Digital Commons Network^™

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In Gulf War Veterans In Relation To Deployment Exposures, Sarah T Ahmed, Ruosha Li, Lea Steele, Peter Richardson, Kellie Sims, Rachel Quaden, Kelly M Harrington, Vijay Nambi, John M Gaziano, Robert Morgan, George L Delclos, Drew A Helmer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) were exposed to toxicants and environmental hazards during deployment, including oil well fire smoke, chemical/biological agents, pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, and pesticides. Multiple constituents of smoke are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), and other toxic exposures have been associated with autonomic and lipid dysfunction. We used data from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository Study of veterans deployed to Gulf War in 1990-1991 (n = 942). We evaluated the association of deployment exposures (no, yes (1-6 days), (7-30 days), (31 + days), and not sure) with clinical risk factors …

Wound-Healing And Onboard Care During Long-Duration Human Deep Space Exploration From A Surgical Perspective Through The Lens Of A Scoping Review, Dora Babocs, Krishi Korrapati, Cooper Lytle, Monika L Gloviczki, Gustavo S Oderich, M Mark Melin, Rowena Christiansen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a bridge between the fields of aerospace medicine and vascular surgery, and to emphasize the need for leading experts in vascular medicine, interventional radiology, and surgery to address the critical human spaceflight research gaps highlighted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Methods: A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2000 and 2024. A well-defined search strategy was employed for keyword searches across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, the NASA Life Science Data Archive, …

Pancrelipase Treatment Of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Due To Chronic Pancreatitis: Rationale And Methodology Of A Real-World, Prospective, Observational Study, Mohamed O Othman, Jens J Kort, Tamas A Gonda, Guru Trikudanathan, Darshan J Kothari, Walter Park, Luis F Lara, Moming Li, Diala Harb

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Atrial Fibrillation In Advanced Ckd: To Anticoagulate, Or Not, And With What?, Muhammad S Ajmal, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Ideal Navitor Implant Depth For Redo-Tavr Feasibility And Coronary Access: A Ct Simulation Study, Sahil Khera, Syed Zaid, Parasuram Krishnamoorthy, Anoop N Koshy, Sneha Gudibendi, Megan Berdan, Lucy M Safi, Stamatios Lerakis, George D Dangas, Samin K Sharma, Annapoorna S Kini, Gilbert H L Tang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The impact of implant depth of the Abbott Navitor intra-annular, self-expanding valve on redo-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) feasibility is unknown.

Objectives: The authors sought to determine the feasibility of redo-TAVR and coronary access with Edwards Sapien 3 (S3) valve after initial Navitor valve, based on various implant depths on computed tomography (CT) simulation.

Methods: Using 2050 pre-TAVR CTs of patients with native aortic stenosis, initial Navitor TAVR simulations were done at 3 implant depths (0 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm), with frame expansion assumed at native annular dimensions and commissural alignment not achievable. Redo-TAVR with S3 was …

Evaluation Of A Novel Tc-24 Recombinant Antigen Elisa For Serologic Detection Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Dogs: A Pilot Study, Rojelio Mejia, Guilherme G Verocai, Ilana A Mosley, Ashley B Saunders, Bin Zhan, Lindsey Vongthavaravat, Rachel E Busselman, Sarah A Hamer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant challenge for canine health, with limited diagnostic tools. This study assessed the performance of a novel Tc-24 recombinant antigen ELISA compared to three commercial diagnostic tests on 70 serum samples from kennel dogs in Texas. The Tc-24 ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (91.2%) compared to Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) testing, with significant differences in Tc-24 optical density (OD) between positives and negatives (0.607 vs. 0.089, p < 0.001). When compared to Chagas Stat-Pak (SP), Tc-24 ELISA showed sensitivity and specificity values of 82.1% and 86.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). For Chagas Detect Plus (IB), the assay achieved a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 93.1% (p < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations between Tc-24 OD and SP (r = 1.0, p = 0.0167), IB (r = 0.9, p = 0.0833) and IFA (r = 0.6273, p = 0.044). Elevated immunochromatographic values in commercial kits (SP or IB) correlated with Tc-24 OD (1.17 vs. 0.039, p < 0.001), achieving 100% sensitivity and 95.8% specificity based on positive results from commercial kits. These findings suggest that Tc-24 ELISA is a reliable and accurate serological tool for diagnosing T. cruzi infection in dogs, with the potential to enhance diagnostic capabilities in veterinary medicine.

Acute Loss Of Tactile Input Leads To General Compensatory Changes In Eye-Hand Coordination During Object Manipulation, Kevin Ung, John F Magnotti, Brandon Kim, Jeffrey M Yau, Per F Nordmark

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Current models of motor control emphasize the critical role of sensory feedback, as demonstrated by movement coordination deficits following sensory impairment. When both vision and touch are available for object-oriented manual behaviors, they serve distinct roles; vision guides the execution of planned movements, while touch provides more direct feedback on hand-object interactions. The impact of losing somatosensory feedback on eye-hand coordination during dexterous object manipulation tasks has not been thoroughly studied. Conceivably, vision is recruited to compensate for the feedback lost when touch is abolished based on the dexterity demands of the behavior. To investigate this, we tested healthy participants …

Postoperative Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome In A Patient Following Right Knee Fracture Repair: A Case Report, Nicole Nyamongo, James Garritano, Daniel Rosen, Theodore Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening multisystem disorder most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is characterized by the acute onset of high fever, hypotension, a diffuse macular rash, and multiorgan involvement. We report the case of a male in his late 30s who sustained a patellar fracture with associated retinacular injury following trauma and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Several days after discharge, he developed fever, chills, hypotension, and a pruritic, erythematous rash. He was readmitted and initially evaluated by the orthopedic service, which did not recommend additional imaging or surgical intervention, as …

Experiences Of Emotional Support Among Parents Of Children And Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study, Sahar S Eshtehardi, Marissa N Baudino, Barbara J Anderson, Deborah I Thompson, David G Marrero, Marisa E Hilliard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Parents of youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience substantial disease-specific demands and distress, yet their perceptions about the emotional support they receive related to the challenges of caring for a child with diabetes have not been well described. This research aimed to characterize the types of emotional support parents of youth with T1D receive and how they experience emotional support.

Methods: As part of a larger qualitative study on diabetes health-related quality of life, 23 parents (96% mothers) of youth with T1D (M age = 10.9 ± 3.8 years; 35% female) completed semi-structured interviews about various aspects of …

Prenatal Obsessive Beliefs Predict Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: A Prospective Study, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Samantha N Hellberg, Janice Krasnow, Joseph B Friedman, Nicholas S Myers, Paul S Nestadt, Heidi J Ojalehto, Emily K Juel, Jack Samuels, Mary E Kimmel, Lauren M Osborne, Eric A Storch, Gerald Nestadt, Rashelle J Musci

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This longitudinal study examined whether specific cognitive patterns during pregnancy predict postpartum obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. A diverse sample of 256 women was assessed at 20 weeks of pregnancy (Time 1), 6 weeks postpartum (Time 2; n = 233), and 6 months postpartum (Time 3; n = 231). At each point, participants completed interview and/or self-report measures of OC symptoms, psychological distress, and obsessive beliefs (i.e., cognitive patterns related to OC symptoms). Postpartum OC symptoms were common, reported by 87.1 % at Time 2 and 74.5 % at Time 3. Stronger prenatal obsessive beliefs during pregnancy predicted greater postpartum OC symptom …

Computational Analysis Of Dna Methylation From Long-Read Sequencing, Yilei Fu, Winston Timp, Fritz J Sedlazeck

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic mechanism in numerous biological processes, including gene regulation, development, ageing and the onset of various diseases such as cancer. Studies of methylation are increasingly using single-molecule long-read sequencing technologies to simultaneously measure epigenetic states such as DNA methylation with genomic variation. These long-read data sets have spurred the continuous development of advanced computational methods to gain insights into the roles of methylation in regulating chromatin structure and gene regulation. In this Review, we discuss the computational methods for calling methylation signals, contrasting methylation between samples, analysing cell-type diversity and gaining additional genomic insights, and …

Five-Year Pivotal Trial Outcomes Of The Gore Excluder Conformable Endoprosthesis Implanted In Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms With Short Non-Angulated Infrarenal Seal Zones, Bjoern D Suckow, Gustavo S Oderich, Mahmoud W Almadani, Dai Yamanouchi, Alyssa J Pyun, Erin Moore, Patrick E Muck, Robert Y Rhee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endoprosthesis with Active Control System (EXCC) is approved in the United States (U.S.) for treatment of AAAs and highly angulated (≤90°) and short (≥10 mm) infrarenal aortic proximal seal zones (necks). Reported here are the 5-year outcomes of the EXCC U.S. pivotal clinical trial in the short, non-angulated cohort (SNA).

Methods: The EXCC investigational device exemption prospective pivotal trial short neck sub-study across 31 sites included patients with infrarenal necks measuring ≥10 mm length and ≤60° angulation. Five-year outcomes assessed by Core lab and adjudicated by independent review committee included patient safety …

The Potential Of 4-Methylumbelliferone To Be Repurposed For Treating Liver Fibrosis, Xi Chen, Huiqiao Li, Yanru Deng, Jieyi Meng, Shangang Zhao, Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee, Xia Gao, Bingning Dong, Dongyin Guan, Chaodong Wu, Philipp E Scherer, Yi Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

4-Methylumbelliferone (4-MU) is the active component of hymecromone, a choleretic and antispasmodic drug with an excellent safety profile. In rodent studies, high doses of 4-MU are also used to inhibit the production of hyaluronan (HA), a biomarker of liver fibrosis. Further, 4-MU shows excellent efficacy in inhibiting liver fibrosis of different etiologies in animal studies, eliciting interest in its repurposing for this condition. However, 4-MU's mechanism of action, and whether it inhibits liver fibrosis by impeding HA synthesis remains unclear. Using several transgenic mouse models with HA overproduction or degradation in different types of liver cells, we found that both …

A Phase 2 Randomized Trial Of Nbi-1065846 (Tak-041) In Patients With Anhedonia Associated With Major Depressive Disorder: Results Of The Terpsis Study, Shannon R Benedetto, Adrian Ionescu, Tingting Ge, Maura Furey, Swan Lin, Manish K Jha, Andrew Krystal, Asim A Shah, David P Walling, Neel Shah, Sakina J Rizvi, Sidney Kennedy, Antonio Laurenza, Venkatesha Murthy, Eiry Roberts, Jaskaran B Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Anhedonia is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) that may result from aberrant lateral habenula hyperactivity. Targeting G-protein coupled receptor 139 (GPR139) may improve anhedonia by modulating lateral habenula activity. NBI-1065846 is an investigational GPR139 agonist that improved anhedonia, anxiety, and depression in rodent models.

Methods: TERPSIS was a phase 2, proof-of-concept clinical study. Adults with MDD experiencing a major depressive episode with anhedonia were randomized 1:1 to NBI-1065846 or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) score. Secondary endpoints were change in total Montgomery Åsberg Depression …

Bone Quality Response To Lifestyle Intervention In Older Adults With Obesity (Limb-Q Trial): A Randomised Controlled Trial, Giulia Gregori, Sanjay Mediwala, Michael Liebschner, Daeseung Kim, Mon S Bryant, Nina Klonis, Reina Armamento-Villareal, Clifford Qualls, Dennis T Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Lifestyle interventions for weight loss might exacerbate age-related bone loss and osteoporosis. However, there is limited knowledge about their effects on bone quality. We examined whether lifestyle intervention can preserve or enhance bone quality, despite reductions in bone mineral density.

Methods: The Lifestyle Intervention to Improve Bone Quality (LIMB-Q) study was a randomised controlled trial conducted at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston, TX, USA) including older adults (aged 65-85 years) with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either an intensive lifestyle intervention (intensive lifestyle group, consisting of …

High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography Reliability And Accuracy Of Bone Density And Morphology Properties In Children, Roman J Shypailo, Chadi Calarge, Punam K Saha, Xiaoliu Zhang, Xiaojie Chen, Stephanie Dinh, Xiaofan Huang, Babette S Zemel, Fida Bacha

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Volumetric bone density, microarchitecture, and strength measures using HR-pQCT are valuable measures of bone health in pediatrics. Our cross-sectional study evaluated bone measure reproducibility in pediatric participants using repeat HR-pQCT (XtremeCT II, Scanco Medical) scans of non-dominant distal tibia and radius of 30 healthy children and adolescents (7-17 yr, 47% female) by 2 technicians. Additionally, we examined HR-pQCT and micro-CT of 26 cadaveric distal tibia specimens to evaluate agreement between the modalities. All HR-pQCT scans were analyzed using manufacturer-provided software (Image Processing Language, Scanco Medical) and a fully automated, previously validated, in-house algorithm, offering measures of bone microstructure (eg, trabecular …

Cmr Findings In The Long-Term Outcomes After Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (Music) Study, Sean M Lang, Dongngan T Truong, Andrew J Powell, Valiantsina Kazlova, Jane W Newburger, Jordan D Awerbach, Edem Binka, Tamara T Bradford, Mark Cartoski, Andrew Cheng, Michael P Dilorenzo, Audrey Dionne, Adam L Dorfman, Matthew D Elias, Olukayode Garuba, Jennifer F Gerardin, Keren Hasbani, Pei-Ni Jone, Christopher Z Lam, Nilanjana Misra, Lerraughn M Morgan, Arni Nutting, Jyoti K Patel, Joshua D Robinson, Eleanor L Schuchardt, Kristen Sexson Tejtel, Gautam K Singh, Timothy C Slesnick, Felicia Trachtenberg, Michael D Taylor, Music Study Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is characterized by high rates of acute cardiovascular involvement with rapid recovery of organ dysfunction. However, information regarding long-term sequelae is lacking. We sought to characterize the systolic function and myocardial tissue properties using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in a multicenter observational cohort of patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, comprising 32 centers in North America, CMR studies were analyzed by a core laboratory to assess ventricular volumetric data, tissue characterization, and coronary involvement.

Results: A total of 263 CMRs from 255 patients with Multisystem Inflammatory …

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 2 Infection In 5 African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) At Multiple North American Zoological Institutions, Taylor J Willis, Anne Burgdorf-Moisuk, Maren Connolly, Jan Raines, Cameron Ratliff, Zoltan S Gyimesi, Erica Lipanovich, Genevive A Dumonceaux, Kathryn L Perrin, Lauren L Howard, Matthew E Kinney, Kirk Suedmeyer, Erin Latimer, Tiffany L Kim, Jessica R Watts, Jie Tan, Paul Ling

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To acknowledge that elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a well-recognized major threat to Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and can cause acute and often fatal hemorrhagic disease (HD). Historically, EEHV-HD has been less frequently identified in African elephants (Loxodonta africana). This case series describes 5 recent cases of EEHV2 infection in African elephants within managed care at 5 North American institutions.

Animals: 5 African elephants (L africana).

Clinical presentation: The cases involved 4-, 7-, and 10-year-old males that died despite receiving aggressive medical therapy and 4- and 14-year-old females that survived. Clinical signs included lethargy, decreased appetite, lameness, changes in …

Unravelling The Global Tapestry Of Genetic Ataxias: Epidemiology And Genetic Testing Approaches, Malco Rossi, Christopher D Stephen, Joana Damásio, José Luiz Pedroso, Sheng-Han Kuo, Chi-Ying R Lin, Oluwadamilola Ojo, Shaimaa El-Jaafary, Woong-Woo Lee, Harutyun Madoev, Orlando G P Barsottini, Achal Kumar Srivastava, Christine Klein, Bart P Van De Warrenburg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The landscape of genetic ataxias is influenced by migration, population genetics, consanguinity, and founder effects, resulting in significant regional variation. Within the expanding domain of genetic ataxias, knowledge of regional epidemiology is scarce, particularly outside of North America and Europe. Understanding the epidemiology of genetic ataxias, together with deep phenotyping and knowledge of the appropriate ancillary studies, is crucial for the development and deployment of diagnostic testing strategies. This review offers a comprehensive, data-driven overview of 2932 articles with regional epidemiological estimates and the occurrence and prevalence of 548 genes associated with ataxia across 122 countries. Regional differences in epidemiology …

Muscle Spectrin, Matthew N Rasband, Ahmet Hoke, Chuansheng Zhang, Ozlem Sert

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

High-Fidelity Finite Element Modeling Technique To Improve Sensitivity To Bone Tissue Changes Of Older Adults With Obesity Undergoing Intensive Lifestyle Intervention, Michael A K Liebschner, Daeseung Kim, Nina Klonis, Giulia Gregori, Reina Armamento-Villareal, Clifford Qualls, Dennis T Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Obesity presents a significant health risk for the aging population. Research shows that weight loss and regular exercise can greatly improve the functional status of older adults who are obese. However, weight loss may also result in a decrease in bone mass. To properly assess changes in fracture risk due to lifestyle interventions, a direct biomechanical evaluation of bone strength and fracture risk at metabolically active sites is essential.

Methods: Computed tomography scans taken at two different time points of ten human volunteers provided the foundation for this study. A high-fidelity segmentation and modeling approach was taken to generate …

Clinical Phenotype And Outcomes In Autoimmune Encephalitis After Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jonathan Cleaver, Renetta Chungath, Amy Gimson, Christine Strippel, Bryan Ceronie, Babak Soleimani, Thomas Johnson, Eyal Muscal, Kristen Fisher, Yike Jiang, Timothy A Erickson, Kristy O Murray, Siv Tonje Faret Hovet, Charlotte Aaberg Poulsen, Anna Søgaard Magnussen, Pauline Dumez, Shannon Ronca, Martin Häusler, Annegret Quade, Andrew Swayne, Morten Blaabjerg, Mette Nissen, Alexander J Sandweiss, Jerome Honnorat, Russell Dale, Ming Lim, Michael Eyre, Margherita Nosadini, Lahiru Handunnetthi, Sarosh R Irani, Adam E Handel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis after herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE-AE) represents the intersection of central nervous system infection and autoimmunity. Defining the phenotype and the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapy in HSVE-AE would help identify immunotherapy candidates, optimise therapeutic strategies, and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: We systematically searched Embase, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science (2007-2024) for cases meeting consensus criteria for AE after confirmed HSVE. Demographics, phenotype, treatment and outcome data were extracted. Dimensionality reduction, network analysis, and multivariate logistic regression was used to explore age- and diagnosis-specific patterns and outcome predictors.

Results: From 2259 articles screened, 78 studies (225 …

Wandering Spleen In A Pediatric Lung Transplant Patient With Filamin A Deficiency: An Incidental Finding, Savannah Ellis Knight, Mayel Yepez Donado, Maria Carolina Gazzaneo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Filamin A (FLNA) deficiency is a known cause of progressive lung disease and need for pediatric lung transplant; however, what may be less well known to lung transplant providers are the extrapulmonary complications of FLNA deficiencies, such as wandering spleen. We present a patient who underwent a lung transplant for FLNA deficiency and later developed posttransplant abdominal pain.

Case presentation: An 11-year-old female who had previously undergone a bilateral lung transplant due to FLNA deficiency, causing progressive lung disease, presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea. The patient's stool was tested for causes of gastroenteritis using a gastrointestinal pathogen panel …

Changes In Child Placement After Child Abuse Pediatrics Consultation For Suspected Physical Abuse, Kristine A Campbell, Antoinette L Laskey, Daniel M Lindberg, M Katherine Henry, Porcia Vaughn, James D Anderst, Megan M Letson, Angela N Bachim, Nancy S Harper, Carmen M Coombs, Lori D Frasier, Joanne N Wood

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The association between child abuse pediatric (CAP) assessments and child welfare outcomes is unknown.

Objective: To determine the association between a CAP determination of the likelihood of physical abuse and change in child placement. We hypothesized that child race would be associated with CAP determination of abuse likelihood and child welfare outcomes.

Participants and setting: Children under age ten years with in-person CAP consultation and referral to child protective services for suspected physical abuse at a U.S. pediatric referral center participating in CAPNET, a CAP research network, from 02/2021 to 01/2023.

Methods: We created a series of generalized estimating …

Spatial Omics Enters The Microscopic Realm: Opportunities And Challenges, Yichen Si, Joo Sang Lee, Goo Jun, Hyun Min Kang, Jun Hee Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) enables systematic profiling of whole-transcriptome gene expression in tissues while preserving spatial context. Recent advances in sequencing- and imaging-based ST technologies have ushered in the era of microscopic-resolution ST (μST), allowing transcriptome mapping at cellular and even subcellular scales with unprecedented precision. Despite these advances, μST faces substantial challenges, including sparse transcript discovery per submicron (or micron)-sized spatial units and data fragmentation across platforms, hindering integration and analysis. There is also a growing demand for scalable, segmentation-free, and universally applicable analysis methods, as well as strategies for 3D mapping, multi-omics integration, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven spatial analysis. …

Focal Adhesion Kinase Drives Rho/Rock And Mtor Signaling To Protect And Augment Aortic Dissections, Zhen Zhou, Pujun Guan, Ripon Sarkar, Yang Yu, Alexis Richard, Dar Weiss, Yuki Kawamura, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Tomas Vaisar, Daniel R Martin, L Maximillian Buja, Zhouxuan Li, Kartik Venkatachalam, Ying H Shen, Scott A Lemaire, Jay D Humphrey, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dysfunctional mechanosensing via focal adhesions (FAs) significantly contributes to thoracic aortic dissection in the β-aminopropionitrile mouse model by triggering FA kinase activation and subsequent Rho/ROCK and mTOR signaling pathways. The present findings indicate that these signaling pathways play distinct roles in ascending vs descending dissections. Specifically, in the ascending aorta, smooth muscle cell FA kinase-Rho/ROCK signaling acts as a beneficial adaptive mechanism to prevent dissections, whereas mTOR signaling is pathogenic and contributes to dissections.

A Divergent Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Protein Promotes Plasmodium Ookinete Infection Of The Mosquito, Dominika Kwecka, Zhishuo Wang, Edvardas Eigminas, Lijia Liu, Jennifer C Regan, Choel Kim, Nisha Philip

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Colonisation of mosquitos by the malarial parasite is critically reliant on the invasive ookinete stage. Ookinete invasion of mosquito is coordinated by the apical complex, a specialised parasite structure containing components for secretion, attachment and penetration. While studies have investigated cytoskeletal and secretory elements, it is currently unknown if signalling modules are present or functional at the apical complex. Here we elucidate the role of a cryptic cyclic nucleotide-binding protein which we name CBP-O. PbCBP-O showed a marked localisation to the ookinete apex and disruption of the protein severely compromised ookinete invasion of mosquitos. Domain dissection analysis revealed that the …

A Review Of The United States Global Surgery Program Landscape By Website Analysis, Lauren E Cox, Cassandra M D'Amico, Shriya Bhoothapuri, Joseph A Q Karam, Rachel W Davis, Mike M Mallah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Over the past decade, since the 2015 Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) highlighted the global burden of disease attributable to a lack of safe surgical care, medical degree-granting institutions across the United States (US) have worked to increase engagement in global surgery. The research team aimed to analyze the current landscape and provide an overview of all US-based global surgery programs. It was predicted that most medical institutions in the US would not have established programs. For those with global surgery programs, their mission statements and demonstrated output were classified according to a list of five domains, including …

Emergency Department Utilization Among Co-Residing Family Caregivers Of Persons Living With Dementia, Pei-Chun Cha, Craig Rothenberg, Anita N Chary, Justine Seidenfeld, Ula Hwang, Terri Fried, Joan K Monin, Arjun K Venkatesh, Cameron J Gettel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparative Effectiveness Of Less Vs More Frequent Hydrocortisone Dosing In Septic Shock, Alan Hao, Tianshi David Wu, Keegan Collins, Danielle Guffey, Rebecca Kessinger, Meghna Vallabh, Ali Omranian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Guidelines recommend hydrocortisone as an adjunctive treatment in septic shock, but the optimal dosing regimen is unknown. A national shortage of hydrocortisone in 2023 prompted a change in institutional practice for hydrocortisone administration from 50 mg every 6 hours to 100 mg every 12 hours in an effort to reduce waste and conserve vials, creating an opportunity to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these two regimens. The primary efficacy outcome was time to shock resolution, and secondary outcomes evaluated in this study were mortality, renal replacement therapy (RRT), medication costs, and maximum vasopressor dose attained.

Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort …