Digital Commons Network^™

Treatment Patterns For Genitourinary Syndrome Of Menopause: A Trinetx Analysis, Anushka Ghosh, Maria D'Amico, Yash B. Shah, Whitney R. Smith, Mihir S. Shah, Costas D. Lallas, Alana M. Murphy

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a highly prevalent, underdiagnosed condition that can significantly impair quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates real-world treatment trends for GSM to better understand current management practices and highlight ongoing gaps in care. The background is in a different font than the rest of the abstract.

METHODS: We queried the TriNetX database for patients with a diagnosis of postmenopausal atrophic vaginitis (ICD N95.2) and treatment information from 2004-2024. A combination of RxNorm and International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD) codes was used to classify disease and treatment type, including topical estrogen (RxNorm 4083, 4099), …

Low Utilization Of Intracavernosal Injection And Penile Doppler Ultrasound In The Evaluation Of Erectile Dysfunction And Peyronie's Disease, Joon Yau Leong, Tyler Gaines, Zachary J. Prebay, David Ebbott, Paul H. Chung

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Despite the diagnostic value of intracavernosal injections (ICI) and penile Doppler ultrasound (PDUS), there remain barriers to widespread clinical adaptation of these methods. The study aimed to evaluate the practice patterns of utilization of ICI and PDUS in the assessment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and Peyronie's disease (PD).

METHODS: Using the TriNetX database (Cambridge, MA, USA), adult (≥18 years) male patients with a diagnosis of ED on oral phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors were identified. Current Procedural Terminology codes were utilized to identify patients who underwent further evaluation with ICI or PDUS, as well as penile prosthesis placement after PDUS. A …

Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Surveillance: A Delphi Panel Consensus, Juan Alban, R. Christopher Bowen, David A. Reichstein, Meredith Mckean, Jose Lutzky, Ezekiel Weis, Richard D. Carvajal, Susan Dulka, Brian G. Morse, Marcus O. Butler, Suthee Rapisuwon, Kevin B. Kim, Sanjay Chandrasekaran, Allison Betof Warner, Jonathan S. Zager, Bartosz Chmielowski, Sapna P. Patel, Leonel Fernando Hernandez-Aya, Zelia M. Correa, Leslie A. Fecher, Yana G. Najjar, Kamaneh Montazeri, Alexander N. Shoushtari, Asad Javed, Dan S. Gombos, April K. S. Salama, Katy Tsai, Frank H. Miller, Nikhil Khushalani, Rino S. Seedor, Evan J. Lipson, Sunil A. Reddy, Elizabeth Buchbinder, Shailender Bhatia, Anna Pavlick, Inderjit Mehmi, Thomas Aaberg, Alexandra P. Ikeguchi, Ivana K. Kim, Scott D. Walter, Arun D. Singh, Ryan J. Sullivan, Jacob S. Choi, Basil K. Williams, Marlana Orloff, Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, Megan D. Schollenberger, Namita Gandhi, J. William Harbour, Sunandana Chandra

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Uveal melanoma is a rare but aggressive intraocular malignancy that metastasizes in up to half of patients, most commonly to the liver, despite effective local treatment. In the absence of robust evidence, there are no standardized guidelines for post-treatment surveillance, resulting in wide variation in imaging modalities, frequency, and duration across physicians and institutions. This study aimed to develop expert consensus recommendations for surveillance strategies in patients with uveal melanoma.

METHODS: A modified Delphi method was conducted across three iterative survey rounds between September 2024 and February 2025 using an online platform. Panelists included medical oncologists, ocular oncologists, radiologists, …

Mental Health And Beliefs About Abortion Access Following Changes To Reproductive Healthcare Laws In 2022: Findings From Oklahoma, Munjireen Sifat, Laili K. Boozary, Tina N. Le, Julia Mcquoid, Brittany Zaring-Hinkle, Sarah Tonkin, Lizbeth Benson, Bingjing Mao, Motolani Ogunsanya, Ruosi Shao, Amy M. Cohn, Allyson Shortle, Darla E. Kendzor

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data was conducted to characterize beliefs about abortion access in Oklahoma, measure stress associated with the overturn of Roe vs. Wade (2022), and evaluate the potential relationship between post-Roe stress (PR stress) and mental health.

METHODS: From August through September 2022, adult Oklahomans (N = 1793) were surveyed about their sociodemographic characteristics, beliefs about abortion access, frequency of past-month stress related to the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, and mental health. Beliefs about abortion access were characterized overall and within sociodemographic groups. The relationship between PR stress and mental health was evaluated, and …

Subgroup Analyses Of The Phase 3 Focus Study Of Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System In Patients With Unresectable Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, Jonathan S. Zager, Marlana Orloff, Pier Francesco Ferrucci, Junsung Choi, David J. Eschelman, Evan S. Glazer, Aslam Ejaz, Erika Richtig, Sebastian Ochsenreither, Sunil A. Reddy, Michael C. Lowe, Georgia M. Beasley, Anja Gesierich, Martin Gschnell, Reinhard Dummer, Ana Arance, Stephen William Fenwick, Joseph J. Sacco, Johnny John, Matthew Wheater, Christian H. Ottensmeier

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To assess efficacy and safety in subgroups of patients treated with Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System (melphalan/HDS), a drug/device combination for liver-directed treatment of metastatic UM (mUM) patients. Previously reported FOCUS study results indicated melphalan/HDS treatment provides a clinically meaningful response rate and favorable benefit-risk ratio in patients with unresectable mUM.

METHODS: Patients with mUM received treatment with melphalan (3.0 mg/kg ideal body weight) every 6-8 weeks for up to 6 cycles. Post hoc analyses of efficacy and safety were conducted for patient subgroups based on demographic and baseline disease characteristics.

RESULTS: 102 patients with mUM were enrolled; treatment was attempted …

Many Hands Make Stronger Work: Building Cross-Institutional Undergraduate Research Experiences Using Universal Design For Learning, Stephen Podowitz, Abigail Graham, Madison E. Greene, Sarah R. Johnson, Katherine Leonard, Margaret Vander Sys, Mariel A. Pfeifer

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Designing an undergraduate research experience in which all team members can meaningfully contribute and experience growth can be challenging, especially for virtual teams working across institutions. For two years, the authors worked remotely as a team that included several undergraduate researchers in a highly involved research project. Through the partnership, the two principal investigators on the project were able to involve more undergraduates in research than they could individually, using a mentoring model that drew on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure students had opportunities for intellectual involvement in the research process. By working as an integrated team, …

Concentric Macular Rings And Oct Corrugations In Foveal Hypoplasia: Proof Of Concept For An Optical Interference Mechanism, Ari August, Ralph Eagle, Tatyana Milman, Rebecca Procopio, Bruce Schnall, Jose Pulido

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND: Concentric macular rings (CMR) and Henle fiber layer (HFL) corrugations, potential clinical biomarkers of foveal hypoplasia, have been observed in laser fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, respectively. Some believe these findings represent true anatomical structural changes while others hypothesize that they are artifacts of interference; however, to our knowledge, no previous study has provided evidence to support either theory.

METHODS: This retrospective case series analyzed CMR and OCT corrugations in 3 patients (6 eyes) with foveal hypoplasia. Dark fringe diameters of CMR at different wavelengths (λ: red = 635, green = 532, blue = 488 nm) …

Perspectives On Implementing Environmentally Sustainable Practices In Cataract Surgeries: Interviews Of Administrative And Frontline Healthcare Workers, Daniel Parra, Brooke Sherry, Emma Pak, Lauren Taylor, Erin S. Rogers, Sarah E. Hochman, Maria De Los Angeles Ramos Cadena, Joel S. Schuman, Christina R. Prescott, Cassandra L. Thiel

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND: Healthcare is responsible for 8.5% of greenhouse gas emission in the United States. Physicians are becoming increasingly concerned about the climate crisis, particularly in the field of ophthalmology where there is a growing body of literature related to sustainability. Although emissions of cataracts surgery, one of the most performed surgical procedures in the world, have been quantified, modifications to practice have yet to be made. This study aims to uplift the perspectives of a diverse set of healthcare workers on implementing environmentally sustainable practices in the cataract surgery setting.

METHODS: 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals working in …

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

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

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

Synergizing Digital And Print: Leveraging Spine Surgeons' Social Media To Transform Publishing And Society Interaction, Benedikt W. Burkhardt, Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Choll W. Kim, Morgan P Lorio, Oscar L. Alves, Rossano Kepler Alvim Fiorelli, Sergio Luis Schmidt, Hansen A. Yuan, Alex R. Vaccaro

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Social media has fundamentally altered how information is created, disseminated, and consumed, with growing impact on spine surgeons and professional societies. Traditional academic publishing remains the standard for research validation, but digital platforms now shape much of the real-time dialogue in spine care.

OBJECTIVE: To explore strategies for integrating spine surgeons' social media presence with traditional publishing channels to enhance knowledge dissemination, support clinical innovation, and improve member engagement within spine societies.

METHODS: This perspective reviews current patterns of social media use among spine surgeons, focusing on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn. It analyzes benefits …

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

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

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

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

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

Metabolic Syndrome As A Risk Factor For Postoperative Complication In Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of More Than 3 Million Cases, Amir-Mohammad Asgari, Farhad Shaker, Mohammad Taha Pahlevan Fallahy, Sourena Sharifkashani, Alireza Soltani Khaboushan, Dorsa Salabat, César Carballo Cuello, James Harrop, Puya Alikhani

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Including conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome disrupts metabolic homeostasis and impairs recovery, increasing the risk of surgical complications. This study evaluates the impact of metabolic syndrome on spine surgery outcomes, addressing inconsistencies in the existing literature.

METHODS: Four databases were searched until December 2024 for studies comparing the postoperative complication rates of spine surgeries between patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Following deduplication, 2 authors independently reviewed the studies. For each included study, demographics and incidence rates of postoperative complications were extracted separately by 2 authors. Data analysis was performed using R.

RESULTS: After deduplication, …

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

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

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

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

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

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

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

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

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

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

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

Managing The Uncertainty Of "Precision" While Navigating Goals Of Care: A Framework For Collaborative Interpretation Of Complex Genomic Testing Results In Critically-Ill Neonates, Donnamaria E. Cortezzo, Katharine Press Callahan, Bimal P. Chaudhari, Elliott M. Weiss, Monica Hsiung Wojcik, Krishna Acharya, Amy B. Schlegel, Kevin M. Sullivan, Jessica T. Fry

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Each year, many neonates are born with genetic diagnoses that carry a range of prognoses. As the types and availability of genetic testing have expanded, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have served as "launching points" for their clinical application. Broad genetic testing has both improved diagnostic precision and expanded uncertainty. Genetic information may be explicitly uncertain, as in the case of a variant of unknown significance (VUS). But it is also frequently uncertain whether/how the information relates to a patient's phenotype or what it may mean for a child's future. Even without ambiguity in the diagnosis or prognosis, the significance …

Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Improved Understanding And Advances In Management, Amit Syal, Chris T. Derk

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), a common manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), has the highest organ-specific morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc). Recent advances in diagnostics-including artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and biomarkers such as Krebs van den Lungen (KL)-6-have enabled earlier detection and monitoring of disease progression. Therapeutically, the approval of antifibrotics like nintedanib (NINT) and immunomodulators such as tocilizumab (Toci) has significantly expanded treatment options. Updated international guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and European league against Rheumatism (EULAR) now …

Surgical Treatment Of Post-Traumatic Elbow Stiffness In Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Roya Khorram, Areeb Ahmad, Reza Vafadar, Ronald Joseph Shamus, Surena Namdari, G. Russell Huffman, Amir R. Kachooei

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic elbow stiffness (PTES) has been reported in up to 21% of pediatric patients following elbow fractures and can profoundly compromise a child's function, and independence. The primary surgical approaches include open and arthroscopic arthrolysis, both of which have demonstrated improvements in range of motion (ROM) and functional scores. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the effectiveness, ROM, and complication rates between open and arthroscopic release in pediatric patients with PTES.

METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were utilized to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on surgical treatment for PTES. Comprehensive …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Community-Based Prostate Cancer Screening Program, Amy Leader, Kristine Pham, Nicola Cianci, Hannah Knapp, Fatuma Doka, Suzanne Barron, Oleksandr Kolesnikov, Jordan Dehoratius, Katie Bradley, Le'ann Robles, Robert Giamboy, Olivia Dahlgren, Leonard G. Gomella

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: One out of eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from prostate cancer than other males, contributing to significant prostate cancer disparities. Early detection, often by routine screening, allows for more options for treatment and an increased chance of survival. Barriers to screening contribute to prostate cancer disparities, particularly among those who lack regular access to health care. Community based screening programs may overcome barriers to prostate cancer screening.

METHODS: An urban, NCI-designated cancer center collaborated with a national prostate cancer …

A Phase-Ii Randomized Controlled Pilot And Feasibility Study Of Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation In Older Adults With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, Christopher R. Martens, Kevin P. Decker, Theodore M. Deconne, Faria Sanjana, Fiona Horvat, Nicholas A. Rizzi, Catherine Awad, Elizabeth Habash, Joshua C. Hobson, Michael L. Armstrong, Nichole Reisdorph, Ryan T. Pohlig, Alyssa M. Lanzi, Curtis L. Johnson, Matthew L. Cohen, James M. Ellison

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Abstract

Background

The decline of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) with aging may elevate risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related neurocognitive disorders (ADRD) by impairing cellular energy metabolism and reducing cerebral blood flow.

Method

We conducted a 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of the NAD+ precursor, nicotinamide riboside (NR; 500 mg b.i.d.), for enhancing cognitive function and cerebral perfusion in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Result

52 participants (33 females, 19 males) were randomized and 42 completed the trial (NR = 22, placebo = 20). Adherence was similar between groups …

Synergistic Effects Of Gfap With Tnfr1 And Tnfr2 On Conversion To Ad Dementia And Overall Survival Across The Alzheimer’S Disease Spectrum, Laura Alejandra Ramirez Tirado, Ann D. Cohen, C. Elizabeth Shaaban, Cristy Matan, Brian J. Lopresti, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Thomas K. Karikari, Victor L. Villemagne, Oscar L. Lopez

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Background: We recently reported synergistic effects of TNFR1 and TNFR2 with
astrogliosis resulting in greater vascular burden and neurodegeneration, particularly in
Aβ+ participants. Here, we aimed to assess the interactions of peripheral inflammation
and astrogliosis on incidence of AD dementia and mortality. We hypothesized
synergistic effects with astrogliosis resulting in increased incidence of dementia, and
mortality, particularly in Aβ+ participants.
Methods: Participants of the Gingko evaluation of memory (GEM) study underwent
PiB-PET scans between 2009-2018. GFAP and peripheral inflammatory markers were
measured in 2009 by immunoassay. We evaluated the relationship of peripheral
markers of inflammation (TNFR1,TNFR2) and astrogliosis (GFAPdementia incidence …

The Role Of Reproductive Aging And Surgeries For Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementias (Adrd) Diagnoses In The Cardiovascular Health Study, Alexis Reeves, Oscar L. Lopez, Michelle D. Shardell, Hoda S. Abdel Magid, C. Elizabeth Shaaban, Michelle C. Odden

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Abstract

Background

Most US individuals with ADRD are women. Menopause typically occurs in midlife, accompanied by declines in potentially neuroprotective and cardioprotective hormones. Earlier menopause leads to earlier exposure to decreased sex hormones, potentially increasing ADRD risk. Surgical menopause via reproductive surgeries may cause a sudden loss of hormones and may represent be a modifiable risk factor for ADRD. We aimed to determine if menopausal type and age are associated with physician adjudicated-ADRD diagnoses.

Methods

Data were from 3371 women prospectively followed from age 65+ years. Participants self-reported age of menopause and/or surgeries, hormone-therapy, education, and race (Black/White). For this …

Micu2 Controls Mitochondrial Calcium Signaling And Migration In Neurons During Development, Elena Berezhnaya, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Raghavendra Singh, Macarena Rodríguez-Prados, Orly Reiner, Fowzan S Alkuraya, György Hajnóczky

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Neurological disorders are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload. Mitochondrial calcium uptake is mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (mtCU), regulated by MICU1, which can be either homodimerized or heterodimerized with MICU2 or MICU3. Though MICU2 is scarce in the adult brain, MICU2 loss in patients leads to a neurodevelopmental disorder. We hypothesized that MICU2 is required for developmental calcium signaling and neuronal migration. MICU2 is present in the developing mouse brain but disappears by maturation, contrasting with other mtCU subunits that increase. MICU2 loss in mice does not affect cytoplasmic calcium but augments the mitochondrial matrix calcium rise …

A Tissue Renewal-Based Mechanism Drives Colon Tumorigenesis, Ryan M. Boman, Gilberto Schleiniger, Christopher Raymond, Juan P. Palazzo, Anne Shehab, Bruce M. Boman

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Our Goal is to identify how colorectal cancer (CRC) arises in the single-layered cell epithelium (simple columnar epithelium) that lines the luminal surface of the large intestine. Background: We recently reported that the dynamic organization of cells in colonic epithelium is encoded by five biological rules and conjectured that colon tumorigenesis involves an autocatalytic tissue renewal reaction. Introduction Our objective was to define how altered crypt turnover explains tissue disorganization that leads to adenoma morphogenesis and CRC. Hypothesis: Changes in rate of tissue renewal-based cell polymerization leads to epithelial expansion and tissue disorganization during adenoma histogenesis. Methods: Accordingly, we created …

Epidemiology And Screening Of Traumatic Vertebral Artery Injuries At A Large Scandinavian Level 1 Trauma Center, Paulina Cewe, Victor E. Staartjes, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Ihab Ahmad Al-Rikabi, Basel Musmar, Joana M. Roy, Dennis Troung, Mats Beckman, Marcus Ohlsson, Pascal Jabbour, Adrian Elmi-Terander, Erik Edström

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic vertebral artery injuries (tVAIs) are uncommon but potentially devastating if missed. While computed tomography angiography (CTA) is routinely used for diagnosis, data on the number needed to image (NNI) remain limited. We hence analyzed tVAI epidemiology and imaging practices at a major Scandinavian level 1 trauma center.

METHODS: A retrospective study (2013-2020) was performed based on a single-center trauma registry. Patients were grouped based on CTA imaging protocol used; selective screening (2013-2017) and universal screening (2018-2020). Imaging protocols, treatment strategies, and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS: Among 2,843 patients admitted with level 1 trauma and receiving CTA imaging, 62 …

Discovery Of 5‑Chlorotryptophan-Containing Antibiotics Through Metabologenomics-Assisted High-Throughput Screening, Chantal D Bader, Isao Masuda, Angela Nichols, Edward Kalkreuter, Dong Yang, Thomas Christian, Yuko Nakano, Ya-Ming Hou, Ben Shen

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Actinomycetota bacteria have specialized in the biosynthesis of antibacterial natural products (NPs), and extract and fraction libraries made from those strains remain a promising source of NP drug leads. Herein, we present a high-throughput screen (HTS), based on engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing the human (Trm5) or bacterial (TrmD) m¹G37 tRNA methyltransferase, to discover NPs as novel anti-Gram-negative antibiotic leads. To harness the evolution of NPs with in vivo activity, the cell-based phenotypic HTS was applied to the Actinomycetota extract and fraction library at the Natural Products Discovery Center (NPDC), the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical …

Charters In Patient-Engaged Research: A Scoping Review Of Current Evidence, Jenny Martínez, Catherine V. Piersol, Richard W. Hass, Felicia Chew, Amy Cunningham, Sharon L. Larson

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

AIMS: Research study charters facilitate shared governance and power sharing with research partners when developed collaboratively and early on in a study. Study charters are negotiated and developed on a study-by-study basis, offering insight into study-specific dynamics between research partners and investigators, as well as the factors that each identify as important for their collaboration. This review aimed to map and synthesize existing evidence on the development, structure, and implementation of research study charters used in patient-engaged research.

METHODS: We searched peer-reviewed literature published worldwide in English between January 2019 and January 2025.

RESULTS: Our final sample consisted of 17 …

Efficacy Of Intravenous Immunoglobulin In Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy With Or Without Diabetes: Insights From A Multicenter Prospective Comparative Study., Samir P. Macwan, Shalini Mahajan, Peter Novak, Khosro Farhad, Ericka Wong, Thomas H. Brannagan, Sohail Masood, Fawad Piracha, Marinos C. Dalakas

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is the most frequently observed autoimmune neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). While intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is a well-established treatment for CIDP, its efficacy in diabetic patients remains uncertain due to their exclusion from prior randomized trials, largely because of concerns about confounding diabetic axonal neuropathy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of IVIG therapy in CIDP patients with diabetes mellitus (CIDP-DM) compared to those without diabetes (CIDP).

DESIGN: Multi-center, prospective, observational study after at least 3 monthly infusions of IVIG therapy.

METHODS: Thirty-six patients meeting diagnostic criteria for CIDP were enrolled and …

The Effect Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On Reoperation Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion, Nicholas C. Bank, Daniel Whittingslow, Sam Duggan, Joshua L. Morningstar, Douglas S. Weinberg

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Pseudarthrosis remains a significant complication of ACDF, contributing to patient morbidity and increased healthcare costs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), widely prescribed for diabetes and obesity, have been shown to reduced odds of pseudoarthrosis after ACDF. However, it remains unclear whether these reductions meaningfully translate to reduced odds of subsequent cervical surgery.

METHODS: The TriNetX United States Collaborative Network was queried for patients who underwent single- or multi-level ACDF between 2013-2023. Patients with perioperative GLP-1RA use and propensity-score-matched controls without GLP-1RA use were compared for subsequent rates of pseudoarthrosis and cervical reoperation at 6-, 12-, and 24-month intervals. Odds …

Protocol For Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Fractionation Of Mammalian Cells To Study Protein Translocation Via Immunoblotting, Adhikarimayum Lakhikumar Sharma, Eddy Zhu, Rithika Padyala, Kavya Parikh, Mudit Tyagi

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Studying protein translocation is essential for understanding protein function and regulatory mechanisms, including the activity of transcription factors. Here, we present a protocol for isolating high-quality cytoplasmic and nuclear protein fractions from mammalian cells. We describe steps for separating cytoplasmic proteins, washing nuclei, and extracting nuclear proteins. We then detail procedures for quantifying proteins and analyzing their distribution by immunoblotting within a single immunoblot. This protocol is applicable to both suspension and adherent cell types. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sharma et al.