Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Rna Sequencing Reveals A Role Of Tonebp Transcription Factor In Regulation Of Pro-Inflammatory Genes In Response To Hyperosmolarity In Healthy Nucleus Pulposus Cells: A Homeostatic Response?, Zariel I. Johnson, Irving M. Shapiro, Makarand V. Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Transcription factor tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP/NFAT5) is critical for osmo-adaptation and extracellular matrix homeostasis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in their hypertonic tissue niche. Recent studies implicate TonEBP signaling in inflammatory disease and rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. However, broader functions of TonEBP in the disc remain unknown. RNA sequencing was performed on NP cells with TonEBP knockdown under hypertonic conditions. 1140 TonEBP-dependent genes were identified and categorized using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Bioinformatic analysis showed enrichment of matrix homeostasis and cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways. C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) …

A Neuronal Network Of Mitochondrial Dynamics Regulates Metastasis., M. Cecilia Caino, Jae Ho Seo, Angeline Aguinaldo, Eric Wait, Kelly G. Bryant, Andrew V. Kossenkov, James E. Hayden, Valentina Vaira, Annamaria Morotti, Stefano Ferrero, Silvano Bosari, Dmitry I. Gabrilovich, Lucia R. Languino, Andrew R. Cohen, Dario C. Altieri

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The role of mitochondria in cancer is controversial. Using a genome-wide shRNA screen, we now show that tumours reprogram a network of mitochondrial dynamics operative in neurons, including syntaphilin (SNPH), kinesin KIF5B and GTPase Miro1/2 to localize mitochondria to the cortical cytoskeleton and power the membrane machinery of cell movements. When expressed in tumours, SNPH inhibits the speed and distance travelled by individual mitochondria, suppresses organelle dynamics, and blocks chemotaxis and metastasis, in vivo. Tumour progression in humans is associated with downregulation or loss of SNPH, which correlates with shortened patient survival, increased mitochondrial trafficking to the cortical cytoskeleton, greater …

Pelvic And Breast Examination Skills Curricula In United States Medical Schools: A Survey Of Obstetrics And Gynecology Clerkship Directors., Lorraine Dugoff, Archana Pradhan, Petra Casey, John L. Dalrymple, Jodi F. Abbott, Samantha D. Buery-Joyner, Alice Chuang, Amie J. Cullimore, David A. Forstein, Brittany S== S. Hampton, Joseph M. Kaczmarczyk, Nadine T. Katz, Francis S. Nuthalapaty, Sarah M. Page-Ramsey, Abigail Wolf, Nancy A Hueppchen

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Learning to perform pelvic and breast examinations produces anxiety for many medical students. Clerkship directors have long sought strategies to help students become comfortable with the sensitive nature of these examinations. Incorporating standardized patients, simulation and gynecologic teaching associates (GTAs) are approaches gaining widespread use. However, there is a paucity of literature guiding optimal approach and timing. Our primary objective was to survey obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clerkship directors regarding timing and methods for teaching and assessment of pelvic and breast examination skills in United States medical school curricula, and to assess clerkship director satisfaction with current educational strategies …

Role Of A Plausible Nuisance Contributor In The Declining Obesity-Mortality Risks Over Time., Tapan Mehta, Nicholas M. Pajewski, Scott W. Keith, Kevin Fontaine, David B. Allison

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

CONTEXT: Recent analyses of epidemiological data including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) have suggested that the harmful effects of obesity may have decreased over calendar time. The shifting BMI distribution over time coupled with the application of fixed broad BMI categories in these analyses could be a plausible "nuisance contributor" to this observed change in the obesity-associated mortality over calendar time.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which observed temporal changes in the obesity-mortality association may be due to a shifting population distribution for body mass index (BMI), coupled with analyses based on static, broad BMI categories. …

Delay Discounting Of Pregnancy- And Condom-Protected Sex Among Methadone-Maintained Women, Dennis J. Hand, Phd, Lindsay Reid, Diane J. Abatemarco, Msw, Phd

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Presentations and Grand Rounds

Introduction

• Over 80% of pregnancies are unintended among women with opioid use disorder (OUD; Heil et al., 2011).
• Use of effective contraception is uncommon in this population (Terplan et al., 2015).
• Initiating and using effective contraception involves delays: to obtain the method from a provider, to become protected after initiating use.
• Interventions that include delay reductions among other elements have increased contraceptive use (Heil et al., 2016; Secura et al., 2014).
• Women with OUD have reported greater likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex at shorter delays to acquiring protection from sexually-transmitted infection (STI) than women without OUD (Herrmann et al., …

Evidence-Based Decision Support For Pediatric Rheumatology Reduces Diagnostic Errors., Michael M. Segal, Balu Athreya, Mary Beth F. Son, Irit Tirosh, Jonathan S. Hausmann, Elizabeth Yn. Ang, David Zurakowski, Lynn K. Feldman, Robert P. Sundel

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The number of trained specialists world-wide is insufficient to serve all children with pediatric rheumatologic disorders, even in the countries with robust medical resources. We evaluated the potential of diagnostic decision support software (DDSS) to alleviate this shortage by assessing the ability of such software to improve the diagnostic accuracy of non-specialists.

METHODS: Using vignettes of actual clinical cases, clinician testers generated a differential diagnosis before and after using diagnostic decision support software. The evaluation used the SimulConsult® DDSS tool, based on Bayesian pattern matching with temporal onset of each finding in each disease. The tool covered 5405 diseases …

Ca2+/Calmodulin/Mlck Pathway Initiates, And Rhoa/Rock Maintains, The Internal Anal Sphincter Smooth Muscle Tone., Satish Rattan

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Joseph Albin Witkowski, Md (1925–2015), A Dermatologist For All Seasons, Lawrence Charles Parish

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Shared Decision Making In Patients With Low Risk Chest Pain: Prospective Randomized Pragmatic Trial., Erik P. Hess, Judd E. Hollander, Jason T. Schaffer, Jeffrey A. Kline, Carlos A. Torres, Deborah B. Diercks, Russell Jones, Kelly P. Owen, Zachary F. Meisel, Michel Demers, Annie Leblanc, Nilay D. Shah, Jonathan Inselman, Jeph Herrin, Ana Castaneda-Guarderas, Victor M. Montori

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of shared decision making with usual care in choice of admission for observation and further cardiac testing or for referral for outpatient evaluation in patients with possible acute coronary syndrome.

DESIGN: Multicenter pragmatic parallel randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Six emergency departments in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS: 898 adults (aged >17 years) with a primary complaint of chest pain who were being considered for admission to an observation unit for cardiac testing (451 were allocated to the decision aid and 447 to usual care), and 361 emergency clinicians (emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) caring …

Applying Multiple Data Collection Tools To Quantify Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Communication On Twitter., Philip M. Massey, Amy Leader, Elad Yom-Tov, Alexandra Budenz, Kara Fisher, Ann C. Klassen

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. There are several vaccines that protect against strains of HPV most associated with cervical and other cancers. Thus, HPV vaccination has become an important component of adolescent preventive health care. As media evolves, more information about HPV vaccination is shifting to social media platforms such as Twitter. Health information consumed on social media may be especially influential for segments of society such as younger populations, as well as ethnic and racial minorities.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of our study were to quantify HPV vaccine communication on …

Coexisting Cardiac And Hematologic Disorders., Jordan E. Goldhammer, Benjamin A. Kohl

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Patients with concomitant cardiac and hematologic disorders presenting for noncardiac surgery are challenging. Anemic patients with cardiac disease should be approached in a methodical fashion. Transfusion triggers and target should be based on underlying symptomatology. The approach to anticoagulation management in patients with artificial heart valves, cardiac devices, or severe heart failure in the operative setting must encompass a complete understanding of the rationale of a patient's therapy as well as calculate the risk of changing this regimen. This article focuses common disorders and discusses strategies to optimize care in patients with coexisting cardiac and hematologic disease.

Ido1 Is An Integral Mediator Of Inflammatory Neovascularization., Arpita Mondal, Courtney Smith, James B. Duhadaway, Erika Sutanto-Ward, George C. Prendergast, Arturo Bravo-Nuevo, Alexander J. Muller

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

The immune tolerogenic effects of IDO1 (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1) have been well documented and genetic studies in mice have clearly established the significance of IDO1 in tumor promotion. Dichotomously, the primary inducer of IDO1, the inflammatory cytokine IFNγ (interferon-γ), is a key mediator of immune-based tumor suppression. One means by which IFNγ can exert an anti-cancer effect is by decreasing tumor neovascularization. We speculated that IDO1 might contribute to cancer promotion by countering this anti-neovascular effect of IFNγ, possibly through IDO1-potentiated elevation of the pro-tumorigenic inflammatory cytokine IL6 (interleukin-6). In this study, we investigated how genetic loss of IDO1 affects …

A Brief Overview Of The Life And Work Of Lyon Henry Appleby, M.D. (1895-1970)., Jon Harrison, Michael J. Pucci, Scott W. Cowan, Charles Yeo

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

The life and work of Dr. Lyon Henry Appleby, M.D., portrays the essence of a devoted clinician committed to scholarly excellence. Born in Deseronto, Ontario, in 1895 and passing in 1970, Dr. Appleby influenced all areas of general surgery, most notably popularizing a procedure that bears his name today. After a tour in World War I, he quickly proved himself to be a dedicated clinician with roots in academia, which translated into excellence within the Department of Surgery at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. He served in various leadership roles including Chair of the Department of Surgery, President of …

Return To Play After Cervical Spine Injuries: A Consensus Of Opinion., John C. France, Michael Karsy, James S. Harrop, Andrew T. Dailey

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design Survey. Objective Sports-related spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a growing proportion of total SCIs but lacks evidence or guidelines to guide clinical decision-making on return to play (RTP). Our objective is to offer the treating physician a consensus analysis of expert opinion regarding RTP that can be incorporated with the unique factors of a case for clinical decision-making. Methods Ten common clinical scenarios involving neurapraxia and stenosis, atlantoaxial injury, subaxial injury, and general cervical spine injury were presented to 25 spine surgeons from level 1 trauma centers for whom spine trauma is a significant component of their practice. …

The Association Between Hemoglobin Concentration And Neurologic Outcome After Cardiac Arrest., Nicholas J. Johnson, Babette Rosselot, Sarah M. Perman, Kalani Dodampahala, Munish Goyal, David F. Gaieski, Anne V. Grossestreuer

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to determine the association between hemoglobin concentration (Hgb) and neurologic outcome in postarrest patients.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Penn Alliance for Therapeutic Hypothermia (PATH) cardiac arrest registry. Inclusion criteria were resuscitated cardiac arrest (inhospital or out of hospital) and an Hgb value recorded within 24 hours of return of spontaneous circulation. The primary outcome was favorable neurologic status at hospital discharge. Survival to hospital discharge was a secondary outcome.

RESULTS: There were 598 eligible patients from 21 hospitals. Patients with favorable neurologic outcome had significantly higher median Hgb …

The Potential Roles Of Long Noncoding Rnas (Lncrna) In Glioblastoma Development, Shuang Liu, Ramkrishna Mitra, Ming-Ming Zhao, Wenhong Fan, Christine M. Eischen, Feng Yin, Zhongming Zhao

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) may contribute to the initiation and progression of tumor. In this study, we first systematically compared lncRNA and mRNA expression between glioblastoma and paired normal brain tissues using microarray data. We found 27 lncRNA and 82 mRNA significantly upregulated in glioblastoma, as well as 198 lncRNA and 285 mRNA significantly downregulated in glioblastoma. We identified 138 coexpressed lncRNA–mRNA pairs from these differentially expressed lncRNA and genes. Subsequent pathway analysis of the lncRNA-paired genes indicated that EphrinB–EPHB, p75-mediated signaling, TNFα/NF-κB, and ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling pathways might be altered in glioblastoma. Specifically, lncRNA RAMP2-AS1 had significant decrease of expression …

The 2016 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference, "Shared Decision Making In The Emergency Department: Development Of A Policy-Relevant Patient-Centered Research Agenda" Diagnostic Testing Breakout Session Report., Tyler W. Barrett, Kristin L. Rising, M. Fernanda Bellolio, M. Kennedy Hall, Aaron Brody, Kenneth W. Dodd, Mira Grieser, Phillip D. Levy, Ali S. Raja, Wesley H. Self, Gail Weingarten, Erik P. Hess, Judd Hollander

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Diagnostic testing is an integral component of patient evaluation in the emergency department (ED). Emergency clinicians frequently use diagnostic testing to more confidently exclude "worst-case" diagnoses rather than to determine the most likely etiology for a presenting complaint. Increased utilization of diagnostic testing has not been associated with reductions in disease-related mortality but has led to increased overall healthcare costs and other unintended consequences (e.g., incidental findings requiring further workup, unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation or potentially nephrotoxic contrast). Shared decision making (SDM) presents an opportunity for clinicians to discuss the benefits and harms associated with diagnostic testing with patients …

Inter-Rater Reliability Of Post-Arrest Cerebral Performance Category (Cpc) Scores., Anne V. Grossestreuer, Benjamin S. Abella, Kelsey R. Sheak, Marisa J. Cinousis, Sarah M. Perman, Marion Leary, Douglas J. Wiebe, David F. Gaieski

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scores are often an outcome measure for post-arrest neurologic function, collected worldwide to compare performance, evaluate therapies, and formulate recommendations. At most institutions, no formal training is offered in their determination, potentially leading to misclassification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 171 patients at 2 hospitals between 5/10/2005 and 8/31/2012 with two CPC scores at hospital discharge recorded independently - in an in-house quality improvement database and as part of a national registry. Scores were abstracted retrospectively from the same electronic medical record by two separate non-clinical researchers. These scores were compared to assess inter-rater reliability …

Morphological Assessment Of The Retina In Uveitis., Michael M. Altaweel, Sapna S. Gangaputra, Jennifer E. Thorne, James P. Dunn, Susan G. Elner, Glenn J. Jaffe, Rosa Y. Kim, P. Kumar Rao, Susan B. Reed, John H. Kempen

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to describe a system for color photograph evaluation in uveitis and report baseline morphologic findings for the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial. Four-hundred seventy-nine eyes of 255 subjects with intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis had stereoscopic color fundus photographs obtained by certified photographers and evaluated by certified graders using standardized procedures to evaluate morphologic characteristics of uveitis. The posterior pole was evaluated for macular edema, vitreoretinal interface abnormalities, and macular pigment disturbance/atrophy; the optic disk was assessed for edema, pallor, or glaucomatous changes. The presence of neovascularization, vascular occlusion, vascular sheathing, and tractional …

The Humoral Theory Of Transplantation: Epitope Analysis And The Pathogenicity Of Hla Antibodies., Edward J Filippone, John Farber

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Central to the humoral theory of transplantation is production of antibodies by the recipient against mismatched HLA antigens in the donor organ. Not all mismatches result in antibody production, however, and not all antibodies are pathogenic. Serologic HLA matching has been the standard for solid organ allocation algorithms in current use. Antibodies do not recognize whole HLA molecules but rather polymorphic residues on the surface, called epitopes, which may be shared by multiple serologic HLA antigens. Data are accumulating that epitope analysis may be a better way to determine organ compatibility as well as the potential immunogenicity of given HLA …

Zika Virus-Associated Seizures, Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Intravenous Ketamine For Subacute Treatment Of Refractory Chronic Migraine: A Case Series., Clinton Lauritsen, Santiago Mazuera, Richard B. Lipton, Sait Ashina

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Refractory migraine is a challenging condition with great impact on health related quality of life. Intravenous (IV) ketamine has been previously used to treat various refractory pain conditions. We present a series of patients with refractory migraine treated with intravenous ketamine in the hospital setting.

METHODS: Based on retrospective chart review, we identified six patients with refractory migraine admitted from 2010 through 2014 for treatment with intravenous ketamine. Ketamine was administered using a standard protocol starting with a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/hr and increased by 0.1 mg/kg/hr every 3 to 4 h as tolerated until the target pain score …

Blood-Brain Barrier Transport Machineries And Targeted Therapy Of Brain Diseases, Jaleh Barar, Mohammad Rafi, Mohamad Mostafa Pourseif, Yadollah Omidi

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Desired clinical outcome of pharmacotherapy of brain diseases largely depends upon the safe drug delivery into the brain parenchyma. However, due to the robust blockade function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), drug transport into the brain is selectively controlled by the BBB formed by brain capillary endothelial cells and supported by astrocytes and pericytes. Methods: In the current study, we have reviewed the most recent literature on the subject to provide an insight upon the role and impacts of BBB on brain drug delivery and targeting. Results: All drugs, either small molecules or macromolecules, designated to treat brain diseases …

Effect Of Electrolyzed High-Ph Alkaline Water On Blood Viscosity In Healthy Adults., Joseph J. Weidman, Ralph E. Holsworth, Bradley Brossman, Daniel J. Cho, John St Cyr, Gregory Fridman

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown fluid replacement beverages ingested after exercise can affect hydration biomarkers. No specific hydration marker is universally accepted as an ideal rehydration parameter following strenuous exercise. Currently, changes in body mass are used as a parameter during post-exercise hydration. Additional parameters are needed to fully appreciate and better understand rehydration following strenuous exercise. This randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm trial assessed the effect of high-pH water on four biomarkers after exercise-induced dehydration.

METHODS: One hundred healthy adults (50 M/50 F, 31 ± 6 years of age) were enrolled at a single clinical research center in Camden, NJ and …

V-Src Oncogene Induces Trop2 Proteolytic Activation Via Cyclin D1., Xiaoming Ju, Xuanmao Jiao, Adam Ertel, Mathew C. Casimiro, Gabriele Disante, Shengqiong Deng, Zhiping Li, Agnese Di Rocco, Tingting Zhan, Adam Hawkins, Tanya Stoyanova, Sebastiano Andò, Alessandro Fatatis, Michael P. Lisanti, Leonard G. Gomella, Lucia R. Languino, Richard G. Pestell

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Proteomic analysis of castration-resistant prostate cancer demonstrated the enrichment of Src tyrosine kinase activity in approximately 90% of patients. Src is known to induce cyclin D1, and a cyclin D1-regulated gene expression module predicts poor outcome in human prostate cancer. The tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2/Trop2/M1S1) is enriched in the prostate, promoting prostate stem cell self-renewal upon proteolytic activation via a γ-secretase cleavage complex (PS1, PS2) and TACE (ADAM17), which releases the Trop2 intracellular domain (Trop2 ICD). Herein, v-Src transformation of primary murine prostate epithelial cells increased the proportion of prostate cancer stem cells as characterized by gene expression, …

Numerical Investigation Of Novel Microwave Applicators Based On Zero-Order Mode Resonance For Hyperthermia Treatment Of Cancer, David Vrba, Jan Vrba, Dario B. Rodrigues, Paul R. Stauffer

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

This paper characterizes three novel microwave applicators based on zero-order mode resonators for use in hyperthermia treatment of cancer. The radiation patterns are studied with numerical simulations in muscle tissue-equivalent model at 434 MHz. The relative performance of the applicators is compared in terms of reflection coefficient, current distribution, power deposition (SAR) pattern, effective field size in 2D and 3D tissue volumes, and penetration depth. One particular configuration generated the most uniform SAR pattern, with 25% SAR covering 84 % of the treatment volume extending to 1 cm depth under the aperture, while remaining above 58% coverage as deep as …

Celecoxib Inhibits Proliferation And Survival Of Chronic Myelogeous Leukemia (Cml) Cells Via Ampk-Dependent Regulation Of Β-Catenin And Mtorc1/2., Beatrice Riva, Marco De Dominici, Ilaria Gnemmi, Samanta A. Mariani, Alberto Minassi, Valentina Minieri, Paolo Salomoni, Pier Luigi Canonico, Armando A Genazzani, Bruno Calabretta, Fabrizio Condorelli

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

CML is effectively treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, the efficacy of these drugs is confined to the chronic phase of the disease and development of resistance to TKIs remains a pressing issue. The anti-inflammatory COX2 inhibitor celecoxib has been utilized as anti-tumour drug due to its anti-proliferative activity. However, its effects in hematological malignancies, in particular CML, have not been investigated yet. Thus, we tested biological effects and mechanisms of action of celecoxib in Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) CML and ALL cells.We show here that celecoxib suppresses the growth of Ph+ cell lines by increasing G1-phase and apoptotic cells and …

Cd99 Triggering Induces Methuosis Of Ewing Sarcoma Cells Through Igf-1r/Ras/Rac1 Signaling., Maria Cristina Manara, Mario Terracciano, Caterina Mancarella, Marika Sciandra, Clara Guerzoni, Michela Pasello, Andrea Grilli, Nicoletta Zini, Piero Picci, Mario P. Colombo, Andrea Morrione, Katia Scotlandi

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

CD99 is a cell surface molecule that has emerged as a novel target for Ewing sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive pediatric bone cancer. This report provides the first evidence of methuosis in EWS, a non-apoptotic form of cell death induced by an antibody directed against the CD99 molecule. Upon mAb triggering, CD99 induces an IGF-1R/RAS/Rac1 complex, which is internalized into RAB5-positive endocytic vacuoles. This complex is then dissociated, with the IGF-1R recycling to the cell membrane while CD99 and RAS/Rac1 are sorted into immature LAMP-1-positive vacuoles, whose excessive accumulation provokes methuosis. This process, which is not detected in CD99-expressing normal mesenchymal …

Differential Item Functioning In The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Short Forms In A Sample Of Children And Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy., Wendy J. Coster, Pengsheng Ni, Mary D. Slavin, Pamela A. Kisala, Ratna Nandakumar, Mary Jane Mulcahey, David S. Tulsky, Alan M. Jette

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

AIM: The present study examined the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, Fatigue, and Pain Interference Short Forms (SFs) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) for the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) relative to the original calibration sample.

METHOD: Using the Graded Response Model we compared item parameter estimates generated from a sample of 303 children and adolescents with CP (175 males, 128 females; mean age 15y 5mo) to parameter estimates from the PROMIS calibration sample, which served as the reference group. DIF was assessed in a two-step process using the item response theory-likelihood ratio-differential …

Clinical Influences In The Multidisciplinary Management Of Small Renal Masses At A Tertiary Referral Center, Costas D. Lallas, Kymora Scotland, Michael Zhang, Daisey Schaeffer, Anne Calvaresi, Leonard G. Gomella, Daniel Brown, Colette Shaw, Edouard J. Trabulsi

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Introduction We designed a multidisciplinary Small Renal Mass Center to help patients decide among treatment options and individualize therapy for small renal masses. In this model physicians and support staff from multiple specialties work as a team to evaluate and devise a treatment plan for patients at the same organized visit. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 263 patients seen from 2009 to 2014. Monitored patient characteristics included age, Charlson comorbidity index, body mass index, nephrometry score, tumor size and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify patient characteristics associated with each treatment choice. …