Digital Commons Network^™

Diagnosis And Management Of Cardiometabolic Disease After Spinal Cord Injury: Identifying Gaps In Physician Training And Practices, Chinenye Christa Nnoromele, Du Pham, Felicia Skelton, Ryan Solinsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

CONTEXT: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) frequently occurs in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), with growing awareness surrounding the expansive scope of this problem. As CMD has significant morbidity and mortality, early guidelines-based screening and management have been established. However, the extent to which these guidelines have been adopted are unclear.

OBJECTIVE: Describe physicians' screening and management pattern for CMD in patients with SCI, as compared to SCI-specific CMD screening guidelines, and elucidate variables linked to screening and management patterns.

METHODS: SCI medicine-boarded physicians were surveyed on screening timing for CMD following acute SCI, along with their practice pattern and comfort …

Efficacy Of A Smartphone Application Assisting Home-Based Rehabilitation And Symptom Management For Patients With Lung Cancer Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy: A Prospective, Single-Blinded, Randomised Control Trial (Popper Study, Chao Lv, Fangliang Lu, Xiugeng Zhou, Xiang Li, Wenhua Yu, Chune Zhang, Kaishen Chen, Songtao Du, Chao Han, Jia Wang, Yuzhao Wang, Shaolei Li, Liang Wang, Yinan Liu, Shanyuan Zhang, Miao Huang, Dongdong Song, Dachuan Zhao, Bing Liu, Yaqi Wang, Xinrun Cui, Zhiwei Zhou, Shi Yan, Nan Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy can affect patients' pulmonary function and quality of life significantly. No optimal protocol combining patient-reported outcome-based symptom management and postdischarge rehabilitation programme has yet been established. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel smartphone app designed for home-based symptom management and rehabilitation.

Methods: The app was developed based on three modules: a symptom reporting system with alerts, aerobic and respiratory training exercises, and educational material. Four core symptoms were selected based on a questionnaire survey of 201 patients and three rounds of Delphi voting by 30 experts. The authors screened 265 patients …

Organ Of Corti Macrophages: A Distinct Group Of Cochlear Macrophages With Potential Roles In Supporting Cell Degeneration And Survival, Mengxiao Ye, Celia Zhang, Dalian Ding, Guang-Di Chen, Henry J Adler, Rania Sharaf, Bo Hua Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Macrophages are the primary immune cells in the cochlea, essential for maintaining cochlear homeostasis and orchestrating inflammatory responses to pathological events. Although these cells have been found in various parts of the cochlea, their presence in the organ of Corti, a critical structure for acoustic sensing, remains poorly understood. The present study was designed to examine macrophage responses to ototoxic drug-induced cochlear damage and age-related cochlear degeneration, with a particular focus on the pathological conditions that trigger macrophage recruitment into the organ of Corti. We used a model of ototoxicity induced by cyclodextrin, a cyclic oligosaccharide known for its ability …

Exposure Therapy Consortium: Outcomes Of The Proof-Of-Principle Study, Jasper A J Smits, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Rebecca A Anderson, Joanna J Arch, Daniel Badeja, Snir Barzilay, Amanda N Belanger, Thomas Borchert, Emma Bryant, Alane S Burger, Laura J Dixon, Christina D Dutcher, Hayley E Fitzgerald, Bronwyn M Graham, Anke Haberkamp, Stefan G Hofmann, Jürgen Hoyer, Jonathan D Huppert, David Johnson, Baraa Q Kabha, Alex Kirk, Jürgen Margraf, Peter M Mcevoy, Bryan Mcspadden, Jill Newby, Michael W Otto, Santiago Papini, E Marie Parsons, Andre Pittig, Roxana Pittig, Winfried Rief, Svenja Schaumburg, Kiara R Timpano, Lena Waltemate, Andre Wannemüller, Cornelia Weise, Exposure Therapy Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: This paper reports on the outcomes of a proof-of-principle study for the Exposure Therapy Consortium, a global network of researchers and clinicians who work to improve the effectiveness and uptake of exposure therapy. The study aimed to test the feasibility of the consortium's big-team science approach and test the hypothesis that adding post-exposure processing focused on enhancing threat reappraisal would enhance the efficacy of a one-session large-group interoceptive exposure therapy protocol for reducing anxiety sensitivity.

Methods: The study involved a multi-site cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing exposure with post-processing (ENHANCED), exposure without post-processing (STANDARD), and a stress management intervention (CONTROL) …

Moderately Hypofractionated, Preoperative Radiotherapy In Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas (Hyport-Sts): Updated Local Control, Late Toxicities, And Patient-Reported Outcomes, Andrew J Bishop, Devarati Mitra, Ahsan Farooqi, David M Swanson, Caroline Hempel, Tiara Willis, Chris Pearlnath, Wei-Lien Wang, Ravin Ratan, Neeta Somaiah, Robert S Benjamin, Keila E Torres, Kelly K Hunt, Christopher P Scally, Emily Z Keung, Robert L Satcher, Justin E Bird, Patrick P Lin, Bryan S Moon, Valerae O Lewis, Christina L Roland, B Ashleigh Guadagnolo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Moderately hypofractionated, preoperative radiotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (HYPORT-STS; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03819985) investigated a radiobiologically equivalent, moderately hypofractionated course of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) 15 × 2.85 Gy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Here, the authors report longer term follow-up to update local control and report late toxicities, as well as functional and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: HYPORT-STS was a single-center, open-label, single-arm, prospective phase 2 clinical trial that enrolled 120 eligible adult patients with localized STS of the extremities or superficial trunk between 2018 and 2021. Patients received a 3-week course of preoperative RT followed …

Sex And Apoe Ε4 Allele Differences In Longitudinal White Matter Microstructure In Multiple Cohorts Of Aging And Alzheimer's Disease, Amalia Peterson, Aditi Sathe, Dimitrios Zaras, Yisu Yang, Alaina Durant, Kacie D Deters, Niranjana Shashikumar, Kimberly R Pechman, Michael E Kim, Chenyu Gao, Nazirah Mohd Khairi, Zhiyuan Li, Tianyuan Yao, Yuankai Huo, Logan Dumitrescu, Katherine A Gifford, Jo Ellen Wilson, Francis E Cambronero, Shannon L Risacher, Lori L Beason-Held, Yang An, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Guray Erus, Christos Davatzikos, Duygu Tosun, Arthur W Toga, Paul M Thompson, Elizabeth C Mormino, Mohamad Habes, Di Wang, Panpan Zhang, Kurt Schilling, Marilyn Albert, Walter Kukull, Sarah A Biber, Bennett A Landman, Sterling C Johnson, Julie Schneider, Lisa L Barnes, David A Bennett, Angela L Jefferson, Susan M Resnick, Andrew J Saykin, Timothy J Hohman, Derek B Archer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The effects of sex and apolipoprotein E (APOE)-Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors-on white matter microstructure are not well characterized.

Methods: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data from nine well-established longitudinal cohorts of aging were free water (FW)-corrected and harmonized. This dataset included 4741 participants (age = 73.06 ± 9.75) with 9671 imaging sessions over time. FW and FW-corrected fractional anisotropy (FAFWcorr) were used to assess differences in white matter microstructure by sex and APOE ε4 carrier status.

Results: Sex differences in FAFWcorr in projection tracts and APOE ε4 differences in FW limbic and occipital transcallosal tracts were most pronounced.

Discussion: …

Upregulation Of Delta Opioid Receptor By Meningeal Interleukin-10 Prevents Relapsing Pain, Kufreobong E Inyang, Jaewon Sim, Kimberly B Clark, Matan Geron, Karli Monahan, Christine Evans, Patrick O'Connell, Sophie Laumet, Bo Peng, Jiacheng Ma, Cobi J Heijnen, Robert Dantzer, Grégory Scherrer, Annemieke Kavelaars, Matthew Bernard, Yasser A Aldhamen, Joseph K Folger, Alexis Bavencoffe, Geoffroy Laumet

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic pain often includes periods of transient amelioration and even remission that alternate with severe relapsing pain. While most research on chronic pain has focused on pain development and maintenance, there is a critical unmet need to better understand the mechanisms that underlie pain remission and relapse. We found that interleukin (IL)-10, a pain resolving cytokine, is produced by resident macrophages in the spinal meninges during remission from pain and signaled to IL-10 receptor-expressing sensory neurons. Using unbiased RNA-sequencing, we identified that IL-10 upregulated expression and antinociceptive activity of δ-opioid receptor (δOR) in the dorsal root ganglion. Genetic or pharmacological …

Comprehensive Genomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Heterogeneity In Pediatric Alk-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, Timothy I Shaw, Stanley Pounds, Xueyuan Cao, Jing Ma, Gustavo Palacios, John Mason, Sherrie Perkins, Gang Wu, Yiping Fan, Jian Wang, Xin Zhou, Alyssa Obermayer, Marsha C Kinney, Jacqueline Kraveka, Thomas Gross, John Sandlund, Jinghui Zhang, Charles Mullighan, Megan S Lim, Vasiliki Leventaki

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a mature T-cell lymphoma that accounts for 10-15% of childhood lymphomas. Despite the observation that more than 90% of pediatric cases harbor the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement resulting in aberrant ALK kinase expression, there is significant clinical, morphologic, and biological heterogeneity. To gain insights into the genomic aberrations and molecular heterogeneity within ALK-positive ALCL (ALK+ ALCL), we analyzed 46 pediatric ALK+ ALCLs by whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and DNA methylation profiling. Whole-exome sequencing found on average 25 SNV/Indel events per sample with recurring genetic events in regulators of DNA damage (TP53, MDM4), transcription …

Long-Term Symptom Burden In A Young, Ambulatory Cohort After The Omicron Outbreak In China, Simeng Ren, Yumeng Tan, Hongkun Xu, Mian Wang, Rumei Xiang, Jiayue Jin, Baojin Han, Jiaheng Shi, Jingyu Zhang, Jinliang Yang, Xin Tian, Ying Li, Jiaojiao Chen, Wenzheng Zhang, Jingqi Yang, Xin Shelley Wang, Qiuling Shi, Jie Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: At the end of 2022, an outbreak of the Omicron BF.7 and BA.5.2 subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in China. In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the pattern of development of major symptom burden and influencing factors in infected Chinese patients.

Methods: First-time infected outpatients were enrolled from December 7, 2022, to January 11, 2023 (N = 355). The prevalence of symptoms was monitored by a repeated patient-reported quantitative symptom survey over nine months.

Results: At the onset of the infection, the most prevalent symptoms (score ≥1 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale) were fatigue (91.8%), cough (91.8%), …

Characterization Of Additive Gene-Environment Interactions For Colorectal Cancer Risk, Claire E Thomas, Yi Lin, Michelle Kim, Eric S Kawaguchi, Conghui Qu, Caroline Y Um, Brigid M Lynch, Bethany Van Guelpen, Kostas Tsilidis, Robert Carreras-Torres, Franzel J B Van Duijnhoven, Lori C Sakoda, Peter T Campbell, Yu Tian, Jenny Chang-Claude, Stéphane Bézieau, Arif Budiarto, Julie R Palmer, Polly A Newcomb, Graham Casey, Loic Le Marchandz, Marios Giannakis, Christopher I Li, Andrea Gsur, Christina Newton, Mireia Obón-Santacana, Victor Moreno, Pavel Vodicka, Hermann Brenner, Michael Hoffmeister, Andrew J Pellatt, Robert E Schoen, Niki Dimou, Neil Murphy, Marc J Gunter, Sergi Castellví-Bel, Jane C Figueiredo, Andrew T Chan, Mingyang Song, Li Li, D Timothy Bishop, Stephen B Gruber, James W Baurley, Stephanie A Bien, David V Conti, Jeroen R Huyghe, Anshul Kundaje, Yu-Ru Su, Jun Wang, Temitope O Keku, Michael O Woods, Sonja I Berndt, Stephen J Chanock, Catherine M Tangen, Alicja Wolk, Andrea Burnett-Hartman, Anna H Wu, Emily White, Matthew A Devall, Virginia Díez-Obrero, David A Drew, Edward Giovannucci, Akihisa Hidaka, Andre E Kim, Juan Pablo Lewinger, John Morrison, Jennifer Ose, Nikos Papadimitriou, Bens Pardamean, Anita R Peoples, Edward A Ruiz-Narvaez, Anna Shcherbina, Mariana C Stern, Xuechen Chen, Duncan C Thomas, Elizabeth A Platz, W James Gauderman, Ulrike Peters, Li Hsu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common, fatal cancer. Identifying subgroups who may benefit more from intervention is of critical public health importance. Previous studies have assessed multiplicative interaction between genetic risk scores and environmental factors, but few have assessed additive interaction, the relevant public health measure.

Methods: Using resources from CRC consortia, including 45,247 CRC cases and 52,671 controls, we assessed multiplicative and additive interaction (relative excess risk due to interaction, RERI) using logistic regression between 13 harmonized environmental factors and genetic risk score, including 141 variants associated with CRC risk.

Results: There was no evidence of multiplicative interaction …

Integrating Multi-Omics Data To Uncover Prostate Tissue Dna Methylation Biomarkers And Target Genes For Prostate Cancer Risk, Shuai Liu, Jingjing Zhu, Dylan Green, Hua Zhong, Quan Long, Chong Wu, Liang Wang, Youping Deng, Lang Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Previous studies have indicated that specific CpG sites may be linked to the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) by regulating the expression of PCa target genes. However, most existing studies aim to identify DNA methylation (DNAm) biomarkers through blood tissue genetic instruments, which impedes the identification of relevant biomarkers in prostate tissue. To identify PCa risk-associated CpG sites in prostate tissue, we established genetic prediction models of DNAm levels using data from normal prostate samples in the GTEx (N = 108) and assessed associations between genetically predicted DNAm in prostate and PCa risk by studying 122,188 cases and 604,640 controls. …

Structured Personalized Oxygen And Supportive Therapies For Dyspnea In Oncology (Spot-On): A Personalized Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol, David Hui, Min Ji Kim, Saji Thomas, Gautam Sachdev, Sanjay Shete, Nisha Rathi, Nicole Hensch, Vera De La Cruz, Amy Ontai, Donald A Mahler, Jie Li, Eduardo Bruera

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Low-flow supplemental oxygen (LFSO), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) are often used for palliation of dyspnea in hospitalized patients. However, it is unclear how patients prefer to use these modalities and how they can be personalized for optimal dyspnea relief. The objective of this randomized clinical trial is to compare the effect of a personalized respiratory therapist (RT)-led intervention, termed SPOT-ON, and enhanced usual care on dyspnea intensity in both hypoxemic and non-hypoxemic hospitalized patients with cancer.

Methods: In this two-arm, parallel group, partially blinded, waitlist-controlled randomized clinical trial, hospitalized patients with advanced cancer and at …

Home Dialysis For Latinx Individuals Living With Kidney Failure: A Qualitative Study Of Interdisciplinary Dialysis Clinicians, Katherine Rizzolo, Rebeca Gonzalez Jauregui, Jade Teakell, Michel Chonchol, Sushrut S Waikar, Lilia Cervantes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Key Points:

1. Individual-level advocacy to overcome structural barriers to home dialysis is key in improving home dialysis access for Latinx individuals.

2. Acknowledging patient influences on dialysis modality choice is critical for Latinx individuals with kidney failure.

3. Early, repeated education from a trusted source is important for Latinx individuals with kidney failure.

Background: Latinx individuals experience two times the incidence of kidney failure compared with non-Latinx individuals and are less likely to use home dialysis therapies. In this qualitative study, interdisciplinary home dialysis clinicians were interviewed to understand the key factors and strategies used by clinicians to improve home dialysis uptake …

Short-Term Health And Safety Outcomes Associated With Digital Hotline Use At Interpersonal Violence-Focused Agencies, Leila Wood, Elizabeth Baumler, Rachel J Voth Schrag, Aly Kramer Jacobs, Jeff R Temple, Erin Clark

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Community organizations strive to help survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), stalking, sexual assault and human trafficking address health and safety needs. Hotline, offered by local agencies, is the first line of support for survivors to address needs. Increasingly, hotline is offered in digital formats (chat and text) to meet the emergent needs of survivors. Despite the growing use of digital hotline, little is known about short-term health and safety changes associated with use. Partnering with 2 local agencies in a Southern state, we recruited first-time digital hotline participants to an online baseline and follow-up (6 weeks later) assessment (n …

Psychosocial Impacts Of Non-Fatal Firearm Injuries On Youth: Findings From A Qualitative Study, Annalyn S Demello, Jeff R Temple, Liam De Vassal, Irma Alvarado, Angela Waguespack, Monique R Pappadis, Jong O Lee, Leila G Wood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Most adolescents and young adult victims of firearm violence survive, yet the mental and behavioral health outcomes associated with these incidents remain understudied. Given the potential for recurrent violence victimization and long-term psychosocial sequela after being shot, understanding the experiences of firearm injury survivors is a critical area for development. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the development of attitudes, describe psychosocial consequences, and contextualize behavioral and social outcomes among young, gunshot wounded (GSW) patients from a Level 1 trauma center in southeast Texas. A retrospective chart review and prospective recruitment of GSW patients aged 15 to 29 years …

Risk Factors For Diagnostic Change From Glaucoma Suspect To Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma And Vice Versa Over 2 Years, Lillian K To, Nicole V Carrabba, Chaitanya G Kalathuru, Alice Z Chuang, Logan Smith, Robert M Feldman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study investigates the incidence and causes of diagnostic changes from primary open-angle glaucoma suspect (POAGS) to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and vice versa, in clinical practice.

Design: This is a retrospective, single-site, case-control study.

Participants: It includes patients > 40 years of age diagnosed with either POAG or POAGS between 2013 and 2020. Controls had a minimum of 24 months of follow-up without a diagnostic change, whereas cases underwent a diagnostic change from glaucoma to suspect (POAG to POAGS) or from suspect to glaucoma (POAGS to POAG) within 2 years.

Methods: At initial and follow-up visits, diagnosis, treatment, type …

Analyzing Practice Pattern In Treating Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Dual Perspective From National Database And American Shoulder And Elbow Surgeons Parcial Research Group, H Mike Kim, Emily Leary, Champ L Baker, Leslie A Barnes, R Alexander Creighton, Frances Cuomo, Matthew J Dipaola, Abdullah Foad, James M Gregory, Brian F Grogan, Scott G Kaar, Eitan M Kohan, Sumant G Krishnan, Eddie Y Lo, John T Moor, Parcial Group Contributors

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs), often considered less severe than full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs), can be equally symptomatic. Despite the prevalence of PTRCTs, scholarly attention has predominantly focused on FTRCTs, resulting in a relative neglect of PTRCTs. This study aimed to assess the incidence of surgical repairs for PTRCTs in the United States (U.S.) using the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS) database and delineate practice patterns among a group of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) members.

Methods: The NASS database, representing approximately 67% of U.S. ambulatory surgical encounters, was queried to obtain the incidence of PTRCT and …

Sarcomatoid Carcinoma Arising In The Gallbladder Of A 58-Year-Old Female: Case Report, Ahmed A Ahmed, Yan Gao, Rossana Kazemimood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rare malignancy with no specific clinical manifestation. It is characterized by the presence of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components intermingled with each other. This disease usually presents at an advanced stage, and its final diagnosis needs to be confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Sarcomatoid carcinoma is characterized by early metastasis through lymphatics, rapid progression, a high recurrence rate, and a worse prognosis than usual gallbladder adenocarcinoma. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old female patient, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder. Histologically, the epithelial component of the …

Clinical Significance Of "S" Isoform Of Dclk1 In Different Gastric Cancer Subtypes Using Newly Produced Monoclonal Antibody, Mahdieh Razmi, Ali-Ahmad Bayat, Nafiseh Mortazavi, Elham Kalantari, Leili Saeednejad Zanjani, Sima Saki, Roya Ghods, Zahra Madjd

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Background

Materials and methods

What Time Is It? It Is 8 And 1/2 Time: A Rare Case Of Ischemic Stroke Consistent With Eight-And-A-Half Syndrome, Jessica Daza, Marcelo Bedoya-Sommerkamp, Eunbee Cho, Celia Daza, Francisco Gomez, Fatimah Bello, Jia Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Eight-and-a-half syndrome is a rare neuro-ophthalmic syndrome characterized by conjugate horizontal gaze palsy, ipsilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and ipsilateral facial nerve palsy. It results from a lesion affecting the paramedian pontine reticular formation, the medial longitudinal fasciculus, and the abducens nucleus of the same side, at the level of the lower pons. We present a case of a 49-year-old man with 2-week diplopia and 3-day right-sided facial droop, drooling, and dysarthria. CT angiography of the head and neck revealed atherosclerotic disease, with decreased caliber of the basilar artery at the level of the pons. Brain MRI showed a subacute ischemic lesion …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Results: Overall, 9143 patients received …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Treatment For Major Depressive Disorder: A Fully Remote Phase 2 Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial, Rachel D Woodham, Sudhakar Selvaraj, Nahed Lajmi, Harriet Hobday, Gabrielle Sheehan, Ali-Reza Ghazi-Noori, Peter J Lagerberg, Maheen Rizvi, Sarah S Kwon, Paulette Orhii, David Maislin, Lucia Hernandez, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, Jair C Soares, Allan H Young, Cynthia H Y Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a new treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD). This is a fully remote, multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized superiority trial of 10-week home-based tDCS in MDD. Participants were 18 years or older, with MDD in current depressive episode of at least moderate severity as measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (mean = 19.07 ± 2.73). A total of 174 participants (120 women, 54 men) were randomized to active (n = 87, mean age = 37.09 ± 11.14 years) or sham (n = 87, mean age = 38.32 ± 10.92 …

Semi-Automated Virtual Endoscopy Of The Frontal Recess, Ali Jafar, William Yao, Martin Citardi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Virtual endoscopy (VE) is the computer-based reprocessing of diagnostic imaging to simulate endoscopy of an anatomic region of interest. VE of the Frontal Sinus Outflow Tract (FSOT) may assist surgical planning and education.

Method: VE was performed on 16 normal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans for a total of 32 sides using the "path-to-target" tool on the TruDi surgical navigation system (ver. 2.3; Acclarent, Irving, CA, USA). To aid orientation during VE, planning points were placed on the middle turbinate, ethmoidal bulla, and skull base. The VE representation of anatomy and FSOT accuracy was manually confirmed by reviewing the …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Administration Of Anti-Gfap Antibodies Increases Cgrp Expression And Increases Pain Hypersensitivity In Spinal Cord Injured Animals, Georgene W Hergenroeder, Samuel T Molina, Juan J Herrera

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a multitude of cellular and pathological changes including neuronal loss, axonal damage, gliosis, and loss of motor and sensory function. In 40%-70% of patients, SCI can also trigger the development of neuropathic pain. Our previous study demonstrated that SCI patients who developed autoantibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were at increased risk for the subsequent development of neuropathic pain. However, whether GFAP autoantibodies (GFAPab) contribute to the development of neuropathic pain after SCI had yet to be examined.

Objective: Using a mid-thoracic contusion model of SCI in male Sprague-Dawley rats, we examined …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

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

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

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Effect Of Palatoplasty Technique On Otologic Outcomes In Children With Cleft Palate, Shaina W Gong, Paul Hung, Chioma G Obinero, Jose Barrera, Zi Yang Jiang, Matthew R Greives, Zhen Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In patients with cleft palate (CP), the impact of primary palatoplasty technique on otologic outcomes remains a major point of contention. While some studies report improved outcomes after certain techniques of palatal repair, there is a lack of consensus on the most effective procedure.

Objective: We sought to characterize the effects of primary palatoplasty technique on otologic outcomes in children with CP.

Methods: A single institution retrospective review of patients with CP who underwent primary palatoplasty (straight-line repair or Furlow Z-plasty) was performed. Primary outcomes of interest included time to placement of T-tubes, number of tympanostomy tube placements, tympanic …