the injury sites, while the transplantation of Prx1+ LB-PSSCs into LB injury induces osteochondrogenic differentiation, respectively. However, the heterotopic transplantation of Prx1+ Su-SSCs (Su-SSCs …

Association Between Therapeutic Alliance And Clinical Outcomes In Virtual Telepsychiatry: A Retrospective Analysis Of Data From Talkiatry, Cheryl Person, Nathaniel David Phillips, Kartik Venkatachalam, Georgia Gaveras

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Given the increasing demand for accessible mental health services, fully virtual telepsychiatry has become a vital component of modern health care delivery. Therapeutic alliance, the collaborative and affective bond between patients and therapists, is a well-established predictor of clinical outcomes in traditional face-to-face and teletherapy. However, the relationship between therapeutic alliance and clinical outcomes in an outpatient telepsychiatry setting remains less understood.

Objective: Our primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between therapeutic alliance and clinical outcomes for depression and anxiety in an outpatient telepsychiatry practice.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from treatment-seeking adults receiving services from Talkiatry, …

Aging In Mice Alters Regionally Enriched Striatal Astrocytes, Kay E Linker, Violeta Duran-Laforet, Matthias Ollivier, Xinzhu Yu, Dorothy P Schafer, Baljit S Khakh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aging affects multiple organs and within the brain drives distinct molecular changes across different cell types. The striatum encodes motor behaviors that decline with age, but our understanding of how cells within the striatum change remains incomplete. Using single-cell RNA sequencing from young and aged mice we identify molecularly distinct astrocyte subtypes. We show that astrocytes change significantly with age, exhibiting downregulation of genes, reduced diversity, and a shift to more homogenous inflammatory transcriptomic profiles. By exploring where striatal astrocyte subtypes are located with single-cell resolution, we map astrocytes enriched in dorsal, medial, and ventral striatum. Age increases inflammatory marker …

Comparison Of Imaging Based Single-Cell Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics Profiling Platforms Using Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tumor Samples, Nejla Ozirmak Lermi, Max Molina Ayala, Sharia Hernandez, Wei Lu, Khaja Khan, Alejandra Serrano, Idania Lubo, Leticia Hamana, Katarzyna Tomczak, Sean Barnes, Jinzhuang Dou, Qingnan Liang, Rti Team, Maria Gabriela Raso, Ximing Tang, Mei Jiang, Beatriz Sanchez-Espiridion, Annikka Weissferdt, John Heymach, Jianjun Zhang, Boris Sepesi, Tina Cascone, Anne Tsao, Mehmet Altan, Reza Mehran, Don Gibbons, Ignacio Wistuba, Cara Haymaker, Ken Chen, Luisa M Solis Soto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Imaging-based spatial transcriptomics (ST) is evolving as a pivotal technology in studying tumor biology and associated microenvironments. However, the strengths of the commercially available ST platforms in studying spatial biology have not been systematically evaluated using rigorously controlled experiments. We use serial 5 μm sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma and pleural mesothelioma samples in tissue microarrays to compare the performance of the ST platforms (CosMx, MERFISH, and Xenium (uni/multi-modal)) in reference to bulk RNA sequencing, multiplex immunofluorescence, GeoMx, and hematoxylin and eosin staining data. In addition to an objective assessment of automatic cell segmentation and phenotyping, we …

A Novel Self-Inhaled Nicotine Exposure System In Murine Models Reveals Age-Dependent Metabolic Effects Of Nicotine, Xu Xu, Hailan Liu, Meng Yu, Qingzhuo Liu, Yongxiang Li, Yue Deng, Yuxue Yang, Jingjing Cheng, Yutian Liu, Mengjie Wang, Xing Fang, Longlong Tu, Olivia Z Ginnard, Kristine M Mcdermott, Darah Threat, Fuhui Wang, Meixin Sun, Xinming Liu, Jiamin Qiu, Xi Wu, Jinjing Jian, Tong Zhou, Megan E Burt, Sanika V Jossy, Junying Han, Chunmei Wang, Yongjie Yang, Yong Xu, Yuhan Shi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Nicotine is known to influence metabolism and body weight, yet existing murine models of nicotine exposure often fail to replicate human smoking behaviors accurately. To address this gap, we designed a cost-effective, self-administered nicotine inhalation system that allows mice to voluntarily inhale nicotine vapor generated from e-liquid.

Results: Using this system, we investigated the metabolic effects of nicotine exposure in adult and adolescent mice. Adult mice exposed to nicotine vapor for 10 days exhibited significant weight loss, which was rapidly regained upon cessation, paralleling human smoking patterns. In contrast, adolescent mice did not lose weight during nicotine exposure but …

A Novel Scaffold-Based Model For Stage Ii Pressure Injury Simulation: Protocol Development And Future Directions In Tissue Engineering, Skyler B. Wrubleski

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

This study developed a 3D tissue-engineered scaffold to mimic human sacral skin for modeling pressure injuries. The scaffold consisted of a composite hydrogel of sodium alginate, gelatin, and tannic acid, crosslinked with calcium chloride. Swelling tests showed moderate hydration capacity, while wound mimic formation using a custom 3D-printed apparatus produced consistent morphology and dimensions comparable to human dermal tissue. The scaffold maintained structural integrity under prolonged compressive forces, demonstrating viability for pressure injury studies. Future work will incorporate a bilayer model with keratinocytes and fibroblasts and introduce elastin to enhance elasticity and mechanical properties. This approach aims to improve in …

Er Stress Tolerance Is Regulated By Copper-Dependent Perk Kinase Activity., Sarah E. Bond Newton, Xinglong Shi, Noah R. Beratan, Julia Perhacs, Jitendra K. Arya, Margaret K. Bond, Tali Gidalevitz, Cagla Akay-Espinoza, Donita C. Brady, Kelly L. Jordan-Sciutto

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Pancreatic/PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (PERK) is a kinase that, in response to ER stress, mediates dual homeostatic and pro-apoptotic signaling. Thus, intricate regulation is required for physiological function. Attempts to modulate PERK activity have shown that the determinants of adaptive vs. maladaptive signaling remain ambiguous. Here, with purified protein, we provide evidence that PERK binds copper, identifies residues required for interaction, and demonstrates that copper is necessary for kinase activity. Furthermore, cellular PERK activity can be modulated via copper availability, and this regulatory relationship can be manipulated to dictate ER stress tolerance. Critically, these phenomena translate to phenotypes in …

Non-Invasive Detection Of Choroidal Melanoma Via Tear-Derived Protein Corona On Gold Nanoparticles: A Machine Learning Approach, Hakimeh Rakhshandeh, Ahmad Nasiraei, Hamid Riazi-Esfahani, Babak Masoomian, Fariba Ghassemi, Mojtaba Arjmand, Saeed Heidari Keshel, Fatemeh Atyabi, Rassoul Dinarvand

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

This study investigates the feasibility of using tear sample analysis, based on protein corona formation on gold nanoparticles combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and machine learning techniques, as a non-invasive approach for the detection of choroidal melanoma. The aim is to assess whether protein-nanoparticle interactions can support early and reliable identification of this ocular condition. Tear samples were collected using Schirmer strips from six healthy individuals and six patients diagnosed with choroidal melanoma, with subsequent augmentation to 18 samples per group. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ~ 20 nm) were synthesized via citrate reduction and incubated with tear samples to …

Cardiovascular Disease In Rural Communities: Understanding The Challenges And Solutions – A Comparative Approach, Aariyana R. Britton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project explored the effects of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural and underrepresented populations while solidifying ways of mitigation in localities with little to no healthcare access. Research included highly underserved individuals who live in or around healthcare deserts with low health literacy statuses and poor resource distribution. CVD has skyrocketed into becoming the leading cause of death in the United States of America, so it is pertinent to create methods of investigation regarding how CVD is currently diagnosed, handled, and projected in these areas where there is a shortage of proper health access and training. While CVD is …

The Relationship Between Nursing Faculty Sense Of Belonging And Faculty Intent To Stay, Heather M. Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative and correlational study was to evaluate the relationship between workplace sense of belonging and intent to stay in the current nursing faculty role among full-time nursing faculty. The shortage of nursing faculty impacts the ability to prepare the next generation of nurses needed to meet worldwide nursing demands. Strategies to effectively recruit and retain nursing faculty are important considering the current shortage and increasing retirements of nursing faculty. While sense of belonging has been studied for student retention and studies are beginning to explore the importance of workplace belonging, the impact of organizational sense …

The Lived Experiences Of Micu Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Thomas Hopkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of MICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these experiences may inform disaster preparedness in the nursing curriculum. This research is guided by Watson’s (1979) theory of human caring. The theory emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and emotional support in nursing practice, and how these elements can be integrated into disaster preparedness training. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, and guided journaling. The interviews were conducted via digital conferencing software over the internet. Field notes were recorded during the interviews. …

Fusion: A Web-Based Application For In-Depth Exploration Of Multi-Omics Data With Brightfield Histology, Samuel P Border, Sanjay Jain, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Spatial technologies examining the cell and tissue microenvironment at near single-cell resolution are revealing important molecular insights. However, few tools enable integrated, interactive analysis of spatial-omics with tissue morphology in the same functional tissue unit. Here, we present FUSION (Functional Unit State Identification in Whole Slide Images), a web-based platform for visualizing and analyzing spatial-omics data with high-resolution histology. FUSION provides workflows for assessing cell compositions, quantitative morphometrics, and comparative tissue analyses. We demonstrate applicability across spatial assays, including 10x Visium, Visium HD, 10x Xenium, Cell DIVE, and PhenoCycler, applied to healthy and diseased tissues from kidney, small intestine, lung, …

Lysosomes Signal Through The Epigenome To Regulate Longevity Across Generations, Qinghao Zhang, Weiwei Dang, Meng C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The epigenome is sensitive to metabolic inputs and crucial for aging. Lysosomes act as a signaling hub to sense metabolic cues and regulate longevity. We find that lysosomal metabolic pathways signal through the epigenome to regulate transgenerational longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Activation of lysosomal lipid signaling and lysosomal adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or reduction of lysosomal mechanistic-target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) signaling increased expression of a histone H3.3 variant and increased its methylation on K79, leading to lifespan extension across multiple generations. This transgenerational pro-longevity effect required intestine-to-germline transportation of histone H3.3 and a germline-specific H3K79 methyltransferase, and was recapitulated by …

Smarcal1 Is A New Osteosarcoma Predisposition Gene, Maryam Rafati, Lillian M Guenther, Laura E Egolf, D Matthew Gianferante, Jung Kim, Kevin Wang, Bin Zhu, Logan G Spector, Nathan Anderson, Katherine A Janeway, Donald A Barkauskas, Douglas S Hawkins, Ana Patiño-Garcia, Philip J Lupo, Michael E Scheurer, Lindsay Morton, Gregory T Armstrong, Yadav Sapkota, M Monica Gramatges, Massimo Serra, Claudia Hattinger, Katia Scotlandi, Irene L Andrulis, Jay S Wunder, Mandy L Ballinger, David M Thomas, Meredith Yeager, Michael Dean, Douglas R Stewart, Aurelie Vogt, Jia Liu, Belynda D Hicks, Wen-Yi Huang, Maria Teresa Landi, Adriana Lori, W Ryan Diver, Sharon A Savage, Stephen J Chanock, Lisa Mirabello

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Osteosarcoma, the most common childhood bone tumor, can occur in rare cancer predisposition syndromes; however, most cases are sporadic with no known predisposing factors. We investigated the frequency of SMARCAL1 putative pathogenic variants in our large ongoing study of 2,119 osteosarcoma cases, their relation to patient characteristics, and the population prevalence. Our analysis uncovered a higher frequency of SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants across three osteosarcoma case sets (1.8%, n = 2,119) than in 2,625 comparably sequenced cancer-free controls (0.3%; P <  .001). Cases with SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants had significantly improved overall survival compared to cases without these variants (hazard ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.14-0.96, P = .034). In the UK Biobank (469,557 exomes), there was a 33-fold increased risk of osteosarcoma in individuals with SMARCAL1 pathogenic variants. These results identify SMARCAL1 as a new osteosarcoma predisposition gene and thus warrant follow-up to identify the mechanisms by which SMARCAL1 contributes to the etiology of osteosarcoma.

Parental Expectations Of Pediatric Care For Children, Brenan T. Cash, Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Donia Timby, Laura Herold

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Access to childhood pediatrics is a major factor for a full and healthy childhood for all children from adolescence to adulthood. However, the physical health aspect has been the main focus of most primary care clinics, and there is little focus on mental health. Mental health issues, which involve anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, are more prominent than they have ever been, as up to 30% of children have experienced mental health issues that involve post-traumatic stress disorder, especially during the pandemic years. This study employed a non-experimental, quantitative analysis utilizing online closed-ended survey questions. Caretakers were offered an anonymous, …

Chacahoula 2025, Volume 92, Alayna Pellegrin

Chacahoula

The 2025 issue of Chacahoula includes December 2024 and May 2025 graduating classes, as well as stunning photography student life on the banks of Bayou Desiard. With features covering students, faculty, and staff, this year's time capsule preserves an academic year in the life of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Swollen Lymph Node Metastasis In Gastric Cancer: A Forgotten Prognostic Signal In Need Of Clinical Action, Keykavous Parang, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality. While the extent of nodal involvement is a well-known prognostic factor, the specific entity of swollen lymph node metastasis (SLNM), bulky nodal tumor deposits detectable radiologically or pathologically, has received little attention in staging. Recent data from a study by Cui et al demonstrated that SLNM is an independent predictor of very poor survival in GC. Through robust data and rigorous propensity-matched analyses, SLNM emerged not merely as an anatomical finding but as an independent predictor of poor prognosis, even among patients undergoing curative resection. As precision oncology advances, the …

Inflammation And Detection: Rethinking The Biomarker Landscape In Gastric Cancer, Keykavous Parang, Koosha Paydary

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Gastric carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, yet reliable noninvasive biomarkers for its early detection remain limited. As research continues to elucidate the inflammatory underpinnings of tumor initiation and progression, it has become increasingly clear that pro-inflammatory cytokines may hold promise as diagnostic adjuncts. Serum cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and interferon-gamma have been frequently reported as elevated in gastric cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. These molecules, known for their roles in modulating tumor-promoting inflammation, angiogenesis, and immune evasion, may serve as accessible indicators of disease presence or progression. Several studies have shown that …

Outcomes Of A Strength- And Power-Focused Exercise Program In An Adult With Multiple Comorbidities Due To Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report, Frances Rom Lunar, Jeffrey Ralph Luces, Kyla Tan, Mark Gorgon, Eunice Gerona, Abbeygail Abella, Edward Gorgon

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. People with multiple significant comorbidities are commonly excluded from clinical trials of exercise and therefore less is known regarding the outcomes in this population. This case report describes the outcomes of strength- and power-focused exercise training in an adult with multiple comorbidities.

Methods / Case description. A 40-year-old male with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus resulting in stage 5 chronic kidney disease and left-sided below-knee amputation underwent a four-week program that consisted of four clinic-based and eight self-supervised exercise sessions. The design of the exercise training program was guided by principles of muscle power training while also informed by the …