Digital Commons Network^™

Exercise And Inflammation In Female Survivors Of Breast Cancer: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis With Secondary Mediation Analysis On Body Composition, Francesco Bettariga, Dennis R. Taaffe, Anita Borsati, Alice Avancini, Sara Pilotto, Stefano G. Lazzarini, Pedro Lopez, Luca Maestroni, Umberto Crainich, Enrico Bandini, John P. Campbell, Timothy D. Clay, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Inflammation plays a key role in breast cancer recurrence and mortality by promoting tumor progression. Exercise significantly reduces pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, potentially reducing mortality risk. However, it is yet to be determined whether exercise-induced changes in body composition can modulate inflammatory biomarker responses in the breast cancer setting. Methods: We conducted a secondary mediation analysis based on the findings from our previously published systematic review with meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of exercise on IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and CRP and body composition and anthropometry measures such as lean mass (LM), …

Improving Diet Quality Of People Living With Obesity By Building Effective Dietetic Service Delivery Using Technology In A Primary Health Care Setting: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Deborah A. Kerr, Clare E. Collins, Andrea Begley, Barbara Mullan, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Claire E. Pulker, Fengqing Zhu, Marie Fialkowski, Richard L. Prince, Richard Norman, Anthony P. James, Paul Aveyard, Helen Mitchell, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Megan E. Rollo, Chloe Maxwell-Smith, Amira Hassan, Hayley Breare, Lucy M. Butcher, Christina M. Pollard

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Almost a third of Australian adults are living with obesity, yet most cannot access medical nutrition therapy from dietitians, that is, the health professionals trained in dietary weight management services. Across the health system, primary care doctors readily identify people who may benefit from weight management services, but there are limited referral options in the community. Dietitians are trained to provide evidence-informed dietary treatment of overweight and obesity but are underutilized and underresourced. The chat2 (Connecting Health and Technology 2) trial will test combining new technologies for dietary assessment with behavior change techniques to improve outcomes for people living …

Concept-Based Curriculum: An Evidence-Based Approach To Developing A New Framework For Dietetics Education?, Andrea Begley, Janica Jamieson, Gemma Jenkins, Janeane Dart, Lauren T. Williams, Simone Gibson, Fiona E. Pelly, Hattie H. Wright, Claire Palermo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Concept-based approaches to curricula have been proposed as a solution to this issue, and 56 concepts have been proposed for dietetics curricula. This study aimed to develop a framework for a dietetic concept-based curriculum. Methods: A pragmatic approach was employed by a team of nine experienced Australian dietetic educators. Iterative processes of idea generation, reflection, group discussion, and consensus formation were applied by seven of the academics in a two-day face-to-face workshop and four online meetings to further develop the 56 curriculum concepts previously identified for dietetics by Tweedie et al. The discussions were supported by document analysis and …

Support For Older People Living With Chronic Life-Limiting Illnesses In Rural Ghana, Barbara Adonteng-Kissi, Obed Adonteng-Kissi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Summary: This research aims to address formal support needs of informal caregivers (ICs) in the context of long-term care of older people (OP) living with chronic life-limiting illnesses and examine the relationships of ICs of OP with formal support in rural Ghana. We undertook ethnographic interviews with 15 OP; 15 ICs; and 10 healthcare professionals (HPs) after participatory observations during 6 months of fieldwork. This was supported with daily field notes used to collect the needed data and purposively sampled across Gomoa West District in Ghana. The average age of participants was 76 years. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, using …

Association Of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Levels Below The Sex-Specific 99th Percentile With Late-Life Dementia: The Perth Longitudinal Study Of Ageing Women, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Tiago Pecanha, Craig Sale, Wai Lim, Elizabeth Byrnes, Ee Mun Lim, Simon Laws, Kun Zhu, Carl Schultz, Richard L. Prince, Blossom C.M. Stephan, Mario Siervo, Joshua R. Lewis, Marc Sim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) levels are linked with cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment, both of which are strong risk factors for late-life dementia (LLD). This study examined the association between hs-cTnI levels below the sex-specific 99th percentile for myocardial injury and the incidence of LLD in older women. Methods: 986 community-dwelling women aged ≥70 years without prior LLD and with hs-cTnI < 15.6 ng/L (stratified into quartiles) were included from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women. The primary outcome was incident LLD events, including LLD hospitalisation or death, over 14.5 years obtained from linked health records. Associations between hs-cTnI and LLD outcomes were explored using multivariable-adjusted Cox models, as part of restricted cubic splines. Results: At baseline, participants' mean (±SD) age was 75.2±2.7 years. Over 14.5 years of follow-up, LLD events (n=174, 17.7%), hospitalisations (n=155, 15.7%) and deaths (n=68, 6.9%) were recorded. Compared with those in the lowest quartile (Q1, median 3.1 ng/L), women in the highest quartile of hs-cTnI (Q4, median 7.3 ng/L) had a greater risk of developing LLD-related events (adjusted HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.91), hospitalisation (adjusted HR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.64) and death (adjusted HR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.13 to 4.59), after adjusting for established cardiovascular and dementia risk factors, including apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Conclusion: Among older women, hs-cTnI levels below the sex-specific 99th percentile for myocardial injury were associated with an increased risk of LLD events over 14.5 years. These findings suggest that hs-cTnI may identify older women at higher risk of LLD, capturing both cardiovascular and brain health vulnerability in older age.

Preharvest Application Of Abscisic Acid Promotes Fruit Ripening, Colour Development And Modulates Phenylpropanoid Pathway In Early Maturing ‘Yoho’ Persimmon, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Andrew Woodward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Persimmon is cultivated globally for its distinctive flavour profile and nutritional benefits. Skin colour is one of the important harvest maturity indicators of persimmon fruit, and inadequate colour development in early-maturing cultivars presents significant economic challenges for growers. This study investigated the efficacy of preharvest s-(+)-cis, trans-abscisic acid (S-ABA) spray application on accelerating colour development and improving fruit quality parameters in ‘Yoho’ persimmon. Trees were treated with foliar application of S-ABA at concentrations 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 mg L⁻¹ two weeks before anticipated harvest. Quality attributes of persimmon fruit were subjected to evaluation at one and two weeks …

Validation Status Of Digital Blood Pressure Monitors In Peru: A Comprehensive Assessment With A Validation-Process Algorithm Proposal, Fabian A. Chavez-Ecos, Sandra S. Chavez-Malpartida, Alexander M. Parra-Huaroto, Rodrigo Chavez-Ecos, Kiara Camacho-Caballero, Marcelo Chavez-Ecos, Miguel A. Chavez-Gutarra, Henry Anchante-Hernandez, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), hypertension is the leading cause of death and disability. Accurate diagnosis requires validated blood pressure measurement devices (BPMD). This study aimed to assess the characteristics and validation status of blood pressure measuring devices available for online purchase within Peru. Methods Between September and November 2023, we performed an electronic search of major retailers and online pharmacies. Devices were classified as validated if they were listed in databases recommended by the 2023 European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension or deemed equivalent by the manufacturer. Validation status was …

Associations Of Vegetable And Potato Intakes With Markers Of Type 2 Diabetes Risk In The Ausdiab Cohort, Pratik Pokharel, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Kevin Murray, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Dianna J. Magliano, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan E. Shaw, Joshua Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context: The associations of vegetable and potato intakes with type 2 diabetes (T2D) appear to be nuanced, depending on vegetable types and preparation method, respectively.

Objective: We investigated the associations of total vegetable, vegetable subgroup, and potato intakes with (1) markers of T2D at baseline and (2) incident T2D cumulative over a 12-year follow-up period in Australian adults.

Methods: Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, intakes of vegetables and potatoes were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Associations between vegetable intake and (1) fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload plasma glucose (PLG), updated homeostasis …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of A Serious Game To Deliver Health Education About Invasive Meningococcal Disease: Clustered Randomized Controlled Equivalence Trial, Lauren Bloomfield, Julie Boston, Martin Masek, Lesley Andrew, Donna Barwood, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a serious, vaccine-preventable infectious disease that can be life-threatening. Teaching adolescents about the early detection and prevention of IMD can be challenging in a school environment, with educators reporting they lack confidence or expertise to cover this in the classroom environment. Professional guest educators are an alternative to cover specialist topics such as IMD; however, time and resourcing constraints can mean that these educators are not always available. Serious games may be an alternative to face-to-face education, where complex health information may be delivered via self-directed gameplay. Objective: This study aims to develop a …

Social Relational Notions Of Successful Aging: Contesting Dominant Individualized Conceptions Of Successful Aging By Examining Migrant Intergenerational Lived Experiences, Hien Thi Nguyen, Loretta Baldassar, Raelene Wilding, Bronte Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Objectives: Critiques of the concept of successful aging (SA) include attention to its foundation on an individualized western medical approach that emphasizes personal choice, agency, and lifestyle. This paper aims to examine how individual notions of SA can be linked to, and co-constituted by, relational and intergenerational notions of personhood within the broader socioeconomic, familial, and cultural contexts of migration. Research Design and Methods: Qualitative research was conducted in Australia (2020–2021) with 42 Vietnamese migrants using ethnographic interviews and participant observation. Data analysis applied inductive reasoning and intersectional analysis to investigate the notion of SA from the perspectives …

Twelve Tips To Afford Students Agency In Programmatic Assessment, Janica Jamieson, Dario Torre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Programmatic assessment is gaining traction in health professions education, emphasizing continuous, integrated appraisal to support holistic student development. Despite its adoption, effectively affording student agency within programmatic assessment remains challenging due to longstanding educational practices, entrenched power dynamics and cultural norms favoring educator and institutional control. This article aims to provide strategies to promote student agency in programmatic assessments, essential for modernizing educational practices and preparing self-regulated, lifelong learners. The tips include establishing student–educator partnerships, making power dynamics transparent, designing purposeful and inclusive assessments, and normalizing bidirectional feedback conversations. The strategies emphasize the importance of a growth mindset, effective communication, …

Effectiveness, Acceptability, And Cost-Effectiveness Of Digital Health Interventions For Diabetes Self-Management In Adults With Or Without Hypertension: An Umbrella Review Protocol, Min Zhang, Jiahui Ge, Xinrong Yu, Tian Wang, Fenglan Wang, Madalo Gloria Kalero Kuchawo, Li Ge

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: This review will synthesize evidence on the effectiveness, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of digital health interventions in implementing and maintaining effective self-management among adults (≥ 18 years) with diabetes, with or without comorbid hypertension. Introduction: Diabetes and hypertension are becoming the most challenging global health burdens. Growing evidence underscores the effectiveness of digital health interventions for diabetes and hypertension. However, it is unclear whether these strategies can be recommended to improve diabetes self-management among adults with or without hypertension in primary health care. Inclusion criteria: We will include systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis) examining the effectiveness, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness …

Postharvest Jasmonic Acid And Methyl Jasmonate Dip Treatments Alleviate Chilling Injury And Maintain Quality Of Cold-Stored ‘Black Amber’ And ‘Tegan Blue’ Japanese Plums (Prunus Salicina Lindell), Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Lochlan Buckham, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Peter D. Petracek, Steven Mcartney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: Chilling injury (CI) in Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindell) is a critical cold storage constraint that adversely impacts fruit quality and marketability. Jasmonic acid (JA) and its methyl derivative ‘methyl jasmonate’ (MeJA) are widely studied phytohormones for the mitigation of CI in several fruit crops, whereas their efficacy in Japanese plums remains unexplored. Freshly harvested ‘Black Amber’ and ‘Tegan Blue’ plums were dipped for 1 min in 0 (control), 25, 75 or 250 ppm of aqueous solutions/emulsion of jasmonic acid (JA), methyl jasmonate’ (MeJA) and the ethylene precursor aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and cold stored for 14 and 28 days …

Reduced Achilles Tendinopathy Symptoms (E.G. Stiffness), But Not Pain, Relate To Patient-Perceived Resolution Of Achilles Tendinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Myles C. Murphy, Fletcher Bright, George White, Ruth L. Chimenti, Andrea B. Mosler, Ebonie K. Rio

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

We aimed to determine whether pain, symptoms and/or physical function are associated with perceived recovery in people with current or resolved Achilles tendinopathy. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study, including people who reported having either “current” or “resolved” Achilles tendinopathy. Participants completed an online survey, including the Tendinopathy Severity Assessment- Achilles (TENDINS-A). We used multivariable binary logistic regression and reported odds ratio (OR) to quantify the strength of the association. We included 100 cases (n = 63 current, n = 37 resolved). There were no associations of age, sex, BMI, TENDINS-A (Pain) or TENDINS-A (Physical Function) with whether participants reported …

Can Quantitative Sensory Testing Predict Treatment Outcomes In Hip And Knee Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Individual Participant Data, Myles C. Murphy, Andrea Mosler, Ebonie K. Rio, Molly Coventry, Isaac Selva Raj, Paola T. Chivers, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Fabio Marcon Alfieri, Martin F. Bjurström, Dennis Boye Larsen, Wei Ju Chang, Anne Estrup Olesen, Emma Hertel, Paetur Mikal Holm, Thomas Graven-Nielsen, Cid André Fidelis De Paula Gomes, Marius Henriksen, N. Jennifer Klinedinst, Jerin Mathew, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Guilherme S. Nunes, Helen O'Leary, Håvard Østerås, Ozgul Ozturk, Miklos Pozsgai, Érika Patrcia Rampazo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis can assess the predictive value of data on outcomes at the individual level, offering a potential tool for developing personalized pain management. Pretreatment quantitative sensory testing (QST) may stratify patient groups, which are then linked to treatment outcomes. Our objective was to determine if measures of QST at baseline are related to treatment outcomes (at any time point) for pain and disability in lower-limb osteoarthritis. We performed a systematic review with an IPD meta-analysis. Searches were conducted in 9 databases until May 5, 2023 for intervention studies that measured baseline QST and longitudinal measures …

Cruciferous Vegetables Improve Glycaemic Control Compared To Root/Squash Vegetables In A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial: The Vegetables For Vascular Health (Vessel) Study, Emma L. Connolly, Alex H. Liu, Richard J. Woodman, Armaghan Shafaei, Lisa G. Wood, Richard Mithen, Anthony P. James, Carl J. Schultz, Seng Khee Gan, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Higher cruciferous vegetable (e.g., broccoli) intake is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but limited causal evidence exists. We investigated if cruciferous vegetable intake improved glycaemic control compared to root/squash vegetables in non-diabetic adults with elevated blood pressure. Materials and Methods: This randomized, controlled, crossover trial consisted of two 2-week dietary interventions (300 g/day cruciferous [active] and root/squash [control] soups with standardized lunch/dinner meals) separated by a 2-week washout. Participants were blinded to the intervention allocation. Glycaemic measures were a pre-specified secondary outcome. Flash glucose monitoring measured interstitial glucose every 15-min throughout both interventions. …

Focus On Frailty: Co-Designing Digital Frailty Education With Healthcare Students, Kristiana Ludlow, Sarah Martin, Benignus Logan, Ruth E. Hubbard, Nicola Warren, Olivia Gallagher, Bonnie K. Kwok, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Frailty is prevalent in hospitals and is associated with adverse events and poor health outcomes. In Australia, there is a need for co-designed, multidisciplinary, and contextually relevant frailty education to improve healthcare students’ understanding and knowledge of frailty within the hospital setting. Objective: This study aimed to i) explore healthcare students’ understanding of frailty and their experiences with patients who are frail, and ii) seek healthcare students’ design ideas for the content of a new digital frailty education course.

Methods: Participants were university students enrolled in a health-related degree. Online focus groups and interviews were conducted between August and …

Training Load Influences Gut Microbiome Of Highly Trained Rowing Athletes, B. Charlesson, J. Jones, C. Abbiss, P. Peeling, S. Watts, C. T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Despite the importance of the gut microbiome on physical performance and health, little is known on the impact of training on an athlete’s gut health. Objective: This study investigates the effect of training load on markers of gut health. Methods: Whole stool (24 h) samples were collected from 23 highly trained rowers (mean ± SD; age 19.2 ± 1.1 y; weight 80.1 ± 11.4 kg; height 1.83 ± 0.09 m) following periods of high (HT) and low training load (LT). The microbiome and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were characterized from the whole stool samples. Three-day weighted food records were …

Refinement Of A Published Gene-Physical Activity Interaction Impacting Hdl-Cholesterol: Role Of Sex And Lipoprotein Subfractions, Kenneth E Westerman, Tuomas O Kilpeläinen, Magdalena Sevilla-Gonzalez, Margery A Connelly, Alexis C Wood, Michael Y Tsai, Kent D Taylor, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, James D Otvos, Amy R Bentley, Samia Mora, Hugues Aschard, D C Rao, Charles Gu, Daniel I Chasman, Alisa K Manning

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Large-scale gene-environment interaction (GxE) discovery efforts often involve analytical compromises for the sake of data harmonization and statistical power. Refinement of exposures, covariates, outcomes, and population subsets may be helpful to establish often-elusive replication and evaluate potential clinical utility. Here, we used additional datasets, an expanded set of statistical models, and interrogation of lipoprotein metabolism via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based lipoprotein subfractions to refine a previously discovered GxE modifying the relationship between physical activity (PA) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). We explored this GxE in the Women’s Genome Health Study (WGHS; N=23,294; the strongest cohort-specific signal in the original meta-analysis), the UK …

Diagnostic Delay In Type I Autoimmune Pancreatitis: Clinical, Imaging, Endoscopic And Histologic Predictors Of Timely Diagnosis, Andres Urias Rivera, Travis Josephs, Shilpa Jain, Wasseem Skef, Tara Keihanian, Salmaan Jawaid, Wasif Abidi, Kalpesh Patel, Mohamed O Othman, Fares Ayoub

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can be challenging due to nonspecific symptoms, low sensitivity of serologic markers, and some overlap in presentation with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We aimed to quantify delays in the diagnosis of AIP and identify factors associated with diagnostic delay.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study between 2013 and 2023 of adult patients diagnosed with type 1 AIP based on HISORt criteria. Patients were compared to a randomly selected group of controls with PDAC. Data on clinical presentation, lab results, imaging, procedures, and initial treatment regimen were collected. Timing to diagnosis and predictive …

The Treatment Naïve Microbiome Of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis And Microbial Therapeutics: A Humbling Challenge, Richard Kellermayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Eradication Rates Of Empiric Helicobacter Pylori Treatment Regimens By Race/Ethnicity In A Predominantly Immigrant Us Population, Min J Kim, Isiah Gonzalez, Nia M Choi, David Y Graham, Hashem B El-Serag, Mimi C Tan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Helicobacter pylori infections are mostly treated empirically (without antibiotic susceptibility testing). Determining eradication rates of different treatment regimens can inform antibiotic resistance. Our aim was to examine eradication rates of empiric H. pylori treatments based on treatment regimen, race/ethnicity and previous treatment status in a multiethnic U.S.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with a positive H. pylori test from 7/2021 to 4/2022 at Harris Health (Houston, Texas) who had received treatment and eradication testing within 1 year. We compared eradication rates based on treatment regimen, race/ethnicity, and prior treatment and examined other possible …

Recognition And Management Of Persistent Chylomicronemia: A Joint Expert Clinical Consensus By The National Lipid Association And The American Society For Preventive Cardiology, Seyedmohammad Saadatagah, Miriam Larouche, Mohammadreza Naderian, Vijay Nambi, Diane Brisson, Iftikhar J Kullo, P Barton Duell, Erin D Michos, Michael D Shapiro, Gerald F Watts, Daniel Gaudet, Christie M Ballantyne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Extreme hypertriglyceridemia, defined as triglyceride (TG) levels ≥1000 mg/dL, is almost always indicative of chylomicronemia. The current diagnostic approach categorizes individuals with chylomicronemia into familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS; prevalence 1-10 per million), caused by the biallelic combination of pathogenic variants that impair the lipolytic action of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), or multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS, 1 in 500). A pragmatic framework should emphasize the severity of the phenotype and the risk of complications. Therefore, we endorse the term "persistent chylomicronemia (PC)" defined as TG ≥1000 mg/dL in more than half of the measurements to encompass patients with the highest risk for …

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor And Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Discontinuation In Patients With Ckd, L Parker Gregg, Peter A Richardson, Vijay Nambi, Laura A Petersen, Michael E Matheny, Salim S Virani, Sankar D Navaneethan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Key Points:

1. Treatment discontinuation is common among patients with CKD prescribed sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (discontinued in 37%) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA; discontinued in 47%).

2. Discontinuation of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 RA was associated with recent hospitalizations, Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and vascular disease.

3. Discontinuation of both agents was associated with death and cardiovascular events.

Background: Little is known about the association of discontinuation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) with outcomes in patients with CKD.

Methods: We identified adults with CKD stages 3–4 from 2005 to 2022 in the Veterans …

Association Of Insulin Resistance With Radiographic Lung Abnormalities And Incident Lung Disease: The Framingham Offspring Study, Sarath Raju, Paula Sierra, Vickram Tejwani, Kristen A Staggers, Meredith Mccormack, Dennis T Villareal, Ivan O Rosas, Nicola A Hanania, Tianshi David Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) may be a risk factor for lung disease, but objective evidence is limited. We sought to define the relationship of longitudinal IR with radiographic imaging outcomes and examiner-identified incident lung disease in the Framingham Offspring Study.

Research design and methods: Participants without baseline lung disease underwent repeated measurements of fasting insulin and glucose levels over an average period of 13.6 years, from which time-weighted average HOMA-IR was calculated. Each participant then underwent a cardiac gated whole-lung computed tomography scan, which was analyzed for the presence of emphysema, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs), and quantitative airway features. Incident …

Deletions In The Cdkl5 5′ Untranslated Region Lead To Cdkl5 Deficiency Disorder, Isabel Haviland, Ralph D Hector, Lindsay C Swanson, Aubrie Soucy Verran, Emma Sherrill, Zoë Frazier, Annemarie M Denny, Jenna Lucash, Bo Zhang, Holly A Dubbs, Eric D Marsh, Judith L Weisenberg, Helen Leonard, Milena Crippa, Francesca Cogliati, Silvia Russo, Bernhard Suter, Rajsekar Rajaraman, Alan K Percy, John M Schreiber, Scott Demarest, Timothy A Benke, Maya Chopra, Timothy W Yu, Heather E Olson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pathogenic variants in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene are associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a severe X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Deletions affecting the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of CDKL5, which involve the noncoding exon 1 and/or alternatively spliced first exons (exons 1a-e), are uncommonly reported. We describe genetic and phenotypic characteristics for 15 individuals with CDKL5 partial gene deletions affecting the 5' UTR. All individuals presented characteristic features of CDD, including medically refractory infantile-onset epilepsy, global developmental delay, and visual impairment. We performed RNA sequencing on fibroblast samples from three individuals with small deletions involving exons 1 …

Increasing Surgical Healthcare Utilization For Infants With Congenital Anomalies In Texas, Bea B Jeon, Sarah Peiffer, Shannon M Larabee, Kathleen Hosek, Dailen Alonso, Timothy C Lee, Sundeep G Keswani, Alice King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Congenital anomalies (CAs) impact 3% of live births and account for disproportionately high healthcare costs. While many CAs require multidisciplinary care and surgical intervention, the overall financial impact of infants diagnosed with CA with surgical needs is unknown. We aim to evaluate and characterize the charges of care in infants with CA and surgical needs in Texas.

Methods: A database study using the Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File was performed to query infants (< 365 days) statewide from 1/2021 to 12/2021 for admissions with CA and involved organ system by ICD-10 codes. Encounters transferred to an outside hospital were excluded to avoid systematic double-counting. Descriptive statistics were performed.

Results: Of 376,215 total admissions, 81,666 had surgical needs with OR charges. While non-CA represent the majority of surgical admissions (63,895/81,666; 78.24%), CA-surgical admissions …

A Clinical Practice Review Of Optimizing The Approach For Correction Of Thoracolumbar Deformity— When And How To Perform Anterior Releases And Fusion, Brian M. Phelps, Munish C. Gupta

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Toward Precision Longevity: Aging Interventions In The Single-Cell Atlas Era, Jason B Chen, Miranda C Wang, Shangyu Gong, Hongjie Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

With growing global interest in extending not only lifespan but also healthspan, healthy aging has emerged as a central goal in biomedical research. This review provides an overview of current longevity interventions, including genetic manipulations, dietary restriction, exercise, pharmacological treatments, targeting senescence and cellular reprogramming strategies, as studied in key model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Mus musculus. We examine the limitations and challenges associated with these approaches, particularly their variability across tissues and cell types. Furthermore, we emphasize the critical role of single-cell aging atlas technologies in uncovering cell-type–specific aging patterns and molecular …

Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights From 2024 [Version 3; Peer Review: 2 Approved, 1 Approved With Reservations], Andreas Hartmann, Per Andrén, Cyril Atkinson-Clement, Virginie Czernecki, Cécile Delorme, Simon Morand-Beaulieu, Nanette Mol Debes, Kirsten Müller-Vahl, Peristera Paschou, Natalia Szejko, Apostolia Topaloudi, Kevin J Black

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We summarize research reports from 2024 relevant to Tourette syndrome, which the authors consider the most important or interesting. This working draft aims to submit this content for publication around the beginning of 2025 in the yearly Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights series on F1000Research. The authors welcome article suggestions and thoughtful feedback from readers, who can add a comment by clicking on the rectangular comment box icon to the left of the LOG IN link at the top of this page. For private comments, you can reach us by email ( [email protected] or [email protected]).