Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exercise Mediates Myokine Release And Tumor Suppression In Prostate Cancer Independent Of Androgen Signaling, Jin-Soo Kim, Dennis R. Taaffe, Daniel A. Galvão, Fred Saad, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A prominent toxicity of androgen suppression in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) is loss of skeletal muscle. Exercise may induce tumor suppression through the endocrinal function of skeletal muscle; however, this is currently unknown. In this review, we summarize our work demonstrating the acute and chronic myokine response to exercise and the tumor-suppressive effect of circulatory milieu alteration in PCa patients. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Molecular Docking And Dynamics Identify Potential Drugs To Be Repurposed As Sars-Cov-2 Inhibitors, Mohammed Muzaffar-Ur-Rehman, Chougule K. Suryakant, Ala Chandu, Banoth K. Kumar, Renuka P. Joshi, Snehal R. Jadav, Murugesan Sankaranarayanan, Seshadri S. Vasan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has resulted in an estimated 20 million excess deaths and the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in China is predicted to result in up to 1 million deaths over the next few months. With vaccines being ineffective in the case of immunocompromised patients, it is important to continue our quest for safe, effective and affordable drugs that will be available to all countries. Drug repurposing is one of the strategies being explored in this context. Recently, out of the 7817 drugs approved worldwide, 214 candidates were systematically down-selected using a combination of 11 filters including …

Longitudinal Associations Of Dietary Fiber Intake With Glycated Hemoglobin And Estimated Insulin Sensitivity In Adults With And Without Type 1 Diabetes, Arpita Basu, Andrew Hooyman, Leigh Ann Richardson, Amy C. Alman, Janet K. Snell-Bergeon

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Dietary fiber, an essential bioactive compound in plant-based diets, is of public health concern based on habitual low intakes in the general population. Not much data are available on how habitual dietary fiber is associated with glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as in prediabetes and normoglycemic adults. To address this gap, we conducted a six-year longitudinal analysis of an original cohort in adults with and without T1D (n = 1255; T1D: n = 563; non-diabetes mellitus (non-DM): n = 692). Dietary data were collected from a validated food frequency questionnaire, biochemical measures were obtained after an …

Development Of A New Travellers’ Diarrhoea Clinical Severity Classification And Its Utility In Confirming Rifamycin-Sv Efficacy, Herbert L Dupont, June S Almenoff, Mansi S Jamindar, Enoch Bortey, Robert Steffen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: travellers' diarrhoea (TD) is frequently reported with incidence up to 40% in high-risk destinations. Previous studies showed that the number of loose stools alone is inadequate to holistically predict the severity of TD. To improve the prediction of prognosis and to optimize treatments, a simple risk-based clinical severity classification has been developed.

METHODS: pooled baseline data of signs and symptoms and number of loose stools from 1098 subjects enrolled in two double-blind Phase 3 trials of rifamycin-SV were analyzed with correlation, multiple correspondence analyses, prognostic factor criteria, and Contal and O'Quigley method to generate a TD severity classification (mild, …

Braf Inhibitors In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer And Mechanisms Of Resistance: A Review Of The Literature, Patricia Guerrero, Víctor Albarrán, María San Román, Carlos González-Merino, Coral García De Quevedo, Jaime Moreno, Juan Carlos Calvo, Guillermo González, Inmaculada Orejana, Jesús Chamorro, Íñigo Martínez-Delfrade, Blanca Morón, Belén De Frutos, María Reyes Ferreiro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with mutated BRAF exhibits distinct biological and molecular features that set it apart from other subtypes of CRC. Current standard treatment for these tumors involves a combination of chemotherapy (CT) and VEGF inhibitors. Recently, targeted therapy against BRAF and immunotherapy (IT) for cases with microsatellite instability (MSI) have been integrated into clinical practice. While targeted therapy has shown promising results, resistance to treatment eventually develops in a significant portion of responsive patients. This article aims to review the available literature on mechanisms of resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFis) and potential therapeutic strategies to overcome them.

Toll-Like Receptor 4 And Cd11b Expressed On Microglia Coordinate Eradication Of Candida Albicans Cerebral Mycosis, Yifan Wu, Shuqi Du, Lynn H Bimler, Kelsey E Mauk, Léa Lortal, Nessim Kichik, James S Griffiths, Radim Osicka, Lizhen Song, Katherine Polsky, Lydia Kasper, Peter Sebo, Jill Weatherhead, J Morgan Knight, Farrah Kheradmand, Hui Zheng, Jonathan P Richardson, Bernhard Hube, Julian R Naglik, David B Corry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is linked to chronic brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the molecular basis of brain anti-Candida immunity remains unknown. We show that C. albicans enters the mouse brain from the blood and induces two neuroimmune sensing mechanisms involving secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps) and candidalysin. Saps disrupt tight junction proteins of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to permit fungal brain invasion. Saps also hydrolyze amyloid precursor protein (APP) into amyloid β (Aβ)-like peptides that bind to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and promote fungal killing in vitro while candidalysin engages the integrin CD11b (Mac-1) on microglia. …

Early Antibody Treatment, Inflammation, And Risk Of Post-Covid Conditions, Kelly A Gebo, Sonya L Heath, Yuriko Fukuta, Xianming Zhu, Sheriza Baksh, Allison G Abraham, Feben Habtehyimer, David Shade, Jessica Ruff, Malathi Ram, Oliver Laeyendecker, Reinaldo E Fernandez, Eshan U Patel, Owen R Baker, Shmuel Shoham, Edward R Cachay, Judith S Currier, Jonathan M Gerber, Barry Meisenberg, Donald N Forthal, Laura L Hammitt, Moises A Huaman, Adam Levine, Giselle S Mosnaim, Bela Patel, James H Paxton, Jay S Raval, Catherine G Sutcliffe, Shweta Anjan, Thomas Gniadek, Seble Kassaye, Janis E Blair, Karen Lane, Nichol A Mcbee, Amy L Gawad, Piyali Das, Sabra L Klein, Andrew Pekosz, Evan M Bloch, Daniel Hanley, Arturo Casadevall, Aaron A R Tobian, David J Sullivan, Cssc-004 Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-COVID conditions (PCCs) are common and have significant morbidity. Risk factors for PCC include advancing age, female sex, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Little is known about treatment, inflammation, and PCC. Among 882 individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection participating in a randomized trial of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) vs control plasma with available biospecimens and symptom data, the association between early CCP treatment, cytokine levels, and PCC was evaluated. Cytokine and chemokine levels were assessed at baseline, day 14, and day 90 using a multiplexed sandwich immunoassay (Meso Scale Discovery). Presence of any self-reported PCC symptoms was assessed at day 90. …

Stigma And Patient-Controlled Analgesia: Trust Is The Essential Ingredient Of Successful Patient Education In The Patient-Doctor Relationship, Trey D. Vanaken

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Van Beers EJ, Van Tuijn CFJ, Nieuwkerk PT, et al. Patient-controlled analgesia versus continuous infusion of morphine during vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease, a randomized controlled trial. Am J Hematol. 2007;82(11):955-960. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.20944.

for a patient with recurrent vaso-occlusive crisis secondary to Sickle Cell Disease.

Evaluating The Use Of Cheaper, Less Effective Medications In Patients With Cost-Based Medication Nonadherence, Muneer F. Hasso

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Sangaralingham LR, Sangaralingham SJ, Shah ND, Yao X, Dunlay SM. Adoption of Sacubitril/Valsartan for the Management of Patients With Heart Failure. Circ Heart Fail. 2018;11(2):e004302. https://doi.org/10.1161/circheartfailure.117.004302

for a patient with low medication adherence rates due to the high out-of-pocket costs of newer medications.

A Rare Case Of Tricuspid Atresia Absent Pulmonary Valve Diagnosed On Fetal Echocardiography, Wesam Sourour, Shannon K. Powell

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

• TA absent PV is a rare congenital heart anomaly. • TA absent PV is associated with a poor prognosis. • TA absent PV can be successfully diagnosed on fetal echocardiography.

Sigma1 Regulates Lipid Droplet-Mediated Redox Homeostasis Required For Prostate Cancer Proliferation, Halley Oyer, Alexandra Steck, Charles Longen, Sanjana Venkat, Konuralp Bayrak, Eleanor Munger, Dan Fu, Paola Castagnino, Christina Sanders, Nathalia Tancler, My Mai, Justin Myers, Matthew Schiewer, Nan Chen, Elahe Mostaghel, Felix Kim

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

UNLABELLED: Lipid droplets (LD) are dynamic organelles that serve as hubs of cellular metabolic processes. Emerging evidence shows that LDs also play a critical role in maintaining redox homeostasis and can mitigate lipid oxidative stress. In multiple cancers, including prostate cancer, LD accumulation is associated with cancer aggressiveness, therapy resistance, and poor clinical outcome. Prostate cancer arises as an androgen receptor (AR)-driven disease. Among its myriad roles, AR mediates the biosynthesis of LDs, induces autophagy, and modulates cellular oxidative stress in a tightly regulated cycle that promotes cell proliferation. The factors regulating the interplay of these metabolic processes downstream of …

Ramadan Fasting Did Not Lessen Vegetable And Fruit Consumption, Sleep Duration, And Physical Activity On Adolescents In Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia, Afradina Septiasari, Elma Alfiah, Andi Mukramin Yusuf, Amalina Ratih Puspa

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Muslims do Ramadan fasting for around 12 hours (between dawn and sunset). Apart from changing meal times, Ramadan fasting also has the potential to change sleep duration due to sahoor (before the dawn) activities that must be done. The ideal amount and frequency of vegetables and fruit consumption in the national guideline were illustrated by the three main meals a day. The different conditions occurred when doing Ramadan fasting, which was predicted to have less vegetable and fruit consumption than the normal days, especially Muslim adolescents. This research analyzed the difference between the consumption of vegetables and fruit, sleep duration, …

Relationship Between Muscle Dysmorphia And Other Factors With Supplement Consumption Among Selected Gym Members In Jakarta, Mohammad Rafid Billy Ramadhan, Anna Fitriani

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Ergogenic supplements can enhance exercise performance. However, many gym members use them without consulting professionals such as nutritionists/dietitians, increasing the risk of adverse effects. This study investigates the consumption of ergogenic supplements and factors associated with them among members of selected fitness centers in Jakarta. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 116 participants from 3 fitness centers in Jakarta. The independent variables studied were Muscle Dysmorphia, Exercise Addiction, self-esteem, body image, age, gender, exercise duration, exercise experience, exercise intensity, and social media exposure. Data was collected via interviews based on a prepared questionnaire. Results showed that 67.2% of the respondents …

Peer Influence As The Dominant Factor In Coffee Drink Consumption Among Non-Health Major University Of Indonesia Students In 2023, Patrisha Ramadhiani, Triyanti Triyanti, Sandra Fikawati

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Coffee drinks are sugar-sweetened beverages made from coffee powder, sugar, and water through heating. High consumption of coffee drinks is associated with sugar content, which can increase the risk of obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in coffee drink consumption levels based on individual characteristics and environmental factors among non-health undergraduate students at the University of Indonesia in 2023. This quantitative study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 181 active undergraduate non-health students in 2023. Data were collected in June 2023 through a self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that 52.5% of the respondents …

The Differences In Nutritional Status Based On The Use Of Online Food Delivery (Ofd) Services Among The Universitas Indonesia’S Non-Health Science Cluster Students In 2023, Muhammad Aulia Rizky, Asih Setiarini, Sandra Fikawati, Fajrinayanti Fajrinayanti

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Uncontrolled use of Online Food Delivery (OFD) can increase food intake and affect the incidence of overweight/obesity. This study aims to examine the differences in the proportion of nutritional status based on the use of OFD services among UI non-health science cluster students. This study involved 136 respondents using a purposive sampling method and cross-sectional study design. Data were collected through anthropometric measurements, Google Form, and direct interviews to be analyzed by Chi-Square test and multiple logistic regression. The results showed significant differences in the proportion of nutritional status based on the duration of consumer loyalty, pocket money, and energy …

The Difference Of Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Based On Individual Characteristics And Other Factors Among Non-Health Undergraduate Students In Universitas Indonesia In 2023, Adeline Vashtianada, Asih Setiarini, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Ultra-processed food/UPF is a product that undergoes a series of industrial techniques and processes, also has low nutritional value. Overconsumption of UPF can increase the risk of overweight and obesity. The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in the proportion of UPF consumption based on individual characteristics, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors among non-health undergraduate students in Universitas Indonesia in 2023. A cross sectional study design conducted on 149 samples. The data was collected using a self-administered online questionnaire. The data was analyzed using univariate and bivariate (chi-square) analyses. The results showed that 50.3% of the students …

Sugary Food And Beverages Consumption, Family History, And Primary Dysmenorrhea In Undergraduate Students, Faculty Of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, Raihani Ramadhan, Wahyu Kurnia Yusrin Putra, Diah Mulyawati Utari, Khoirul Anwar

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological problem experienced by women of reproductive age and can interfere with daily activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and differences in the proportion of primary dysmenorrhea based on individual factors (duration of menstrual bleeding, family history, physical activity, stress) and diet (breakfast habits, frequency of saturated fat consumption, omega-3 consumption, iron consumption, frequency of consumption of dairy products, caffeine consumption, and frequency of consumption of sugary foods and beverages). This study used a cross-sectional design and involved 150 regular undergraduate students in the 2019-2022 batch of the …

Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Mackenzie Lesczcynski

D.U.Quark

No abstract provided.

Enolase Inhibitors As Early Lead Therapeutics Against Trypanosoma Brucei, Colm P Roster, Danielle Lavigne, Jillian E Milanes, Emily Knight, Heidi D Anderson, Sabrina Pizarro, Elijah M Harding, Meredith T Morris, Victoria C Yan, Cong-Dat Pham, Florian Muller, Samuel Kwain, Kerrick C Rees, Brian Dominy, Daniel C Whitehead, Md Nasir Uddin, Steven W Millward, James C Morris

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glucose metabolism is critical for the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, serving as the lone source of ATP production for the bloodstream form (BSF) parasite in the glucose-rich environment of the host blood. Recently, phosphonate inhibitors of human enolase (ENO), the enzyme responsible for the interconversion of 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PG) to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) in glycolysis or PEP to 2-PG in gluconeogenesis, have been developed for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here, we have tested these agents against T. brucei ENO (TbENO) and found the compounds to be potent enzyme inhibitors and trypanocides. For example, (1-hydroxy-2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl) phosphonic acid (deoxy-SF2312) …

Determining Call-To-Entry Rate And Recruitment Barriers In Clinical Studies For Community Clinics Serving Low-Income Populations: A Cohort Study, Elizabeth M Vaughan, Salim Virani, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Victor J Cardenas, Craig A Johnston, Laura Porterfield, Zuleica Santiago Delgado, Susan L Samson, Vanessa Schick, Aanand D Naik

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Recruitment for clinical studies is challenging. to overcome barriers, investigators have previously established call-to-entry rates to assist in planning. However, rates specific to low-income minority populations are needed to account for additional barriers to enrolment these individuals face.

OBJECTIVE: to obtain a call-to-entry rate in a low-income uninsured Hispanic population with chronic disease.

METHODS: We used data from four of our randomised clinical studies to determine the call-to-entry rate for individuals (n=1075) with or at risk for type 2 diabetes: participants needed/potential participants contacted=recruitment rate (yield). Research staff contacted potential participants to enrol in a study that evaluated 6 …

Pituitary Adenoma Hidden By Comorbid Cataract, Len Koh Od, Megan E. Mcchesney Od, Chad E. Gosnell Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: A pituitary adenoma is an abnormal growth in the pituitary gland. Pituitary adenomas are the most common cause of sellar masses accounting for approximately 10% of all intracranial neoplasms. Early visual symptom of pituitary adenoma can be hidden by comorbid cataract in elderly patients. Case Report: A 74 y.o. male presented to the eye clinic with blurry vision at all distances and has trouble with glare from lights. His best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20^-1 OD, 20/25^-2 OS, but subjectively of poor quality. Slit lamp exam confirmed mild nuclear sclerotic cataract OU and normal fundus exam. …

Sagging Eye Syndrome--An Overlooked Diagnosis, Zachary Tlumak Od, Theresa Zerilli-Zavgorodni Od, Nancy Shenouda-Awad Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Sagging Eye Syndrome (SES) is a relatively unknown cause for binocular distance diplopia. SES presents with an acquired comitant or non-comitant small angle esotropia and/or hypotropia commonly occurring in the elderly population. Inferior displacement of the lateral rectus secondary to age-related degeneration of orbital connective tissue and extraocular muscles appears to be responsible for the ocular misalignment. SES patients often present with new onset or progressively worsening distance diplopia, typically warranting neuroimaging. However, through understanding SES, eye care practitioners may identify these cases, avoiding unnecessary imaging studies. Case Report: A 90-year-old male presented with complaints of intermittent horizontal …

Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy Plus Syndrome, Aaron W. Case Od, Lovelee E. Sayomac Od, Matthew J. Anderson Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is the most commonly encountered hereditary optic neuropathy in clinical practice and is the result of a mutation in the OPA1 or OPA3 genes encoding mitochondrial membrane proteins. The resultant mitochondrial dysfunction causes a distinct set of ophthalmic findings and may progress to extra-ocular systems known as OPA plus syndrome. We present a case of late-onset OPA plus syndrome encompassing both typical ophthalmic findings and the rarer extra-ocular findings. Case Report: A 41 year-old Caucasian male presents for a second opinion regarding a previously diagnosed traumatic optic neuropathy. Examination revealed decreased best-corrected acuities, …

Diagnosis And Management Of A Patient With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Conjunctivitis, Michael Chocky Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background : Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are becoming more common. These infections can cause various ocular conditions including conjunctivitis. Conjunctival cultures are an important tool to assist with proper diagnosis and treatment of these infections. Case Report : A 61-year-old African American male presented with the complaint of redness and drainage from his eyes. With the assistance of conjunctival cultures, he was diagnosed with MRSA conjunctivitis. Treatment with vancomycin ultimately led to resolution of the condition. Conclusion : MRSA conjunctivitis should always be considered when a conjunctivitis is not responding to empirical therapy. Eye care professionals should be aware …

Advances In Molecular Pathology, Diagnosis, And Treatment Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis., Hristelina Ilieva, Mithila Vullaganti, Justin Kwan

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Although the past two decades have produced exciting discoveries in the genetics and pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progress in developing an effective therapy remains slow. This review summarizes the critical discoveries and outlines the advances in disease characterization, diagnosis, imaging, and biomarkers, along with the current status of approaches to ALS care and treatment. Additional knowledge of the factors driving disease progression and heterogeneity will hopefully soon transform the care for patients with ALS into an individualized, multi-prong approach able to prevent disease progression sufficiently to allow for a dignified life with limited disability.

Serotonin Reduction In Post-Acute Sequelae Of Viral Infection, Andrea Wong, Ashwarya Devason, Iboro Umana, Timothy Cox, Lenka Dohnalová, Lev Litichevskiy, Jonathan Perla, Patrick Lundgren, Zienab Etwebi, Luke Izzo, Jihee Kim, Monika Tetlak, Hélène Descamps, Simone Park, Stephen Wisser, Aaron Mcknight, Ryan Pardy, Junwon Kim, Niklas Blank, Shaan Patel, Katharina Thum, Sydney Mason, Jean-Christophe Beltra, Michaël Michieletto, Shin Foong Ngiow, Brittany Miller, Megan Liou, Bhoomi Madhu, Oxana Dmitrieva-Posocco, Alex Huber, Peter Hewins, Christopher Petucci, Candice Chu, Gwen Baraniecki-Zwil, Leila Giron, Amy Baxter, Allison Greenplate, Charlotte Kearns, Kathleen Montone, Leslie Litzky, Michael Feldman, Jorge Henao-Mejia, Boris Striepen, Holly Ramage, Kellie Jurado, Kathryn Wellen, Una O'Doherty, Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen, Alan L Landay, Ali Keshavarzian, Timothy Henrich, Steven Deeks, Michael Peluso, Nuala Meyer, E. John Wherry, Benjamin Abramoff, Sara Cherry, Christoph Thaiss, Maayan Levy

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC, "Long COVID") pose a significant global health challenge. The pathophysiology is unknown, and no effective treatments have been found to date. Several hypotheses have been formulated to explain the etiology of PASC, including viral persistence, chronic inflammation, hypercoagulability, and autonomic dysfunction. Here, we propose a mechanism that links all four hypotheses in a single pathway and provides actionable insights for therapeutic interventions. We find that PASC are associated with serotonin reduction. Viral infection and type I interferon-driven inflammation reduce serotonin through three mechanisms: diminished intestinal absorption of the serotonin precursor tryptophan; platelet hyperactivation and thrombocytopenia, …

An Investigation Of Mitigation Measures On The Spread Of Covid-19 In A College Classroom Using Agent-Based Modeling, Saharsh Talwar, Anne E. Yust

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

In this manuscript, we describe the process of using agent-based modeling in NetLogo to create a simulation of COVID-19 spread in a traditional college classroom. The model allows for an evaluation of different preventative measures implemented by the University of Pittsburgh, including the cohort classroom attendance model, mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing, and classroom sanitation. Through the use of the model's interactive interface, the impact of adjusting specific measures by the institution could be visualized, providing a valuable tool for combating diseases that spread through droplet transmission.

Exploring The Unmet Care Needs Of Women With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd), Jessica Madiraca

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of study procedures to and explore the unmet needs and potential barriers of women with advanced COPD who may need palliative care (PC). This multi-method study was guided by the adapted Hierarchy of Needs Model and explored unmet care needs, assessed knowledge of PC services, and identified barriers that women experience when receiving or during the implementation of PC. Further exploration of PC needs by sex provided information on unmet care needs of women with advanced COPD. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling by using COPD Patient-Powered Research Network …

Localized Cardiac Small Molecule Trajectories And Persistent Chemical Sequelae In Experimental Chagas Disease, Zongyuan Liu, Rebecca Ulrich Vonbargen, April L Kendricks, Kate Wheeler, Ana Carolina Leão, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan, Danya A Dean, Shelley S Kane, Ekram Hossain, Jeroen Pollet, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J Hotez, Kathryn M Jones, Laura-Isobel Mccall

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-infectious conditions present major health burdens but remain poorly understood. In Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, antiparasitic agents that successfully clear T. cruzi do not always improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we reveal differential small molecule trajectories between cardiac regions during chronic T. cruzi infection, matching with characteristic CD apical aneurysm sites. Incomplete, region-specific, cardiac small molecule restoration is observed in animals treated with the antiparasitic benznidazole. In contrast, superior restoration of the cardiac small molecule profile is observed for a combination treatment of reduced-dose benznidazole plus an immunotherapy, even with less parasite burden reduction. Overall, …

Identification Of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions In Decaying Tongue Tissues From Exhumed White-Tailed Deer, Paulina Soto, Francisca Bravo-Risi, Rebeca Benavente, Stuart Lichtenberg, Mitch Lockwood, J Hunter Reed, Rodrigo Morales

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions cause fatal neuropathies in farmed and free-ranging cervids. The deposition of prions in natural and humanmade environmental components has been implicated as a major mechanism mediating CWD spread in wild and captive populations. Prions can be deposited in the environment through excreta, tissues, and carcasses from pre-clinical and clinical animals. Furthermore, burial of CWD-positive animals may reduce but not completely mitigate prion spread from carcasses into the surrounding environment. Here, we analyzed exhumed, decaying deer carcasses for the presence of CWD prions. By analyzing tongue tissues through the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technique, we …