Digital Commons Network^™

Shattering Ceilings: Women Of Color, Mentorship, And Corporate Oppression, Raminder Kaur Attwal

Doctoral Dissertations

In the Fortune 500 organizations, a robust survey illuminates the diverse experiences of women of color, framed within theoretical frameworks such as Critical Feminist Theory (CFT), Social Capital Theory, and Community Cultural Wealth. Of 141 responses, 102 participants, representing various racial backgrounds, provide insights into corporate landscapes. Their positions range from mid-level to executive roles, showcasing a holistic view of organizational hierarchies. Remarkably, approximately 70.59% engage in formal mentorship programs, highlighting its profound impact on career development.

Assessing the effectiveness of tailored mentorship initiatives, the research emphasizes their transformative power in confronting oppressive corporate norms, drawing from insights provided by …

The Experience Of Caregiver Burden And Burnout Among Resident Directors, Tanya Koroyan

Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this study was to understand the experiences of caregiver burden and burnout for Resident Directors (RDs). RDs live on campus and support students through traumatic experiences by serving in an “on-call” capacity. Student emergencies that RDs respond to include mental health concerns, sexual violence and sexual harassment, suicidal ideation, self-harm, grief, physical assault, etc. There is little research on understanding this work's experience and potential long-term implications.

Through a constructivist-interpretivist research paradigm and phenomenological qualitative methodology, nine interviews took place with individuals who had previously been RDs at Bay Area University, a large public institution in the …

Accessible Technology For All: A Content Analysis Of Ux Design In Mobile Websites And Applications, Christine A. Franco

Doctoral Dissertations

More and more, digital technologies are becoming the fabric of everyday life, imbuing almost every aspect of modern society. With an increasing reliance on technology to complete essential tasks for school, work, communication, health, finance, and more, there remain barriers to accessing these tools. These barriers are not just represented by the digital divide, the haves and have-nots, but in the myriad ways in which the technologies we use every day are difficult to use, complex, or simply inaccessible. This research study investigates the factors that impact the accessibility of technology, specifically for individuals with either temporary, situational, or permanent …

Lysophosphatidylcholine Acetyltransferase 2 (Lpcat2) Influences The Gene Expression Of The Lipopolysaccharide Receptor Complex In Infected Raw264.7 Macrophages, Depending On The E. Coli Lipopolysaccharide Serotype, Victory Ibigo Poloamina, Hanaa Alrammah, Wondwossen Abate, Neil D. Avent, Gyorgy Fejer, Simon K. Jackson

School of Biomedical Sciences

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a frequent gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infections, affecting more than 100 million patients annually worldwide. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli binds to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its co-receptor's cluster of differentiation protein 14 (CD14) and myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2), collectively known as the LPS receptor complex. LPCAT2 participates in lipid-raft assembly by phospholipid remodelling. Previous research has proven that LPCAT2 co-localises in lipid rafts with TLR4 and regulates macrophage inflammatory response. However, no published evidence exists of the influence of LPCAT2 on the gene expression of the LPS receptor complex induced …

Physiological And Morphological Plasticity In Response To Nitrogen Availability Of A Yeast Widely Distributed In The Open Ocean, Poppy Diver, Ben A. Ward, Michael Cunliffe

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Yeasts are prevalent in the open ocean, yet we have limited understanding of their ecophysiological adaptations, including their response to nitrogen availability, which can have a major role in determining the ecological potential of other planktonic microbes. In this study, we characterized the nitrogen uptake capabilities and growth responses of marine-occurring yeasts. Yeast isolates from the North Atlantic Ocean were screened for growth on diverse nitrogen substrates, and across a concentration gradient of three environmentally relevant nitrogen substrates: nitrate, ammonium, and urea. Three strains grew with enriched nitrate while two did not, demonstrating that nitrate utilization is present but not …

Effect Of The Age Of Garments Used Under Real-Life Conditions On Microfibre Release From Polyester And Cotton Clothing, Andreia N. Fernandes, Larissa Z. Lara, Francesca De Falco, Andrew Turner, Richard C. Thompson

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The release of microfibres from fabrics during laundering represents an important source of plastic and natural microfibres to aquatic environments. Garment age - how long the garment has been used - could be a key factor influencing the rate of release, yet most studies of microfibre shedding have only assessed newly manufactured products. To this end, we quantified microfibre release during laundering in domestic washing machines from polyester (PES) and cotton garments (n = 38) used in real-life conditions for periods between 1 and 31 years with different use intensities. In addition, to better understand the factors involved in microfibre …

Acceptability Of Virtual Psychiatric Consultations For Routine Follow-Ups Post Covid-19 Pandemic For People With Intellectual Disabilities: Cross-Sectional Study, S Tromans, S Rybczynska-Bunt, S Mitchell, S Cummins, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

Background After the rapid implementation of digital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, a paucity of research exists about the suitability of remote consulting in people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, particularly for neuropsychiatric reviews. Aim This study examines when remote neuropsychiatric routine consulting is suitable for this population. Method A survey was conducted of people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, examining their preference between face-to-face and video consultations for ongoing neuropsychiatric reviews within a rural countywide intellectual disability service in Cornwall, England (population: 538 000). The survey was sent to all adults with intellectual disabilities open to …

The Relationship Between Clinical Presentation And The Nature Of Care In Adults With Intellectual Disability And Epilepsy – National Comparative Cohort Study, S Badger, Lv Watkins, P Bassett, A Roy, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

Background A quarter of People with Intellectual Disabilities (PwID) have epilepsy compared with 1% of the general population. Epilepsy in PwID is a bellwether for premature mortality, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This group depends on their care provider to give relevant information for management, especially epilepsy. There is no research on care status relationship and clinical characteristics of PwID and epilepsy. Aim Explore and compare the clinical characteristics of PwID with epilepsy across different care settings. Method A retrospective multicentre cohort study across England and Wales collected information on seizure characteristics, intellectual disability severity, neurodevelopmental/biological/psychiatric comorbidities, medication including psychotropics/anti-seizure medication, and …

Unraveling The Clcc1 Interactome: Impact Of The Asp25glu Variant And Its Interaction With Sigmar1 At The Mitochondrial-Associated Er Membrane (Mam), Ilaria D'Atri, Emily Rose Martin, Liming Yang, Elizabeth Sears, Emma Baple, Andrew H. Crosby, John K. Chilton, Asami Oguro-Ando

Peninsula Medical School

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an indispensable role in cellular processes, including maintenance of calcium homeostasis, and protein folding, synthesized and processing. Disruptions in these processes leading to ER stress and the accumulation of misfolded proteins can instigate the unfolded protein response (UPR), culminating in either restoration of balanced proteostasis or apoptosis. A key player in this intricate balance is CLCC1, an ER-resident chloride channel, whose essential role extends to retinal development, regulation of ER stress, and UPR. The importance of CLCC1 is further underscored by its interaction with proteins localized to mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs), where it participates …

Biomonitoring Of Microplastics, Anthropogenic Microfibres And Glass Retroreflective Beads By Marine Macroalgae, Cerys Rimmer, Jodie Fisher, Andrew Turner

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Microplastics and other microscopic debris are a concern in the coastal environment but measurements in the water column and sediment are often problematic and rely on non-standardised and highly variable methodologies. To this end, we explore the potential of different species of temperate-cold marine macroalgae as passive biomonitors of anthropogenic microparticles at three contrasting locations in southwest England. Specifically, fronds from samples of fucoids and Ulva lactuca (n = 9 in total, and three from each location) have been sectioned and analysed directly under a microscope and anthropogenic microparticles counted and subsequently characterised for chemical composition. Microparticles were heterogeneously distributed …

Biochar Improves Fertility In Waste Derived Manufactured Soils, But Not Resilience To Climate Change, Jennifer M. Rhymes, Daniel Evans, Giuliano Laudone, H. Kate Schofield, Ellen Fry, Mark F. Fitzsimons

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

We present a soil manufactured from waste materials, which could replace the use of peat and topsoil in plant production and reduce the pressure on natural soil resources. We tested the effect of the manufactured soil on ecosystem functions and microbial communities with and without plants present, and with and without biochar addition (Experiment 1). The resilience of the soil in response to drought and flooding, and also the effect of biochar was also tested (Experiment 2). Biochar increased soil C and N regardless of plant presence and negated the effect of the plant on soil peroxidase enzyme activity. The …

Rna Sequencing For Solid Tumor Fusion Gene Detection: Proficiency Testing Practice And Performance Comparison, Rhona J Souers, Meera R Hameed, Helen Fernandes, Angshumoy Roy, Lea Surrey, Laura J Tafe, Patricia Vasalos, Dolores H Lopez-Terrada

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: Next-generation sequencing-based approaches using RNA have increasingly been used by clinical laboratories for the detection of fusion genes, intragenic rearrangements, and exon-skipping events. Correspondingly, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has advanced RNA sequencing proficiency testing (PT) to ensure optimal performance of these assays.

Objective: To report on laboratory performance and practices of RNA sequencing for the detection of fusion genes, intragenic rearrangements, and exon-skipping events using CAP PT data from 8 mailings (2018-A through 2021-B).

Design: CAP PT RNA sequencing program results from 153 laboratories across 24 proficiency test specimens, interrogating 22 distinct engineered fusion transcripts, were analyzed …

Association Of Minor Electrocardiographic (Ecg) Abnormalities With Epilepsy Duration In Children: A Manifestation Of The Epileptic Heart?, R Scott Watson, See Wai Chan, Anne E Anderson, Yi-Chen Lai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Cardiac abnormalities resulting from chronic epilepsy ("the epileptic heart") constitute a well-recognized comorbidity. However, the association of cardiac alterations with epilepsy duration remains understudied. We sought to evaluate this association using electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled children between 1 months and 18 years of age without known cardiac conditions or ion channelopathies during routine clinic visits. ECGs were categorized as abnormal if there were alterations in rhythm; PR, QRS, or corrected QT interval; QRS axis or morphology; ST segment or T wave. An independent association between ECG abnormalities and epilepsy duration was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression modeling. …

Exposure To 4,4′-Dde In Visceral Adipose Tissue And Weight Loss In Adolescents From The Teen-Labs Cohort, Brittney O Baumert, Hongxu Wang, Shudi Pan, Sarah Rock, Justin R Ryder, Todd Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Xiangping Lin, Scott Bartell, Thomas H Inge, Stavra Xanthakos, Brooklynn Mcneil, Anna R Robuck, Michele A La Merrill, Douglas I Walker, David V Conti, Rob Mcconnell, Sandrah P Eckel, Lida Chatzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), an obesogen accumulating in adipose tissue, is released into circulation with weight loss, although its impact is underexplored among adolescents. We tested the association using an integrative translational approach of epidemiological analysis among adolescents with obesity and in vitro measures exploring the impact of DDE on adipogenesis via preadipocytes.

Methods: We included 63 participants from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) cohort. We assessed 4,4'-DDE in visceral adipose tissue at surgery and BMI and waist circumference at surgery and 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 years after. We conducted longitudinal analysis to estimate the interaction on weight …

Adapting Language Development Research Paradigms To Online Testing: Data From Preferential Looking, Word Learning And Vocabulary Assessment In Toddlers, Delphine K.L. Nguyen, Nadine Fitzpatrick, Caroline Floccia

School of Psychology

During the recent pandemic, it became necessary to adapt lab-based studies to online experiments. To investigate the impact of online testing on the quality of data, we focus on three paradigms widely used in infant research: a word recognition task using the Intermodal Preferential Looking Paradigm, a word learning task using the Switch task, and a language assessment tool (WinG) where children identify a target word amongst a set of picture cards. Our results for synchronous and asynchronous studies provide support for the robustness of online testing. In Experiment 1, robust word recognition was found in 24-month-old toddlers. In Experiment …

Engineering Small-Molecule And Protein Drugs For Targeting Bone Tumors, Zeru Tian, Joseph Zhou, Julian Meyer Berger, Xiang H-F Zhang, Han Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bone cancer is common and severe. Both primary (e.g., osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma) and secondary (e.g., metastatic) bone cancers lead to significant health problems and death. Currently, treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy are used to treat bone cancer, but they often only shrink or slow tumor growth and do not eliminate cancer completely. The bone microenvironment contributes unique signals that influence cancer growth, immunogenicity, and metastasis. Traditional cancer therapies have limited effectiveness due to off-target effects and poor distribution on bones. As a result, therapies with improved specificity and efficacy for treating bone tumors are highly needed. …

Angiogenic Gene Therapy For Refractory Angina: Results Of The Exact Phase 2 Trial, David A Latter, Nahush A Mokadam, Geoffrey A Answini, Adam R Williams, Benjamin C Sun, Christopher R Burke, Faisal G Bakaeen, Marcelo F Dicarli, Bernard R Chaitman, Mark W Peterson, Dawn G Byrnes, E Magnus Ohman, Carl J Pepine, Ronald G Crystal, Todd K Rosengart, Elaine Kowalewski, Gary G Koch, Howard C Dittrich, Thomas J Povsic, Exact Trial Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: XC001 is a novel adenoviral-5 vector designed to express multiple isoforms of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and more safely and potently induce angiogenesis. The EXACT trial (Epicardial Delivery of XC001 Gene Therapy for Refractory Angina Coronary Treatment) assessed the safety and preliminary efficacy of XC001 in patients with no option refractory angina.

Methods: In this single-arm, multicenter, open-label trial, 32 patients with no option refractory angina received a single treatment of XC001 (1×1011 viral particles) via transepicardial delivery.

Results: There were no severe adverse events attributed to the study drug. Twenty expected severe adverse events in 13 patients …

Mechanisms Driving Fasting-Induced Protection From Genotoxic Injury In The Small Intestine, Sarah To, Yang-Zhe Huang, Steven J Bark, Jason C Mills, Noah F Shroyer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genotoxic agents such as doxorubicin (DXR) can cause damage to the intestines that can be ameliorated by fasting. How fasting is protective and the optimal timing of fasting and refeeding remain unclear. Here, our analysis of fasting/refeeding-induced global intestinal transcriptional changes revealed metabolic shifts and implicated the cellular energetic hub mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in protecting from DXR-induced DNA damage. Our analysis of specific transcripts and proteins in intestinal tissue and tissue extracts showed that fasting followed by refeeding at the time of DXR administration reduced damage and caused a spike in mTORC1 activity. However, continued fasting …

Consensus Guidelines For The Diagnosis And Management Of Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency, Melissa L Dibacco, Sarah H Elsea, Àngels García-Cazorla, K Michael Gibson, Andrea L Gropman, Ellen Hanson, Carolyn Hoffman, Kathrin Jeltsch, Natalia Juliá-Palacios, Ina Knerr, Henry H C Lee, Patrizia Malaspina, Alice Mcconnell, Thomas Opladen, Mari Oppebøen, Alexander Rotenberg, Mark Walterfang, Lee Wang-Tso, Ron A Wevers, Jean-Baptiste Roullet, Phillip L Pearl

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) (OMIM #271980) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by pathogenic variants of ALDH5A1. Deficiency of SSADH results in accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and other GABA-related metabolites. The clinical phenotype of SSADHD includes a broad spectrum of non-pathognomonic symptoms such as cognitive disabilities, communication and language deficits, movement disorders, epilepsy, sleep disturbances, attention problems, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive traits. Current treatment options for SSADHD remain supportive, but there are ongoing attempts to develop targeted genetic therapies. This study aimed to create consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of SSADHD. Thirty relevant statements were …

Validation Of Single-Nucleotide Mosaic Variants Through Droplet Digital Pcr

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The detection, validation, and subsequent interpretation of potentially mosaic single-nucleotide variants (SNV) within next-generation sequencing data remains a challenge in both research and clinical laboratory settings. The ability to identify mosaic variants in high genome coverage sequencing data at levels of 1% or lower underscores the necessity for developing guidelines and best practices to verify these variants orthogonally. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has proven to be a powerful and precise method that allows for the determination of low-level variant fractions within a given sample. Herein we describe two precise ddPCR methods using either a fluorescent TaqMan hydrolysis probe approach or …

Single-Tube Four-Target Lateral Flow Assay Detects Human Papillomavirus Types Associated With Majority Of Cervical Cancers, Kathleen Schmeler, Michael Scheurer, Mauricio Maza, Leticia Lopez, Karla Alfaro, Rebecca Richards-Kortum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods have many advantages for use at the point of care. However, there is a lack of multiplexed isothermal amplification tests to detect multiple targets in a single reaction, which would be valuable for many diseases, such as infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV). In this study, we developed a multiplexed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction to detect the three most common hrHPV types that cause cervical cancer (HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45) and a cellular control for sample adequacy. First, we characterized the assay limit of detection (LOD) in a real-time reaction with fluorescence readout; after …

Type 2 Airway Inflammation In Copd

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Globally, nearly 400 million persons have COPD, and COPD is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation and mortality across the world. While it has been long-recognised that COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, dissimilar to asthma, type 2 inflammation was thought to play a minor role. However, recent studies suggest that in approximately one third of patients with COPD, type 2 inflammation may be an important driver of disease and a potential therapeutic target. Importantly, the immune cells and molecules involved in COPD-related type 2 immunity may be significantly different from those observed in severe asthma. Here, we identify …

Clinical, Radiological And Molecular Responses To Combination Chemotherapy With Mapk Pathway Inhibition In Relapsed And Refractory Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Akanksha Batajoo, Deevyashali Parekh, Whitney Stanton, Harshal Abhyankar, Nader K El-Mallawany, Jennifer Agrusa, Olive Eckstein, Nitya Gulati, Jeffrey Schwartz, Wendy Woods-Swafford, Jaime Boyd, Anikit Saha, Carl E Allen, Kenneth L Mcclain

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Optimal therapeutic approaches for advanced Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) are not known. We assessed the safety and efficacy of combined chemotherapy with MAPK pathway inhibition in 10 patients with refractory systemic disease and/or LCH-associated neurodegeneration. Overall response rate was 9/10 (90%) for the entire cohort: 5/5 (100%) for patients with systemic disease and 6/7 (86%) for patients with central nervous system disease. BRAFV600E+ peripheral blood fraction decreased in 5/6 (83%). Toxicities included fever, skin rash, myalgias, neuropathy, cytopenias and hypocalcaemia. Prospective trials are required to optimize combination strategies, determine potential to achieve cure and compare outcomes to chemotherapy or MAPK …

Clofarabine Monotherapy In Aggressive, Relapsed And Refractory Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Erin Peckham-Gregory, Vivekanudeep Karri, Whitney Stanton, Brooks Scull, Ryan Fleishmann, Nader El-Mallawany, Olive S Eckstein, Zachary D Prudowsky, Nitya Gulati, Jennifer E Agrusa, Asra Z Ahmed, Roland Chu, Matthew S Dietz, Stanton C Goldman, Michael D Hogarty, Hamayun Imran, Stefanos Intzes, Jenny M Kim, Lisa M Kopp, Carolyn Fein Levy, Philip Neff, Pallavi M Pillai, Bryan A Sisk, Deborah E Schiff, Angela D Trobaugh-Lotrario, Kelly Walkovich, Kenneth L Mcclain, Carl E Allen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over 50% of patients with systemic LCH are not cured with front-line therapies and data to guide salvage options are limited. We describe 58 patients with LCH who were treated with clofarabine. Clofarabine monotherapy was active against LCH in this cohort including heavily pretreated patients with systemic objective response rate of 92.6%, higher in children (93.8%) than adults (83.3%). BRAFV600E+ variant allele frequency in peripheral blood correlated with positive clinical responses. Prospective multi-center trials are warranted to determine optimal dosing, long-term efficacy, late toxicities, relative cost and patient reported outcomes of clofarabine compared to alternative LCH salvage therapy strategies.

Cardiac Conduction Diseases: Understanding The Molecular Mechanisms To Uncover Targets For Future Treatments, Na Li, Mihail G Chelu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: The cardiac conduction system (CCS) is crucial for maintaining adequate cardiac frequency at rest and modulation during exercise. Furthermore, the atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje system are essential for maintaining atrioventricular and interventricular synchrony and consequently maintaining an adequate cardiac output.

Areas covered: In this review article, we examine the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the CCS. We then discuss in detail the most common genetic mutations and the molecular mechanisms of cardiac conduction disease (CCD) and provide our perspectives on future research and therapeutic opportunities in this field.

Expert opinion: Significant advancement has been made in understanding the molecular …

Association Of Cardiovascular Health With Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression Among Five Racial And Ethnic Groups: The Masala And Mesa Studies, Nilay S Shah, Sameera A Talegawkar, Salim S Virani, Erin D Michos, Roger S Blumenthal, Jaideep Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and aims: South Asian adults (SA) are at higher risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Life's Simple 7 (LS7) is a guideline-recommended, cardiovascular health (CVH) construct to guide optimization of cardiovascular risk factors. We sought to assess if the LS7 metrics predict coronary artery calcium (CAC) incidence and progression in asymptomatic SA compared with four other racial/ethnic groups.

Methods: We assessed the distribution of CVH metrics (inadequate: score 0-8, average: 9-10, optimal: 11-14, and per 1-unit higher score) and its association with incidence and progression of CAC among South Asians in the Mediators of …

Atypical Diabetes: What Have We Learned And What Does The Future Hold?

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

As our understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetes evolves, we increasingly recognize that many patients may have a form of diabetes that does not neatly fit with a diagnosis of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The discovery and description of these forms of "atypical diabetes" have led to major contributions to our collective understanding of the basic biology that drives insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and islet autoimmunity. These discoveries now pave the way to a better classification of diabetes based on distinct endotypes. In this review, we highlight the key biological and clinical insights that can be gained …

Immune Cell Pair Ratio Captured By Imaging Mass Cytometry Has Superior Predictive Value For Prognosis Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Than Cell Fraction And Density

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Trends And Updates On The Epidemiology Of Cancer Associated Thrombosis: A Systematic Review

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Cancer associated thrombosis (CAT) is a significant complication for patients with cancer. This review summarizes an updated epidemiology of CAT in the past decade.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted on relevant population cohort studies published 2011-2024.

Results: The 12-month incidence of CAT among patients with unselected cancers is approximately 3-5% (9-fold increase vs. matched non-cancer population); although the risk increases to 6-8% in patients with advanced cancers requiring systemic therapy (20-fold increase vs. matched non-cancer population). Despite improvement in anticoagulation usage and adherence, recurrence risk remains high at 5-8% at 6 months and 7-15% at 12 months. Important …

Caenorhabditis Elegans Endorse Bacterial Nanocellulose Fibers As Functional Dietary Fiber Reducing Lipid Markers, Marta Gut, Núria Benseny-Cases, Buck S Samuel, Esther Dalfó, Anna Laromaine

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising dietary fiber with potential as a functional food additive. We evaluated BNC fibers (BNCf) in the Caenorhabditis elegans model to obtain insight into the BNCf's biointeraction with its gastrointestinal tract while reducing the variables of higher complex animals. BNCf were uptaken and excreted by worms without crossing the intestinal barrier, confirming its biosafety regarding survival rate, reproduction, and aging for concentrations up to 34 μg/ml BNCf. However, a slight decrease in the worms' length was detected. A possible nutrient shortage or stress produced by BNCf was discarded by measuring stress and chemotactic response pathways. …