Digital Commons Network^™

Social Isolation And Firearm Secure Storage In The Usa: Results From The 2022 Brfss, Alexander Testa, Daniel Semenza, Dylan B Jackson, Karyn Fu, Sandra Mckay, Kyle T Ganson, Jason M Nagata, Jack Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Firearm secure storage (ie, storing firearms unloaded and locked) is recommended to reduce unintentional injuries and suicides. However, the relationship between psychological states, such as social isolation, and firearm secure storage practices is under-researched.

Methods: Data are from 7136 individuals with firearms in their households from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between social isolation and firearm storage.

Results: Among respondents, 71.6% reported storing firearms unloaded, 14.2% stored firearms loaded and locked and 14.2% stored firearms loaded and unlocked. Most respondents reported feeling 'never' (40.7%) or 'rarely' (33.3%) socially …

Specialist Consultation Improves Underdiagnosis Of Surgical Adrenal Incidentaloma: A Trinetx Database Investigation, Aaron R. Hochberg, Monika Shirodkar, Brian H. Im, Xiaoying Deng, Fitsum T. Hailemariam, Sohan S. Shah, Rasheed A. M. Thompson, Francisco Aguirre, Patrick T. Gomella, Mihir S. Shah, Md, Costas D. Lallas, Adam R. Metwalli

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Objectives: Despite practice guidelines recommending hormonal testing for all cases of incidentally discovered adrenal adenomas (incidentalomas), only 30% of patients receive laboratory workup. This study sought to evaluate hormonal testing and adrenal surgery rates in incidentaloma patients seen by a specialist (endocrinologist, nephrologist, urologist, or general surgeon), compared to those not seen by a specialist.

Methods: We identified incidentaloma cases by querying the TriNetX Research Network for all adult patients with an unspecified adrenal mass occurring within 1 month following abdominal imaging. We compared those seen by a specialist against those not following an incidentaloma diagnosis. Primary outcomes were rates …

Fasting-Based Dietary Interventions In Cancer Patients And Survivors: A Scoping Review, Kuang-Yi Wen, Julianne Freedman, Abenezer Melaku Tafese, William Kevin Kelly, Nicole L Simone

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: Fasting-based interventions are increasingly investigated as adjuncts to cancer treatment for the potential to reduce therapy-related toxicities, improve metabolic health, and enhance quality of life. However, clinical evidence regarding their efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability remains limited and fragmented. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the current evidence on fasting-based interventions in cancer patients and survivors.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL up to 10 June 2025. Eligible interventional studies included cancer patients or survivors and evaluated fasting-based interventions, such as time-restricted eating, intermittent fasting, short-term fasting, or fasting-mimicking …

Perceived Partner Substance Use, Genetic Predispositions, And Their Associations With Problematic Alcohol Use, Emotional Well-Being, And Relationship Quality, Megan E Cooke, Kathleen K Bucholz, Vivia V. Mccutcheon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Romantic relationships are important contexts for substance use and emotional well-being. We tested the hypotheses that (i) genetic predispositions for alcohol consumption would be positively associated with partner substance use, (ii) partner substance use would moderate genetic influences on one's own alcohol outcomes, and (iii) partner discordance in substance use would be associated with lower emotional well-being and relationship quality.

METHODS: Analyses included 2,357 participants (M

RESULTS: Participant PGS

CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of partner substance use in etiological models of alcohol use, emotional health outcomes, and relationship quality.

Tet Cpg Sequence-Context-Specific Dna Demethylation Shapes Progression Of Idh-Mutant Gliomas., Youri Hoogstrate, Santoesha A Ghisai, Levi Van Hijfte, Rania Head, Iris De Heer, Marta Padovan, Maurice De Wit, Wies R Vallentgoed, Angelo Dipasquale, Maarten M J Wijnenga, Bas Weenink, Rosa Luning, Sybren L N Maas, Adela Brzobohata, Michael Weller, Tobias Weiss, Maximilian J Mair, Anna S Berghoff, Adelheid Wöhrer, Albert Jeltsch, Johan A F Koekkoek, Hans M Hazelbag, Mathilde C M Kouwenhoven, Yongsoo Kim, Bart A Westerman, Bauke Ylstra, Anneke M Niers, Kevin C Johnson, Frederick S Varn, Roel G W Verhaak, Mustafa Khasraw, Martin J Van Den Bent, Pieter Wesseling, Pim J French

Faculty Research 2026

Treatment decisions in IDH-mutant oligodendrogliomas are shaped by tumor aggressiveness, underscoring the need for objective grading of these malignant brain tumors. We collect 302 primary and recurrent resections from oligodendrogliomas and perform Ki-67 staining, proteomics, and DNA methylation profiling. During tumor progression, DNA methylation of oligodendrogliomas changes along a continuum. This continuum is linked to increased epigenetic aging, methylation of transcription factors and Ki-67+ cell density, and large-scale DNA demethylation. Demethylation correlates with CpG flanking sequences preferred by TET enzymes. We confirm these findings in previously profiled astrocytomas, indicating IDH-mutant gliomas progress along a shared epigenetic axis. We develop an …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. Gut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.

METHODS. In a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDGut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.METHODSIn a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were held constant. Serum …

High Dietary Fiber Is Associated With Improved Outcomes In Patients With Melanoma And Sarcoma Treated With Immunotherapy Regardless Of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis And Social Vulnerability, Brittany C Fields, Raymond S Traweek, Kai Jiang, Russell G Witt, Ashish Damania, Yi-Ju Chiang, Nadim Ajami, Elise Nassif-Haddad, Emily Z Keung, Manoj Chelvanambi, Xiaotao Zhang, Christine B Peterson, Jennifer A Wargo, Carrie R Daniel, Christina L Roland, Ashley M Holder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Social vulnerability, dietary fiber, and the gut microbiome have been individually implicated in clinical outcomes for melanoma and sarcoma patients. This study hypothesized that increasing social vulnerability is associated with insufficient dietary fiber intake and negatively associated with microbiome composition and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data, baseline fiber intake, and gut microbiome profiles were assessed in 153 patients with melanoma or sarcoma treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and prospectively followed. Patients' social vulnerability index (SVI) and fiber intake were evaluated for associations with microbiome composition, treatment response, and overall survival (OS).

Results: SVI percentile was 0.4 (interquartile ratio …

Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Sport-Related Concussion In Irish Athletes, Emma Finnegan, Ed Daly, Katherine Hunzinger, Lisa Ryan

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Sport-related concussion (SRC) elicits multi-systemic symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, and cognitive changes. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are not well captured in current concussion assessments and may be under-recognised in clinical follow-up. GI disturbances may influence intake tolerance and day-to-day fuelling during post-SRC recovery. This study investigated the prevalence and severity of self-reported GI symptoms in Irish athletes after their most recent SRC, examined sex-based patterns, and evaluated the rationale for integrating GI symptom checks into standard concussion tools (e.g., SCAT6) and post-injury monitoring. Methods: An online survey was completed by recreational, competitive, and elite athletes who retrospectively self-reported concussion history, …

Sickle Cell Visualization In Vivo In Humans: Microvascular Occlusion Formation And Hemorheological Indices, Marisa M Morakis, Luojie Huang, Gregory N. Mckay, Sophie Lanzkron, Lydia H. Pecker, Nicholas J. Durr

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Vaso-occlusion is a signature pathology of sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the lack of in vivo methods to observe individual blood cell dynamics in humans limits our understanding of occlusion formation mechanisms. We present a novel in vivo, noninvasive, label-free, and high-resolution imaging technique to study blood flow and sickled cell behavior in affected individuals. We used oblique back-illumination microscopy (OBM) to capture videos of 91.0 ± 42.3 sublingual capillaries in each of 10 participants with SCD before and after red cell transfusions and compared the measurements to 10 unaffected controls. With direct observation of blood cell activity, we identified …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Risk Of All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality: A Nationwide Population And Sibling-Controlled Cohort Study In Taiwan, Chih-Wei Hsu, Yang-Chieh Brian Chen, Liang-Jen Wang, Mu-Hong Chen, Yao-Hsu Yang, Chih-Sung Liang, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Aims: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may shorten life expectancy, but evidence for Asian populations and cause-specific mortality remains limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PTSD and mortality risk in an Asian population.

Methods: We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2022) to assemble a cohort of 28,777 individuals with incident PTSD and 115,108 age- and sex-matched unexposed individuals, plus a sibling cohort of 13,305 affected patients and 22,030 unaffected siblings. Cox models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) for all-cause, unnatural-cause (suicide and accidents) and natural-cause mortality, with progressive adjustment for sociodemographic factors, comorbidity …

Pd-L1 Positivity Predicts A Unique Hyperaggressive Tumor Group Within Meng C Meningiomas, Vijay Nitturi, Shervin Hosseingholi Nouri, Collin English, Hsiang-Chih Lu, Elizabeth Ledbetter, Diego Rojas, Sean Lau, Malcolm Mcdonald, Jacob J Mandel, Abdul Basit Khan, Arif O Harmanci, Akdes S Harmanci, Tiemo Klisch, Akash J Patel

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Molecular profiling has identified 3 groups of meningiomas, with MenG C tumors exhibiting the vast majority of recurrences. Efforts to find effective treatments for recurrent meningiomas have remained elusive. Higher WHO-grade meningiomas have exhibited greater Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression through various methods, but the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression has not been described in the context of molecular profiling. Additionally, trials investigating PD-1/PD-L1-targeted immunotherapies have produced disappointing results. Here, we find that PD-L1 positivity, while prevalent in MenG C tumors, does not predict recurrence in the benign MenG A and B tumors. PD-L1 positivity also occurs independently of …

Pharmacokinetic Profiles Of Sertraline In Pregnancy As A Predictor Of Postpartum Depressive Symptoms, Sílvia M. Illamola, Zachary N. Stowe, Marc L. Kalin, Michael D. Evans, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Maged M. Costantine, D. Jeffrey Newport, James C. Ritchie, Angela K. Birnbaum

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Aim: To characterize pharmacokinetic changes of sertraline and its metabolite during pregnancy and postpartum, and their relationship to maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. Methods: This was a prospective observational, longitudinal study of pregnant women with a major depressive disorder treated with sertraline (N = 185 women, 205 pregnancies). Women were enrolled at <16 weeks' gestation and followed at 4-8 week intervals throughout pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Baseline measures included structured clinical interviews and demographic information. Drug and metabolite concentrations and psychometric measures (study outcomes) (ie, Hamilton Rating Scale for depression - 17 item, Beck Depression Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS], Clinical Global Impression [CGI]) were measured at follow-up visits. Serum sertraline and N-desmethylsertraline exposure were reported asstandardized 24-h concentration-to-dose (C/D) and parent to metabolite (P/M) ratios. Linear mixed-effects and latent trajectory models were used to characterize longitudinal patterns in concentration measures across pregnancy and postpartum, and their association with study outcomes. Results: Mean 24-h C/D ratios showed high variability throughout pregnancy and postpartuM.T.hat were characterized by three trajectories for sertraline and five for N-desmethylsertraline and P/M ratio corresponding to different sertraline pharmacokinetic profiles. At postpartum, sertraline drug exposure was inversely associated with higher EPDS score (P < .05), while N-desmethylsertraline exposure was associated with higher scores for all measured depression scales (P < .001). Higher P/M ratios had higher CGI scores (P < .05) postpartum. Conclusion: Sertraline pharmacokinetic profiles varied across pregnant women and were associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. The use of therapeutic monitoring may provide clinical insight that can be useful for identifying patients with a potential toward depressive symptoms.

Single-Nucleus Transcriptomics, Pharmacokinetics, And Pharmacodynamics Of Cdk4/6 And Mtor Inhibition In A Phase 0/1 Trial Of Recurrent High-Grade Glioma., Kevin C Johnson, An-Chi Tien, Jun Jiang, James Mcnamara, Yu-Wei Chang, Chelsea Montgomery, Anita Desantis, Leonel Elena-Sanchez, Yoko Fujita, Seongho Kim, Avishay Spitzer, Paul Gabriel, William F Flynn, Elise T Courtois, Amy Hong, Jocelyn Harmon, Yoshie Umemura, Artak Tovmasyan, Jing Li, Shwetal Mehta, Roel G W Verhaak, Nader Sanai

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND: Outcomes for adult patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) remain poor, necessitating new treatment strategies. Key challenges include poor drug penetration in the brain and malignant cell state plasticity. Phase 0 studies identify agents that achieve target modulation through pharmacologically relevant brain concentrations.

METHODS: A Phase 0/1 clinical trial combined the 2 targeted inhibitors ribociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and everolimus (mTOR inhibitor) in recurrent HGG patients, aiming to identify brain-penetrant combinations and assess their impact on malignant cell states. We enrolled 24 patients with recurrent HGG, characterized by CDKN2A/B deletion or CDK4/6 amplification, PTEN loss or PIK3CA mutations, and wildtype retinoblastoma …

Use Of A Cystatin C-Based Gfr Equation In A Population Pharmacokinetic Model Of Methotrexate Clearance In Adult Patients With Lymphoma., Zachary L. Taylor, Erin F. Barreto, Kristin C. Cole, Andrew D. Rule, Kianoush B. Kashani, Nelson Leung, Carrie A. Thompson, Thomas E. Witzig, Laura Ramsey, Jason N. Barreto

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is a key treatment for lymphoma with central nervous system involvement. Whether incorporating cystatin C into glomerular filtration rate estimation improves methotrexate (MTX) clearance prediction remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate whether cystatin C-inclusive glomerular filtration rate equations improve MTX clearance prediction and to explore the relationship between MTX exposure and acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult patients with lymphoma receiving HDMTX.

METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study performed on 80 adult patients with lymphoma receiving HDMTX (1.5-8 g/m²) over a 4-h infusion. A population pharmacokinetic model was constructed using data from …

Brief Report: Long-Acting Injectable Prep Can Substantially Reduce Hiv Incidence In Los Angeles County: A Simulation Study, Aditya Khanna, Francis Lee, Katrina Schrode, Daniel Sheeler, Anna Hotton, John Schneider, Kayo Fujimoto, Siri Chirumamilla, Ekow Kwa Sey, Nina T Harawa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Although oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been instrumental in decreasing HIV incidence, its daily dosing regimen poses adherence challenges. Using an agent-based network model informed by empirical data, we simulate the impact of introducing long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in Los Angeles County, a group disproportionately affected by HIV.

Setting: Computer simulations using an agent-based network model.

Methods: We modeled HIV transmission among YBMSM over 10 years under scenarios varying the proportion of PrEP users opting for LAI instead of oral medications and adherence levels to LAI retention. The model …

Associations Of Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity Timing With Type 2 Diabetes Incidence In Uk Biobank And Prevalent Glycemic Measures In Nhanes, Qiuyu Feng, Gali Albalak, Linjun Ao, Qian Xiao, Heming Wang, Jeroen H P M Van Der Velde, Jessica C Kiefte-De Jong, Martin K Rutter, Charles E Matthews, Joshua R Freeman, Ko Willems Van Dijk, Diana Van Heemst, Raymond Noordam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: We assessed the association between timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic measures.

Research design and methods: Regression models were used to assess associations between accelerometer-derived MVPA timing and incident T2D in UK Biobank (UKB) (n = 84,528, prospective), prevalent diabetes, and glycemic measures in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 6,998, cross-sectional).

Results: In UKB, with early morning (0500-0959) MVPA as reference and before adjustment for total MVPA, "variable-timing" MVPA was associated with the lowest incident T2D risk; while after adjustment, afternoon-evening MVPA (1500-2400) showed the lowest …

Unilateral Online Ultrasound Stimulation Of Early Visual Cortex Suppresses Responses To Contralateral Visual Stimuli, Suraya Dunsford, Keith Murphy, Ema Darrieutort, Elsa Fouragnan, Giorgio Ganis

School of Psychology

INTRODUCTION: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) shows great promise for inducing neuroplastic changes that persist long after stimulation. Evidence of stimulation-locked (online) neural changes would enable the development of closed-loop application of TUS. However, such responses have been difficult to distinguish from coincident neural activity caused by auditory and somatosensory effects of TUS.

METHODS: To dissociate genuine online neuromodulatory effects from peripheral confounds, we leveraged the contralateral retinotopic organization of the early visual cortex in nineteen subjects. Using a hemifield visual stimulation paradigm combined with high-precision, functional MRI-guided TUS, we applied TUS to the left early visual cortex while participants viewed …

Impact Of Mutational Landscape And Burden On Rbc Transfusion Response In Patients With Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (Lr-Mds) In The Commands Study, Rami S Komrokji, Sheida Hayati, Manuel Ugidos, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Matteo Giovanni Della Porta, Amer M Zeidan, Valeria Santini, Uwe Platzbecker, Anita K Gandhi, Rajasekhar N V S Suragani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COMMANDS trial established luspatercept as a first‐line treatment for anemia in transfusion‐dependent lower‐risk (LR) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Here we report red blood cell (RBC) transfusion response analysis based on somatic mutations profile and disease risk for patients treated with luspatercept or epoetin alfa in the COMMANDS trial. Of 350 evaluable patients, 238 (68.0%) had MDS with multiple lineage dysplasia and ring sideroblasts (RS) according to World Health Organization 2016 criteria, and 320 (91.4%) had somatic mutations in ≥ 1 gene (median, 2) with median variant allele frequencies (VAF) of 2%–59%. Mutation profiles were similar in the treatment groups. Luspatercept …

Frontotemporal Network Interactions Causally Support Rapid Concreteness Judgments During Reading, Elliot Murphy, Oscar Woolnough, Cale W Morse, Xavier Scherschligt, Nitin Tandon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neurobiological models of conceptual processing have been limited in spatiotemporal resolution, and uncertainty remains about the causal role of specific regions in concept representation. We utilized intracranial recordings in human neurosurgical patients with epilepsy (n = 19) during a concreteness judgement paradigm of single word reading. Concrete concepts showed greater high-frequency activation across a frontal and ventrotemporal network, while greater activation for abstract words was found in lateral posterior middle temporal cortex. Intercortical communications, measured by high-frequency partial direct coherence, revealed bidirectional frontal and ventral plus lateral temporal interactions. Words occupying the middle range of the concreteness scale (e.g., "profit") …

Severe Renal Phenotype Across A Multigenerational Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (Tsc) Family, Elena Tuller, Joshua A Samuels, Hope Northrup, Kate Richardson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the formation of hamartomas in the brain, kidney, and heart, along with other complex clinical manifestations, including TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorder (TAND). Development of genotype-phenotype correlations within TSC can aid clinicians in providing prognostic data and improve clinical management. We present here a multigenerational family who has a pathogenic variant in TSC2 displaying a severe renal phenotype.

Methods: A 23-year-old Caucasian male (Patient 1) was determined to have a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of TSC at approximately 2 months of age. The nonsense pathogenic variant (c.1372C>T (p.Arg458*)) in …

Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio As A Prognostic Factor Of Survival Outcomes In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy, Pablo Llerena, Praneet C. Kaki, Kathryn Nunes, Eric Mastrolonardo, Kelly Bridgham, Annie Moroco, Hani Samarah, Mouadh Barbirou, David Baek, Chun Wang, Voichita Bar-Ad, David Cognetti, Joseph Curry, Jennifer M. Johnson, Hushan Yang, Larry A. Harshyne, Adam J. Luginbuhl

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a prognostic marker in cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), reflecting the link between inflammation and cancer immune response. This study examines NLR's prognostic value in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients receiving neoadjuvant ICI therapy, focusing on its potential as an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including three neoadjuvant trials: durvalumab ± metformin, nivolumab ± tadalafil, or nivolumab ± BMS-986205 from 2017 to 2022. Pre-treatment NLR was calculated using absolute neutrophil and absolute lymphocyte counts obtained before neoadjuvant …

Active Bone Marrow Dose Reconstruction In A Large-Scale Cohort Study Of Cancer Patients Treated With Photon Radiotherapy, Keith T Griffin, Kishan J Pithadia, Yeon Soo Yeom, Lior Braunstein, Kelly L Bolton, Lindsay M Morton, Choonsik Lee

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the dose-response relationship between external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and leukemia by reconstructing the mean active bone marrow (ABM) dose as part of the exposure assessment. However, no prior study has leveraged electronic medical records (EMR) to reconstruct ABM dose and dose-volume in an EBRT patient population.

PURPOSE: To support future studies on the relationship between radiation exposure and adverse health effects among EBRT patients, we demonstrate methods to retrospectively calculate ABM dose and dose-volume metrics in a large patient cohort using EMR.

METHODS: We retrieved complete EMR for 639 individuals (five pediatric and 634 adult) …

Impulsivity In Cerebellar Ataxia: An Online, Multidimensional Assessment, Brooke Chasalow, Yakov Flaumenhaft, Yael De Picciotto, Chi-Ying R Lin, Leila Montaser-Kouhsari, William Saban

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

While considered a motor control structure, the cerebellum contributes to non-motor functions, including impulsivity. However, whether it contributes to impulsivity in a domain-specific manner remains unknown. Studies on cerebellar ataxia (CA), a common model for cerebellar dysfunction, typically have small sample sizes, limiting robustness. In a multicenter cross-sectional study, we investigated the cerebellum's role in various forms of impulsivity by comparing large cohorts of CA to age- and education-matched neurotypical healthy (NH) controls. Additionally, to examine the ability to identify individuals with CA using impulsivity features alone, we developed supervised machine learning (ML) models. In experiment 1 (CA = 140, …

Predictive Validity Of The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-4 And Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Ii Severity Scale, Eric A Storch, Ryan J Mccarty, Maya Zehavi, Mahnoor Ahmad, Vanessa Zavala Cruz, Dayan Berrones, Josselyn S Muñoz, Diana Obando, Servando Rodriguez Barajas, Renee M Frederick, Jacey L Anderberg, Hannah C Moore, Marcos E Ochoa-Panaifo, Mayra C Martinez Mallen, Ogechi C Onyeka, Andrew D Wiese, Melisa N Sagarnaga, Joseph F Mcguire, Ygor Arzeno Ferrão, Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative For Ocd Genomics (Latino), Wayne K Goodman, James J Crowley, Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder Working Group (Gttoc)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Efficient and accurate screening tools are crucial for improving early identification and treatment outcomes among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of two OCD screening measures: the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-4 (OCI-4) and the Florida Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-II (FOCI-II) severity scale. The measures were administered in a large transnational sample of Spanish speaking Latin American adults (N = 1696) with elevated obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. Participants completed diagnostic interviews (MINI and Y-BOCS) and self-report assessments across 23 sites in 11 countries. Both measures significantly distinguished OCD from non-OCD cases, with the FOCI-II demonstrating somewhat better predictive performance (AUC = …

The Diagnostic Performance Of The Basic Versus The Detailed Telomere Flow Fish Test In Young Patients With Aplastic Anaemia, Nicholas F Decleene, Duc T Nguyen, Susan E Kirk, Hannah L Helber, Ghadir S Sasa, Alison A Bertuch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Identifying telomere biology disorders (TBDs) in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA) is essential for guiding appropriate care. Telomere length (TL) measurement by flow cytometry with fluorescence in situ hybridization supports diagnosis, but the real-world performance of the basic test (lymphocytes and granulocytes) versus the detailed test (which includes four lymphocyte subsets) remains unclear. We retrospectively reviewed 439 patients who underwent detailed TL testing at our institution from 2008 to 2022. Haematological disease was present in 87%, with AA comprising 56%. We classified 23 subjects with TBD independently of TL, only one of whom had severe AA (SAA) at initial presentation. …

Segmental And Multifocal Isolated Dystonias: Similarities And Differences, Hyder A Jinnah, Vittorio Velucci, Daniele Belvisi, Gamze Kilic-Berkmen, Joel S Perlmutter, Laura J Wright, Christine Klein, Jeanne S Feuerstein, Steven Bellows, Joseph Jankovic, Cynthia Comella, Richard L Barbano, Aparna Wagle Shukla, Stephen G Reich, Mark S Ledoux, Alberto J Espay, Kevin R Duque, Florence C F Chang, Victor S C Fung, Sarah Pirio-Richardson, Carmen Terranova, Emile S Moukheiber, Sarah Idrissi, Barbara Vitucci, Susan H Fox, Samuel Frank, Natividad Stover, Brian D Berman, Rachel Saunders-Pullman, William G Ondo, Christopher L Groth, Marcello Esposito, Laura Avanzino, Francesco Bono, Roberto Erro, Marcello Mario Mascia, Antonella Muroni, Alfredo Berardelli, Giovanni Defazio

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Whether the traditional distinction between segmental and multifocal dystonia is clinically or scientifically useful remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate whether idiopathic isolated adult-onset segmental and multifocal dystonia can be differentiated based on clinical features other than the contiguity of affected body regions.

Methods: We compared data on segmental and multifocal dystonia from two large dystonia databases established in the USA and Italy that used similar criteria for patient recruitment and assessment.

Results: Compared to segmental dystonia, multifocal dystonia was characterized by a higher proportion of men, a younger age at dystonia onset, a greater frequency of upper limb dystonia, …

Segmental Tracheal Resection For Thyroid Cancer: Perioperative Morbidity, Locoregional Control, And Survival, Anastasios Maniakas, David C Wilde, Isabelle Fournier, Emily K Hyde, Li Xu, Jennifer R Wang, Neil D Gross, Erich M Sturgis, Victoria Banuchi, Naifa L Busaidy, Maria E Cabanillas, Priyanka Iyer, Ramona Dadu, Steven G Waguespack, Mimi I Hu, G Brandon Gunn, Michael Kwon, Salmaan Ahmed, Michelle D Williams, Mark E Zafereo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Segmental tracheal resection is rarely needed for advanced thyroid cancer but is among the most complex, high-risk thyroid surgeries.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients undergoing segmental tracheal resection for thyroid cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center (2005-2024).

Results: We identified 120 patients with a median follow-up of 4.6 years (range 0.02-16.38). Papillary thyroid cancer was most common (68%). The median number of tracheal rings resected was 4 (range 1-9). Seventeen (14%) patients had a new tracheostomy placed at the time of surgery, with 11 (9%) remaining trach-dependent at last follow-up. Twenty-six (22%) patients had a return to the operating …

Dose-Dependent Ifn Programs In Myeloid Cells After Mrna And Adenovirus Covid-19 Vaccination., Giray N Eryilmaz, Yilmaz Yucehan Yazici, Radu Marches, Eleni P Mimitou, Lisa Kenyon-Pesce, Kim Handrejk, Sonia Jangra, Michael Schotsaert, Adolfo García-Sastre, George A Kuchel, Jacques Banchereau, Duygu Ucar

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provided a rare opportunity to study how human immune responses develop to a novel viral antigen delivered through different vaccine platforms. However, to date, no study has directly compared immune responses to all 3 FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines at single-cell multiomic resolution.

METHODS. We longitudinally profiled SARS-CoV-2–naive adults (n = 31) vaccinated with BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or Ad26.COV2.S, integrating plasma cytokines, antibody titers, and single-cell multiomic data (DOGMA-Seq).

RESULTS. We discovered a distinct, transient IFN program termed ISG-dim, which emerged specifically 1–2 days after the first mRNA dose in approximately 10% of myeloid cells. This state was …

Dose-Dependent Ifn Programs In Myeloid Cells After Mrna And Adenovirus Covid-19 Vaccination., Giray N Eryilmaz, Yilmaz Yucehan Yazici, Radu Marches, Eleni P Mimitou, Lisa Kenyon-Pesce, Kim Handrejk, Sonia Jangra, Michael Schotsaert, Adolfo García-Sastre, George A Kuchel, Jacques Banchereau, Duygu Ucar

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provided a rare opportunity to study how human immune responses develop to a novel viral antigen delivered through different vaccine platforms. However, to date, no study has directly compared immune responses to all 3 FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines at single-cell multiomic resolution.METHODSWe longitudinally profiled SARS-CoV-2-naive adults (n = 31) vaccinated with BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or Ad26.COV2.S, integrating plasma cytokines, antibody titers, and single-cell multiomic data (DOGMA-Seq).RESULTSWe discovered a distinct, transient IFN program termed ISG-dim, which emerged specifically 1-2 days after the first mRNA dose in approximately 10% of myeloid cells. This state was characterized by ISGF3 complex activation and …