Digital Commons Network^™

Longer Scans Boost Prediction And Cut Costs In Brain-Wide Association Studies, Leon Qi Rong Ooi, Scott Marek, Nico U F Dosenbach, Timothy O Laumann, Evan M Gordon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

A pervasive dilemma in brain-wide association studies

Comparing Machine Learning Techniques For Neonatal Mortality Prediction: Insights From A Modeling Competition, Brynne A Sullivan, Alvaro G Moreira, Ryan M Mcadams, Lindsey A Knake, Ameena Husain, Jiaxing Qiu, Avinash Mudireddy, Abrar Majeedi, Wissam Shalish, Douglas E Lake, Zachary A Vesoulis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Predicting mortality risk in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is challenging due to complex, variable clinical and physiological data. Machine learning (ML) offers potential for more accurate risk stratification.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of various ML models in predicting NICU mortality using a team-based modeling competition.

METHODS: We conducted a modeling competition with five neonatologist-led teams applying ML techniques-logistic regression, CatBoost, neural networks, random forest, and XGBoost-to a shared dataset from over 6,000 NICU admissions. The dataset included static demographic and clinical variables, alongside daily samples of heart rate and oxygen saturation. Each team developed models to predict …

Autism And Intellectual Disability Due To A Novel Gain-Of-Function Mutation In Ube3a, Anna M Gunelson, Kwang-Soo Kim, Connolly G Steigerwald, Devorah Segal, Nicolas J Abreu, Jason J Yi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The loss of maternal UBE3A causes Angelman syndrome whereas its duplication is associated with a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Here, we describe two affected brothers who possess a novel UBE3A

Building Capacity And Equity In Implementation Science: Evaluation Of A National Mentored Training Program, Ross C Brownson, Shelly J Kannuthurai, Rebekah R Jacob, Leopoldo J Cabassa, Lisa M Klesges, Rachel G Tabak, Debra Haire-Joshu, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: As implementation science evolves, it is essential to expand training capacity to build intellectual capital continually. The demand for training in implementation science far outstrips the current supply. This paper presents the methods and findings from the Institute for Implementation Science Scholars (IS-2) national training program (2020-2024).

METHODS: The IS-2 was a US-based, two-year training program that provided mentored training for early- and mid-career researchers interested in applying implementation science principles to reduce the burden of chronic disease disparities. Scholars attended two annual, 2.5-day intensive training sessions, received ongoing remote and in-person mentoring, and were supported by other activities …

Sex-Related Measurement Bias In Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms In The Baby Siblings Research Consortium, Catherine A Burrows, Natasha Marrus, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Disparities exist in age of diagnosis and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for female compared with male children. Correcting for sources of bias is critical for improving equitable ASD identification.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sex differences exist in measurement of ASD symptoms using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) among young children at high familial likelihood (HFL) and low familial likelihood (LFL) of ASD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study collected longitudinal, prospective data from the Baby Siblings Research Consortium between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2021. Participants included 3106 children who had an older sibling …

Screening Programmes And Breast Cancer Mortality: An Observational Study Of 194 Countries, Syed Mahfuz Al Hasan, Debbie L Bennett, Adetunji T Toriola

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between national breast cancer screening programmes and breast cancer mortality globally.

METHODS: We collected data on breast cancer screening programmes and breast cancer mortality from the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory, the Global Burden of Diseases 2021 study and the Eurostat database. We assessed differences in breast cancer mortality between countries with regular and irregular screening programmes, adjusting for sociodemographic index. We calculated annual changes in breast cancer mortality from 2015 to 2021 and assessed differences in mortality changes between countries with regular and irregular screening programmes.

FINDINGS: Between 2015 and 2021, 94 of …

Implementation Outcomes Of A Patient Decision-Aid In A Diverse Population With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In 15 Us Rheumatology Clinics, Jasvinder A Singh, Seth Eisen, Alfred Kim, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes during the implementation of a self-administered patient decision-aid (PtDA) for lupus.

METHODS: We provided an effective computerized lupus PtDA in 15 rheumatology outpatient clinics 2019-2024 (including the COVID pandemic). We undertook Organizational Readiness to Implement Change Surveys (ORICs) and Team Learning and Psychological Safety Surveys (TLPSSs) at baseline. The primary study outcome objective measure, percent penetration/reach, was defined as the number of patients who viewed the lupus PtDA at the end of the study, divided by the total number of eligible patients (times 100). We used validated clinical …

Disruption Of The Cerebrospinal Fluid-Plasma Protein Balance In Cognitive Impairment And Aging, Amelia Farinas, Daniel Western, Jigyasha Timsina, Carlos Cruchaga, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The brain barrier system, including the choroid plexus, meninges and brain vasculature, regulates substrate transport and maintains differential protein concentrations between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Aging and neurodegeneration disrupt brain barrier function, but proteomic studies of the effects on blood-CSF protein balance are limited. Here we used SomaScan proteomics to characterize paired CSF and plasma samples from 2,171 healthy or cognitively impaired older individuals from multiple cohorts, including the Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium. We identified proteins with correlated CSF and plasma levels that are produced primarily outside the brain and are enriched for structural domains that may enable their …

Combination Effect Of Finerenone And Empagliflozin In Participants With Chronic Kidney Disease And Type 2 Diabetes Using A Uacr Endpoint (Confidence) Trial: Baseline Clinical Characteristics, Rajiv Agarwal, Janet B Mcgill, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Finerenone, a selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) both reduce chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and improve kidney/cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. The CONFIDENCE (COmbinatioN effect of FInerenone anD EmpaglifloziN in participants with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes using a UACR Endpoint) study (NCT05254002; EudraCT 2021-003037-11) hypothesis is that early combination of finerenone and empagliflozin, an SGLT2i, is superior to either drug alone in reducing urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) over 6 months.

METHODS: CONFIDENCE is an ongoing, fully enrolled, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicentre phase 2 clinical trial in adults (≥18 years of age) with …

Tau Pet Positivity In Individuals With And Without Cognitive Impairment Varies With Age, Amyloid-Β Status, Apoe Genotype And Sex, Rik Ossenkoppele, Tammy L S Benzinger, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging allows in vivo detection of tau proteinopathy in Alzheimer's disease, which is associated with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Understanding how demographic, clinical and genetic factors relate to tau PET positivity will facilitate its use for clinical practice and research. Here we conducted an analysis of 42 cohorts worldwide (N = 12,048), including 7,394 cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants, 2,177 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 2,477 participants with dementia. We found that from age 60 years to 80 years, tau PET positivity in a temporal composite region increased from 1.1% to 4.4% among CU …

Human Thalamocortical Structural Connectivity Develops In Line With A Hierarchical Axis Of Cortical Plasticity, Valerie J Sydnor, Deanna M Barch, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Human cortical development follows a hierarchical, sensorimotor-to-association sequence. The brain's capacity to enact this sequence indicates that it relies on unknown mechanisms to regulate regional differences in the timing of cortical maturation. Given evidence from animal systems that thalamic axons mechanistically regulate periods of cortical plasticity, here we evaluate in humans whether the development of structural connections between the thalamus and cortex aligns with cortical maturational heterochronicity. By deriving a new tractography atlas of human thalamic connections and applying it to diffusion data from three youth samples (8-23 years; total n = 2,676), we demonstrate that thalamocortical connectivity matures in …

Do Risk Factors For Hcc Impact The Association Of Ct/Mri Lirads Major Features With Hcc? An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Robert G Adamo, Daniel R Ludwig, Tyler J Fraum, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Barriers And Facilitators To Accessing Healthcare For People With Parkinson's Disease In Latin America: A Qualitative Study, Christine Jeyachandran, Catherine Spooner, Ana Margarita Rodriguez Salgado, Matthew Prina, Joel Rhee, Jorge Jesus Llibre-Guerra, Dani Kim, Juan J Llibre-Rodriguez, Mark F Harris

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIMS: The aim of the study was to identify the barriers and facilitators to healthcare access for people with Parkinson's disease (PWP) in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries (LAC) in Central and South America, to understand their drivers and consider the implications for health systems in LAC.

METHODS: Four online semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 25 PWP who provide education and/or support to PWP. The study was designed and implemented by a person with lived experience of PD. Data were mapped to an existing model of access to healthcare that incorporates provider and consumer abilities.

FINDINGS: There were multiple provider …

Domains Of Housing Instability And Intimate Partner Violence Risk Among U.S. Tenants, Anairany Zapata, Leila G Wood, Annalynn M Galvin, Wenyaw Chan, Timothy A Thomas, Jack Tsai, Heather K Way, Elizabeth J Mueller, Daphne C Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

While IPV is often studied as a predictor of housing insecurity, few U.S. studies explore how different forms of housing instability may contribute to intimate partner violence (IPV) risk. Using a mixed-methods approach and a cross-sectional design, this study examined the association between four housing instability domains and IPV among a sample of tenants that had either experienced eviction or were at high risk for eviction. Tenants in Harris and Travis counties (Texas, USA) completed an online survey (n = 1085; March–July 2024). Housing instability was assessed across four domains: homelessness, lease violations, utility hardship, and poor housing quality. …

Optimal Treatment Duration In Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Responding To Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Should We Treat Beyond Two Years?, Alexander Decruyenaere, Gennigens Christine, Rottey Sylvie, Laenen Annouschka, Emmanuel Seront, Els Everaert, Philip R Debruyne, Heidi Van Den Bulck, Julie Bastin, Verbiest Annelies, Christof Vulsteke, Peter Schatteman, Daisy Luyten, Sandrine Aspeslagh, Nieves Martinez-Chanza, Marlies De Bock, Thomas Meyskens, Jolanda Verheezen, Barbara Brouwers, Benoit Beuselinck

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Optimal treatment duration is unknown in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs). Prolonged treatment can lead to late toxicity, burden for day clinics and financial impact.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study included mRCC patients responding to ipilimumab/nivolumab in first-line or nivolumab in later lines, who were treated for at least 21 months and did not stop for toxicity. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were modeled non- and semi-parametrically. The effect of elective ICPI discontinuation (i.e. treatment interruption at the clinician's discretion) between 21 and 25 …

Retrotransposon Methylation Profiles And Survival In Black Women With High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma., Christelle Colin-Leitzinger, Katherine A. Lawson-Michod, Courtney E. Johnson, Irma M. Vlasac, Sean Yoder, Tania Mesa, Dana Roeber, Chad Huff, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Kristin Haller, Anthony J. Alberg, Elisa V. Bandera, Melissa Bondy, Michele L. Cote, Theresa Hastert, Edward S. Peters, Paul D. Terry, Andrew B. Lawson, Andrew Berchuck, Brooke L. Fridley, Jing-Yi Chern, Jennifer A. Doherty, Jeffrey R. Marks, Joellen M. Schildkraut, Brock C. Christensen, Lucas A. Salas, Lauren C. Peres

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Retrotransposons (REs) constitute nearly half of the genome and include long terminal repeat (LTR) elements, Long INterspersed Elements (LINE), and Short INterspersed Elements (SINE). REs are typically silenced in somatic tissues via DNA methylation but can be reactivated through DNA hypomethylation, potentially impacting gene regulation. Here, we investigate genome-scale profiles of RE methylation in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and associations with survival among Black women.

METHODS: Methylation levels of LTR, LINE-1, and Alu (type of SINE) in 200 HGSOC tumors were predicted using a random forest approach and clustered using multiple consensus algorithms. Associations between RE methylation clusters …

Retrotransposon Methylation Profiles And Survival In Black Women With High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma, Christelle Colin-Leitzinger, Katherine A Lawson-Michod, Courtney E Johnson, Irma M Vlasac, Sean Yoder, Tania Mesa, Dana Roeber, Chad Huff, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Kristin Haller, Anthony J Alberg, Elisa V Bandera, Melissa Bondy, Michele L Cote, Theresa Hastert, Edward S Peters, Paul D Terry, Andrew B Lawson, Andrew Berchuck, Brooke L Fridley, Jing-Yi Chern, Jennifer A Doherty, Jeffrey R Marks, Joellen M Schildkraut, Brock C Christensen, Lucas A Salas, Lauren C Peres

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Retrotransposons (REs) constitute nearly half of the genome and include long terminal repeat (LTR) elements, Long INterspersed Elements (LINE), and Short INterspersed Elements (SINE). REs are typically silenced in somatic tissues via DNA methylation but can be reactivated through DNA hypomethylation, potentially impacting gene regulation. Here, we investigate genome-scale profiles of RE methylation in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and associations with survival among Black women.

Methods: Methylation levels of LTR, LINE-1, and Alu (type of SINE) in 200 HGSOC tumors were predicted using a random forest approach and clustered using multiple consensus algorithms. Associations between RE methylation clusters …

Long-Term Testosterone Pellet Insertion In Women With Low Libido Shows No Evidence Of Erythrocytosis And A Minimal Side Effect Profile, Beatriz S Hernandez, Gal Saffati, Katherine A Lowrey, Amit Reddy, Bridget S Park, Jeffrey J Song, Gabrielle Lyon, Mohit Khera

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Testosterone therapy for low libido in women has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. While numerous testosterone formulations exist and have been studied in women, there has been little data assessing the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous testosterone pellet use in this population. The primary objective of this study is to understand the biochemical effects and side effect profile of female patients who underwent testosterone pellet insertion in a clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of female patients who underwent testosterone pellet insertion from 2009 to 2022 was undertaken. Women taking 75 and 100 mg testosterone pellets were …

Efficacy And Safety Of Dapagliflozin In Patients Hospitalized With Covid-19 With And Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Prespecified Analysis Of The Dare-19 Randomized Trial, Mohammad Abdel Jawad, Ali Javaheri, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Although several previous studies tested SGLT2 inhibitors in the setting of an acute, non-cardiovascular illness, detailed information on their efficacy and safety among participants with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) from double-blind randomized trials is lacking. In this secondary prespecified analysis of the Dapagliflozin in Respiratory Failure in Patients with COVID-19 (DARE-19) trial, we sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of initiating dapagliflozin during acute illness with COVID-19 in patients with and without T2D.

METHODS: The DARE-19 trial randomized 1250 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and cardiometabolic risk factors to dapagliflozin or placebo. T2D was present in 636/1250 …

Effects Of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy On Hearing In Patients With Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Bryce Hambach, Anhelina Bilokon, John Lee, L. Noelle Allemang, Jennifer Chisholm, Chris K. Zalewski, Julie Christensen, Carmen C. Brewer, James L. Gulley, Clint T. Allen, Lisa L. Cunningham, Katharine A. Fernandez

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a commonly used treatment modality for cancer with a growing list of oncologic indications. Ototoxicity is a potential immune-related adverse event of ICB treatment, but the risk of hearing loss after ICB remains unknown. This retrospective chart review sought to identify individuals who received ICB and had available audiometric data before and after treatment in order to identify clinically meaningful changes in hearing. This single center, institutional chart review examined hearing function data in patients who underwent audiometry before and after ICB treatment. Measures included pure tone thresholds, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), tympanometry, and …

Refinement Of Hyams Grading Criteria For Olfactory Neuroblastoma In An Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Predominant Cohort With Extended Follow-Up: Worth The Effort?, Stacey Gargano, Vincent Cracolici, Carl Snyderman, Eric Wang, Garret Choby, Aron Pollack, Paul Gardner, Diana Bell, Raja Seethala

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hyams grading is considered prognostic in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), but grading criteria are subjective and predate modern classification and surgical approach. We evaluate the application of granular grading criteria to an endoscopic surgery predominant cohort with extended follow-up.

METHODS: 78 ONB patients were identified (1994-2019) with original diagnoses dating to 1979. Original Hyams grade, Modified Hyams grade incorporating more detailed criteria and other histologic features (i.e. divergent differentiation, clear cell/oncocytic change, and spindling) were assessed if feasible, evaluated for distribution by grade and correlated with outcomes.

RESULTS: Original Hyams grade (n = 43) distribution was: I: 4 (9%), II: …

Elevated Nr2f1 Underlies The Persistence Of Invasive Disease After Treatment Of Braf-Mutant Melanoma, Manoela Tiago, Timothy J. Purwin, Casey D. Stefanski, Renaira Oliveira Da Silva, Mitchell E. Fane, Yash Chhabra, Jelan I. Haj, Jessica L. F. Teh, Rama Kadamb, Weijia Cai, Sheera Rosenbaum, Vivian Chua, Nir Hacohen, Michael A. Davies, Jessie Villanueva, Inna Chervoneva, Ashani T. Weeraratna, Dan A. Erkes, Claudia Capparelli, Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, Andrew E. Aplin

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite the success of targeted inhibitors in cutaneous melanoma, therapeutic responses are limited by the aged tumor microenvironment and drug-tolerant residual cells. Given the similarities between drug tolerance and cellular dormancy, we studied the dormancy marker, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1), in response to BRAF-V600E inhibitors (BRAFi) plus MEK inhibitors (MEKi) in BRAF-mutant melanoma models. Transcriptomic analysis of melanoma patient samples treated with BRAFi + MEKi showed increased NR2F1. NR2F1 was highly expressed in the drug-tolerant invasive cell state of minimal residual disease in patient-derived and mouse-derived xenografts on BRAFi + MEKi. NR2F1 over-expression was sufficient …

Epigenomic Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia., Francisco Marchi, Vivek M. Shastri, Richard J. Marrero, Nam H K Nguyen, Antonella Öttl, Ann-Kathrin Schade, Marieke Landwehr, Olga Krali, Jessica Nordlund, Matin Ghavami, Fernando Sckaff, Vikash K. Mansinghka, Xueyuan Cao, William Slayton, Petr Starostik, Christopher R. Cogle, Raul C. Ribeiro, Jeffrey E. Rubnitz, Jeffery Klco, Abdelrahman Elsayed, Alan S. Gamis, Timothy J. Triche, Rhonda Ries, E Anders Kolb, Richard Aplenc, Todd Alonzo, Stanley Pounds, Soheil Meshinchi, Jatinder K. Lamba

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Despite the critical role of DNA methylation, clinical implementations harnessing its promise have not been described in acute myeloid leukemia. Utilizing DNA methylation from 3314 leukemia patient samples across 11 harmonized cohorts, we describe the Acute Leukemia Methylome Atlas, which includes robust models capable of accurately predicting AML subtypes. A genome-wide prognostic model as well as a targeted panel of 38 CpGs significantly predict five-year survival in our pediatric and adult test cohorts. To accelerate rapid clinical utility, we develop a specimen-to-result protocol that uses long-read nanopore sequencing and machine learning to characterize patients' whole genomes and epigenomes. Clinical validation …

A Data Assimilation Framework For Predicting The Spatiotemporal Response Of High-Grade Gliomas To Chemoradiation, Hugo J M Miniere, David A Hormuth, Ernesto A B F Lima, Maguy Farhat, Bikash Panthi, Holly Langshaw, Mihir D Shanker, Wasif Talpur, Sara Thrower, Jodi Goldman, Sophia Ty, Caroline Chung, Thomas E Yankeelov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: High-grade gliomas are highly invasive and respond variably to chemoradiation. Accurate, patient-specific predictions of tumor response could enhance treatment planning. We present a novel computational platform that assimilates MRI data to continually predict spatiotemporal tumor changes during chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Tumor growth and response to chemoradiation was described using a two-species reaction-diffusion model of enhancing and non-enhancing regions of the tumor. Two evaluation scenarios were used to test the predictive accuracy of this model. In scenario 1, the model was calibrated on a patient-specific basis (n = 21) to weekly MRI data during the course of chemoradiotherapy. A data assimilation …

Neighborhood Environment And Incident Diabetes, A Neighborhood Environment-Wide Association Study ('Ne-Was'): Results From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos (Hchs/Sol)., Cara M. Smith, Elizabeth W. Spalt, Linda C. Gallo, Jordan A. Carlson, Matthew Allison, Daniela Sotres-Alvarez, Christina Cordero, Qibin Qi, Earle C. Chambers, Martha Daviglus, Amber Pirzada, Gregory A. Talavera, Robert Kaplan, Joel D. Kaufman, Stephen J. Mooney

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing among the Hispanic/Latino population. Type 2 diabetes incidence rates vary between neighborhoods, but no single aspect of the neighborhood environment is known to cause type 2 diabetes. Using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos cohort of 16,415 Hispanic/Latino adults in four major US cities, we conducted a neighborhood environment-wide association study to identify neighborhood measures or clusters of measures associated with diabetes incidence. Two-hundred and four neighborhood measures were calculated at the census tract level or within a 1-km buffer of participants' residential addresses. Independent covariate-adjusted and survey-weighted Poisson …

Effects Of The Gut Microbiota On Placental Angiogenesis And Intrauterine Growth In Gnotobiotic Mice, Reyan Coskun, Zenan L Chang, Athziri Marcial Rodríguez, Haoxin Liu, Jiye Cheng, Yael Alippe, Michael S Diamond, Jeffrey I Gordon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Environmental causes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remain poorly characterized. Here, we compare germ-free (GF) and conventionally raised (CONV-R) mice to assess the effects of the gut microbiota on placental/fetal development at embryonic day (E)11.5 (end of placentation) and E17.5 (near term). Pregnancy- and microbiota-associated changes in gene expression occur along the gut, including those related to angiogenesis, while bacterial composition and fermentation activity remain stable. Placental weights at E11.5 and fetal weights at E17.5 are significantly reduced in GF animals. Compared to CONV-R dams, the GF maternal decidua exhibits similar vascular histomorphometric features at E11.5 and E17.5, and numbers …

Do Gender-Related Characteristics Impact Female Faculty Career Progression In Academic Doctor Of Physical Therapy Programs?, Bridget Eubanks

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study explored the experiences of female faculty in academic Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs in the US and if gender, or more specifically any gender-related characteristics such as pregnancy or motherhood, impacts female faculty career progression. Evidence has demonstrated that several challenges disproportionately affect women in academia, but there is currently no research available related to female faculty experiences in academic DPT programs. Methods: This study used a qualitative research design with a descriptive statistics component. It utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional design with a nonexperimental survey methodology. The Culture Conducive to Women’s Academic Success instrument was used …

Use Of A Shoulder-Mounted Wearable Sensor Prototype Designed To Detect Opioid-Related Overdose: A Qualitative User Experience Study, Alexis M. Roth, Ally K. D'Angelo, David Gordon, Benjamin Cocchiaro, Anush Lingamoorthy, Rose Laurano, Matthew Salzman, Jacob S. Brenner, Cameron Baston

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: For over a decade, drug overdose has been the leading cause of injury and accidental death in the United States. Most fatal overdoses involve opioids and occur during solitary drug use events when no one is available to initiate lifesaving responses (eg, naloxone). While there is a growing interest in devices providing early overdose detection and automated responses, little research has engaged end users in a device design process.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe user experience, perceived harms and benefits, and the acceptability of a shoulder-mounted wearable sensor among people who inject drugs who wore a device prototype …

Use Of Cholic Acid In Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (Slos): Real-World Patient Outcomes, Edwin Ferren, Paul R Hillman, Amy Kritzer, Joseph Ray, Alvaro Serrano, Hope Northrup, Paige Roberts, Rana Dutta, Tiziano Pramparo, Pamela Vig, Robert D Steiner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive disorder of cholesterol biosynthesis caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in DHCR7, which encodes the enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7). SLOS is a multisystemic disorder affecting various aspects of health, including growth, development, behavior, and quality of life, underscoring the need for safe, efficacious interventions that limit disease burden. DHCR7 enzyme deficiency leads to a "metabolic block" resulting in decreased cholesterol production and accumulation of its precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol and the secondary isomer 8-dehydrocholesterol. Reduced cholesterol synthesis, in turn, leads to decreased levels of cholic acid (CA), an endogenous bile acid synthesized from cholesterol and …

Melanoma Antigens In Pediatric Medulloblastoma Contribute To Tumor Heterogeneity And Species-Specificity Of Group 3 Tumors, Rebecca R J Collins, Rebecca R Florke Gee, Sima Tozandehjani, Tara Bayat, Maria Camila Hoyos Sanchez, Juan Sebastian Solano Gutierrez, Barbara Breznik, Anna K Lee, Samuel T Peters, Jon P Connelly, Shondra M Pruett-Miller, Martine F Roussel, Dinesh Rakheja, Heather S Tillman, Patrick Ryan Potts, Klementina Fon Tacer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most malignant childhood brain cancer. Group 3 MB (G3 MB) subtype accounts for about 25% of MB and is associated with the worst outcomes. Herein, we report that more than half of G3 MB tumors express melanoma antigens (MAGEs), which are potential prognostic and therapeutic markers. MAGEs are cancer-testis antigens, aberrantly expressed in several adult cancers, and associated with poorer prognosis and therapy resistance; however, their role in pediatric cancers is mostly unknown. This study aimed to determine whether MAGEs are activated and important in pediatric MB. We obtained formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples of 34 patients, …