Digital Commons Network^™

Tph2 In The Dorsal Raphe Nuclei Regulates Energy Balance In A Sex-Dependent Manner, Hailan Liu, Chunmei Wang, Meng Yu, Yongjie Yang, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Chen Liang, Longlong Tu, Nan Zhang, Lina Wang, Julia Wang, Feng Liu, Fang Hu, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

AbstractCentral 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), which is primarily synthesized by tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) in the dorsal Raphe nuclei (DRN), plays a pivotal role in the regulation of food intake and body weight. However, the physiological functions of TPH2 on energy balance have not been consistently demonstrated. Here we systematically investigated the effects of TPH2 on energy homeostasis in adult male and female mice. We found that the DRN harbors a similar amount of TPH2+ cells in control male and female mice. Adult-onset TPH2 deletion in the DRN promotes hyperphagia and body weight gain only in male mice, but not in female …

Racial Disparity In The Timely Treatment Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, P Neroda, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Xiao-Cheng Wu, K Cartmell, R Mayo, Jiande Wu, Chindo Hicks, L Zhang

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Patterns And Risk Factors Of Opioid-Suspected Ems Overdose In Houston Metropolitan Area, 2015-2019: A Bayesian Spatiotemporal Analysis, Cici Bauer, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, Christine Bakos-Block, Kehe Zhang, David Persse, James R Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Opioid-related overdose deaths are the top accidental cause of death in the United States, and development of regional strategies to address this epidemic should begin with a better understanding of where and when overdoses are occurring.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this study, we relied on emergency medical services data to investigate the geographical and temporal patterns in opioid-suspected overdose incidents in one of the largest and most ethnically diverse metropolitan areas (Houston Texas). Using a cross sectional design and Bayesian spatiotemporal models, we identified zip code areas with excessive opioid-suspected incidents, and assessed how the incidence risks were associated …

Risk Factors For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Regional United States Case-Control Study., Angeline S Andrew, Walter G Bradley, Daniel Peipert, Tanya Butt, Kwadwo Amoako, Erik P Pioro, Rup Tandan, John Novak, Adam Quick, K Doug Pugar, Komal Sawlani, Bashar Katirji, Todd A Hayes, Pamela Cazzolli, Jiang Gui, Paul Mehta, D Kevin Horton, Elijah W Stommel

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Most amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are considered sporadic, without a known genetic basis, and environmental exposures are thought to play a causal role. To learn more about sporadic ALS etiology, we recruited n = 188 ALS patients from northern New England and Ohio and matched controls 2:1 from the general population of the same regions. Questionnaires evaluated the association between a variety of lifestyle, behavioral (ie, hobbies and activities), and occupational factors and the risk of ALS, including the duration of time between exposure and ALS onset, and exposure frequency. Head trauma was associated with increased ALS risk (adjusted …

Subgingival Microbiome And Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediator Pathway Profiles Are Correlated In Periodontal Inflammation, Chun-Teh Lee, Ruoxing Li, Lisha Zhu, Gena D Tribble, W Jim Zheng, Brittney Ferguson, Krishna Rao Maddipati, Nikola Angelov, Thomas E Van Dyke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Failure of resolution pathways in periodontitis is reflected in levels of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) and SPM pathway markers but their relationship with the subgingival microbiome is unclear. This study aimed to analyze and integrate lipid mediator level, SPM receptor gene expression and subgingival microbiome data in subjects with periodontitis vs. healthy controls. The study included 13 periodontally healthy and 15 periodontitis subjects that were evaluated prior to or after non-surgical periodontal therapy. Samples of gingival tissue and subgingival plaque were collected prior to and 8 weeks after non-surgical treatment; only once in the healthy group. Metabololipidomic analysis was …

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury, Suicide Planning, And Suicide Attempt Among High-Risk Adolescents Prior To Psychiatric Hospitalization, Christina M. Sellers, Antonia Díaz-Valdés, Andrew C. Porter, Catherine R. Glenn, Adam Bryant Miller, Adeline Wyman Battalen, Kimberly H. Mcmanama O'Brien

Psychology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to understand the trajectories of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide plans (SP) in the 90 days prior to inpatient hospitalization, understand the role of NSSI and SP in predicting suicide attempts (SA) on a given day, and to test the interaction between NSSI and SP in predicting same-day SA. Participants included 69 adolescents (77% female, 65% white, 77% Non-Hispanic/Latinx, Mage = 15.77 SDage = 1.00) from an inpatient psychiatric unit. Past 90 day NSSI, SP, and SA were measured using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Timeline Follow Back. First, mixed effect models …

Rapid Induction Of The Unfolded Protein Response And Apoptosis By Estrogen Mimic Ttc-352 For The Treatment Of Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer, Balkees Abderrahman, Philipp Y Maximov, Ramona F Curpan, Sean W Fanning, Jay S Hanspal, Ping Fan, Charles E Foulds, Yue Chen, Anna Malovannaya, Antrix Jain, Rui Xiong, Geoffrey L Greene, Debra A Tonetti, Gregory R J Thatcher, V Craig Jordan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Patients with long-term estrogen-deprived breast cancer (BC), after resistance to tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors develops, can experience tumor regression when treated with estrogens. Estrogen’s anti-tumor effect is attributed to apoptosis via the estrogen receptor (ER). Estrogen treatment can have unpleasant gynecological and non-gynecological adverse events thus the development of safer estrogenic agents remains a clinical priority. Here, we study synthetic selective estrogen mimics (SEMs) BMI-135 and TTC-352, and the naturally-occurring estrogen estetrol (E4), which are proposed as safer estrogenic agents compared to 17β-estradiol (E2), for the treatment of endocrine-resistant BC. TTC-352 and E4 are being evaluated in BC clinical trials. …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Sex Selling And Sex Purchasing Among Adults Seeking Treatment For Cocaine Use Disorder, Emma C Lathan, Judy H Hong, Angela M Heads, Nicholas C Borgogna, Joy M Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Exchange sex places individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) at particularly high risk for deleterious safety and health outcomes. A substance use treatment provider who is aware of a patient's exchange sex behavior is better able to provide appropriate screening, care, and/or referral to risk reduction services. However, little is known about exchange sex, especially purchasing, among treatment-seeking adults with CUD. The current study examined the prevalence and correlates of sex selling and sex purchasing among treatment-seeking men and women with CUD (

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms In Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing, Ikponmwosa Osaghae, Linh K Nguyen, Tong Han Chung, Olivia Moffitt, Yen-Chi L Le, Mark B Suh, Pooja N Prasad, Eric J Thomas, Christine D Gordon, Kevin O Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Understanding the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons receiving COVID-19 testing will help guide mental health interventions. We aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and mental health symptoms at 8 weeks (baseline) after a COVID-19 test, and compare prevalence of mental health symptoms at baseline to those at 16-week follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of adults who received outpatient COVID-19 testing at primary care clinics. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 test results with mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms reported at …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms In Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing, Ikponmwosa Osaghae, Linh K Nguyen, Tong Han Chung, Olivia Moffitt, Yen-Chi L Le, Mark B Suh, Pooja N Prasad, Eric J Thomas, Christine D Gordon, Kevin O Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Understanding the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons receiving COVID-19 testing will help guide mental health interventions. We aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and mental health symptoms at 8 weeks (baseline) after a COVID-19 test, and compare prevalence of mental health symptoms at baseline to those at 16-week follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of adults who received outpatient COVID-19 testing at primary care clinics. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 test results with mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms reported at …

Mir-9-1 Suppresses Cell Proliferation And Promotes Apoptosis By Targeting Uhrf1 In Lung Cancer, Cheng-You Jia, Wei Xiang, Ji-Bin Liu, Geng-Xi Jiang, Feng Sun, Jian-Jun Wu, Xiao-Li Yang, Rui Xin, Yi Shi, Dan-Dan Zhang, Wen Li, Zavuga Zuberi, Jie Zhang, Gai-Xia Lu, Hui-Min Wang, Pei-Yao Wang, Fei Yu, Zhong-Wei Lv, Yu-Shui Ma, Da Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lung cancer is listed as the most common reason for cancer-related death all over the world despite diagnostic improvements and the development of chemotherapy and targeted therapies. MicroRNAs control both physiological and pathological processes including development and cancer. A microRNA-9 to 1 (miR-9 to 1) overexpression model in lung cancer cell lines was established and miR-9 to 1 was found to significantly suppress the proliferation rate in lung cancer cell lines, colony formation in vitro, and tumorigenicity in nude mice of A549 cells. Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) was then identified to direct target of miR-9 …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms In Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing, Ikponmwosa Osaghae, Linh K Nguyen, Tong Han Chung, Olivia Moffitt, Yen-Chi L Le, Mark B Suh, Pooja N Prasad, Eric J Thomas, Christine D Gordon, Kevin O Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Understanding the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons receiving COVID-19 testing will help guide mental health interventions. We aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and mental health symptoms at 8 weeks (baseline) after a COVID-19 test, and compare prevalence of mental health symptoms at baseline to those at 16-week follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of adults who received outpatient COVID-19 testing at primary care clinics. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 test results with mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms reported at …

Correlation Between Concentrations Of Four Heavy Metals In Cord Blood And Childhood Blood Of Jamaican Children, Mohammad H Rahbar, Maureen Samms-Vaughan, Manouchehr Hessabi, Jan Bressler, Shezeen Gillani, Megan L Grove, Sydonnie Shakspeare-Pellington, Katherine A Loveland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study investigated whether the concentrations of four metals [lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), and aluminum (Al)] are correlated in cord blood and childhood blood samples from Jamaican children. Cord blood samples were obtained from 21 pregnant women enrolled in the second Jamaican Birth Cohort Study from July 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011, and blood samples were drawn from their children who participated in a follow up study when the children were 4–8 years old. Correlations were assessed by the Pearson or the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The mean ages of children at the childhood visit and their …

Clinical Prediction Rule For Sars-Cov-2 Infection From 116 U.S. Emergency Departments 2-22-2021, Jeffrey A. Kline, Stacey House, Et Al.

Open Access Publications

OBJECTIVES: Accurate and reliable criteria to rapidly estimate the probability of infection with the novel coronavirus-2 that causes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease (COVID-19) remain an urgent unmet need, especially in emergency care. The objective was to derive and validate a clinical prediction score for SARS-CoV-2 infection that uses simple criteria widely available at the point of care.

METHODS: Data came from the registry data from the national REgistry of suspected COVID-19 in EmeRgency care (RECOVER network) comprising 116 hospitals from 25 states in the US. Clinical variables and 30-day outcomes were abstracted from medical records …

Acute Symptoms Of Mild To Moderate Covid-19 Are Highly Heterogeneous Across Individuals And Over Time, Thomas L. Rodebaugh, Madelyn R. Frumkin, Angela M. Reiersen, Eric J. Lenze, Michael S. Avidan, J. Philip Miller, Jay F. Piccirillo, Charles F. Zorumski, Caline Mattar

Open Access Publications

Background: The symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appear to be heterogenous, and the typical course of these symptoms is unknown. Our objectives were to characterize the common trajectories of COVID-19 symptoms and to assess how symptom course predicts other symptom changes as well as clinical deterioration.

Methods: One hundred sixty-two participants with acute COVID-19 responded to surveys up to 31 times for up to 17 days. Several statistical methods were used to characterize the temporal dynamics of these symptoms. Because 9 participants showed clinical deterioration, we explored whether these participants showed any differences in symptom profiles.

Results: Trajectories varied …

Association Of Circulating Sex Hormones With Inflammation And Disease Severity In Patients With Covid-19, Sandeep Dhindsa, Nan Zhang, Michael J. Mcphaul, Zengru Wu, Amit K. Ghoshal, Emma C. Erlich, Kartik Mani, Gwendalyn J. Randolph, John R. Edwards, Philip A. Mudd, Abhinav Diwan

Open Access Publications

Importance: Male sex is a risk factor for developing severe COVID-19 illness. It is not known whether sex hormones contribute to this predisposition.

Objective: To investigate the association of concentrations of serum testosterone, estradiol, and insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1, concentrations of which are regulated by sex hormone signaling) with COVID-19 severity.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted using serum samples collected from consecutive patients who presented from March through May 2020 to the Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, with COVID-19 (diagnosed using nasopharyngeal swabs).

Exposures: Testosterone, estradiol, and IGF-1 concentrations were measured at …

Procaspase-Activating Compound-1 Synergizes With Trail To Induce Apoptosis In Established Granulosa Cell Tumor Cell Line (Kgn) And Explanted Patient Granulosa Cell Tumor Cells In Vitro, Powel Crosley, Anniina Farkkila, Adrianne L Jenner, Chloé Burlot, Olivia Cardinal, Kyle G Potts, Kate Agopsowicz, Marjut Pihlajoki, Markku Heikinheimo, Morgan Craig, Yangxin Fu, Mary M Hitt

Open Access Publications

Granulosa cell tumors (GCT) constitute only ~5% of ovarian neoplasms yet have significant consequences, as up to 80% of women with recurrent GCT will die of the disease. This study investigated the effectiveness of procaspase-activating compound 1 (PAC-1), an activator of procaspase-3, in treating adult GCT (AGCT) in combination with selected apoptosis-inducing agents. Sensitivity of the AGCT cell line KGN to these drugs, alone or in combination with PAC-1, was tested using a viability assay. Our results show a wide range in cytotoxic activity among the agents tested. Synergy with PAC-1 was most pronounced, both empirically and by mathematical modelling, …

Response To Ibudilast Treatment According To Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Disease Phenotype, Andrew D Goodman, Janel K Fedler, Jon Yankey, Elizabeth A Klingner, Dixie J Ecklund, Christopher V Goebel, Robert A Bermel, Marianne Chase, Christopher S Coffey, Eric C Klawiter, Robert T Naismith, Robert J Fox, Sprint-Ms Investigators

Open Access Publications

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether a treatment effect of ibudilast on brain atrophy rate differs between participants with primary (PPMS) and secondary (SPMS) progressive multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Progressive forms of MS are both associated with continuous disability progression. Whether PPMS and SPMS differ in treatment response remains unknown.

DESIGN/METHODS: SPRINT-MS was a randomized, placebo-controlled 96-week phase 2 trial in both PPMS (n = 134) and SPMS (n = 121) patients. The effect of PPMS and SPMS phenotype on the rate of change of brain atrophy measured by brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) was examined by fitting a three-way interaction linear-mixed model. Adjustment for …

Rna-Seq Identifies Genes Whose Proteins Are Upregulated During Syncytia Development In Murine C2c12 Myoblasts And Human Bewo Trophoblasts, Christopher Azar, Mark C Valentine, Julie Trausch-Azar, Lisa Rois, Moe Mahjoub, D Michael Nelson, Alan L Schwartz

Open Access Publications

The fusion of villous cytotrophoblasts into the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast is critical for the essential functions of the mammalian placenta. Using RNA-Seq gene expression, quantitative protein expression, and siRNA knockdown we identified genes and their cognate proteins which are similarly upregulated in two cellular models of mammalian syncytia development (human BeWo cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast and murine C2C12 myoblast to myotube). These include DYSF, PDE4DIP, SPIRE2, NDRG1, PLEC, GPR146, HSPB8, DHCR7, and HDAC5. These findings provide avenues for further understanding of the mechanisms underlying mammalian placental syncytiotrophoblast development.

Lack Of Association Between Acute Stroke, Post-Stroke Dementia, Race, And Β-Amyloid Status, Lauren N Koenig, Lena M Mccue, Elizabeth Grant, Parinaz Massoumzadeh, Catherine M Roe, Chengjie Xiong, Krista L Moulder, Liang Wang, Allyson R Zazulia, Peggy Kelly, Aylin Dincer, Aiad Zaza, Joshua S Shimony, Tammie L S Benzinger, John C Morris

Open Access Publications

INTRODUCTION: Stroke and Alzheimer disease share risk factors and often co-occur, and both have been reported to have a higher prevalence in African Americans as compared to non-Hispanic whites. However, their interaction has not been established. The objective of this study was to determine if preclinical Alzheimer disease is a risk factor for stroke and post-stroke dementia and whether racial differences moderate this relationship.

METHODS: This case-control study was analyzed in 2019 using retrospective data from 2007 to 2013. Participants were adults age 65 and older with and without acute ischemic stroke. Recruitment included word of mouth and referrals in …

Antigen Presenting Cells Link The Female Genital Tract Microbiome To Mucosal Inflammation, With Hormonal Contraception As An Additional Modulator Of Inflammatory Signatures, Elizabeth H Byrne, Barry L Hykes, Scott A Handley, Et Al

Open Access Publications

The microbiome of the female genital tract (FGT) is closely linked to reproductive health outcomes. Diverse, anaerobe-dominated communities with low

Is Left-Behind A Real Reason For Children's Social Cognition Deficit? An Fnirs Study On The Effect Of Social Interaction On Left-Behind Preschooler's Prefrontal Activation, Keya Ding, Chuanjiang Li, Huibin Jia, Mingming Zhang, Dongchuan Yu

Open Access Publications

The left-behind phenomenon, caused by parent out-migration, has become a common social issue and might lead to long-term and potential risks for children in rural areas of China. It is important to investigate the effect of social interaction on prefrontal activation of left-behind children in China because of possible effects of parent out-migration on children's social cognition. We recruited 81 rural Chinese preschoolers aged 52-76 months (mean = 64.98 ± 6.321 months) preschoolers with three different statuses of parental out-migration (including non-, partially, and completely left-behind children). Using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), we compared behavior and brain activation and in …

Neuronal Activity In Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex During Economic Choices Under Variable Action Costs, Xinying Cai, Camillo Padoa-Schioppa

Open Access Publications

The role of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACCd) in decision making has often been discussed but remains somewhat unclear. On the one hand, numerous studies implicated this area in decisions driven by effort or action cost. On the other hand, work on economic choices between goods (under fixed action costs) found that neurons in ACCd encoded only post-decision variables. To advance our understanding of the role played by this area in decision making, we trained monkeys to choose between different goods (juice types) offered in variable amounts and with different action costs. Importantly, the task design dissociated computation of …

The Kanyakla Study: Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Microclinic Social Network Intervention For Promoting Engagement And Retention In Hiv Care In Rural Western Kenya, Matthew D. Hickey, Elvin H. Geng, Et Al

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Existing social relationships are a potential source of "social capital" that can enhance support for sustained retention in HIV care. A previous pilot study of a social network-based 'microclinic' intervention, including group health education and facilitated HIV status disclosure, reduced disengagement from HIV care. We conducted a pragmatic randomized trial to evaluate microclinic effectiveness.

METHODS: In nine rural health facilities in western Kenya, we randomized HIV-positive adults with a recent missed clinic visit to either participation in a microclinic or usual care (NCT02474992). We collected visit data at all clinics where participants accessed care and evaluated intervention effect on …

Bladder Exposure To Gardnerella Activates Host Pathways Necessary For Escherichia Coli Recurrent Uti, Valerie P O'Brien, Amanda L Lewis, Nicole M Gilbert

Open Access Publications

Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) are a costly clinical problem affecting millions of women worldwide each year. The majority of rUTI cases are caused by uropathogenic

Antibiotic-Driven Intestinal Dysbiosis In Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome Is Associated With Persistently Altered Microbiome Functions And Gut-Derived Bloodstream Infections, Robert Thänert, Anna Thänert, Jocelyn Ou, Adam Bajinting, Carey-Ann D Burnham, Holly J Engelstad, Maria E Tecos, I Malick Ndao, Carla Hall-Moore, Colleen Rouggly-Nickless, Mike A Carl, Deborah C Rubin, Nicholas O Davidson, Phillip I Tarr, Barbara B Warner, Gautam Dantas, Brad W Warner

Open Access Publications

Surgical removal of the intestine, lifesaving in catastrophic gastrointestinal disorders of infancy, can result in a form of intestinal failure known as short bowel syndrome (SBS). Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major challenge in pediatric SBS management. BSIs require frequent antibiotic therapy, with ill-defined consequences for the gut microbiome and childhood health. Here, we combine serial stool collection, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, multivariate statistics and genome-resolved strain-tracking in a cohort of 19 patients with surgically-induced SBS to show that antibiotic-driven intestinal dysbiosis in SBS enriches for persistent intestinal colonization with BSI causative pathogens in SBS. Comparing the gut microbiome composition of …

Rubella Virus Infected Macrophages And Neutrophils Define Patterns Of Granulomatous Inflammation In Inborn And Acquired Errors Of Immunity, Ludmila Perelygina, Amy Musiek, Et Al

Open Access Publications

Rubella virus (RuV) has recently been found in association with granulomatous inflammation of the skin and several internal organs in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). The cellular tropism and molecular mechanisms of RuV persistence and pathogenesis in select immunocompromised hosts are not clear. We provide clinical, immunological, virological, and histological data on a cohort of 28 patients with a broad spectrum of IEI and RuV-associated granulomas in skin and nine extracutaneous tissues to further delineate this relationship. Combined immunodeficiency was the most frequent diagnosis (67.8%) among patients. Patients with previously undocumented conditions, i.e., humoral immunodeficiencies, a secondary immunodeficiency, …

The Association Of Pre-Kidney Transplant Dialysis Modality With De Novo Posttransplant Heart Failure, Colin R Lenihan, Sai Liu, Medha Airy, Carl Walther, Maria E Montez-Rath, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) after kidney transplantation is a significant but understudied problem. Pretransplant dialysis modality could influence incident HF risk through differing cardiac stressors. However, whether pretransplant dialysis modality is associated with the development of posttransplant HF is unknown.

METHODS: We used the US Renal Data System to assemble a cohort of 27,701 patients who underwent their first kidney transplant in the USA between the years 2005 and 2012 and who had Medicare fee-for-service coverage for >6 months preceding their transplant date. Patients with any HF diagnosis prior to transplant were excluded. Detailed baseline patient characteristics and comorbidities were …

Alcohol Consumption And The Risk Of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia In A Us Veterans Population, Hudson M Holmes, Andre G Jove, Mimi C Tan, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic alcohol use is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. However, it is less well understood whether alcohol use is a risk factor for premalignant mucosal changes, namely gastric intestinal metaplasia. We examined the association between various parameters of alcohol use and risk of gastric intestinal metaplasia.

METHODS: We used data from 2084 participants (including 403 with gastric intestinal metaplasia) recruited between February 2008-August 2013 into a cross-sectional study at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. All participants underwent a study upper endoscopy with systematic gastric mapping biopsies. Cases had intestinal metaplasia on …

Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis Increases Resistance Gene Prevalence And Α-Diversity But Decreases Β-Diversity In The Gut Microbiome Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Exposed, Uninfected Infants, Alaric W D'Souza, Eshia Moodley-Govender, Bertram Berla, Tejas Kelkar, Bin Wang, Xiaoqing Sun, Brodie Daniels, Anna Coutsoudis, Indi Trehan, Gautam Dantas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Prophylactic cotrimoxazole treatment is recommended in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed, uninfected (HEU) infants, but the effects of this treatment on developing HEU infant gut microbiotas and resistomes are largely undefined.

METHODS: We analyzed whole-metagenome sequencing data from 163 longitudinally collected stool samples from 63 HEU infants randomized to receive (n = 34; CTX-T) or to not receive (n = 29; CTX-N) prophylactic cotrimoxazole treatment. We generated taxonomic, functional pathway, and resistance gene profiles for each sample and compared microbiome signatures between the CTX-T and CTX-N infants.

RESULTS: Metagenomic analysis did not reveal significant differences in taxonomic or functional pathway …