Digital Commons Network^™

Reply To Chaïbi And Tandjaoui-Lambiotte And To Young And Scott, Joan B Soriano, Francesca Polverino

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

A Deep Generative Model For Deciphering Cellular Dynamics And In Silico Drug Discovery In Complex Diseases, Yumin Zheng, Jonas C Schupp, Taylor Adams, Geremy Clair, Aurelien Justet, Farida Ahangari, Xiting Yan, Paul Hansen, Marianne Carlon, Emanuela Cortesi, Marie Vermant, Robin Vos, Laurens J De Sadeleer, Ivan O Rosas, Ricardo Pineda, John Sembrat, Melanie Königshoff, John E Mcdonough, Bart M Vanaudenaerde, Wim A Wuyts, Naftali Kaminski, Jun Ding

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human diseases are characterized by intricate cellular dynamics. Single-cell transcriptomics provides critical insights, yet a persistent gap remains in computational tools for detailed disease progression analysis and targeted in silico drug interventions. Here we introduce UNAGI, a deep generative neural network tailored to analyse time-series single-cell transcriptomic data. This tool captures the complex cellular dynamics underlying disease progression, enhancing drug perturbation modelling and screening. When applied to a dataset from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, UNAGI learns disease-informed cell embeddings that sharpen our understanding of disease progression, leading to the identification of potential therapeutic drug candidates. Validation using proteomics reveals …

Group Concept Mapping To Develop A Salon-Based Hpv Self-Collection Intervention, Kelly N B Palmer, Namoonga M Mantina, Adebola Adegboyega, Itunu O Sokale, Kathleen Pryor, Azaria Suero-Davis, Trevon Brooks, Jennifer Hatcher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Black women in the US face higher cervical cancer mortality rates due to delayed diagnoses linked to lower screening rates. Contributing factors include provider bias, costs, and limited access, particularly affecting women aged 40-64. While innovative approaches like clinical and home-based HPV self-collection exist, equitable dissemination remains challenging. Distributing HPV self-collection kits in unconventional sites like hair salons may offer a solution. Using concept mapping, we gathered community insights to design a salon-based cervical cancer screening intervention.

Methods: We employed groupwisdom™ and REDCap platforms for community-based participatory intervention development. Participants included members of the Black Community Advisory Council of …

Functional Head Tremor: Contrasting Features With Other Tremor Etiologies, José Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo, Joseph Jankovic

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Functional tremor (FT) is considered the most common phenomenology among patients with functional movement disorders (FMDs). Most patients have limb tremor, but they can also present with tremor involving the head and trunk.

Objectives and methods: We aimed to assess the clinical phenomenology of functional head tremor (FHT) and contrast it with features of HT observed in 125 patients with other tremor etiologies (OTE), including 71 patients with essential tremor (ET).

Results: There were 101 consecutive patients (68.3% females) with FT from which n = 36 (35.6%) had FHT. Yes-yes tremor was the most common directionality (47.2%). Functional trunk …

Feasibility Of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training In Individuals With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Katya Villarreal-Cavazos, James C Borders, James A Curtis, Jordanna S Sevitz, Nora Vanegas-Arroyave, Michelle S Troche

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Dysphagia is common among individuals with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is a treatment used to increase expiratory muscle force production for airway protection deficits. To our knowledge, no studies have tested EMST in this population. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of EMST in individuals with PSP.

Methods: Twenty-nine participants completed baseline measures of maximum expiratory pressure and underwent a trial session of EMST. EMST was considered feasible if participants were able to complete at least 10 repetitions at 30% of their maximum expiratory pressure. Qualitative analyses were also completed …

A Multimodal Non-Invasive Approach For Intracranial Pressure Assessment: A Single-Center Study, Dana Klavansky, Helaina Lehrer, Aris Desai, Gabriela Keeton, Neha Dangayach, Alexandra Reynolds, Spyridoula Tsetsou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is an integral part of acute brain injury management. While invasive ICP monitoring is the gold standard, there are several medical conditions that preclude its placement. The aim of the present study is to validate a multimodal approach for increasing ICP detection.

Material and methods: In this retrospective study, patients with acute brain injury who had an external ventricular drain (EVD) placement were included. We measured bilateral optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and assessed for optic nerve disk elevation (ONDE) by using ocular ultrasound, bilateral middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (PI) by using transcranial Doppler, …

Exploration Of Zileuton Protective Mechanisms Against Vancomycin-Associated Nephrotoxicity, Cole S Hudson, James E Smith, Rongjin Sun, Linh T Vuong, Luan D Truong, David Sheikh-Hamad, Masayuki Nigo, Ming Hu, Vincent H Tam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vancomycin is one of the most commonly used parenteral antibiotics for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections, however, it is hindered by nephrotoxicity. We previously demonstrated that zileuton could delay the onset of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in rats. Here, we sought to understand the mechanism(s) of zileuton renal protection. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered vancomycin (200 mg/kg) and zileuton (1 and 4 mg/kg) daily for 10 days. After 3 days, kidneys were collected from select animals for histopathological analysis of renal injury. Single-dose vancomycin serum pharmacokinetics and renal tissue spatial distribution with adjuvant zileuton were evaluated. In vitro, proximal tubular cells were exposed …

Modeling Reemergence Of Vaccine-Eliminated Infectious Diseases Under Declining Vaccination In The United States, Mathew V Kiang, Kate M Bubar, Yvonne Maldonado, Peter J Hotez, Nathan C Lo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

(Abstracted from JAMA 2025;333(24):2176-2187) The development of childhood vaccine protocols has led to the elimination of many infectious diseases from the United States, including measles, rubella, diphtheria, and polio, by maintaining herd immunity. In recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates have declined due to policy changes, misinformation, distrust, and broader societal shifts.

Emerging Tick-Borne Disease Risk In An Urban Center Of Harris County, Texas, Alisa Nelson, Michelle Downey, Maya Murry, Brianna Weber, Erik Aguirre, Richard Scott Mccrea, Jerrod Mims, Max Vigilant, Courtney Standlee, Kristy O Murray, Alex Kneubehl, Eric L Brown, Heather T Essigmann, Sarah M Gunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Tick-borne diseases are an endemic and emerging public health concern in the United States. Ongoing tick range expansion, invasive species, and newly identified pathogens are rapidly altering disease epidemiology. Surveillance is critical to understanding vector ecology and disease risk. Harris County, Texas, with nearly five million residents and diverse ecological zones, offers a unique setting to study local tick dynamics.

Methods: From January 2021 to December 2022, we conducted weekly tick surveillance across 63 sites in Harris County (City of Houston), Texas. Ticks were morphologically identified and tested for Rickettsia, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma via real-time PCR. Samples positive …

A Β-Lactamase Inhibitory Protein Mutant Displays High Potency And A Broad Inhibition Profile Due To An Altered Binding Mode With Β-Lactamases, Paola Rivera, Shuo Lu, Dignite Ngango, Banumathi Sankaran, Bidadi Venkataram Prasad, Timothy Palzkill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

β-lactamase enzymes inactivate β-lactam antibiotics, leading to drug resistance. The β-lactamase inhibitory protein (BLIP) is a naturally occurring inhibitor of β-lactamases, with inhibition constants (Ki) ranging from picomolar to micromolar values. For example, BLIP inhibits CTX-M-14 β-lactamase with a Ki of 330 nM, whereas the Ki for CTX-M-15 is 3 nM, despite CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15 sharing 83% sequence identity. We used a genetic screen to identify a BLIP mutant, E73W, that potently inhibited CTX-M-14. Subsequent purification and testing of BLIP E73W revealed that it is a potent, broad-spectrum inhibitor of class A β-lactamases. We determined …

Difficult Conversation Case: Death Notification, Charles Lei, Tiffany Moadel, Suzanne Bentley, Amrita Vempati, David Fernandez, Daniela Ortiz, Anita Rohra, Stephanie Stapleton, Hillary Moss

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Audience: This case is meant for senior emergency medicine (EM) resident physicians as a preparatory tool for the American Board of Emergency Medicine Certifying Exam. However, it is applicable for EM residents at all levels of training.

Introduction: Difficult conversations are an integral part of the practice of emergency medicine. Competent EM physicians routinely engage in challenging conversations with patients and their families (eg, delivering bad news, disclosing medical errors, providing death notifications).1 Despite their importance, communication skills are often not formally taught in residency training.2 Instead, learners frequently rely on role modeling to develop the skills necessary to navigate …

The Association Between Condom Use Self-Efficacy And Condom-Decision Abdication Among College Students, Mikaela Gjoka, Madison K Firkey, Alan Z Sheinfil, Sarah E Woolf-King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Condomless sex and its related consequences are a persistent problem on college campuses in the United States. This study aimed to examine the association between condom use self-efficacy and condom-decision abdication among college students, and whether this association was moderated by gender.

Participants & methods: Undergraduate college students (N = 212; 50.5% female) were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk as part of a larger online study that examined normative feedback for condom use.

Results: The association between condom use self-efficacy and condom-decision abdication was significantly moderated by gender (B = -0.07, p < .001), such that condom use self-efficacy was associated with condom-decision abdication in college women (B = -0.05, p < .005) but not in college men (B = .02, p = .18).

Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that …

Resilience And Childhood Trauma In Mood Disorders: Psychopathological Implications And Treatment Response, Giovanni Camardese, Antonio Maria D'Onofrio, Francesca Bardi, Alessio Simonetti, Alexia Koukopoulos, Delfina Janiri, Lorenzo Moccia, Marianna Mazza, Mauro Pettorruso, Giovanni Martinotti, Gabriele Sani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and aim: Childhood trauma is a key risk factor for mood disorders and is associated with greater clinical severity, while resilience may act as a protective factor. This study investigates how childhood trauma and resilience interact to shape psychopathology and treatment response in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods: The study included 669 participants: 569 patients (380 MDD, 189 BD) and 100 healthy controls (HC). Symptom severity was assessed using standardized scales, with follow-up evaluations of depressive symptoms at six months. All participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). …

Fast And Accurate Measurement Of Small Field Dosimetry Using A Novel Scintillation Detector, Yiding Han, Jingzhu Xu, Yao Hao, Baozhou Sun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The most used instruments for small-field dosimetry have notable limitations, including the need for correction of output factors, limited scanning speeds, and challenges in alignment for percentage depth dose (PDD) measurements, particularly for extremely small fields. However, plastic scintillation detectors (PSDs) are an attractive alternative for small-field dosimetry due to their correction-free nature, linear dose response, and fast response time.

Purpose: This study evaluates the robustness and accuracy of the dosimetric measurements using a new water-equivalent PSD in small-field dosimetry. The study also aims to report accurate measurements of output factors, profiles, and an indirect method for measuring PDD …

Evaluating Covid-19 Severity Prediction And Immune Dynamics With Nulisaseq: Insights From The Impacc Study, Koji Abe, Tyson H Holmes, Tran T Nguyen, Seunghee Kim-Schulze, Ofer Levy, Lindsey R Baden, Esther Melamed, Lauren I R Ehrlich, Grace A Mccomsey, Rafick P Sekaly, Charles B Cairns, Elias K Haddad, Albert C Shaw, David A Hafler, Ruth R Montgomery, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand, Mark A Atkinson, Scott C Brakenridge, Nelson I Agudelo Higuita, Jordan P Metcalf, Catherine L Hough, William B Messer, Bali Pulendran, Kari C Nadeau, Mark M Davis, Ana Fernandez-Sesma, Viviana Simon, Monica Kraft, Chris Bime, Carolyn S Calfee, David J Erle, Joanna Schaenman, Elaine F Reed, Al Ozonoff, Bjoern Peters, Steven H Kleinstein, Alison D Augustine, Joann Diray-Arce, Patrice M Becker, Nadine Rouphael, Holden T Maecker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The National Institutes of Health-funded IMPACC (IMmunoPhenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort) evaluated longitudinal clinical and immunological features of human patients hospitalized for COVID-19. This study focuses on comparing the novel NULISAseq assay with the Olink platform using a subset of participants to assess their efficacy in predicting COVID-19 severity and understanding immune response dynamics. Our findings reveal that NULISAseq could provide superior detectability and dynamic range across various targets. Elastic net analysis demonstrated that specific proteins, including amphiregulin, effectively predict COVID-19 severity from sera at admission (samples drawn within 96 h of admission), with a test area under the …

Administration Of A Novel Reprogramming Formula Improves Cardiac Function And Decreases Cardiac Fibrosis In A Myocardial Infarction Model, Megumi Mathison, Saliha S Pathan, Aliya Lackan, Jianchang Yang, Tamer M A Mohamed, Todd K Rosengart

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The reprogramming of fibroblasts into (induced) cardiomyocytes offers a direct myocardial regeneration strategy for improving postinfarction myocardial function. Compared to lower-order species, human cells are relatively resistant to such reprogramming. We previously found that p63-transactivation inhibitory domain (TID; the portion of p63 that physical interacts and interferes with its activation of the epigenetic repressor HDAC1) combined with the cardio-differentiation factors Hand2 and Myocardin (HM) enhanced rat and human cell transdifferentiation. The present study sought to determine the in vivo effects of this reprogramming strategy in a rat myocardial infarction model.

Methods: Adult male and female rats underwent left anterior …

The State Of Educational Research In Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Review Of The Literature, Amirtha Shekar, Victoria Hart, John Treffalls, Travis J Miles, Todd K Rosengart, Marc R Moon, Joseph S Coselli, Lauren M Barron, Shawn S Groth, Shanda H Blackmon, Ravi K Ghanta, Dawn S Hui, Subhasis Chatterjee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Evolving training paradigms in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) are changing the educational needs of integrated residents and traditional fellows. Educational research is important for evaluating specialty training. This study assessed CTS education articles to analyze their prevalence, content, and reach.

Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study of education articles published on North American CTS programs from January 2013 through December 2023, articles were identified by querying PubMed, other databases, and journals. Articles that passed an initial abstract review underwent full-text review. Articles were organized by content into 9 categories: curriculum, simulation, trainee assessment, program evaluation, wellness/burnout, diversity/inclusion, mentorship/career, outcomes, and …

Reconstruction Of Traumatic Carotidcavernous Fistula Using A Covered Stent, Julio Calderon, Ravi Shastri, Guhanand Venkataraman, Mohadese Ahmadzade, Mohammad Ghasemi-Rad

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is a significant neurovascular condition characterized by an abnormal connection between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, often resulting from head trauma. This condition can lead to serious complications, necessitating effective management strategies. Endovascular treatment is the preferred approach for managing this condition. We present a case of a 23-year-old male with persistent left eye pain and redness seven months post-motor vehicle collision. Cerebral angiography confirmed a high-flow CCF with compromised intracranial flow, successfully treated with a 5 mm PK Papyrus covered stent using a novel tri-axial delivery system. This case highlights the efficacy …

Rescue Bare-Metal Device Placement To Treat Iatrogenic Acute Type A Aortic Dissection During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Hiroaki Osada, José G Diez, Ahmed Khouqeer, Susan Y Green, Marc R Moon, Vicente Orozco-Sevilla, Joseph S Coselli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Technical Pitfalls And Initial Clinical Experience Using Femoral Staggered Multibranch Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair Technique, Jong Hun Park, Giuliano Giova Volpiani, Alvaro Razuk, Leonardo Ferber, Lucas Ruiter Kanamori, Bruno Pagnin Schmid, Steven Maximus, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Total transfemoral approach may be challenging in patients with narrow aortic lumens. We describe a novel total femoral staggered multibranch thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair technique (FEM-SMART) to facilitate target vessel catheterization in this population. FEM-SMART is performed using a standard off-the-shelf multibranch stent graft via a total transfemoral approach. The endograft is partially deployed to the level of the celiac axis directional branch, which is selectively catheterized via contralateral femoral access using a steerable sheath. Subsequently, staggered endograft deployment, sequential catheterization of directional branches, and target vessel stenting are performed, starting with the superior mesenteric artery, followed by the renal …

Publisher Correction: Piezo1 Regulates Meningeal Lymphatic Vessel Drainage And Alleviates Excessive Csf Accumulation, Dongwon Choi, Eunkyung Park, Joshua Choi, Renhao Lu, Jin Suh Yu, Chiyoon Kim, Luping Zhao, James Yu, Brandon Nakashima, Sunju Lee, Dhruv Singhal, Joshua P Scallan, Bin Zhou, Chester J Koh, Esak Lee, Young-Kwon Hong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Rationale And Design Of The Rembrandt Trial: A Phase 3 Study To Evaluate The Effect Of Obicetrapib/Ezetimibe On Coronary Plaque Characteristics, Cian P Mccarthy, Christie M Ballantyne, Ron Blankstein, Matthew J Budoff, Marc Ditmarsch, C Michael Gibson, John J P Kastelein, Ann Marie Navar, Stephen J Nicholls, Kausik K Ray, Cheerag Shirodaria, Michelle C Williams, James L Januzzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Obicetrapib is a potent, selective cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor that significantly lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Additive reductions in LDL-C occur when obicetrapib is combined with ezetimibe. The impact of obicetrapib and ezetimibe fixed-dose combination (FDC) on coronary plaque burden is unknown. Favorable changes in noncalcified coronary atherosclerotic plaque volume (NCPV) may indicate a potential beneficial effect on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.

Methods: REMBRANDT is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial designed to assess the efficacy of obicetrapib and ezetimibe FDC on coronary plaque burden. Individuals aged 45 years or older with ASCVD (imaging evidence of vascular …

Real-World Adherence And Effectiveness Of Inclisiran In Lowering Ldl-C: Results From 1 Year Of Follow-Up, Christie M Ballantyne, Timothy E Graham, Lucinda J Van Anglen, Bruce J Iteld, Harvey Serota, Xiaoli Niu, Sean Mcelligott, Kelly E Hanna, Tyler J Varisco

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a global health concern. Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is critical in ASCVD prevention and treatment. Inclisiran, a novel RNA therapeutic agent, offers a promising solution by lowering LDL-C with twice-yearly dosing after an initial and 3-month dose. The study objective was to evaluate adherence to inclisiran and its lipid-lowering effectiveness over a year of treatment.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved patients over 18 years old with ASCVD or hyperlipidemia who initiated inclisiran between January 1, 2022, and May 17, 2023, in US outpatient clinics. LDL-C reduction was evaluated in patients with ≥ …

Where, How, And How Much? A Multicenter Cohort Study Of The Relationship Across Lupus Decision-Aid Modality, Place Of Administration, Interruption And Viewing Completeness, And Patient-Reported Outcomes, Jasvinder A Singh, Mark Beasley, Larry R Hearld

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: We assessed whether shared decision-making (SDM) and patient acceptability, feasibility, and overall satisfaction with a computerized patient decision aid (PtDA) for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) differs by PtDA setting, modality, and the viewing experience.

Methods: Patients with SLE were invited to view a self-administered computerized SLE PtDA during regular clinic visits at 15 rheumatology clinics in an implementation trial. Patients completed a survey that included SDM measures including the decision conflict scale (DCS), Preparation for Decision Making (PDM) scale, and CollaboRATE scale, and we measured perceived patient acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction. Patients viewed the SLE PtDA in …

Reproductive Impact Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy In Women With Melanoma, Quinn Rhodes, Terri L Woodard, Laura Detti, Michael Roth, Susan Shott, Jennifer Mcquade, Laurie J Mckenzie

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To study the reproductive impact of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in cis-females with melanoma.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study that examined the reproductive outcomes of female patients exposed to systemic ICI therapy.

Subjects: Cis-female patients, aged 18-40 years, with advanced-stage melanoma and no prior sterilization procedures or exposure to other systemic antineoplastic therapies who underwent treatment with systemic ICI therapy.

Exposure: Systemic ICI treatment as first-line, only-line therapy for advanced-stage melanoma.

Main outcome measures: Menstrual cycle data, contraceptive use, antimüllerian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone values, and reproductive outcomes (occurrence of pregnancy) during and after ICI exposure.

Results: There were …

James Hall Ginkgo Tree Sees Latest Leaf Drop On Record, Beth Potier, University Of New Hampshire, Durham

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Fill Your Holiday Gift List With Items Created And Curated By Unh Staff And Students, Robbin Ray

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Tiny Satellite Built By Unh Students Blasts Off To Space, Rebecca Irelan

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Role Of Motivation On The Effectiveness Of Computerized Cognitive Training Among At-Risk Youth, Emely N. Lugo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Student motivation plays a central role in academic success, influencing persistence, engagement, and performance across grade levels. Within situated expectancy-value theory (SEVT), motivation is shaped by students’ beliefs about their ability to succeed (expectancy), the importance or usefulness they assign to a task (value), the perceived effort or trade-offs involved (cost), and the situational context in which learning occurs. Although the link between motivation and academic performance is well known, there is limited research on how motivational factors, like those proposed by SEVT, influence the extent of cognitive gains from school-based cognitive interventions designed to improve abilities related to academic …

Untangling Familicide: A Comparison Of Three Definitions, Lesley M. Vega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Familicide is generally defined as the killing of multiple family members by a relative. However, there is no single, universally accepted definition of familicide, and different studies use varying definitions with different inclusion criteria. Sometimes, very restrictive definitions are used that exclude many similar cases (e.g., father kills spouse and children). Conversely, broader definitions sometimes overlap with other phenomena, such as mass murder. Only a few studies have examined this phenomenon, primarily from an exploratory standpoint.

Case data was collected from the Gun Violence Archive, an online database that records shooting incidents in the United States, for familicidal events that …