Digital Commons Network^™

Uncovering Hidden Prognostic Patterns In Colorectal Cancer Histology Using Unsupervised Learning: A Computational Pathology Study, Wen-Tong Zhou, Yong Liu, Gang Yu, Kuan-Song Wang, Chao Xu, Jonathan Greenbaum, Chong Wu, Lin-Dong Jiang, Christopher J Papasian, Hong-Mei Xiao, Hong-Wen Deng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, yet current histopathological diagnostics capture only limited features. This study aimed to discover subtle, prognostically significant histomorphological patterns in CRC tissues using unsupervised deep learning. We developed a framework integrating convolutional neural networks with deep clustering, trained on 23,341 image patches from 493 patients. We identified 30 distinct histomorphological clusters from CRC tissue images. Through univariate and multivariate survival analyses, three clusters (Cluster13, Cluster19, and Cluster24) were consistently associated with patient prognosis. These clusters were integrated with clinical factors (T stage, N stage, and differentiation degree) to construct a …

Mist: A Hierarchical Bayesian Framework For Detecting Differential Dna Methylation Dynamics In Single-Cell Data, Daoyu Duan, Wenjing Ma, Wen Tang, Hao Wu, Liangliang Zhang, Hao Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent advancements in single-cell DNA methylation (scDNAm) sequencing technologies have enabled the profiling of epigenetic landscapes at unprecedented resolution, offering insights into cellular heterogeneity, differentiation and evolution. Trajectory inference, which orders cells along pseudotime, allows researchers to track genomics changes across continuous cell states and identify key loci exhibiting differential methylation. However, no methods currently exist to model methylation changes along pseudotime in scDNAm data. Here, we present a hierarchical Bayesian framework for scDNAm data analysis. Our method, named mist (methylation inference for single-cell along trajectory), models stage-specific biological variations, identifies genomic features with significant methylation changes along pseudotime, and …

Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (Supar) As A Biomarker Of Neurodysfunction, Victoria Linden De Rezende, Khiany Mathias, Lucineia Gainski Danielski, Tatiana Barichello, Fabricia Petronilho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The inflammatory response is essential for host defense, but its persistence can lead to chronic systemic inflammation (CSI). Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has emerged as a reliable biomarker of CSI because elevated levels consistently indicate the presence and progression of chronic disease as well as increased mortality risk. There is growing evidence that CSI influences neurovascular regulation, including changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, which suggests that suPAR may also be relevant to central nervous system (CNS) processes. This narrative review summarizes current findings on suPAR in CSI and examines its emerging implications for CNS. Higher suPAR concentrations …

Complete Genome Sequence Of The Widely Used Coaggregation Fusobacterial Strain Pk1594, Bibek G C, Shiqi Xu, Chenggang Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We report the complete genome sequence of the fusobacterial strain PK1594, widely used to study coaggregation between Fusobacterium nucleatum and oral bacteria. The assembly comprises a 2,357,192-bp chromosome and a 20,441-bp contig representing a duplicated 10,221-bp plasmid. znpA analysis indicates that PK1594 is Fusobacterium hwasookii rather than F. nucleatum.

Pkmζ-Kibra Interactions, Molecular Turnover, And Memory, Changchi Hsieh, David A Cano, Panayiotis Tsokas, James E Cottrell, André Antonio Fenton, Harel Shouval, Todd Charlton Sacktor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

How can the molecules that strengthen synaptic connections maintain memory in the face of molecular turnover? Our previous work showed that persistent interaction between the postsynaptic scaffolding protein, KIBRA, and the autonomously active PKC isoform, PKMζ, is crucial for maintaining synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory lasting at least a month. This duration is longer than the lifespans of individual KIBRA and PKMζ molecules. Biophysical modeling of the interaction suggests oligomers of KIBRA-PKMζ dimers, but not individual dimers or monomers, can overcome molecular turnover by continuously incorporating newly synthesized KIBRA and PKMζ, replacing those that have degraded. Here we used …

Schistosome Esophageal Gland Factor Meg-82 Drives Host Cell Lysis And Interacts With Host Immune Proteins, Pallavi Yadav, Sabona B Simbassa, Ryan Sloan, Phillip A Newmark, Jayhun Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Schistosomes are blood flukes that ingest large amounts of host blood during their intra-mammalian stage. The ingested blood contains leukocytes that can be harmful, yet the parasites survive inside the host for decades, reflecting superb immune evasion mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Our previous work discovered that FoxA, a forkhead transcription factor, drives the production of the esophageal gland, an anterior digestive organ essential for degrading ingested leukocytes and for in vivo survival. However, a comprehensive molecular makeup of the esophageal gland remains unclear. Importantly, the esophageal gland factors responsible for degrading ingested leukocytes, their mechanisms of action, and how …

Adolescent And Parent Dyad Perceptions On The Utility And Implementation Ability To Use Cellphone-Based Technology To Reduce Distracted Driving In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Usa, Kevin Rix, Rachel Solomon, Mallory Lacy, M Kit Delgado, Jeffrey P Ebert, Douglas J Wiebe, Catherine Claire Mcdonald

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Losing focus while driving, including cellphone-based distractions (phone calls, text messages, other apps), is a prominent problem for adolescent drivers. Internal cellphone-based technologies designed to reduce distractions are prominent, but little is known about how parents and their children feel about their ability to successfully reduce distracted driving. This study interviews parents and adolescents to understand the utility and what is needed for implementation of these technologies.

Methods: Twenty (20) adolescent-parent dyads participated in semistructured qualitative interviews. Participants reflected adolescent drivers and their parents who previously had been documented as ranging from 'very low' risk drivers to 'very high' …

The Use And Utility Of Wearable Devices For Tracking Sleep And Activity In Inpatient Mental Health Settings: Protocol For A Rapid Review, Gillian Strudwick, Hwayeon Danielle Shin, Iman Kassam, Karishini Ramamoorthi, Benjamin Rosen, Michelle A Patriquin, Justin Baker, Nicholas Neufeld

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Wearable devices offer an opportunity to objectively monitor and capture sleep and activity in psychiatric inpatient settings, where traditional approaches often rely on subjective reporting or staff observation, both of which have inherent flaws. Technologies such as Fitbit, Garmin, Oura Ring, GENEActiv, Empatica, and WHOOP (among others) have been used to passively collect physiological data that may inform care planning and clinical decision-making. Despite growing interest, the extent to which these wearables are feasible, acceptable, and useful in inpatient mental health settings remains unclear. Synthesizing this evidence is essential to inform their potential integration into psychiatric care.

Objective: This …

International Consensus-Driven Recommendations For Patient-Reported Outcome Research Objectives In Early Phase Dose-Finding Oncology Trials: Optimise-Ror, Emily Alger, Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi, Amylou C Dueck, Anna Minchom, Madeline Pe, John D Peipert, Claire Snyder, Stefan N Symeonides, Roger Wilson, Ethan Basch, Yu Qiao, Susan E Bates, Helen Bulbeck, Lizzie Dean, Massimo Di Maio, Aaron R Hansen, Olga Kholmanskikh, Ken Kobayashi, Dónal Landers, Christophe Le Tourneau, J Jack Lee, Brigette B Y Ma, Lynley V Marshall, Sheetal Patel, Joan Petrie, Gregory R Pond, Kieran Prior, Khadija R Rantell, John F Reeve, Olga Solovyeva, Nolan A Wages, Harald A Weber, Melanie J Calvert, Christina Yap

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: There is growing scientific interest in incorporating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in early phase dose-finding oncology trials (DFOTs) to assess tolerability, inform dose selection, and guide later stage trial design. However, research indicates that PRO objectives in DFOTs are often unclear. The Incorporating Patient-Reported Outcomes in Dose-Finding Trials-Research Objectives Recommendations (OPTIMISE-ROR) project was established to support trialists to effectively incorporate PROs into DFOTs.

Methods: Using the Enhancing Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) Network's methodological framework, guideline development included the following: (1) a methodological review of published DFOTs incorporating PROs; (2) candidate item generation, refined through expert consultation; (3) …

Clinical Trial Success Rate In Lymphoma: Fate Of Trials And Agents From 2000 To 2019, Zhiping Luo, Meng Li, Brian C Primeaux, Rahul Shah, Ruitao Lin, Swaminathan P Iyer, Loretta J Nastoupil, Michael R Green, Jason R Westin, Christopher R Flowers, Dai Chihara

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although previous studies have examined the drug development and clinical trial success rates in oncology, a comprehensive analysis of development success rate in lymphoma has not been performed. Therefore, we analyzed lymphoma trials initiated between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2019, using the Trialtrove database and ClinicalTrials.gov. We identified phase 1, 2, and 3 trials that included patients with lymphoma and analyzed the transition rate of investigational agents across phases and their US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval rates to assess the efficiency and success of the clinical development process. A total of 1032 phase 1 trials and …

Penile Prosthetic Infections: What Can Be Learned From Orthopedics?, Kenneth B Mathis, Alisina Shahi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Dual Phagocytosis-Checkpoint Blockade Revitalizes Immune Surveillance In Mouse Models Of Glioblastoma, Jonghoon Ha, Yifan Wang, Yifan Ma, Annette Wu, Shiyan Dong, Seong Dong Jeong, Jared L Edwards, Mengyu Chang, Yen-Tzu Chang, Xiaotian Wang, Maurice Dufilho, Michelle Najarro Torres, Shannon Mccabe, Weiye Deng, Adam J Grippin, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Shaan M Raza, Franco Demonte, Ian E Mccutcheon, Sujit Prabhu, Sherise D Ferguson, Chibawanye I Ene, Kadir Akdemir, Sreyashi Basu, Sonali Jindal, Benjamin R Schrank, Jian Hu, Sangeeta Goswami, Vinay K Puduvalli, Frederick F Lang, Kristin Huntoon, Padmanee Sharma, Betty Y S Kim, Wen Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells elicits potent antitumor immunity. Nonetheless, sole-blockade of the anti-phagocytosis molecule CD47 has yielded insufficient therapeutic outcomes. Here, we report that glioblastoma (GBM) cells expressed abundant levels of phagocytosis checkpoint CD24. We further show that dual blockade of CD24 and CD47 synergistically enhances the pro-phagocytic activity of macrophages, thereby improving tumor antigen cross-presentation and activating the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway. This innate immune activation facilitates T cell infiltration into tumors and sensitizes tumors to anti-PD1 therapy, improving survival outcomes in murine GBM models, including immunosuppressive tumors reflecting human GBM-like features. Thus, our …

Microrna-625-3p Increases Chemosensitivity In Ovarian Cancer Cells Through Decreasing Ssx2ip-Mediated Cisplatin Export In Extracellular Vesicles, Chi-Lam Au-Yeung, Tetsushi Tsuruga, Marina A Talor, Yadira J Pacheco, Guangan He, Zahid H Siddik, Byeong J Cha, Suet-Ying Kwan, Kwong-Kwok Wong, Kay-Pong Yip, Samuel C Mok

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Advanced-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is a disease that is difficult to manage due to its heterogeneous clinical behavior. No reliable prediction of response to chemotherapy is currently available and the overall survival rate remains poor. Herein, we sought to determine the molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs (miRNAs) confer chemoresistance in ovarian cancer and demonstrate the efficacy of targeting miRNAs to sensitize HGSC to cisplatin treatment.

Methods: Next-generation miRNA sequencing was performed using microdissected HGSC specimens to identify an miRNA signature for intrinsic chemoresistance, and miR-625-3p was selected for further study. The effects of miR-625-3p on cisplatin sensitivity …

Kinetic Human Movement Ontology: A Semantic Terminology Model To Symbolically Represent Physiological Movement, Muhammad Amith, Vivian Ha, Eloisa Nguyen, Yang Gong, Ahsiya Lin, Cui Tao, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cataloging physiological and anatomical terminologies may provide a fundamental basis for bridging the involvement of muscles, skeletal, and other essential parts in human movement, in addition to understanding their role on human morbidity. We present a general formalized ontology model that focuses on anatomical and physiological entities that are active during human movement, called the Kinetic Human Movement Ontology (KHMO). We developed a model to represent human movement that links human postures using OWL2. We used the model to assemble various open-sourced controlled terminologies involved in human movement - anatomical entities, physiological terms, etc. KHMO presents 1954 classes, 42 properties, …

Integrating The Glycemia Risk Index Into Clinical Practice And Research: A Consensus Report, Guillermo E Umpierrez, Viral N Shah, Veronica Brady, Mark A Clements, Juan Espinoza, Elizabeth Healey, Michael A Kohn, David M Maahs, Ralph Oiknine, Jane J Seley, Steven P Weitzman, David Kerr, Halis K Akturk, Grazia Aleppo, Mohammed E Al-Sofiani, Eda Cengiz, Francis J Doyle, Osagie Ebekozien, Steven V Edelman, Laya Ekhlaspour, Guido Freckmann, Lutz Heinemann, Irl B Hirsch, Victoria C Hsiao, Sun H Kim, Boris Kovatchev, Rayhan A Lal, Marcus Lind, Julia K Mader, Nestoras Mathioudakis, Tracey Mclaughlin, Sultan A Meo, Deborah A Osafehinti, Moshe Phillip, Priya Prahalad, David Scheinker, Michael P Snyder, Jing Wang, Jenise C Wong, Eugene E Wright, Mandy M Shao, Agatha F Scheideman, Ashley Y Dunova, David C Klonoff

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A panel of experts in the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data in the treatment of diabetes met in Burlingame, California on October 27, 2025 to discuss the utility of the glycemia risk index (GRI) for clinical care research and population health management. The GRI composite metric is a single number (on a 0-100 percentile scale-lower is better) based on an expert-determined weighting of the seven individual components in the existing ambulatory glucose profile (AGP). The GRI describes the quality of glycemia based on glucose values collected in a 14-day CGM tracing, thus providing additional insights into CGM profiles …

Cancers 2025: Growing With Quality, Samuel C Mok

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As we enter 2026, we take a moment to reflect on the progress of Cancers over the past year [...].

Assessing The Presence Of Biasing And Non-Biasing Unblinding In A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Home-Use Tdcs Device: An Exploratory Analysis, Fredrik Hieronymus, Nathan T M Huneke, Daniel Månsson, Erik M Rehn, Melker Hagsäter, Rachel D Woodham, Jair C Soares, Allan H Young, Rodrigo M Vieira, Sudhakar Selvaraj, Cynthia Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Better-than-chance guessing of treatment assignment raises concerns about unblinding as this opens efficacy estimates up to being influenced by factors other than the true efficacy of the intervention. However, such accuracy does not necessarily indicate that efficacy estimates are biased.

Objective: To assess whether unblinding was biasing (impacting on efficacy estimates) or non-biasing (not impacting on efficacy estimates) in a sham-controlled trial of a home-use transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) device, in which treatment allocation guesses at endpoint were unbalanced.

Methods: Interrelations between i) treatment allocation, ii) treatment allocation guesses, iii) adverse event reports, and iv) depressive symptom severity, as …

Immune-Mediated Necrotising Myopathy Following Semaglutide Treatment: A Contributing Factor?, Brian Lam, Eleni Tiniakou, Xinhai Robert Zhang, Shervin Assassi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This report describes a female patient in her 60s with an immune-mediated necrotising myopathy (IMNM) occurring after semaglutide use. She was found to have progressive dysphagia, dysphonia, proximal muscle weakness and creatine kinase elevation over a 4-month course. Her symptoms were preceded by a single dose of semaglutide. Her work-up revealed features consistent with necrotising myopathy with inflammatory infiltrate on biopsy, and she responded to immunosuppression with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). She gradually improved and successfully returned to her baseline functional status while off immunosuppression for several months and with continued avoidance of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Here, …

Clinical Utility Of A Cerebrospinal Fluid Multiplex Pcr Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel In Children: A Retrospective Review Of Positive Results, Supatida Tengsupakul, Madhuri Mulekar, Bibek Raj Bista, Paul Maertens, Kamal Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Meningitis has significant clinical morbidity and mortality in children. Mortality in children, especially neonates, is high due to diagnostic difficulty. Diagnosis of pediatric meningitis is traditionally made using CSF parameters and cultures. The performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) meningitis/encephalitis (ME) panel needs further evaluation in the pediatric population.

Methods: Medical records of children with a positive CSF ME panel (June 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018) were reviewed retrospectively. We extracted data about antimicrobials used, laboratory and culture results, duration of antibiotic treatment, hospital stay, and follow-up. Long term outcome was evaluated.

Results: A …

A Pocket Manual For Human Papillomavirus Vaccines, Natalie A Voss, J Brooks Jackson, Mary B Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and is responsible for the majority of cervical, anal, and vaginal cancers. The first prophylactic HPV vaccine was introduced in the United States in 2006. Extensive evidence demonstrates the HPV vaccine is highly efficacious and effective, particularly when administered prior to HPV exposure. Despite strong safety data and proven cost-effectiveness, HPV vaccine uptake in the United States and globally remains suboptimal. Barriers to vaccination include limited knowledge, safety concerns, and logistical challenges. Current advancements focus on single-dose vaccine regimens, development of therapeutic vaccines, and higher-valent formulations. Expanding HPV vaccine …

Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Of Pain In Older Adults Undergoing Auricular Point Acupressure For Chronic Low Back Pain: Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Nada Lukkahatai, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Xinran Huang, Hulin Wu, Jennifer Kawi, Jingyu Zhang, Claudia M Campbell, Constance M Johnson, Paul J Christo, Johannes Thrul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a prevalent and disabling condition in older adults. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a nonpharmacologic intervention, has shown promise in managing cLBP. However, its impact on daily symptom fluctuations remains unclear. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA), which collects real-time data, offers a method to capture these fluctuations.

Objective: This secondary analysis evaluated the effects of APA on EMA-reported pain intensity and pain interference among older adults with cLBP and examined associations among APA practice patterns, recall-based assessments, and EMA engagement.

Methods: Data were drawn from a published 3-arm randomized controlled trial of 272 adults aged …

Medial Pulvinar Nucleus As A Causal Hub For Heteromodal Naming, Oscar Woolnough, Tessy Thomas, Kathryn M Snyder, Ellery Wheeler, Jay Gavvala, Nitin Tandon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Our ability to retrieve the names of objects in our environment is a fundamental aspect of everyday life. This process requires a complex, dynamic network of cortical and subcortical interactions. While the cortical constituents of this network have been extensively studied with intracranial recordings, the subcortical nodes of the naming network are unclear. We probed the role of the left medial pulvinar nucleus in naming with direct intracranial recordings and stimulation in eight humans (three male, five female) as they named objects using pictures and auditory and written descriptions. We found a spectrotemporal signature of naming in the left medial …

Childhood Maltreatment And Deviations From Normative Brain Structure: A Mega-Analysis Of 3,711 Individuals From The Enigma Mdd And Enigma Ptsd Working Groups, Haley R Wang, Zhen-Qi Liu, Elena Pozzi, Ahmed Hussain, Priyanka Sigar, Chadi Abdallah, Nina Alexander, Justin Baker, Jochen Bauer, Jennifer Urbano Blackford, Josh Cisler, Colm G Connolly, Andrew Cotton, Judith Daniels, Udo Dannlowski, Maria Densmore, Terri Deroon-Cassini, Danai Dima, Stefan Du Plessis, Amit Etkin, Negar Fani, Lukas Fisch, Jacklynn Fitzgerald, Thomas Frodl, Cynthia H Y Fu, Ali Saffet Gonul, Evan M Gordon, Ian Gotlib, Roberto Goya-Maldonado, Nynke A Groenewold, Dominik Grotegerd, Tim Hahn, J Paul Hamilton, Laura Han, Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Courtney C Haswell, Ryan Herringa, Julia Herzog, Jonathan Ipser, Neda Jahanshad, Tanja Jovanovic, Milissa Kaufman, Tilo Kircher, Maximilian Konowski, Sheri-Michelle Koopowitz, Axel Krug, John Krystal, Ruth Lanius, Christine Larson, Amit Lazarov, Lauren Lebois, Elisabeth Leehr, Ifat Levy, Meng Li, Antje Manthey, Adi Maron-Katz, Andrew Mcintosh, Katie Mclaughlin, Susanne Meinert, Benson Mwangi, Steven M Nelson, Igor Nenadić, Yuval Neria, Richard Neufeld, Amar Ojha, Bunmi Olatunji, Elizabeth A Olson, Nils Opel, Matthew Peverill, Kerry Ressler, Marisa Ross, Isabelle Rosso, Matthew Sacchet, Kelly Sambrook, Christian Schmahl, Soraya Seedat, Martha E Shenton, Maurizio Sicorello, Anika Sierk, Jair C Soares, Dan J Stein, Frederike Stein, Murray B Stein, Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, Jean Théberge, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Carissa Tomas, Paula Usemann, Leigh L Van Den Heuvel, Sanne Van Rooij, Henrik Walter, Martin Walter, Xin Wang, Heather Whalley, Nils R Winter, Mon-Ju Wu, Hong Xie, Tony Yang, Xi Zhu, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Giovana B Zunta-Soares, Sophia Frangou, Paul M Thompson, Lauren Salminen, Delin Sun, Rajendra Morey, Jennifer S Stevens, Lianne Schmaal, Tiffany C Ho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM), encompassing abuse and neglect, is highly prevalent and associated with elevated risk for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other related conditions. The extent to which neuroanatomical alterations in MDD and PTSD are attributable to CM, however, is uncertain.

Methods: Here, we analyzed CM and whole-brain MRI data from 3,711 participants in the ENIGMA MDD and PTSD Working Groups (25 sites; 33.3±13.0 years; 59.9% female). Normative modeling estimated deviation z-scores for 14 subcortical volumes (SV), 68 cortical thickness (CT), and 68 surface area (SA) measures. To identify transdiagnostic effects, associations between CM and …

Pregnancy, Cancer, And Radiation-A Modern Refresher, Kelly Kisling, Sandra M Meyers, Rebecca Milman, Susan Richardson, Christina Chapman, Justine Dupere, Grace Eliason, Suzanne Evans, Titania Juang, Young Lee, Jeffrey Masten, Julia Maues, Rachel Newman, Mike Silosky, Catherine Song, Catheryn Yashar, Sara Thrower

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer occurs in ∼1 per 1000 pregnancies; thousands of patients may require radiation procedures for diagnosis and treatment each year in the United States alone. This rare but high-risk scenario, coupled with fear of radiation, has created ambiguity in the ideal management of pregnant patients. Without a comprehensive guide for the use of radiation in imaging and treatment for pregnant cancer patients, it is difficult for providers to offer optimal patient-centered care without introducing disparities. The goal of this paper is to provide guidance on the use of radiation for screening, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancer, while highlighting gaps …

Proteomic Profiling Of Pulmonary Function And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Yura Lee, Astrid M Manuel, Ngoc Quynh H Nguyen, Christine Ladd-Acosta, Alanna C Morrison, Kari E North, Eric Boerwinkle, Amil M Shah, Zhongming Zhao, Stephanie J London, Bing Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Pulmonary function is linked to cardiovascular disease risk; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to identify protein biomarkers associated with pulmonary function and examine their impact on incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and all-cause mortality.

Methods: Data from White and Black Americans in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (visit 2: N=11 354, mean age=57 years; visit 5: N=3517, mean age=75 years), a prospective cohort, were analyzed. Linear regression assessed associations between protein levels and pulmonary function measures, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. The impact of …

Single-Layer Spherical (Sls) Vs Single-Layer (Sl) Woven Endobridge (Web) Device In The Treatment Of Narrow-Neck Intracranial Aneurysms: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis, Hamza Adel Salim, Vivek Yedavalli, Fathi Milhem, Nimer Adeeb, Basel Musmar, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Motaz Daraghma, Mahmoud Dibas, Nicole M Cancelliere, Jose Danilo Bengzon Diestro, Oktay Algin, Sherief Ghozy, Sovann V Lay, Adrien Guenego, Leonardo Renieri, Joseph Carnevale, Guillaume Saliou, Panagiotis Mastorakos, Kareem El Naamani, Eimad Shotar, Markus Möhlenbruch, Michael Kral, Charlotte Chung, Mohamed M Salem, Ivan Lylyk, Paul M Foreman, Hamza Shaikh, Vedran Župančić, Muhammad U Hafeez, Joshua Catapano, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammet Arslan, Onur Ergun, James D Rabinov, Julian Maingard, Clemens M Schirmer, Mariangela Piano, Anna L Kühn, Caterina Michelozzi, Robert M Starke, Ameer Hassan, Mark Ogilvie, Anh Nguyen, Jesse Jones, Waleed Brinjikji, Marie T Nawka, Marios Psychogios, Christian Ulfert, Bryan Pukenas, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Thien Huynh, Juan Carlos Martinez-Gutierrez, Sunil A Sheth, Diana Slawski, Rabih Tawk, Benjamin Pulli, Boris Lubicz, Pietro Panni, Ajit S Puri, Guglielmo Pero, Eytan Raz, Christoph J Griessenauer, Hamed Asadi, Adnan Siddiqui, Elad I Levy, Neil Haranhalli, David Altschul, Andrew F Ducruet, Felipe C Albuquerque, Robert W Regenhardt, Christopher J Stapleton, Peter Kan, Vladimir Kalousek, Pedro Lylyk, Srikanth Boddu, Jared Knopman, Stavropoula I Tjoumakaris, Hugo H Cuellar-Saenz, Pascal M Jabbour, Frédéric Clarençon, Nicola Limbucci, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Aman B Patel, Max Wintermark, Adam A Dmytriw

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Data on the use of Woven EndoBridge (WEB) devices in the treatment of narrow-neck intracranial aneurysms (NNA) are limited. We compared the efficacy and safety of single-layer (SL) and single-layer spherical (SLS) WEB devices in treating NNA. We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of adult patients with NNA (neck ≤ 4 mm and width-to-neck ratio ≥ 2) treated with SL or SLS WEB devices between January 2011 and December 2022. Patients with fusiform or blister aneurysms, adjunctive treatments, or devices other than SL or SLS were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for confounding variables. Outcomes included procedural …

Influence Of Body Composition On The Efficacy Of Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab For Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Kabir Grewal, Maria Julia Moura Nascimento Santos, Pankaj Kumar Chauhan, Kai Yu, Nizar M Tannir, Sagar S Mukhida, Neha Venkatesh, Amishi Y Shah, Amado J Zurita, Andrew C Johns, Matthew T Campbell, Sangeeta Goswami, Jianjun Gao, Eric Jonasch, Jennifer L Mcquade, Omar Alhalabi, Pavlos Msaouel, Andrew W Hahn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICI) with nivolumab+ipilimumab is a first-line (1L) standard for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), yet outcomes remain heterogeneous. Increasing evidence suggests that host factors influence the tumor microenvironment and response to ICI. Although higher body mass index (BMI) has been associated with improved outcomes in several malignancies, BMI is an imprecise surrogate for underlying adipose and muscle compartments. We evaluated the association between body composition and outcomes with 1L nivolumab+ipilimumab in metastatic ccRCC.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with mccRCC treated with 1L nivolumab+ipilimumab at MD Anderson Cancer Center between June 2015 and …

Mechanometabolism Instructs Hematopoietic Stem Cell Specification, Paulina D Horton, Alina Syed, Michelle Winkler, Abishek B Vaidya, Michael Rariden, Neha Arora, Yong Zhou, Michihiro Kobayashi, Momoko Yoshimoto, Hyun Jung Lee, Hyun-Eui Kim, John P Hagan, Catherine Denicourt, Travis I Moore, Pamela L Wenzel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mechanical force generated by blood flow stimulates emergence of the first hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that populate the blood system. Force drives the transition of HSC precursors from an endothelial to hematopoietic identity, yet the molecular regulation of this fate switch remains poorly understood. We report that shear stress triggers adaptation in mitochondrial composition, ultrastructure, and function, which are essential for hematopoietic fate and engraftment potential. Shear stress remodels mitochondria in hemogenic endothelium by promoting mitochondrial gene transcription and protein synthesis. Laminar flow selectively initiates translation of 5' terminal polypyrimidine (5'TOP) motif-containing transcripts, which commonly encode ribosome and translation machinery. …

Ectopic B Lymphocyte Follicles Exacerbate Ischemic Brain Damage Via Mif-Cd74/Cxcr4 And Interferon Signaling, Sheng Yang, Hang Zhang, Lu-Lu Xu, Luo-Qi Zhou, Yun-Hui Chu, Lian Chen, Xiao-Wei Pang, Lu-Yang Zhang, Li-Fang Zhu, Ming-Hao Dong, Ke Shang, Jun Xiao, Long-Jun Wu, Wei Wang, Dai-Shi Tian, Chuan Qin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroinflammation, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune responses, plays a crucial role in ischemic stroke. Although B lymphocytes are central to adaptive immunity, their contributions to ischemic stroke remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that B lymphocytes accumulate in ischemic lesions, forming germinal center-like structures at the later stage after stroke, which mainly depended on in situ proliferation. This accumulation correlated with worsened neuroinflammation and ischemic injury, whereas B cell depletion reduced chronic brain damage during stroke. Mechanistically, microglia recruited B cells into ischemic lesions through MIF-CD74/CXCR4 signaling during the early phase of stroke, while IFN-related pathways in B cells …

Continuous Vs Intermittent Postoperative Vital Sign Monitoring: A Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial, Ashish K Khanna, Nathaniel Sean O'Connell, Amit K Saha, Megan Henley Hicks, Robert S Weller, Lynnette Harris, Bruce D Cusson, Ann Faris, Carolyn S Huffman, Scott Segal, Brian J Wells, Eric S Kirkendall, Daniel I Sessler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Continuous postoperative monitoring on general nursing units detects vital sign abnormalities that are missed with conventional intermittent monitoring. Early recognition may prompt interventions to limit potentially harmful blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation perturbations.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that continuous unblinded monitoring of vital signs would decrease blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation abnormalities compared with intermittent monitoring in patients recovering from noncardiac surgery.

Design, setting, and participants: This multiple crossover randomized cluster trial in 2 postoperative hospital wards included patients recovering from noncardiac surgery and was conducted from October 7, 2020, to October 7, 2021. …