Digital Commons Network^™

Stimulation Of The Medial Septum Diagonal Band Of Broca Rescues Learning And Memory Deficits In Fmr1 Ko Mice, Mohamed Ouardouz, Amanda E Hernan, J. Matthew Mahoney, Rodney C Scott

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and a leading monogenic cause of autism, arises from the loss of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein (Fmr protein), leading to synaptic and cognitive dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that the frequency-specific electrical stimulation of the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca (MSDB) can restore cognitive and synaptic impairments in Fmr1 knockout mice, a validated model of FXS. Thirty minutes of 35 Hz MSDB stimulation significantly improved subsequent recognition memory, sociability, spatial learning, and fear memory, with recognition memory enhancements persisting for up to 7 days after daily 30 min …

Chatgpt Versus Uptodate In Preclinical Medical Education: Cross-Sectional Analysis Using Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency Cosine Similarity, Shankar S. Thiru, Nicholas E. Aksu, Matthew Chiang, Daniel O. Gallagher, Mary Furlong, Elizabeth R. Prevou, Akhil Jay Khanna

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly used by medical students for self-directed learning. Although these models demonstrate linguistic fluency, their reliability as supplementary resources for preclinical education remains uncertain. In particular, comparisons with evidence-based references such as UpToDate are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the similarity between responses generated by ChatGPT (with GPT-4o mini) and those from UpToDate to preclinical medical education questions to assess ChatGPT's potential as an adjunctive learning tool.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional comparison study using 150 first-order questions derived from a preclinical question bank at a single allopathic institution under the …

Bodies At Risk When Choice Is A Privilege: Women’S Reproductive Healthcare Accessibility And Health Outcomes Since The Dobbs (2022) Ruling, Dallas Bonnet

Undergraduate Theses

Existing literature has well-documented the disproportionate effects of abortion restrictions upon socioeconomically disadvantaged women and women of color. This thesis builds on that work by exploring the relationship between state-level abortion restrictions and women’s self-reported health, as well as state-level infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates. This project breaks these relationships down into three separate studies: Study 1 investigates the effect that abortion restrictions have on women’s self perceptions of health. Study 2 assesses the impact of abortion restrictions on infant mortality rates. Study 3 inspects the impact of abortion restrictions on maternal mortality rates. The primary independent variable …

Receptor-Mediated Drug Delivery: Redefining Targeted Drug Conjugates In Oncology, Keon Niles Jafari, Charlene Chai, Shelby Kim, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Targeted drug delivery (TDD), specifically through targeting ligand–drug conjugates, has reshaped oncology by enabling selective delivery of cytotoxic payloads to cancer cells while minimizing uptake by normal tissues. A key approach relies on exploiting overexpressed cell surface receptors (CSRs) to enable selective uptake of drug conjugates via receptor-mediated endocytosis. This review delineates four clinically validated CSRs (HER2, Trop-2, Nectin-4, and SSTR2) with several FDA-approved drug conjugates. Furthermore, emerging CSRs (EGFR, DLL3, and keratin 1) that may support next-generation TDD platforms for cancer treatment are also highlighted. We discuss how CSR type, density on cancer cells, and its mechanism of endocytosis, …

Photobiomodulation In Treatment Of Head And Neck Cancer-Related Chronic Lymphedema: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Jie Deng, John N. Lukens, Barbara A. Murphy, Erin Mcmenamin, Karthik Rajasekaran, Ryan J. Quinn, Joy C. Cohn, Wendy Schlessinger, Lucy P. Andersen, Bryan A. Spinelli, Alexander Lin

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphedema is a common late effect after completion of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, contributing to substantial symptom burden and negatively impacting quality of life. No effective approaches are available to treat this progressive condition. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for chronic lymphedema in HNC survivors.

METHODS: This was a pilot, randomized, wait-list controlled trial. Eligible HNC survivors included those with chronic lymphedema after completion of complete decongestive therapy. Participants were randomized (1:1) to 1 of 2 arms: intervention group (active) or wait-list control group (control). The active group received …

Visual-Physiological Concordance And Target Vessel Outcomes: A Μqfr-Based Real-World Cohort Study, Yanfeng Lu, Abdulrahman Alqazzaz, Jasmine Bao, Gary S Mintz, Jiahao Feng, Yong Zhang, Shanshan Gao, Qiang Song, Feifei Ning, Wangge Ma, Haoyu Wu, Yuejiao Wei, Jiaying Li, Ning Guo, Xin Huang

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) offers a non-interventional alternative for evaluating ischemia, yet its concordance with real-world treatment and clinical outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the alignment between Murray law-based QFR (μQFR) physiological assessment and treatment strategies, evaluate the association between treatment concordance and clinical outcomes, and explore factors influencing concordance.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort, 242 patients with angiographically intermediate coronary stenosis and μQFR values adjacent to the grey-zone (low: 0.70-0.74; high: 0.86-0.90) were included. Treatment concordance was defined as PCI for low μQFR and medication for high μQFR. The primary endpoint was target …

Pre-Operative Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Colonization Increases The Risk Of 90-Day Medical And 2-Year Implant-Related Complications Following Primary Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Propensity-Matched Analysis, Muhammad Hamza Ilyas, Tarishi Parmar, Zina Smadi, Viraj A. Deshpande, Akin A. Adio, Joseph A. Abboud, Hafiz F. Kassam

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization has been associated with increased risk of post-operative infection and medical complications in lower-extremity arthroplasty; however, its impact on outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) remains poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the association between MRSA colonization and early medical as well as mid-term implant-related complications after primary TSA.

METHODS: The TriNetX US Research Network was queried to identify primary TSA patients. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed using demographic characteristics and relevant comorbidities. Ninety-day medical complications, including readmission, emergency department utilization, venous thromboembolism, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, stroke, sepsis, respiratory failure, …

Multidisciplinary Care In The Management Of Pleomorphic Dermal Sarcoma: A Single-Center Case Series And Review, Jaanvi Mehta, Leena Wardeh, Jayson Suriano, Rishob Dasgupta, Ramsay Hafer, Alexandra Elder, Safiyyah Bhatti, Jason B. Lee, Atrayee B. Mallick, Neda Nikbakht

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology And Follow-Up Adherence Of Ophthalmic Emergencies: A 10-Year Study At A Tertiary Medical Center In Taiwan, Tsung-Ying Tsai, Chunya Kang, Laura Liu, Nan-Kai Wang, Kuan-Jen Chen, Wei-Chi Wu, Chi-Chun Lai, Sunir J. Garg, Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang, Yih-Shiou Hwang

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate factors influencing outpatient follow-up adherence among patients receiving ophthalmology consultations in the emergency department (ED).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study collected data from the Chang Gung Research Database. Patients who received ophthalmology consultations at the ED of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Center from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they completed outpatient follow-up within 28 days, a timeframe consistent with our hospital's scheduling policy. Demographics, ED visit timing, triage categories, ophthalmic diagnoses, prior visits, and …

Limited English Proficiency, Acculturative Stress, And Quality Of Life Among Korean American Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B, Hee-Soon Juon, Gilbert C. Gee, Julia G. Katcher, Daniel Yang, Katherine Smith, Ann C. Klassen

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is one of the most widespread liver diseases in the world and disproportionately affects Asian Americans, who are further impacted by the lower quality of life imposed by the infection. Limited English proficiency (LEP) and acculturative stress play an important role in the study of patients with CHB, but the interrelationships of LEP, acculturative stress, and health outcomes are not well studied in this population. This study aims to explore how acculturative stress mediates the relationship between LEP and health outcomes among Korean American patients with CHB.

METHODS: A total of 365 CHB patients completed …

Multimodality Assessment Of A Culprit Lad Myocardial Bridge In A Patient With Congenital Heart Disease, Som Singh, Goutham Ravipati, Harnoor Mann, Santosh Uppu, Kiran Mallula, Danny Ramzy, Igor D Gregoric, Biswajit Kar, Sukhdeep Singh Basra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Myocardial bridging is a congenital coronary anomaly in which a segment of an epicardial artery is tunneled within the myocardium. Although many cases remain asymptomatic, hemodynamically significant bridges may require surgical intervention.

Case summary: A 57-year-old man with a history of an unrepaired ventricular septal defect presented with recurrent chest pain. Initial imaging identified a 4.7-cm myocardial bridge in the left anterior descending artery. Functional testing with fractional flow reserve, instantaneous wave-free ratio, and diastolic hyperemia-free ratio confirmed hemodynamic significance. Optical coherence tomography was performed to further visualize the segment. The patient underwent successful surgical unroofing, resulting in complete …

External Fixation Assisted Intramedullary Total Femur Arthroplasty: A Case Report, Matthew Hnatow, Blake Martin, Emma Herrera

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction:Total femur replacement (TFR) is a salvage procedure for patients with multiple failed hip and knee arthroplasties and is associated with high complication rates. Intramedullary TFR has emerged as a technique to preserve critical soft tissue attachments; however, maintaining limb length, alignment, and rotation remains challenging.

Case Presentation: We describe a novel case of intramedullary TFR utilizing external fixation to address these technical challenges. A 64-year-old male with subsidence of a hinged knee tumor prosthesis to the level of the greater trochanter underwent intramedullary TFR. External fixation was applied to the residual femoral and tibial bones to maintain …

Development Of A Survey And Worry Score To Evaluate Physician Burnout And Wellness Interventions During Covid-19 In The Rio Grande Valley: A Pilot Study, Victoria Jacobsen, Ericka Vazquez, Lauren Herrera, Ruth Escalera, Daniel Salinas, Bharathi Gadad, Juan Carlos Lopez-Alvarenga, Kelsey Potter-Baker

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Current research on physician burnout is limited in rural communities and physicians caring for the medically underserved. This study aimed to create an instrument to quantify the rate of physician burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify effective coping interventions in an underserved mixed rural-urban region along the Texas-Mexico border.

Methods: We conducted a regional study in a sample of US physicians using a structured questionnaire developed by a multidisciplinary group. Thirty-one participants were contacted over a five-week period between December 2022 to January 2023. Participants self-selected based on their experiences of burnout during various phases of the COVID-19 …

Integration Of Cross-Species Multi-Omics With In Vivo Experimental Validation Identifies Parkinson’S Disease Therapeutic Targets And Novel Risk Factors Within Endolysosomal Pathway Subnetworks, Justin Moore, Leo Rao, Sara Garcia-Bellido, Fangfei Guo, Jorge Botas, Juan Botas

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, imposes a growing healthcare and socioeconomic burden worldwide. A defining hallmark of PD is the accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) within intracellular inclusions such as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Genomic studies have identified numerous PD risk factors within the endolysosomal pathway (ELP), an essential cellular system for protein and membrane recycling. Concordantly, recurrent transcriptomic and proteomic alterations in ELP components implicate broad ELP dysfunction as a causal contributor to PD and suggest that additional, uncharacterized ELP genes may cooperate in polygenic disease mechanisms. A promising but underexplored therapeutic concept is that …

Plant-Based Dietary Patterns Are Associated With Slower Epigenetic Aging, Hyunju Kim, Christina A Castellani, Jiantao Ma, Alexis C Wood, Audrey Ting, Morgan E Grams, Bing Yu, Kelly Ruggles, James S Floyd, Dan E Arking, Casey M Rebholz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Greater adherence to plant-based diets is associated with health benefits. Dietary intake can modify DNA methylation patterns, but it is unknown whether plant-based diets in a largely non-vegetarian population are associated with DNA methylation-based epigenetic aging measures. We examined the associations between 4 different types of plant-based diets indices (PDI) [overall PDI, provegetarian diet, healthy PDI, and unhealthy PDI] and epigenetic aging. We used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (N=2,810) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, N=2,056). PDIs negatively scored higher intake of animal products and positively scored higher intake of all or selected …

Progress Of Hiv Care Cascade And Transition Dynamics Along The Continuum Of Care Among Persons Living With Hiv In Ifakara, Tanzania: A Prospective Study, Aneth Vedastus Kalinjuma, Aaloke Mody, Tracy Renée Glass, Maja Weisser, Ezekiel Luoga, Honorati Masanja, Fiona Vanobberghen, Kennedy Otwombe

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: While cross-sectional assessments offer snapshots of care cascade progress, longitudinal analyses are essential to capture the dynamic engagement in care of people living with HIV (PLHIV). We assessed the advancement of the HIV cascade, engagement in care and factors associated with different transitions among PLHIV at the Chronic Disease Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara, Tanzania, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. METHODS: In this prospective study, we included PLHIV enrolled in care from 04/2005 to 09/2022 and consented to participate in the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort. A cross-sectional care cascade was assessed descriptively. In longitudinal analysis, we used continuous-time, …

Educational Intervention To Improve Awareness Of The Female Athlete Triad Among Division I Athletes, Carly J. Haring, Jonathan Olson Md

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

Introduction: The Female Athlete Triad poses short- and long-term health risks for female athletes through the interrelated components of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and impaired bone health. Despite its prevalence, awareness and education surrounding the Triad remain limited, contributing to delayed recognition and care. The objective of this project was to assess baseline knowledge and comfort discussing Female Athlete Triad–related topics among Division I female athletes and to evaluate the impact of a brief educational intervention on knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking intentions.

Methods: A community-based educational initiative was conducted in November 2025 among Division I female athletes …

Nerves (Neurology Education Research And Observership Summer Program): A Pilot Fellowship Program Targeting Neurophobia In Pre-Clerkship Medical Students, Arlinda Deng, Daniela Fishbein, James Martindale, Elizabeth Bradley, William Alexander Dalrymple, Ryan Cappa

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Neurophobia has contributed to the shortage of neurologists nationally, especially given the lack of integration between basic neural sciences and clinical neurology. Neurophobia may be highest after the pre-clerkship course, and there is evidence to suggest that early and broad clinical neurology exposure and mentorship are the leading factors in choosing the field of neurology. The goal of this study was to develop a fellowship for pre-clerkship medical students to increase early exposure to diverse clinical settings and socialization in neurology and assess whether there was change in neurophobia.

Methods: A two-week long pilot summer fellowship was designed …

Gaming The Simulation To Assess Dpt Student Learning, Laura Stephens, Gretchen R. Prather

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess Doctor of Physical Therapy student learning and motivation through participation in a novel, gamified case study simulation while describing the application of International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice^TM and application of game elements. Gamification is an emerging interest in health care education but has been minimally explored within physical therapy education in the United States. Additionally, published studies often fail to detail INACSL standards of simulation best practice or game elements in simulation design.

Methods: Sixty-five DPT students participated in …

Targeting Hypothalamic Oxidative Stress And Neuroinflammation: A Novel Neuroprotective Role For Annona Muricata Seed Extract In Aluminium- Induced Alzheimer-Like Neurodegeneration, O. A Bamgbose, O. D Akanji, P. B Fakunle, D. O Taiwo-Ola, K. O Odubela, E. O Olayemi, B. A Akanbi, B. M David

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder involving oxidative stress and neuroinflammation beyond classical hippocampal pathology. The hypothalamus, a key regulator of metabolic and neuroendocrine homeostasis, remains comparatively underexplored in experimental AD models. This study investigated the effects of aqueous Annona muricata seed extract (SSE) on hypothalamic oxidative injury in an aluminium chloride (AlCl₃)-induced Alzheimer's disease–like model in Wistar rats. Adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 5): control, AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg), SSE alone (200 mg/kg), AlCl₃ + SSE, and AlCl₃ + donepezil (10 …

Psychometric Properties And Validation Of The Filipino Satisfaction With Life Scale, Razel Bacuetes Milo, Patricia Calero, Cynthia D. Connelly

School of Nursing and Health Science: Faculty Scholarship

Introduction:

Life satisfaction is the cognitive evaluation of an individual’s current life situation and personal criteria influenced by their acclimatization process. Since the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was introduced in 1985, it has been translated into 30 different languages. To date, there is limited knowledge about Filipino life satisfaction and its correlation to mental health. SWLS has not been translated, and its psychometric properties have not been established in Filipino. This study establishes the psychometric properties of the Filipino SWLS and examines the correlations between life satisfaction and mental health among Filipino Americans.

Methods:

The study design is a …

Variant Superficial Epigastric Supply To The Anterior Abdominal Wall Arising From Inferior Epigastric Perforators: A Neonatal Case Report, Daniël J. Van Tonder, Natalie Keough, Martin Louis Van Niekerk, Albert Van Schoor

COM Scholarship

Introduction: Understanding superficial epigastric vessel anatomy is crucial for abdominal surgeries like laparoscopy, especially in neonates, to prevent injury. While standard courses are described, variations occur. This case report highlights a unique anatomical variation in the superficial epigastric artery found during the dissection of a stillborn neonatal cadaver. Case Report: In contrast to the usual origin from the femoral artery, this variation features the inferior epigastric artery penetrating the anterior abdominal wall near the umbilicus and branching superiorly to supply the superficial abdominal wall. Conclusions: This distinctive vascular configuration, which to the best of our knowledge has not been previously …

Perioperative Skin Integrity: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Prevent Skin Injuries In Surgical Patients, Emily Francom

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

From Screen To Newborn: Making Sense Of Prenatal Genetics In Primary Care, Bob Underwood, Lylach Haizler-Cohen

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

This episode dives into the essentials of prenatal genetic testing and its significance for pediatricians. Learn about different types of tests like NIPT and microarrays, and how to interpret results to better care for newborns. Join Dr. Lylach Heisler Cohen, a prenatal genetic testing expert, as she breaks down the complexities of pediatric genetics.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Periodontal Biomarkers In Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms, Diagnostics, And Clinical Implications, Max Foroughi, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition increasingly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) beyond shared risk factors. This review evaluates evidence linking periodontal inflammation to cardiovascular outcomes and identifies periodontal biomarkers with potential relevance for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including studies published between 1990 and 2025. Epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies examining associations between periodontal disease, inflammatory and microbial biomarkers, and cardiovascular outcomes were included. Biomarkers were categorized as inflammatory cytokines, acute-phase proteins, oxidative stress markers, lipid mediators, and microbial indicators. Evidence regarding periodontal therapy and …

Sepsis-Triggered Proteolysis Of Profibrinolytic Annexin A2 Associated With Microvasculopathy-Related Organ Dysfunction, Hana I. Lim, Michael Bender, Huigen Chen, Frances M. West, Julio Lanfranco, Dena Almeida, Katherine A. Hajjar

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disorder marked by dysregulated inflammation and coagulopathy. Annexin A2 (A2), a profibrinolytic protein, assembles plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator on cell surfaces, thereby maintaining vascular patency. However, its role in human sepsis has remained poorly defined. We investigated whether A2 undergoes qualitative or quantitative modification during human sepsis with associated end-organ dysfunction. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma were collected from 65 patients with sepsis and 27 healthy controls. A2 expression and integrity were evaluated with cell surface plasmin generation using immunoblot and fluorometric assays. Both A2 integrity and plasmin generation were significantly reduced in …

Immunoregulatory Effects Of Choerospondias Axillaris (Roxb.) B.L.Burtt & A.W.Hill Fruit Extract In Mice With Insights On In Vitro Mechanism, Ravi Gautam, Anju Maharjan, Jaehee Lee, Sujeong Yang, Jihun Jo, Manju Acharya, Daeun Lee, Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Saroj Lamichhane, Byungsun Min, Changyul Kim, Hyoungah Kim, Yong Heo

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris), a plant native to Nepal, has been traditionally used in Asian countries to treat cardiovascular conditions. However, its effects on immune regulatory function remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to in vivo evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of Lapsi fruit extract in mice on immunotoxic responses with analysis on in vitro mechanism for immune suppression, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Male Balb/c mice were intragastrically administered various doses of the extract for 21 days. In some mice, immune suppression was induced with cyclophosphamide, and subsequent immune recovery was assessed. In addition, RAW264.7 cells and THP-1-derived macrophages were …

Implementation Of Preventive Health Presentations At A Multicultural Senior Center, Binh Le

EMET Projects

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Eight Smoking Metrics For Modelling Survival In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Andrew Cl Lam, Yao Li, M Catherine Brown, Yangqing Deng, Katrina Hueniken, Natasha B Leighl, Frances A Shepherd, Kiera Murison, Zhichao Wang, Jui Kothari, Angela S Wenzlaff, Haoran Liu, Takashi Kohno, Angela Cecilia Pesatori, Curtis Harris, Hongxia Ma, Juncheng Dai, Matthew J Barnett, Ryan Diver, Leticia Ferro Leal, Guillermo Fernandez-Tardon, Mónica Pérez-Ríos, Michael Pa Davies, Bernd Holleczek, Paul Brennan, David Zaridze, Ivana Holcatova, Jolanta Lissowska, Beata Świątkowska, Dana Mates, Milan Savic, Hermann Brenner, Angeline S Andrew, Fiona Taylor, John K Field, Alberto Ruano-Ravina, Sanjay S Shete, Adonina Tardon, Ying Wang, Loic Le Marchand, Rui Manuel Reis, Matthew B Schabath, Marian L Neuhouser, Hongbing Shen, Maria Teresa Landi, Kouya Shiraishi, Jie Zhang, Ann G Schwartz, Ming S Tsao, David C Christiani, Ping Yang, Rayjean J Hung, Wei Xu, Geoffrey Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Smoking is a strong modifiable prognostic factor for lung cancer survival. We compared eight smoking metrics to determine which metric best models the relationship between smoking exposure with overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS). These metrics included cigarettes-per-day, smoking duration, pack-years, square-root pack-years, logcig-years, the comprehensive smoking index, age-of-initiation, and years-since-quit.

Materials/methods: This retrospective, pooled analysis included 25 International Lung Cancer Consortium studies between June 1, 1983-December 31, 2019. The performance of smoking metrics for modelling OS was compared based on 1) strength and significance in adjusted Cox-proportional hazard models and 2) linearity based on the goodness-of-fit …

Pulmonary Complications Of Cancer Therapy: Clinical Presentations, Imaging Patterns, And Management Strategies, Bilal Zafar, Tasmea Haque, Miranda Tan, Ritika Singh, Lara Bashoura, Ajay Sheshadri, Maria Azhar, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Therapeutic agents for cancer can cause unique pulmonary toxicities and mimic other conditions. The advent of new targeted molecular and immune therapies has changed the landscape of cancer treatment. These adverse events pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review aims to summarize the clinical presentations, radiographic patterns, and management strategies for noninfectious pulmonary complications associated with cancer therapies.

Materials and methods: A literature review was conducted focusing on drug-induced lung injury (DILI), radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), pleural disease, pulmonary vascular complications, and other inflammatory conditions in patients with cancer. The data sources included clinical trials, guideline recommendations, …