Digital Commons Network^™

Igtp: Learning Interpretable Cellular Embedding For Inferring Biological Mechanisms Underlying Single-Cell Transcriptomics, Kang-Lin Hsieh, Kai Zhang, Yan Chu, Lishan Yu, Xiaoyang Li, Nuo Hu, Isha Kawosa, Patrick G Pilié, Pratip K Bhattacharya, Degui Zhi, Xiaoqian Jiang, Zhongming Zhao, Yulin Dai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deep-learning models like Variational AutoEncoder have enabled low dimensional cellular embedding representation for large-scale single-cell transcriptomes and shown great flexibility in downstream tasks. However, biologically meaningful latent space is usually missing if no specific structure is designed. Here, we engineered a novel interpretable generative transcriptional program (iGTP) framework that could model the importance of transcriptional program (TP) space and protein-protein interactions (PPI) between different biological states. We demonstrated the performance of iGTP in a diverse biological context using gene ontology, canonical pathway, and different PPI curation. iGTP not only elucidated the ground truth of cellular responses but also surpassed other …

Synchronous Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma And Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, Phuoc Christie-Nguyen, Ahmed A Ahmed, Nourhan Ibrahim, Jacob Armstrong, Brenda Mai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The coexistence of renal cell carcinoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma is exceedingly rare, with only two documented cases. Here, we present the third case diagnosed in our institution.

Case presentation: A 46-year-old man presented with right flank pain, fever, mild pancytopenia, and renal mass on computed tomography scan, suggesting renal malignancy. Despite intravenous antibiotics and extensive workup for recurrent fever, his condition did not improve. A bone marrow biopsy revealed rare large EBV-positive B cells. Surprisingly, imaging only showed minimal intraabdominal lymphadenopathy in the perinephric region. Subsequent surgery confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the kidney and scattered …

Group Therapy For Autistic Adults Over Telehealth: Challenges And Guidelines For Clinicians, Antonio F Pagán, Stephen Armstrong, Amy Izuno-Garcia, Killian R Hughes, Katherine A Loveland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with challenges in areas such as social skills and behavior, with 1 in 36 children diagnosed in the U.S. Annually, over 100,000 adolescents with ASD transition to adulthood, often facing a "service cliff" where support diminishes. Group therapy can help autistic adults by enhancing social skills, executive functioning, and emotional regulation while fostering belonging and reducing isolation. Telehealth-based group therapy offers additional benefits, particularly for those with social anxiety, geographic barriers, or limited transportation. While telehealth is effective for autistic adults, practical guidelines for virtual group therapy are lacking. This article provides recommendations for …

Amniotic Fluid Extracellular Vesicle And Cell-Free Rna Profiling Reveals Fetal Adaptations In Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, Jacqueline G Parchem, Huihui Fan, Lovepreet K Mann, Kadeshia M Campbell, Sujuan Yang, Wencai Ma, Jong H Won, Jing Wang, Ramesha Papanna, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Very Preterm Delivery On Outcomes Following In Utero Spina Bifida Repair, Michael V Zaretsky, Jagruti Anadkat, Kelly A Bennett, Yair J Blumenfeld, Chris Buchanan, Caitlin Clifford, Timothy Crombleholme, Samer Elbabaa, Stephen P Emery, William H Goodnight, Hanmin Lee, Joseph B Lillegard, Foong-Yen Lim, Francois I Luks, Virginia Lijewski, Jena L Miller, Ueli Moehrlen, Julie Moldenhauer, Anita J Moon-Grady, Mauro Schenone, Daniel W Skupski, Aimen F Shaaban, Kuojen Tsao, Tim Van Mieghem, Amy J Wagner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: In utero fetal spina bifida repair decreases the risk for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion including ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement, reverses hindbrain herniation, and improves motor function with a higher likelihood of independent ambulation. Unfortunately, in utero surgery can be complicated by preterm delivery. The goal of this study was to compare pregnancy and neonatal outcomes between individuals who delivered very preterm, and those who delivered later in gestation following in-utero spina bifida repair.

Methods: Data from the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet) Fetal Myelomeningocele Consortium (fMMC) registry collected from 2011 to 2024 were analyzed. Three cohorts of patients …

Colour Changes In The Feet: A Sign Of Autonomic Symptoms In Systemic Sclerosis, Brittany L Adler, Kamini Kuchinad, Seeun Judy Jeong, Lauren E Stiles, Ami A Shah, Tae Chung, Zsuzsanna H Mcmahan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Patients with autonomic dysfunction, or dysautonomia, often report discolouration of their dependent extremities, which is thought to be from venous pooling or acrocyanosis. A subset of patients with SSc are affected by dysautonomia but may be challenging to identify. We sought to determine whether patients with SSc who report discolouration in their feet have a higher burden of autonomic symptoms, including orthostatic, gastrointestinal (GI), urinary, secretomotor and pupillomotor.

Methods: 167 patients with SSc completed the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS)-31 survey, which queries whether the patient experiences discolouration of the feet or hands. We compared the COMPASS-31 subdomain scores …

Evidence For Biomolecular Condensates Formed By The Escherichia Coli Matp Protein In Spatiotemporal Regulation Of The Bacterial Cell Division Cycle, Inés Barros-Medina, Miguel Ángel Robles-Ramos, Marta Sobrinos-Sanguino, Juan Román Luque-Ortega, Carlos Alfonso, William Margolin, Germán Rivas, Begoña Monterroso, Silvia Zorrilla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

An increasing number of proteins involved in bacterial cell cycle events have been recently shown to form biomolecular condensates important for their functions that may play a role in development of antibiotic-tolerant persister cells. Here we report that the E. coli chromosomal Ter macrodomain organizer MatP, a division site selection protein coordinating chromosome segregation with cell division, formed biomolecular condensates in crowding cytomimetic systems preferentially localized at the membrane of microfluidics droplets. Condensates were antagonized and partially dislodged from the membrane by DNA sequences recognized by MatP (matS), which partitioned into them. FtsZ, a core component of the division machinery …

Global Guideline For The Diagnosis And Management Of Candidiasis: An Initiative Of The Ecmm In Cooperation With Isham And Asm, Oliver A Cornely, Rosanne Sprute, Matteo Bassetti, Sharon C-A Chen, Andreas H Groll, Oliver Kurzai, Cornelia Lass-Flörl, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Riina Rautemaa-Richardson, Gunturu Revathi, Maria E Santolaya, P Lewis White, Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Maiken C Arendrup, John Baddley, Aleksandra Barac, Ronen Ben-Ami, Adrian J Brink, Jan H Grothe, Jesus Guinea, Ferry Hagen, Bruno Hochhegger, Martin Hoenigl, Shahid Husain, Kauser Jabeen, Henrik E Jensen, Souha S Kanj, Philipp Koehler, Thomas Lehrnbecher, Russell E Lewis, Jacques F Meis, M Hong Nguyen, Zoi D Pana, Peter-Michael Rath, Ilana Reinhold, Danila Seidel, Takahiro Takazono, Donald C Vinh, Sean X Zhang, Javier Afeltra, Abdullah M S Al-Hatmi, Amir Arastehfar, Sevtap Arikan-Akdagli, Felix Bongomin, Fabianne Carlesse, Methee Chayakulkeeree, Louis Y A Chai, Leili Chamani-Tabriz, Tom Chiller, Anuradha Chowdhary, Cornelius J Clancy, Arnaldo L Colombo, Andrea Cortegiani, Dora E Corzo Leon, Lubos Drgona, Anna Dudakova, Joveria Farooqi, Sara Gago, Macit Ilkit, Jeffrey D Jenks, Nikolai Klimko, Robert Krause, Anil Kumar, Katrien Lagrou, Michail S Lionakis, Badre E Lmimouni, Michael K Mansour, Joseph Meletiadis, Sibylle C Mellinghoff, Mervyn Mer, Malgorzata Mikulska, Philippe Montravers, Chin Fen Neoh, Volkan Ozenci, Livio Pagano, Peter Pappas, Thomas F Patterson, Pedro Puerta-Alcalde, Laman Rahimli, Sebastian Rahn, Emmanuel Roilides, Coleman Rotstein, Tamara Ruegamer, Raquel Sabino, Jon Salmanton-García, Ilan S Schwartz, Esther Segal, Neeraj Sidharthan, Tanu Singhal, Janos Sinko, Rajeev Soman, Andrej Spec, Joerg Steinmann, Jannik Stemler, Saad J Taj-Aldeen, Alida Fe Talento, George R Thompson, Christina Toebben, Hiram Villanueva-Lozano, Retno Wahyuningsih, Barbora Weinbergerová, Nathan Wiederhold, Birgit Willinger, Patrick C Y Woo, Li-Ping Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Candida species are the predominant cause of fungal infections in patients treated in hospital, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality. Candidaemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis primarily affect patients who are immunocompromised or critically ill. In contrast, mucocutaneous forms of candidiasis, such as oral thrush and vulvovaginal candidiasis, can occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Although mucocutaneous candidiasis is generally not life-threatening, it can cause considerable discomfort, recurrent infections, and complications, particularly in patients with underlying conditions such as diabetes or in those taking immunosuppressive therapies. The rise of difficult-to-treat Candida infections is driven by new host factors and antifungal …

Enhancing Fairness In Disease Prediction By Optimizing Multiple Domain Adversarial Networks, Bin Li, Xiaoqian Jiang, Kai Zhang, Arif O Harmanci, Bradley Malin, Hongchang Gao, Xinghua Shi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Predictive models in biomedicine need to ensure equitable and reliable outcomes for the populations they are applied to. However, biases in AI models for medical predictions can lead to unfair treatment and widening disparities, underscoring the need for effective techniques to address these issues. However, current approaches struggle to simultaneously mitigate biases induced by multiple sensitive features in biomedical data. To enhance fairness, we introduce a framework based on a Multiple Domain Adversarial Neural Network (MDANN), which incorporates multiple adversarial components. In an MDANN, an adversarial module is applied to learn a fair pattern by negative gradients back-propagating across multiple …

Malperfusion In Patients With Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: A Nationwide Analysis, Nicholas J Goel, John J Kelly, William L Patrick, Yu Zhao, Joseph E Bavaria, Maral Ouzounian, Anthony L Estrera, Hiroo Takayama, Edward P Chen, T Brett Reece, G Chad Hughes, Eric E Roselli, Karen M Kim, Himanshu J Patel, Michael E Bowdish, Jason S Sperling, Bradley G Leshnower, Ourania Preventza, William T Brinkman, Nimesh D Desai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: This study describes in detail the clinical burden of malperfusion associated with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) in a large, national cohort and the effect of treatment strategy on outcomes.

Methods: All patients undergoing repair of ATAAD between 2017 and 2020 in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were studied. Malperfusion was defined using STS definitions on the basis of imaging or the surgeon's evaluation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of patient and treatment factors on outcomes in patients with and without malperfusion.

Results: A total of 9958 patients undergoing …

Longevity Humans Have Youthful Erythrocyte Function And Metabolic Signatures, Fang Yu, Changhan Chen, Wuping Liu, Zhixiang Zhao, Yuhua Fan, Zhenjiang Li, Weilun Huang, Tingting Xie, Cheng Luo, Zhouzhou Yao, Qi Guo, Zhiyu Yang, Juan Liu, Yujin Zhang, Rodney E Kellems, Jian Xia, Ji Li, Yang Xia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Longevity individuals have lower susceptibility to chronic hypoxia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and aging-related diseases. It has long been speculated that "rejuvenation molecules" exist in their blood to promote extended lifespan. We unexpectedly discovered that longevity individuals exhibit erythrocyte oxygen release function similar to young individuals, whereas most elderly show reduced oxygen release capacity. Untargeted erythrocyte metabolomics profiling revealed that longevity individuals are characterized by youth-like metabolic reprogramming and these metabolites effectively differentiate the longevity from the elderly. Quantification analyses led us to identify multiple novel longevity-related metabolites within erythrocytes including adenosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and glutathione (GSH) related amino acids. Mechanistically, …

Psychological Profiles Of Patients Reporting With Musculoskeletal Shoulder Or Elbow Pain, Chuheng Xing, Mallory B Lane, Madilyn L Feik, Jake Taylor, James M Gregory, Natalie L Myers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome-Yellow Flag (OSPRO-YF) is a questionnaire that helps assess multiple psychological domains. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of body region (shoulder and elbow) and sex on baseline OSPRO-YF scores. The secondary purpose was to evaluate the association of age on baseline OSPRO-YF scores for both shoulder and elbow patients.

Methods: 242 subjects completed 1) a demographic survey and 2) the 17-item OSPRO-YF. The OSPRO-YF estimates the individual scores of 11 psychological patient-reported outcome measures. To assess the effects of body region and sex on the …

Outcomes After Anatomic Labral Repair With All-Suture Knotless Tensionable Anchors In Primary Hip Arthroscopic Surgery: A Prospective Analysis Of 200 Consecutive Patients, David R Maldonado, Rachel E Bruning, Julio Nerys-Figueroa, Benjamin G Domb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Anatomic labral repair is paramount when restoring the hip suction sealing mechanism in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) surgery. All-suture knotless tensionable anchors have been recently proposed as an alternative; however, data are scarce.

Purpose: To report patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores at a minimum 2-year follow-up for patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery with labral repair using an all-suture knotless tensionable anchor with the controlled-tension anatomic technique in the setting of FAIS.

Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected, and patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of FAIS …

Synchronous Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma And Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, Phuoc Christie-Nguyen, Ahmed A Ahmed, Nourhan Ibrahim, Jacob Armstrong, Brenda Mai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The coexistence of renal cell carcinoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma is exceedingly rare, with only two documented cases. Here, we present the third case diagnosed in our institution.

Case presentation: A 46-year-old man presented with right flank pain, fever, mild pancytopenia, and renal mass on computed tomography scan, suggesting renal malignancy. Despite intravenous antibiotics and extensive workup for recurrent fever, his condition did not improve. A bone marrow biopsy revealed rare large EBV-positive B cells. Surprisingly, imaging only showed minimal intraabdominal lymphadenopathy in the perinephric region. Subsequent surgery confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma in the kidney and scattered …

Pathobiology Of Aortic Aneurysms And Dissections: Synthesis Of Recent Investigations And Evolving Insights, L Maximilian Buja, Bihong Zhao, Deborah Vela, Ana Segura, Navneet Narula

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The pathobiology of aortic disease is linked to aortic region: atherosclerosis for abdominal aorta, primary medial degeneration or aortitis for ascending thoracic aorta, and all causes for descending thoracic aorta and thoracoabdominal lesions. The pathogenesis of aortic dissection involves damage of the outer media from impaired perfusion from dysfunctional vasa vasorum, formation of discrete foci of disrupted vascular smooth muscle cell-elastic fiber extension-contractile units, and imbalance of radial sheer stress across the aortic wall, thereby creating an intimal tear and linear dissection. Thoracic aortic aneurysms develop from the chronic progression of medial degeneration coupled with the weakening of the remodeled …

Neuroimaging-Based Variability In Subtyping Biomarkers For Psychiatric Heterogeneity, Zhenfu Wen, Mira Z Hammoud, Carole E Siegel, Eugene M Laska, Duna Abu-Amara, Amit Etkin, Mohammed R Milad, Charles R Marmar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroimaging-based subtyping is increasingly used to explain heterogeneity in psychiatric disorders. However, the clinical utility of these subtyping efforts remains unclear, and replication has been challenging. Here we examined how the choice of neuroimaging measures influences the derivation of neuro-subtypes and the consequences for clinical delineation. On a clinically heterogeneous dataset (total n = 566) that included controls (n = 268) and cases (n = 298) of psychiatric conditions, including individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and comorbidity of both (PTSD&TBI), we identified neuro-subtypes among the cases using either structural, resting-state, or task-based measures. The …

Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analyses Of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy, Costin Leu, Andreja Avbersek, Remi Stevelink, Helena Martins Custodio, Siwei Chen, Doug Speed, Caitlin A Bennett, Lina Jonsson, Unnur Unnsteinsdóttir, Andrea L Jorgensen, Gianpiero L Cavalleri, Norman Delanty, John J Craig, Chantal Depondt, Michael R Johnson, Bobby P C Koeleman, Emadeldin Hassanin, Maryam Erfanian Omidvar, Roland Krause, Holger Lerche, Anthony G Marson, Terence J O'Brien, Josemir W Sander, Graeme J Sills, Pasquale Striano, Federico Zara, Hreinn Stefansson, Kari Stefansson, Patrick May, Benjamin M Neale, Dennis Lal, Samuel F Berkovic, Epi25 Collaborative, Epipgx Consortium, Sanjay M Sisodiya

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting over 50 million people worldwide. One-third of people with epilepsy do not respond to currently available anti-seizure medications, constituting one of the most important problems in epilepsy. Little is known about the molecular pathology of drug resistance in epilepsy, in particular, possible underlying genetic factors are largely unknown.

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in two epilepsy cohorts of European ancestry, comparing drug-resistant (N = 4208) to drug-responsive individuals (N = 2618) followed by meta-analyses across the studies. Next, we performed subanalyses split into two broad subtypes: …

Dosimetric Predictors Of Toxicity For Brainstem Metastases And Avms Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery: An International, Multi-Institutional Analysis, Raj Singh, Samantha Dayawansa, Duy Pham, Georgios Mantziaris, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Ali Haluk Duzkalir, David Mathieu, Anne-Marie Langlois, Molly L Egnot, Ronald E Warnick, Herwin Speckter, Erwin Lazo, Laura Mendez, Angel I Blanco, Mark J Amsbaugh, Collin Liu, Andrea Becerril-Gaitan, Yoshua Esquenazi, Ching-Jen Chen, Peter Zaki, Yun Liang, Rodney Wegner, Manjul Tripathi, Zhishuo Wei, Shivani A Jajoo, Ajay Niranjan, L Dade Lunsford, Joshua D Palmer, Jason P Sheehan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There are limited data on dosimetric predictors of radiation-induced changes (RICs) for brainstem metastases or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) following single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Methods: We examined a multi-institutional cohort of patients with brainstem metastases or AVMs treated with SRS. We evaluated predictors of RICs graded per CTCAE(Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events), including D5%, D95%, D0.03 cc, and D0.5 cc (brainstem minus lesion). Univariate logistic regressions were initially performed with independent variables trending towards significance included on multivariate logistic regression.

Results: A total of 124 brainstem lesions treated with SRS were analyzed (21 AVMs and 103 metastases). The median …

Targeting Discrepancies In Linear Growth Measurements In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Through Nursing Interventions: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Gail Snyder, Rebekah Wilkinson, Raina Evans, Meagan Owen, Akram Yazdani, Covi Tibe, Catherine Perez, Lindsay F Holzapfel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Accurate length measurements are essential for infants to identify growth deficiencies and adjust nutrition accordingly. The gold standard for length measurement in infants is using a length board with two people to obtain an accurate clinical assessment. We aimed to improve the number of measurements with the desired minimal difference, defined as a discrepancy ≤1 cm between nurse and audit measurements, in our center. Our secondary aim was to increase and maintain the number of length boards available.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) study used a before-and-after intervention comparison design in a single-level IV neonatal intensive care unit between …

Enteral Nutritional Practices In Extremely Preterm Infants: A Survey Of U.S. Nicus, Mar Romero-Lopez, Mamta Naik, Lindsay F Holzapfel, Jon E Tyson, Claudia Pedroza, Kaashif A Ahmad, Matthew A Rysavy, Waldemar A Carlo, Yuxin Zhang, Covi Tibe, Ariel A Salas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

First Step To Environmentally Sustainable Endoscopy Practice: A Prospective Study Of Minimizing Multiple Device Use During Screening Colonoscopy At A Large Tertiary Center, Prateek S Harne, Vaishali Harne, Asad Rehman, Nirav Thosani, Madhav Desai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The healthcare sector generates 8% of greenhouse gas emissions in the USA, of which gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is the third largest contributor. Single-use tools are a major contributor to modifiable waste generation during GI endoscopy. Through a quality improvement initiative, we aimed to reduce endoscopy waste by urging gastroenterologists to be mindful of tools used during polypectomies by avoiding using multiple tools.We discussed green endoscopy initiatives in monthly journal club and business meetings. Over 14 weeks, 210 patients were included in the pre-intervention group and 112 in the post-intervention group.At baseline, 34% of colonoscopies required no intervention, 32% required one …

Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Needle Aspiration In The Diagnosis Of Visceral Leishmaniasis In A Patient With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Mohammad A Amjad, Y H Zhang, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Tumour Size Is Associated With Growth Rates Of >0.5 Cm/Year And Delayed Intervention In Small Renal Masses In Patients On Active Surveillance, Maximilian Pallauf, Michael Rezaee, Roy Elias, Tina Wlajnitz, Sean A Fletcher, Joseph Cheaib, Khalid Alkhatib, Peter Chang, Andrew A Wagner, James M Mckiernan, Mohamad E Allaf, Phillip M Pierorazio, Nirmish Singla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To evaluate the association between tumour size and the growth rate (GR) of small renal masses (SRMs) in patients managed by active surveillance (AS).

Materials and methods: We queried the prospective, multi-institutional Delayed Intervention and Surveillance for Small Renal Masses (DISSRM) registry for patients on AS with an imaging interval of ≥6 months, identifying 456 patients. We tracked tumour size over time; a GR >0.5 cm/year was defined as a GR event. We used multivariable recurrent events and time-to-event Cox regression modelling to evaluate the association between tumour size and GR events (primary outcome) and tumour size and delayed …

Pembrolizumab In Patients With Advanced Miscellaneous Rare Cancers: Results From A Phase 2 Basket Trial, Mirella Nardo, Camila Braganca Xavier, Bettzy Stephen, Jeffrey A How, Justin Moyers, Vivek Subbiah, David S Hong, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Rare solid tumors account for one-quarter of cancers among adults in the United States, but few resources have been devoted to their treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of pembrolizumab, a programmed cell death-1 inhibitor, in patients with rare solid tumors.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2 basket trial that included patients with rare, advanced tumors. Patients were enrolled in the study in nine tumor-specific and a 10th cohort of miscellaneous rare histologies. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 21 days. The primary endpoint was the non-progression rate at 27 weeks per immune-related Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors …

T2-Weighted Imaging Of Rectal Cancer Using A 3d Fast Spin Echo Sequence With And Without Deep Learning Reconstruction: A Reader Study, Dan Nguyen, Sarah Palmquist, Ken-Pin Hwang, Jingfei Ma, Usama Salem, Jia Sun, Xinzeng Wang, Jong Bum Son, Randy Ernst, Peng Wei, Harmeet Kaur, Nir Stanietzky

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To compare image quality and clinical utility of a T2-weighted (T2W) 3-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE) sequence using deep learning reconstruction (DLR) versus conventional reconstruction for rectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: The study included 50 patients with rectal cancer who underwent rectal MRI consecutively between July 7, 2020 and January 20, 2021 using a T2W 3D FSE sequence with DLR and conventional reconstruction. Three radiologists reviewed the two sets of images, scoring overall SNR, motion artifacts, and overall image quality on a 3-point scale and indicating clinical preference for DLR or conventional reconstruction based on those three …

Multiparametric Mri Scoring System Of The Pancreas For The Diagnosis Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Temel Tirkes, Dhiraj Yadav, Darwin L Conwell, Xuandong Zhao, Anil K Dasyam, Vivek Gowdra Halappa, Aashish Patel, Zarine K Shah, Jordan Swensson, Naoki Takahashi, Sudhakar Venkatesh, Ashley Wachsman, Liang Li, Kristofer Jennings, Yunlong Yang, Phil A Hart, Stephen J Pandol, Walter G Park, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Mark Topazian, Paul R Territo, Scott A Persohn, Dana K Andersen, Evan L Fogel, Consortium For The Study Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, And Pancreatic Cancer (Cpdpc)

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Ductal features alone may not offer high diagnostic sensitivity or most accurate disease severity of chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Purpose: Diagnose CP based on multiparametric MRI and MRCP features.

Study type: Prospective.

Population: Between February 2019 and May 2021, 46 control (23 males, 49.3 ± 14.1 years), 45 suspected (20 males, 48.7 ± 12.5 years), and 46 definite (20 males, 53.7 ± 14.6 years) CP patients were enrolled at seven hospitals enrolled in the MINIMAP study. CP classification was based on imaging findings and clinical presentation.

Field strength and sequences: 1.5 T. T1-weighted (T1W) spoiled gradient echo, T1 map with …

Imaging In Pelvic Exenteration-A Multidisciplinary Practice Guide From The Esgar-Sar-Esur-Pelvex Collaborative Group, Stephanie Nougaret, Doenja M J Lambregts, Geerard L Beets, Regina G H Beets-Tan, Lennart Blomqvist, David Burling, Quentin Denost, Maria A Gambacorta, Benedetta Gui, Ann Klopp, Yulia Lakhman, Kate E Maturen, Riccardo Manfredi, Iva Petkovska, Luca Russo, Atul B Shinagare, James A Stephenson, Damian Tolan, Aradhana M Venkatesan, Aaron J Quyn, Rosemarie Forstner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pelvic exenteration (PE) is a radical surgical approach designed for the curative treatment of advanced pelvic malignancies, requiring en-bloc resection of multiple pelvic organs. While the procedure is radical, it has shown promise in enhancing long-term survival and is now comparable in surgical mortality to elective resections for primary pelvic cancers. Imaging plays a crucial role in preoperative planning, with MRI, CT, and PET/CT being pivotal in assessing the extent of cancer and formulating a surgical roadmap. This paper presents clinical practice guidelines for imaging in the context of PE, developed jointly by ESGAR, SAR, ESUR, and the PelvEx Collaborative. …

Unveiling The Intercompartmental Signaling Axis: Mitochondrial To Er Stress Response (Mersr) And Its Impact On Proteostasis, Jeson J Li, Nan Xin, Chunxia Yang, Bo G Kim, Larissa A Tavizon, Ruth Hong, Jina Park, Travis I Moore, Rebecca George Tharyan, Adam Antebi, Hyun-Eui Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maintaining protein homeostasis is essential for cellular health. Our previous research uncovered a cross-compartmental Mitochondrial to Cytosolic Stress Response, activated by the perturbation of mitochondrial proteostasis, which ultimately results in the improvement of proteostasis in the cytosol. Here, we found that this signaling axis also influences the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER), suggesting the presence of a Mitochondria to ER Stress Response (MERSR). During MERSR, the IRE1 branch of UPRER is inhibited, introducing a previously unknown regulatory component of MCSR. Moreover, proteostasis is enhanced through the upregulation of the PERK-eIF2α signaling pathway, increasing phosphorylation of eIF2α and …

Quantifying Photon Counting Detector (Pcd) Performance Using Pcd-Ct Images, Linying Zhan, Guang-Hong Chen, Ke Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Photon counting detector CTs (PCD-CTs) have recently been introduced to clinical imaging. This development creates a new need for end-users to quantify and monitor the physical performance of PCDs. Traditionally, the characterization of PCD performance relied on detector counts, which are typically accessible to the manufacturer but are not usually available to clinical end-users.

Purpose: The goal of this work was to develop a new method for quantifying PCD performance using reconstructed PCD-CT images, without requiring access to the PCD counts.

Methods: The proposed method is based on a set of closed-form relationships that connect PCD-CT image noise, the …

In Vivo Assessment Of Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation In A Large-Animal Model Using Photoacoustic-Ultrasound Imaging, Nilesh Mathuria, Krithik Vishwanath, Blake C Fallon, Antonio Martino, Giorgio Brero, Richard C Willson, Miguel Valderrabano, Carly S Filgueira, Richard R Bouchard

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite advancements in catheter technology, intraoperative assessment of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions remains elusive. Prior ex vivo data suggest photoacoustic imaging (PAI) can provide RFA lesion characteristics, but in vivo data are lacking. PAI involves delivering near-infrared light to tissue, leading to transient acoustic waves that can be detected by clinically available ultrasound transducers, providing optically based tissue characterization at depth. Three epicardial RFA lesions were delivered in an open-chest porcine model. In vivo PAI-based measurements of RFA lesion dimensions matched (< 0.7-mm error) gross pathologic assessment, yielding in vivo feasibility data of PAI to provide intraoperative RFA lesion dimensions.