Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cerebrovascular Reactivity Mri As A Biomarker For Cerebral Small Vessel Disease–Related Cognitive Decline: Multi-Site Validation In The Markvcid Consortium, Peiying Liu, Zixuan Lin, Kaisha Hazel, George Pottanat, Cuimei Xu, Dengrong Jiang, Jay J. Pillai, Emma Lucke, Christopher E. Bauer, Brian T. Gold, Steven M. Greenburg, Karl G. Helmer, Kay Jann, Gregory Jicha, Joel Kramer, Pauline Maillard, Rachel M. Mulavelil, Pavel Rodriguez, Claudia L. Satizabal, Kristin Schwab, Sudha Seshadri, Herpreet Singh, Ángel G. Velarde Dediós, Danny J. J. Wang, Rita R. Kalyani, Abhay Moghekar, Paul B. Rosenberg, Sevil Yasar, Marilyn Albert, Hanzhang Lu

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) represent a major factor in cognitive decline in older adults. The present study examined the relationship between cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive function in a multi-site study, using a predefined hypothesis.

METHODS: We conducted the study in a total of three analysis sites and 263 subjects. Each site performed an identical CVR MRI procedure using 5% carbon dioxide inhalation. A global cognitive measure of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and an executive function measure of item response theory (IRT) score were used as outcomes.

RESULTS: CVR …

Effortless Mindfulness Toolkit: Easy Meditation Scripts To Begin Each Class., Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

The Effortless Mindfulness in the Classroom Toolkit is an open educational resource designed to create happier classrooms, boost student engagement, and foster a sense of community through brief, effective mindfulness exercises. This comprehensive toolkit provides educators with everything they need to seamlessly integrate mindfulness practices into their teaching routines, regardless of prior experience. The toolkit includes introductory slides, 15 ready-to-use meditation scripts, and accompanying audio recordings, covering a variety of mindfulness techniques such as focused breathing, body scans, and loving-kindness meditations. Each meditation is paired with a reflective prompt to deepen student engagement and reinforce the benefits of mindfulness. Additionally, …

Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Potential Regulatory Role Of Nsmase2 (Smpd3) In Nervous System Development And Function Of Middle-Aged Mouse Brains, Zhihui Zhu, Timothy S. Mcclintock, Erhard Bieberich

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2), gene name sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-3 (Smpd3), is a key regulatory enzyme responsible for generating the sphingolipid cer- amide. The function of nSMase2 in the brain is still controversial. To better under- stand the functional roles of nSMase2 in the aging mouse brain, we applied RNA-seq analysis, which identified a total of 1462 differentially abundant mRNAs between +/fro and fro/fro, of which 891 were increased and 571 were decreased in nSMase2-deficient mouse brains. The most strongly enriched GO and KEGG annota- tion terms among transcripts increased in fro/fro mice included synaptogenesis, syn- apse development, synaptic signaling, axon development, and …

Cigarette Smoke-Induced Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition: Insights Into Cellular Mechanisms And Signaling Pathways, Sarah Mohammed Alqithami, Amrita Machwe, David K. Orren

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

This review delves into the molecular complexities underpinning the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by cigarette smoke (CS) in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). The complex interplay of pathways, including those related to WNT//β-catenin, TGF-β/SMAD, hypoxia, oxidative stress, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB, plays a central role in mediating this transition. While these findings significantly broaden our understanding of CS-induced EMT, the research reviewed herein leans heavily on 2D cell cultures, highlighting a research gap. Furthermore, the review identifies a stark omission of genetic and epigenetic factors in recent studies. Despite these shortcomings, the findings furnish a consolidated foundation not only for the …

Cryo-Em Reconstruction Of Oleate Hydratase Bound To A Phospholipid Membrane Bilayer, Michael L. Oldham, M. Zuhaib Qayyum, Ravi C. Kalathur, Charles O. Rock, Christopher D. Radka

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Oleate hydratase (OhyA) is a bacterial peripheral membrane protein that catalyzes FAD-dependent water addition to membrane bilayer-embedded unsaturated fatty acids. The opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus uses OhyA to counteract the innate immune system and support colonization. Many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the microbiome also encode OhyA. OhyA is a dimeric flavoenzyme whose carboxy terminus is identified as the membrane binding domain; however, understanding how OhyA binds to cellular membranes is not complete until the membrane-bound structure has been elucidated. All available OhyA structures depict the solution state of the protein outside its functional environment. Here, we employ liposomes to …

Nsd3::Nutm1 Fusion Sarcoma Mimicking Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor With Prolonged Survival, Jing Di, Ali M. Alhaidary, Chi Wang, Jinge Liu, Sainan Wei, Joseph Valentino, Therese J. Bocklage

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nuclear Protein in Testis (NUT)-rearranged tumors comprise predominantly NUT car- cinoma but also include certain lymphomas, leukemias, skin appendage tumors, and sarcomas. Although histologically diverse, all are genetically identified by oncogenic rearrangement in the NUTM1 gene. Many fusion partners occur, and NSD3 is NUT carcinoma’s third most common partner. Herein, we present a case of a 26-year-old man with an NSD3::NUTM1 fusion sarcoma. The patient presented at the age of 13 months with a scalp nodule. Over the next 24 years, he experienced five local recurrences and ultimately expired of a rapidly progressive recurrence. His treatment included surgical resections, radiation, …

Pilz Domain-Containing Proteins Regulate Motility In Acinetobacter Baumannii, Gabriel Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Acinetobacter baumannii is an increasingly multidrug-resistant pathogen contributing to hospital-acquired infections, necessitating a greater understanding of how it interacts with its surroundings. Many bacteria utilize different methods of bacterial motility to move about and interact with these surroundings. A bacterial second messenger, cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), can regulate various motility factors that are potentially advantageous for survival in and adaptation to their environment. Concentrations of c-di-GMP are regulated by specific synthesizing and degrading enzymes. Controlled levels of c-di-GMP allow interaction between the c-di-GMP and its binding effectors that induce changes in bacterial phenotypes such as biofilm formation and motility. A …

Expression Of The Αvβ3 Integrin Affects Prostate Cancer Sev Cargo And Density And Promotes Sev Pro-Tumorigenic Activity In Vivo Through A Gpi-Anchored Receptor, Ngr2, Cecilia Verrillo, Fabio Quaglia, Christopher Shields, Stephen Lin, Andrew Kossenkov, Hsin-Yao Tang, David Speicher, Nicole Naranjo, Anna Testa, William Kelly, Qin Liu, Benjamin Leiby, Luca Musante, Khalid Sossey-Alaoui, Navneet Dogra, Tzu-Yi Chen, Dario Altieri, Lucia Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

It is known that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are released from cancer cells and contribute to cancer progression via crosstalk with recipient cells. We have previously reported that sEVs expressing the αVβ3 integrin, a protein upregulated in aggressive neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPrCa), contribute to neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in recipient cells. Here, we examine the impact of αVβ3 expression on sEV protein content, density and function. sEVs used in this study were isolated by iodixanol density gradients and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunoblotting and single vesicle analysis. Our proteomic profile of sEVs containing αVβ3 shows downregulation of typical effectors involved …

Individually Randomized Trial Mislabeled As A Cluster-Randomized Trial Comment On: “Effectiveness Of Wearable Technology To Optimize Youth Soccer Players’ Off-Training Behaviour And Training Responses: A Cluster-Randomized Trial”, Jean Michel R S Leite, Jasmine Jamshidi-Naeini, Colby J Vorland, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Molecular Responses In Decitabine- And Decitabine/ Venetoclax-Treated Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Agata Gruszczynska, Abhishek Maiti, Christopher A Miller, Sai Mukund Ramakrishnan, Daniel C Link, Geoffrey L Uy, Allegra A Petti, Kala Hayes, Courtney D Dinardo, Farhad Ravandi, Timothy J Ley, David H Spencer, Feng Gao, Marina Y Konopleva, John S Welch

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Enolase Inhibitors As Therapeutic Leads For Naegleria Fowleri Infection, Jillian E Milanes, Victoria C Yan, Cong-Dat Pham, Florian Muller, Samuel Kwain, Kerrick C Rees, Brian N Dominy, Daniel C Whitehead, Steven W Millward, Madison Bolejack, Roger Shek, Logan Tillery, Isabelle Q Phan, Bart Staker, E Ashley Moseman, Xiang Zhang, Xipeng Ma, Audriy Jebet, Xinmin Yin, James C Morris

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Infections with the pathogenic free-living amoebae Naegleria fowleri can lead to life-threatening illnesses including catastrophic primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Efficacious treatment options for these infections are lacking and the mortality rate remains >95% in the US. Glycolysis is very important for the infectious trophozoite lifecycle stage and inhibitors of glucose metabolism have been found to be toxic to the pathogen. Recently, human enolase 2 (ENO2) phosphonate inhibitors have been developed as lead agents to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). These compounds, which cure GBM in a rodent model, are well-tolerated in mammals because enolase 1 (ENO1) is the predominant isoform used …

Delineating Metastasis In Mss Colorectal Cancer By Single - Cell Rna Sequencing, Shuangjie You

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Colorectal cancer Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the majority of these deaths occurring after metastases. In this study, we used single-cell RNA transcriptome sequencing to characterize the cellular and molecular features of primary CRC and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Analysis of 130 samples revealed significant heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by a diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cell populations. Notably, we identified different CAF subtypes, including inflammatory (iCAFs), matrix(mCAFs), complement (cCAFs), and vascular (vCAFs). iCAFs were enriched in primary tumors expressing higher levels of inflammation-associated genes, whereas mCAFs were …

Exploring The Role Of The Arginine-Methylation Writer-Reader Pair Prmt5/Snd1 In Jak2-Mutant Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Rocio Rubiano

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a hematopoietic disease characterized by hyperproliferation of cells of the myeloid lineage for which current therapeutic options are limited. Discovered in 2005, the JAK2V617F mutation is the most common driver mutation in BCR-ABL negative MPNs, resulting in constitutive activation of the JAK2 protein and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. A role for the methyltransferase activity of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) has been proposed in JAK2-mutant MPN, highlighting both a mechanism through which this mutation can drive disease progression and a potential mode of therapeutic intervention. Staphylococcal Nuclease Domain-Containing Protein 1 (SND1) is the effector molecule responsible …

The Role Of An Ultraconserved Long Non-Coding Rna In B-Cell Lymphomagenesis, Swati Mohapatra

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Ultraconserved regions (UCRs) are genomic segments with perfect (100%) conservation between the orthologous regions of human, rat, and mouse genomes. UCRs can be transcribed into mono-exonic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) known as transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs). These regions, despite lacking protein-coding potential, are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles in gene expression, including the modulation of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts. NcRNAs play crucial roles in cellular processes, including oncogenic transformation, with emerging evidence revealing their ability to encode small peptides known as ncRNA-encoded peptides (ncPEPs). These peptides, originating from small open reading frames (smORFs), contribute to diverse cellular functions and …

Vesicle-Associated Membrane Proteins In Airway Mucin Secretion, Boxuan Yang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mucus plays a vital role in shielding the lungs against harmful substances such as particles, pathogens, and chemicals inhaled from the environment. It captures these harmful elements, and ciliary action helps to expel them from the lungs. Paradoxically, malfunctioning of mucus induces the development of various respiratory illnesses, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung diseases. Despite extensive research on controlling mucin production and hydration, the process of secretion is not yet fully comprehended.

Mucin undergoes regulated secretion at two rates: a low baseline rate and a high stimulated rate. Over the past 25 years, …

Mapping The Single-Cell Differentiation Landscape Of Osteosarcoma, Danh D Truong, Corey Weistuch, Kevin A Murgas, Prasad Admane, Bridgette L King, Jes Chauviere Lee, Salah-E Lamhamedi-Cherradi, Jyothishmathi Swaminathan, Najat C Daw, Nancy Gordon, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Richard G Gorlick, Neeta Somaiah, Joseph O Deasy, Antonios G Mikos, Allen Tannenbaum, Joseph Ludwig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The genetic intratumoral heterogeneity observed in human osteosarcomas poses challenges for drug development and the study of cell fate, plasticity, and differentiation, which are processes linked to tumor grade, cell metastasis, and survival.

Experimental design: To pinpoint errors in osteosarcoma differentiation, we transcriptionally profiled 31,527 cells from a tissue-engineered model that directs mesenchymal stem cells toward adipogenic and osteoblastic fates. Incorporating preexisting chondrocyte data, we applied trajectory analysis and non-negative matrix factorization to generate the first human mesenchymal differentiation atlas.

Results: This "roadmap" served as a reference to delineate the cellular composition of morphologically complex osteosarcoma tumors and quantify …

Genomic Data Science Approaches For Understanding Human Diseases, Snehal Shah

All Dissertations

The intricate interplay of genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and lifestyle acts as the multifactorial landscape of diseases. Understanding this complexity presents a significant challenge. Molecular insights into disease mechanisms, particularly the interactions of DNA, RNA, and proteins with environmental and lifestyle factors, have revolutionized disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. High-throughput technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, generate large amounts of molecular data, holding a wealth of knowledge. These datasets unveil the roles of genes and their interactions with various factors through analysis, shedding light on previously unknown molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, they facilitate the discovery of biomarkers crucial for …

Candida Albicans Farnesol Synthesis And Secretion, Daniel J. Gutzmann

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Candida albicans is a polymorphic fungus and opportunistic commensal found primarily in the gastrointestinal and skin of healthy individuals. Several barriers prevent C. albicans from causing disease including a healthy immune system and microbiome. When these barriers become comprised, C. albicans can transition to a pathogen and disseminate through the intestinal mucosa leading to life-threatening bloodstream and invasive infections with mortality rates of up to 64%. Morphogenic plasticity is key to this transition and impacts virulence, adaptation to different host environments, and evasion of host immune responses. One regulator of morphogenesis is farnesol. Farnesol is a secondary metabolite of …

A 3d Dual-Echo Spiral Sequence For Simultaneous Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast And Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Mri With Single Bolus Injection, Zhiqiang Li, Dinghui Wang, Melvyn B Ooi, Poonam Choudhary, Sudarshan Ragunathan, John P Karis, James G Pipe, C Chad Quarles, Ashley M Stokes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Perfusion MRI reveals important tumor physiological and pathophysiologic information, making it a critical component in managing brain tumor patients. This study aimed to develop a dual-echo 3D spiral technique with a single-bolus scheme to simultaneously acquire both dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) data and overcome the limitations of current EPI-based techniques.

Methods: A 3D spiral-based technique with dual-echo acquisition was implemented and optimized on a 3T MRI scanner with a spiral staircase trajectory and through-plane SENSE acceleration for improved speed and image quality, in-plane variable-density undersampling combined with a sliding-window acquisition and reconstruction approach for increased …

Poly (Adp-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (Parp1) Expression In The Frontal Cortex And Hippocampus In Major Depressive Disorder (Mdd) And Suicide, Ramona Faith Fulkerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that has a complex pathophysiology. In this study we evaluate the expression of PARP1 and the downstream alarmin protein high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in two brain areas that have demonstrated pathology in MDD. MDD donors were compared to controls. MDD subgroups that died by suicide were also compared to those that did not die by suicide. Immunoblotting to determine PARP1 and HMGB1 protein expression was performed in white and grey matter from the frontal cortex and the hippocampus. In BA10 white and grey matter, PARP1 protein expression was significantly …

Outcomes Of Different Steroid Dosing Regimens In Critical Covid-19 Pneumonia At A Kenyan Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study, John Odhiambo, Jasmit Shah, Nancy Kunyiha, Felix Riunga, Charles Makasa

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Among therapeutic options for severe and critical COVID- 19 infection, dexamethasone six milligrams once daily for ten days has demonstrated mortality benefit and is guideline recommended at this dose. In practice, variable doses of steroids have been used, especially in critical care settings. Our study aimed to determine the pattern of steroid dosing and outcomes in terms of critical care mortality, occurrence of dysglycaemias, and occurrence of superadded infections in patients with critical COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on all eligible patients admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, with critical COVID-19 between 1st …

Disparities In Exposure To Tobacco On Television Or Streaming Platforms, Henry K Onyeaka, Onyema G Chido-Amajuoyi, Itunu Sokale, Kobi V Ajayi, A Eden Evins, Hermioni L Amonoo, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: With the rise in popularity of streaming platforms concerns about exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion have emerged. While tobacco marketing and promotion through traditional television (TV) media channels has been extensively studied, less is known about exposure to tobacco through TV or streaming platforms and its associated factors.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with exposure to tobacco products advertised, marketed, or promoted on TV or streaming platforms among US adults.

Design, setting, and participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6), conducted from March 7 …

Smyd5 Methylation Of Rpl40 Links Ribosomal Output To Gastric Cancer, Juhyung Park, Jibo Wu, Krzysztof J Szkop, Jinho Jeong, Predrag Jovanovic, Dylan Husmann, Natasha M Flores, Joel W Francis, Ying-Jiun C Chen, Ana Morales Benitez, Emily Zahn, Shumei Song, Jaffer A Ajani, Linghua Wang, Kamini Singh, Ola Larsson, Benjamin A Garcia, Ivan Topisirovic, Or Gozani, Pawel K Mazur

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dysregulated transcription due to disruption in histone lysine methylation dynamics is an established contributor to tumorigenesis1,2. However, whether analogous pathologic epigenetic mechanisms act directly on the ribosome to advance oncogenesis is unclear. Here we find that trimethylation of the core ribosomal protein L40 (rpL40) at lysine 22 (rpL40K22me3) by the lysine methyltransferase SMYD5 regulates mRNA translation output to promote malignant progression of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) with lethal peritoneal ascites. A biochemical-proteomics strategy identifies the monoubiquitin fusion protein partner rpL40 (ref. 3) as the principal physiological substrate of SMYD5 across diverse samples. Inhibiting the SMYD5-rpL40K22me3 axis in GAC cell lines reprogrammes …

Benchmarking Lung Cancer Screening Programmes With Adaptive Screening Frequency Against The Optimal Screening Schedules Derived From The Engage Framework: A Comparative Microsimulation Study, Mehdi Hemmati, Sayaka Ishizawa, Rafael Meza, Edwin Ostrin, Samir M Hanash, Mara Antonoff, Andrew J Schaefer, Martin C Tammemägi, Iakovos Toumazis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Lung cancer screening recommendations employ annual frequency for eligible individuals, despite evidence that it may not be universally optimal. The impact of imposing a structure on the screening frequency remains unknown. The ENGAGE framework, a validated framework that offers fully dynamic, analytically optimal, personalised lung cancer screening recommendations, could be used to assess the impact of screening structure on the effectiveness and efficiency of lung cancer screening.

Methods: In this comparative microsimulation study, we benchmarked alternative clinically relevant structured lung cancer screening programmes employing a fixed (annual or biennial) or adaptive (start with annual/biennial screening and then switch to …

Accelerated Tumor Progression After Covid-19 Infection In Patients With Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Case-Control Study, Timothy A Gregory, Stephanie R Knight, Ashley E Aaroe, Kaitlin N Highsmith, Zachary C Janatpour, Barbara J O'Brien, Nazanin K Majd, Monica E Loghin, Chirag B Patel, Shiao-Pei Weathers, Vinay K Puduvalli, Carlos Kamiya-Matsuoka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: We observed rapid tumor progression following COVID-19 infection among patients with glioblastoma and sought to systematically characterize their disease course in a retrospective case-control study.

Methods: Using an institutional database, we retrospectively identified a series of COVID-19-positive glioblastoma cases and matched them by age and sex 1:2 to glioblastoma controls who had a negative COVID-19 test during their disease course. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed. Hyperprogression was defined using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors criteria. Time to progression and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Thirty-two glioblastoma cases with positive COVID-19 testing were …

Variability In Performance Of Genetic-Enhanced Dxa-Bmd Prediction Models Across Diverse Ethnic And Geographic Populations: A Risk Prediction Study, Yong Liu, Xiang-He Meng, Chong Wu, Kuan-Jui Su, Anqi Liu, Qing Tian, Lan-Juan Zhao, Chuan Qiu, Zhe Luo, Martha I Gonzalez-Ramirez, Hui Shen, Hong-Mei Xiao, Hong-Wen Deng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a major global health issue, weakening bones and increasing fracture risk. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the standard for measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and diagnosing osteoporosis, but its costliness and complexity impede widespread screening adoption. Predictive modeling using genetic and clinical data offers a cost-effective alternative for assessing osteoporosis and fracture risk. This study aims to develop BMD prediction models using data from the UK Biobank (UKBB) and test their performance across different ethnic and geographical populations.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: We developed BMD prediction models for the femoral neck (FNK) and lumbar spine (SPN) using both …

Antitumor Activity Of A Novel Lair1 Antagonist In Combination With Anti-Pd1 To Treat Collagen-Rich Solid Tumors, Bertha L Rodriguez, Jiawei Huang, Laura Gibson, Jared J Fradette, Hung-I H Chen, Kikuye Koyano, Czrina Cortez, Betty Li, Carmence Ho, Amir M Ashique, Vicky Y Lin, Suzanne Crawley, Julie M Roda, Peirong Chen, Bin Fan, Jeong Kim, James Sissons, Jonathan Sitrin, Daniel D Kaplan, Don L Gibbons, Lee B Rivera

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We recently reported that resistance to PD-1 blockade in a refractory lung cancer-derived model involved increased collagen deposition and the collagen-binding inhibitory receptor leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LAIR1). Thus, we hypothesized that LAIR1 and collagen cooperated to suppress therapeutic response. In this study, we report that LAIR1 is associated with tumor stroma and is highly expressed by intratumoral myeloid cells in both human tumors and mouse models of cancer. Stroma-associated myeloid cells exhibit a suppressive phenotype and correlate with LAIR1 expression in human cancer. NGM438, a novel humanized LAIR1 antagonist mAb, elicits myeloid inflammation and allogeneic T-cell responses by binding …

The T2-Flair Mismatch Sign In Oncologic Neuroradiology: History, Current Use, Emerging Data, And Future Directions, Samir A Dagher, Riley Hideo Lochner, Burak Berksu Ozkara, Donald F Schomer, Max Wintermark, Gregory N Fuller, F Eymen Ucisik

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The T2-Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (T2-FLAIR) mismatch sign is a radiogenomic marker that is easily discernible on preoperative conventional MR imaging. Application of strict criteria (adult population, cerebral hemisphere location, and classic imaging morphology) permits the noninvasive preoperative diagnosis of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant 1p/19q-non-codeleted diffuse astrocytoma with near-perfect specificity, albeit with variably low sensitivity. This leads to improved preoperative planning and patient counseling. More recent research has shown that the application of less strict criteria compromises the near-perfect specificity of the sign but remains adequate for ruling out IDH-wildtype (glioblastoma) phenotype, which bears a far grimmer prognosis compared to IDH-mutant diffuse …

Emotional Eating In Adolescents With Obesity: Case Series, Paula Dayan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern, with substantial implications for physical and mental well-being. This thesis aims to explore the intricate relationship between emotional eating and obesity among adolescents, with a focus on identifying emotional triggers and assessing their psychological impact. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design at a university in southern California, data were collected from two adolescents aged 13-18 years. Through surveys and body composition measurements, participants' emotional barriers to weight loss and readiness for change were assessed. The findings underscore the presence of varying degrees of emotional hurdles among adolescents with obesity, including depression, frustration, and …

Assessment Of American Tannin-Free Grain Sorghum As Feedstuff For Poultry: Nutrient Composition, Amino Acid Digestibility And Bird Performance, Santiago Sasia

All Dissertations

Given the rising cost of poultry diets, alternative ingredients like sorghum are crucial for maximizing returns without compromising product quality. Sorghum's drought tolerance and adaptability, along with its nutritional profile, make it a viable corn substitute. This dissertation examines the nutrient composition, amino acid digestibility, and performance of poultry fed with American tannin-free grain sorghum. Chapter II evaluates the impact of sorghum-based diets, with or without phytase superdosing, on broiler performance, including body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Results indicate that sorghum can replace corn without adverse effects on broiler performance. Chapter III explores the partial …