Digital Commons Network^™

Diroximel Fumarate Demonstrates An Improved Gastrointestinal Tolerability Profile Compared With Dimethyl Fumarate In Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Results From The Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase Iii Evolve-Ms-2 Study, Robert T Naismith, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Diroximel fumarate (DRF) is a novel oral fumarate approved in the USA for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. DRF is converted to monomethyl fumarate, the pharmacologically active metabolite of dimethyl fumarate (DMF). DRF 462 mg and DMF 240 mg produce bioequivalent exposure of monomethyl fumarate and are therefore expected to have similar efficacy/safety profiles; the distinct chemical structure of DRF may contribute to its tolerability profile.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the gastrointestinal tolerability of DRF and DMF over 5 weeks in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

METHODS: EVOLVE-MS-2 was a phase III, randomized, double-blind, …

Benefit Of Contact Force-Guided Catheter Ablation For Treating Premature Ventricular Contractions, Ziming Zhao, Xiaowei Liu, Lianjun Gao, Yutao Xi, Qi Chen, Dong Chang, Xianjie Xiao, Jie Cheng, Yanzong Yang, Yunlong Xia, Xiaomeng Yin

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

We evaluated whether an irrigated contact force–sensing catheter would improve the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation of premature ventricular contractions originating from the right ventricular outflow tract.

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with symptomatic premature ventricular contractions who underwent ablation with a contact force–sensing catheter (56 patients, SmartTouch) or conventional catheter (59 patients, ThermoCool) at our hospital from August 2013 through December 2015. During a mean follow-up of 16 ± 5 months, 3 patients in the conventional group had recurrences, compared with none in the contact force group. Complications occurred only in the conventional group (one steam …

Unusual Cause Of Heart Failure In A Patient With Marfan Syndrome: A Late Complication Of Bioprosthetic Valved Graft Replacement, Prerna B Bansal, Hari P Chaliki, Kantha R Kolla, Roger L Click, Alberto Pochettino

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

A high-velocity gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract is most often caused by aortic valve stenosis. We describe the unusual case of a high-velocity gradient caused by a kinked ascending aortic graft in a 69-year-old man who had Marfan syndrome. The patient had a history of ascending aortic aneurysm and had previously undergone replacement of the aortic root and ascending aorta with use of a bioprosthetic valved graft. The kinking was caused by dilation of the native aortic arch. The patient underwent successful hemi-arch replacement and repair of the kinked graft. Late complications and reoperation after proximal aortic surgery …

A Retrospective Matched-Cohort Study Of 3994 Lower Extremity Wounds Of Multiple Etiologies Across 644 Institutions Comparing A Bioactive Human Skin Allograft, Theraskin, Plus Standard Of Care, To Standard Of Care Alone, Geoff C Gurtner, Aimee D Garcia, Katie Bakewell, Jason B Alarcon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Most chronic wounds are related to comorbidities, for which no clinical trials are performed. This retrospective propensity matched-cohort study examined data from 2 074 000 lower extremity wounds across 644 institutions to determine the effectiveness of TheraSkin plus standard of care (SOC; n = 1997) versus SOC alone (n = 1997). Multivariate modelling comparing outcomes such as healing rates, percent area reductions (PARs), amputations, recidivism, treatment completion, and medical transfers were evaluated. A higher proportion of wounds in the treatment group compared with the controls were more likely to close (68.3% versus 60.3%), particularly wounds with exposed structures (64% versus …

Whole Exome Sequencing Of Highly Aggregated Lung Cancer Families Reveals Linked Loci For Increased Cancer Risk On Chromosomes 12q, 7p, And 4q, Anthony M Musolf, Bilal A Moiz, Haiming Sun, Claudio W Pikielny, Yohan Bossé, Diptasri Mandal, Mariza De Andrade, Colette Gaba, Ping Yang, Yafang Li, Ming You, Ramaswamy Govindan, Richard K Wilson, Elena Y Kupert, Marshall W Anderson, Ann G Schwartz, Susan M Pinney, Christopher I Amos, Joan E Bailey-Wilson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer in the United States. In addition to environmental factors, lung cancer has genetic risk factors as well, though the genetic etiology is still not well understood. We have performed whole exome sequencing on 262 individuals from 28 extended families with a family history of lung cancer.

METHODS: Parametric genetic linkage analysis was performed on these samples using two distinct analyses-the lung cancer only (LCO) analysis, where only patients with lung cancer were coded as affected, and the all aggregated cancers (AAC) analysis, where other cancers seen in the pedigree were …

Prognostic Value Of 6-Minute Walk Distance In Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Veterans Affairs Prospective Study, Tarun W Dasari, Bhavin Patel, Siddharth A Wayangankar, David Alexander, Yan D Zhao, Joann Schlegel, Cheuk Leung, Pedro Lozano, Faisal Latif, Udho Thadani

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test is a useful prognostic tool in chronic heart failure. Its usefulness after percutaneous coronary intervention is unknown.

In a prospective observational study, patients underwent a 6MWD test within 2 weeks after percutaneous coronary intervention. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (death, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure admission) at one year. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve were used to determine the 6MWD test's predictive power, and the Youden index was used to measure its effectiveness.

A total of 212 patients were enrolled (98% men; mean age, 65 …

Modified Pull-Through Technique For Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Upgrades In Patients With Occluded Access Veins, Guram Imnadze, Khaled Awad, Wolfgang Kranig, Irakli Giorgberidze

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

The number of procedures for upgrading implantable devices for cardiac resynchronization therapy has increased considerably during the last decade. A major challenge that operators face in these circumstances is occlusion of the access vein. We have modified a pull-through method to overcome this obstacle. Six consecutive patients with occluded access veins and well-developed collateral networks underwent a procedure in which the occluded vein was recanalized by snaring the existing atrial lead via transfemoral access. Upgrading the device was successful in all patients; none had intraprocedural complications. Our experience shows that our modified pull-through technique may be a feasible alternative for …

The Relationship Between Grit And Selected Personality Measures In Medical Students, Gerald A. Isenberg, Andrew Brown, Jennifer Desantis, Jon Veloski, Mohammadreza Hojat

CRMEHC Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that scores on a Grit scale are positively associated with personality measures that are conducive to relationship building (Empathy, Self-Esteem, Activity, and Sociability), but inversely associated with personality measures that are detrimental to interpersonal relationships (Neuroticism-Anxiety, Aggression-Hostility, Impulsive Sensation Seeking, and Loneliness).

METHODS: Convenient sampling was used that included 241 medical students at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University who participated in this ex post facto research. Validated instruments were used to measure Grit, Empathy, Self-Esteem, Activity, Sociability, Neuroticism-Anxiety, Aggression-Hostility, Impulsive Sensation Seeking, and Loneliness. Bivariate correlations and multivariate regression were used to …

Short-Chain Fatty Acids Improve Poststroke Recovery Via Immunological Mechanisms, Rebecca Sadler, Julia V. Cramer, Steffanie Heindl, Sarantos Kostidis, Dene Betz, Kielen R. Zuurbier, Bernd H. Northoff, Marieke Heijink, Mark P. Goldberg, Erik J. Plautz, Stefan Roth, Rainer Malik, Martin Dichgans, Lesca M. Holdt, Corinne Benakis, Martin Giera, Ann M. Stowe, Arthur Liesz

Neurology Faculty Publications

Recovery after stroke is a multicellular process encompassing neurons, resident immune cells, and brain-invading cells. Stroke alters the gut microbiome, which in turn has considerable impact on stroke outcome. However, the mechanisms underlying gut–brain interaction and implications for long-term recovery are largely elusive. Here, we tested the hypothesis that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), key bioactive microbial metabolites, are the missing link along the gut–brain axis and might be able to modulate recovery after experimental stroke. SCFA supplementation in the drinking water of male mice significantly improved recovery of affected limb motor function. Using in vivo wide-field calcium imaging, we observed …

Psychosocial Mediators Of Perceived Stigma And Suicidal Ideation Among Transgender Women, Krishna Kiran Kota, Laura F. Salazar, Rachel E. Culbreth, Richard A. Crosby, Jamal Jones

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Transgender women (TGW) in the U.S. experience high rates of stigma, depression, and elevated rates of suicide. This study examined correlates of suicidal ideation and estimated the conditional indirect effects of perceived stigma and psychosocial mediators on suicidal ideation.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, TGW (N = 92) were recruited through snowball sampling in Atlanta, Georgia. Structured interviews were conducted. Suicidal ideation was assessed by combining two variables that measured suicidal thoughts. Logistic regression models were performed to identify the potential risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. We examined hypothesized psychosocial factors, including anxiety, depression, psychosocial impact …

Preconception Nutrition Intervention Improved Birth Length And Reduced Stunting And Wasting In Newborns In South Asia: The Women First Randomized Controlled Trial., Sangappa M Dhaded, K. Michael Hambidge, Sumera Aziz Ali, Manjunath Somannavar, Sarah Saleem, Omrana Pasha, Umber Khan, Veena Herekar, Sunil Vernekar, S. Yogesh Kumar, Jamie E. Westcott, Vanessa R. Thorsten, Amaanti Sridhar, Abhik Das, Elizabeth Mcclure, Richard J. Derman, Robert L. Goldenberg, Marion Koso-Thomas, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Nancy F. Krebs

Global Health Articles

South Asia has >50% of the global burden of low birth weight (LBW). The objective was to determine the extent to which maternal nutrition interventions commenced before conception or in the 1st trimester improved fetal growth in this region. This was a secondary analysis of combined newborn anthropometric data for the South Asian sites (India and Pakistan) in the Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial. Participants were 972 newborn of mothers who were poor, rural, unselected on basis of nutritional status, and had been randomized to receive a daily lipid-based micronutrient supplement commencing ≥3 months prior to conception (Arm 1), …

Metabolic Dysregulation In The Atp7b-/- Wilson's Disease Mouse Model, Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee, Matthew Robertson, Ying Zhou, Bingning Dong, Zhen Sun, Kang Ho Kim, Hailan Liu, Yong Xu, Nagireddy Putluri, Pradip Saha, Cristian Coarfa, David D Moore, Alli M Nuotio-Antar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Inactivating mutations in the copper transporter Atp7b result in Wilson’s disease. The Atp7b−/− mouse develops hallmarks of Wilson’s disease. The activity of several nuclear receptors decreased in Atp7b−/− mice, and nuclear receptors are critical for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Therefore, we anticipated that Atp7b−/− mice would exhibit altered progression of diet-induced obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance. Following 10 wk on a chow or Western-type diet (40% kcal fat), parameters of glucose and lipid homeostasis were measured. Hepatic metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and correlated with transcriptomic data. Atp7b−/− mice fed a chow diet presented …

Fenugreek Counters The Effects Of High Fat Diet On Gut Microbiota In Mice: Links To Metabolic Benefit, Annadora J. Bruce-Keller, Allison J. Richard, Sun-Ok Fernandez-Kim, David M. Ribnicky, J Michael Salbaum, Susan Newman Phd, Rn, Crrn, Faan, Richard Carmouche, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Publications

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual herbaceous plant and a staple of traditional health remedies for metabolic conditions including high cholesterol and diabetes. While the mechanisms of the beneficial actions of fenugreek remain unknown, a role for intestinal microbiota in metabolic homeostasis is likely. To determine if fenugreek utilizes intestinal bacteria to offset the adverse effects of high fat diets, C57BL/6J mice were fed control/low fat (CD) or high fat (HFD) diets each supplemented with or without 2% (w/w) fenugreek for 16 weeks. The effects of fenugreek and HFD on gut microbiota were comprehensively mapped and then statistically assessed in …

Infection-Induced Signals Generated At The Plasma Membrane Epigenetically Regulate Wnt Signaling In Vitro And In Vivo, Ishfaq Ahmed, Badal Chandra Roy, Laxmi Uma Maheswar Rao Jakkula, Dharmalingam Subramaniam, Prasad Dandawate, Shrikant Anant, Venkatesh Sampath, Shahid Umar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Wnt signaling regulates immunomodulatory functions during infection and inflammation. Employing NCCIT and HCT116 cells, having high endogenous Wnt signaling, we observed elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6 (LRP5/6) and Frizzled class receptor 10 (FZD10) and increases in β-catenin, doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1), CD44 molecule (CD44), and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1). siRNA-induced knockdown of these receptors antagonized TOPflash reporter activity and spheroid growth in vitro and elevated Wnt-inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) activity. Elevated mRNA and protein levels of LRP5/6 and FZD10 paralleled expression of WNT2b and WNT4 in colonic crypts at days 6 and 12 post-infection …

A Randomized Trial Of Erythropoietin For Neuroprotection In Preterm Infants, Sandra E Juul, Bryan A Comstock, Rajan Wadhawan, Dennis E Mayock, Sherry E Courtney, Tonya Robinson, Kaashif A Ahmad, Ellen Bendel-Stenzel, Mariana Baserga, Edmund F Lagamma, L Corbin Downey, Raghavendra Rao, Nancy Fahim, Andrea Lampland, Ivan D Frantz Iii, Janine Y Khan, Michael Weiss, Maureen M Gilmore, Robin K Ohls, Nishant Srinivasan, Jorge E Perez, Victor Mckay, Phuong T Vu, Jean Lowe, Karl Kuban, T Michael O'Shea, Adam L Hartman, Patrick J Heagerty, Penut Trial Consortium

Pediatrics Research and Scholarship

BACKGROUND: High-dose erythropoietin has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect in preclinical models of neonatal brain injury, and phase 2 trials have suggested possible efficacy; however, the benefits and safety of this therapy in extremely preterm infants have not been established.

METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial of high-dose erythropoietin, we assigned 941 infants who were born at 24 weeks 0 days to 27 weeks 6 days of gestation to receive erythropoietin or placebo within 24 hours after birth. Erythropoietin was administered intravenously at a dose of 1000 U per kilogram of body weight every 48 hours for …

Social, Economic, And Political Events Affect Gender Equity In China, Nepal, And Nicaragua: A Matched, Interrupted Time-Series Study, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Mellissa Withers

Faculty Publications

: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels.: This study's objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua.: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report (2006-2017). The GGI incorporated data on economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment for almost 150 countries. We selected China, Nepal, and Nicaragua because of their major changes in GGI and diversity in …

Increased Episodes Of Aspiration On Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study In Children With Nasogastric Tube Placement., Sarah T. Edwards, Linda Ernst, Ashley K. Sherman, Ann M. Davis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Given the limited evidence available, the impact of nasogastric (NG) tube placement on swallowing in children is not well understood. When a child needs to be fed enterally, the current standard is to initially place an NG tube and leave it in place for the first few months of supplemental or total enteral nutrition. It is important to understand if placement of NG tubes has a negative effect on a patient's swallow.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of those children who had videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) to identify all children who had an NG tube in place at …

Fatigue In Young People With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Basmah El-Aloul, Kathy N Speechley, Yi Wei, Piotr Wilk, Craig Campbell

Paediatrics Publications

AIM: To describe fatigue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) from patients' and parents' perspectives and to explore risk factors for fatigue in children and adolescents with DMD.

METHOD: A multicentre, cross-sectional study design was used. Seventy-one patients (all males; median age 12y, age range 5-17y) identified via the Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry, and their parents completed questionnaires. Subjective fatigue was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale by child self-report and parent proxy-report.

RESULTS: Patients with DMD across ages and disease stages experienced greater fatigue compared to typically developing controls from published data. Sleep disturbance symptoms …

Effects Of The Affordable Care Act On The Receipt Of Colonoscopies Among The Insured Elderly, Minjee Lee, M Mahmud Khan, Heather M. Brandt, Ramzi G. Salloum, Brian Chen

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) waived deductibles and eliminated coinsurance for colonoscopies for Medicare beneficiaries beginning in January 1, 2011. This study investigated the effect of the ACA's directive to remove the financial barriers on the receipt of colonoscopies among the elderly insured, who are predominantly covered by Medicare. METHODS: Data from the 2008-2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used to examine the receipt of colonoscopies in two years prior to the implementation of the ACA (2008 and 2010) and three years after the change (2012, 2014, and 2016). Multivariate logistic regressions were estimated to examine the …

Covid-19 Psychosis: A Potential New Neuropsychiatric Condition Triggered By Novel Coronavirus Infection And The Inflammatory Response?, S. J. Ferrando, L. Klepacz, S. Lynch, M. Tavakkoli, R. Dornbush, R. Baharani, Y. Smolin, A. Bartell

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Clinical Mortality In A Large Covid-19 Cohort: Observational Study., M. Jarrett, S. Schultz, J. Lyall, J. Wang, L. Stier, M. De Geronimo, K. Nelson

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Northwell Health, an integrated health system in New York, has treated more than 15,000 inpatients with COVID-19 at the US epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the demographic characteristics of patients who died of COVID-19, observation of frequent rapid response team/cardiac arrest (RRT/CA) calls for non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and factors that contributed to RRT/CA calls.

METHODS: A team of registered nurses reviewed the medical records of inpatients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction before or on admission and who died between March 13 (first Northwell Health inpatient expiration) and April 30, 2020, …

Hepatitis B Seroprevalence In The U.S. Military And Its Impact On Potential Screening Strategies, Paul T. Scott, Robert L. Cohen, David Brett-Major, Shilpa Hakre, Jennifer A. Malia, Jason F. Okulicz, Charmagne G. Beckett, Jason M. Blaylock, Michael A. Forgione, Stephen A. Harrison, Clinton K. Murray, Francisco J. Rentas, Roland L. Fahie, Adam W. Armstrong, Aatif M. Hayat, Laura A. Pacha, Peter Dawson, Beth Blackwell, Angelia A. Eick-Cost, Hala H. Maktabi, Nelson L. Michael, Linda L. Jagodzinski, Steven B. Cersovsky, Sheila A. Peel

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the contemporary epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among military personnel can inform potential Department of Defense (DoD) screening policy and infection and disease control strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: HBV infection status at accession and following deployment was determined by evaluating reposed serum from 10,000 service members recently deployed to combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the period from 2007 to 2010. A cost model was developed from the perspective of the Department of Defense for a program to integrate HBV infection screening of applicants for military service into the existing screening program of screening …

Delay In Diagnosis Of Barrett's Esophagus Cancer During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned., A. J. Trindade, A. Rishi

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Male Figural Rating Scales: A Critical Review Of The Literature, Daniel Talbot, John Cass, Evelyn Smith

Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Figural rating scales are tools used to measure male body dissatisfaction. The present review aimed to examine the design and psychometric properties of male figural rating scales and make recommendations based on findings. Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies that had developed and validated male figural rating scales. Twenty studies were included in this review. Figural rating scales differed in terms of the number of images represented and type of stimuli used (hand-drawn silhouettes, hand-drawn figures, computer-rendered figures, and photograph figures). Reliability and validity evidence varied greatly in strength across all scales. Four of the 20 scales included a …

Global Survey On Pancreatic Surgery During The Covid-19 Pandemic., A. Oba, T. F. Stoop, M. Löhr, T. Hackert, N. Zyromski, W. H. Nealon, M. Unno, R. D. Schulick, M. H. Al-Musawi, M. Del Chiaro, +6 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to clarify the role of pancreatic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic to optimize patients' and clinicians' safety and safeguard health care capacity. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA:The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacts health care systems worldwide. Cancer patients appear to have an increased risk for adverse events when infected by COVID-19, but the inability to receive oncological care seems may be an even larger threat, particularly in case of pancreatic cancer. METHODS:An online survey was submitted to all members of seven international pancreatic associations and study groups, investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pancreatic surgery …

Integrative Qtl Analysis Of Gene Expression And Chromatin Accessibility Identifies Multi-Tissue Patterns Of Genetic Regulation., Gregory R Keele, Bryan C Quach, Jennifer W Israel, Grace A Chappell, Lauren Lewis, Alexias Safi, Jeremy M Simon, Paul Cotney, Gregory E Crawford, William Valdar, Ivan Rusyn, Terrence S Furey

Faculty Research 2020

Gene transcription profiles across tissues are largely defined by the activity of regulatory elements, most of which correspond to regions of accessible chromatin. Regulatory element activity is in turn modulated by genetic variation, resulting in variable transcription rates across individuals. The interplay of these factors, however, is poorly understood. Here we characterize expression and chromatin state dynamics across three tissues-liver, lung, and kidney-in 47 strains of the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse population, examining the regulation of these dynamics by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and chromatin QTL (cQTL). QTL whose allelic effects were consistent across tissues were detected for 1,101 …

Quality Of Life Of Adults With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury In Mainland China: A Cross-Sectional Study, Fengshui Chang, Haixia Xie, Qi Zhang, Mei Sun, Yuhui Yang, Gang Chen, Huifang Wang, Chengyue Li, Jun Lu

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with chronic spinal cord injury in mainland China.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: A total of 247 adults ≥ 1 year post-SCI in mainland China.

Methods: The World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and the add-on modules on disability-related QoL (WHOQOL-DIS) were used to assess quality of life. Anxiety/depression was measured using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale. Quality of life was compared with that of reference populations from China, Korea, the international field trial (23 countries). Multivariate linear regression was conducted to determine the factors that might …

Latinx/@ Immigrant Inclusion Trajectories: Individual Agency, Structural Constraints, And The Role Of Community-Based Organizations In Immigrant Mobilities., Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, Julia Meredith Hess, Norma Casas, Dulce Medina, Margarita Galvis, Diana Anahi Torres, Alexis J. Handal, Annette Carreon-Fuentes, Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant, Mario J. Chavez, Felipe Rodriguez, Jessica R. Goodkind

Pediatrics Research and Scholarship

Immigration is at the forefront of national, state, and local policy struggles in the United States, and Latinx/@ immigrants have experienced increased deportations, detention, and individual threats. A mobilities perspective allows analysis to extend our view of migration beyond frameworks confined to pre- and postmigration, examining trajectories of social inclusion and exclusion that are influenced by multiple factors in the receiving country. The Immigrant Well-being Project, a community-based participatory research project involving university faculty, students, staff, and representatives from 4 community-based organizations (CBOs), was initiated in New Mexico in 2017 to better understand and promote Latinx/@ immigrant mental health and …

Current Smoking With Or Without Chronic Bronchitis Is Independently Associated With Goblet Cell Hyperplasia In Healthy Smokers And Copd Subjects, Victor Kim, Stephanie Jeong, Huaqing Zhao, Mehmet Kesimer, Richard C. Boucher, J. Michael Wells, Stephanie A. Christenson, Meilan K. Han, Mark Dransfield, Robert Paine, Christopher B. Cooper, Igor Barjaktarevic, Russell Bowler, Jeffrey L. Curtis, Robert J. Kaner, Sarah L. O'Beirne, Wanda K. O'Neal, Stephen I. Rennard, Fernando J. Martinez, Prescott G. Woodruff

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

COPD, chronic bronchitis (CB) and active smoking have all been associated with goblet cell hyperplasia (GCH) in small studies. Active smoking is strongly associated with CB, but there is a disconnect between CB clinical symptoms and pathology. Chronic cough and sputum production poorly correlate with the presence of GCH or COPD. We hypothesized that the primary determinant of GCH in ever smokers with or without airflow obstruction is active smoking. Goblet Cell Density (GCD) was measured in 71 current or former smokers [32 subjects without COPD and 39 COPD subjects]. Endobronchial mucosal biopsies were stained with Periodic Acid Schiff-Alcian Blue, …

Heme Metabolism Genes Downregulated In Copd Cachexia, Ava C. Wilson, Preeti L. Kumar, Sool Lee, Margaret M. Parker, Itika Arora, Jarrett D. Morrow, Emiel F.M. Wouters, Richard Casaburi, Stephen I. Rennard, David A. Lomas, Alvar Agusti, Ruth Tal-Singer, Mark T. Dransfield, J. Michael Wells, Surya P. Bhatt, George Washko, Victor J. Thannickal, Hemant K. Tiwari, Craig P. Hersh, Peter J. Castaldi, Edwin K. Silverman, Merry-Lynn N. Mcdonald

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

INTRODUCTION: Cachexia contributes to increased mortality and reduced quality of life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and may be associated with underlying gene expression changes. Our goal was to identify differential gene expression signatures associated with COPD cachexia in current and former smokers.

METHODS: We analyzed whole-blood gene expression data from participants with COPD in a discovery cohort (COPDGene, N = 400) and assessed replication (ECLIPSE, N = 114). To approximate the consensus definition using available criteria, cachexia was defined as weight-loss > 5% in the past 12 months or low body mass index (BMI) (<  20 kg/m

RESULTS: The prevalence of …