Digital Commons Network^™

Btx Photodegradation Using Synthetic Nano Photocatalysts, Firdos Abdulla, Zainab Shnain, Asawer Alwaisit, Mohammad Abid

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

A photocatalytic tapered bubble column reactor was utilized to extract benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) organic pollutants from petroleum effluent. The reactor had an internal diameter that increased from 0.07 meters at the bottom to 0.17 meters at the top, a tapered angle of 1.6 degrees, a length of 1.8 meters, and a capacity of approximately 20 liters. Additionally, the reactor was equipped with a Fe-doped TiO2 catalyst. Different air flow rates (0-3 L/min), contact periods (0-120 min), and liquid flow rates (160-600 L/hr) were used in the photocatalyst with four submerged LED lamps (wavelength of 200–550 nm). Each of …

Phage-Antibiotic Synergy: Enhancing Efficacy Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, Anwer Faisal, Bassam Mahmood, Baraa Saeed

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

The increasing number of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics poses a major challenge to public health. Therefore, research into new treatment methods is essential to overcome these challenges. Phage treatment is a promising technique to increase the efficacy of antimicrobials against resistant microbes. This review documents the ability of bacteriophages to interact with conventional antibiotics due to their specificity and adaptability to target and control bacterial populations, especially when used in combination with antibiotics. Combination therapy can deliver the lowest effective concentration of antibiotics while reducing toxicity. Research has confirmed that the synergy of phages and antibiotics can disrupt …

Social Media In Advancing Equity And Collaboration In Rheumatology: The Cordiality Review, Ihsane Hmamouchi, Nelly Ziade, Adewale Adebajo, Latika Gupta, Puja Mehta, Angela Migowa, Elena Nikiphorou, Noelle A. Rolle, Didem Saygin, Namrata Singh

Pathology, East Africa

Social media has transformed communication in academia and medicine, offering stakeholders innovative avenues for knowledge exchange and collaboration. The CORDIALITY review (soCial media fOR aDvancing equIty And coLlaboration In rheumaTologY) examines the impact of social media on education and information dissemination, patient education and empowerment, networking and mentorship, and research collaboration within rheumatology, when effectively used. In this narrative review, we consider the opportunities as well as the challenges related to each of these facets of social media use. With a focus on inequities faced globally, we give particular consideration to disparities by gender as they relate to the rheumatology …

Diet-Enhanced Lrg1 Expression Promotes Insulin Hypersecretion And Er Stress In Pancreatic Beta Cells, Desirae D Morales, Jiyoon Ryu, Cong Wei, Jason T Hadley, Maia R Smith, Juli Bai, Juan C Lopez-Alvarenga, Srinivas Mummidi, Ravindranath Duggirala, Jane L Lynch, Feng Liu, Lily Q Dong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aims/hypothesis: Upregulation of serum leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) has been implicated in diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders. However, its specific hormonal actions remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether diet-enhanced serum LRG1 levels promote hyperinsulinaemia by directly stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

Methods: Human serum samples were obtained from individuals (both male and female) undergoing plastic surgery. Male C57BL/6 wild-type and Lrg1 whole-body knockout (Lrg1KO) mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet, with serum samples collected every 2 weeks to monitor LRG1 and insulin levels throughout diet-induced obesity. MIN6 beta cells were used to investigate the effects …

Predicting Chemotherapy Responsiveness In Gastric Cancer Through Machine Learning Analysis Of Genome, Immune, And Neutrophil Signatures, Shota Sasagawa, Yoshitaka Honma, Xinxin Peng, Kazuhiro Maejima, Koji Nagaoka, Yukari Kobayashi, Ayako Oosawa, Todd A Johnson, Yuki Okawa, Han Liang, Kazuhiro Kakimi, Yasuhide Yamada, Hidewaki Nakagawa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Gastric cancer is a major oncological challenge, ranking highly among causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This study was initiated to address the variability in patient responses to combination chemotherapy, highlighting the need for personalized treatment strategies based on genomic data.

Methods: We analyzed whole-genome and RNA sequences from biopsy specimens of 65 advanced gastric cancer patients before their chemotherapy treatment. Using machine learning techniques, we developed a model with 123 omics features, such as immune signatures and copy number variations, to predict their chemotherapy outcomes.

Results: The model demonstrated a prediction accuracy of 70-80% in forecasting chemotherapy responses in …

Guidelines For Minimal Reporting Requirements, Design And Interpretation Of Experiments Involving The Use Of Eukaryotic Dual Gene Expression Reporters (Mindr), Gary Loughran, Dmitry E Andreev, Ilya M Terenin, Olivier Namy, Martin Mikl, Martina M Yordanova, C Joel Mcmanus, Andrew E Firth, John F Atkins, Christopher S Fraser, Zoya Ignatova, Shintaro Iwasaki, Joanna Kufel, Ola Larsson, Sebastian A Leidel, Alexander S Mankin, Marco Mariotti, Marvin E Tanenbaum, Ivan Topisirovic, Nora Vázquez-Laslop, Gabriela Viero, Neva Caliskan, Yiwen Chen, Patricia L Clark, Jonathan D Dinman, Philip J Farabaugh, Wendy V Gilbert, Pavel Ivanov, Jeffrey S Kieft, Oliver Mühlemann, Matthew S Sachs, Ivan N Shatsky, Nahum Sonenberg, Anna-Lena Steckelberg, Anne E Willis, Michael T Woodside, Leos Shivaya Valasek, Sergey E Dmitriev, Pavel V Baranov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dual reporters encoding two distinct proteins within the same mRNA have had a crucial role in identifying and characterizing unconventional mechanisms of eukaryotic translation. These mechanisms include initiation via internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs), ribosomal frameshifting, stop codon readthrough and reinitiation. This design enables the expression of one reporter to be influenced by the specific mechanism under investigation, while the other reporter serves as an internal control. However, challenges arise when intervening test sequences are placed between these two reporters. Such sequences can inadvertently impact the expression or function of either reporter, independent of translation-related changes, potentially biasing the results. …

Monte Carlo Modeling Of An Experimental Benchtop L-Shell X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging/Ct System Adopting Two Silicone Drift Detectors, Neerajan Nepal, Amrit Kaphle, Sandun Jayarathna, Sang Hyun Cho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

L-shell x-ray fluorescence (XRF) photons induced from gold nanoparticles (GNPs) after being irradiated by an x-ray beam allow for highly sensitive XRF imaging/computed tomography (XFCT) of biological samples containing GNPs at low concentrations on the order of parts-per-million (ppm). The primary goal of this Monte Carlo (MC) study was to investigate the feasibility of upgrading an existing experimental benchtop XRF/XFCT imaging setup adopting a single silicon drift detector (SDD), developed based on the aforementioned concept (often known as L-shell XFCT), by deploying another SDD within the same setup. Specifically, an MC model of the original single SDD L-shell XFCT setup, …

Proceedings Of The National Cancer Institute Workshop On Combining Immunotherapy With Radiotherapy: Challenges And Opportunities For Clinical Translation, Zachary S Morris, Sandra Demaria, Arta M Monjazeb, Silvia C Formenti, Ralph R Weichselbaum, James Welsh, Heiko Enderling, Jonathan D Schoenfeld, Joshua D Brody, Heather M Mcgee, Michele Mondini, Michael S Kent, Kristina H Young, Lorenzo Galluzzi, Sana D Karam, Willemijn S M E Theelen, Joe Y Chang, Mai Anh Huynh, Adi Daib, Sean Pitroda, Caroline Chung, Raphael Serre, Clemens Grassberger, Jie Deng, Quaovi H Sodji, Anthony T Nguyen, Ravi B Patel, Simone Krebs, Anusha Kalbasi, Caroline Kerr, Claire Vanpouille-Box, Logan Vick, Todd A Aguilera, Irene M Ong, Fernanda Herrera, Hari Menon, Deedee Smart, Jalal Ahmed, Robyn D Gartrell, Christina L Roland, Fatemeh Fekrmandi, Binita Chakraborty, Eric H Bent, Tracy J Berg, Alan Hutson, Samir Khleif, Andrew G Sikora, Lawrence Fong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiotherapy both promotes and antagonises tumour immune recognition. Some clinical studies show improved patient outcomes when immunotherapies are integrated with radiotherapy. Safe, greater than additive, clinical response to the combination is limited to a subset of patients, however, and how radiotherapy can best be combined with immunotherapies remains unclear. The National Cancer Institute-Immuno-Oncology Translational Network-Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer-American Association of Immunology Workshop on Combining Immunotherapy with Radiotherapy was convened to identify and prioritise opportunities and challenges for radiotherapy and immunotherapy combinations. Sessions examined the immune effects of radiation, barriers to anti-tumour immune response, previous clinical trial data, immunological and …

In Pursuit Of Ki-Rads: Toward A Single, Evidence-Based Imaging Classification Of Renal Masses, Stuart G Silverman, Ivan Pedrosa, Nicola Schieda, Vitaly Margulis, Payal Kapur, Matthew S Davenport

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the successful application of Imaging Reporting and Data Systems to improve the radiologic description and management of disease in many organs, one does not yet exist for the kidney. Instead, the radiologic approach to the kidney has focused on the Bosniak classification system, which is based on imaging characteristics for cystic renal masses, and detecting macroscopic fat within solid renal masses. Radiologically, cystic and solid renal masses are categorized and evaluated separately because of historical precedent, differences in appearance at imaging, and differences in biologic behavior. However, the World Health Organization classification of renal neoplasms does not support such …

Proteasome Augmentation Mitigates Age-Related Cognitive Decline In Mice, Danitra Parker, Kanisa Davidson, Pawel A Osmulski, Maria Gaczynska, Andrew M Pickering

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The aging brain experiences a significant decline in proteasome function. The proteasome is critical for many key neuronal functions including neuronal plasticity, and memory formation/retention. Treatment with proteasome inhibitors impairs these processes. Our study reveals a marked reduction in 20S and 26S proteasome activities in aged mice brains, including in the hippocampus, this is driven by reduced functionality of aged proteasome. The decline in proteasome activity is matched by a decline in 20S proteasome assembly. In contrast, 26S proteasome assembly was found to increase with age, though 26S proteasome activity was still found to decline. Our data suggests that age-related …

Medical Image Segmentation Assisted With Clinical Inputs Via Language Encoder In A Deep Learning Framework, Hengrui Zhao, Biling Wang, Deepkumar Mistry, Jing Wang, Michael Dohopolski, Daniel Yang, Weiguo Lu, Steve Jiang, Dan Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Auto-segmentation of tumor volumes and organs at risk (OARs) is a critical step in cancer radiotherapy treatment planning, where rapid, precise adjustments to treatment plans are required to match the patient anatomy. Although auto-segmentation has been clinically accepted for most OARs, auto-segmentation of tumor volumes, particularly clinical target volumes (CTVs), remains a challenge. This difficulty arises because images alone are often insufficient to capture the necessary information for accurate delineation of microscopic tumor invasion invisible on the image itself.

Methods: We propose a deep learning-based medical image segmentation framework designed to mimic the clinical process of delineating CTVs and …

Difference-Makers For Collecting Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Data In Oncology Settings, Mandi L Pratt-Chapman, Edward J Miech, Megan A Mullins, Shine Chang, Gwendolyn P Quinn, Shail Maingi, Matthew B Schabath, Charles Kamen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to identify key difference-making conditions that distinguish oncology institutions that collect sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data across a sample of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) members.

Methods: From October to November 2020, an anonymous 54-item web-based survey was distributed to ASCO members. Coincidence analysis was used to identify difference-making conditions for the collection of SOGI data.

Results: ASCO members' responses to just three items consistently distinguished practices that reported collecting both SO and GI data (n = 25) from those who did not (n = 20): (1)."Do you ask your …

An Automated Treatment Planning Portfolio For Whole Breast Radiotherapy, Hana Baroudi, Leonard Che Fru, Deborah Schofield, Dominique L Roniger, Callistus Nguyen, Donald Hancock, Christine Chung, Beth M Beadle, Kent A Gifford, Tucker Netherton, Joshua S Niedzielski, Adam Melancon, Manickam Muruganandham, Meena Khan, Simona F Shaitelman, Sanjay Shete, Patricia Murina, Daniel Venencia, Sheeba Thengumpallil, Conny Vrieling, Joy Zhang, Melissa P Mitchell, Laurence E Court

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Automation in radiotherapy presents a promising solution to the increasing cancer burden and workforce shortages. However, existing automated methods for breast radiotherapy lack a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that meets varying standards of care.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a complete portfolio of automated radiotherapy treatment planning for intact breasts, tailored to individual patient factors, clinical approaches, and available resources.

Methods: We developed five automated conventional treatment approaches and utilized an established RapidPlan model for volumetric arc therapy. These approaches include conventional tangents for whole breast treatment, two variants for supraclavicular nodes (SCLV) treatment with/without axillary nodes, and two …

Qsp Modeling Shows Pathological Synergism Between Insulin Resistance And Amyloid-Beta Exposure In Upregulating Vcam1 Expression At The Bbb Endothelium, Zengtao Wang, Vaishnavi Veerareddy, Xiaojiao Tang, Kevin J Thompson, Sunil Krishnan, Krishna R Kalari, Karunya K Kandimalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), characterized by insulin resistance, is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cerebrovascular dysfunction is manifested in both T2DM and AD, and is often considered as a pathological link between the two diseases. Insulin signaling regulates critical functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and endothelial insulin resistance could lead to BBB dysfunction, aggravating AD pathology. However, insulin signaling is intrinsically dynamic and involves interactions among numerous molecular mediators. Hence, a mechanistic systems biology model is needed to understand how insulin regulates BBB physiology and the consequences of its impairment in T2DM and AD. In this study, …

Rhabdoid Tumor Of The Kidney And Soft Tissues: Results From National Wilms Tumor Study-5 And Children's Oncology Group Study Aren0321, James I Geller, Lindsay A Renfro, Paul E Grundy, Elizabeth J Perlman, John A Kalapurakal, Peter F Ehrlich, Jackie Biegel, Vicki Huff, Anne B Warwick, Arnold Paulino, Elizabeth A Mullen, Najat C Daw, Fredric A Hoffer, Zelig Tochner, Kenneth Gow, Eric Gratias, Deborah A Ward, James R Anderson, Conrad V Fernandez, Jeffrey S Dome

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: National Wilms Tumor Study-5 (NWTS-5) and AREN0321 evaluated the outcomes of children with rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK) and malignant rhabdoid tumor of soft tissues (MRT).

Patients and methods: Eligible patients with RTK were enrolled prospectively on NWTS-5 (1995-2002) and treated with carboplatin and etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide (Regimen RTK). Patients with RTK or MRT were enrolled on AREN0321 (2005-2012) and received vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide alternating with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (Regimens UH-1 or dose-reduced Revised UH-1). We report event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) from each study.

Results: Thirty patients received Regimen RTK on NWTS-5; …

An Antibody-Toxin Conjugate Targeting Cd47 Linked To The Bacterial Toxin Listeriolysin O For Cancer Immunotherapy, Benjamin R Schrank, Yifan Wang, Annette Wu, Nhat Tran, Daeyong Lee, Jared Edwards, Kristin Huntoon, Shiyan Dong, Jonghoon Ha, Yifan Ma, Adam J Grippin, Seong Dong Jeong, Abin Antony, Mengyu Chang, Minjeong Kang, Thomas D Gallup, Albert C Koong, Jing Li, Kyuson Yun, Betty Y S Kim, Wen Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Antigen-presenting cells phagocytose tumor cells and subsequently cross-present tumor-derived antigens. However, these processes are impeded by phagocytosis checkpoints and inefficient cytosolic transport of antigenic peptides from phagolysosomes. Here, using a microbial-inspired strategy, we engineered an antibody-toxin conjugate (ATC) that targets the 'don't eat me' signal CD47 linked to the bacterial toxin listeriolysin O from the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes via a cleavable linker (CD47-LLO). CD47-LLO promotes cancer cell phagocytosis by macrophages followed by LLO release and activation to form pores on phagolysosomal membranes that enhance antigen cross-presentation of tumor-derived peptides and activate cytosolic immune sensors. CD47-LLO treatment in vivo significantly …

Wmh Contributions To Cognitive Impairment: Rationale And Design Of The Diverse Vcid Study, Charles Decarli, Kumar B Rajan, Lee-Way Jin, Jason Hinman, David K Johnson, Danielle Harvey, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As awareness of dementia increases, more individuals with minor cognitive complaints are requesting clinical assessment. Neuroimaging studies frequently identify incidental white matter hyperintensities, raising patient concerns about their brain health and future risk for dementia. Moreover, current US demographics indicate that ≈50% of these individuals will be from diverse backgrounds by 2060. Racial and ethnic minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of vascular risk factors magnifying dementia risk. Despite established associations between white matter hyperintensities and cognitive impairment, including dementia, no study has comprehensively and prospectively examined the impact of individual and combined magnetic resonance imaging measures of white matter …

Seq-Scope: Repurposing Illumina Sequencing Flow Cells For High-Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics, Yongsung Kim, Weiqiu Cheng, Chun-Seok Cho, Yongha Hwang, Yichen Si, Anna Park, Mitchell Schrank, Jer-En Hsu, Angelo Anacleto, Jingyue Xi, Myungjin Kim, Ellen Pedersen, Olivia I Koues, Thomas Wilson, Changhee Lee, Goo Jun, Hyun Min Kang, Jun Hee Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial transcriptomics technologies aim to advance gene expression studies by profiling the entire transcriptome with intact spatial information from a single histological slide. However, the application of spatial transcriptomics is limited by low resolution, limited transcript coverage, complex procedures, poor scalability and high costs of initial setup and/or individual experiments. Seq-Scope repurposes the Illumina sequencing platform for high-resolution, high-content spatial transcriptome analysis, overcoming these limitations. It offers submicrometer resolution, high capture efficiency, rapid turnaround time and precise annotation of histopathology at a much lower cost than commercial alternatives. This protocol details the implementation of Seq-Scope with an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 …

American Association Of Physicists In Medicine (Aapm) Chapter Climate Check: Mixed Methods Analysis Of Survey Responses, Ashley J Cetnar, Ghada Aldosary, Meghan C Koo, Holly Lincoln, Angélica Pérez-Andújar, Surendra Prajapati, Samantha J Simiele, Kristi R G Hendrickson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) recently shared results and recommendations from its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Climate Survey, which was designed to assess the climate at the workplace, the AAPM organization, and the AAPM regional chapter level. This work further explores the status of EDI at the regional chapter level.

Methods: AAPM's EDI Survey was distributed to 5500 members and had a response rate of 25%. In the survey, three open-ended comment boxes were provided for feedback, including one for regional AAPM members. Sixty-four percent of respondents indicated they were part of a regional …

Resolving Tissue Complexity By Multimodal Spatial Omics Modeling With Miso, Kyle Coleman, Amelia Schroeder, Melanie Loth, Daiwei Zhang, Jeong Hwan Park, Ji-Youn Sung, Niklas Blank, Alexis J Cowan, Xuyu Qian, Jianfeng Chen, Jiahui Jiang, Hanying Yan, Laith Z Samarah, Jean R Clemenceau, Inyeop Jang, Minji Kim, Isabel Barnfather, Joshua D Rabinowitz, Yanxiang Deng, Edward B Lee, Alexander Lazar, Jianjun Gao, Emma E Furth, Tae Hyun Hwang, Linghua Wang, Christoph A Thaiss, Jian Hu, Mingyao Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial molecular profiling has provided biomedical researchers valuable opportunities to better understand the relationship between cellular localization and tissue function. Effectively modeling multi-modal spatial omics data is crucial for understanding tissue complexity and underlying biology. Furthermore, improvements in spatial resolution have led to the advent of technologies that can generate spatial molecular data with sub-cellular resolution, requiring the development of computationally efficient methods that can handle the resulting large-scale datasets. MISO (MultI-modal Spatial Omics) is a versatile algorithm for feature extraction and clustering, capable of integrating multiple modalities from diverse spatial omics experiments with high spatial resolution. Its effectiveness is …

An Inducible Foxl2-Dependent Mouse Model Of Ovarian Adult Type Granulosa Cell Tumor, Jian Li, Thomas Welte, Katherine Calzoncinth, Veena K Vuttaradhi, Allison L Brodsky, Kwong-Kwok Wong, Manu M Sebastian, Barrett Lawson, Charles V Kingsley, R Tyler Hillman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adult-type granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs) are rare ovarian sex cord/stromal tumors with near-universal hotspot mutations in FOXL2 (c.C402G; p.Cys134Trp). Progress in the treatment of relapsed AGCT has been hindered by the lack of high-fidelity FOXL2-based mouse models. To address this critical unmet need, we created and validated a genetically engineered inducible mouse model of the human FOXL2 mutation that recapitulates the key features of the human disease.

Methods: Gene targeting in embryonic stem cells was used to introduce a Cre-inducible Foxl2C130W allele (mouse equivalent of the human oncogenic mutation) into the endogenous mouse Foxl2 locus. Animals with the Foxl2C130W-FLEx …

Loncastuximab In High-Risk And Heavily Pretreated Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Realworld Analysis From 21 Us Centers, Viktoriya Zelikson, Ashwath Gurumurthi, Yazeed Sawalha, Kaitlin Annunzio, Aditi Saha, Ning Dong, David Qualls, Behzad Amoozgar, Brad Kahl, John Baird, Pavan Challa, Scott F Huntington, Jennifer Santos, Steven Bair, Mayur Narkhede, Shuning Li, Zachary Frosch, Carrie Ho, Stephen D Smith, Allison Winter, Daniel Landsburg, Fateeha Furqan, Mehdi Hamadani, Katelin Baird, Jason Romancik, Hanan Alharthy, Jennie Law, Leyla Bojanini, Ranjana Advani, Boyu Hu, Patrick Connor Johnson, Natalie S Grover, Mwanasha Merril, Jennifer L Crombie, Nazila Shafagati, Cole Sterling, Loretta J Nastoupil, Narendranath Epperla, Emily C Ayers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are poor. Loncastuximab- teserine (Lonca) is an antibody-drug conjugate which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with R/R DLBCL who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, based on the results of the LOTIS-2 trial. However, there are limited data regarding its efficacy in the real-world setting. This retrospective study included 21 US centers and evaluated outcomes of patients with R/R DLBCL treated with Lonca. Our analysis comprises 187 patients with notably higher-risk baseline features compared to those of the …

Cd147 Mediates The Metabolic Reprogramming Of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts Induced By Evs Released By Differentiating Cancer Stem Cells, Filomena Colella, Federica Calapà, Giulia Artemi, Erica Pazzaglia, Rita Colonna, Sara Vitale, Giacomo Lazzarino, Federica Vincenzoni, Micol Eleonora Fiori, Ruggero De Maria, Sara Lucchisani, Giannicola Genovese, Luigi Perelli, Barbara Tavazzi, Alessandro Sgambato, Donatella Lucchetti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Several reports have demonstrated that CD147, an N-glycosylated protein that is exchanged by cells in soluble form or through small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), can promote cancer progression. However, its activity related to EVs in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still not fully understood. Previously, we showed that sEV secretion during CRC stem cell (CR-CSCs) differentiation is partially controlled by CD147, and that CD147-expressing sEVs (sEVs-CD147) activate a signalling cascade in recipient cells, inducing molecular invasive features in CR-CSCs. In the present study, we demonstrated that sEVs-CD147 increase the expression of myofibroblast and activation markers in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). In sEVs-CD147-activated CAF, …

A Predictive Chromatin Architecture Nexus Regulates Transcription And Dna Damage Repair, Audesh Bhat, Sonali Bhan, Aindrila Kabiraj, Raj K Pandita, Keneth S Ramos, Sandhik Nandi, Shreya Sopori, Parthas S Sarkar, Arti Dhar, Shruti Pandita, Rakesh Kumar, Chandrima Das, John A Tainer, Tej K Pandita

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genomes are blueprints of life essential for an organism's survival, propagation, and evolutionary adaptation. Eukaryotic genomes comprise of DNA, core histones, and several other nonhistone proteins, packaged into chromatin in the tiny confines of nucleus. Chromatin structural organization restricts transcription factors to access DNA, permitting binding only after specific chromatin remodeling events. The fundamental processes in living cells, including transcription, replication, repair, and recombination, are thus regulated by chromatin structure through ATP-dependent remodeling, histone variant incorporation, and various covalent histone modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. These modifications, particularly involving histone variant H2AX, furthermore play crucial roles in DNA damage …

Detection Of Alteration In Carotid Artery Volumetry Using Standard-Of-Care Computed Tomography Surveillance Scans Following Unilateral Radiation Therapy For Early-Stage Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Internally-Matched Carotid Isodose Analysis, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Mohamed A Naser, Abdallah Sherif Radwan Mohamed, Salman A Eraj, Andrea Jarre, Jay C Shiao, Mona Kamal, Subha Perni, Jack P Phan, William H Morrison, Steven J Frank, G Brandon Gunn, Adam S Garden, Anita Deswal, Jun-Ichi Abe, David I Rosenthal, Elie Mouhayar, Clifton D Fuller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aim: This study leveraged standard-of-care CT scans of patients receiving unilateral radiotherapy (RT) for early tonsillar cancer to detect volumetric changes in the carotid arteries, and determine whether there is a dose-response relationship.

Methods: Disease-free cancer survivors (>3 months since therapy and age > 18 years) treated with intensity modulated RT for early (T1-2, N0-2b) tonsillar cancer with pre- and post-therapy contrast-enhanced CT scans available were included. Patients treated with definitive surgery, bilateral RT, or additional RT before the post-RT CT scan were excluded. Isodose lines from treatment plans were projected onto both scans, facilitating the delineation of carotid artery …

The Importance Of Public Health In College Populations: Why Vaccines Are Important, Kashish Poore

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper examines the importance of vaccines in college populations, where high-density living environments create unique vulnerabilities to infectious disease outbreaks. Despite vaccine mandates at most institutions, research indicates that many college students possess incomplete understanding of vaccine mechanisms and importance. The paper addresses three interconnected aspects: the biological foundations of vaccine-induced immunity, the significance of vaccination in collegiate settings, and the current state of vaccine literacy among students. Historical outbreaks on campuses, including meningitis at Princeton and mumps across several institutions, highlight the consequences of undervaccination. Social media misinformation has contributed significantly to vaccine hesitancy, particularly since COVID-19. The …

Systems Neuroimmunology: Current Bottlenecks, Research Priorities And Future Directions, Harini Iyer, Christophe Benoist, Staci D Bilbo, Lisa M Boulanger, Michael D Burton, Brian P Daniels, Aleksandra Deczkowska, Martin F Flajnik, Mélanie G Gareau, Peter M Grace, Javier E Irazoqui, Susanna Rosi, Irene Salinas, Anne Schaefer, Caroline L Sokol, Dionna W Williams, Robyn S Klein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Strategies to advance the field of neuroimmunology by embracing its complexity via inclusion of its multidisciplinary properties were discussed at a meeting in Cold Spring Harbor. Attendees proposed fostering of open communications and funding of collaborations across disciplines, and the recognition that our understanding of the neuroimmune system requires interdisciplinary science.

Reducing Igg Accumulation Via Neonatal Fc Receptor (Fcrn) Blockade Relieves Neuropathic Pain, Nathan T Fiore, Kendal F Willcox, Dorsa Dayani, Younus A Zuberi, Cobi J Heijnen, Peter M Grace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Preclinical and clinical studies have established that autoreactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) can drive neuropathic pain. We recently demonstrated that sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) in male and female mice results in the production of pronociceptive IgG, which accumulates around the lumbar region, including within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, facilitating the development of neuropathic pain. These data raise the intriguing possibility that neuropathic pain may be alleviated by reducing the accumulation of IgG. To this end, we tested whether biologic inhibition or genetic deletion of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) would attenuate mechanical hypersensitivity (allodynia) and …

Imgn853 Induces Autophagic Cell Death In Combination Therapy For Ovarian Cancer, Anca Chelariu-Raicu, Thanh Chung Vu, Sujanitha Umamaheswaran, Elaine Stur, Pahul Hanjra, Yunah Han, Min Hu, Jerome Lin, Barrett C Lawson, Jinsong Liu, Anil K Sood, Yunfei Wen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

FOLR1 is heterogeneously overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancer. We examined the combined effects of the anti-FOLR1 antibody-drug conjugate (IMGN853) with other drugs, including topotecan, anti-VEGF-A antibody, and olaparib. These findings could contribute to the continued development of IMGN853 in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Treating Ground Water For Agricultural And Individual Consumption, Gabby Miller, Bronson Scott, Michael Clawson

Biomedical Engineering

This project, conducted in collaboration with Cal Poly seniors and Da Vinci High School students, aims to develop a solar-powered groundwater purification system. This system is designed to provide clean water for agricultural use and individual consumption, addressing the growing concerns of groundwater contamination and accessibility needs. The final prototype integrates a gravity filtration system combined with chemical purification, utilizing aluminum sulfate and chlorine to remove particulates, bacteria, and organic compounds.

The research phase involved an extensive review of groundwater contamination issues, existing filtration technologies, and market analysis. Key design constraints included cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and minimal energy consumption, …