Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Serine Synthesis Via Reversed Shmt2 Activity Drives Glycine Depletion And Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity In Masld, Alia Ghrayeb, Alexandra C Finney, Bella Agranovich, Daniel Peled, Sumit Kumar Anand, M Peyton Mckinney, Mahasen Sarji, Dongshan Yang, Natan Weissman, Shani Drucker, Sara Isabel Fernandes, Jonatan Fernández-García, Kyle Mahan, Zaid Abassi, Lin Tan, Philip L Lorenzi, James Traylor, Jifeng Zhang, Ifat Abramovich, Y Eugene Chen, Oren Rom, Inbal Mor, Eyal Gottlieb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects one-third of the global population. Understanding the metabolic pathways involved can provide insights into disease progression and treatment. Untargeted metabolomics of livers from mice with early-stage steatosis uncovered decreased methylated metabolites, suggesting altered one-carbon metabolism. The levels of glycine, a central component of one-carbon metabolism, were lower in mice with hepatic steatosis, consistent with clinical evidence. Stable-isotope tracing demonstrated that increased serine synthesis from glycine via reverse serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) is the underlying cause for decreased glycine in steatotic livers. Consequently, limited glycine availability in steatotic livers impaired glutathione synthesis under acetaminophen-induced oxidative …

Unraveling The Intercellular Communication Disruption And Key Pathways In Alzheimer’S Disease: An Integrative Study Of Single-Nucleus Transcriptomes And Genetic Association, Andi Liu, Brisa S Fernandes, Citu Citu, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Recently, single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) analyses have revealed important cellular and functional features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disease. However, our knowledge regarding intercellular communication mediated by dysregulated ligand-receptor (LR) interactions remains very limited in AD brains.

METHODS: We systematically assessed the intercellular communication networks by using a discovery snRNA-seq dataset comprising 69,499 nuclei from 48 human postmortem prefrontal cortex (PFC) samples. We replicated the findings using an independent snRNA-seq dataset of 56,440 nuclei from 18 PFC samples. By integrating genetic signals from AD genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics and whole genome sequencing (WGS) data, we prioritized …

Investigation Into Cardiac Myhc-Α 334-352-Specific Tcr Transgenic Mice Reveals A Role For Cytotoxic Cd4 T Cells In The Development Of Cardiac Autoimmunity, Meghna Sur, Mahima T. Rasquinha, Kiruthiga Mone, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Ninaad Lasrado, Channabasavaiah B. Gurumurthy, Raymond A Sobel, Jay Reddy

Journal Articles: Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy

Myocarditis is one of the major causes of heart failure in children and young adults and can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy. Lymphocytic myocarditis could result from autoreactive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, but defining antigen specificity in disease pathogenesis is challenging. To address this issue, we generated T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (Tg) C57BL/6J mice specific to cardiac myosin heavy chain (Myhc)-α 334-352 and found that Myhc-α-specific TCRs were expressed in both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. To investigate if the phenotype is more pronounced in a myocarditis-susceptible genetic background, we backcrossed with A/J mice. At …

Identifying Factors That Reduce Substance Use Liability, Victoria Allen, Nick Blanch, Sunday Wright, Kelci Straka-Mai, Aarushi Patel, Caleb Bridgwater, Lubidia Menjivar, Cate Vaughn, Courtney Blondino Phd, The Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry, Michael M. Vanyukov Phd, Hermine H.M. Maes Phd, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Liver-Specific Transcription Factor Hnf4 In Reprogramming Of Fibroblasts, Mary Odubote

Masters Theses

The mammalian liver, a vital organ with complex functions, relies on a network of transcription factors to regulate gene expression. Fusion of hepatoma cells with fibroblasts often leads to gene extinction, silencing approximately 400 liver-enriched genes, including critical transcription factors such as HNF4. Previous studies revealed that ectopic expression of HNF4 in fibroblasts failed to prevent the extinction of SERPINA1, a liver-specific gene, upon subsequent fusion with hepatoma cells. Here, we sought to investigate the extent to which ectopic expression of HNF4 can reprogram fibroblast cells and prevent gene extinction in hybrid cells.

Using whole-genome expression analysis, we compared RAT1 …

Actin Depolymerization Of Tenocytes Promotes A Tendinosis-Like Gene Expression, Kameron Inguito, Ba, Valerie West, Karl Matthew Ebron, Justin Parreno, Phd

Alpha Omega Alpha Research Symposium Posters

Optimal cellular mechanotransduction is essential for tendon matrix homeostasis. We recently developed an in vivo rat model of tendinosis, where the plantaris tendon are overloaded through ablation of the synergistic Achilles tendon. Using this model we determined that tissue overload disrupts matrix-cell interactions, which results in under-stimulation of tendon cells (tenocytes) (Fig.1)

Using an ex vivo model of tendon stress deprivation by maintaining tail tendon fascicles in floating culture we showed that tenocyte under-stimulation results in destabilization of filamentous (F-)actin (Fig.2). F-actin destabilization coincides with tendinosis-like gene expression: downregulation of tenogenic genes (Col1, Tnc, asma, Scx), upregulation of chondrogenic (Acan, …

In Vivo Scanning Laser Fundus And High-Resolution Oct Imaging Of Retinal Ganglion Cell Injury In A Non-Human Primate Model With An Activatable Fluorescent-Labeled Tat Peptide Probe, Xudong Qiu, Seth T Gammon, Carol Rasmussen, Federica Pisaneschi, Charlene B Y Kim, James Ver Hoeve, Steven W Millward, Edward M Barnett, T Michael Nork, Paul L Kaufman, David Piwnica-Worms

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The optical imaging agent TcapQ488 has enabled imaging of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury in vivo in rodents and has potential as an effective diagnostic probe for early detection and intervention monitoring in glaucoma patients. In the present study, we investigated TcapQ488 in non-human primates (NHPs) to identify labeling efficacy and early signals of injured RGC, to determine species-dependent changes in RGC probe uptake and clearance, and to determine dose-limiting toxicities. Doses of 3, 6, and 12 nmol of TcapQ488 were delivered intravitreally to normal healthy NHP eyes and eyes that had undergone hemiretinal endodiathermy axotomy (HEA) in the inferior …

Glycan Clock Of Ageing—Analytical Precision And Time-Dependent Inter- And I-Individual Variability, Borna Rapčan, Manshu Song, Azra Frkatović-Hodžić, Tea Pribić, Jakov Vuk, Anđelo Beletić, Maja Hanić, Julija Jurić, Petra Tominac, Josip Milas, Vedrana Ivić, Sven Viland, Sara Bonet, Branko Šego, Marija Heffer, Wei Wang, Michael P. Snyder, Gordan Lauc

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ageing is a complex biological process with variations among individuals, leading to the development of ageing clocks to estimate biological age. Glycans, particularly in immunoglobulin G (IgG), have emerged as potential biomarkers of ageing, with changes in glycosylation patterns correlating with chronological age. For precision analysis, three different plasma pools were analysed over 26 days in tetraplicates, 312 samples in total. In short-term variability analysis, two cohorts were analysed: AstraZeneca MFO cohort of 26 healthy individuals (median age 20) and a cohort of 70 premenopausal Chinese women (median age 22.5) cohort monitored over 3 months. Long-term variability analysis involved two …

The Influence Of Drd2 Polymorphism Exon 8 C/T (Rs6276) On Manifestations Of Delirium Tremens & Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures, Naomi Schneider

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study explores the correlation between the DRD2 Polymorphism exon 8 C/T (rs6276) and manifestations of delirium tremens (DT). DT is a condition that is clinically diagnosed utilizing two characteristic symptom manifestations: the presence of delirium and severe alcohol withdrawal. It is not entirely understood why DT can occur in some patients, but evidence has suggested that genetic predisposition can play a role. Utilizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research database and performing a secondary analysis of existing genomic data, this candidate gene association study aims to determine the genotype frequencies within three cohorts: a healthy …

Facilitating Clinical Information Extraction With Synthetic Data And Ontology Using Large Language Models, Yan Hu, Huan He, Qingyu Chen, Xiaoqian Jiang, Kirk Roberts, Hua Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The rapid growth of unstructured clinical text in electronic health records necessitates robust information extraction systems, yet their development is hindered by the scarcity of high-quality annotated data. This study explores the potential of large language models to generate synthetic data for clinical named entity recognition and examines its impact on model performance. We propose a novel framework that integrates self-verified synthetic data generation with domain-specific semantic mapping using SNOMED-CT. By leveraging GPT-4o-mini for synthetic data creation and refining its quality through iterative verification and anomaly detection, we systematically evaluate the influence of synthetic data quality and quantity on fine-tuning …

Design And Implementation Of Multicenter Pediatric And Congenital Studies With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: Big Data In Smaller Bodies, Michael P Dilorenzo, Simon Lee, Rahul H Rathod, Francesca Raimondi, Kanwal M Farooqi, Supriya S Jain, Margaret M Samyn, Tiffanie R Johnson, Laura J Olivieri, Mark A Fogel, Wyman W Lai, Pierangelo Renella, Andrew J Powell, Sujatha Buddhe, Caitlin Stafford, Jason N Johnson, Willem A Helbing, Kuberan Pushparajah, Inga Voges, Vivek Muthurangu, Kimberley G Miles, Gerald Greil, Colin J Mcmahon, Timothy C Slesnick, Brian M Fonseca, Shaine A Morris, Jonathan H Soslow, Lars Grosse-Wortmann, Rebecca S Beroukhim, Heynric B Grotenhuis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has become the reference standard for quantitative and qualitative assessment of ventricular function, blood flow, and myocardial tissue characterization. There is a preponderance of large CMR studies and registries in adults; However, similarly powered studies are lacking for the pediatric and congenital heart disease (PCHD) population. To date, most CMR studies in children are limited to small single or multicenter studies, thereby limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. Within the PCHD CMR community, a collaborative effort has been successfully employed to recognize knowledge gaps with the aim to embolden the development and initiation of high-quality, …

Autochthonous Plasmodium Vivax Infections, Florida, Usa, 2023, Swamy Rakesh Adapa, Kami Kim, Liwang Cui

College of Medicine & TGH Faculty Publications

During May–July 2023, a cluster of 7 patients at local hospitals in Florida, USA, received a diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Whole-genome sequencing of the organism from 4 patients and phylogenetic analysis with worldwide representative P. vivax genomes indicated probable single parasite introduction from Central/South America.

Variations In The Germinal Center Response Revealed By Genetically Diverse Mouse Strains, Anne Marie Aubin, Daria Vdovenko, Roxanne Collin, Lois Balmer, Lise Coderre, Grant Morahan, Félix Lombard-Vadnais, Sylvie Lesage

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The humoral response is complex and involves multiple cellular populations and signaling pathways. Bacterial and viral infections, as well as immunization regimens, can trigger this type of response, promoting the formation of microanatomical cellular structures called germinal centers (GCs). GCs formed in secondary lymphoid organs support the differentiation of high-affinity plasma cells and memory B cells. There is growing evidence that the quality of the humoral response is influenced by genetic variants. Using 12 genetically divergent mouse strains, we assessed the impact of genetics on GC cellular traits. At steady state, in the spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches, we …

Application Of Genomics And Epigenetics In Disease And Syndrome Classification, Yanqi Dang, Wei Wang, Aiping Lyu, Lisheng Wang, Guang Ji

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Resting Heart Rate And Risk Of Dementia: A Mendelian Randomization Study In The International Genomics Of Alzheimer’S Project And Uk Biobank, Xingxing Chen, Yi Zheng, Jun Wang, Blake Yue, Xian Zhang, Kenta Nakai, Lijing L. Yan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Observational studies have demonstrated that a higher resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, it is not clear whether the association is causal. This study aimed to determine the causal effects of higher genetically predicted RHR on the risk of dementia. Methods: We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal effect of higher genetically predicted RHR on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies. The generalized summary Mendelian randomization (GSMR) analysis was used to analyze the corresponding effects of RHR on following different outcomes: 1) diagnosis of …

Systemic Treatment Of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa With Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Scoping Review Of The Literature And Conclusions For Future Clinical Research, Elke Niebergall-Roth, Kathrin Dieter, Markus H. Frank, Mark A. Kluth

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The ability of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to facilitate regenerative responses in inflamed and injured tissues, coupled with preclinical data suggesting potential to restore defective collagen VII at the dermo-epidermal junction, has raised the hope that MSCs may provide an effective disease-modifying therapy for patients suffering from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). Methods: We present a descriptive analysis of the clinical research on systemic MSC administration to RDEB patients available in PubMed, including six early-phase studies and one case report, involving 59 patients who received 1–3 intravenous infusions of MSCs from various sources. Results: Based on 133 MSC infusions, …

Emerging Unconventional Therapies For Glioblastoma Multiforme, Danielle Morang

Capstone Showcase

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor occurring in adults with a median survival of less than two years. It is a highly invasive tumor characterized by genetic heterogeneity, angiogenesis, and rapid proliferation. Patients undergo a multimodal treatment regimen consisting of surgical resection and chemoradiation therapy, yet GBM tumors almost always recur with a worsening prognosis. The molecular and genetic complexities of GBM pose a significant challenge for developing effective therapeutics. Thus, it is imperative to identify new therapeutic targets and explore novel treatment strategies to improve patients’ overall survival time and quality of …

Statins Are Rarely Prescribed For Incidentally Discovered Covert Cerebrovascular Disease: A Retrospective Cohort In A Large Electronic Health Record (Ehr) Identified Using Natural Language Processing, Lester Y Leung, Eric Puttock, David F Kallmes, Patrick Luetmer, Sunyang Fu, Chengyi X Zheng, Hongfang Liu, Wansu Chen, David M Kent

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: While incidentally discovered covert cerebrovascular diseases (id-CCD) are associated with future stroke, it is not known if patients with id-CCD are prescribed statins.

Methods: Patients age ≥50 with id-CCD on neuroimaging from 2009 to 2019 with no prior ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack or dementia were identified using natural language processing in a large real-world cohort. Robust Poisson multivariable regression was used to assess statin prescription among patients without prior statins.

Results: Among 2 41 050 patients, 74 975 patients (31.1%; 4.7% with covert brain infarcts (CBI); 29.0% with white matter disease (WMD)) had id-CCD. 53.5% (95% CI 53.2 …

Developing Medical Genetics In A Low-Income Country: Unveiling The Journey Of The Pakistani Society Of Medical Genetics And Genomics (Psmg), Aisha Furqan, Syed A Ahmed, Rizwan Naeem, Myla Ashfaq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

G-Quadruplex Dna And Rna In Cellular Senescence, Rocio Diaz Escarcega, Paul Marshall, Andrey S Tsvetkov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Normal cells divide, are damaged, and are repaired across their lifetime. As cells age, they enter cellular senescence, characterized by a permanent state of cell-cycle arrest triggered by various stressors. The molecular mechanisms that regulate senescent phenotypes have been actively investigated over the last several decades; however, one area that has been neglected is how G-quadruplex (G4) DNA and RNA (G4-DNA and G4-RNA) mediate senescence. These non-canonical four-stranded DNA and RNA structures regulate most normative DNA and RNA-dependent processes, such as transcription, replication, and translation, as well as pathogenic mechanisms, including genomic instability and abnormal stress granule function. This review …

Harnessing Microrna-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles For Liquid Biopsy, Song Yi Ko, Wonjae Lee, Honami Naora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) can be detected in body fluids and hold great potential as cancer biomarkers. Extracellular miRNAs are protected from degradation by binding various proteins and through their packaging into extracellular vesicles (EVs). There is evidence that the diagnostic performance of cancer-associated extracellular miRNAs can be improved by assaying EV-miRNA instead of total cell-free miRNA, but several challenges have hampered the advancement of EV-miRNA in liquid biopsy. Because almost all types of cells release EVs, cancer cell-derived EVs might constitute only a minor fraction of EVs in body fluids of cancer patients with low volume disease. Furthermore, a given …

Dysregulation Of Epigenetic Modifications In Inborn Errors Of Immunity, Zhongyao Xiao, Rongjing He, Zihan Zhao, Taiping Chen, Zhengzhou Ying

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are a group of typically monogenic disorders characterized by dysfunction in the immune system. Individuals with these disorders experience increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity and malignancies due to abnormal immune responses. Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling, have been well explored in the regulation of immune cell development and effector function. Aberrant epigenetic modifications can disrupt gene expression profiles crucial for immune responses, resulting in impaired immune cell differentiation and function. Dysregulation of these processes caused by mutations in genes involving in epigenetic modifications has been associated with various IEIs. In …

The Role Of Micrornas In Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, And Cancer Induced By Childhood Obesity, Sarah S. Siddiqi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Childhood obesity has escalated into a major public health crisis with serious implications for long-term health. As obesity rates among children continue to rise globally, it is crucial to understand its effects on cellular aging and inflammation—key processes that underpin many metabolic diseases. Obesity not only directly contributes to various metabolic disorders but also disrupts fundamental cellular mechanisms, accelerating aging and fostering systemic inflammation. By examining the impact of obesity on cellular aging and chronic inflammation, as well as the regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in these pathways, we have been able to identify critical biomarkers and molecular mechanisms involved …

Factors Leading To Osteoporosis In Turner Syndrome, Daniella O. Aleshinloye

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Turner Syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder from conception characterized by the partial or complete absence of the second X chromosome in females. Chromosomal abnormalities, both numerical and structural, contribute to a significantly higher prevalence of fractures (30.5-32.2%) compared to non-TS postmenopausal women (14.9%). This highlights the intrinsic bone abnormalities associated with TS and increased fracture risk. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is commonly used to assess bone mineral density (BMD). However, its accuracy in individuals with TS is limited due to the partial volume effect, highlighting the need for further clinical research to understand bone density changes compared to …

Genotypes Of Snps Of Key Genes Regulate Susceptibility And Drug Sensitivity To Neovascular Amd, Jinglin Cui

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly its neovascular form, stands as a leading cause of blindness globally, with its prevalence in our country on a steady rise. This underscores the critical impact of neovascular AMD (nAMD) management on patient quality of life and societal burden. Current optimal treatments hinge on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies, though their efficacy varies across different drugs and individuals, highlighting the importance of precise drug selection in clinical outcomes. Research suggests that factors such as baseline vision, age, disease duration, lesion size, central retina thickness, neovascularization type, and demographic differences influence nAMD prognosis. In addition, …

Pdgfra And B Copositive Fibroblasts Drive Fibrosis In Mouse Salivary Glands Through Tgfβ Signaling, Renae Williams Atkinson

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Fibrosis is of significant concern to the medical community as numerous disease processes are characterized by progressive fibrosis leading to organ damage. We begin the process of examining the mechanism of fibrosis to salivary gland hypofunction and briefly consider Sjögren’s Disease (SjD). Method: We employed single-cell RNA sequencing data from a reversible mouse salivary gland injury model and from NOD/ShiLtJ mice, a model of secondary SjD. We performed treatment comparisons with the help of Seurat dotplots and UMAPS. Using differential gene expression analysis and the publicly available R packages: clusterProfiler, WikiPathways and Cytoscape, we identified the processes and pathways …

Identification Of Novel 3d-Genome Altering And Complex Structural Variants Underlying Retinitis Pigmentosa Type 17 Through A Multistep And High-Throughput Approach, Suzanne E De Bruijn, Daan M Panneman, Nicole Weisschuh, Elizabeth L Cadena, Erica G M Boonen, Lara K Holtes, Galuh D N Astuti, Frans P M Cremers, Nico Leijsten, Jordi Corominas, Christian Gilissen, Anna Skowronska, Jessica Woodley, Andrew D Beggs, Vasileios Toulis, Di Chen, Michael E Cheetham, Alison J Hardcastle, Terri L Mclaren, Tina M Lamey, Jennifer A Thompson, Fred K Chen, John N De Roach, Isabella R Urwin, Lori S Sullivan, Susanne Roosing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa type 17 (adRP, type RP17) is caused by complex structural variants (SVs) affecting a locus on chromosome 17 (chr17q22). The SVs disrupt the 3D regulatory landscape by altering the topologically associating domain (TAD) structure of the locus, creating novel TAD structures (neo-TADs) and ectopic enhancer-gene contacts. Currently, screening for RP17-associated SVs is not included in routine diagnostics given the complexity of the variants and a lack of cost-effective detection methods. The aim of this study was to accurately detect novel RP17-SVs by establishing a systematic and efficient workflow.

METHODS: Genetically unexplained probands diagnosed with adRP …

The Relationship Of Neighborhood Disadvantage, Biological Aging, And Psychosocial Risk And Resilience Factors In Heart Failure Incidence Among Black Persons: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Ganga S Bey, James R Pike, Anthony S Zannas, Qian Xiao, Bing Yu, Amil M Shah, Priya Palta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Deprived living environments contribute to greater heart failure (HF) risk among non-Hispanic Black persons, who disproportionately occupy disadvantaged neighborhoods. The mechanisms for these effects are not fully explicated, partially attributable to an insufficient understanding of the individual factors that contribute additional risk or resilience to the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on health. The objective of this study was, therefore, to clarify the complex pathways over which such exposures act to facilitate more targeted, effective interventions. Given the evidence for a mediating role of biological age and a moderating role of individual psychosocial characteristics in the neighborhood disadvantage-HF link, we …

Patterns Of Failure For Recurrent Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Salvage Surgery And Postoperative Imrt Reirradiation, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Geoffrey V Martin, Sweet Ping Ng, Vinita Takiar, Beth M Beadle, Mark Zafereo, Adam S Garden, Steven J Frank, C David Fuller, G Brandon Gunn, William H Morrison, David I Rosenthal, Jay Reddy, Amy Moreno, Anna Lee, Jack Phan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) after surgical salvage and adjuvant reirradiation with IMRT for recurrent head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

MATERIALS/METHODS: Patterns of LRR for 61 patients treated consecutively between 2003 and 2014 who received post-operative IMRT reirradiation to ≥ 60 Gy for recurrent HNSCC were determined by 2 methods: 1) physician classification via visual comparison of post-radiotherapy imaging to reirradiation plans; and 2) using deformable image registration (DIR). Those without evaluable CT planning image data were excluded. All recurrences were verified by biopsy or radiological progression. Failures were …

The Feasibility Of Health Professional Student Delivered Social Visits For Stroke Survivors With Loneliness, Jason Burnett, Jordan Broussard, Bronson Ciavarra, Louisa Smitherman, Mary Li, Emma Thames, Sharon Zachariah, Grace Kim, Rachel Pijnnaken, Hannah Zeller, John Halphen, Sean I Savitz, Namkee Choi, Jennifer E S Beauchamp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of a social phone call program to address social isolation and loneliness in stroke survivors.

Materials and methods: We paired 14 lonely community-living stroke survivors with 14 health professional students for 6-weekly unstructured social phone calls. Feasibility data and measures of social isolation, loneliness and other psychosocial metrics were collected pre- and post-intervention. Students journaled following each unstructured call to capture the informal conversation and their sentiments.

Results: Sixty-two percent of the targeted sample was interested. Fourteen eligible and interested participants were enrolled. The 13 (93%) participants completing all calls and surveys were an average …