Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Health Care Worker-Reported Barriers And Potential Facilitators Of Acute Lower Respiratory Infection Care Deliver For Children At Mchinji District Hospital In Malawi, Shubhada Hooli, Beatwil Zadutsa, Everlisto Phiri, Karina Hofstee, Nichole Davis, Eric D Mccollum, Charles Makwenda, Carina King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: We sought to understand barriers to high-quality hospital-based child acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) care at Mchinji District Hospital in Malawi.

Methods: In 2020, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with clinical officers (COs) who provided direct clinical care after a half-day refresher course on pediatric ALRI case management. The underpinning research methodology of the FGDs was phenomenology, and they were analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

Results: We recruited 16 COs to participate in three FGDs. Five themes emerged: lack of confidence in ALRI diagnosis and management, high clinical burden with understaffing, dysfunctional team dynamics, limited physical …

Predominant Symptom In Gastroparesis: Relationships To Quality Of Life, Treatments, And Outcome, Henry P Parkman, Laura A Wilson, William L Hasler, Madhusudan Grover, Bruno P Chumpitazi, Helen Burton-Murray, Irene Sarosiek, Baha Moshiree, Geoffrey A Preidis, Robert J Shulman, Laura A Miriel, Dave Shade, Braden Kuo, Richard W Mccallum, Thomas L Abell, Pankaj J Pasricha

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Patients with gastroparesis (Gp) can have a variety of symptoms. Apart from use of prokinetics, symptomatic therapies for the predominant symptom (PrS) are used.

Aims: (1) To classify Gp patients based on their PrS; (2) To determine differences in Gp symptoms, gastric emptying (GE), quality of life (QOL), treatments, and symptom improvement among Gp patients with different PrS.

Methods: Gp patients were enrolled in a multicenter registry and followed for 96-weeks. Patients recorded their PrS and completed questionnaires assessing symptoms and QOL at enrollment and at follow up visits.

Results: Of 1013 Gp patients (361 diabetic, 607 idiopathic, 45 …

Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression Identifies Genetic Correlations Between Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Clinically Relevant Traits, Younghun Han, Vikram R Shaw, Jinyoung Byun, Aaron P Thrift, Catherine Zhu, Donghui Li, Rikita I Hatia, Robin Kate Kelley, Sean P Cleary, Anna S Lok, Paige M Bracci, Jennifer B Permuth, Roxana Bucur, Jennifer Knox, Jian-Min Yuan, Amit G Singal, Prasun K Jalal, R Mark Ghobrial, Yuko Kono, Dimpy P Shah, Mindie H Nguyen, Neehar D Parikh, Richard Kim, Hui-Chen Wu, Hashem El-Serag, Ping Chang, Yun Shin Chun, Jian Gu, Chad Huff, Asif Rashid, Lu-Yu Hwang, Alison P Klein, Saira A Khaderi, Ahmed O Kaseb, Kathrine A Mcglynn, Lewis R Roberts, Manal M Hassan, Christopher I Amos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality is increasing globally, partly due to the growing prevalence of nonviral liver diseases. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with HCC development. Leveraging GWAS summary statistics and linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSR), we investigated disease co-development with hepatitis C virus-negative (HCV-negative) HCC to provide unique insights into HCC etiology and prioritize relationships for further causal inquiry. We utilized the LDSR statistical framework to estimate the genetic correlation and heritability between HCV-negative HCC with 901 epidemiologic, behavioral, and clinical traits from the United Kingdom Biobank (UKBB). First, we set the threshold for observed scale …

Comparison Of Variant Callers Using 60 532 Multi-Ancestry Whole Genome Sequences, Hufeng Zhou, Zilin Li, Derek Shyr, Xihao Li, Haoyu Yang, Rounak Dey, Yushi Tang, Robert Maier, Eric Boerwinkle, Steve Buyske, Mark Daly, Adam Felsenfeld, Richard A Gibbs, Namrata Gupta, Ira M Hall, Tara Matise, Ginger A Metcalf, Albert Smith, Catherine Reeves, Heidi J Sofia, Nathan O Stitziel, Michael C Zody, Nhgri Genome Sequencing Program (Gsp) Consortium, Benjamin Neale, Xihong Lin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies play a pivotal role in studying the genetic underpinnings of human diseases and traits. High quality and reproducible variant calling is the cornerstone for the success of downstream analyses, including WGS association studies and polygenic risk prediction. This paper compares the data quality, performance, and concordance of two widely used WGS variant callers, the Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) and Variant Tool set that discovers short variants (VT), using 60 532 multi-ancestry whole genomes sequenced by the Centers for Common Disease Genomics (CCDGs) of the NHGRI Genome Sequencing Program. Our findings show that both QCed GATK …

The Relationships Between Social Network Size, Loneliness And Personality In Individuals Living With A Neurological Condition: An Exploratory Study, Isabella Branson, Kate Turner, Mitchell Turner, Manja Laws, Leah Dempsey, Simon Laws, Mandy Stanley, Johnny Lo, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: People living with a neurological condition often report having smaller social networks and less frequent social contact, leading to greater loneliness and worse quality of life. This study explored the relationships between personality traits, social network size (SNS) and perceived loneliness in this population. Methods: Sixty-eight individuals diagnosed with a neurological condition participated in this study. Perceived loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale – Version 3, SNS was evaluated by the Social Network Index and personality traits were examined using the NEO Factor Five Inventory. Path analysis was conducted to determine if loneliness was negatively associated with …

The Role Of Top-Down Appetite Self-Regulation In The Development Of Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Children: A Narrative Review And Socialization Framework, David J Bridgett, Sheryl O Hughes, Matthew Broussard, Daniela Mccourt, Christina M Croce, Jennifer O Fisher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Appetite self-regulation (ASR) among children is thought to have a fundamental role in shaping the development of healthy eating behaviors, dietary intake, and growth during childhood. Parallel to developmental frameworks for understanding "general" self-regulation among children, ASR has been described as involving children's use of "top-down" cognitive processes to moderate "bottom-up" biological drives around food approach and avoidance in the interest of achieving desired eating behaviors or outcomes. Whereas bottom-up ASR processes during early childhood are well characterized, particularly in the context of dysregulation and obesity risk, the role of top-down ASR processes in the development of healthy eating behaviors …

Incidence Of Cancers Among Children Living With Hiv In Malawi After Widespread Availability Of Antiretroviral Therapy: A Population-Based Study, Casey L Mcatee, Fatsani Manase, William Kamiyango, Jimmy Villiera, Mark Zobeck, Joseph Mhango, Allison Silverstein, Samuel Maloya, Apatsa Matatiyo, Eluness Simwela, Honour Mhango, Desire Hellings, Brigid O'Brien, Claudia Wallrauch, Tom Heller, Matthew Painschab, Kate Westmoreland, Atupele Mpasa, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nmazuo Ozuah, Joseph Lubega, Nader Kim El-Mallawany, Carl E Allen, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Few data describe the modern epidemiology of pediatric HIV-associated cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, home to over 80% of the world's children living with HIV. This study evaluated the incidence of cancers among these children over 15 years after widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART) adoption in Malawi.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study leveraging multiple independent data sources comprehensive of all cancer diagnoses among children living with HIV in Northern and Central Malawi between 2010 and 2024. HIV-associated cancers were defined as those cancers with well-established epidemiologic associations with HIV. Cumulative incidence and average annual percent change were estimated …

Surgical Repair Of Double-Outlet Right Ventricle With Doubly Committed Juxtaarterial Ventricular Septal Defect: The Role Of Virtual Reality, Fumiya Yoneyama, Jonathan Awori, Shagun Sachdeva, Kaimal A Jayakumar, Javier Brenes, Jeffery S Heinle

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) with a doubly committed juxtaarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD) presents significant surgical challenges. We report a neonate with DORV, a hypoplastic aortic arch, and a patent ductus arteriosus. Virtual reality (VR) imaging provided detailed visualization, confirming the VSD's position beneath both great arteries. Intraventricular rerouting was unfeasible given the patient's small systemic structures and tricuspid valve chordae. The patient underwent successful VSD closure through a transarterial approach, arterial switch operation, and arch repair. This case highlights the utility of VR-based planning in optimizing surgical strategy for complex congenital heart defects.

Cardiac Catheterization In American Indian/Alaska Native Populations: Empowering Communities, Providers, And Systems Toward Equity, Joseph Burns, Daniel J Penny, Keila N Lopez, Lindsay F Eilers, Athar M Qureshi, Christine J Chung, Jason F Deen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people face numerous health disparities, including alarming rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These inequities are closely tied to unique social, political, and economic circumstances due to the ongoing consequences of systemic racism. Although poorly described, these cardiovascular inequities extend to adult and pediatric interventional cardiology. AI/AN adults are less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization and are more likely to experience complications. There are no published studies on pediatric interventional cardiology outcomes in AI/AN children. The scarcity of available data underscores the need for novel studies to investigate the epidemiology, sociodemographic associations, and outcomes of AI/AN …

Rural-Urban Differences In Use Of Mental Health Care For Serious Mental Illness At The Veterans Health Administration: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Alexandra B Caloudas, Amber B Amspoker, Ashley Smith, Liang Chen, Amy K Cuellar, Giselle Day, Alexandra Zingg, Julianna Hogan, Jan A Lindsay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Rural Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) encounter significant barriers to accessing mental health care, related to SMI symptoms and rurality. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that rural Veterans used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) intensive mental health care for SMI less than urban Veterans relative to their population distributions. Our purpose was to deepen understanding of rural-urban differences in use of VHA mental health care among Veterans with SMI.

METHODS: Using VHA databases, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 387,477 Veterans diagnosed with SMI, examining rurality as a predictor of intensive care for SMI and other …

Spatial Profiling Reveals Distinct Molecular And Immune Evolution Of Mouse Lung Adenocarcinoma Precancers With Or Without Carcinogen Exposure, Bo Zhu, Muhammad Aminu, Pingjun Chen, Jian-Rong Li, Chuanpeng Dong, Chenyang Li, Yanhua Tian, Shao-Wei Lu, Hong Chen, Chenxi Ma, Xin Hu, Jie Ye, Andrew Y Liu, Beibei Huang, Frank R Rojas, Parra Cuentas Edwin Roger, Ou Shi, Monique B Nilsson, Alissa Poteete, Khaja B Khan, Wei Lu, Luisa M Solis Soto, Junya Fujimoto, Cara Haymaker, Ignacio I Wistuba, Zhubo Wei, Linghua Wang, Don L Gibbons, Ken Chen, Alexandre Reuben, Jason M Schenkel, John V Heymach, Chao Cheng, Jia Wu, Jianjun Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumor evolution involves genetic, transcriptional, and phenotypic alterations that shape cancer cell behavior and interactions with the microenvironment. While single‐cell technologies have advanced our understanding of this process, spatial dynamics remain incompletely characterized. Here, whole‐exome sequencing (WES), imaging mass cytometry (IMC), and spatial transcriptomics (ST) were integrated to study molecular evolution and immune responses in two lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) mouse models: a genetically engineered model (129S4/Sv‐KrasLSL‐G12D, termed 129S4 K) and a carcinogen‐induced precancer model (129S4 U). Compared to 129S4 K, 129S4 U tumors exhibited higher mutational, neoantigen but lower copy number variation (CNV) burdens at matched developmental timepoints, consistent with …

Multi-Ancestry Genome-Wide Association Study And Meta-Analysis Of Lung Function Decline, Bonnie K Patchen, Jingwen Zhang, Nathan Gaddis, Traci M Bartz, Jing Chen, Catherine Debban, Hampton Leonard, Ngoc Quynh H Nguyen, Jungkyun Seo, Courtney Tern, Richard Allen, Dawn L Demeo, Myriam Fornage, Carl Melbourne, Melyssa Minto, Matthew Moll, George T O'Connor, Tess Pottinger, Bruce M Psaty, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Edwin K Silverman, Jeran Stratford, Chengyue Zhang, R Graham Barr, Michael H Cho, Sina A Gharib, Ani Manichaikul, Kari North, Elizabeth C Oelsner, Eleanor M Simonsick, Martin D Tobin, Bing Yu, Seung Hoan Choi, Josée Dupuis, Patricia A Cassano, Dana B Hancock

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background

Despite evidence for a genetic component, few genetic associations with lung function decline have been identified. We aimed to evaluate genome-wide associations and putative downstream functionality of genetic variants for lung function decline.

Methods

We conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses of decline in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC in 52,056 White (N = 44,988), Black (N = 5,788), Hispanic (N = 550), and Chinese American (N = 730) participants across seven general population cohorts. GWAS analyses were stratified by cohort, ancestry, and sex. Results were combined in cross-ancestry and ancestry-specific meta-analyses. Significant variants available in …

Prenatal Stress Induces Changes In Behavior, Hpa Axis, Inflammation, And Oxidative Stress In Adult Rats Offspring, Jorge M Aguiar-Geraldo, Jefté Peper-Nascimento, José Henrique Cararo, Taise Possamai-Della, Alexandra I Zugno, Anilkumar Pillai, João Quevedo, Samira S Valvassori

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prenatal stress is related to the development of psychiatric disorders involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of prenatal stress on behavior, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the HPA-axis in the dams and their offspring treated with lithium. Thirteen pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to a prenatal chronic unpredictable stress protocol from the 14th day of gestation until birth. At the 60th postnatal day (PND), a treatment protocol was carried out in the offspring with lithium (intraperitoneally - 47.5 mg/kg) or saline for seven days (twice a day). …

Profiling The Genomic Landscape And Evolutionary History Of Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells In Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcomas, Amy L Bowes, Sara Waise, Tom Lesluyes, Thomas Butters, Christie English, Haixi Yan, Annelien Verfaillie, Christopher Davies, Jianan Chen, Emma Nye, Richard Stone, Jiten Manji, Adrienne M Flanagan, Jonas Demeulemeester, Maxime Tarabichi, Nischalan Pillay, Peter Van Loo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), characterised by multinucleation and atypical nuclear morphology, are a common feature of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas. While PGCCs may be a critical substrate for cancer evolution, their formation pathways and genomic consequences remain underexplored. In this study, we characterise PGCCs in ten pleomorphic sarcomas and use topographic single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) to investigate their genomic landscape. We selected PGCCs based on their nuclear morphology, including mononucleated or multinucleated bizarre, misshapen nuclei, and analysed them at single-cell resolution. Histopathological analysis showed that PGCCs were often randomly distributed throughout the tumour and did not appear in clusters, suggesting …

Profiling The Genomic Landscape And Evolutionary History Of Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells In Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcomas, Amy L Bowes, Sara Waise, Tom Lesluyes, Thomas Butters, Christie English, Haixi Yan, Annelien Verfaillie, Christopher Davies, Jianan Chen, Emma Nye, Richard Stone, Jiten Manji, Adrienne M Flanagan, Jonas Demeulemeester, Maxime Tarabichi, Nischalan Pillay, Peter Van Loo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), characterised by multinucleation and atypical nuclear morphology, are a common feature of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas. While PGCCs may be a critical substrate for cancer evolution, their formation pathways and genomic consequences remain underexplored. In this study, we characterise PGCCs in ten pleomorphic sarcomas and use topographic single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) to investigate their genomic landscape. We selected PGCCs based on their nuclear morphology, including mononucleated or multinucleated bizarre, misshapen nuclei, and analysed them at single-cell resolution. Histopathological analysis showed that PGCCs were often randomly distributed throughout the tumour and did not appear in clusters, suggesting …

Aggregation Of Gene Regulatory Information And Knowledge On Fair Principles Enables Discovery Of Pathogenic Gene Regulatory Variants, Keyang Yu, Haoquan Zhao, Andrea S Wilderman, Tierra R Farris, Jessie E Arce, David Chen, Andrew R Jackson, Yiran Guo, Qi Li, Bosko Jevtic, Dubravka Jevtic, Vuk Milinovic, Yuankun Zhu, Jeremy Costanza, Eric D Wenger, Christopher Nemarich, Lisa Anderson, Aleksandar Mihajlović, Kristin Ardlie, Shaine A Morris, Matthew E Roth, Deanne M Taylor, Adam C Resnick, Lilei Zhang, Aleksandar Milosavljevic

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Motivation: Methods for sharing gene regulatory information and knowledge on FAIR principles, particularly in the context of tissue-specific gene regulation, remain poorly defined and implemented, hampering discovery and clinical genetic diagnosis.

Results: We specified FAIR principles for tissue-specific gene regulatory information and knowledge; implemented them by developing a registry of regulatory elements and aggregating FAIR gene regulatory information from several major sources; developed computational tools that utilize these FAIR resources; and demonstrated their utility by associating gene regulatory variants with major subtypes of congenital heart disease.

Influence Of Weekend Social Jetlag On Glucose Tolerance Testing, Ariana Khzarjyan, Srushti Wagh, Graham Mcginnis

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Student Research

Background: Circadian rhythms regulate physiological and metabolic functions across a 24-hour cycle. However, modern lifestyles often disrupt these rhythms. A common example is weekend schedule shifts, when people sleep and wake later than on weekdays, a phenomenon referred to as social jetlag (SJL).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to; 1) determine whether chronic SJL leads to impaired glucose tolerance, and 2) determine if acute changes in glucose tolerance occur following a weekend of social jetlag (SJL).

Methods: Fifteen male C57BL/6 mice on a normal chow diet were used in this study. To model social jetlag (SJL), mice were …

Prescription Monitoring Program Review Among Patients With Cancer Receiving Opioids At A Safety-Net Palliative Medicine Clinic, Soraira Pacheco, Linh M T Nguyen, Joseph A Arthur, Christopher M Manuel, Wei Qiao, David Hui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) are commonly used to monitor non-medical opioid use (NMOU); however, the effectiveness of PMPs for identifying cancer patients with risk factors is not well known.

Methods: This study assessed the frequency and predictors of concerning PMP findings among cancer patients in a palliative care clinic and examined the ability of PMPs, clinical review, and urine drug testing to identify NMOU behaviors. This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive cancer patients seen by palliative care at a safety-net hospital over four years. Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors for NMOU were extracted from the medical record. …

Bone Marrow Endosteum Houses Hedgehog-Susceptible Dlx5-Expressing Osteoblast Precursor Cells, Keita Kondo, Yuki Matsushita, Shion Orikasa, Yuta Nakai, Aiko Kuroda, Shinsuke Ohba, Wanida Ono, Noriaki Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The bone marrow endosteum provides a robust source of bone-making osteoblasts by housing various types of osteoblast precursor cells, including endosteal stem cells expressing fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (Fgfr3) and their downstream progenitor cell populations. In fetal bone development, Dlx5 marks early perichondrial cells that populate the diaphyseal bone and marrow stroma in the postnatal stages. However, the location of Dlx5-expressing cells in the postnatal bone marrow and how they contribute to osteogenesis remain undefined. Here, we show that Dlx5

Phase I Trial Of Binimetinib Plus Hydroxychloroquine In Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer, S Daniel Haldar, Fen Saj, So Jung Hong, Rishi Surana, Lianchun Xiao, J Jack Lee, Brandon Smaglo, Dan Zhao, Huili Zhu, Ryan Huey, Jason Willis, M Pia Morelli, Michael Overman, Florencia Mcallister, Robert Wolff, Anirban Maitra, David Fogelman, Channing Der, Shubham Pant

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Dual mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and autophagy inhibition shows synergistic antitumor activity in preclinical models of RAS-mutant cancers. We hypothesized that autophagy blockade with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) could overcome resistance to MEK inhibition with binimetinib (BINI) and provide clinical benefit in previously treated, KRAS-mutated, metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: This investigator-led, single-arm, open-label, phase I dose escalation/expansion trial evaluated the safety and tolerability of BINI + HCQ in patients with previously treated, metastatic PDAC (NCT04132505). Key eligibility criteria: ECOG 0-1, adequate organ function, ≥ 1 prior line of therapy for metastatic disease, and presence of KRAS …

Endosteal Stem Cells At The Bone-Blood Interface: A Double-Edged Sword For Rapid Bone Formation: Bone Marrow Endosteal Stem Cells Provide A Robust Source Of Bone-Making Osteoblasts Both In Normal And Abnormal Bone Formation, Keita Kondo, Yuki Matsushita, Shion Orikasa, Yuta Nakai, Aiko Kuroda, Shinsuke Ohba, Wanida Ono, Noriaki Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Endosteal stem cells are a subclass of bone marrow skeletal stem cell populations that are particularly important for rapid bone formation occurring in growth and regeneration. These stem cells are strategically located near the bone surface in a specialized microenvironment of the endosteal niche. These stem cells are abundant in young stages but eventually depleted and replaced by other stem cell types residing in a non-endosteal perisinusoidal niche. Single-cell molecular profiling and in vivo cell lineage analyses play key roles in discovering endosteal stem cells. Importantly, endosteal stem cells can transform into bone tumor-making cells when deleterious mutations occur in …

Intouch Week Of February 23, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Keep Your Heart Healthy This February
• TCDM and NYMC Students Volunteer at Guidance Center of Westchester
• Off Campus, On Craft: Ralph Torres Keeps Campus Operations Flying High

Bacteriophage-Mediated Reduction Of Uropathogenic E Coli From The Urogenital Epithelium, Bishnu Joshi, Jacob J Zulk, Camille Serchejian, Zainab A Hameed, Addison B Larson, Austen L Terwilliger, Deepak Kumar, Indira U Mysorekar, Robert A Britton, Anthony W Maresso, Kathryn A Patras

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), affect millions annually. UPEC gains access to the urinary tract through mucosal reservoirs, including the vaginal tract. With rising antibiotic resistance and frequent recurrence, alternative non-antibiotic strategies like bacteriophage (phage) therapy are gaining attention. We explored the potential of a lytic phage, ΦHP3, as well as a phage cocktail to decolonize UPEC from the urogenital tract using in vitro and in vivo models. Phage demonstrated replication and lytic activity in both bacteriologic medium and simulated vaginal fluid. Pretreatment of human vaginal epithelial cells (VK2/E6E7) and bladder carcinoma cells (HTB-9) …

An Interoperable Vaccine Record: A Roadmap To Realization, Xia Jing, Arild Faxvaag, Christian G Nøhr, David Robinson, Paul G Biondich, Timothy D Law, Hua Min, Adam Wright, Yang Gong, Dean F Sittig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to educate the healthcare professional and the general public about interoperable vaccine records by elaborating on its definition, why we need one, what the challenges are, and what progress has been made in this direction.

Methods: The vaccination practices and vaccine record-keeping in the Nordic countries, the UK, and the USA are used as examples to demonstrate the necessity of interoperable vaccine records. The authors' expertise and experience in interoperability, medicine, and HealthIT, along with the literature, informed this paper's content, structure, and organization. Real-world examples and scenarios illustrate the reality …

From Wrist Data To Lifespan: Elucidating Inflammation-Driven Biological Aging Via Activity Rhythms Captured By Wearable Devices, Jinjoo Shim, Faraz Bishehsari, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, Jamie M Zeitzer, Elgar Fleisch, Filipe Barata

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Systemic inflammation ("inflammaging") accelerates biological aging and drives cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disease. Circadian rhythms regulate the amplitude and timing of immune responses, yet their mechanistic role in inflammation and longevity remains unexplored. In 62,000 adults with 7-day wearable accelerometry, interpretable machine learning model identified rhythm amplitude, stability, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as dominant predictors of accelerated aging. In a subset of 1521 participants (35% male) with available data on the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), we further examined the associations between behavioral rhythmicity and inflammation. Low amplitude and poor rhythm stability were associated with 0.31 and 0.18 SD higher …

Pretreatment Risk Model For Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia Is Associated With Adjuvant Durvalumab Efficacy In Patients With Unresectable Stage Iii Nsclc, Peter S N Van Rossum, Pim J J Damen, Francesco Cortiula, Brian P Hobbs, Lorenzo De Marchi, Radhe Mohan, Max Peters, Famke L Schneiders, Dirk De Ruysscher, Robin Wijsman, Joost J C Verhoeff, Ting Xu, Zhongxing Liao, Steven H Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for NSCLC has been associated with poorer outcomes and reduced immunotherapy efficacy. Because RIL often develops late during CCRT, identifying patients at risk before treatment may be clinically relevant. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on pretreatment predictors for severe RIL, and secondarily to explore associations between predicted RIL risk and adjuvant durvalumab-associated survival.

Methods: A retrospective development cohort of consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with CCRT (2010-2019) was established, along with an independent external validation cohort from other institutions. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed …

Development And Validation Of A Prognostic Risk Score For Patients With Cancer And Neutropenic Fever Presenting To The Emergency Department, Sandy Nath, Aiham Qdaisat, Andriy Derkach, Afia Babar, Deepti Zalavadia, Patrick Chaftari, Ziyi Li, Monica K Wattana, Joseph Schmeltz, Rocio Perez Johnston, Eduardo Ortiz, Kumar Alagappan, Adam Klotz, Sai-Ching Jim Yeung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Neutropenic fever (NF) is a life-threatening oncologic emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current predictive risk-stratification scores' limitations include outdated criteria, subjectivity, and low usage in the emergency department (ED). We sought to develop and externally validate a pragmatic, objective risk score to predict adverse outcomes in patients presenting to the ED with cancer and NF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from 2 comprehensive cancer centers. The derivation cohort included adults presenting with NF to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. External validation was conducted using data from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The primary …

Therapeutic Plateletpheresis For Thrombocytosis: Critical Analytic Reviews And Original Multicenter Experience, Jensyn Cone Sullivan, Jay S Raval, Nicole D Zantek, David L Allison, Gaurav Gupta, Caroline R Alquist, Nour Al Mozain, Hlaing Tint, Louise Helander, Lisa Boggio, Jose Pérez-Carrillo, Kyle Annen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary thrombocytosis is associated with increased risk of thromboembolism and bleeding. Therapeutic plateletpheresis (TPP), capable of rapid, transient platelet (Plt) count reduction, is employed as an emergency intervention for symptomatic thrombocytosis while awaiting the therapeutic effect of medical cytoreductive therapy. Nonetheless, the effect of TPP on outcomes and optimal role for TPP remain poorly understood. Critical analytic review of highest-pertinence and -quality articles was performed with the goal of establishing current knowledge gaps to direct original case data collection. Retrospective review of TPP procedures at six United States sites over ten years was performed. Pre-TPP symptoms, medical cytoreduction, adverse events …

Merritt-Putnam Symposium | Tumor-Associated Epilepsy And Epilepsy-Associated Tumors: Exploring The Bidirectional Crosstalk Between Tumors And Seizures, Tracy A Bedrosian, Michael Wong, Erin L Heinzen, Benjamin Deneen, Catherine A Christian-Hinman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Links between cancerous and noncancerous brain tumors and epilepsy have long been recognized. However, recent clinical and preclinical studies emphasize that not only do tumors impinge on surrounding brain tissue in ways that promote hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis, but that neural activity also influences tumor progression. In this review, inspired by the Merritt-Putnam Symposium of the 2025 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, we present a cross-disciplinary dialog between cancer and epilepsy research, including discussion of tumors and epilepsies that are more prominent in pediatric versus adult populations. First, we discuss the neuropathology, genetics, and surgical outcomes of epileptogenic brain tumors, …

Frequency And Self-Reported Outcomes Of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder In The U.S. And Latin America, Hala Aziz, Guadalupe Vidal-Martinez, Ogechi C Onyeka, Jacey L Anderberg, Javier Vargas-Medrano, Diana Sotelo, Demi Kourtesi, Renee M Frederick, Josselyn S Muñoz, Dayan Berrones, Vanessa Zavala Cruz, Peter Thompson, Silvina Tonarelli, Andrew D Wiese, James J Crowley, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects about 1-2% of the global population, with roughly 30% of patients not responding to first-line treatments. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has some support for treatment-resistant OCD but global use is unclear.

Methods: This study describes the frequency with which TMS was reported to be received among a large cohort of individuals who self-identified as Latino-Hispanic in Latin America and the United States. Among 3,391 participants, 76 (2.2%) had completed TMS for OCD.

Results: Recipients who received TMS exhibited more severe current and lifetime OCD symptoms compared to non-recipients. On average, participants underwent 22.61 TMS …