Digital Commons Network^™

Provider And Caregiver Perspectives On Vision Services For Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study, Asha Parvathaneni, Luke Zabotka, Jacob Strelnikov, Allison J L'Hotta, Matthew J Ehrhardt, Maria Montoya, Kyathi Thallapureddy, Robert J Hayashi, Margaret Reynolds, Sara Malone

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: This study qualitatively explored barriers and facilitators to accessing supportive vision services for childhood cancer survivors with vision deficits and identified current service-delivery contexts from the perspectives of community professionals and caregivers. METHODS: Participants included caregivers and professionals who completed semi-structured interviews. Provider questions focused on patient identification and assessment, follow-up protocols, and available resources, while caregiver questions addressed navigating survivorship care, academic needs, and goals for their children. Transcripts were thematically analyzed following inductive and deductive coding. RESULTS: Six caregivers and 10 professionals completed interviews. Thematic analysis resulted in three contexts for barriers and facilitators: school settings, community …

Pathogenic Variants In The Cohesin Loader Subunit Mau2 Underlie A Distinct Cornelia De Lange Syndrome Subtype., Ilaria Parenti, Alina Hesters, Marta Gil-Salvador, Laura Duffy, Deniz Kanber, Jasmin Beygo, Jennifer Kerkhof, Laura Steenpaß, Elsa Leitão, Julia Woestefeld, Philip M. Boone, Emeline M. Kao, Lama Alabdi, Hesham M. Aldhalaan, Fowzan S. Alkuraya, Muneera J. Alshammari, Stylianos E. Antonarakis, Donald Basel, Kevin Cassinari, Laurana De Polli Cellin, Amanda R. Clause, Alexander Augusto De Lima Jorge, Andréa De Castro Leal, Stephan C. Collins, Benjamin Durand, Juliane Eckhold, Mais O. Hashem, Parul Jayakar, Arif O. Khan, Kohji Kato, Regina Kubica, Gholson J. Lyon, Elaine Marchi, Julie Mccarrier, Lara K. Kimmig, Seiji Mizuno, Gael Nicolas, Yosuke Nishio, Tomoo Ogi, Juan Pié, Jordyn Prell, Beatriz Puisac, Feliciano J. Ramos, Emmanuelle Ranza, Claire Redin, Eric T. Rush, Shinji Saitoh, Hanan E. Shamseldin, Susan Starling, Esteban Astiazaran-Symonds, Sara H. Eltahir, Alma Kuechler, Bekim Sadikovic, Binnaz Yalcin, Kerstin S. Wendt, Frank J. Kaiser

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The role of the cohesin complex depends on the cohesin loader proteins NIPBL and MAU2. While NIPBL variants are a major cause of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), the role of MAU2 in disease is unclear. We describe 18 individuals carrying 15 heterozygous MAU2 variants and demonstrate pathogenicity through functional analyses. In-frame MAU2 variants predominantly impair NIPBL-MAU2 interaction, whereas truncating variants cause MAU2 haploinsufficiency and lead to NIPBL reduction. Most individuals exhibit a DNA methylation profile compatible with the CdLS episignature. We also describe two MAU2-specific episignatures that reflect variant-dependent molecular consequences. Affected individuals display a wide range of phenotypes, …

Physical Rehabilitation For Older Patients With Acute Hfpef (Rehab-Hfpef) Trial: Design And Rationale, Amy M. Pastva, Gordon R. Reeves, David J. Whellan, Robert J. Mentz, Haiying Chen, Alain G. Bertoni, Pamela W. Duncan, Mark A. Espeland, Shelby D. Reed, M. Benjamin Nelson, Christopher M. O'Connor, Dalane W. Kitzman

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

RATIONALE: Older patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) experience persistently poor outcomes, including physical disability, cognitive impairment, depression, impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL), rehospitalizations, loss of independence, and mortality. In our previous phase 2 REHAB-HF trial, an innovative physical rehabilitation intervention, delivered across three phases-inpatient, 12-week outpatient, and 3-month home-based maintenance-produced large improvements in physical function and HRQOL, with signals of reduced clinical events among patients with acute HFpEF. These findings provide a compelling rationale for a definitive, event-powered trial to evaluate clinical outcomes.

HYPOTHESIS: Targeting physical frailty and multisystem functional impairments using …

Cilia Dynamics In Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: A Biophysical Characterization Of The Rsph4a Founder Variant, Gabriel Rosario-Ortiz, José Muñiz-Hernández, Natalia M Ortiz-Pérez, Marcos J Ramos-Benitez, Ricardo A Mosquera, Wilfredo De Jesús-Rojas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare ciliopathy resulting in chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease. PCD diagnosis can be achieved by a combination of different diagnostic and adjuvant tools, including high-speed video-microscopy analysis (HSVA). A founder variant has been described in Puerto Rico as the most common cause of PCD in the island. Background/Objectives: In HSVA, objective parameters such as ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and subjective parameters such as ciliary beat pattern (CBP) shed light on the biophysical properties of cilia. However, the subjective nature of CBP creates a gap in knowledge; characteristics such as the length, angle, and bending index of …

Associations Between Caregiver-Provider Communication Quality And Unmet Care Needs Among Older Adults, Jiaming Liang, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Brian Downer, Zhigang Xie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Unmet care needs (lack of assistance with daily activities) among older adults are common and linked to adverse health outcomes, greater healthcare utilization, and caregiver burden. While effective patient-provider communication is known to improve care quality, less is understood about the role of caregiver-provider communication, particularly across sociodemographic, health, and caregiving contexts. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of pooled 2021–2023 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) data, restricted to community-dwelling older adults (65 + years) who received assistance from caregivers due to difficulty with daily activities, and had at least …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

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

Impact Of Who Aware Antibiotic Handbook Training On Antibiotics Prescribing Knowledge Among Private Primary Care Providers: A Vignette-Based, Prep-Post Pilot Study In Patna, India, Poshan Thapa, Prachi Shukla, Chandrashekhar Joshi, Sena Sayood, Pradeep Kumar Sinha, Diwash Timilsina, Mili Dutta, Madhukar Pai, Samira Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi, Sumanth Gandra

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is a major concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly at the primary care level. The WHO AWaRe Antibiotic Handbook was introduced to promote rational antibiotic use, yet its real-world feasibility and potential impact remain underexplored. Our study evaluated the impact and usefulness of the WHO AWaRe Handbook training among private primary care providers (PCPs) in Patna, India.

METHODS: We conducted a pre-post pilot study among 145 private PCPs (40 formal PCPs (FPs) and 105 informal PCPs (IPs) in Patna, India. Participants received training from an infectious disease physician on the WHO AWaRe Antibiotic Handbook. …

A Scoping Review Of Gender-Based Violence Interventions Conducted In Afghanistan, Wahiba Abu-Ras, Basil H. Aboul-Enein, Patricia J. Kelly, Dilshod Achilov

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human rights and public health challenges worldwide, with disproportionate impacts on women and girls in conflict-affected and fragile states. Afghanistan represents one of the most restrictive environments for women's rights, where structural, cultural, and political barriers severely limit the implementation and evaluation of GBV-prevention programs. This scoping review aims to identify and critically appraise GBV prevention and response interventions implemented in Afghanistan and assess their contribution to advancing gender and health equity.

METHODS: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the PICOS framework, nine databases were systematically searched for studies published between 2010 …

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

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

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

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

Randomized Controlled Trial Outcomes For Homestyles-2, An Online Obesity Prevention Program For Families With Children In Middle Childhood, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Angelica A. Pozzoli, Kaitlyn M. Eck, John Worobey, Karla Pagan Shelnutt, Melissa D. Olfert, Virginia Quick

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

Background: Parents are children’s primary role models, are food and physical activity gatekeepers, and create the home structure/lifestyle environment. Thus, parents strongly influence children’s weight-related behaviors and have the opportunity to cultivate a “culture of health” within the home. Methods: The aim of the HomeStyles-2 (also called HomeStyles-Child) RCT was to determine whether this online, novel, age-appropriate, family intervention enabled and motivated the 131 systematically randomly assigned by computer parents of children in middle childhood (ages 6 to 11) in the experimental condition to shape home environments and healthy weight-related lifestyle practices to be more supportive of optimal health and …

Cystic Fibrosis And Sickle Cell Disease Associated With Nonadministration Of Vte Prophylaxis In Hospitalized Adults, Kiera Caparon, Matthew J. Lankiewicz, Jessica Crow, Jennifer C. Yui, John Lindsley, Brandyn D. Lau, Michael B. Streiff, Rakhi P. Naik, Sophie Lanzkron, Lydia H. Pecker, Peggy Kraus, Elliott R. Haut, Jiangxia Wang, Kathryn E. Dane

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and sickle cell disease (SCD) are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and this risk is exacerbated by hospitalization. VTE prophylaxis nonadministration is a VTE risk factor. The objective of this study was to characterize VTE prophylaxis nonadministration among patients with either CF or SCD compared with medically ill patients without CF or SCD. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients who were prescribed at least 2 doses of pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. The primary outcome was the proportion of nonadministered VTE prophylaxis doses by cohort. Multivariable logistic regression was used to …

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

2020-Current year OA Pubs

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

METHODS: Analyses included 2,357 participants (M

RESULTS: Participant PGS

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

Clinical Characteristics, Management, And Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Of Patients With Tlr8 Gain-Of-Function, Danielle E Arnold, Jahnavi Aluri, Sarah S Mehta, Joshua M Tobin, Laura G Schuettpelz, Nermina Saucier, Elizabeth G Schmitz, Jeffrey J Bednarski, Megan A Cooper, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) gain-of-function (GOF) somatic variants were recently identified as causing severe neutropenia, lymphoproliferation, and immune dysregulation. We report the expanded clinical and laboratory phenotype and management of 10 patients, including the original cohort of 6 male patients. We identify the first female patient with TLR8 GOF who presented during infancy with pure red cell aplasia due to a germ line TLR8 variant, and 2 new disease-causing somatic variants in male patients. Eight patients had somatic mosaicism with peripheral blood variant allele fractions of 7% to 26%, and age of disease onset of 9 months to 28 years. …

Molecular Characterization Of Humanized Apoe Mouse Models Reveals Source And Genotype Dependent Differences, Na Wang, David M Holtzman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Humanized APOE targeted-replacement (TR) mice are essential tools for studying apoE isoform effects in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other apoE-related disorders. Despite their widespread use, existing APOE mouse models, generated with different gene targeting strategies, have not been directly compared in terms of apoE isoform expression, lipid profiles, and transcriptomic signatures. Such differences could impact how we interpret APOE genotype-related outcomes, as well as related underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive molecular comparison of humanized APOE mouse models from three sources: Taconic Biosciences (TAC), the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CAF), and The Jackson Laboratory (JAX). We assessed apoE …

Association Between Charcoal Cooking Fuel And Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence In Haiti: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Lily D Yan, Mark D Huffman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence on the association between cooking with polluting fuels, particularly charcoal, and heart disease from low- and middle-income countries, which have the highest burdens of polluting fuels and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We sought to assess the relationship between self-reported primary home cooking with charcoal and prevalent cardiovascular disease in the low-income country Haiti. METHODS: Demographic and clinical data were collected from 3,005 adults in the Haiti Cardiovascular Disease Cohort, recruited from Port-au-Prince using multistage random sampling from 2019 to 2021. Primary cooking fuel was self-reported in the household: charcoal orliquified petroleum gas (LPG). Prevalent CVD (heart …

Associations Between Reported Use Of Nutritional Labels And Calorie Intake In Us Adults: Findings From Nhanes 2017–2020, Ariana M. Chao, Nancy Greene, Alexandra Paul, Paule V. Joseph

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Objective: Caloric information is commonly displayed on nutritional fact labels and food menus. Yet evidence is limited on whether label use is associated with a reduced-calorie diet. This study examined the associations between the use of caloric information on nutritional facts and menu labels and daily caloric intake. Methods: We used data from adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 to conduct a cross-sectional study. Calorie label use on nutritional labels and menus was assessed using the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey telephone interview. Caloric intake was evaluated using the mean of two 24-h diet recalls implemented …

Eligibility For Amyloid Targeting Therapies Among Primary Care Patients With Cognitive Symptoms, Beata Borgström Bolmsjö, Josef Barbosa Djärf, Danielle Van Westen, Suzanne E Schindler, Ayesha Fawad, Lyduine Collij, Ruben Smith, Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren, Erik Stomrud, Pontus Tideman, Oskar Hansson, Sebastian Palmqvist

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and a growing healthcare challenge. Amyloid-targeting therapies (ATT) may slow progression, but implementation is limited by logistical and economic barriers. As primary care is the first contact for most patients with cognitive concerns, quantifying treatment eligibility in this setting is essential. The purpose of this study was to estimate the proportion of primary care patients presenting with cognitive symptoms who are eligible for ATT. METHODS: This cohort study included patients presenting with cognitive symptoms in primary care across the region Skåne, in southern Sweden, recruited between January 2020 and …

Photobiomodulation In Treatment Of Head And Neck Cancer-Related Chronic Lymphedema: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Jie Deng, John N. Lukens, Barbara A. Murphy, Erin Mcmenamin, Karthik Rajasekaran, Ryan J. Quinn, Joy C. Cohn, Wendy Schlessinger, Lucy P. Andersen, Bryan A. Spinelli, Alexander Lin

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphedema is a common late effect after completion of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment, contributing to substantial symptom burden and negatively impacting quality of life. No effective approaches are available to treat this progressive condition. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for chronic lymphedema in HNC survivors.

METHODS: This was a pilot, randomized, wait-list controlled trial. Eligible HNC survivors included those with chronic lymphedema after completion of complete decongestive therapy. Participants were randomized (1:1) to 1 of 2 arms: intervention group (active) or wait-list control group (control). The active group received …

Progress Of Hiv Care Cascade And Transition Dynamics Along The Continuum Of Care Among Persons Living With Hiv In Ifakara, Tanzania: A Prospective Study, Aneth Vedastus Kalinjuma, Aaloke Mody, Tracy Renée Glass, Maja Weisser, Ezekiel Luoga, Honorati Masanja, Fiona Vanobberghen, Kennedy Otwombe

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: While cross-sectional assessments offer snapshots of care cascade progress, longitudinal analyses are essential to capture the dynamic engagement in care of people living with HIV (PLHIV). We assessed the advancement of the HIV cascade, engagement in care and factors associated with different transitions among PLHIV at the Chronic Disease Clinic of Ifakara, Ifakara, Tanzania, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. METHODS: In this prospective study, we included PLHIV enrolled in care from 04/2005 to 09/2022 and consented to participate in the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort. A cross-sectional care cascade was assessed descriptively. In longitudinal analysis, we used continuous-time, …

Development And Validation Of The Emergency Department Transitions Measure, Sara Beachy, Danielle M. Mccarthy, Julianna Lenoir, Alexzandra Gentsch, Richard W. Hass, Marissa Witmer, Paula Ostroff, Melissa Tupas, Lindsey Shughart, Hailey Shughart, Kristin L. Rising

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Transitions of care are high-risk periods for patient safety in the emergency department (ED), particularly for patients who are still in the diagnostic process and are discharged with diagnostic uncertainty. Care transitions must be improved for these patients, as one third of discharged ED patients have diagnostic uncertainty. Yet there are no validated measures that assess the quality of care transitions from the ED, limiting the ability to assess the impact of interventions. Thus, we developed and validated the ED Transitions (EDT) measure.

METHODS: This mixed methods study was conducted across a large healthcare system in three phases: item …

Fungal Meningitis In Us Patients Who Received Epidural Anesthesia In Matamoros, Mexico, Dallas J Smith, Elizabeth Misas, Jeremy A W Gold, Nicole Evert, Thi Dang, Emilie Prot, Simone Godwin, Julieanna Rivas, Jessica Pearson, Lori Koenecke, Nirma D Bustamante, Maria Julia Marinissen, Gabriel Garcia Rodriquez, Irma López-Martínez, Caitlyn Lutfy, Samantha Williams, Axel A Vazquez Deida, Katrina M Byrd, Julian A Villalba, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Lindsay Parnell, Lalitha Gade, Romney M Humphries, Nathan P Wiederhold, Charles Y Chiu, Joshua A Lieberman, Anastasia P Litvintseva, Tom Chiller, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Fungal Meningitis Response Team

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Fungal meningitis outbreaks are rare and entail high mortality rates. Beginning May 2023, we investigated fungal meningitis caused by Fusarium solani species complex occurring in US patients who received epidural anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico.

Methods: Early epidemiological information suggested US patients with suspected fungal meningitis had undergone mostly cosmetic procedures under epidural anesthesia performed in 2 Matamoros clinics. US patients known to have received surgery at these clinics during 1 January-13 May 2023 (clinic closures date) were identified and notified by public health officials. Epidemiological and clinical data were used to update diagnostic and clinical guidance for outbreak response, …

Multimodal Imaging Reveals A Lysosomal Drug Reservoir That Drives Heterogeneous Distribution Of Parp Inhibitors, Carmen R Moncayo, Lauren Pendergast, Priyanka Verma, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

For all drugs, effective target engagement requires sufficient intracellular concentrations of drug to be reached, but whether tumour heterogeneity impacts drug distribution and efficacy is poorly studied. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have transformed treatment opportunities for women with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, but resistance remains a clinical hurdle in this highly heterogeneous tumour type. Here, we present a patient-derived explant multi-modal imaging pipeline, which demonstrates that cell-intrinsic PARP inhibitor accumulation is highly variable, both between patients and within tumours. Spatial transcriptomics reveals enrichment of apoptotic and lysosomal signatures in high-drug regions. Rucaparib, an intrinsically fluorescent PARP inhibitor, accumulates heterogeneously …

Factors Associated With Telemedicine Use By Cardiologists For Medicare Beneficiaries In 2022 To 2023: An Observational Study, Samantha Harris, R J Waken, Fengxian Wang, Khavya C Avula, Rishi K Wadhera, Jose F Figueroa, E John Orav, Uchenna Ofoma, Karen E Joynt Maddox

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created a waiver to reimburse telemedicine services. It is important to understand factors that facilitate incorporation of telemedicine into ongoing cardiovascular practice.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of telemedicine and office visits delivered by cardiologists between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, for Medicare beneficiaries. We calculated the adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) of telemedicine visits, representing the proportion of a physician's visits delivered by telemedicine, to identify factors associated with telemedicine use.

RESULTS: There were 23 334 physicians in our cohort; they were predominantly …

Dexmedetomidine On Supraventricular Tachycardia In Critical Illness: A Time-Dependent Propensity Score Matching Study, Qiaonan Zhong, Marin H Kollef, Patrick G Lyons, Andrew P Michelson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Supraventricular tachycardia affects many critically ill patients. Dexmedetomidine, a commonly used sedative, has sympatholytic and vagotonic effects that may alter atrioventricular nodal conduction and contribute to SVT. We aim to determine the association between dexmedetomidine exposure and clinically significant supraventricular tachycardia in a heterogeneous cohort of mechanically ventilated, critically ill adults. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included critically ill patients from 11 hospitals admitted between July 2018 and October 2022, who were intubated within 48 h of admission. The primary exposure was intravenous dexmedetomidine. The primary outcome was occurrence of clinically significant supraventricular tachycardia, defined as heart rate > 100 …

Avian Influenza Preparedness In Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Assessment Of Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Residents Of Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality, Eastern Region, Christopher Yaw Dumevi, George Boateng Kyei, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza (AI) represents a persistent threat to public health, food security, and livelihoods in Ghana, where outbreaks of H5N1 and H9N2 have occurred. This cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to avian influenza among residents of the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality; an area characterized by intensive poultry production with the aim of delineating deficits in community-level preparedness and guiding evidence-based public health interventions. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2025 using a four-stage sampling technique. We surveyed 321 adults via structured questionnaires, evaluating socio-demographics and KAP related to AI. Scale reliability …

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

Faculty Research 2026

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

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

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

Faculty Research 2026

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

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Results: SVI percentile was 0.4 (interquartile ratio …

Radiation Doses To Cardiac Substructures Predict Elevation In High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Levels In Radiation Therapy For Lung Cancer, Xinru Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Ting Xu, Radhe Mohan, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Rachel C Maguire, Yao Zhao, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Nicolas L Palaskas, Anita Deswal, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Sanjay S Shete, Laurence E Court, Jinzhong Yang, Zhongxing Liao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Cardiotoxicity is a major concern for patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy. This study compared the predictive power of radiation dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters and radiomic/dosiomic features of the whole heart (WH) and cardiac substructures for elevated circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), a biomarker for early detection of cardiac adverse events.

Methods and materials: A retrospective cohort of 160 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from a completed prospective trial and a prospective cohort of 57 patients with NSCLC enrolled in an ongoing trial were analyzed. The endpoint was hs-cTnT elevation, indicated by an increase of ≥5 ng/L …

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

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

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