Digital Commons Network^™

Intermuscular Coherence As An Early Biomarker For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Protocol For A Prospective, Multicenter Study, Naoum P Issa, Serdar Aydin, Eric Polley, Nathan Carberry, Mark A. Garret, Sean Smith, Ali A. Habib, Nicholas W. Baumgartner, Betty Soliven, Kourosh Rezania

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To describe the protocol of a prospective study to test the validity of intermuscular coherence (IMC) as a diagnostic tool and biomarker of upper motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

METHODS: This is a multicenter, prospective study. IMC of muscle pairs in the upper and lower limbs is gathered in ∼650 subjects across three groups using surface electrodes and conventional electromyography (EMG) machines. The following subjects will be tested: 1) neurotypical controls; 2) patients with symptomatology suggestive for early ALS but not meeting probable or definite ALS by Awaji Criteria; 3) patients with a known ALS mimic. …

Sillyputty: Improved Clustering By Optimizing The Silhouette Width, Polina Bombina, Dwayne Tally, Zachary B. Abrams, Kevin R. Coombes

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Clustering is an important task in biomedical science, and it is widely believed that different data sets are best clustered using different algorithms. When choosing between clustering algorithms on the same data set, reseachers typically rely on global measures of quality, such as the mean silhouette width, and overlook the fine details of clustering. However, the silhouette width actually computes scores that describe how well each individual element is clustered. Inspired by this observation, we developed a novel clustering method, called SillyPutty. Unlike existing methods, SillyPutty uses the silhouette width for individual elements as a tool to optimize the mean …

Adherence To Practice Parameters In Medicare Beneficiaries With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Osvaldo J. Laurido-Soto, Irene M. Faust, Susan Searles Nielsen, Brad A. Racette

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Physician adherence to evidence-based clinical practice parameters impacts outcomes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. We sought to investigate compliance with the 2009 practice parameters for treatment of ALS patients in the United States, and sociodemographic and provider characteristics associated with adherence.

METHODS: In this population-based, retrospective cohort study of incident ALS patients in 2009-2014, we included all Medicare beneficiaries age ≥20 with ≥1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ALS code (335.20) in 2009 and no prior years (N = 8,575). Variables of interest included race/ethnicity, sex, age, urban residence, Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and provider …

Buffered Lugol's Iodine Preserves Dna Fragment Lengths, P M Gignac, D Valdez, A C Morhardt, L M Lynch

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Museum collections play a pivotal role in the advancement of biological science by preserving phenotypic and genotypic history and variation. Recently, contrast-enhanced X-ray computed tomography (CT) has aided these advances by allowing improved visualization of internal soft tissues. However, vouchered specimens could be at risk if staining techniques are destructive. For instance, the pH of unbuffered Lugol's iodine (I

Stat1 Employs Myeloid Cell-Extrinsic Mechanisms To Regulate The Neutrophil Response And Provide Protection Against Invasive Klebsiella Pneumoniae Lung Infection, Shekina Gonzalez-Ferrer, Zeyu Xiong, Atish Gheware, Janet S Lee, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is an extracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes infections in the lower respiratory and urinary tracts and the bloodstream. STAT1 is a master transcription factor that acts to maintain T cell quiescence under homeostatic conditions. Although STAT1 helps defend against systemic spread of acute KP intrapulmonary infection, whether STAT1 regulation of T cell homeostasis impacts pulmonary host defense during acute bacterial infection and injury is less clear. Using a clinical KP respiratory isolate and a pneumonia mouse model, we found that STAT1 deficiency led to an early neutrophil-dominant transcriptional profile and neutrophil recruitment in the lung preceding widespread …

Efficacy And Health-Related Quality Of Life Impact Of Fecal Microbiota, Live-Jslm: A Post Hoc Analysis Of Punch Cd3 Patients At First Recurrence Of Clostridioides Difficile Infection, Paul Feuerstadt, Jessica R Allegretti, Erik R Dubberke, Amy Guo, Adam Harvey, Min Yang, Viviana Garcia-Horton, Mirko Fillbrunn, Glenn Tillotson, Lindy L Bancke, Kerry Laplante, Kevin W Garey, Sahil Khanna

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) causes symptoms of varying severity and negatively impacts patients' health-related quality of life (HRQL). Despite antibiotic treatment, recurrence of CDI (rCDI) is common and imposes clinical and economic burdens on patients. Fecal microbiota, live-jslm (REBYOTA [RBL]) is newly approved in the USA for prevention of rCDI following antibiotic treatments. We analyzed efficacy and HRQL impact of RBL vs. placebo in patients at first rCDI using data from the phase 3 randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, PUNCH CD3.

METHODS: This post hoc analysis included patients at first rCDI fromPUNCH CD3. Treatment success (i.e., absence of diarrhea …

Ddr2-Regulated Arginase Activity In Ovarian Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Collagen Production And Tumor Progression, Favour A Akinjiyan, Zainab Ibitoye, Peinan Zhao, Leah P Shriver, Gary J Patti, Gregory D Longmore, Katherine C Fuh

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Patient-Reported Treatment Response In Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Annie Im, Iskra Pusic, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) treatment response is assessed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Criteria in clinical trials, and by clinician assessment in routine practice. Patient-reported treatment response is central to the experience of chronic GvHD manifestations as well as treatment benefit and toxicity, but how they correlate with clinician- or NIH-responses has not been well-studied. We aimed to characterize 6-month patientreported response, determine associated chronic GvHD baseline organ features and changes, and evaluate which patientreported quality of life and chronic GvHD symptom burden measures correlated with patient-reported response. From two nationally representative Chronic GVHD Consortium prospective observational studies, …

The Forkhead Transcription Factor Foxj1 Controls Vertebrate Olfactory Cilia Biogenesis And Sensory Neuron Differentiation, Dheeraj Rayamajhi, Steven L. Brody, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In vertebrates, olfactory receptors localize on multiple cilia elaborated on dendritic knobs of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Although olfactory cilia dysfunction can cause anosmia, how their differentiation is programmed at the transcriptional level has remained largely unexplored. We discovered in zebrafish and mice that Foxj1, a forkhead domain-containing transcription factor traditionally linked with motile cilia biogenesis, is expressed in OSNs and required for olfactory epithelium (OE) formation. In keeping with the immotile nature of olfactory cilia, we observed that ciliary motility genes are repressed in zebrafish, mouse, and human OSNs. Strikingly, we also found that besides ciliogenesis, Foxj1 controls the …

Educating Future Generations Of Surgeons Across Borders: Novel Global Linked Hybrid Live Cadaveric Peripheral Nerve Surgical Training Course, Abdus S Burahee, Liron S. Duraku, Caroline A. Hundepool, Kyle R Eberlin, Amy Moore, Christopher J. Dy, Shalimar Abdullah, Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, J. Michiel Zuidam, Dominic M. Power

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate a novel, multi-site, technology-facilitated education and training course in peripheral nerve surgery. The program was developed to address the training gaps in this specialized field by integrating a structured curriculum, high-fidelity cadaveric dissection, and surgical simulation with real-time expert guidance.

METHODS: A collaboration between the Global Nerve Foundation and Esser Masterclass facilitated the program, which was conducted across three international sites. The curriculum was developed by a panel of experienced peripheral nerve surgeons and included both text-based and multimedia resources. Participants' knowledge and skills were assessed using pre- and postcourse questionnaires.

RESULTS: A total …

Responsive Neurostimulation For People With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Madeline C. Fields, Emily A. Johnson, John Zempel, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have comorbid epilepsy at much higher rates than the general population, and about 30% will be refractory to medication. Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) should be referred for surgical evaluation, yet many with ASD and DRE are not resective surgical candidates. The aim of this study was to examine the response of this population to the responsive neurostimulator (RNS) System.

METHODS: This multicenter study evaluated patients with ASD and DRE who underwent RNS System placement. Patients were included if they had the RNS System placed for 1 year or more. Seizure reduction and …

Control Intervention Design For Preclinical And Clinical Trials: Consensus-Based Core Recommendations From The Third Stroke Recovery And Rehabilitation Roundtable, Kathryn S Hayward, Emily J Dalton, Jessica Barth, Marian Brady, Leora R Cherney, Leonid Churilov, Andrew N Clarkson, Jesse Dawson, Sean P Dukelow, Peter Feys, Maree Hackett, Steve R Zeiler, Catherine E Lang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Control comparator selection is a critical trial design issue. Preclinical and clinical investigators who are doing trials of stroke recovery and rehabilitation interventions must carefully consider the appropriateness and relevance of their chosen control comparator as the benefit of an experimental intervention is established relative to a comparator. Establishing a strong rationale for a selected comparator improves the integrity of the trial and validity of its findings. This Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable (SRRR) taskforce used a graph theory voting system to rank the importance and ease of addressing challenges during control comparator design. "Identifying appropriate type of control" was …

Cryptosporidium Infection Of Human Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells Induces Type Iii Interferon And Impairs Infectivity Of Rotavirus, Valentin Greigert, Iti Saraav, Juhee Son, Yinxing Zhu, Denise Dayao, Avan Antia, Saul Tzipori, William H Witola, Thaddeus S Stappenbeck, Siyuan Ding, L David Sibley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants from resource poor settings. The majority of infections are caused by the human-specific pathogen

Hyperbaric Oxygen Augments Susceptibility To C. Difficile Infection By Impairing Gut Microbiota Ability To Stimulate The Hif-1Α-Il-22 Axis In Ilc3, José L Fachi, Laís P Pral, Helder C Assis, Sarah Oliveira, Vinícius R Rodovalho, Jefferson A C Dos Santos, Mariane F Fernandes, Valquíria A Matheus, Renata Sesti-Costa, Paulo J Basso, Marina Flóro E Silva, Niels O S Câmara, Selma Giorgio, Marco Colonna, Marco A R Vinolo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a well-established method for improving tissue oxygenation and is typically used for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, including infectious diseases. However, its effect on the intestinal mucosa, a microenvironment known to be physiologically hypoxic, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that daily treatment with hyperbaric oxygen affects gut microbiome composition, worsening antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Accordingly, HBO-treated mice were more susceptible to

The Type Ii Raf Inhibitor Tovorafenib In Relapsed/Refractory Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma: The Phase 2 Firefly-1 Trial, Lindsay B Kilburn, Mohamed S Abdelbaki, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BRAF genomic alterations are the most common oncogenic drivers in pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG). Arm 1 (n = 77) of the ongoing phase 2 FIREFLY-1 (PNOC026) trial investigated the efficacy of the oral, selective, central nervous system-penetrant, type II RAF inhibitor tovorafenib (420 mg m

Biology Of Childhood Hepatoblastoma And The Search For Novel Treatments, Marjut Pihlajoki, Katja Eloranta, Ruth Nousiainen, Ville Väyrynen, Tea Soini, Antti Kyrönlahti, Seppo Parkkila, Jukka Kanerva, David B. Wilson, Mikko P. Pakarinen, Markku Heikinheimo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Bioactive Glycans In A Microbiome-Directed Food For Children With Malnutrition, Matthew C Hibberd, Daniel M Webber, Suzanne Henrissat, Robert Y Chen, Cyrus Zhou, Hannah M Lynn, Yi Wang, Hao-Wei Chang, Evan M Lee, Janaki Lelwala-Guruge, Ye Chen, Ishita Mostafa, Subhasish Das, Mustafa Mahfuz, Michael J Barratt, Tahmeed Ahmed, Jeffrey I Gordon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Evidence is accumulating that perturbed postnatal development of the gut microbiome contributes to childhood malnutrition

The Cousa Objective: A Long-Working Distance Air Objective For Multiphoton Imaging In Vivo, Che-Hang Yu, Jinkyung Kim, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Multiphoton microscopy can resolve fluorescent structures and dynamics deep in scattering tissue and has transformed neural imaging, but applying this technique in vivo can be limited by the mechanical and optical constraints of conventional objectives. Short working distance objectives can collide with compact surgical windows or other instrumentation and preclude imaging. Here we present an ultra-long working distance (20 mm) air objective called the Cousa objective. It is optimized for performance across multiphoton imaging wavelengths, offers a more than 4 mm

Optic Chiasm Glioma In An Older Adult Patient, Ulviyya Gasimova, Osasu Adah, Matahi Muradova, Kaleigh Roberts, Sonika Dahiya, Rashmi Verma, Lokesh Rukmangadachar

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We present a case of an adult patient experiencing progressive visual loss. An initial presentation was concerning for neuromyelitis optica with optic chiasm involvement. However, persistent contrast enhancement observed in follow-up brain and orbit images raised suspicion for optic tract malignant neoplasm. Histopathological evolution of optic nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of an optic chiasm glioma. The patient was then referred to oncology for chemotherapy.

A Global Multicohort Study To Map Subcortical Brain Development And Cognition In Infancy And Early Childhood, Ann M Alex, Kelly Botteron, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The human brain grows quickly during infancy and early childhood, but factors influencing brain maturation in this period remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we harmonized data from eight diverse cohorts, creating one of the largest pediatric neuroimaging datasets to date focused on birth to 6 years of age. We mapped the developmental trajectory of intracranial and subcortical volumes in ∼2,000 children and studied how sociodemographic factors and adverse birth outcomes influence brain structure and cognition. The amygdala was the first subcortical volume to mature, whereas the thalamus exhibited protracted development. Males had larger brain volumes than females, and …

A Neural Mechanism For Conserved Value Computations Integrating Information And Rewards, Ethan S Bromberg-Martin, Yang-Yang Feng, Takaya Ogasawara, J Kael White, Kaining Zhang, Ilya E Monosov

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Behavioral and economic theory dictate that we decide between options based on their values. However, humans and animals eagerly seek information about uncertain future rewards, even when this does not provide any objective value. This implies that decisions are made by endowing information with subjective value and integrating it with the value of extrinsic rewards, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that human and monkey value judgements obey strikingly conserved computational principles during multi-attribute decisions trading off information and extrinsic reward. We then identify a neural substrate in a highly conserved ancient structure, the lateral habenula (LHb). LHb …

Is Multidimensional Poverty Associated To Dementia Risk? The Case Of Older Adults In Pakistan, Jean-François Trani, Yiqi Zhu, Soobin Park, Ganesh M Babulal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multidimensional poverty is associated with dementia. We aimed at establishing this association in Pakistan.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Punjab and Sindh, Pakistan, between March 30, 2002, and August 22, 2022, among adults aged 50 and older. Multidimensional poverty measures were composed of 6 dimensions and 15 indicators. Poverty was compared between adults with and without dementia using the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale, adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and household size. Associations between dementia and poverty were investigated using a multivariate logistic regression model.

RESULTS: We found that 594 (72.7%), …

Thrombectomy In Stroke Patients With Low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score: Is Modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (Mtici) 2c/3 Superior To Mtici 2b?, Sameh Samir Elawady, Joshua Osbun, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are strongly correlated with successful recanalization, traditionally defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2b. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with low Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS; 2-5) who achieved mTICI 2b versus those who achieved mTICI 2c/3 after MT.

METHODS: This study utilized data from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR), which combined databases from 32 thrombectomy-capable stroke centers between 2013 and 2023. The study included only patients with low ASPECTS who achieved mTICI 2b, 2c, or 3 after MT …

The Prevalence And Characteristic Of Latent Tb In Patients On Immunosuppressant Agents And Biological Treatment, Tuqa Deia Khadhim, Basil Fawzi Jassar

Muthanna Medical Journal

LTTB is a common condition occurring in one fourth of those who were exposed to mycobacterial bacilli with Medically induced immunosuppression stands as a significant risk factor for having LTTB. Aim of the study: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of LTTB in patients on immunosuppressive agents and biological treatment. A cross-sectional research of 150 patients on immunosuppressants and biological therapy for diverse diseases at Baghdad teaching hospital outpatient rheumatology, dermatology, and TB clinics between 2023 and 2024 was done. All patients were examined with a detailed clinical history, physical exam, and chest x-ray or CT scan. IGRA testing was …

Using Information Technology For Comprehensive Analysis And Prediction In Forensic Evidence, Faris Kamil Hasan Mihna, Mustafa Abdulfattah Habeeb, Yahya Layth Khaleel, Yasir Hussein Ali, Yasir Hussein Ali

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

With the escalation of cybercriminal activities, the demand for forensic investigations into these crimes has grown significantly. However, the concept of systematic pre-preparation for potential forensic examinations during the software design phase, known as forensic readiness, has only recently gained attention. Against the backdrop of surging urban crime rates, this study aims to conduct a rigorous and precise analysis and forecast of crime rates in Los Angeles, employing advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. This research amalgamates diverse datasets encompassing crime history, various socio-economic indicators, and geographical locations to attain a comprehensive understanding of how crimes manifest within the city. Leveraging …

Webometrics Analysis Of Government Medical Colleges Of Bihar: A Study, Debashish Pandit Paul, Mohd. Aslam Khan, Anubhaw Kumar Suman

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study presents the webometrics analysis of 9 websites of Government Medical Colleges under the Health Department, Government of Bihar. The Purpose of in study to identify the web presence, domain analysis and other webometrics indicators of the selected website. The study uses SEO MOZ for data collection. It was found that the website of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur (SKMCH) has the highest domain authority of 27 and the highest page authority of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna (NMCH) of 35. The study concluded that all websites should be inter-connected, well-maintained and …

Usability Evaluation Of Library Management System: A User Experience Approach, Mehdi Sohrabzadeh, Shafi Habibi, Taha Samad-Soltani, Amir Torab-Miandoab

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The usability evaluation of library management systems is important to improve the provision of library service. The present study aimed to evaluate the usability of Azarsa Library Management System based on the user experience. In this research, 200 users of Azarsa library management system were selected as study samples by a simple random sampling method. The 26-item user experience questionnaire was used to collect data. The highest scores relating to mean data of the evaluation of Azarsa library management system belonged to the system's "perspicuity" with a mean of 0.772, "dependability" of system with a mean of 0.550, and the …

Disaster Management In Public Sector University Libraries In Karachi, Sameem Kardar, Muhammad Waseem Zia

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of staff preparedness towards disaster management in public sector university libraries situated in Karachi. Survey research method was adopted for the study. The data collection tool consisted of questionnaires and interviews. This paper is based on the preliminary findings of M.Phil. research “Preservation and Conservation Techniques Adopted by Public Sector University Libraries”. For the interview, a face-to-face interactive session was held between the researcher and the university librarian on issues of Disaster Prevention Management Plan in the Library. There are 9 public sector universities in Karachi, libraries of all 9 …

The Impact Of Open Access In Public Libraries, South Africa, Molaodi Margaret Matobako Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact of open access in the nine Thabo Mofutsanyana District public libraries. Data were collected using scheduled structured and unstructured interviews with a sample of 17 library officials from nine public libraries in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, as well as a sample survey study design. Thematic coding was employed to evaluate the quantitative data. Furthermore, descriptive statistics and nonlinear factor analysis were used to analyse the quantitative data. The major findings of the study indicate that most respondents had favourable opinions on the open access ideology, notwithstanding a small number of …

Examining The Influence Of Capital Investments On Library Enhancements, Faculty Development, And Sponsored Projects In A Top 20 Nirf Ranked University: An Investigation, Debdas Mondal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study delves into the 2017-2019 NIRF rankings of India's top 20 universities, examining factors such as library spending, faculty quality, and sponsored projects. Despite varying expenditures, some universities displayed unexpected performances in rankings. The study suggests strategies for universities to enhance performance and rankings, aiming to uncover correlations between NIRF ranks and factors like library expenditure, research student count, faculty numbers, and sponsored projects. Data for the study were collected through web content analysis, primarily sourced from the official websites of NIRF. Among the top 20 universities, only IISc, Bengaluru consistently excelled across these factors. Manipal Academy of Higher …