Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Child Placement After Child Abuse Pediatrics Consultation For Suspected Physical Abuse, Kristine A Campbell, Antoinette L Laskey, Daniel M Lindberg, M Katherine Henry, Porcia Vaughn, James D Anderst, Megan M Letson, Angela N Bachim, Nancy S Harper, Carmen M Coombs, Lori D Frasier, Joanne N Wood

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The association between child abuse pediatric (CAP) assessments and child welfare outcomes is unknown.

Objective: To determine the association between a CAP determination of the likelihood of physical abuse and change in child placement. We hypothesized that child race would be associated with CAP determination of abuse likelihood and child welfare outcomes.

Participants and setting: Children under age ten years with in-person CAP consultation and referral to child protective services for suspected physical abuse at a U.S. pediatric referral center participating in CAPNET, a CAP research network, from 02/2021 to 01/2023.

Methods: We created a series of generalized estimating …

The Structure Of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms In Youth With And Without Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: New Insights Using Factor And Network Analysis, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Matti Cervin, Kendall N Drummond, Jeffrey D Shahidullah, Justin F Rousseau, Cody G Dodd, Mercedes Ramirez, John M Hettema, Robyn Richmond, Leslie K Taylor, Lynn Monnat, Leslie Proch, Fei Teng, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch, Andrew G Guzick, D Jeffrey Newport, Karen Dineen Wagner, Charles B Nemeroff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) share ostensibly similar and sometimes overlapping symptoms that complicate diagnostic assessment and conceptualization. While varying models for the symptom structure of PTSD have been proposed - including the presently used 4-factor and a more fine-grained 7-factor model - little research has focused on youth and even less is known about how these symptoms relate to one another when OCD is present. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis to compare PTSD symptom relations among 2066 trauma-exposed youth aged 8-20 enrolled in the Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network, of …

A Phase 2 Randomized Trial Of Nbi-1065846 (Tak-041) In Patients With Anhedonia Associated With Major Depressive Disorder: Results Of The Terpsis Study, Shannon R Benedetto, Adrian Ionescu, Tingting Ge, Maura Furey, Swan Lin, Manish K Jha, Andrew Krystal, Asim A Shah, David P Walling, Neel Shah, Sakina J Rizvi, Sidney Kennedy, Antonio Laurenza, Venkatesha Murthy, Eiry Roberts, Jaskaran B Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Anhedonia is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) that may result from aberrant lateral habenula hyperactivity. Targeting G-protein coupled receptor 139 (GPR139) may improve anhedonia by modulating lateral habenula activity. NBI-1065846 is an investigational GPR139 agonist that improved anhedonia, anxiety, and depression in rodent models.

Methods: TERPSIS was a phase 2, proof-of-concept clinical study. Adults with MDD experiencing a major depressive episode with anhedonia were randomized 1:1 to NBI-1065846 or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) score. Secondary endpoints were change in total Montgomery Åsberg Depression …

Wound-Healing And Onboard Care During Long-Duration Human Deep Space Exploration From A Surgical Perspective Through The Lens Of A Scoping Review, Dora Babocs, Krishi Korrapati, Cooper Lytle, Monika L Gloviczki, Gustavo S Oderich, M Mark Melin, Rowena Christiansen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a bridge between the fields of aerospace medicine and vascular surgery, and to emphasize the need for leading experts in vascular medicine, interventional radiology, and surgery to address the critical human spaceflight research gaps highlighted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Methods: A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2000 and 2024. A well-defined search strategy was employed for keyword searches across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, the NASA Life Science Data Archive, …

One-Year Outcomes From The Pivotal Trial Of A Four-Branch Off-The-Shelf Solution To Treat Pararenal And Extent Iv Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Mark A Farber, Sukgu Han, Michel S Makaroun, Jon S Matsumura, Bernardo C Mendes, Gustavo S Oderich, Luis A Sanchez, Bjoern D Suckow, Carlos H Timaran

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To report 1-year primary-arm outcomes of the GORE EXCLUDER Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis pivotal trial.

Methods: The multicenter, nonrandomized, prospective study included patients with extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) and pararenal aortic aneurysms (PRAAs). All-cause and adjudicated lesion-related mortality were assessed at 12 months. Core-lab-reported, imaging-dependent outcomes included aneurysm size, endoleaks assessed through 1-year follow-up window, and target vessel instability (defined as occlusion, stenosis, type Ic/IIIc endoleak, or reintervention) at 1 year.

Results: One hundred two patients were treated; 59 patients had an extent IV TAAA and 43 had a PRAA. The mean maximum aneurysm diameter was 59.4 ± …

Five-Year Pivotal Trial Outcomes Of The Gore Excluder Conformable Endoprosthesis Implanted In Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms With Short Non-Angulated Infrarenal Seal Zones, Bjoern D Suckow, Gustavo S Oderich, Mahmoud W Almadani, Dai Yamanouchi, Alyssa J Pyun, Erin Moore, Patrick E Muck, Robert Y Rhee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endoprosthesis with Active Control System (EXCC) is approved in the United States (U.S.) for treatment of AAAs and highly angulated (≤90°) and short (≥10 mm) infrarenal aortic proximal seal zones (necks). Reported here are the 5-year outcomes of the EXCC U.S. pivotal clinical trial in the short, non-angulated cohort (SNA).

Methods: The EXCC investigational device exemption prospective pivotal trial short neck sub-study across 31 sites included patients with infrarenal necks measuring ≥10 mm length and ≤60° angulation. Five-year outcomes assessed by Core lab and adjudicated by independent review committee included patient safety …

Comparative Effectiveness Of En-Bloc Vs Conventional Transurethral Resection For Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, David E Hinojosa-Gonzalez, Gal Saffati, Troy La, Jackson Cathey, Juan C Angulo-Lozano, Gustavo Salgado-Garza, Jonathan Walsh, Bailey Slawin, Shane Kronstedt, Kate Lowrey, Jeremy R Slawin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Transurethral en-bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) has emerged as an alternate technique to conventional transurethral resection of bladder tumor (cTURBT). While theoretically advantageous, the comparative effectiveness of ERBT across various technical approaches remains unclear. We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate perioperative, pathologic, and oncologic outcomes of ERBT vs. cTURBT.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ERBT and cTURBT. The primary outcome was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary outcomes were operative time, complication rates, detrusor muscle presence, and need for repeated resection. Meta-analyses were performed, with …

Pancrelipase Treatment Of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Due To Chronic Pancreatitis: Rationale And Methodology Of A Real-World, Prospective, Observational Study, Mohamed O Othman, Jens J Kort, Tamas A Gonda, Guru Trikudanathan, Darshan J Kothari, Walter Park, Luis F Lara, Moming Li, Diala Harb

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Atrial Fibrillation In Advanced Ckd: To Anticoagulate, Or Not, And With What?, Muhammad S Ajmal, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Women And Kidney Health: Conclusions From A Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (Kdigo) Controversies Conference, Giorgina Barbara Piccoli, Sofia B Ahmed, Fadi Fakhouri, Vesna D Garovic, Michelle A Hladunewich, Shilpanjali Jesudason, Jai Prakash, Angela C Webster, Elena Zakharova, Michael Cheung, Jennifer M King, Michel Jadoul, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Christina M Wyatt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) Controversies Conference on Women and Kidney Health was convened to identify key sex and gender issues in kidney care, practices for optimizing healthcare in women with kidney diseases, and priorities for future research. Participants emphasized the importance of addressing the influence of sex and gender in diagnosis, risk assessment, prognosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its complications, as well as considering issues across the lifespan (puberty, sexual and reproductive health, menopause). CKD is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes with every type of kidney disease and severity. All women …

Bone Quality Response To Lifestyle Intervention In Older Adults With Obesity (Limb-Q Trial): A Randomised Controlled Trial, Giulia Gregori, Sanjay Mediwala, Michael Liebschner, Daeseung Kim, Mon S Bryant, Nina Klonis, Reina Armamento-Villareal, Clifford Qualls, Dennis T Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Lifestyle interventions for weight loss might exacerbate age-related bone loss and osteoporosis. However, there is limited knowledge about their effects on bone quality. We examined whether lifestyle intervention can preserve or enhance bone quality, despite reductions in bone mineral density.

Methods: The Lifestyle Intervention to Improve Bone Quality (LIMB-Q) study was a randomised controlled trial conducted at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston, TX, USA) including older adults (aged 65-85 years) with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either an intensive lifestyle intervention (intensive lifestyle group, consisting of …

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In Gulf War Veterans In Relation To Deployment Exposures, Sarah T Ahmed, Ruosha Li, Lea Steele, Peter Richardson, Kellie Sims, Rachel Quaden, Kelly M Harrington, Vijay Nambi, John M Gaziano, Robert Morgan, George L Delclos, Drew A Helmer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) were exposed to toxicants and environmental hazards during deployment, including oil well fire smoke, chemical/biological agents, pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, and pesticides. Multiple constituents of smoke are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), and other toxic exposures have been associated with autonomic and lipid dysfunction. We used data from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository Study of veterans deployed to Gulf War in 1990-1991 (n = 942). We evaluated the association of deployment exposures (no, yes (1-6 days), (7-30 days), (31 + days), and not sure) with clinical risk factors …

Ideal Navitor Implant Depth For Redo-Tavr Feasibility And Coronary Access: A Ct Simulation Study, Sahil Khera, Syed Zaid, Parasuram Krishnamoorthy, Anoop N Koshy, Sneha Gudibendi, Megan Berdan, Lucy M Safi, Stamatios Lerakis, George D Dangas, Samin K Sharma, Annapoorna S Kini, Gilbert H L Tang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The impact of implant depth of the Abbott Navitor intra-annular, self-expanding valve on redo-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) feasibility is unknown.

Objectives: The authors sought to determine the feasibility of redo-TAVR and coronary access with Edwards Sapien 3 (S3) valve after initial Navitor valve, based on various implant depths on computed tomography (CT) simulation.

Methods: Using 2050 pre-TAVR CTs of patients with native aortic stenosis, initial Navitor TAVR simulations were done at 3 implant depths (0 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm), with frame expansion assumed at native annular dimensions and commissural alignment not achievable. Redo-TAVR with S3 was …

A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial Of High-Frequency Electromagnetic Coupling Powered Permanent Peripheral Nerve Stimulator For The Treatment Of Chronic Craniofacial Pain, Salim M Hayek, Nameer Haider, Ashwin Viswanathan, Mehul Desai, Jeffrey Rosenberg, Niek E Vanquathem

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

than one-fifth of the US population. While various medications and conservative treatment modalities are available for this condition, many patients have refractory symptoms. These patients suffer from social impairment, reduced quality of life, and increased financial burdens.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes of patients receiving a permanent, high-frequency electromagnetic coupling (HF-EMC) powered peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) system for the treatment of chronic craniofacial neuropathic pain.

Study design: This study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial conducted under an investigational device exemption (IDE).

Setting: This study was conducted in 7 clinical sites in …

Generation Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines (Rfsci003-A, Rfsci004-A) From Monozygotic Twins Discordant For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Naresh Rajendran, Wendy Runyon, Sam Hu, Ajeet Singh, Rinki Ratnapriya, Ritu Kumar, Karl Csaky, Srinivasa R Sripathi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has significant genetic component, yet monozygotic twins frequently exhibit discordance in disease status, highlighting the role of non-genetic factors. To enable comparative studies of AMD pathogenesis, we generated two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a monozygotic twin pair discordant for AMD. These iPSC lines offer a unique genetically matched resource to investigate molecular differences between affected and unaffected twins, as well as their responses to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental contributors to AMD development.

Steroids For Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Pain-A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Trial, Kevin D Pereira, Wiktoria A Gocal, Anna V Borodianski, Mary E Williamson, Hengameh K Behzadpour, Sonal Saraiya, Diego A Preciado, Amal Isaiah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To compare postoperative caregiver-reported pain control of two steroid regimens following pediatric adenotonsillectomy. Secondary objectives assessed differences in analgesic use, return to normal diet, caregiver calls, adverse effects, and emergency room (ER) visits.

Study design: Prospective randomized pragmatic trial.

Setting: Three academic tertiary care children's hospitals.

Methods: Healthy children aged 3 to 10 undergoing adenotonsillectomy were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 mg/kg dexamethasone on postoperative day 3 or prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg days 1 to 3. Both groups continued standard weight-based regimens of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. A blinded research team member performed postoperative telephone surveys using the …

Corrigendum To "Validation Of An Assay For Ngal In A Pediatric Population" [Practical Laboratory Medicine, Plabm 486, E00486], Nazmin Bithi, Ridwan B Ibrahim, Estella Tam, Radwa Almamoun, Annett C Frenk Oquendo, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Sridevi Devaraj

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This corrects the article "Validation of an assay for NGAL in a pediatric population", e00486.

Validation Of An Assay For Ngal In A Pediatric Population, Nazmin Bithi, Ridwan B Ibrahim, Estella L Tam, Radwa Almamoun, Annette C Frenk Oquendo, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Sridevi Devaraj

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) poses a serious clinical challenge, particularly in high-risk environments, due to its association with increased morbidity and mortality. Traditional diagnostic markers, such as serum creatinine, often detect AKI only after significant kidney damage has occurred, limiting opportunities for early intervention. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as a promising early biomarker due to its rapid upregulation following kidney ischemia. NGAL supports renal recovery by reducing toxicity and promoting tubular regeneration via heme oxygenase-1 activity. This study aimed to validate the BioPorto ProNephro AKI™ turbidimetric immunoassay for urinary NGAL on the Ortho Vitros XT7600 …

Excision And Regional Flap Reconstruction With Radiation Therapy Of Granuloma Annulare Of The Digit: A Case Report, Austin Y Jiang, Linda K Green, David Netscher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign, often self-limited granulomatous skin condition that typically resolves spontaneously. Treatment is often not required, but topical and injectional corticosteroids are the most common interventions. Excision is effective for diagnosis and temporary treatment, but usually not considered curative. This case report describes the unconventional treatment of a recurrent biopsy-proven GA of the index finger. Due to the combination of the recalcitrant nodules interfering with function and patient preference, the nodules were excised multiple times. Ultimately requiring reconstruction with a pedicled radial forearm flap, the patient thereafter received radiation therapy to prevent recurrence, the combination of …

Acute Loss Of Tactile Input Leads To General Compensatory Changes In Eye-Hand Coordination During Object Manipulation, Kevin Ung, John F Magnotti, Brandon Kim, Jeffrey M Yau, Per F Nordmark

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Current models of motor control emphasize the critical role of sensory feedback, as demonstrated by movement coordination deficits following sensory impairment. When both vision and touch are available for object-oriented manual behaviors, they serve distinct roles; vision guides the execution of planned movements, while touch provides more direct feedback on hand-object interactions. The impact of losing somatosensory feedback on eye-hand coordination during dexterous object manipulation tasks has not been thoroughly studied. Conceivably, vision is recruited to compensate for the feedback lost when touch is abolished based on the dexterity demands of the behavior. To investigate this, we tested healthy participants …

Fetal Presentation Of A Child With Partial Atrioventricular Septal Defect And Calcium Release Deficiency Syndrome, Alexander J Kiener, Tam Dan N Pham, Christina Y Miyake, James C Wilkinson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

2d Speckle Tracking Strain Echocardiography In Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children: A Multicenter Analysis From The Music Study, Francesca Sperotto, Valiantsina Kazlova, Felicia L Trachtenberg, Dongngan T Truong, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Joseph R Block, Tamara T Bradford, Sujatha Buddhe, Audrey Dionne, Andreea Dragulescu, Kanwal M Farooqi, Daniel E Forsha, Therese M Giglia, Ian F Golding, Keren Hasbani, Pei-Ni Jone, Anita Krishnan, Sean M Lang, Carol A Mcfarland, Elizabeth C Mitchell, Elias Moussi Saad, Todd T Nowlen, Ricardo H Pignatelli, Scott Pletzer, Ryan Serrano, Divya Shakti, Shubhika Srivastava, Thor Thorsson, Jodie K Votava-Smith, Hunter C Wilson, Jane W Newburger, Kevin G Friedman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography may help detect subclinical ventricular dysfunction, but data in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are scarce. We investigated left ventricular (LV) strain parameters in MIS-C and their association with outcomes.

Methods: We performed an ambi-directional, 32-center cohort study on hospitalized patients with MIS-C (March 2020-November 2021) with at least 1 echocardiogram read by the Core Lab. Generalized estimating equation modeling was used to test associations between LV strain and a composite in-hospital adverse cardiovascular outcome (vasoactive support, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal support, death, or heart transplant).

Results: Of 349 patients (median age, 8.7 years [interquartile …

A Multi-Institutional Multi-Methods Analysis Of Jeopardy Systems In Academic Hospital Medicine, Kirsten N Kangelaris, Angela Keniston, Andrew D Auerbach, Gregory Bowling, Marisha Burden, Shradha A Kulkarni, Luci K Leykum, Anne S Linker, Matthew Sakumoto, Jeffrey Schnipper, Gopi Astik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Hospital medicine programs use backup ("jeopardy") systems to cover unexpected staffing gaps, but little is known about their structures or optimal practices.

Objectives: To describe jeopardy structures, assess clinician perceptions, and identify potential approaches across a broad sample of hospital medicine groups.

Methods: This multi-methods study, conducted within a national hospitalist consortium, used virtual focus groups and an email survey to (1) describe the presence and structure of jeopardy systems and (2) explore features perceived as fair, equitable, and tolerable. Rapid qualitative analysis identified major themes, while descriptive methods analyzed survey data.

Results: Twenty-five individuals participated in focus groups, …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Less Vs More Frequent Hydrocortisone Dosing In Septic Shock, Alan Hao, Tianshi David Wu, Keegan Collins, Danielle Guffey, Rebecca Kessinger, Meghna Vallabh, Ali Omranian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Guidelines recommend hydrocortisone as an adjunctive treatment in septic shock, but the optimal dosing regimen is unknown. A national shortage of hydrocortisone in 2023 prompted a change in institutional practice for hydrocortisone administration from 50 mg every 6 hours to 100 mg every 12 hours in an effort to reduce waste and conserve vials, creating an opportunity to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of these two regimens. The primary efficacy outcome was time to shock resolution, and secondary outcomes evaluated in this study were mortality, renal replacement therapy (RRT), medication costs, and maximum vasopressor dose attained.

Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort …

Patient-Centered Management Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding While On Anticoagulation: A Survey Study, Benjamin Barnett, Rushad Patell, Dana Angelini, Leben Tefera, Jordan K Schaefer, Ang Li, Alejandra Gutierrez Bernal, Shruti Chaturvedi, Anjlee Mahajan, Leslie Lake, Jori May, Anna L Parks

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Nearly three-quarters of women experience heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) during anticoagulation treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE). HMB can lead to medical interventions, impact school or work and diminish quality of life (QOL). While there are several management options for HMB in patients with VTE, we lack information on how patients approach HMB treatment decisions.

Objectives: We examined patients' experience with, perceptions of, and preferences for treatment of HMB while on anticoagulation.

Methods: Clinicians and patient advocates developed a web-based survey that was distributed via patient advocacy organizations and social media between May and June 2024, targeting participants 18 years …

Optimal Head-Of-Bed Positioning Before Thrombectomy In Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Anne W Alexandrov, Anne J Shearin, Pitchaiah Mandava, Gabriel Torrealba-Acosta, Cheran Elangovan, Balaji Krishnaiah, Katherine Nearing, Elizabeth Robinson, Cara Guthrie-Chu, Matthew Holzmann, Bryan Fill, Dharti R Trivedi, Alicia Richardson, Sandy Middleton, Barbara B Brewer, David S Liebeskind, Nitin Goyal, James C Grotta, Andrei V Alexandrov

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Small studies show that 0° head positioning of patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke improves penumbral blood flow and clinical stability. Understanding whether 0° head position maintains clinical stability would allow for optimal patient positioning before thrombectomy.

Objective: To determine superiority of 0° over 30° head positioning at maintaining clinical stability in patients with LVO before thrombectomy.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial with blinding to study enrollment/end points conducted from May 2018 to November 2023. There were 3 planned interim analyses, and the study was conducted at certified thrombectomy hospitals in the …

Cognitive Performance In Early Neuronal Synuclein Disease With Hyposmia But Without Motor Disability: Association With Dopamine Deficiency And Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder, Daniel Weintraub, Anuprita R Nair, Ryan Kurth, Michael C Brumm, Christine Kohnen, Michele K York, Roseanne D Dobkin, Kenneth Marek, Caroline Tanner, Tanya Simuni, Andrew Siderowf, Douglas Galasko, Lana M Chahine, Christopher Coffey, Kalpana Merchant, Kathleen L Poston, Tatiana Foroud, Brit Mollenhauer, Ethan G Brown, Karl Kieburtz, Mark Frasier, Sohini Chowdhury, Roy N Alcalay, Aleksandar Videnovic, Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To determine the impact of dopamine deficiency and isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) on cognitive performance in early neuronal α-synuclein disease (NSD) with hyposmia but without motor disability.

Methods: Using Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative baseline data, cognitive performance was assessed with a cognitive summary score (CSS) derived from robust healthy control (HC) norms. Performance was examined for participants with hyposmia in early NSD-Integrated Staging System (NSD-ISS), either stage 2A (cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein seed amplification assay [SAA]+, dopamine transporter scan [DaTscan]-) or 2B (SAA+, DaTscan+).

Results: Participants were stage 2A (n = 101), stage 2B (N …

Optical Coherence Tomography Enables The Depth-Resolved Measurement Of Cilia Beat Frequency In Ex Vivo Human Fallopian Tubes, Dilara J Long, Tian Xia, Photini F Rice, Deirdre M Scully, Makayla Johnson, Ryan Mistifer, Andrea Aguirre, John M Heusinkveld, Irina V Larina, Jennifer K Barton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: The movement of cilia in the fallopian tubes (FTs) facilitates important processes involved in fertility, and abnormalities in cilia function are linked with diseases including endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease. For the first time, we demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to create depth-resolved mapping of motile cilia locations and quantify cilia beat frequency (CBF) in human FT samples ex vivo.

Methods: Segments of the FT ampulla were acquired from five patients following salpingectomy under an IRB approved protocol. The samples were longitudinally opened to expose the luminal surface for imaging. A sequence of at least 500 …

Focal Adhesion Kinase Drives Rho/Rock And Mtor Signaling To Protect And Augment Aortic Dissections, Zhen Zhou, Pujun Guan, Ripon Sarkar, Yang Yu, Alexis Richard, Dar Weiss, Yuki Kawamura, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Tomas Vaisar, Daniel R Martin, L Maximillian Buja, Zhouxuan Li, Kartik Venkatachalam, Ying H Shen, Scott A Lemaire, Jay D Humphrey, Dianna M Milewicz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dysfunctional mechanosensing via focal adhesions (FAs) significantly contributes to thoracic aortic dissection in the β-aminopropionitrile mouse model by triggering FA kinase activation and subsequent Rho/ROCK and mTOR signaling pathways. The present findings indicate that these signaling pathways play distinct roles in ascending vs descending dissections. Specifically, in the ascending aorta, smooth muscle cell FA kinase-Rho/ROCK signaling acts as a beneficial adaptive mechanism to prevent dissections, whereas mTOR signaling is pathogenic and contributes to dissections.

A Divergent Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Protein Promotes Plasmodium Ookinete Infection Of The Mosquito, Dominika Kwecka, Zhishuo Wang, Edvardas Eigminas, Lijia Liu, Jennifer C Regan, Choel Kim, Nisha Philip

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Colonisation of mosquitos by the malarial parasite is critically reliant on the invasive ookinete stage. Ookinete invasion of mosquito is coordinated by the apical complex, a specialised parasite structure containing components for secretion, attachment and penetration. While studies have investigated cytoskeletal and secretory elements, it is currently unknown if signalling modules are present or functional at the apical complex. Here we elucidate the role of a cryptic cyclic nucleotide-binding protein which we name CBP-O. PbCBP-O showed a marked localisation to the ookinete apex and disruption of the protein severely compromised ookinete invasion of mosquitos. Domain dissection analysis revealed that the …