Digital Commons Network^™

Invasive Fungal Disease In Solid Organ And Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients, United States, Jeremy A W Gold, Kaitlin Benedict, Elizabeth Sajewski, Tom Chiller, Meghan Lyman, Mitsuru Toda, Jessica S Little, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Updated benchmark data on invasive fungal disease (IFD) in solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients are necessary to increase clinical recognition and inform treatment and prevention strategies. We estimated IFD incidence and potential risk factors in transplant recipients in a large US commercial health insurance database.

Methods: We observed patients who received SOT or HCT during 2018-2022 until IFD development, disenrollment, or database end date (July 31, 2023). We calculated incidence (per 1000 person-years) and time to IFD development, comparing demographic features and underlying conditions for IFD versus non-IFD patients.

Results: Overall, 9143 patients received …

Trends In Contacts Made By Immigrants To The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Treves-Kagan, Vi D Le, Liris S Berra, Colleen M Ray, Yanet Ruvalcaba, Leila Wood, Denise V D'Angelo, Tatiana M Vera, Lianne Fuino Estefan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Immigrants in the United States are more likely than nonimmigrants to experience risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) and problems in getting support. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent incidents of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment may have exacerbated exposure to IPV risk factors. We examined immigrant experiences of IPV before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study identified changes in characteristics of abuse, services used, referrals, and barriers to services among those who contacted the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and identified as immigrants, reported immigration status as a concern, needed immigration support, and/or identified immigration status as …

Semi-Quantitative Assessment Of Surgical Navigation Accuracy During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery In A Real-World Environment, David Z Allen, Jason Talmadge, Martin J Citardi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Although surgical navigation is commonly used in rhinologic surgery, data on real world performance are sparse because of difficulties in collecting measurements for target registration error (TRE). Despite publications showing submillimeter TRE, surgeons do report TRE of >3 mm. We describe a novel method for assessing TRE during surgery and report findings with this technique.

Methods: The TruDi navigation system (Acclarent, Irving, CA) was registered using a contour-based protocol. The surgeon estimated target registration error (e-TRE) at up to 8 points (anatomic regions of interest [ROI]) during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). System logs were used to simulate the localization …

Efficacy And Safety Of Once-Daily Roflumilast Cream 005% In Pediatric Patients Aged 2-5 Years With Mild-To-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis (Integument-Ped): A Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trial, Lawrence F Eichenfield, Rocco Serrao, Vimal H Prajapati, John C Browning, Lisa Swanson, Tracy Funk, Mercedes E Gonzalez, Adelaide A Hebert, Mark Lee, Mark Boguniewicz, Eric L Simpson, Melissa S Seal, David Krupa, Diane Hanna, Scott Snyder, Patrick Burnett, David H Chu, Erin Almaraz, Robert C Higham, David R Berk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: Efficacy and safety of roflumilast cream 0.15% were demonstrated in patients aged ≥ 6 years with atopic dermatitis (AD) in two Phase 3 trials. This Phase 3 parallel-group, double-blind trial (INTEGUMENT-PED; NCT04845620) compared the efficacy and safety of roflumilast cream 0.05% and a vehicle in patients aged 2-5 years with AD.

Methods: Patients aged 2-5 years with mild-to-moderate AD were treated with once-daily roflumilast cream 0.05% or vehicle for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was Validated Investigator Global Assessment for AD (vIGA-AD) Success (0 [Clear] or 1 [Almost Clear] plus ≥ 2-grade improvement from baseline) at Week …

Predictors For Spontaneous Pleurodesis In Patients With Indwelling Pleural Catheters For Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Safety Net Hospital Experience, Saad Farooq, Sabiha Armin, Jordan E Killingsworth, Akriti Agrawal, Adishwar Rao, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) affects approximately 150,000 patients in the United States each year and usually signifies advanced-stage cancer. The optimal treatment remains a challenge but indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) offer several advantages and may help achieve spontaneous pleurodesis (SP) in some patients.

Objectives: We aim to investigate the predictors of SP among patients with MPE, particularly in a resource-limited community-based safety net hospital.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study done at a community-based safety net hospital.

Methods: Adults diagnosed with or suspected of having MPE between January 2015 and December 2023 who underwent IPC placement were included. …

Development, Delivery, And Evaluation Of The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute Pilot Infection Control Lecture Series, Kayla E Ruch, Anabel Rodriguez, Janelle Rios, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Eric L Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) aims to keep Texans healthy and the economy strong by preparing for the next infectious disease outbreak. TEPHI's Small Rural Healthcare Preparedness core developed, delivered, and evaluated a pilot infection prevention and control webinar series called Infection Control for rural-serving health professionals and organizations based on infection prevention and control field best practices.

Methods: Data from the first year of the Infection Control series was collected through attendee registration forms, attendance records, knowledge, and post-lecture evaluation surveys using Qualtrics. The data were analyzed using Qualtrics software. Lectures were free and open to …

New Anhydramnios After 22 Weeks And Pulmonary Hypoplasia, Aaron W Roberts, Margaret Clement, Suzanne Marie Lopez, Rita Swinford, Percy Pacora Portella, Edgar Hernandez-Andrade, Matthew Rysavy, Anthony Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Anhydramnios due to renal failure prior to 22 weeks of gestational age (WGA) is associated with lethal pulmonary hypoplasia but after 22 WGA outcomes are less clear. We evaluated whether these fetuses, with new anhydramnios after 22 WGA, incur significant risk of severe neonatal pulmonary morbidity.

Methods: This retrospective study of singleton pregnancies diagnosed with new-onset renal anhydramnios after 22 WGA following verifiable normal AFI on ultrasound before 22 WGA from 2021 to 2023. Cases with bilateral renal agenesis, premature rupture of membranes, and nonrenal malformations were excluded.

Results: During the study period 53,698 s trimester ultrasound examinations were …

Information Seeking Behaviors And Attitudes Of Wives Of Former Football Players Regarding Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Summer D Ott, Sukhnandan K Cheema, Alexa Ryder, Philip Schatz, Lorie A Gonzalez, Jecenia Duran, Paul E Schulz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study examines CTE-related knowledge and information-seeking behaviors of caregivers of persons who are at high risk of CTE. Online survey responses were collected from 64 females, ages 18-74, who were married to former college, semiprofessional, or professional football players and were fluent in English. Ranging from 0 to 18, a score was calculated to represent level of CTE knowledge. Participants were classified into groups based on their spouse's reported symptoms and diagnosis. Approximately 87% of participants reported that their spouses have been diagnosed with a football-related concussion and were significantly more likely to seek out information from a healthcare …

Changes In Medication Complexity And Post-Hospitalization Outcomes In Older Adults Hospitalized For Heart Failure, Aayush Visaria, William Mcdonald, John Mancini, Andrew P Ambrosy, Min Ji Kwak, Ashkan Hashemi, Mark S Lachs, Andrew R Zullo, Monika Safford, Emily B Levitan, Parag Goyal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Medication regimen complexity may be an important risk factor for adverse outcomes in older adults with heart failure. However, increasing complexity is often necessary when prescribing guideline-directed medical therapy at the time of a heart failure hospitalization. We sought to determine whether increased medication regimen complexity following a heart failure hospitalization was associated with worse post-hospitalization outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) participants aged at least 65 years hospitalized for heart failure between 2003 and 2014. We calculated changes between hospital admission and discharge in medication count (Δcount) and …

Safety Of Indocyanine Green Microdosing For Clinical Imaging Of Csf Ventricular Dynamics And Extracranial Outflow, Miriam Zamorano, Banghe Zhu, Ahmed T Massoud, Jonathan Hendricks, H Alex Choi, Pedram Peesh, Brandon A Miller, Xinhai Robert Zhang, Manish N Shah, Eva M Sevick-Muraca

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Intravenous administration of indocyanine green (ICG) has been approved in brain surgeries for decades, yet concerns about neurotoxicity prevent its direct administration into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Armed with prior animal studies demonstrating the feasibility of using ICG microdosing into the CSF, we sought to evaluate its nonclinical safety profile and obtain surrogate measures in adults prior to its use in human neonates.

Methods: Evaluation of ICG toxicity was conducted in mixed primary CNS cell cultures and in an extended safety study of juvenile rat pups deploying intraventricular injections of saline (as control) or ICG. Analysis of …

Peer Support During In Vivo Exposure Homework Increases Likelihood Of Prolonged Exposure Therapy Completion, Melba A Hernandez-Tejada, Madeline J Bruce, Wendy Muzzy, Anna Birks, Giovanni Macedo E Cordeiro, Stephanie M Hart, Stephanie Hamski, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Exposure-based treatments such as prolonged exposure therapy (PE) are effective for veterans with PTSD. However, dropout rates as high as 50% are common. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs peers to increase mental health treatment engagement, however peers are not routinely used to help patients complete PE homework assignments. The present study included 109 veterans who decided to drop out from exposure-based treatment after completing seven or fewer sessions and used a randomized controlled design to compare PE treatment completion rates in response to 2 forms of peer support: (1) standard weekly telephone-based peer support vs. (2) peer-assisted in vivo …

Use Of Machine Learning Models To Predict Microaspiration Measured By Tracheal Pepsin A., Annette Bourgault, Ilana Logvinov, Chang Liu, Rui Xie, Jan Powers Phd, Rn, Ccrn, Mary Lou Sole

Nursing Publications, Posters, & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Enteral feeding intolerance, a common type of gastrointestinal dysfunction leading to underfeeding, is associated with increased mortality. Tracheal pepsin A, an indicator of microaspiration, was found in 39% of patients within 24 hours of enteral feeding. Tracheal pepsin A is a potential biomarker of enteral feeding intolerance.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of microaspiration (tracheal or oral pepsin A). It was hypothesized that variables predicting the presence of tracheal pepsin A might be similar to predictors of enteral feeding intolerance.

METHODS: In this secondary analysis, machine learning models were fit for 283 adults receiving mechanical ventilation who had tracheal and …

Exploring The Role Of Reward Functioning In The Overlap Of Post-Traumatic Stress And Cocaine Use Disorder, Kate Hull, Hanaan Bing-Canar, Krista Miloslavich, Christopher Holden, Aneet Ahluwalia, Scott D Lane, Joy M Schmitz, Margaret C Wardle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are common in people with cocaine use disorder (CUD), and even sub-threshold PSTD symptoms result in worse treatment outcomes. Difficulties with reward functioning may drive this comorbidity. Impairments in reward functioning are prominent in both PTSD and CUD and contribute to development of substance use problems after trauma. There are three distinct reward processes that may be involved in the PTSD/CUD overlap: consummatory reward (ability to experience pleasure), motivational reward (willingness to exert effort for rewards), and reward learning (adapting behavior based on reward history). Here we test whether impairments in these reward functions …

Consolidation Alk Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Versus Durvalumab Or Observation After Chemoradiation In Unresectable Stage Iii Alk-Positive Nsclc, Amin H Nassar, Ritujith Jayakrishnan, Jamie Feng, Frances Shepherd, Elio Adib, Justin M Cheung, Jessica J Lin, Yufei Liu, Steven H Lin, Kaushal Parikh, Arthi Sridhar, Purnima Shakya, Thomas J Dilling, David Kaldas, Jhanelle E Gray, Anastasiya Lobachov, Jair Bar, Heike Luders, Christian Grohe, Shruti Gupta, Ticiana Leal, Bailey Fitzgerald, Fionnuala Crowley, Yu Fujiwara, Thomas U Marron, Molly Wilgucki, Joshua Reuss, Luxi Chen, Kamya Sankar, Jacqueline V Aredo, Joel W Neal, Heather A Wakelee, Rohit Thummalapalli, Helena Yu, Ryan Whitaker, Ana Velazquez, Meera Ragavan, Alessio Cortellini, David J Kwiatkowski, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Sarah B Goldberg, So Yeon Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC typically have poor response to immunotherapy; the benefit of consolidation durvalumab in patients with unresectable stage III ALK-positive NSCLC remains unclear. Herein, we compare the efficacy and safety of consolidation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) versus durvalumab or observation after concurrent chemoradiation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using a multicenter study of 17 institutions globally. Patients with unresectable stage III ALK-positive NSCLC treated between 2015 and 2022 were included. Patients received ALK TKI, durvalumab, or observation after concurrent chemoradiation. Real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment-related …

Combining Biology-Based And Mri Data-Driven Modeling To Predict Response To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy In Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Casey E Stowers, Chengyue Wu, Zhan Xu, Sidharth Kumar, Clinton Yam, Jong Bum Son, Jingfei Ma, Jonathan I Tamir, Gaiane M Rauch, Thomas E Yankeelov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype associated with limited targeted treatment options, heterogeneous treatment response, and high risk of early recurrence. Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as a powerful tool to address key clinical challenges in TNBC across diagnosis, treatment response assessment, and prognosis. Diagnostic and staging challenges persist due to variable imaging features in TNBC and limitations in conventional modalities, increasing the risk of delayed detection. Predicting response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy remains difficult, as patient responses are heterogeneous, and existing clinical markers provide limited early predictive value. Prognostication in TNBC is similarly constrained …

Accumulated Seizure Burden Predicts Neurodevelopmental Outcome At 36 Months Of Age In Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, S Katie Z Ihnen, Samuel Alperin, Jamie K Capal, Alexander L Cohen, Jurriaan M Peters, E Martina Bebin, Hope A Northrup, Mustafa Sahin, Darcy A Krueger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Epilepsy and intellectual disability are common in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Although early life seizures and intellectual disability are known to be correlated in TSC, the differential effects of age at seizure onset and accumulated seizure burden on development remain unclear.

Methods: Daily seizure diaries, serial neurodevelopmental testing, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed for 129 TSC patients followed from 0 to 36 months. We used machine learning to identify subgroups of patients based on neurodevelopmental test scores at 36 months of age and assessed the stability of those subgroups at 12 months. We tested the ability of …

Exacerbation Of Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain Behaviors In Breast Tumor-Bearing Mice, Hee Kee Kim, Juping Xing, Youn-Sang Jung, Jae-Il Park, Hee Young Kim, Jimin Kim, Salahadin Abdi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic pain and cancer interact bidirectionally, with pain enhancing sensory peptides and potentially promoting tumor growth. Despite this, most chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CIPN) studies overlook the contribution of cancer itself to neuropathy, focusing instead on chemotherapy-induced mechanisms. Animal models of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP) have been developed by injecting chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel into normal animals without cancer. This study aimed to develop a new model in mouse mammary tumor virus-polyomavirus middle T antigen (MMTV-PyMT) mice, a widely used breast cancer model with normal immune function.

Results: The percentage of positive response (PPR) of paclitaxel-injected MMTV-PyMT mice increased …

Patient-Reported Outcomes, Postoperative Pain And Pain Relief After Day Case Surgery (Poppy): Methodology For A Prospective, Multicentre Observational Study*, William M. Hare, Martha Belete, Adam B. Brayne, Harriet Daykin, Matthew Everson, Anna Ratcliffe, Katie Samuel, Lexy Sorrell, Mark Rockett

Peninsula Medical School

Background: In the UK, approximately 70% of surgical procedures are undertaken as day-cases. Little information exists about recovery from day-case surgery, yet international data highlights patients are at risk of developing significant longer-term health problems including chronic post-surgical pain and persistent postoperative opioid use. The Patient-reported Outcomes, Postoperative Pain and pain relief after daY case surgery (POPPY) study was a national prospective multicentre observational study, measuring short- and longer-term patient-reported outcomes, postoperative pain and pain relief after day-case surgery. Methods: This was a collaborative project led by resident anaesthetists under the Research and Audit Federation of Trainees umbrella. Adult day-case …

The Added Value Of Narrow Band Imaging In Sinonasal Tumour Resection And Surveillance: Our Experience, Yazan Kanaan, Ra'ed Al-Ashqar, Hisham Khalil, Konstantinos Geronatsios, Marios Stavrakas

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Narrow Band Imaging (NBI), developed by Olympus Medical Systems, has played a role in diagnosing digestive tract lesions and cancers, diagnosing and characterizing bladder cancers during cystoscopy and in the diagnosis and management of Head and Neck cancers. We aim to explore the potential use of NBI in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of sinonasal tumours.

METHODS: We present a series of cases treated at our institution, where NBI played a crucial role in the diagnosis, surgical management, intraoperative decision-making, and follow-up. The cases include a patient with sinonasal lymphoma, 2 patients with sinonosal malignant melanoma and …

Impact Of Social Deprivation Upon The Preoperative Pathway And Early Surgical Outcomes After Pancreatoduodenectomy For Pdac And Non-Pdac Periampullary Cancer In England: The Surg-Panc-Uk Study, Surg-Panc-Uk Study Group On Behalf Of Augis, Thomas W Thorne, Siobhan C Mckay, Samir Pathak, Richard Wilkin, Jenifer Barrie, John Moir, Keith J Roberts, Somaiah Aroori

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation is linked to poorer outcomes in many cancers, however the impact of social deprivation on survival in resectable pancreatic and other peri-ampullary cancers appears mixed. Moreover, no studies consider the impact of social deprivation on diagnostic pathway length.

METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of adults with suspected periampullary cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy in England. Following surgery, patients were stratified by cancer type (PDAC, duodenal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma and ampullary cancer) and the impact of social deprivation (IMD deprivation quintiles) upon short-term survival and diagnostic pathway length analysed.

RESULTS: 648 patients from England with social deprivation data were identified, …

Patterns Of Intra-Cluster Correlation Coefficients In School-Based Cluster Randomised Controlled Trials Of Interventions For Improving Social-Emotional Functioning Outcomes In Pupils: A Secondary Data Analysis Of Five Uk-Based Studies, Kitty Parker, Michael Nunns, Zhi Min Xiao, Tamsin Ford, Paul Stallard, Willem Kuyken, Nick Axford, Obioha C. Ukoumunne

Peninsula Medical School

Background: The cluster randomised trial (CRT) design is increasingly used to evaluate the impact of school-based interventions for improving social-emotional functioning outcomes in pupils. Good knowledge is required on plausible values of the intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC) of the outcome to calculate the required sample size in such studies. Using data from five school-based CRTs in the UK, we estimate, and describe patterns in, ICCs for social-emotional functioning outcomes. Methods: Mixed effects linear regression models were fitted to estimate the ICC and variance components. Estimates for baseline data were obtained by fitting “null” models that had no predictor variables; estimates …

Examining Low-Income Caregivers' Knowledge And Comprehension Of The Dental Caries Process, Melissa Sullivan, Denise C. Mckinney, Deanne Shuman, Qi Zhang

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Dental caries among young children remains a public health concern in the United States (US). Children of caregivers with low oral health literacy (OHL) tend to have greater unmet dental needs and poorer oral health status. The purpose of this study was to examine the understanding of pediatric dental terms associated with the dental caries process among low-income caregivers.

Methods This study included 14 caregivers with children enrolled in a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in the Southeastern US. Through structured phone interviews, the validated Oral Health Literacy Inventory for Parents (OH-LIP) was used …

A Qualitative Analysis Of College Students' Interest In Mhealth Solutions, Leslie Hoglund, Craig M. Becker, Cara Tonn

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

This study explores college students' perceptions of an AI-driven mHealth application designed to promote well-being. With rising mental health challenges in academic settings, students increasingly seek digital tools that provide holistic support for physical, mental, and financial health. Through focus groups, this qualitative study examines students' preferences for personalized health tracking, educational content, and flexible reminders within a private, supportive community. Key findings emphasize students' desire for a balanced, all-in-one app that integrates health and wellness tools without overwhelming them with notifications. Students also highlighted the importance of social media integration for outreach, though concerns were raised about potential stress …

Cochlear Implantation With Sporadic Inner Ear Schwannomas: Outcomes In 106 Patients From An International Multi-Institutional Study, John P. Marinelli, Torsten Rahne, James R. Dornhoffer, Christine M. Lohse, Justin Cottrell, J. Thomas Roland, Nicholas J. Thompson, Kevin D. Brown, Jacob C. Lucas, Seilesh C. Babu, Nathan R. Lindquist, Elizabeth L. Perkins, Donald Tan, John I. Lane, Jacob B. Hunter, Erin Harvey, Nicholas L. Deep, Samantha Y. Cerasiello, Matthew L. Kircher, Mana Espahbodi, Evan L. Tooker, Niels Cramer West, Per Caye-Thomasen, Matthew L. Carlson, Stefan K. Plontke

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cochlear implant speech perception among patients with sporadic inner ear schwannoma who underwent ipsilateral implantation.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multi-institutional cohort study.

SETTING: Eleven tertiary academic medical centers across Germany, Denmark, and the United States.

PATIENTS: One hundred six patients with sporadic inner ear schwannoma who received an ipsilateral cochlear implant from 2011 to 2022.

INTERVENTIONS: Ipsilateral cochlear implantation with observation, stereotactic radiosurgery, or microsurgery for tumor management.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Monosyllabic speech perception testing scores and rates of open-set speech perception.

RESULTS: Among 106 patients studied, 101 (95%) achieved open-set speech perception with a median of 24 …

A Serum Biomarker Panel And Miniarray Detection System For Tracking Disease Activity And Flare Risk In Lupus Nephritis, Chenling Tang, Gongjun Tan, Aygun Teymur, Jiechang Guo, Arturo Haces-Garcia, Weihang Zhu, Richard Williams, Jing Ning, Ramesh Saxena, Tianfu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Lupus nephritis (LN) leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD), and early diagnosis and disease monitoring of LN could significantly reduce the risk. however, there is not such a system clinically. In this study we aim to develop a biomarker-panel based point-of-care system for LN.

Methods: Immunoassay screening combined with genomic expression databases and machine learning techniques was used to identify a biomarker panel of LN. A quantitative biomarker-panel mini-array (BPMA) system was developed and the sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability of the were examined. The performance of BPMA in disease monitoring was validated with machine models using a …

Disparities In Breast Cancer Detection Modalities And Outcomes Among Geriatric Female Cancer Patients, Zhaoli Liu, Mathilda Nicot-Cartsonis, Biai D E Digbeu, Daoqi Gao, Sharon H Giordano, Yong-Fang Kuo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study examined racial and geographic disparities in breast cancer detection modalities (screening-, diagnostic-, or non-mammography) with cancer stage and mortality. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Texas Cancer Registry-Medicare linkage data for geriatric women. Cancers detected through screening and diagnostic mammography had 43 % (95 % CI, 39 %-46 %, p < .0001) and 31 % (95 % CI, 27 %-35 %, p < .0001) lower all-cause mortality, and 49 % (95 % CI, 41 %-54 %, p < .0001) and 37 % (95 % CI, 32 %-43 %, p < .0001) lower cancer-specific mortality, respectively, compared to non-mammography-detected breast cancers. Patients from rural areas were 17 % (95 % CI, 1.06 - 1.29) more likely to be diagnosed with mid- (p = .0023) and advanced stage (p = .003) cancers compared to their urban counterparts. Racial or geographic disparities in cancer detection modalities with associated mortality no longer exist after adjusting for covariates. Healthcare professionals can leverage these findings to promote rural cancer health equity.

Improved Survival And Decreased Cancer Deaths In Young Adults With Cancer After Passage Of The Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Expansion, Michael Roth, Clark R Andersen, Amy Berkman, Stuart Siegel, Branko Cuglievan, J Andrew Livingston, Michelle Hildebrandt, Jaime Estrada, Archie Bleyer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed Americans aged 19-25 years to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26 years (the Dependent Care Expansion [DCE]). Have those with cancer diagnoses benefited?

Methods: The ACE DCE 7-year age range of 19-25 years was compared for changes in cancer survival and mortality before and after enactment of the ACA with groups that were younger and older (in 7-year age spans: ages 12-18 and 26-32 years, respectively). Cancer death data for the entire United States were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and relative …

Practical Application Of Multivendor Mri-Based R2* Mapping For Liver Iron Quantification At 15 T And 30 T, Gregory Simchick, Ruiyang Zhao, Qing Yuan, Mounes Aliyari Ghasabeh, Stefan Ruschke, Dimitrios C Karampinos, David T Harris, Raphael Do Vale Souza, Ryan J Mattison, Michael R Jeng, Ivan Pedrosa, Ihab R Kamel, Shreyas Vasanawala, Takeshi Yokoo, Scott B Reeder, Diego Hernando

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Recent multicenter, multivendor MRI-based R2* vs. liver iron concentration (LIC) calibrations (i.e., MCMV calibrations) may facilitate broad clinical dissemination of R2*-based LIC quantification. However, these calibrations are based on a centralized offline R2* reconstruction, and their applicability with vendor-provided R2* maps is unclear.

Purpose: To determine R2* ranges of agreement between the centralized and three MRI vendors' R2* reconstructions.

Study type: Prospective.

Subjects: Two hundred and seven subjects (mean age 37.6 ± 19.6 years; 117 male) with known or suspected iron overload from four academic medical centers.

Field strength/sequence: Standardized multiecho spoiled gradient echo sequence at 1.5 T and …

Correlation Of Pancreatic Laminin Alpha 5 Expression With Clinical Outcomes In Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation, Jayachandra Kuncha, Carly M Darden, Yang Liu, Michael Lawrence, J Sebastian Danobeitia, Bashoo Naziruddin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study examines extracellular matrix (ECM) protein (ECM) expression in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and its correlation with graft function after total pancreatectomy with islet autologous transplantation (TPIAT). Pancreatic sections from 29 CP patients undergoing TPIAT were analyzed for ECM including pan-laminin, laminin alpha 5 (LAMA5), collagen IV, and Perlecan by immunohistochemistry and scored by the percentage positive staining area within the whole tissue area. Graft function was monitored by blood glucose and C-peptide levels. Laminin alpha 5 levels in blood plasma were greater in CP. Laminin alpha 5 expression was significantly higher in all CP patient etiological categories including …

Prevalence Of Carotid Ultrasound Screening In Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: A Report From The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, Yolanda Bryce, Jillian A Whitton, Kayla L Stratton, Wendy M Leisenring, Eric J Chow, Gregory Armstrong, Brent Weil, Bryan Dieffenbach, Rebecca M Howell, Kevin C Oeffinger, Paul C Nathan, Emily S Tonorezos

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Many childhood cancer survivors are at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The North American Children's Oncology Group long-term follow-up guidelines recommend carotid ultrasound in cancer survivors 10 years after neck radiation therapy (RT) ≥40 Gy. The use of carotid ultrasound in this population has not been described.

Methods: Survivors of childhood cancer diagnosed 1970-1999 (N = 8693) and siblings (N = 1989) enrolled in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study were asked if they had ever had a carotid ultrasound. Prevalence of carotid ultrasound was evaluated. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated in multivariate Poisson …