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Using Randomization To Compare Ai And Expert-Generated Formative Assessment Questions In Medical Education, Akshat Kumar, Katie Stinson, Litao Wang, Elizabeth Nugent, Yongsu Lee, Mark Hormann, Latanya Jones Love, Toufeeq Ahmed Syed

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: AI-generated content is being used across the education spectrum and is beneficial for creating complex multiple-choice questions, such as those used in medical education. However, evaluating AI-generated content is challenging, and existing testing and evaluation methods are falling short. This study uses randomization to compare medical students' performance on and subjective evaluation of AI versus expert-generated questions. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in student performance or subjective evaluation of AI vs expert-generated questions.

Methods: We designed a single-center, randomized study where medical student participants received either one AI- or expert-generated question per day over four weeks. …

Steroid Receptor Coactivator 3-Deficient Regulatory T Cells Eradicate Multiple Solid Tumors In Syngeneic Mouse Models, Nuri Sung, Eunsu Kim, Yosef Gilad, Yuri Park, Adam M Dean, Yan Xia, Jianming Xu, Clifford C Dacso, David M Lonard, Sang Jun Han

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is highly expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and is important for their immunosuppressive activity. Recently, we demonstrated that disrupting SRC-3 expression in Tregs eliminates triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer in syngeneic animal models by generating an anti-tumor immune microenvironment without inducing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Further analysis of these mice revealed that SRC-3 knockout (KO) Tregs infiltrated breast tumors and facilitated the infiltration of CD8

Understanding Chatbot-Assisted Collaborative Learning Among Female Undergraduate Students, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Ahmed Shuhaiber, Sinan Salman, Nazik Alturki

All Works

Computer programming can be daunting for beginners due to complex concepts and syntax. Traditional teaching methods, while engaging through gamification and active learning, often lack personalized approaches. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), present new possibilities for personalized and interactive learning environments. This study introduces a chatbot-assisted collaborative learning environment (CCLE) that leverages an LLM (GPT-4) to enhance collaborative programming education. The CCLE enables real-time guidance and collaboration through natural language interactions, allowing students to work together on programming tasks, edit code collaboratively, and engage with both peers and the educational chatbot. We conducted an …

Impact Of School Nurse Education On Factors Influencing Hpv Vaccine Communication With Parents, Jihye Choi, Efrat K Gabay, Jeanette Deason, Elizabeth Baumler, Diane Santa Maria, Daisy Mullassery, Lara S Savas, Erika Thompson, Sanghamitra M Misra, Paula M Cuccaro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause six cancer types but can be prevented with timely vaccination in early adolescence. However, despite the wide availability of the HPV vaccine, uptake remains suboptimal among US adolescents. School nurses are invaluable resources to students and their families regarding adolescent immunization needs. As part of the All for Them vaccination program, we assessed the impact of the continued nurse education (CNE) intervention on school nurses’ HPV vaccine communication with parents. Seventy-two school nurses and nurse administrators in Texas participated in the study. Using a single-arm study design, we measured participants’ potential barriers to and self-efficacy …

In-Hospital Mortality Patterns And Readmissions In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis Of The Role Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Saad Afzal Khan, Trishna Parikh, Adishwar Rao, Akriti Agrawal, Aarohi Parikh, Farah Kazzaz, Sarah Shin, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Maulin Patel, Kha Dinh, Bela Patel, Bindu Akkanti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to understand the impact of PH on in-hospital mortality and quantify the 30-day readmission rate among patients with COPD. For this cross-sectional study, we used the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2017-2020 to identify adults ≥18 years with COPD. Patients were stratified according to PH diagnosis. Baseline characteristics between groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test and two-sample t-test. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics and confounders. The 30-day readmission rate and prevalence of PH subgroups by baseline …

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Variability In Prediction Of Target Organ Injury: The Ship Ahoy Study, Coral D Hanevold, Jang Dong Seo, Stephen R Daniels, Bonita E Falkner, Michael A Ferguson, Joseph T Flynn, Julie R Ingelfinger, Philip R Khoury, Marc B Lande, Kevin E Meyers, Mark Mitsnefes, Joshua Samuels, Elaine M Urbina

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Ambulatory hypertension is associated with elevated left ventricular mass index (LVMI), cardiac dysfunction, and increased arterial stiffness in adolescents. Whether the addition of measures of BP variability improves the prediction of subclinical cardiovascular target organ damage (TOD) over mean BP measures is not known.

Methods: We assessed clinic and ambulatory BP (ABP), anthropometrics, and TOD in 397 adolescents. ABP means standard deviation (SD), BP, and heart rate (HR) dipping were calculated; coefficients of variability (CV) were calculated (SD/mean) to assess ABP variabilities. Measures of TOD included LVMI, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), LV systolic shortening, LV diastolic function (e'/a'), and …

Emotional Urgency And Lack Of Perseverance Are Linked To Anxiety Sensitivity And Improve During Early Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder., Breanna A. Mcnaughton-Long, Abigail J. Pleiman, Carmen Buchfink, Chrysantha B. Davis, Rayus Kuplicki, Martin P. Paulus, Hung-Wen Yeh, Maëlle C M Gueguen, Jennifer L. Stewart

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Few studies have identified how facets of impulsivity relate to recovery in opioid use disorder (OUD). Treatment-enrolled individuals with OUD (n = 167) and healthy controls (CTL; n = 46) completed the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency (UPPS-P) Impulsive Behavior Scale along with demographic and clinical measures at visit 1. Over the next three months, abstinence and return to use were documented for participants with OUD (via self-report, alcohol breathalyzer, urine drug screen, and secondary contact communication). Participants with OUD who returned to use (n = 59) did not complete further study visits, whereas those who remained abstinent …

Support For Human And Civil Rights In Physical Disability, Mental Illness, And Substance Use Disorder, Jessica Williams, Mia Kouveliotes, Nev Jones, Morgan C Shields

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: While there is much research on stigma toward marginalized populations, public perceptions regarding deservingness of basic human and civil rights of these groups have not been examined in a nationwide sample of US adults.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the US public's perceptions regarding deservingness of basic human and contested civil rights for people with severe physical disabilities (SPDs), severe mental illness (SMI), and substance use disorders (SUDs).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was a nationwide US internet-based quota panel survey of US adults (aged ≥18 years) who completed the survey. Responses were collected from January 17 to February …

The Epidemiology Of Kidney And Urinary Tract Infections In Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease: Prevalence, Risk Factors And Association With Gfr Decline In The Chronic Kidney Disease In Children Study., Derek K. Ng, Andrea R. Molino, Siyao Zhang, Emily J. Stonebrook, Craig S. Wong, Pratyush Gyawali, Kimberly J. Reidy, Susan L. Furth, Bradley A. Warady, Jeffrey J. Fadrowski, Ckid Study Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract and kidney infections are potential complications in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially among patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). We characterized the prevalence of self-reported infections from childhood through young adulthood; evaluated risk factors; and quantified the association with CKD progression.

METHODS: Infections in the past year were self-reported at annual Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study visits. Age-specific infection prevalences were stratified by sex and CKD diagnoses (glomerular, non-glomerular non-CAKUT, CAKUT low-risk for infections, and three CAKUT high-risk categories: reflux nephropathy, obstructive uropathy, and other high-risk). Repeated measures logistic …

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Thresholds And Left Ventricular Hypertrophy In Children Aged 6-12 Years: A Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium Study., Afsana Jahan, Matthew Schuchman, Mahie Abdullah, Meghan Mclaughlin, Emilia Maria Cadiz, Eshanika Manchanda, Aftab Chishti, Maggie Murphy, Sarah Twichell, Alexandra Mazo, Dmitry Samsonov, Aesha Maniar, Hannah Kim, Francis Lomanta, Ashok Chakravarthy Patibandla, Rachel Frank, Tarak Srivastava, Ikuyo Yamaguchi, Christine Sethna

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) thresholds for predicting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in children aged 6-12 years.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across 11 Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium sites and included children aged 6-12 years who underwent ABPM and 2-dimensional echocardiography for diagnostic assessment of elevated BP. The diagnostic accuracy of fixed ABPM thresholds and the current 95th percentile for sex and height were assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic, sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index z-score, …

Early Hands-On Surgical Exposure: Outcomes Of A Student-Led Surgical Externship Program For Preclinical Students, Meryem C. Guler, Elizabeth Spitz, Jennifer E. Geller, Talar Tatarian, Renee Tholey

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Objective: Early surgical exposure may potentially influence medical students' decision to pursue a surgical career. At our urban, academic medical school, senior medical students developed a Surgical Externship Program (SEP) to provide first-years with hands-on OR experience. This program is a structured 1- to 2-week immersive experience in which first-year students scrubbed into operations, participated in rounds, and engaged with surgical teams under resident and attending supervision. This study evaluates the SEP's impact on surgical interest, OR confidence, and clinical exposure.

Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital.

Participants: First-year medical students.

Design: First-year students participated in a 1- or 2-week SEP …

Efficacy And Safety Of Frail Patients Treated With Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel In The Real World: A Center For International Blood And Marrow Transplant Research Analysis., Hira Mian, Muhammad Salman Faisal, Tiening Chen, Ruta Brazauskas, Temitope Oloyede, Nausheen Ahmed, Aimaz Afrough, Larry D Anderson, Rahul Banerjee, Jesus Berdeja, Aram Bidikian, Jakob Devos, Binod Dhakal, Ajoy Dias, Danai Dima, Yvonne A Efebera, Lohith Gowda, Doris K Hansen, Hamza Hashmi, Heather J Landau, Lazaros Lekakis, Abu-Sayeef Mirza, Ravi Narra, Krina Patel, Ashley E Rosko, Mark Schroeder, Surbhi Sidana, Saad Usmani, Marcelo C Pasquini, Taiga Nishihori, Othman Salim Akhtar, Meera Mohan

Oncology Articles

Background: Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), an anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, is approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Methods: Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research registry, this study evaluated outcomes of frail patients receiving commercial cilta-cel from March 2022 to December 2023. Frailty was defined by an adapted simplified score incorporating age, performance status, and comorbidities.

Results: Among 541 patients with available frailty status, 183 (33.8%) were frail and 358 (66.2%) were nonfrail. Overall response rates were comparable (frail 82.8% vs. nonfrail 88.5%). However, frail patients had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) (12-month …

Functional Role Of Skull Lymphoid Structures In Cns Immunosurveillance, Jang Hyun Park, Daviti Abramishvili, Gustavo Gastão Davanzo, Ruben Silva, Xingxing Gu, Siling Du, Daniel D Lee, Bernd H Zinselmeyer, Jackson S Turner, Gwendalyn J Randolph, Igor Smirnov, Jonathan Kipnis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the central nervous system (CNS) is not disconnected from the peripheral immune system; however, precisely how the adaptive immune system surveils the CNS remains a critical question. Recent findings reveal that channels between the skull and the dura mater facilitate the exchange of cerebrospinal fluid and immune cells between the CNS and skull bone marrow of mice under both homeostatic and disease conditions

Palopegteriparatide For Adults With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism: Skeletal Dynamics Through 3 Years Of The Phase 2 Path Forward Trial, Mishaela Rubin, Bart Clarke, Lorenz Hofbauer, Aliya Khan, Peter Schwarz, Tamara Vokes, Intekhab Ahmed, Andrea Palermo, Filomena Cetani, Uberto Pagotto, Carol Zhao, Michael Ominsky, Bryant Lai, Jenny Ukena, Aimee Shu, Lars Rejnmark

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Faculty Papers

Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disease caused by insufficient levels of PTH, which acts directly on bone and kidney and indirectly on the intestine to regulate calcium and phosphate balance. In clinical trials, palopegteriparatide (TransCon PTH) treatment enabled independence from conventional therapy (no active vitamin D, ≤600 mg/d calcium) and maintained serum biochemistries within normal ranges. The current analyses describe patterns of change in BMD, serum bone turnover markers, and serum and urine calcium in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with palopegteriparatide through 3 years of the PaTH Forward trial. Baseline BMD Z-scores for the LS, TH, FN, and 1/3 distal …

The Exploration Of Nutrition And Mental Health Among Retired Female Sergeant Majors, Renee Michelle Mcmillan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study investigated the nutrition and mental health of seven retired female United States Army Command Sergeant Majors (CSM) and four retired United States Army Sergeant Majors (SGMs). Transcendental phenomenology was used in this study along with George Engel’s Biopsychosocial Theory (BPST). The study examined how dietary food choices converged with cognitive behavior, body image, restrictive eating, and the stress accompanied with transitioning from military to civilian life. Four themes and 11 subthemes emerged from this study. The findings indicated an integration with nutritional interventions, mental health services, family-focus education, and faith-based programs. These findings may help retired female …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of Perioperative Application Of Biofeedback-Based Virtual Reality Vs Control For Pain And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents Undergoing Surgery: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Anna Lin, Brenna Rachwal, Lindsey Asti, Zandantsetseg Orgil, Isabela Santiago, Lili Ding, Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, Christopher King, Sara Williams, William Black, Peter Minneci, Vanessa Olbrecht

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The impact of biofeedback-based virtual reality (VR-BF) on pain and anxiety in pediatric surgical patients remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of perioperative VR-BF use in children and adolescents.

METHODS: We performed a single-blind, 2-arm, randomized pilot trial. Children aged 12 to 18 years undergoing surgery with expected moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and more than 1 overnight admission were randomized (1:1) to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received VR-BF using ForeVR (functional outcome response to engaging virtual reality [VR]), a novel, gamified digital intervention that integrates …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Individuals With Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection (Pasc) In Rwanda: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Iliza Grace Ndatinya, Simal Thind, Fernand Rwamwejo

Global Health Articles

OBJECTIVES: To qualitatively explore the lived experiences of individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in Rwanda, with the aim of informing context-appropriate interventions to improve patients' quality of life.

DESIGN: Qualitative, phenomenological study using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis.

SETTING: All provinces of Rwanda, including the City of Kigali.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults who tested positive for PASC during a nationwide prevalence study were purposively sampled across all study sites. A total of 30 people were interviewed before saturation was reached.

RESULTS: Participants' lived experiences with PASC were characterised by numerous themes. Despite describing significant life changes since their COVID-19 …

Intensive Longitudinal Assessment Of Stress And Stress-Related Concepts Across A Weight Loss Program: Protocol For A Longitudinal Ecological Momentary Assessment Study., Chelsea L. Kracht, Ann M. Davis, Udayan Apte, Madigan Snodgrass, Taylor Y. Collier, Jeffery J. Honas, John M. Jakicic

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Fluctuations in daily stress and the inability to cope with this stress (i.e., coping) can negatively impact behavior and potentially weight loss. Longitudinal studies using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of psychological factors and behavior may inform interventions that can be adapted in real-time to modify stress and stress-related factors to enhance weight loss. This study's purpose is to examine variability in stress and stress-related concepts and weight loss during a behavioral weight loss program with the intent of this informing future interventions.

METHODS: Individuals with obesity (body mass index: ≥ 30 kg/m2) who are newly enrolled in an existing …

Proteomic Profiling Identifies Systemic Drivers Of Blood-Brain Barrier Injury In Sickle Cell Disease, Yan Wang, Serguei Astafiev, Jinsheng Yu, Slim Fellah, Martin N Reis, Vivian Chen, Amy E Mirro, Chunwei Ying, Kristin P Guilliams, Melanie E Fields, Allison A King, Yasheng Chen, Robert A Campbell, Jorge Di Paola, Carlos Cruchaga, Jin-Moo Lee, Hongyu An, Andria L Ford

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes brain injury and cognitive disability. Systemic inflammation and endothelial injury are central to SCD pathophysiology, yet the relationship between systemic drivers of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and brain injury remains understudied. This cross-sectional study assessed whole-brain and regional BBB permeability (Ktrans) using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for 37 adults with SCD in steady state and 37 adults without SCD. Cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and white matter mean diffusivity (MD) measured tissue hypoxia and microstructural injury, respectively. The SCD cohort showed elevated Ktrans compared with controls (3.6 × 10-4·min-1 vs 2.58 × 10-4·min-1; 95% …

Intravascular Immune Cell Labeling As A Critical Methodological Tool For Characterizing Cd4+ T Cells In The Lung In Eae, Gholamreza Azizi, Mohamad Rostami

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Growing evidence highlights the lung -brain axis as a key contributor to CNS autoimmunity. However, accurate characterization of lung immune cells remains technically challenging because standard transcardial perfusion does not eliminate the lung's extensive marginated intravascular leukocyte pool, allowing circulating cells to contaminate analyses of the lung parenchyma.

METHODS: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in mice by immunization with MOG35-55 peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant, followed by pertussis toxin administration. Lung mononuclear cells were isolated after intravascular (IV) CD45 labeling, transcardial perfusion, and enzymatic digestion. Immune cell populations and intracellular cytokine production were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry …

Blinatumomab Care Delivery For Pediatric B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Daniel Zheng, Katelyn Oranges, Subhash Ramakrishnan, Lingyun Ji, Melissa Beauchemin, Sarah Alexander, Allison Leahy, Kira Bona, Emi Caywood, Sharon Castellino, Sumit Gupta, Douglas Hawkins, Olga Militano, Kathleen Montgomery, Haley Newman, Rachel Rau, Susan Rheingold, Joanna Robles, Michael Roth, David Teachey, Sarah Vargas, Sue Zupanec, Susan Parsons

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Blinatumomab, a novel immunotherapy administered as a 28-day continuous infusion, has fundamentally shifted the treatment paradigm for pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and is now considered a component of standard therapy for the most common childhood cancer. However, the care delivery challenges in transitioning from an experimental agent on a clinical trial to widespread clinical implementation are unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical landscape of pediatric blinatumomab care-delivery practice and challenges in the US from the perspective of treating centers.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This survey study was conducted from February to March 2025 among US member institutions …

Diversity Among Academic Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Faculty Across Us Residency Programs, Terence L. Thomas, Alexander Zavitsanos, Claude Regis, John Czarnicki, Harrison S. Fellheimer, Gabriel I. Onor, William Justice, Jalen Broome, Damon V. Briggs, Edward S. Chang, Meghan Bishop, Christopher C. Dodson

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite growing attention to workforce diversity in orthopaedic surgery, limited data exist describing the demographic composition of academic sports medicine faculty. This study examines the diversity of sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgery faculty across US orthopaedic surgery residency training programs.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of all ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery sports medicine faculty was conducted. Faculty data included sex, race, level of professorship, residency attended, year of residency graduation, and h-index. Underrepresented in Orthopaedics (URiO) was defined as non-White and non-Asian by race and all women. Descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 812 sports medicine-fellowship trained faculty were …

Safety And Efficacy Of Allogeneic Cd19-Directed Car-T Therapy Ctx110 In Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Joseph P Mcguirk, Armin Ghobadi, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This multicenter, single-arm, phase 1/2 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of CD19-directed allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy CTX110 in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patients received 1 or 2 treatment courses: standard lymphodepletion, followed by 1 CTX110 infusion at dose levels (DLs) 1 to 4 (3 × 107 to 60 × 107 CAR T cells; dose escalation, N = 32), or 2 infusions at DL4 on days 1 and 35 (cohort expansion, N = 31). Primary end points in dose escalation and cohort expansion were incidence of dose-limiting toxicities and objective response rate, respectively. …

Universal Screening For Measles Immunity During Pregnancy: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Anuradha Devabhaktuni, Sarah Boudova, Elias Kassir, Sohum Shah, Neil S. Silverman, Christina S. Han

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Measles is a highly contagious illness capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality, including adverse pregnancy outcomes. Routine screening for measles immunity is not currently recommended during pregnancy. Given the increasing frequency of measles outbreaks nationally and globally, awareness of measles immunity status can influence management of pregnant individuals who incur measles exposures and offer an opportunity for postpartum or preconception vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for measles immunity during pregnancy in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN: A decision-analytic model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal screening for measles immunity during …

Complementary Vertebrate Wac Models Exhibit Phenotypes Relevant To Desanto-Shinawi Syndrome, Kang-Han Lee, Marwan Shinawi, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Monogenic syndromes are associated with neurodevelopmental changes that result in cognitive impairments and neurobehavioral phenotypes, including autism and seizures. Limited studies and resources are available to make meaningful headway into the underlying molecular mechanisms that result in these symptoms. One such example is DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome (DESSH), a rare disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the

Assessment Of Timp1, Transgelin-2, And Procalcitonin As Protein Biomarkers For Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Bloodstream Infection In A Critically Ill Cohort, Sajal Tiwary, Caroline A O'Neil, Sydney Lawless, Olivia Arter, Meghan Brown, Brittany Roemmich, Carleigh Samuels, Jennie H Kwon, Christopher W Farnsworth

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections (BSI) are a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Rapid diagnosis of BSI is critical for timely and appropriate clinical management, but current diagnostic strategies have a prolonged turnaround time or only identify select pathogens with minimal prognostic information.

METHODS: We examined serial serologic samples from 77 intensive care unit (ICU) patients at time points before, during, and after diagnosis of presumptive BSI to identify host-derived protein biomarkers associated with specific organisms and with clinical outcomes in BSI. ICU patients with and without BSI were included. Two candidate biomarkers, tissue metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and …

Isolated Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease In Contemporary Clinical Practice: A Multicenter Ecco-Confer Cohort Study, Kumarini Basnayake, Parakkal Deepak, Sami Samaan, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Isolated perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (IPFCD) is an uncommon presentation of Crohn's disease with an uncertain natural history. We aimed to characterize contemporary diagnostic strategies, management approaches, and long-term outcomes, including progression to luminal Crohn's disease.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study across 25 centers within the ECCO-CONFER network. Adult patients with IPFCD and no evidence of luminal Crohn's disease at baseline were included. The primary outcome was progression to luminal Crohn's disease. Secondary outcomes included clinical and radiological fistula response and patterns of medical and surgical management. Time-to-event analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods. …

Non-Vigorous Physical Activity Associated With Reduced Hospitalization Risk With Or Without Diabetes Or Peripheral Artery Disease: Study Of Latinos., Sarah K. Alver, Carmen C. Cuthbertson, Kelly R. Evenson, Jennifer A. Schrack, Daniela Sotres-Alvarez, Natasha Z. Anita, Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Linda C. Gallo, Jordan A. Carlson, Matthew Allison, Martha L. Daviglus, Olga Garcia-Bedoya, Christina Cordero, Xiaonan Xue, Jianwen Cai, Kunihiro Matsushita, Robert C. Kaplan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

PURPOSE: This study assessed whether greater physical activity (PA) and lesser sedentary behavior (SB) reduce hospitalization risk equally among those with and without prediabetes, diabetes, or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

METHODS: We studied PA, SB and hospitalizations in 12,734 adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, who were 52.2% female with mean (standard deviation) age 41.1 (14.9) yr at baseline. Participants reported 10,025 nonpregnancy-related hospitalizations (excluding emergency room only) over 13 yr. We modeled the association between accelerometer-measured activity (SB; light intensity physical activity [LPA]; moderate physical activity [MPA]; vigorous physical activity [VPA]) and hospitalization, using Andersen-Gill proportional …

Inosine-Triphosphate-Pyrophosphatase Activity As A Potential Predictor Of Methotrexate Remission In Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis., Sofia Sindici Forgiarini, Marianna Lucafò, Debora Curci, Davide Selvestrel, Valentina Moressa, Sofia Pagarin, Barbara Bellich, Martina Franzin, Alberto Tommasini, Mara L. Becker, Laura Ramsey, Susan D. Thompson, Carl D. Langefeld, Federica Corba, Edoardo Marrani, Gabriele Simonini, Gabriele Stocco, Giuliana Decorti, Andrea Taddio, Serena Pastore

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line therapy for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but up to 40% of patients do not respond to it. Low inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) activity has been associated with reduced clinical remission. We investigated the role and underlying mechanisms of ITPA in vitro.

METHODS: ITPA enzymatic activity was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection in erythrocyte lysates from patients with JIA (enrolled in Trieste, Italy; Florence, Italy; and Kansas City, Missouri) receiving weekly MTX (10-15 mg/m²) for at least 12 months. Remission was evaluated by Wallace et al criteria. ITPA rs1127354, which …

Association Between Estimated Time With Low Glomerular Filtration Rate And Access To Transplant Among Youth With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease., Elaine Ku, Timothy Copeland, Charles E. Mcculloch, Jonathan D. Savant, Bradley A. Warady, Susan L. Furth, Sarah Kizilbash, Daniel I. Feig, Roshan P. George, Joseph T. Flynn, Judith Jerry-Fluker, Matthew B. Matheson, Sandra Amaral, Ckid Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Slower chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression allows more time for transplant preparation. Whether differences in CKD progression by race/ethnicity associate with preemptive or living donor transplantation in youth has not been well studied.

METHODS: We examined the association between time spent with low eGFR (between 10-30 mL/min/1.73 m²) and odds of preemptive or living donor transplantation among youth with CKD. eGFR was estimated using the bedside Schwartz (if < 18 years) and CKD-EPI 2021 equations (if ≥ 18 years) and the CKiD U25 equation in sensitivity analysis. Time spent with low eGFR was compared by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS: Among 333 youth with CKD (median age 11 years [IQR 7,14]), median time spent with low eGFR was 28.8 months. 77% were preemptively waitlisted, and 45% received preemptive …