Digital Commons Network^™

Strength-Based Peer Mentoring To Empower Independence For Adults With Autism, Annmarie De La Rosa

OT Doctoral Capstones

Adults with autism face disproportionately high rates of unemployment or underemployment, limited engagement in post-secondary education, and restricted opportunities for social participation. This is largely due to the abrupt discontinuation of services after high school—often referred to as the “service cliff” (Roux, 2015). The loss of structured supports can result in a decline in functional independence, increased mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, and heightened social isolation (Chun et al., 2023; Schiltz et al., 2021).

This Capstone project aimed to address the unmet post-secondary needs of young adults with autism by implementing a peer mentoring program grounded in …

Risk Factors For Progression Of Intracranial Hemorrhage After Initiation Of Vte Chemoprophylaxis: An Evaluation Of 1390 Tbi Patients, Keith Walter Burczak, Jan-Michael Van Gent, Devi Bavishi, Joel James, Thomas W Clements, Thaddeus J Puzio, Bryan A Cotton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) often undergo early stability CT scans to evaluate for progression of bleeding. The factors associated with progression after initiating venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis (CP) remain poorly described. This study aimed to determine the rate of and factors associated with ICH progression following CP initiation.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult (≥16 years) polytrauma patients with blunt or penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted between September 2016 and December 2021. Progression was defined as a radiographic increase in ICH following VTE CP initiation, determined by neurosurgery or radiology faculty. Postprophylaxis CT scans were …

Variation Exists In Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis In Traumatic Brain Injury Despite National Guidelines: Insights From A Recent Aast Survey Study, Keith Walter Burczak, Jan-Michael Van Gent, Devi Bavishi, Gabrielle E Hatton, Patrick B Murphy, Asanthi Ratnasekera, Thomas W Clements, Rachel S Morris, Christopher Tignanelli, Bryan A Cotton, Thaddeus J Puzio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Best practice guidelines from trauma-focused organizations support early (< 72 hours) venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis initiation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Recent literature suggests that an even more aggressive initiation (24 hours) is safe and efficacious. It is unknown how current practice aligns with the existing literature and best practice guidelines. We performed a national survey to characterize variation in trauma surgeons' reported practices and attitudes regarding VTE chemoprophylaxis initiation in TBI patients with the hypothesis that they will vary widely.

Methods: All 1700 American Association for the Surgery of Trauma members were surveyed online. Members who routinely cared for patients with TBI were asked to proceed with the survey. Descriptive data were reported. The questions characterized institutional guidelines, and if none existed, individual practice patterns regarding goal timeline of VTE chemoprophylaxis in TBI patients.

Results: 374 members (22%) completed the survey. Most respondents worked at academic institutions (40%) and represented a level one trauma center (44%). Enoxaparin was the most common VTE chemoprophylactic (73%) with most using weight-based dosing (76%) …

“The Estrada Protocol”: A Mindfulness Approach To Rehabilitation, Krysten Estrada

OT Doctoral Capstones

Although there are numerous resources that effectively address the physical aspects of elbow injuries in baseball players, limited research explores athletes’ mental recovery. This fourteen-week Capstone Experience at Border Therapy Services in El Paso, Texas, focused on creating and implementing “The Estrada Protocol,” a mindfulness rehabilitation plan aimed at supporting both the physical and psychological needs of baseball players recovering from elbow injuries. Working closely with site supervisor and subject matter expert Mark Scott and his staff, the researcher led meetings, educational sessions, and athlete interviews, while administering pre- and post-readiness assessments. Initial results yielded limited familiarity with the protocol, …

An Unusual Case Of Gastrointestinal Bleeding In A Recent Roux-En-Y Patient, Christopher J Carnabatu, Tanyaradzwa M Kajese, Erik B Wilson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The incidence of obesity nationwide has led to an increase in both medicinal and surgical interventions, with recent studies indicating a drop in obesity prevalence for the first time in over a decade. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass remains one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures in the United States, accounting for about 22% of all bariatric surgeries in 2022. While considered a safe procedure, gastric bypass results in an anatomic configuration that poses a unique challenge from both a surveillance and interventional standpoint. The gastric remnant, biliopancreatic (BP) limb, and extrahepatic biliary tree are not readily accessible vis-à-vis esophagogastroduodenoscopy …

Palliative Care In Acute Care Surgery: Research Challenges And Opportunities, Amelia W Maiga, Vanessa Ho, Rachel S Morris, Lisa M Kodadek, Thaddeus J Puzio, Gail T Tominaga, Masami Tabata-Kelly, Zara Cooper

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Palliative care includes effective communication, relief of suffering and symptom management with an underlying goal of improving the quality of life for patients with serious illness and their families. Best practice palliative care is delivered in parallel with life-sustaining or life-prolonging care. Palliative care affirms life and regards death as a normal process, intends neither to hasten death nor to postpone death and includes but is not limited to end-of-life care. Palliative care encompasses both primary palliative care (which can and should be incorporated into the practice of acute care surgery) and specialty palliative care (consultation with a fellowship-trained palliative …

Latent Classes Of Adolescent Trauma Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, And Substance Use Predict Clinical Diagnoses At 12-Month Follow-Up, John Leri, Josh M Cisler, Shaunna L Clark, Cody G Dodd, Saman Siddiqui, Leslie Taylor, Alexa Ayala, Sunita Stewart, Robyn Richmond, Jeffrey D Shahidullah, Justin F Rousseau, John M Hettema, D Jeffrey Newport, Karen D Wagner, Charles B Nemeroff

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use commonly co-occur among youth. Identifying specific subgroups of youth based on unique constellations across these domains may provide a novel way to identify and target youth at prospective risk for specific types of negative clinical outcomes.

METHODS: Trauma exposed youth completed structured clinical assessments as part of a longitudinal study (

RESULTS: Four latent classes were identified which differentiated participants based on the type of trauma exposure, the number of PTSD symptoms endorsed, and the propensity to be engaged in polysubstance use. Latent classes which were characterized by exposure to …

Optimization Of Proximity Labeling In Endothelial Cells: Overcoming Endogenous Biotin Interference And Cost Barriers, Ying Jiang, Kuizhi Qu, Mengjun Dai, Yan-Ning Rui, Zhen Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Proximity labeling has become a powerful technique for mapping protein-protein interactions under physiologically relevant conditions, with TurboID offering high enzymatic activity and rapid labeling. However, its application in endothelial systems has been limited, partly due to the presence of endogenous biotin in specialized media, which reduces labeling specificity. Here, we optimized TurboID-mediated proximity labeling in brain microvascular endothelial cells by addressing two key challenges: endogenous biotin interference and cost-effective depletion. We discovered that endothelial cell medium contains substantial biotin levels, which saturate TurboID labeling and obscure the effects of exogenous biotin. Using High Capacity NeutrAvidin

Correction: Topss: Tolerability Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Pediatric Stroke Survivors, Stuart Fraser, Anna Clearman, Melika Abrahams, Bernadette Gillick, Tia Lal, Sean Savitz, Nuray Yozbatiran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1629499.].

Mechanisms Of How Sarcopenia Affects Functional Outcomes In Acute Ischaemic Stroke, Dong-Seok Gwak, Jinyong Chung, Dawid Schellingerhout, Hyerin Oh, Sang-Wuk Jeong, Ji Sung Lee, Dong-Eog Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sarcopenia, a common geriatric condition characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, can negatively affect functional outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that sarcopenia affects post-stroke outcomes, mediated through its impact on dysphagia, early neurological deterioration, or post-stroke recovery, particularly in patients with motor deficits. To explore this hypothesis, we included 600 consecutive elderly (≥65 years) patients with acute (< 1 week) ischaemic stroke and assessed: (i) the relationships sarcopenia has with dysphagia, early neurological deterioration and various phases of recovery after stroke (in-hospital, post-discharge [up to 3 months], and chronic [3 months to 1 year]) and (ii) whether either presenting symptoms or lesion locations modify the impact of sarcopenia on stroke outcomes. Temporal muscle thickness, a marker of sarcopenia, was measured by brain magnetic resonance imaging and dichotomized into low versus high temporal muscle thickness at the 25th percentile cut-off point. Logistic regression analysis, mediation analysis and statistical brain mapping were conducted. Mean age was 75.3 ± 6.1 years and 303 (50.5%) were male. Low temporal muscle thickness (< 5.1 mm) was independently associated with dysphagia (adjusted odds ratio 1.89 [95% confidence interval 1.06–3.37], P = 0.03), early neurological deterioration (adjusted odds ratio 2.75 [95% confidence interval 1.61–4.71], P < 0.001) and post-discharge recovery (adjusted odds ratio 0.56 [95% confidence interval 0.34–0.94], P = 0.03) but not with in-hospital or chronic recovery. In addition, dysphagia, early neurological …

Recovery Of Verbal Working Memory Depends On Left Hemisphere White Matter Tracts, Randi C Martin, Junhua Ding, Ali I Alwani, Steve H Fung, Tatiana T Schnur

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Researchers propose that the recovery of language function following stroke depends on the recruitment of perilesional regions in the left hemisphere and/or homologous regions in the right hemisphere. Many investigations of recovery focus on changes in gray matter regions, whereas relatively few examine white matter tracts and none address the role of these tracts in the recovery of verbal working memory. The present study addressed these gaps, examining the role of left versus right hemisphere tracts in the longitudinal recovery of phonological and semantic working memory. For 24 individuals with left hemisphere stroke, we assessed working memory performance within 1 …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Ai/Ml-Empowered Approaches For Predicting T Cell-Mediated Immunity And Beyond, Cheng-Chi Chao, Yulun Chiu, Lucas Yeung, Cassian Yee, Chongming Jiang, Xiling Shen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

T cells play a dual role in various physiopathological states, capable of eliminating tumors and infected cells, while also playing a pathogenic role when activated by autoantigens, causing self-tissue damage. The regulation of T cell-peptide/major histocompatibility complex (TCR-pMHC) recognition is crucial for maintaining disease balance and treating cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases. Despite efforts, predictive models of TCR-pMHC specificity are still in the early stages. Inspired by advances in protein structure prediction via deep neural networks, we evaluated AlphaFold 3 (AF3)-based AI computation as a method to predict TCR epitope specificity. We demonstrate that AlphaFold can model TCR-pMHC interactions, distinguishing …

Innovative Approaches In Precision Radiation Oncology: Advanced Imaging Technologies And Challenges Which Shape The Future Of Radiation Therapy, Yue Yan, Daniel A Alexander, Bryan P Bednarz, Lawrence F Bronk, Huixiao Chen, David J Gladstone, Bin Han, Christopher M Iannuzzi, Yuting Li, Ngoc Nguyen, Natasha Mulenga, Natalie N Viscariello, Yuenan Wang, Joseph Weygand, Yana Zlateva, Fada Guan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiation oncology is undergoing a transformative shift toward precision medicine through unprecedented advances in imaging technologies that enable increasingly personalized and adaptive cancer treatment. This comprehensive review synthesizes the underlying physical principles, current clinical applications, technical challenges, and quality assurance requirements across the complete spectrum of emerging imaging-guided radiation therapy approaches. We examine magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy systems that enable daily soft-tissue visualization and online plan adaptation, positron emission tomography-guided platforms that allow real-time tracking of metabolically active tumor regions, advanced cone beam computed tomography systems supporting rapid adaptive workflows through artificial intelligence-enhanced image generation, and novel applications including Cherenkov radiation …

Correction: Innovative Approaches In Precision Radiation Oncology: Advanced Imaging Technologies And Challenges Which Shape The Future Of Radiation Therapy, Yue Yan, Daniel A Alexander, Bryan P Bednarz, Lawrence F Bronk, Huixiao Chen, David J Gladstone, Bin Han, Christopher M Iannuzzi, Yuting Li, Ngoc Nguyen, Natasha Mulenga, Natalie N Viscariello, Yuenan Wang, Joseph Weygand, Yana Zlateva, Fada Guan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Refining Breast Cancer Genetic Risk And Biology Through Multi-Ancestry Fine-Mapping Analyses Of 192 Risk Regions, Guochong Jia, Zhishan Chen, Jie Ping, Qiuyin Cai, Ran Tao, Chao Li, Joshua A Bauer, Yuhan Xie, Stefan Ambs, Mollie E Barnard, Yu Chen, Ji-Yeob Choi, Yu-Tang Gao, Montserrat Garcia-Closas, Jian Gu, Jennifer J Hu, Motoki Iwasaki, Esther M John, Sun-Seog Kweon, Christopher I Li, Koichi Matsuda, Keitaro Matsuo, Katherine L Nathanson, Barbara Nemesure, Olufunmilayo I Olopade, Tuya Pal, Sue K Park, Boyoung Park, Michael F Press, Maureen Sanderson, Dale P Sandler, Chen-Yang Shen, Melissa A Troester, Song Yao, Ying Zheng, Thomas Ahearn, Abenaa M Brewster, Adeyinka Falusi, Anselm J M Hennis, Hidemi Ito, Michiaki Kubo, Eun-Sook Lee, Timothy Makumbi, Paul Ndom, Dong-Young Noh, Katie M O'Brien, Oladosu Ojengbede, Andrew F Olshan, Min-Ho Park, Sonya Reid, Taiki Yamaji, Gary Zirpoli, Ebonee N Butler, Maosheng Huang, Siew-Kee Low, John Obafunwa, Clarice R Weinberg, Haoyu Zhang, Hongyu Zhao, Michelle L Cote, Christine B Ambrosone, Dezheng Huo, Bingshan Li, Daehee Kang, Julie R Palmer, Xiao-Ou Shu, Christopher A Haiman, Xingyi Guo, Jirong Long, Wei Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genome-wide association studies have identified approximately 200 genetic risk loci for breast cancer, but the causal variants and target genes are mostly unknown. We sought to fine-map all known breast cancer risk loci using genome-wide association study data from 172,737 female breast cancer cases and 242,009 controls of African, Asian and European ancestry. We identified 332 independent association signals for breast cancer risk, including 131 signals not reported previously, and for 50 of them, we narrowed the credible causal variants down to a single variant. Analyses integrating functional genomics data identified 195 putative susceptibility genes, enriched in PI3K/AKT, TNF/NF-κB, p53 …

Rationale And Design For A Phase Iiib Trial Of First-Line Tremelimumab Plus Durvalumab Versus Pembrolizumab, In Combination With Chemotherapy, In Patients With Non-Squamous Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer And Mutations Or Co-Mutations In Stk11, Keap1, Or Kras: The Triton Study, Ferdinandos Skoulidis, Hossein Borghaei, Edward B Garon, Ticiana A Leal, Jacob Kaufman, Stephen V Liu, Eric Nadler, Sandip Pravin Patel, Solange Peters, Biagio Ricciuti, Ashish Gautam, Ugochinyere Emeribe, Luisa Luciani-Silverman, John V Heymach

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Metastatic non-small-cell lung cancers (mNSCLC) harboring mutations in STK11 or KEAP1 are associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and reduced responsiveness to PD-(L)1 inhibitor-based therapy, which is particularly notable when these genes are co-mutated with each other or with KRAS. Patients with these mNSCLC subtypes may benefit from combinations including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, aimed at enhancing immune responses.

Objectives: TRITON is an ongoing study comparing tremelimumab plus durvalumab and chemotherapy with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with non-squamous mNSCLC and mutations or co-mutations in STK11, KEAP1, or KRAS.

Design: Phase …

Improved Survival And Decreased Cancer Deaths In Young Adults With Cancer After Passage Of The Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Expansion, Michael Roth, Clark R Andersen, Amy Berkman, Stuart Siegel, Branko Cuglievan, J Andrew Livingston, Michelle Hildebrandt, Jaime Estrada, Archie Bleyer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed Americans aged 19-25 years to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26 years (the Dependent Care Expansion [DCE]). Have those with cancer diagnoses benefited?

Methods: The ACE DCE 7-year age range of 19-25 years was compared for changes in cancer survival and mortality before and after enactment of the ACA with groups that were younger and older (in 7-year age spans: ages 12-18 and 26-32 years, respectively). Cancer death data for the entire United States were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and relative …

Detrimental Effects Of Space Flight On The Lumbar Spine May Be Correlated To Baseline Degeneration: Insights From An Advanced Mr Imaging Study, Rakan Bokhari, Daniel G Bisson, Maryse Fortin, Marie Vigouroux, Juan Pablo Cata, Ken-Pin Hwang, Melissa M Chen, Guillermo Ceniza-Bordallo, Jean A Ouellet, Pablo M Ingelmo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Pain in lower back is a common condition reported by astronauts, both during and after space missions. Investigating the alterations in the spine and the mechanisms driving these changes is essential for a deeper understanding of how microgravity impacts the human spine. This knowledge could also open pathways for therapeutic or preventive interventions. Nevertheless, there is a limited evidence regarding changes in intervertebral discs (IVDs) due to space travel.

Materials and methods: In this study, 2 astronauts were enrolled in a space travel. Before the space flight, a lower back magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed. We repeated …

Utility Of Pre-Procedural [99mtc]Tcmaa Spect/Ct Multicompartment Dosimetry For Treatment Planning Of 90y Glass Microspheres In Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison Of Anatomic Versus [99mtc]Tcmaa-Based Segmentation, Marnix Lam, Etienne Garin, Paul Haste, Alban Denys, Brian Geller, S Cheenu Kappadath, Cuneyt Turkmen, Daniel Y Sze, Hamad Saleh Alsuhaibani, Ken Herrmann, Marco Maccauro, Murat Cantasdemir, Matthew Dreher, Kirk D Fowers, Vanessa Gates, Riad Salem

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Pre-treatment [99mTc]TcMAA-based radioembolization treatment planning using multicompartment dosimetry involves the definition of the tumor and normal tissue compartments and calculation of the prescribed absorbed doses. The aim was to compare the real-world utility of anatomic and [99mTc]TcMAA-based segmentation of tumor and normal tissue compartments.

Materials and methods: Included patients had HCC treated by glass [90Y]yttrium microspheres, ≥ 1 tumor, ≥ 3 cm diameter and [99mTc]TcMAA SPECT/CT imaging before treatment. Segmentation was performed retrospectively using dedicated dosimetry software: (1) anatomic (diagnostic CT/MRI-based), and (2) [99mTc]TcMAA threshold-based (i.e., using an activity-isocontour threshold). CT/MRI was co-registered with [99mTc]TcMAA SPECT/CT. Logistic regression and …

Fatty Pancreas On Eus: Risk Factors, Correlation With Ct/Mri, And Implications For Pancreatic Cancer Screening, Ramez M Ibrahim, Shantanu Solanki, Wei Qiao, Hyunsoo Hwang, Ben S Singh, Irina M Cazacu, Adrian Saftoiu, Matthew H G Katz, Michael P Kim, Florencia Mcallister, Manoop S Bhutani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Fatty pancreas (FP), traditionally perceived as a benign finding, has been undergoing scrutiny lately due to growing evidence linking it to various disease states, including increased risk for pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent EUS at a single institution from August 2007 to October 2023, conducted by one endosonographer with more than 25 years of experience. Focusing on individuals identified with FP during EUS, we compared these findings with corresponding findings on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) conducted within 3 months or 1 year prior to or following EUS.

Results: Ninety-one patients …

Hsa-Mir-214-3p Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Growth And Improves The Tumor Immune Microenvironment By Downregulating B7h3, Yan Lu, Kang Wang, Yuanhong Peng, Meng Chen, Lin Zhong, Luji Huang, F U Cheng, Xindan Sheng, Xin Yang, Manzhao Ouyang, George A Calin, Zhiwei He

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of solid tumors, but the currently used immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) show limited clinical efficacy in many breast cancers. B7H3 has been widely reported as an immunosuppressive molecule, but its immunological function in breast cancer patients remains unclear.

METHODS: We analyzed the expression of B7H3 in breast cancer samples using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. MicroRNAs were selected using the TarBase, miRTarBase, and miRBase databases. …

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

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

Discussion: …

Consensus Guidelines For Delineation Of Clinical Target Volumes For Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy For Intact Cervical Cancer: An Update, Emma C Fields, Walter R Bosch, Kevin V Albuquerque, Rohini Bhatia, Junzo Chino, Brandon Dyer, Beth Erickson, Denise Fabian, David Gaffney, Scott Glaser, Kathy Han, Lara Hathout, I-Chow Hsu, Naresh Jegadeesh, Jenna Kahn, Elizabeth Kidd, Ann Klopp, Eric Leung, Lilie Lin, Michelle Ludwig, Tianjun Ma, Loren Mell, Jyoti Mayadev, Ivy Petersen, Lorraine Portelance, Dominique Rash, Neil Taunk, Akila Viswanathan, Aaron Wolfson, Catheryn Yashar, Anamaria Yeung, Emi Yoshida, Christine M Fisher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Accurate target delineation is essential when using intensity modulated radiation therapy for intact cervical cancer. In 2011, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group published a consensus guideline using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The current project expands on the previous atlas by including computed tomography (CT)-based contours, contours with MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) registrations, the addition of common and complex scenarios, and incorporating information on simulation and treatment planning techniques.

Methods and materials: Twenty-eight experts in gynecologic radiation oncology contoured 3 cases, first on a noncontrast CT simulation scan and then with registered diagnostic scans. The cases included (1) …

Modest Radiation Dose Escalation For Early-Stage Anal Cancer: Cancer Control And Toxicity Outcomes, Sage Copling, Michael K Rooney, Prajnan Das, Eugene J Koay, Ethan B Ludmir, Bruce D Minsky, Sonal S Noticewala, Grace L Smith, Emma B Holliday

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The optimal dose for patients with early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the impact of modest dose escalation (54 Gray (Gy)) compared with standard dose (50 Gray) on the disease-free survival and toxicity outcomes for patients with T1-2N0 SCCA.

Methods: Patients with T1-T2N0 SCCA treated with definitive radiation from 1/1/2003 until 6/31/2022 were included in this retrospective analysis. Regression discontinuity analysis was performed to evaluate for a potential causal effect of modest dose escalation on freedom from local recurrence (FFLR). Cox proportional hazards model was generated to estimate the effect of …

The Primary Cilia: Orchestrating Cranial Neural Crest Cell Development, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Matthew D Meyer, William B Barrell, Maryam Faisal, Rebecca Berdeaux, Karen J Liu, Yoshihiro Komatsu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary cilia (hereafter "cilia") are microtubule-based antenna-like organelles projecting from the surface of vertebrate cells. Cilia can serve as cellular antennae controlling cell growth and differentiation. Absent or dysfunctional cilia frequently lead to craniofacial anomalies known as craniofacial ciliopathies. However, the detailed pathological mechanisms of craniofacial ciliopathies remain unclear. This perspective discusses our current understanding of the role of cilia in cranial neural crest cells. We also describe potential mechanisms of ciliogenesis in cranial neural crest cells, which may contribute to unraveling the complex pathogenesis of craniofacial ciliopathies.

Inducing Hypertension In Myh11r247c/R247c Mice Triggers Aortic Dissections With Increased Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling, Callie S Kwartler, Shanzhi Wang, Zhen Zhou, Pujun Guan, Yang Yu, Xue-Yan Duan, Theodore Zhang, Jiyuan Chen, Elaine C Davis, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: We sought to determine if hypertension in combination with a "variant of uncertain significance" that disrupts protein function, MYH11 p.Arg247Cys, would induce aortic dissections in a mouse model.

Approach and results: Administration of L-NAME via drinking water and a high salt diet increased blood pressure in WT and Myh11R247C/R247C mice and triggered type A dissections with cardiac tamponade in 20% of the Myh11R247C/R247C mice. Myh11R247C/R247C aortas have aberrant smooth muscle contractile unit-elastin connections by transmission electron microscopy, along with increased focal adhesion signaling at baseline, which further increases with hypertension.

Conclusion: Gene-environment interactions trigger aortic dissections in Myh11R247C/R247C mice.

Exploring The Role Of Reward Functioning In The Overlap Of Post-Traumatic Stress And Cocaine Use Disorder, Kate Hull, Hanaan Bing-Canar, Krista Miloslavich, Christopher Holden, Aneet Ahluwalia, Scott D Lane, Joy M Schmitz, Margaret C Wardle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are common in people with cocaine use disorder (CUD), and even sub-threshold PSTD symptoms result in worse treatment outcomes. Difficulties with reward functioning may drive this comorbidity. Impairments in reward functioning are prominent in both PTSD and CUD and contribute to development of substance use problems after trauma. There are three distinct reward processes that may be involved in the PTSD/CUD overlap: consummatory reward (ability to experience pleasure), motivational reward (willingness to exert effort for rewards), and reward learning (adapting behavior based on reward history). Here we test whether impairments in these reward functions …

Hepatic Metabolic Signature And Its Association With The Response To Immunotherapy In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hyewon Park, Sowon Park, Kena Park, Sun Young Yim, Ju-Seog Lee, Sung Hwan Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Increased metabolic activity is frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of this increased metabolic activity on the efficacy of current treatments, such as the combination immunotherapy using atezolizumab and bevacizumab for HCC, remains unknown.

Methods: Gene expression data from mouse livers representing hepatic metabolic activity and HCC patient tumor tissues were used to identify a transcriptomic signature for high metabolic activity in HCC tumors. The hepatic metabolic signature (HMS) was used to categorize HCC patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or sorafenib from the IMbrave150 clinical trial into high-or low-metabolic groups, using multiple statistical approaches to …

Immune Responses In Rodent Whole Eye Transplantation: Elucidation And Preliminary Investigations Into Rejection Diagnosis And Monitoring, Bing Li, Yong Wang, Charles R Owens, Touka Banaee, Charleen T Chu, Kayvon Jabbari, Anna D Lee, Neil J Khatter, Alan G Palestine, An-Jey A Su, Christene A Huang, Kia M Washington

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Whole Eye Transplantation (WET) offers potential for vision restoration but is hindered by the complex challenge of immune rejection. Understanding and closely monitoring these immunological responses is crucial for advancing WET. This study delves into the timeline and nature of immune responses in a rodent model of WET without immunosuppression, aiming to elucidate a detailed picture of the immune landscape post-transplantation and establish innovative diagnostic and monitoring methods.

Methods: We employed a multi-faceted approach to analyze immune responses post-WET, including assessments of gross changes in corneal transparency, thickness, and skin condition. Histopathological examinations of both ocular and surrounding skin …