Digital Commons Network^™

Multi-Organ Physiologic Deficits During Exercise Identify Clinical And Molecular Predisposition To Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Isabela Landsteiner, Lindsey K Stolze, Tess E Peterson, Andrew Perry, Phillip Lin, Quanhu Sheng, Shilin Zhao, Kaushik Amancherla, Michael Y Mi, Takenori Ikoma, Laura P Cohen, Ilya Giverts, Joseph Campain, Joao A C Lima, Wendy S Post, Kent D Taylor, Robert Gerszten, Stephen S Rich, Russell Tracy, Peter Durda, Alexis C Wood, Rajeev Malhotra, Jerome I Rotter, Clary Clish, Matthew Nayor, Eric R Gamazon, Ravi V Shah, Gregory D Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Exercise unmasks limitations in multi-organ system reserve capacity characteristic of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the metabolic and genetic underpinnings of exercise deficits, and their cumulative contribution to HFpEF severity and prognosis, remain incompletely understood.

Methods: We used invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET), metabolite profiling, and genomics to simultaneously characterize seven exercise physiologic deficits in HFpEF patients: reduced exercise stroke volume and heart rate, steep pulmonary capillary wedge pressure/cardiac output (PCWP/CO) slope, elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary mechanical limitation to exercise, impaired peripheral oxygen extraction, and obesity-related exaggerated metabolic cost of initiating exercise. We first mapped …

Relative Impact Of Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions On Deficit Accumulation Frailty Over 24 Months In The U.S. Pointer Trial, Mark A Espeland, Kayloni Olson, Christy C Tangney, Darren R Gitelman, Maryjo Cleveland, Amber A Thro, Yitbarek N Demesie, Heather M Snyder, Rachel A Whitmer, Pankaja Desai, Rifat Alam, Lucia Crivelli, Thomas M Holland, Olivia Preissle, Rema Raman, Michele K York, Laura D Baker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Multidomain lifestyle interventions hold promise as approaches to slow aging. Deficit accumulation frailty indices (FIs) are increasingly used to capture aging processes. Frailty is highly associated with increased mortality and chronic disease risk, but the degree to which multidomain lifestyle changes impact frailty is not clear.

Methods: The U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) was a 2-year randomized clinical trial to compare two multidomain lifestyle interventions designed to increase exercise, improve diet, and promote social and cognitive stimulating activities and health monitoring. The Structured intervention incorporated greater structure, intensity, and accountability …

Developing Endpoints For The Cardiac Burden In Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: A Workshop Report, Julia M Hartman, Samuel Carrell, William J Groh, Thomas A Cooper, Jordana Kron, Greg Hundley, Jennifer Jordan, Amy Ladd, Man Hung, Nicholas E Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiac disease is a well-established manifestation of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), characterized by progressive cardiac conduction slowing with increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, heart block, and sudden cardiac death. Multiple disease modifying therapies are in clinical trials for DM1 and show promise in improving skeletal muscle weakness and myotonia. Testing the effects of these medicines, or others, in the heart is of critical importance, but requires identification of endpoints of cardiac function that accurately reflect the state of DM1 cardiac disease. To better define cardiac endpoints, the Myotonic Dystrophy Clinical Research Network (DMCRN) and the Myotonic Dystrophy …

Lgr5: From Stem Cell Marker To Therapeutic Target, Peyton C High, Maya G Cappellino, Tiffani A Blackburn, Kendra S Carmon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is an established marker of normal and cancer stemlike cells. LGR5 has been implicated in promoting cancer cell plasticity that drives tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. LGR5 rapidly and constitutively internalizes and potentiates Wnt (Wingless/Int-1)/β-catenin and adhesion signaling pathways, though its precise mechanisms and interacting partners remain unresolved. An improved understanding of LGR5 signaling may provide invaluable insight into its intricate and important functions in cancer progression. Moreover, several LGR5-targeting therapies, including peptibody- and antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies, are showing promising efficacy and tolerability in colorectal cancer and other tumor types. This …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Pediatricians' Perspectives Regarding Barriers, Facilitators, And Strategies For Providing Timely Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening And Diagnosis, Mallika Mathur, Jinni Tang, Christine Markham, Sandra Mckay, Ruosha Li, Deepali Ernest, Allison Marshall, Shreela Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that has increased in prevalence over the years. Diagnosis and subsequent intervention by the age of 3 is essential for development. However, recent estimates indicate that less than 50% of children receive an evaluation by age 3. Underserved populations are more likely to receive an evaluation at an older age. Several barriers in the diagnostic process have been identified; however, limited studies have aimed at understanding the specifics of these barriers among underserved populations and whether current strategies are beneficial for all children.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to …

Untangling Impacts Of Socioeconomic Position, Chronic Disease, And Low-Level Pm2.5 Exposure On Mortality Among Native American Medicare Beneficiaries, Judy Wendt Hess, Wenyaw Chan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with increased mortality at concentrations below current regulatory standards. Studies of low-level exposure often rely on large administrative cohorts whose geographic and demographic composition may influence observed associations. In a prior analysis, we observed an association between long-term PM2.5 and all-cause mortality among Native American Medicare beneficiaries living in zip codes within the lowest decile of PM2.5 exposure. The present study, a case-control analysis of 1,713,399 low-PM2.5-exposed beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare during 2015-2016, evaluated whether this association could be explained by geographic context, socioeconomic position (SEP), or baseline health status. We used …

Regulation Of Mitochondrial Ros By C15orf48 In A Basal Cell Subpopulation Contributes To Chemotherapy Resistance In Tnbc, Yan Jiang, Noor M Abdulkareem, Amanda L Rinkenbaugh, Yuan Qi, Steven W Wall, Xiaomei Zhang, Jiansu Shao, Sabrina Jeter-Jones, Shirong Cai, Faiza Baameur Hancock, Gloria V Echeverria, Jeffrey T Chang, Helen Piwnica-Worms

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Systemic neoadjuvant chemotherapy, often combined with immunotherapy, is the standard of care for early-stage, non-breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA)-mutant triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, up to 70% of patients retain residual disease after treatment, which is linked to recurrence and mortality within 5 years. To define mechanisms of resistance, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on orthotopic TNBC patient-derived xenografts during a cycle of treatment with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC). Clustering identified four tumor epithelial cell populations, with basal cells enriched in residual tumors. These basal cells up-regulated C15ORF48, a paralog of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase associated subunit FA4 …

Translationally-Relevant Tumor Resection Model For Murine Preclinical Models Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Gemalene M Sunga, Alejandra Cobos Perez, Andrea H Molina, Nourhan Hussein, Neeraja Dharmaraj, Andrew Sikora, Simon Young

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Currently, the first-line treatment for the most common form of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is surgical resection, followed by risk-adapted treatments, such as chemoradiotherapy. However, with the current standard of care and even the emergence of new treatments, such as checkpoint blockade, the overall survival for advanced, recurrent disease remains high, and the prevalence of head and neck cancer is projected to continue to increase in the coming years. Thus, deeper investigation into current standard-of-care modalities, in addition to novel therapeutics, is necessary to translate potential and promising treatment options to …

Bdcd: A Comprehensive Brain Disease Cell-Cell Communication Database, Xinyi Liu, Citu Citu, Wendao Liu, Nitesh Enduru, Andi Liu, Chia-Hao Tung, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dysregulated cell–cell communication (CCC) is increasingly recognized as a driver of brain disease pathology, contributing to neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Nevertheless, existing resources remain limited in brain specificity, regional coverage, and functional annotation. To address this gap, we develop the Brain Disease Cell-cell communication Database (BDCD), the first comprehensive resource focused on CCC networks across major brain diseases. BDCD integrates 38 manually curated datasets, comprising 8 519 425 single cells from single-cell RNA-seq studies and 140 744 spots from spatial transcriptomic maps, spanning 14 brain regions and 13 canonical cell types covering Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, …

What Is New In Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support In 2024-2025?, Maya Guglin

The VAD Journal

This review covers the most interesting publications on temporary mechanical circulatory support in 2024-2025. We include the latest research on intra-aortic balloon pumps, Impella devices, and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A Topic Modeling Analysis Of Stigma Dimensions, Social, And Related Behavioral Circumstances In Clinical Notes Among Patients With Hiv, Ziyi Chen, Yiyang Liu, Mattia Prosperi, Krishna Vaddiparti, Robert L Cook, Jiang Bian, Yi Guo, Yonghui Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To characterize stigma dimensions, social, and related behavioral circumstances in people living with HIV (PLWHs) seeking care, using natural language processing methods applied to a large collection of electronic health record (EHR) clinical notes from a large integrated health system in the southeast United States.

Methods: We identified a cohort of PLWHs from the University of Florida (UF) Health Integrated Data Repository and performed topic modeling analysis using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to uncover stigma-related dimensions and related social and behavioral contexts. Domain experts created a seed list of HIV-related stigma keywords, then applied a snowball strategy to iteratively …

Methodological Progress Note: Logic Models, Molly J Horstman, Kyler M Godwin

Faculty and Staff Publications

Logic models are an accessible tool to organize the planning, management, and evaluation of programs across healthcare disciplines. This methodological progress note describes the five standard components of a logic model (Inputs, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes, and Impact) and provides guidance for developing a logic model. Logic models offer a visual representation of the work and theory of a program and should be created with input from all interested parties. Logic models are living tools that need to be revised as programs evolve and new information becomes available.

The Impact Of Estrogen Replacement During Perimenopause On Lung Function And Airway Inflammation In The Vcd Mouse Model, William P Pederson, Laurie Michelle Ellerman, Riley D Hellinger, Joselyn Joanna Rojas Quintero, Francesca Polverino, John P Konhilas, Julie G Ledford

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background:

Menopause associated asthma impacts a subset of women and is less responsive to current treatments. Mechanisms driving this late onset asthma are unknown. We recently developed a mouse model of menopause associated asthma using a combination of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide (VCD) and House Dust Mite (HDM) exposures. The goal of this study was to determine how hormone replacement therapy during perimenopause impacts lung function and inflammation.

Methods:

The experimental groups included menopausal mice (VCD) with and without exposure to HDM (to model allergic airways disease) and menopausal mice with and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT; via estrogen pellet implantation). Lung …

Ethical Controversies In Organ Procurement: A National Survey On Public Perceptions Of Thoracoabdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion, Trevor M Bibler, Jill Oliver Robinson, Adam Omelianchuk, Tariq Nisar, Savitri Fedson, Ariel N Levchenko, Amy L Mcguire

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) would likely expand the quantity and quality of organs procured after controlled circulatory death donation in the United States, yet its ethical permissibility remains contested. We surveyed a representative sample of US adults (n = 975) with the goal of assessing their perspectives on the ethical permissibility of TA-NRP. After reading a neutral description of TA-NRP, participants judged its permissibility, reviewed 5 critic and 5 supporter arguments (in random order), and chose which argument they found most convincing. Multivariable logistic regression examined predictors of agreeing with critics. Before exposure to the arguments, 51.5% stated that …

Diagnostic Criteria And Management Of Melas And Stroke-Like Episodes: Consensus-Based Statements, Michelangelo Mancuso, Marcello Bellusci, Valerio Carelli, Irenaeus De Coo, Daria Diodato, Felix Distelmaier, Omar Hikmat, Michio Hirano, Rita Horvath, Amel Karaa, Thomas Klopstock, Mary Kay Koenig, Cornelia Kornblum, Chiara La Morgia, Piervito Lopriore, Mika Henrik Martikainen, Robert Mcfarland, Olimpia Musumeci, Robert D S Pitceathly, Guido Primiano, Shamima Rahman, Fernando Scaglia, Andrew Schaefer, Manuel Schiff, Luisa Semmler, Costanza Lamperti, Serenella Servidei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic acidosis and Stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a rare multisystem mitochondrial disorder with clinical heterogeneity. Diagnostic criteria and management strategies for MELAS and mitochondrial stroke-like episodes (SLE) remain inconsistent. This work provides international consensus recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, and management of MELAS and SLE in pediatric and adult populations.

Methods: An international Delphi consensus process was conducted within the European Reference Network for Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), in collaboration with the US Mitochondrial Medicine Society, the ERN for Hereditary Metabolic Disorders (MetabERN), and patient representatives. Following a systematic literature review, 54 statements addressing diagnostic …

Complex Iliac Artery And Iliocaval Venous Reconstruction Using Temporary, Redundant Graft To Facilitate Resection Of Recurrent Metastatic Sex Stromal Tumor, Shah-Jahan M Dodwad, Blaz Podgorsek, Ezra Koh, Taha S Zaidi, Justin E Bird, Shalin S Patel, Thanila A Macedo, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We report a complex case of recurrent, metastatic sex cord stromal tumor involving the pelvic vasculature and spinal nerves. Posterior and anterior approaches were required with redo iliac artery reconstruction using a temporary, redundant aortoiliac to right external iliac artery graft and iliocaval venous reconstruction. After completion of tumor resection from nerve structures, reconstruction of the right iliac veins was completed and the redundant aortoiliac arterial graft was shortened. The redundant graft minimized ischemia time, enabling meticulous dissection and tumor removal. This case underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in managing rare, aggressive malignancies with complex vascular and neural involvement.

Cardiovascular Outcomes With Icosapent Ethyl By Burden Of Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Reduce-It, Rahul Aggarwal, Deepak L Bhatt, Michael Miller, Christie M Ballantyne, Eliot A Brinton, Terry A Jacobson, Steven B Ketchum, Jean-Claude Tardif, Matthew J Budoff, Gemma A Figtree, Ph Gabriel Steg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Driveline Infections Among Patients Supported With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Single Center Sixteen-Year Longitudinal Profile, Anh Nguyen, Alexis Shafii, Gabriel Loor, Andrew Civitello, O Howard Frazier, Todd Rosengart, Kenneth Liao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) driveline infections significantly impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify their risk factors.

Methods: We analyzed LVAD data from our institutional Intermacs database (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2023), combining primary implants and pump exchanges. Patient characteristics were summarized as frequencies for categorical variables and median (IQR) for continuous variables. The nature of repeated infection events was handled by the Andersen-Gill method within a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model for cause-specific hazard of driveline infections, accounting for death and heart transplant as competing risks.

Results: Our cohort included 1026 LVAD implants. Median patient age …

Novel Variants Identified In Families With Snx27 -Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Aiding In Characterizing Its Genotypic And Phenotypic Spectrum, Tayyaba Shan, Abrar Hussain, Anushree Acharya, Mulazim Hussain, Yumei Li, Hafiz Muhammad Jafar Hussain, Kiran Afshan, Suzanne M Leal, Rui Chen, Asif Mir, Isabelle Schrauwen, Sabika Firasat

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background:

Sorting Nexin 27 (SNX27), a key regulator of synaptic receptor trafficking and endosomal recycling, has been implicated in maintaining synaptic homeostasis and cognitive function. To date, variants in SNX27 have been reported in a small number of patients across three publications with severe neurodevelopmental phenotypes. However, the genetic and functional landscape of SNX27-related disorders remains poorly understood, and further evidence is needed to confirm its association with disease and to better delineate the associated phenotype.

Methods and Results:

Two unrelated Pakistani families with a total of five affected individuals segregating a neurodevelopmental disorder were investigated via exome …

Black Equality In Ocd Neurogenomics (Belong): Study Protocol, Iasha J Williams, Dalia Y Marquez, Kara E Lopez-Lengowski, Malini Bommiasamy, Ogechi Cynthia Onyeka, Slayton J Underwood, Juliana E Avery, Jacob Gluckman, Thariana Pichardo, Rhea Chandler, Yulu Brown, Katie Mangen, Emma Grace Choplin, Black Equality In Ocd Neurogenomics (Belong) Study Team, Sonyia C Richardson, Joseph D Buxbaum, Eric A Storch, James J Crowley, Sidney H Hankerson, Dorothy E Grice

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic, serious psychiatric disorder that affects 2%-3% of the population and is associated with high personal and societal costs. Genetic factors are estimated to explain roughly half the risk of developing OCD, and genomic studies are just beginning to identify common and rare genetic variants mediating this risk. A major goal of genomic studies is to yield insights into the etiology of OCD and identify molecular targets for the development of novel therapeutics. However, the overwhelming majority of subjects in existing genetic studies are of European ancestry, limiting the generalizability of these findings. To address …

The International Pediatric Headache Didactic Series: A Novel Curriculum Innovation, Sara Pavitt, Sruthi Ilangovan, Zoë Allen, Samantha L Irwin, Irene Patniyot

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: The International Pediatric Headache Didactic Series (IPHDS) was developed to provide free, comprehensive pediatric headache education to healthcare professionals worldwide. The objective of this study was to describe the design, implementation, and impact of this prospective educational intervention.

Background: Headache is the most common neurological symptom within the pediatric population. Yet, only nine fellowships are offered in pediatric headache medicine. Limitations in access to education and training are often cited as reasons for diagnostic and management barriers. To address this gap, the IPHDS was established in July 2022.

Methods: IPHDS is a recurring series consisting of 23 biweekly lectures. …

Fronto-Cerebellar Features Associate With Cognitive Dysfunction In Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Hanne Van Der Heijden, Gabrielle Alonzi, Amanda Cao, Raquel Van Gool, Merve Koç Yekedüz, Lise Vrolix, Itamar Ronen, Vanessa Rameh, Kyle Mcbrearty, Aditi Deokar, Robert P Sundel, Eyal Muscal, Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, Andrea Knight, Joyce C Chang, Jaymin Upadhyay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a prevalent symptom in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). This study aimed to investigate the neurobehavioral basis of CD in cSLE.

Methods: Patients with cSLE (N=20) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs, N=20) completed questionnaires and multiple neurocognitive tests. The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 and laboratory markers were used to monitor patients' clinical status. Neuroimaging assessments included functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and structural MRI.

Results: cSLE patients demonstrated moderate disease activity with high inflammation and immune dysregulation, alongside low medication adherence. Relative to HCs, cSLE patients …

Feasibility Of A Large Language Model Chatbot To Support Parental Understanding In The Picu, R Brandon Hunter, Satid Thammasitboon, Sreya Rahman, Sriya Kakarla, Pamela Petersen, Shelley Kumar, Thomas Rappold, Sanjiv Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of a large language model (LLM)-based chatbot for answering parental questions in the PICU and inform design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Design: Prospective single-arm feasibility study conducted from August 2024 to December 2024.

Setting: Quaternary PICU.

Subjects: Fourteen parents of children admitted to the PICU.

Interventions: Parents engaged in 10-minute sessions with a HIPAA-compliant GPT-4o- (Generative Pretrained Transformer 4o, OpenAI, San Francisco, CA) based chatbot prompted with patient-specific electronic health record (EHR) data.

Measurements and main results: Feasibility was assessed through four criteria: parental engagement and satisfaction, provider perceptions, accuracy and safety, and …

Results Of A Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1/2 Study Of A Trpv1 Antagonist Sjp-0132 In Participants With Dry Eye Disease, Tomoyuki Wada, Kazunori Omatsu, Stephen C Pflugfelder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic profile, and efficacy of SJP-0132 in participants with dry eye disease (DED).

Design: Phase 1/2, randomized, double-masked, single-center, placebo-controlled single and multiple ascending dose study.

Participants: Generally healthy adults aged ≥18 years with a patient-reported history of DED for ≥6 months, eye dryness visual analog scale (VAS: 0-100) ≥40 mm, 5-item dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) ≥6, and central corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) of 2 to 4 (Baylor scale: 0-5 for each of five zones).

Methods: This study consisted of Part A and Part B, containing four single- and two multiple-ascending dose cohorts, respectively. …

Variability In The Orthopaedic Residency Trainee Trauma Surgical Experience, Todd Phillips, Benjamin Fiedler, Joshua T Morrow, Zbigniew Gugala, Melvyn Harrington, Douglas R Dirschl

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze fracture fixation case logs from residents training at a level 1 trauma center to assess variability across residents' surgical experiences within a single residency program. The authors hypothesize that notable variability exists between residents' surgical experiences in fracture care.

Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted at a single, urban residency program with a level 1 trauma center. Completed case logs were collected from program graduates from 2022 to 2024. All surgical cases involving fracture fixation at the level 1 trauma center were included for analysis. The anatomic region of the …

Kidney Disease And Heart Failure: Recent Advances And Current Challenges: Conclusions From A Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (Kdigo) Controversies Conference, Carolyn S P Lam, Biykem Bozkurt, David Z I Cherney, Justin A Ezekowitz, Meg J Jardine, Sadiya S Khan, Magdalena Madero, Mark J Sarnak, Jozine M Ter Maaten, Michael Cheung, Jennifer M King, Morgan E Grams, Michel Jadoul, Nisha Bansal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently coexist, which elevates the risks of hospitalization, disease progression, and death. Despite advances in treating each condition independently, many challenges remain in diagnosing and managing them in combination. In March 2024, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) held the Controversies Conference on Kidney Disease and Heart Failure: Recent Advances and Current Challenges. Discussions highlighted the complex, bidirectional relationship between HF and CKD, including shared risk factors and overlapping pathophysiology as well as nuances in interpreting biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides and serum creatinine. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, and emerging …

Identifying The Strongest Novel Gene-Respiratory Disease Interactions For Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk, Vanessa L Kronzer, Rebecca T Brooks, Anne K Shurtz, Xiaosong Wang, Elizabeth J Atkinson, John M Davis, Jeffrey A Sparks, James R Cerhan, Elena K Joerns, Robert Vassallo, Cynthia S Crowson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: We aimed to identify the strongest individual gene-respiratory interactions for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk.

Methods: This case-control study used the Mayo Clinic (MC) and Mass General Brigham (MGB) biobanks for discovery and validation, respectively. We matched criteria-confirmed incident RA cases to four non-RA controls on age, sex, and duration electronic health record (EHR) history. Genetic exposures included known RA risk alleles. We identified respiratory diseases by codes and defined "respiratory burden" as the total number of respiratory codes divided by EHR duration before index date of RA. Using logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders, we estimated odds ratios …

Long-Term Outcomes Of Left Bundle-Branch Pacing Vs Biventricular Pacing In Heart Failure: The Heartsync-Lbbp Randomized Clinical Trial, Xueying Chen, Xi Liu, Ruogu Li, Zhongkai Wang, Yixiu Liang, Lei Zhang, Wei Wang, Jin Bai, Jingfeng Wang, Shengmei Qin, Weiwei Zhang, Tianbao Yao, Dong Huang, Ting Chen, Xianxian Zhao, Dening Liao, Jingbo Li, Jialiang Mao, Mihail G Chelu, Yangang Su, Kenneth A Ellenbogen, Junbo Ge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Left bundle-branch pacing (LBBP) has been proposed as an alternative to biventricular pacing (BiVP) for patients with heart failure with left bundle-branch block (LBBB). However, robust clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of LBBP and BiVP.

Design, setting, and participants: This multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial enrolled 200 patients at 6 centers in China with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or less and LBBB from October 2020 to March 2022. This study was took place from October 2020 to September 2024. These data were analyzed September 2024 …

Utility Of Diagnostic Arthroscopy Before Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction In Pediatric And Adolescent Patients Without Articular Findings On Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Holden Archer, Kaleb Patterson, Jonathan D Schwartzman, Scott D Mckay, Indranil Kushare

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction is frequently used to manage recurrent patellar instability. Diagnostic arthroscopy is commonly performed before MPFL reconstruction to identify, confirm, and address intra-articular pathology. However, when preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not demonstrate intra-articular lesions, it is unclear how often diagnostic arthroscopy in pediatric patients alters surgical management.

PURPOSE: To determine the utility of diagnostic arthroscopy in young patients undergoing MPFL reconstruction who had no intra-articular chondral or osteochondral pathology, meniscal tears, or loose bodies identified on preoperative MRI, and to characterize intra-articular pathology detected on arthroscopy but not identified on MRI.

STUDY DESIGN: …

Robotic Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery For The Management Of Endometriosis: First Experience Via The Da Vinci Sp Platform, Qiannan Yang, Daniel Y Lovell, Xiaoming Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility and mid-term outcomes of Robotic single-port single-incision laparoscopic surgery (RSP-SILS) for endometriosis management.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 adult women with endometriosis who underwent RSP-SILS via the da Vinci SP platform between November 2023 and July 2025.

Results: Median total operative time was 142 min, robot dock time was 3 min, and robot console time was 99 min. Median estimated blood loss was 25 mL. No conversion occurred. Reported mid-term outcomes included 1 case each of pelvic haematoma, Clostridioides difficile colitis, and umbilical surgical site infection, as well as 3 cases of …