Digital Commons Network^™

Preterm Birth Alters The Feeding-Induced Activation Of Akt Signaling In The Muscle Of Neonatal Piglets, Agus Suryawan, Marko Rudar, Jane K Naberhuis, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Postnatal lean mass accretion is commonly reduced in preterm infants. This study investigated mechanisms involved in the blunted feeding-induced activation of Akt in the skeletal muscle of preterm pigs that contributes to lower protein synthesis rates.

METHODS: On day 3 following cesarean section, preterm and term piglets were fasted or fed an enteral meal. Activation of Akt signaling pathways in skeletal muscle was determined.

RESULTS: Akt1 and Akt2, but not Akt3, phosphorylation were lower in the skeletal muscle of preterm than in term pigs (P < 0.05). Activation of Akt-positive regulators, PDK1 and mTORC2, but not FAK, were lower in preterm than in term (P < 0.05). The formation of Akt complexes with GAPDH and Hsp90 and the abundance of Ubl4A were lower in preterm than in term (P < 0.05). The abundance of Akt inhibitors, PHLPP and SHIP2, but not PTEN and IP6K1, were higher in preterm than in term pigs (P < 0.05). PP2A activation was inhibited by feeding in term but not in preterm pigs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that preterm birth impairs regulatory components involved in Akt activation, …

Physiological Age By Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Electrocardiograms As A Novel Risk Factor Of Mortality In Kidney Transplant Candidates, Elizabeth C Lorenz, Isabella Zaniletti, Bradley K Johnson, Tanya M Petterson, Walter K Kremers, Carrie A Schinstock, Hatem Amer, Andrea L Cheville, Nathan K Lebrasseur, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Sankar D Navaneethan, Abraham Baez-Suarez, Zachi I Attia, Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, Paul A Friedman, Cassie C Kennedy, Andrew D Rule

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Mortality risk assessment before kidney transplantation (KT) is imperfect. An emerging risk factor for death in nontransplant populations is physiological age as determined by the application of artificial intelligence to the electrocardiogram (ECG). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ECG age and KT waitlist mortality.

METHODS: We applied a previously developed convolutional neural network to the ECGs of KT candidates evaluated 2014 to 2019 to determine ECG age. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to examine whether ECG age was associated with waitlist mortality.

RESULTS: Of the 2183 patients evaluated, 59.1% were male, …

Divergent Clinical Presentations And Outcomes Among Children And Adolescents With Kaposi Sarcoma In Malawi And Tanzania, Liane R Campbell, Allison Silverstein, Erin Peckham-Gregory, William Kamiyango, Jimmy Villiera, Casey L Mcatee, Jason M Bacha, Carrie L Kovarik, Parth S Mehta, Toni Chanroo, Asulwisye Kapesa, Beatrice Malingoti, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nmazuo W Ozuah, Carl E Allen, Michael E Scheurer, Nader K El-Mallawany

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Objectives: The Kaposi sarcoma (KS) T0 versus T1 staging classification does not address the unique clinical features of paediatric KS in human gammaherpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) endemic regions of Africa. This study seeks to define patterns of childhood KS using a paediatric-specific approach.

Methods: The Lilongwe paediatric KS staging classification categorizes disease based on clinical phenotype: stage 1 = mild/moderate KS limited to cutaneous/oral involvement, stage 2 = primarily lymphadenopathic disease, stage 3 = woody edema KS, stage 4 = visceral and/or severe/disseminated mucocutaneous disease. Characteristics and outcomes were evaluated from paediatric referral centres in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Mbeya, Tanzania.

Results: …

Alterations In The Circulating Proteome Associated With Albuminuria, Elizabeth Kiernan, Aditya Surapaneni, Linda Zhou, Pascal Schlosser, Keenan A Walker, Eugene P Rhee, Christie M Ballantyne, Rajat Deo, Ruth F Dubin, Peter Ganz, Josef Coresh, Morgan E Grams

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Significance statement: We describe circulating proteins associated with albuminuria in a population of African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension with CKD (AASK) using the largest proteomic platform to date: nearly 7000 circulating proteins, representing approximately 2000 new targets. Findings were replicated in a subset of a general population cohort with kidney disease (ARIC) and a population with CKD Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC). In cross-sectional analysis, 104 proteins were significantly associated with albuminuria in the Black group, of which 67 of 77 available proteins were replicated in ARIC and 68 of 71 available proteins in CRIC. LMAN2, TNFSFR1B, …

Refugee Women’S Receptiveness For Virtual Engagement On Reproductive Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heike Thiel De Bocanegra, Zahra Goliaei, Nossin Khan, Sereen Banna, Rawnaq Behnam, Sheila K Mody

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC Public Health Program

BACKGROUND: Refugee women who leave their country due to persecution and violence have multiple barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. The COVID-19 pandemic added an additional barrier to in-person reproductive health education, dialogue, and clinical care. This study aimed to assess the potential of using virtual group meetings as a forum for refugee women to learn about and discuss reproductive health concerns such as cervical cancer screening, family planning, childbirth, and postpartum care.

METHOD: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 refugee women and stakeholders to assess factors that impact refugee women's receptiveness for virtual platforms to obtain information …

Actigraphic Correlates Of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms In Adults With Focal Epilepsy, Mark A Abboud, Jessica L Kamen, John S Bass, Lu Lin, Jay R Gavvala, Sindhu Rao, Stephen F Smagula, Vaishnav Krishnan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives:

Disability in patients with epilepsy (PWEs) is multifactorial: beyond seizure frequency/severity, PWEs are prone to a range of neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and somatic comorbidities that significantly affect quality of life. Here, we explored how variations in seizure severity and the burden of self-reported somatic/neuropsychiatric symptoms correlate with disruptions to 24 h activity patterns (rest-activity rhythms [RARs]), determined through wrist accelerometry/actigraphy.

Methods:

Multiday wrist-actigraphy recordings were obtained from 59 adult patients with focal epilepsy (44% male, ages 18–72), who contemporaneously responded to validated psychometric instruments to measure anxiety, depression, sleepiness, and somatic symptoms. We conducted a similar in silico psychometric-actigraphic correlation …

Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Cervical Cancer Stage At Diagnosis: Mediating Effects Of Neighborhood-Level Socioeconomic Deprivation, Itunu O Sokale, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Jane R Montealegre, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Mortality from cervical cancer has declined steadily in the United States over the past several decades due to widespread screening for precancerous and early-stage cervical cancer (ECC), which are significantly easier to treat compared with late-stage cervical cancer (LCC). Unequal screening access continues to cause significant racial/ethnic disparities in cervical cancer diagnosis stage. This study examined the underlying role of neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage as a potential mediator of the association between race/ethnicity and cervical cancer diagnosis stage.

METHODS: We analyzed Texas Cancer Registry data for cervical cancer cases diagnosed among women ages 18 or older from 2010 to 2018. …

Associations Between Socioeconomic Status, Obesity, Cognition, And White Matter Microstructure In Children, Zhaolong Adrian Li, Yuqi Cai, Rita L Taylor, Sarah A Eisenstein, Deanna M Barch, Scott Marek, Tamara Hershey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Lower neighborhood and household socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with negative health outcomes and altered brain structure in children. It is unclear whether such findings extend to white matter and via what mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether and how neighborhood and household SES are independently associated with children's white matter microstructure and examine whether obesity and cognitive performance (reflecting environmental cognitive and sensory stimulation) are plausible mediators.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Data were collected at 21 US sites, and school-based recruitment was used …

Improvements In Physical Function And Pain Interference And Changes In Mental Health Among Patients Seeking Musculoskeletal Care, Wei Zhang, Som P Singh, Amdiel Clement, Ryan P Calfee, Janine D Bijsterbosch, Abby L Cheng

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Among patients seeking care for musculoskeletal conditions, there is mixed evidence regarding whether traditional, structure-based care is associated with improvement in patients' mental health.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether improvements in physical function and pain interference are associated with meaningful improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms among patients seeking musculoskeletal care.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study included adult patients treated by an orthopedic department of a tertiary care US academic medical center from June 22, 2015, to February 9, 2022. Eligible participants presented between 4 and 6 times during the study period for 1 or more musculoskeletal conditions …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Change In Mammographic Density In Each Breast And Its Association With Breast Cancer Risk, Shu Jiang, Debbie L Bennett, Bernard A Rosner, Graham A Colditz

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Although breast density is an established risk factor for breast cancer, longitudinal changes in breast density have not been extensively studied to determine whether this factor is associated with breast cancer risk.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the association between change in mammographic density in each breast over time and risk of subsequent breast cancer.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This nested case-control cohort study was sampled from the Joanne Knight Breast Health Cohort of 10 481 women free from cancer at entry and observed from November 3, 2008, to October 31, 2020, with routine screening mammograms every 1 to 2 …

Patient-Provider Communication About Cognition And The Role Of Memory Concerns: A Descriptive Study, Nikki L. Hill, Emily Bratlee-Whitaker, Heejung Jang, Sakshi Bhargava, Andrea Yevchak Sillner, Justin Do, Jacqueline Mogle

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Early identification of cognitive impairment is an important part of health promotion in aging. However, many older adults do not seek help for cognitive problems until their ability to function independently is substantially impacted. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore older adults' experiences with patient-provider communication specific to cognition as well as compare barriers and facilitators between those with and without memory concerns.

METHODS: We conducted an online survey with individuals aged 65 + years (n = 409; mean age = 71.4(4.73); 54% female; 79% non-Hispanic White), purposively sampled to include those with and without memory …

The Vitamin D Serum Levels In Pregnant Women Affected By Covid-19: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Luiza Szarpak, Stepan Feduniw, Michal Pruc, Michal Ciebiera, Basar Cander, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavah, Łukasz Szarpak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vitamin D can modulate immune responses, and its deficiency is linked to increased autoimmunity and susceptibility to infection. In the general population, it has been observed that serum vitamin D levels are connected with the risk of COVID-19 and its severity. Our study aims to examine reported findings on the effect of vitamin D serum levels on infection of COVID-19 during pregnancy. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. Serum vitamin D serum levels in COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative pregnant women were 24.61 ± 20.86 ng/mL and 24.12 ± 17.33 ng/mL, respectively. In mild vs. …

Progesterone From Ovulatory Menstrual Cycles Is An Important Cause Of Breast Cancer, Herjan J T Coelingh Bennink, Iman J Schultz, Marcus Schmidt, V Craig Jordan, Paula Briggs, Jan F M Egberts, Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson, Ludwig Kiesel, Kirsten Kluivers, Jan Krijgh, Tommaso Simoncini, Frank Z Stanczyk, Robert D Langer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Many factors, including reproductive hormones, have been linked to a woman's risk of developing breast cancer (BC). We reviewed the literature regarding the relationship between ovulatory menstrual cycles (MCs) and BC risk. Physiological variations in the frequency of MCs and interference with MCs through genetic variations, pathological conditions and or pharmaceutical interventions revealed a strong link between BC risk and the lifetime number of MCs. A substantial reduction in BC risk is observed in situations without MCs. In genetic or transgender situations with normal female breasts and estrogens, but no progesterone (P4), the incidence of BC is very low, suggesting …

Association Of Mutation And Expression Of The Brother Of The Regulator Of Imprinted Sites (Boris) Gene With Breast Cancer Progression, Mohammad Salman Akhtar, Naseem Akhter, Arshi Talat, Raed A. Alharbi, Abdulmajeed A. A Sindi, Faisal Klufah, Hanan E. Alyahyawi, Abdulmohsen Alruwetei, Abrar Ahmad, Mazin A. Zamzami, Svs Deo, Syed Akhtar Husain, Osama A. Badi, Mohammad Jahir Khan

Neurology Articles

INTRODUCTION: The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer. The current study analyzed the correlation between BORIS mutations and the expression of the protein in breast cancer cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based study including a total of 155 breast cancer tissue samples and an equal number of normal adjacent tissues from Indian female breast cancer patients was carried out. Mutations of the BORIS gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single standard confirmation …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Education And Procedural Volume Of Fellows In Critical Care Medicine – A Cross-Sectional Survey, Orlando Garner, Kanta Velamuri, Kristen Staggers, Andrea Barbara Braun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way medical education is delivered. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education and procedural volume of critical care and pulmonary critical care fellows.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, internet-based, voluntary, anonymous, national survey of adult critical care fellows and academic attending physicians in critical care and pulmonary critical care fellowship programs in the United States between December 2020 and February 2021. Survey questions covered both didactic and non-didactic aspects of education and procedural volumes. Answers were ranked on a 5-point Likert scale. Survey …

Upregulation Of The Oct3/4 Network In Basal Breast Cancer Is Associated With Its Metastatic Potential And Shows Tissue Dependent Variability, Robin G Rajan, Raisa I Krutilina, Tatyana N Ignatova, Zoran S Pavicevich, Galina M Dulatova, Maria A Lane, Arindam R Chatterjee, Robert J Rooney, Mymoon Antony, Vivian R Hagerty, Nickolay V Kukekov, Khalid A Hanafy, Frank D Vrionis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Adaptive plasticity of Breast Cancer stem cells (BCSCs) is strongly correlated with cancer progression and resistance, leading to a poor prognosis. In this study, we report the expression profile of several pioneer transcription factors of the

Beclin-1-Dependent Autophagy, But Not Apoptosis, Is Critical For Stem-Cell-Mediated Endometrial Programming And The Establishment Of Pregnancy, Pooja Popli, Suni Tang, Sangappa B Chadchan, Chandni Talwar, Edmund B Rucker, Xiaoming Guan, Diana Monsivais, John P Lydon, Christina L Stallings, Kelle H Moley, Ramakrishna Kommagani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The human endometrium shows a remarkable regenerative capacity that enables cyclical regeneration and remodeling throughout a woman's reproductive life. Although early postnatal uterine developmental cues direct this regeneration, the vital factors that govern early endometrial programming are largely unknown. We report that Beclin-1, an essential autophagy-associated protein, plays an integral role in uterine morphogenesis during the early postnatal period. We show that conditional depletion of Beclin-1 in the uterus triggers apoptosis and causes progressive loss of Lgr5+/Aldh1a1+ endometrial progenitor stem cells, with concomitant loss of Wnt signaling, which is crucial for stem cell renewal and epithelial gland development. Beclin-1 knockin …

The First Transcriptomic Atlas Of The Adult Lacrimal Gland Reveals Epithelial Complexity And Identifies Novel Progenitor Cells In Mice, Vanessa Delcroix, Olivier Mauduit, Hyun Soo Lee, Anastasiia Ivanova, Takeshi Umazume, Sarah M Knox, Cintia S De Paiva, Darlene A Dartt, Helen P Makarenkova

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The lacrimal gland (LG) secretes aqueous tears. Previous studies have provided insights into the cell lineage relationships during tissue morphogenesis. However, little is known about the cell types composing the adult LG and their progenitors. Using scRNAseq, we established the first comprehensive cell atlas of the adult mouse LG to investigate the cell hierarchy, its secretory repertoire, and the sex differences. Our analysis uncovered the complexity of the stromal landscape. Epithelium subclustering revealed myoepithelial cells, acinar subsets, and two novel acinar subpopulations: Tfrc^hi and Car6^hi cells. The ductal compartment contained Wfdc2+ multilayered ducts and an Ltf+ cluster formed …

Efficacy Of A Smoking Cessation Intervention For Survivors Of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Or Cervical Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer I Vidrine, Steven K Sutton, David W Wetter, Ya-Chen Tina Shih, Lois M Ramondetta, Linda S Elting, Joan L Walker, Katie M Smith, Summer G Frank-Pearce, Yisheng Li, Sarah R Jones, Darla E Kendzor, Vani N Simmons, Damon J Vidrine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Women who smoke and have a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical cancer represent a vulnerable subgroup at elevated risk for recurrence, poorer cancer treatment outcomes, and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of Motivation And Problem Solving (MAPS), a novel treatment well-suited to meeting the smoking cessation needs of this population.

METHODS: Women who were with a history of CIN or cervical cancer, age 18 years and older, spoke English or Spanish, and reported current smoking (≥100 lifetime cigarettes plus any smoking in the past 30 days) …

Voluntary Wheel Running Promotes Resilience To The Behavioral Effects Of Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress In Male And Female Mice., Elias Elias, Ariel Y Zhang, Abigail G White, Matthew J Pyle, Melissa T Manners

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Besides significant benefits to physical health, exercise promotes mental health, reduces symptoms of mental illness, and enhances psychological development. Exercise can offset the impact of chronic stress, which is a major precursor to the development of mental disorders. The effects of exercise on chronic stress-induced behaviors are contradictory in preclinical studies, primarily due to the lack of data and sex-specific investigations. We sought to evaluate the effects of exercise on chronic stress-induced behavioral changes in both male and female mice. Mice were subjected to an Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (UCMS) paradigm with accessibility to running wheels for 2 h daily. …

Food & Cultural Entrepreneurship: Recipes For Upward Social Mobility Among Emprendedoras Inmigrantes In The Bay Area, Mariel Hernandez

Master's Theses

A qualitative research study explores the experiences of female immigrant entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area including their journey of self-employment and the challenges they have faced based on their sex, migration status and access to social capital and resources. Understanding existing knowledge on migration theory and labor economics, sustainable labor integration, as well as the gendered nature of labor migration, it is determined that female migrants can access upward social mobility through labor markets and entrepreneurship. The study identifies various commonalities between the participants including and their opportunities for social mobility. Based on five interviews with immigrant women, …

Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives Regarding Preferred Modalities For Mental Health Intervention Delivered In The Orthopedic Clinic: A Qualitative Analysis, Abby L Cheng, Ashwin J Leo, Ryan P Calfee, Christopher J Dy, Melissa A Armbrecht, Joanna Abraham

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Although depressive and anxious symptoms negatively impact musculoskeletal health and orthopedic outcomes, a gap remains in identifying modalities through which mental health intervention can realistically be delivered during orthopedic care. The purpose of this study was to understand orthopedic stakeholders' perceptions regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of digital, printed, and in-person intervention modalities to address mental health as part of orthopedic care.

METHODS: This single-center, qualitative study was conducted within a tertiary care orthopedic department. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and May 2022. Two stakeholder groups were interviewed using a purposive sampling approach until thematic saturation was …

The Cellular And Immunological Dynamics Of Early And Transitional Human Milk., Cas Lemaster, Stephen Pierce, Eric S. Geanes, Santosh Khanal, Staci S. Elliott, Allison Scott, Daniel A. Louiselle, Rebecca Mclennan, Devika Maulik, Tamorah Lewis, T Pastinen, Todd Bradley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Human milk is essential for infant nutrition and immunity, providing protection against infections and other immune-mediated diseases during the lactation period and beyond in later childhood. Milk contains a broad range of bioactive factors such as nutrients, hormones, enzymes, immunoglobulins, growth factors, cytokines, and antimicrobial factors, as well as heterogeneous populations of maternal cells. The soluble and cellular components of milk are dynamic over time to meet the needs of the growing infant. In this study, we utilize systems-approaches to define and characterize 62 analytes of the soluble component, including immunoglobulin isotypes, as well as the cellular component of human …

The Child Healthcare At Mater Pediatric Study (Champs): A 2-Arm Cluster Randomized Control Trial Of Group Well Child Care For Mothers In Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder And Their Children, Vanessa L. Short, Diane J. Abatemarco, Erica Sood, Dennis J. Hand, Meghan Gannon, Jobayer Hossain, Neera K. Goyal

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that group-based well child care-a shared medical appointment where families come together as a group to receive pediatric primary care-increases patient-reported satisfaction and adherence to recommended care. Evidence supporting the use of group well child care for mothers with opioid use disorder, however, is lacking. The overall objective of the Child Healthcare at MATER Pediatric Study (CHAMPS) trial is to evaluate a group model of well child care for mothers with opioid use disorder and their children.

METHODS: CHAMPS is a single-site 2-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. A total of 108 mother-child dyads will be enrolled into …

High-Resolution Microbiome Analysis Reveals Exclusionary Klebsiella Species Competition In Preterm Infants At Risk For Necrotizing Enterocolitis., Spencer Coleman, Katrin Unterhauser, Karim Rezaul, Nagender Ledala, Stephanie Lesmes, Melissa J Caimano, Yanjiao Zhou, Eric Jackson, Dawn Gratalo, Mark D Driscoll, Adam P Matson

Faculty Research 2023

Intestinal colonization with Klebsiella has been linked to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but methods of analysis usually failed to discriminate Klebsiella species or strains. A novel ~ 2500-base amplicon (StrainID) that spans the 16S and 23S rRNA genes was used to generate amplicon sequence variant (ASV) fingerprints for Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae species complexes (KoSC and KpSC, respectively) and co-occurring fecal bacterial strains from 10 preterm infants with NEC and 20 matched controls. Complementary approaches were used to identify cytotoxin-producing isolates of KoSC. Klebsiella species colonized most preterm infants, were more prevalent in NEC subjects versus controls, and replaced Escherichia …

Effects Of Prenatal Pesticide Exposure On The Fetal Brain And Placenta Transcriptomes In A Rodent Model, Corina Lesseur, Kirtan Kaur, Sean D Kelly, Karen Hermetz, Randy Williams, Ke Hao, Carmen J Marsit, W Michael Caudle, Jia Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides are among the most extensively used insecticides worldwide. Prenatal exposures to both classes of pesticides have been linked to a wide range of neurobehavioral deficits in the offspring. The placenta is a neuroendocrine organ and the crucial regulator of the intrauterine environment; early-life toxicant exposures could impact neurobehavior by disrupting placental processes. Female C57BL/6 J mice were exposed via oral gavage to an organophosphate, chlorpyrifos (CPF) at 5 mg/kg, a pyrethroid, deltamethrin (DM), at 3 mg/kg, or vehicle only control (CTL). Exposure began two weeks before breeding and continued every three days until euthanasia at gestational …

Biomechanical Models And Mechanisms Of Cellular Morphogenesis And Cerebral Cortical Expansion And Folding, David C Van Essen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Morphogenesis of the nervous system involves a highly complex spatio-temporal pattern of physical forces (mainly tension and pressure) acting on cells and tissues that are pliable but have an intricately organized cytoskeletal infrastructure. This review begins by covering basic principles of biomechanics and the core cytoskeletal toolkit used to regulate the shapes of cells and tissues during embryogenesis and neural development. It illustrates how the principle of 'tensegrity' provides a useful conceptual framework for understanding how cells dynamically respond to forces that are generated internally or applied externally. The latter part of the review builds on this foundation in considering …

Functional Variants Identify Sex-Specific Genes And Pathways In Alzheimer’S Disease, Thomas Bourquard, Kwanghyuk Lee, Ismael Al-Ramahi, Minh Pham, Dillon Shapiro, Yashwanth Lagisetty, Shirin Soleimani, Samantha Mota, Kevin Wilhelm, Maryam Samieinasab, Young Won Kim, Eunna Huh, Jennifer Asmussen, Panagiotis Katsonis, Juan Botas, Olivier Lichtarge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in females is almost double that of males. To search for sex-specific gene associations, we build a machine learning approach focused on functionally impactful coding variants. This method can detect differences between sequenced cases and controls in small cohorts. In the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project with mixed sexes, this approach identified genes enriched for immune response pathways. After sex-separation, genes become specifically enriched for stress-response pathways in male and cell-cycle pathways in female. These genes improve disease risk prediction in silico and modulate Drosophila neurodegeneration in vivo. Thus, a general approach for machine learning on …

A Rapid Review Of The Literature: Cardiovascular Disease Preventive Practices And Rural Black Women, Modjadji M. Choshi, Maria Devalpine

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among Black/African American women. Rural Black women have the highest CVD prevalence and are more likely to have modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity than any other race. Accessible evidence-based culture-appropriate self-care programs for risk reduction and CVD prevention can address these disparities. This rapid review aims to provide a comprehensive collection of such programs. Methods. Searches were performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Psychinfo-Embase, and Scopus for studies reporting CVD prevention programs for rural Black women. Three articles met the inclusion criteria, with …

Effects Of A Virtual Voice-Based Coach Delivering Problem-Solving Treatment On Emotional Distress And Brain Function: A Pilot Rct In Depression And Anxiety, Thomas Kannampallil, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Consumer-based voice assistants have the ability to deliver evidence-based treatment, but their therapeutic potential is largely unknown. In a pilot trial of a virtual voice-based coach, Lumen, delivering problem-solving treatment, adults with mild-to-moderate depression and/or anxiety were randomized to the Lumen intervention (n = 42) or waitlist control (n = 21). The main outcomes included changes in neural measures of emotional reactivity and cognitive control, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] symptom scores over 16 weeks. Participants were 37.8 years (SD = 12.4), 68% women, 25% Black, 24% Latino, and 11% Asian. Activation of the right dlPFC (neural region …