Digital Commons Network^™

A Murine Model Of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Demonstrates Compromised Limb Function In The Ischemic Hind Limb, Saran Lotfollahzadeh, Herreet Paul, Joshua Bonifacio, Ricardo Almiron, Isaac Hockestra, Kylla Przekop, Trent Yamamoto, Maria Carmen Piqueras, Wenqing Yin, Kashvi Sethuraman, Asha Jose, Marina Malikova, Jeffrey J Siracuse, Mostafa Belghasem, Howard Cabral, Nazish Sayed, Vipul C Chitalia

Faculty and Staff Publications

Key Points:

1. Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) is a global public health problem; however, its mediators remain poorly known, in part due to the lack of a reliable animal model.

2. A combination of high fat and adenine diet recapitulate some of the CKD and metabolic phenotypes of CKM.

3. This model also demonstrates myocardial fibrosis and peripheral artery disease with sex-based differences and can be leveraged to probe mechanisms of CKM.

Background: Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a public health problem in the United States and results in premature cardiovascular disease at a relatively preserved GFR. The molecular mediators of CKM are poorly understood, partly …

The Sport Publication Observational Research Tool (Sport): An Objective Tool To Score The Methodological Quality Of Observational Clinical Sports Medicine Research, Andrew W Kuhn, Paul M Inclan, Ameer A Haider, Michele N Christy, Robert Brophy, Matthew Smith, Matthew J Matava, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: A critical component of conducting systematic reviews or meta-analyses is assessing the methodological quality and bias of included studies. Several methodological quality assessment tools have been developed; however, these tools may not be relevant to observational sports medicine research, which carries numerous unique nuances and biases.

PURPOSE: To develop the Sport Publication Observational Research Tool (SPORT), which evaluates and scores the methodological quality of observational sports medicine research.

STUDY DESIGN: Consensus statement.

METHODS: SPORT was developed through a modified Delphi approach involving members from the Herodicus Society and The FORUM. All active members were invited to participate in the …

Divergent Humoral Immune Signatures In Response To Klebsiella Pneumoniae Bacteremia, Paeton L Wantuch, Nadia Wattad, David A Rosen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an increasingly threatening global pathogen with high rates of antibiotic resistance and no licensed vaccines available. Despite its worldwide importance, little is known about the human adaptive immune response to K. pneumoniae infection.

METHODS: Herein we observed the longitudinal antibody responses of three immunocompetent patients hospitalized with K. pneumoniae bacteremia. We analyzed the human serum for antibody titers and in vitro functionality. Further, serum function was evaluated via an in vivo mouse model.

RESULTS: We found that in each case, anti-K. pneumoniae antibodies against the infecting strain were still detectable a year after the initial infection. …

Intersecting Challenges: Substance Use And Mental Health Disparities Across Self-Reported Disability Status, Jessica Williams, Xiao Li, Hannah S Szlyk, Erin Kasson, Nathaniel A Dell, Alex Ramsey, Patricia A Cavazos-Rehg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Substance use and substance use disorders (SUD) disproportionately affect people with disabilities (PWD), yet PWD remain under-represented in addiction treatment literature. While recent work has begun to address SUD prevalence and recovery service gaps, little is known about how disability status shapes substance use outcomes. The present study is the first to our knowledge to investigate how recovery, mental health comorbidities, and barriers to care differ across disability status using structured survey data from people who use substances.

METHODS: 333 participants who use substances and provided information about their disability status in the baseline survey for a digital intervention …

Risk Factors For Complication And Reoperation In The Treatment Of Discoid Lateral Meniscus In Children And Adolescents: A Multicenter Study, Suzanna Ohlsen, Jeffrey J Nepple, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is a common congenital abnormality of the meniscus. Tears are common, and initial treatment is often not definitive, leading to a spectrum of complications, including persistent symptoms, meniscal insufficiency, osteochondral defects, and recurrent tears potentially requiring reoperation.

PURPOSE: To determine demographic, injury, and perioperative risk factors that increase the likelihood of complications and reoperation after treatment in patients with DLM.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Patients surgically treated for DLM from 9 institutions between 2000 and 2020 were reviewed. Data on demographics, presenting symptoms and signs, surgical findings and treatments, …

Effects Of Dual-Eligible Integrated Care Plans On Medicaid Enrollment And Retention: Evidence From The Implementation Of Medicare-Medicaid Plans, Eric T Roberts, Eliza Macneal, Kenton J Johnston, José F Figueroa

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Medicare and Medicaid are separate programs that together cover 13 million low-income older adults and people with disabilities, known as dual-eligible individuals. Concern about a lack of coordination across Medicare and Medicaid has prompted the development of Integrated Care Programs (ICPs). Although the primary goal of ICPs is to coordinate financing and care across Medicare and Medicaid, ICPs may also influence whether low-income individuals obtain or keep Medicaid. We evaluated whether the rollout of Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs)-one of the largest ICPs-was associated with changes in Medicaid take-up and retention among Medicare beneficiaries residing in high-poverty zip codes. Using a stacked …

Seeg-Guided Responsive Neurostimulation To Treat Neocortical Epilepsy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study Of The Efficacy And Safety Of Depth Electrode-Mediated Neuromodulation, Sina Sadeghzadeh, Jon T Willie, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Pivotal trials have established the effectiveness of the Responsive Neurostimulation System (RNS® System) in treating focal epilepsy. In clinical trials, depth leads were primarily used to treat mesial temporal seizure onsets while cortical strip leads were used to treat neocortical seizure onsets. Here, we systematically analyze the safety and efficacy of stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG)-guided depth leads to provide responsive stimulation to neocortical gray matter.

METHODS: Patients were stratified as strong responders (>median cohort seizure reduction %), weak responders (>0% and ≤median cohort seizure reduction %), and anti-responders (≤0%) based on percent seizure reduction at 1 year post-implant (1-Y). …

Association Of Self-Rated Health And Risk Of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: Findings From Three Cohorts, Parveen K Garg, Aniqa Alam, Harpreet S Bhatia, Jens Horn, Vegard Malmo, Jan Pal Loennechen, Scott Mu, Randi Foraker, Elizabeth Selvin, Imre Janszky, Susan R Heckbert, Alvaro Alonso

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) is easy to obtain and is known to be a good predictor for mortality and several comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, but its relation to atrial fibrillation (AF) is largely unknown. We determined the association of SRH with risk of developing AF.

METHODS: We conducted a pooled cohort analysis of participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) (

RESULTS: Over a mean of 16±6, 9 ± 2, and 10±4 years of follow-up, 2340 (22.8 %), 1525 (3.5 %), and 879 (17.4 %) incident AF events occurred in ARIC, HUNT-3, and MESA respectively. Lower SRH categories …

Phenofit: A Framework For Determining Computable Phenotyping Algorithm Fitness For Purpose And Reuse, Laura K Wiley, Luke V Rasmussen, Rebecca T Levinson, Jennnifer Malinowski, Sheila M Manemann, Melissa P Wilson, Martin Chapman, Jennifer A Pacheco, Theresa L Walunas, Justin B Starren, Suzette J Bielinski, Rachel L Richesson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Computational phenotyping from electronic health records (EHRs) is essential for clinical research, decision support, and quality/population health assessment, but the proliferation of algorithms for the same conditions makes it difficult to identify which algorithm is most appropriate for reuse.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a framework for assessing phenotyping algorithm fitness for purpose and reuse.

FITNESS FOR PURPOSE: Phenotyping algorithms are fit for purpose when they identify the intended population with performance characteristics appropriate for the intended application.

FITNESS FOR REUSE: Phenotyping algorithms are fit for reuse when the algorithm is implementable and generalizable-that is, it identifies the same intended population …

Recommended Best Practices For Construct-Centered Adaptation Of The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, Emily M. Briceño, Darina T. Bassil, Pranali Khobragade, Anthony Ngugi, Martine El Bejjani, Eric Ochieng, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Salima Douhou, Kazione Kulisewa

School of Medicine Publications

Objectives: The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) neuropsychological assessment approach aims to support the collection of harmonizable data on cognitive function for cross-national cognitive aging and dementia research. As the measurement of cognition is sensitive to differences in contextual, cultural, educational, linguistic, social, and other factors that may influence cognitive test performance, HCAP requires adaptation to be appropriate for the contexts in which it is administered. We aim to provide methodological recommendations for the adaptation and implementation of the HCAP and other cognitive data collection tools in novel settings.

Methods: We drew from existing guidelines on cross-cultural psychological test adaptation …

A Narrative Review On The Neurobiology Of Lucid Dreaming: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Tirath Patel, Ashfaq Ahmed, Kinza Irshad, Rahat Ullah, Anaya Noor, Eiman Anwar, Rai Muhammad Umar Khan, Moazzam Akhtar, Fathimathul Henna, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Lucid dreaming (LD), which involves being aware of and controlling one's dreams, is of particular interest in the study of consciousness and has potential therapeutic applications. In this narrative review, we highlight the neurobiological aspects of LD, specifically its mechanisms associated with the activation of prefrontal and parietal areas, increased gamma oscillations, and the influence of cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling, primarily during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Objective: To evaluate human data on brain mechanisms and clinical effects, synthesizing the neurobiological foundations and therapeutic possibilities of LD, including remarkably controlled lucid dreams.

Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed research …

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Sporotrichosis: A Descriptive Real-World Analysis From A Global Cohort, Samantha Schapiro, Nicholas Pulciano, Julian Galindo-Ramirez, Nicholas Rau, Jose Tuells, Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita, George R. Thompson Iii, Daniel B. Chastain, Andrés F. Henao-Martínez

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Sporotrichosis is a dimorphic fungal infection of increasing global relevance. Although usually cutaneous or lymphocutaneous, disseminated disease occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Large-scale data on its epidemiology, treatment and outcomes remain limited.

Objectives: To characterise the clinical features, comorbidities, antifungal prescribing patterns and one-year mortality associated with sporotrichosis, with emphasis on patients with HIV and other forms of immunosuppression.

Patients/methods: We performed a retrospective global cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network. Adults (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with sporotrichosis were identified using ICD-9/10 codes (1995-2024). Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory parameters and antifungal prescriptions were analysed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality …

A Narrative Review On The Therapeutic Potential Of Stem Cells In Neurodegenerative Diseases: Advances, Insights, And Challenges, Tirath Patel, Fathimathul Henna, Iman Sharif, Inaya Javed, Fatima Mustafa, Hannan Sharif, Fatima Nasir, Mirat Javaid

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) are set apart by progressive neuronal loss and concomitant functional decline. Traditional therapies are equipped with only symptomatic relief, devoid of neurorestorative properties. Stem-cell-based therapies have the potential to revolutionize neurological care by replenishing lost cells, mitigating inflammation, and fostering a neuroprotective environment.

Objectives: This narrative review aims to appraise the treatment potential of various stem cell types in managing NDs, highlighting their functional pathways, delivery methods, and current experimental validation.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out based on …

Postscript: A Digital Inquiry Into Inherited Memory, Alexander Lee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This Capstone project explores the intimate mechanics of family memory through digital interfaces and media, centering on a set of more than fifty letters my late grandmother wrote in 1947 during a four-month journey across Europe. Through a series of digital interventions — including mapping, text analysis, and interactive storytelling — Postscript captures the process of my own memory formation as I connect to my grandmother's legacy. The project specifically engages with digital technologies' unique affordances (like interactivity and nonlinearity) to interrogate how digital methods of analysis and expression can develop, as well as distort, modes of relationality and identity. …

The Effects Of Linguistic Ostracism On Job Performance. A Replication And An Extension, John Fiset, Devasheesh P. Bhave

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We examined the phenomenon of linguistic ostracism—instances where a focal workgroup member perceives other members of their workgroup have rejected and/or excluded them by using a language they cannot comprehend. In a 2021 article, Fiset and Bhave observed that linguistic ostracism was related to two dimensions of job performance (interpersonal citizenship and deviance) and that disidentification served as an explanatory mechanism for the linguistic ostracism–job performance relationship. We constructively replicate and extend their work in several ways. First, we replicate prior effects on interpersonal citizenship and deviance and extend their work to focus on a third dimension of job performance: …

Presenilin L166p Mutation, A Model Of Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Leads To Early Onset Bone Loss, Vidyani Suryadevara, Connor J Krehbial, Anuradha K Valiya, Melinda Vang, Julian Balanta-Melo, Sumana Posritong, Katie Chester, Gabriel M Pagnotti, Teresita Bellido, Monte S Willis, Angela Bruzzaniti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Accelerated bone loss has been reported in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as indicated by reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk in these patients, compared to healthy individuals. In the present study, we investigated bone loss in mouse models of familial Alzheimer's disease harboring the Presenilin 1 (L166P) knock-in mutation (PSEN1 KI), with or without the human amyloid precursor protein transgene (hAPP Tg+) known to induce brain amyloid pathology by 6 months. Female and not male 12-month PSEN1/hAPP Tg+ mice exhibited reduced whole-body bone mineral density and bone mineral content, compared to sex-matched controls. Consistent with …

Quantitative Analysis Of Robustness-Based Versus Let-Based Optimization In Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy For Pediatric Brain Tumors, Fariha Kabir Torsha, Gino Lim, Hadis Moazami Goudarzi, Radhe Mohan, David Grosshans

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To perform a quantitative analysis of the trade-off between robustness-based and linear energy transfer (LET)-based optimization of intensity-modulated proton therapy for anatomically challenging pediatric brain tumor cases.

Methods: Three pediatric brain tumor patients were included in this study. Three plans were generated for each case based on: (1) nominal optimization, without considering uncertainties and LET; (2) robust optimization, including proton range and patient setup uncertainties; and (3) LET optimization, considering increasing LET in the target and reducing LET in normal tissues. All plans were optimized with individually fine-tuned objective weighing to obtain highest achievable target coverage and meet dose …

Retrospective Analysis Of Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events Following Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy In Melanoma Patients Reveals Increased Risk Associated With The Hla-B*51:01 Allele, Mckenzie Dileo, Samantha Oglesby, Cheuk Hong Leung, Kristen E Pauken, Sahira Farooq, Shelby L Kubicki, Macartney Welborn, Sana Zahiruddin, Jun Zou, Kai Cao, Anisha B Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown significant efficacy, a common side effect is cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study focuses on exploring the association between specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and the development of cutaneous irAEs in melanoma patients undergoing ICI monotherapy and combination therapy. As certain HLA types are indicative of susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, it was hypothesized that HLA typing could serve as a potential screening tool for identifying patients at increased risk for developing irAEs.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 515 patients with melanoma who underwent ICI therapy, either as …

A Step-By-Step Guide To Performing Cancer Metabolism Research Using Custom-Made Media, Sophie Seifert, Francisco Yanqui-Rivera, Tim Kühn, Lena Elise Høyland, Toman Borteçen, Lara Elea Eckhardt, Alessa Henneberg, Verena Panitz, Faisal Hayat, Marie Migaud, Gernot Poschet, Ifat Abramovich, Eyal Gottlieb, Jeroen Krijgsveld, Mathias Ziegler, Mirja Tamara Prentzell, Christiane A Opitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The preparation of custom-made media offers precise control over nutrient composition, enabling detailed studies of cellular metabolism. We demonstrate how self-made media formulations enable diverse assay designs and readouts to assess cancer metabolism. Self-made media can be used in Seahorse assays to measure mitochondrial respiration under defined conditions. In nutrient deprivation experiments, amino acid or vitamin removal can uncover how cancer cells adapt to metabolic stress. Using labeled amino acids enables analysis of nascent protein synthesis and translational regulation, while stable-isotope tracing reveals metabolic fluxes through key pathways. This guide presents a suite of metabolic assays using custom-made media, covering …

Leveraging Large Language Models For Heuristic Usability Assessment Of Medical Software: Insights With The Radiation Planning Assistant, Laurence E Court, Jacobus Smit, Lourens Strauss, William Shaw, Andrea Marais, Nanette Joubert, Shona Badre, Graeme L Lazarus, Thekiso Khotle, Lauren Netherton, Wanda Van Heerden, Carlos Cardenas, Monica Serban, Jan Seuntjens, Christine V Chung, Pavel Govyadinov, Meena Khan, Saurabh Nair, Tucker Netherton, Lifei Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Usability engineering is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical software, as design-related issues are a leading cause of use errors in clinical settings. Heuristic evaluation provides a practical approach to identifying usability problems, but its outcomes depend heavily on expert interpretation. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, offer a potential means to augment heuristic evaluation by generating structured, context-aware usability feedback. This study explored the use of ChatGPT to support heuristic assessment of the Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA), a web-based radiotherapy planning tool designed to support clinical teams in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: ChatGPT …

Development And Implementation Of An Mri-Only Simulation, Planning, And Treatment Workflow For Prostate Radiotherapy Using Synthetic Ct On Mr-Linac, Reza Reiazi, Yao Ding, Sarath Vijayan, Jinzhong Yang, Ergys Subashi, Belinda M Lee, Vi T Dinh, Greg L Swiedom, Jie Deng, Mu-Han Lin, Peter Balter, Rajat J Kudchadker, Elaine E Cha, Seungtaek Choi, Yusung Kim, Eun Young Han, Surendra Prajapati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility of a magnetic resonance (MR)-only simulation, planning, and treatment (MROSPT) workflow for prostate cancer patients using synthetic computed tomography (sCT) generated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. By validating sCT-based dose calculations, we aimed to streamline radiotherapy workflows, eliminate the need for CT simulation, and enable reliable clinical implementation of MR-based radiotherapy for MR-linac (MRL).

Methods: We developed a comprehensive workflow encompassing the entire process from initial consultation to treatment delivery. After developing the workflow, a retrospective dosimetric validation study was performed on nine men with prostate cancer. They underwent CT and MRI simulations, and …

Acta2 Pathogenic Variants Activating Heat Shock Factor 1 And Increasing Cholesterol Biosynthesis In Smooth Muscle Cells Predispose To Early Onset Atherosclerosis, Maura L Boerio, Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Xue-Yan Duan, Aamuktha Karla, Ernesto Calderon Martinez, Andrew K Morse, Sree Dharma, Walter Velasco-Torrez, Julien Marcadier, Siddharth K Prakash, Sherene Shalhub, Julie De Backer, Richmond Jeremy, Shaine A Morris, Anji T Yetman, Alan C Braverman, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: ACTA2 pathogenic variants predispose to thoracic aortic disease, and a subset of variants lead to early onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The molecular pathway linking misfolded SMA (α-smooth muscle actin) monomers to augmented atherosclerosis-associated smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation can be modeled in vitro by stably expressing the ACTA2 p.R149C variant in Acta2-/- smooth muscle cells.

Methods: The Montalcino Aortic Consortium patient registry was used to identify cases with ACTA2 pathogenic/likely pathogenic missense variants. These patients were surveyed, and medical records were reviewed, to identify cases with early onset ASCVD. The variants for these cases, as well as …

Cleavage And Polyadenylation Specificity Factor Subunit 5 Regulates Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Expansion And Hypoxic Response, Scott D Collum, Lisha Zhu, Tingting W Mills, Rene Girard, Jamie Tran, Cory Wilson, Erik E Suarez, Howard J Huang, Rahat Hussain, Bindu Akkanti, Wenjin J Zheng, Hari K Yalamanchili, Bela Patel, Eric J Wagner, Sandeep Agarwal, Harry Karmouty-Quintana

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal condition that affects individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a multiorgan fibrotic disease with limited treatment options. A central feature of PH is vascular remodeling, defined by the narrowing of the arteriole lumen due to cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Herein, we identify a central mechanism that can regulate multiple transcripts important for vascular remodeling. The highlight of our study is the demonstration that reduced pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASMC) Nudt21, which codes for the RNA binding protein Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor Subunit 5 (CPSF5) The, known to regulate alternative polyadenylation, results …

Venous Thromboembolism In Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Treated With Cd19 Car-T Therapy: Single-Institution Study, Neha Venkatesh, Kevin Milligan, Julia Parrish, Yun Qing, Ryan Sun, Jeremy Ramdial, Sairah Ahmed, Cristhiam Rojas Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs) are a common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized LBCL treatment, with high remission rates but also significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in CAR-T therapy patients is understudied.

Objective: This study aims to determine the incidence and characteristics of acute VTE in LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy and identify baseline clinical features associated with VTE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 172 adult LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy from January 2018 to November 2019 at MD …

Cardiometabolic Indicators Of Cognitive Impairment In The Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, Fadi I Musfee, Seema Agarwal, Vahed Maroufy, Chelsea Liu, Joseph B Mccormick, Sean I Savitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

Objective

Methods

Composite Mantle Cell Lymphoma And Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma: A Diagnostic And Therapeutic Challenge, Matthew T Ye, Yaling Yang, M James You

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Treatment Interruption On Outcomes In Head And Neck Cancer: Nrg/Rtog Secondary Analysis, Laila A Gharzai, Emily Morris, Matthew J Schipper, Kelley M Kidwell, Phuc Felix Nguyen-Tân, Maura L Gillison, Adam S Garden, Shlomo A Koyfman, Jimmy J Caudell, Dukagjin M Blakaj, Neal E Dunlap, Greg A Krempl, John M Longo, Christopher U Jones, Michael F Gensheimer, Thomas J Galloway, Lyudmila Demora, Quynh-Thu Le, Jennifer L Shah, Krithika Suresh, Michelle Mierzwa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Historical evidence demonstrated that delays or interruptions in radiotherapy (RT) are associated with poorer oncologic outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Substantial concerns arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, when treatment schedules were frequently disrupted.

Objective: To determine the association of RT interruptions with locoregional failure (LRF) and overall survival (OS).

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective review and secondary analysis of 3 randomized clinical trials (NRG/RTOG 0129, 0522, and 1016) included patients enrolled in the trials who were treated with RT. Patients with HNSCC were grouped as (1) p16-positive oropharynx (p16+ OPSCC) and (2) p16-negative oropharynx …

Hypoglossal Neuropathy In The Pathogenesis Of Fibrosis-Related Late-Radiation Associated Dysphagia: A Correlative Analysis Utilizing Electromyography To Explore The Frequency Of Clinical And Subclinical Neuropathy In A Pilot Dysphagia Trial, Holly Mcmillan, Christine Okoro, Sheila Buoy, Karin Woodman, Nicolaas Anderson, Stephen Y Lai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Late radiation-associated dysphagia (late-RAD) commonly presents in patients with signs of hypoglossal neuropathy, with hallmark clinical features including lingual atrophy, deviation, and fasciculation. Gold-standard electromyography (EMG) has not been used to explore the frequency of hypoglossal neuropathy in patients with late-RAD.

Methods: Exploratory post hoc secondary analysis of MANTLE trial (NCT03612531) was completed. The presence of cranial nerve XII (CN XII) neuropathy was classified by (1) features of clinical assessment as well as (2) intramuscular genioglossus EMG pre-MANTLE intervention in disease-free HNC survivors ≥ 2 years post-radiotherapy (RT) with grade ≥ 2 fibrosis and dysphagia.

Results: All …

Circulating Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (Fabp-4) Concentrations And Mortality In Individuals With Colorectal Cancer In The European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer And Nutrition Study, Thu Thi Pham, Katharina Nimptsch, Krasimira Aleksandrova, Mazda Jenab, Veronika Fedirko, Anne Tjønneland, Gianluca Severi, Matthias B Schulze, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Verena Katzke, Claudia Agnoli, Carlotta Sacerdote, Rosario Tumino, Simona Signoriello, Camino Trobajo-Sanmartín, Jesús-Humberto Gómez, María-Dolores Chirlaque, Maria-Jose Sánchez, Marta Crous-Bou, Anne May, Alicia Heath, Dagfinn Aune, Elisabete Weiderpass, Tobias Pischon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human fatty acid binding protein‐4 (FABP‐4), a protein elevated in obesity that promotes colon cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis, may be associated with higher mortality in individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and may serve as a mediator of the obesity–mortality association in these individuals. We used a causal diagram to inform covariate selection and applied Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for CRC‐specific, non‐CRC‐specific, and all‐cause mortality by FABP‐4 levels measured in baseline blood samples from 1371 incident CRC cases from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Competing risk analyses were adapted for CRC …

Convolutional Neural Networks For Automatic Tuber Segmentation And Quantification Of Tuber Burden In Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Iván Sánchez Fernández, Matheus D Soldatelli, Gillian N Miller, Catharina F Gout, Ellen C Broekhuizen, Daan A Pijs, Prabhjot Kaur, Abdelhakim Ouaalam, Martina E Bebin, Hope Northrup, Darcy A Krueger, Joyce Y Wu, Alexander L Cohen, Mustafa Sahin, Davood Karimi, Simon K Warfield, Jurriaan M Peters

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study was undertaken to develop a fully automated algorithm for tuber segmentation and quantification of tuber volume that performs similarly to the gold standard human neuroradiologist.

Methods: We used brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) to train and validate a convolutional neural network (CNN), which was evaluated on segmentation with the Dice-Sørensen similarity coefficient (DSSC) and on tuber burden quantification with Spearman correlation coefficient against a neuroradiologist's gold standard in the test set.

Results: We collected 263 MRIs from 196 patients (57% males) with median (25th percentile-75th percentile) age of 4.3 (3.0-10.1) …