Digital Commons Network^™

Pruritus Associated With Systemic Sclerosis: A Systematic Review Of Treatment-Based Clinical Trials, Kiana Mortezaei, Rishika Pasula, Meryem Nursoy, Amit Syal, Ioannis Panayiotou, Geeta Kumari, Andreas Chatzitoffis, Pavle Milutinovic, Olajumoke O. Fadugba, Chris T. Derk

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

This paper aims to examine the latest research on treatments for itch (pruritus) in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), identify areas where information is lacking, and propose suggestions for future studies.A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies evaluating therapeutic interventions for pruritus in SSc. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series comprising a minimum of three patients. Data extraction encompassed study design, patient demographics, pruritus assessment instruments including validated and non-validated measures, and clinical outcomes. Studies …

Rna G-Quadruplexes Function As A Tunable Switch Of Fus Phase Separation, Jenny L. Carey, Miyuki Hayashi, Emily A. Welebob, Laura R. Ganser, Huan Wang, Kerry Buckhaults, Jacquelyn A. Depierro, Zheng Shi, James Shorter, Sua Myong, Aaron R. Haeusler, Lin Guo

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Fused in sarcoma (FUS) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to support essential cellular functions, but aberrant phase transitions promote toxic aggregation in neurodegenerative disease. Short RNA oligonucleotides can reverse this behavior, yet the structural determinants that govern RNA activity remain poorly defined. Here, we identify RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) as tunable structural motifs that potently modulate FUS LLPS. rG4 activity depends on its concentration and is modulated by rG4 length and stability: increasing repeat number switches rG4s from inhibitor to nucleator of FUS assembly, whereas chemical modifications that stabilize rG4 enhance inhibitory function and render these activities resilient to ionic perturbation. …

Bottlebrush Polymer Conjugates For Enhanced Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy In Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, Yao Li, Gyu Seong Heo, Yongjian Liu, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Oligonucleotides are a promising class of genetic medicine for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common adult-onset muscular dystrophy. However, poor muscle distribution of nucleic acid drugs following systemic administration has hindered drug development, and no curative treatment currently exists. DM1 pathology requires drug localization to the nucleus, where pathogenic mutant RNA is sequestered, posing additional challenges after cellular internalization regarding endosomal escape and nuclear uptake. Here, we show that a locked nucleic acid oligonucleotide targeting mutant CUG repeat RNA tracts, conjugated to a bottlebrush polymer, exhibits improved muscle distribution and potent correction of DM1-associated splicing dysregulation in a …

Chiari Malformation Type 1 Is Associated With A Smaller Fourth Ventricle Volume - A Multi-Cohort Replication Study, Jarod L Roland, Thanda Meehan, Alexandra Gabliani, Scott Marek, Nico Dosenbach, Joshua S Shimony, Nilay Jakati, Yi Li, Leo Sugrue, Jennifer M Strahle, Chenyang Lu, David D Limbrick, Gabe Haller

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Chiari Malformation Type 1 (CM1) is canonically defined by ectopic position of the cerebellar tonsils with additional anatomic variations described inconsistently. Effect on fourth ventricle volume is controversial with prior studies reporting disparate results and methodologically limited to single institution series that hinder generalizability. This limitation was addressed utilizing multiple data sources, longitudinal replication, and reproducible methods using both FreeSurfer and the deep learning-based DL+DiReCT tools for automated volumetrics. First, we analyzed a local retrospective clinical cohort of individuals with CM1 and controls. Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, we analyzed volumes at baseline then replicated …

Prmt5 As A Key Driver Of Stemness And Metastatic Potential In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Jae Jin Jeong, Mauli Maniar, Shahrzad Ghane, Sakshi Deshpande, Claire Ellis, Ashakumary Lakshmikuttyamma

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) mediates arginine methylation of a wide range of proteins and plays context-dependent oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles. In cancer, PRMT5 represses several tumor suppressor genes, including E-cadherin, TP53BP1, ST7, PTEN, and RB (retinoblastoma). Elevated PRMT5 expression has been reported across multiple cancer types, notably triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In TNBC, high PRMT5 levels are associated with enhanced cancer stem cell self-renewal, increased tumor growth and metastasis, and reduced patient survival. Mechanistically, PRMT5 promotes breast cancer stem cell maintenance and proliferation through stabilization of the transcription factors KLF4 and KLF5. Disruption of the PRMT5-KLF4 axis results in …

Using United States Medicare Program Claims To Identify Reliable Measures Of Low Value Services Influenced By Primary Care Physician Decisions, Chris Fleming, Dmitriy Poznyak, Rhea E. Powell, Claire Erba, Eunhae Shin, Rui Wang, Claire Burkhart, Arkadipta Ghosh, Eugene C. Rich

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Low-value services (LVS) are those that “… provide little to no benefit to patients….”¹ Among an existing set of 31 LVS are invasive procedures not typically performed by primary care physicians (PCPs), and other LVS that may be commonly provided by specialists. To facilitate research on the role of primary care physicians in low-value care, we sought to identify the reliability of two subsets of LVS measures that are more directly subject to PCPs’ decisions. We refer to these as primary care adjacent (“PCA”) LVS measures.

METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study to identify which of a 31-item LVS …

The Transitional Liver Clinic: Study Protocol For A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial, Lindsay Yoder, Elliot B. Tapper, Richard S. Kalman, Mary Rinella, Nicole Bendin, Manisha Verma, Francis Pike, Naga Chalasani, Neha Nalumasu, Eric S. Orman

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with complications of advanced liver disease experience high rates of hospital readmission after discharge. Transitional care models have improved outcomes in other chronic conditions, but their efficacy in liver disease care remains uncertain. This randomized trial evaluates the effectiveness of a tailored transitional care model-the Transitional Liver Clinic (TLC)-in reducing readmissions, improving quality of life, and enhancing patient satisfaction for patients with advanced liver disease.

METHODS: This is a 45-month, stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial enrolling up to 1000 patients with advanced liver disease across 4 academic medical centers. Each site transitions from usual care to the TLC intervention …

Neddylation Maintains Oocyte Quality By Stabilizing Mitochondrial Transcription, Avery A Ahmed, Tessa E Steenwinkel, Bethany K Patton, Peixin Jiang, Matthew D Meyer, Jaspreet K Rishi, Mei Leng, Alexander B Saltzman, Elizabeth S Anaya, Momal Sharif, Laurie J Mckenzie, Laura Detti, Anna Malovannaya, Sean M Hartig, Stephanie A Pangas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related decline in oocyte quality increases the risk of infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key contributor to this decline. Here, we report that oocyte-specific deletion of Uba3, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the E1 NEDDylation-activating complex, causes sterility in mice. Fully grown, germinal vesicle–stage Uba3 conditional knockout oocytes exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, including elevated reactive oxygen species, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, and depletion of mitochondrially encoded RNA transcripts. Proteomic analysis identified alterations in mitochondrial-associated proteins, including enrichment of mitochondrial matrix and respiratory chain components and reduced abundance of electron transport chain complexes. These defects were associated …

Early Adoption Of Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation In Canada: Physician Experiences, Barriers, And Facilitators To Implementation, Harrison Gao, David Liu, Ben B. Levy, Justin Shapiro, Kevin M. Higgins, Diana E. Khalil, Elizabeth E. Cottrill, Courtney Poon, Pabiththa Kamalraj, Justine Philteos, Antoine Eskander

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for thyroid nodules. Despite strong international evidence, thyroid RFA was only approved by Health Canada in April 2023. Understanding the experiences of early adopters can inform the broader adoption of RFA in Canada and other healthcare systems.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation experiences of early adopters of thyroid RFA in Canada and identify barriers and facilitators to adoption.

DESIGN: Multiple methods.

SETTING: All 8 listed RFA facilities in Canada.

PARTICIPANTS: Physicians performing thyroid RFA (n = 9).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey and semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS: Most participants reported …

Non-Tobacco Nicotine Dependence Is Associated With Increased Complications Following Clavicle Open Reduction Internal Fixation, Akin A. Adio, Rahul K. Goyal, Abby Skiena, Mohammad Daher, John G. Horneff, Hafiz F. Kassam, Brian W. Hill, Joseph A. Abboud

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Tobacco dependence is well established to impair bone healing and increase postoperative complications. However, the independent effects of nicotine, separate from combustion-related factors, remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of non-tobacco nicotine dependence (NTND) following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of clavicle fractures, including midshaft and lateral fracture subtypes.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using a large national database. Patients undergoing ORIF of clavicle fractures were identified using procedural and diagnostic codes. Patients with non-tobacco nicotine dependence (e.g., vaping, patches, or gum) were identified and propensity score matched to (1) patients without nicotine …

Sputum Lautropia Is Decreased In Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis, Timothy M. Wilson, Brendan Allen, J. Kirk Harris, Kristine A. Kuhn, Kevin D. Deane, Stephen M. Humphries, Joyce S. Lee, Joshua J. Solomon, M. Kristen Demoruelle

Division of Rheumatology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether lung microbial composition differs between individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary fibrosis (RA-PF) compared to those without fibrosis (RA-no-PF).

METHODS: We enrolled 54 RA patients (22 RA-PF, 32 RA-no-PF) from rheumatology and pulmonary clinics. PF was defined by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings. Induced sputum was analyzed using 16 S rRNA sequencing to identify the relative abundance of sputum bacteria. Taxonomic differences between groups were evaluated using three independent analytic approaches: Mann-Whitney U, DESeq2, and EdgeR, with false discovery rate correction. Logistic regression examined associations between Lautropia abundance and clinical variables.

RESULTS: Individuals with RA-PF were …

Detection, Persistence, And Rising Prevalence Of Oncogenic Viruses Revealed By Wastewater Metagenomics, Harihara Prakash, Ryan K Perez, Matt Ross, Michael Tisza, Sara J Javornik Cregeen, Jennifer Deegan, Joseph F Petrosino, Eric Boerwinkle, Justin R Clark, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Oncogenic viruses cause high-risk cancers in humans and are responsible for nearly 20% of all cancer cases worldwide. Currently, very limited data exist in the realm of wastewater-based viral epidemiology (WBE) for cancer-causing viruses, with existing studies using targeted approaches (i.e., PCR-based approaches) that lack genomic resolution. In this study, we used a hybrid-capture approach to detect, filter, and sequence all known oncogenic virus signals from wastewater samples collected over 3 years (May 2022-May 2025) in 16 Texas cities, covering nearly 25% of the state's population. Once sequenced, we used custom computational tools designed for wastewater metagenomics to assign reads …

Hp1bp3 Loss Links Chromatin Reorganization To Metabolic Vulnerability In Glioma, Brittney Lozzi, Taylor A Gatesman, Pushan Dasgupta, Debosmita Sardar, Yeunjung Ko, Chenyu Mao, Hsiao-Chi Chen, Rachel N Curry, Dongjoo Choi, Carrie A Mohila, Melissa L Bondy, Ganesh Rao, Marco Gallo, Sameer Agnihotri, Benjamin Deneen

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are aggressive brain tumors with poor prognosis, driven in part by metabolic and epigenetic adaptations. Methionine metabolism supports HGG growth by supplying S-adenosylmethionine for methylation reactions, yet how nutrient availability influences chromatin organization in HGG remains incompletely understood. Using an immunocompetent mouse model of HGG, we found that dietary methionine restriction reduced tumor proliferation, extended survival, and induced partial nuclear inversion. We identified Hp1bp3 as a key regulator of tumor growth that functions by interacting with nuclear tethering proteins to mediate chromatin reorganization. Loss of Hp1bp3 results in the upregulation of histone demethylases leading to selective depletion …

Broadly Reactive Human Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Influenza A Nucleoprotein Lack Protective Activity In Vivo, Walter N Harrington, David C Brice, Aaron J Schmitz, Jackson S Turner, Rafael Brent, Philip A Mudd, Ali H Ellebedy, Richard J Webby

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The antibody response to influenza virus infection targets numerous viral proteins, with those specific for the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface glycoproteins being the most extensively studied. Antibodies to HA and NA function as independent immune correlates of protection and form the basis of most vaccine approaches. In contrast, the contribution of antibodies to other viral proteins such as the nucleoprotein (NP) remains unclear, and existing studies have reached conflicting conclusions. In this work, we examined three human monoclonal NP antibodies isolated from plasmablasts of two individuals naturally infected with influenza A virus (IAV) during the 2018-2019 influenza season. …

Hiv-1 Tat-Driven Glutamate Dysregulation: Implications For Cognitive Impairment In Hand, Brenna Duffy, Michael Nonnemacher, Sandhya Kortagere

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) manifest in 15% to 50% of people with HIV, impairing learning and memory and executive function. The chronic generation of HIV-1 Transactivator of transcription (Tat) likely contributes to HAND via direct neuronal toxicity and glial-mediated toxicity. This review summarizes our current understanding of how chronic Tat generation from microglia and astrocytes promote glutamate excitotoxicity.

RECENT FINDINGS: In recent years, the indirect effects of Tat through the activation of glial cells have gained significant interest. This review highlights microglia and astrocytes as HIV-1 reservoirs that release Tat protein in the central nervous system. Specific …

Community Optometrist–Led Monitoring Of Quiescent Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Fenetre Randomized Clinical Trial, Anitta Sharma, Aljazy Jaber, Bishwanath Pal, John G. Lawrenson, Robert A. Harper, Adnan Tufail, Annastazia E. Learoyd, Emily Robinson, Abdel Douiri, Rachel Burman, Ashleigh Kernohan, Sofia Vougioukalou, Simon Read, Judit Csontos, Aled Jones, Sajjad Mahmood, Martin Mckibbin, Janet L. Peacock, Richard Gale, Praveen J. Patel, Pearse A. Keane, Robin Hamilton, Luke Vale, Catey Bunce, Konstantinos Balaskas

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Importance Hospital-based ophthalmology faces increasing demand for long-term monitoring of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Safe redistribution of routine monitoring to community clinicians is relevant to integrated community (primary)–secondary care models.   Objective To examine whether community optometrist–led monitoring of nAMD is noninferior to hospital-based monitoring for detecting disease activity requiring treatment.   Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter, noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted from October 8, 2019, to January 31, 2024, at secondary centers (17 hospitals) and primary centers (60 community optometry practices) with 12-month follow-up. Statisticians were masked to patient grouping. Adults 55 years or older with quiescent AMD …

Macropinocytosis Inhibition Attenuates Profibrotic Responses In Lung Fibroblasts And Pulmonary Fibrosis Models, Ivan O Rosas, Aaron K Mcdowell-Sanchez, Santiago Sanchez, Juan D Cala-Garcia, Alan R Waich Cohen, Elisa Ruiz-Echartea, Scott A Ochsner, Daniel C Kraushaar, Lindsay J Celada, Dandan Sun, Francesca Polverino, Cristian Coarfa, Neil J Mckenna, Konstantin Tsoyi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating chronic lung disorder with limited treatment options. Macropinocytosis is one of the key cellular processes involved in nutrient consumption from the extracellular environment under stress conditions. Here, we studied the role of macropinocytosis in experimental pulmonary fibrosis models. We found that macropinocytosis is increased in human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) derived from patients with IPF. The inhibition of macropinocytosis with 5-(n-ethyl-n-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA) inhibited profibrotic responses in IPF-derived and TGF-β1-stimulated HLFs and reduced pulmonary fibrosis in bleomycin-injured (Bleo-injured) mice. EIPA exerted its antifibrotic effects by regulating amino acid uptake, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 …

Ultrasound-Enabled Refreshable Electrochemical Sensors For Cardiac Biomarker Monitoring, Mayank Garg, Heng Guo, Myeong Namkoong, Elizabeth Zhanov, Connor Malone, Md Saifur Rahman, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Limei Tian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is the gold-standard biomarker for acute myocardial infarction, yet current laboratory-based high-sensitivity assays require centralized infrastructure, trained personnel, and serial testing, limiting their suitability for real-time or continuous monitoring in resource-limited settings. Point-of-care electrochemical sensors have shown promise for rapid cTnI detection, but their reliance on antibodies as biorecognition elements and redox mediator solutions, and single-use operation restricts practical translation. Here, we report an ultrasound-enabled refreshable electrochemical biosensor for sensitive, stable, and repeatable cTnI monitoring. The device employs a cTnI-specific peptide as the biorecognition element, providing enhanced stability during storage, transport, and operation. Label-free electrochemical impedance …

Healthcare Experiences And Needs Of Patients With Pregnancy Of Unknown Location: A Qualitative Study, Kavita Vinekar, Zahava Shimshi, Amanda Doty, Samantha Kolowrat, Rebecca Mercier, Agatha Berger, Kristin L. Rising

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with bleeding or pelvic pain in early pregnancy are commonly found to have pregnancies of unknown location (PUL), with no sonographic findings of intrauterine nor ectopic pregnancy. We aimed to explore healthcare experiences and needs of patients presenting with PUL.

METHODS: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore healthcare experiences among patients with PUL. Patients were eligible if they presented with bleeding or abdominopelvic pain to the OB/GYN office or emergency department and were found to have a PUL followed in an electronic health record tracking list; had an initial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) …

Identifying Social Determinants Of Health Subgroups And Their Associations With Health Outcomes In A Prospective Us Adult Covid-19 Cohort: An Analysis Of The Inspire Registry, Yohali Burrola-Mendez, Eugene Lin, Canada Parrish, Chialing Hsu, Mandy J. Hill, Michael Gottlieb, Kristin L. Rising, Lauren E. Wisk, Nicole L. Gentile, Rachel E. Geyer, Robert A. Weinstein, Michelle Santangelo, Kristyn Gatling, Jonathan W. Dyal, Joann G. Elmore, Robert M. Rodriguez, Phillip Watts, Ji Chen, Zihan Diao, Erica S. Spatz, Kwun Cg Chan, K A. Stephens, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Inspire Group

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To identify subgroups with similar social determinants of health (SDOH) characteristics using latent class analysis (LCA) and examine their associations with physical and mental health, cognitive function and missed workdays at 3 and 6 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesised that intersecting SDOH factors would differentially influence COVID-19-related health outcomes across subgroups.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study from the Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE), with longitudinal data collection and cross-sectional analyses at baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.

SETTING: Multicentre registry across eight US academic medical centres (Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New Haven, Philadelphia, San Francisco and …

Patterns Of Brain-Wide Associations Reflect Socioeconomics, Scott Marek, Meghan Rose Donohue, Nicole R Karcher, Caroline P Hoyniak, Roselyne J Chauvin, Ashley C Meyer, John Miller, Andrew N Van, Anxu Wang, Noah J Baden, Vahdeta Suljic, Kristen M Scheidter, Julia Monk, Forrest I Whiting, Nadeshka J Ramirez-Perez, Samuel R Krimmel, Athanasia Metoki, Rebecca F Schwarzlose, Steven E Petersen, Joan Luby, Benjamin P Kay, Evan M Gordon, Timothy O Laumann, Deanna M Barch, Nico U F Dosenbach, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Previous brain-wide association studies (BWAS) have linked specific environmental and behavioral variables to brain variability. In this work, we mapped 649 variables to children's brains and compared the resultant BWAS maps with each other and with neurobiological reference patterns. Socioeconomic status (SES) showed the strongest brain-wide associations. The SES associations were strongest in motor and sensory but not cognitive regions, a pattern shared across many BWAS maps, including intelligence quotient (IQ). A single, common BWAS brain pattern existed across variables that was most reflective of a child's socioeconomics. Adjusting for SES weakened brain-IQ associations, eliminating the BWAS motor and sensory …

Cryoneurolysis Of Auriculotemporal Nerve For Treatment Of Otalgia, Nikit Patel, Shireen Rabiei, Daniel Moon, Yevgeniya Sergeyenko

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

Otalgia in adults is often secondary to non-otologic pathology, particularly with normal otoscopic examination. Auriculotemporal neuralgia (ATN) is a rare and overlooked cause of secondary otalgia. We present a case of an Army veteran with chronic right otalgia and dizziness following blast-related mild traumatic brain injury who was initially diagnosed with vestibular migraine. Despite significant improvement in headache symptoms with migraine-directed preventive and abortive treatments, otalgia persisted. Auriculotemporal nerve block produced complete but short-lived pain relief, confirming ATN. Cryoneurolysis of the auriculotemporal nerve resulted in complete resolution of otalgia for 2-3 months after first and second treatments. However, transient worsening …

High Mobility Group Motif Proteins’ Role In Fibrosis, Inflammation, And Vascular Injury In Systemic Sclerosis, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Sergio A. Jimenez

Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine Papers and Presentations

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an idiopathic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive cutaneous and systemic fibrosis, severe vasculopathy, and multiple humoral and cellular immunological alterations. The pathogenesis of SSc is highly complex and remains incompletely elucidated. The fibrotic process is a crucial component of SSc and is responsible for organ failure and high mortality. Although an increasing understanding of the fibrotic process has enabled the clinical development of antifibrotic therapeutic agents, these agents have limited clinical efficacy. Recently, the potential role of a group of transcription factors containing a High Mobility Group (HMG) motif, in the development and pathological manifestations …

Targeting Inequities: Addressing Lung Cancer Care Challenges In Africa Through Drug Access, Radiotherapy, And Surgical Innovations, Elvis Obomanu, Chidiebube Ugwu, Muluken Megiso, Tarfa Verinumbe, Colton Jones, Verna Vanderpuye, Nazik Hammad

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in Africa, with survival rates starkly lagging behind global benchmarks because of systemic inequities in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment access. Despite representing only 6% of global smokers, the continent faces a disproportionate burden driven by environmental and occupational carcinogens, aggressive tobacco marketing, and fragmented health care infrastructure. Key challenges include prohibitive delays in accessing targeted therapies like epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and immunotherapies, a dire shortage of radiotherapy infrastructure-0.12 megavoltage units per million people versus the International Atomic Energy Agency's recommended five megavoltage units per million, and a …

Long Term Evaluation Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Local Cooling Anesthesia During Intravitreal Injections: The Cool-2 Trial, Arshad M. Khanani, Samir N. Patel, Charles C. Wykoff, Gun-Ho Kim, Ajay E. Kuriyan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a medical device providing cooling anesthesia to the eye as local anesthesia for intravitreal (IVT) injections.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: As a multicenter, open label, dose escalation clinical trial, subjects receiving at least 3 IVT injections in the study eye were recruited to participate. All patients received subconjunctival lidocaine as their anesthesia for previous IVT injections. Subjects receiving IVT injections were assigned (non-randomized) to four groups in which the cooling device was applied to the conjunctiva at the location of the intravitreal injection: Group 1: -10˚C for 20 seconds; Group 2: -15˚C for 10 seconds; …

The Effect Of Hunger On The Likelihood Of Glucose Excursions In Adults With Overweight Or Obesity: Continuous Glucose Monitoring And Ecological Momentary Assessment Observational Study, Byunggul Lim, Phrashiah Githinji, Yue Liao, Jacob Szeszulski, Alexandra L Macmillan Uribe, Rebecca A Seguin-Fowler, Jane Anderson, Chad D Rethorst

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Maintaining stable glucose levels is important for metabolic health. Glucose excursions (GEs), which are marked increases in glucose following food intake, have been associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction. Individuals with overweight or obesity who do not have diabetes may still show impaired glucose regulation, as reflected in increased glucose variability. Hunger, as a real-time physiological cue, may be associated with subsequent glucose changes and represents a potential target for just-in-time adaptive interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the temporal relationship between self-reported hunger and subsequent glucose dynamics, including the likelihood of GE …

Cure Sickle Cell Initiative Recommendations On Common Data Elements For Sickle Cell Disease Gene Therapy Trials, Sophie Lanzkron, Victoria H. Coleman-Cowger, Alexis A. Thompson, C. Patrick Carroll, Traci Clemons, Michael Debaun, Julie Kanter, Punam Malik, Deepa Manwani, Francis John Pierciey, Mark C. Walters, Sherita Alai

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative (CureSCi), created by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has developed data standards to increase interoperability and meta-analysis of studies specifically investigating gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD). The aims of the CureSCi Common Data Elements (CDE) initiative are to facilitate the development of safe, effective, and accessible gene therapies. Five working groups (WGs) comprising people living with SCD, stakeholders, clinicians, and researchers reviewed current definitions used for SCD clinical studies, including those from the American Society of Hematology, US Food and Drug Administration, PhenX catalog of consensus measures for phenotypes and exposures, …

Text Messaging Support For Patients Diagnosed With Impaired Glucose Tolerance During Pregnancy: Nonrandomized Pre-Post Implementation Study Assessing Impact On Postpartum Transitions Of Care, Natasha R. Kumar, Whitney Bender, Celeste Durnwald

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) identified during pregnancy who do not develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) often do not receive additional interventions for their long-term metabolic risks.

OBJECTIVE: This nonrandomized pre-post implementation study reports the design process and initial program evaluation for Better Follow-up of Impaired Glucose Tolerance (BRIDGE), a 12-week text-based postpartum support program promoting hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) completion and primary care provider (PCP) visit scheduling for patients diagnosed with IGT during pregnancy, assessing improvement in desired postpartum transition milestones. The 19-month program was divided into 2 arms lasting 9.5 months each, BRIDGE- (SMS text messaging support …

In Vivo Orf Overexpression Screening Identifies Ccn4 As A Regulator Of Glioblastoma Growth Validated Across Multiple Models, Pushan Dasgupta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite current multimodal therapies for glioblastoma (GBM), its prognosis remains grim. Thus, a tremendous need exists to identify new genetic drivers that may serve as potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma (GBM). We describe an in vivo overexpression screening strategy to identify drivers of glioblastoma where we have leveraged TCGA datasets to conduct a functional genomics screen of prioritized open reading frames (ORFs) that are overexpressed and/or amplified in GBM. To interrogate these potential drivers within a more relevant physiological context, the screening was accomplished in vivo in an orthotopic patient-derived glioma stem-like cell (GSC) model. Among 5 positive "hits" from …

Impact Of Dolutegravir-Based Regimens On Patient Satisfaction And Quality Of Life Among People Living With Hiv: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mustapha Muhammed Abubakar, Christabel Ogechukwu Okoye, Ruth Jeminiwa, Ifeanyi Kanayo Ifeorah, Lotanna Ezeja, Yusuf Dauran, Sahabi Musa, Silas Usen Joel, Abdurrahman Murtala Bello, Amauche Pearl Ngige, Gabriel Ezenri, Abdulmuminu Isah, Ifunanya Ikhile, Blessing Onyinye Ukoha-Kalu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Background: Despite the global scale up of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens as the preferred first-line therapy for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), no comprehensive evidence exists on its effect on patient-reported outcomes such as Quality of Life (QoL) and patient satisfaction (PS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide the first comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the effect of DTG-based regimens on QoL and PS among PLHIV.

Method: We conducted literature search on PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for peer-reviewed, primary studies published from January 2015 to January 2025. Studies using validated tools to evaluate QoL and PS …