Partial Cystectomy For Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer, Peter S Palencia, Nethusan Sivanesan, Syed Rahman, Fady Ghali, David Hesse, John Colberg, Ashwin Sridhar, John D Kelly, Byron H Lee, Ashish M Kamat, Wei-Shen Tan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Partial cystectomy is a surgical bladder-sparing option for selected patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), urachal adenocarcinoma and diverticular bladder tumors. Partial cystectomy hold several advantages. It allows for definite pathology and accurate staging while avoiding side effects from radiation therapy and preserves the option for salvage radical therapy (radical cystectomy or radical radiotherapy). Patients should have a CT urogram, prostatic urethral biopsy and mapping biopsies or blue light cystoscopy to rule out multifocal disease or CIS. Small solitary MIBC patients without carcinoma in situ in an area of the bladder where resection can be performed with negative margin would …

Bcl-2/Bcl-Xl Dual Inhibition Triggers Gasdermin D-Mediated Pyroptosis In Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Yijing Li, Joseph Mcintosh, Vivian Jiang, Fangfang Yan, Jovanny Vargas, Yuxuan Che, Wei Wang, Ching-Fei Li, Yue Fei, Celeste Lee, Lei Nie, Yixin Yao, Michael Wang, Heng-Huan Lee, Yang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Management Of Postoperative Pain In Septorhinoplasty: A Systematic Review, Caitlin M Coviello, Uma R Ramesh, Beatriz Varman, Krista L Olson, Sunthosh K Sivam

Library Staff Publications

Objective: Septorhinoplasties are a common surgery. Effectively managing postoperative pain and identifying opioid reduction techniques is of critical importance. This systematic review characterizes the literature regarding the management of postoperative pain with opioid-based and opioid alternative therapies in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty.

Data sources: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Library (Wiley), and Web of Science (Clarivate).

Review methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords with adherence to preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Full-text analysis was performed by two independent reviewers using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and National …

Trauma Resuscitation With Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood Or Products: Study Protocol For A Randomized Clinical Trial (The Troop Trial), Jan O Jansen, Claudia Pedroza, Luis Leon Novelo, Tianyao Hao, Gina R Dewildt, Charles F Coton, Kiran Mansoor, Shannon W Stephens, Marisa B Marques, James R Stubbs, Jillian R Richter, Henry E Wang, John B Holcomb, Stacia M Desantis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hemorrhage is the most common cause of potentially preventable death after injury. Balanced transfusion with red blood cells, plasma, and platelets (component therapy, CT) has been shown to reduce mortality, and is the standard of care. Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB) is an attractive alternative to CT, but existing evidence comprises observational studies, and a small single center pilot randomized controlled trial, which evaluated a type of whole blood that is no longer in use. The aim of the "Trauma Resuscitation with Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood Or Products" (TROOP) trial is to compare the effectiveness and safety …

Rsph4a-Pcdx: An Index To Predict Lung Function Decline In Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, Gabriel Román-Ríos, Gabriel Rosario-Ortiz, Marcos J Ramos-Benitez, Ricardo A Mosquera, Wilfredo De Jesús-Rojas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous disorder that impairs mucociliary clearance and leads to progressive lung disease. This study aimed to characterize lung function decline in a genetically homogeneous cohort of Puerto Rican patients with

Rna Sequencing And Immunohistochemistry Jointly Improve Tumor Biomarker Interpretation, Vladimir Kushnarev, Danil Stupichev, Suren Davitavyan, Kirill Kriukov, Basavaraja U Shanthappa, Anna Butusova, Sofia Menshikova, Anna Belozerova, Anastasia Shvyrkova, Arina Tkachuk, Olga Khatenkova, Linda Balabanian, Ekaterina Postovalova, Jochen K Lennerz, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Alexander Bagaev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aimed to assess the correlation between RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in detecting key cancer biomarkers across solid tumors, and then, to establish RNA-seq thresholds that accurately reflect clinical IHC classifications. Expression levels of nine biomarkers-ESR1, PGR, AR, MKI67, ERBB2, CD274, CDX2, KRT7, and KRT20-were analyzed in 365 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from breast, lung, gastrointestinal, and other solid carcinomas. Correlations between RNA-seq data and IHC scores were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficients, with RNA-seq cut-offs established to distinguish positive from negative IHC scores. The results revealed strong correlations for most biomarkers, with coefficients ranging from 0.53 to …

Limosilactobacillus Reuteri Enables Oral-To-Systemic Absorption Of Iberiotoxin For Treatment Of Collagen-Induced Arthritis In Rats, Mohamed R Kady, R Nicholas Elston, Lauren J Snyder, Jorie D Fleischman, Madilyn J Brandt, Duolong Zhu, Robert A Britton, Christine Beeton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and damage in which fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a central role. Invasiveness and proliferation of FLS in RA is dependent on activity of the KCa1.1 potassium channel. Peptide blockers of KCa1.1, such as iberiotoxin (IbTX), can be delivered subcutaneously to treat animal models of RA. We tested whether an engineered probiotic oral delivery platform could effectively deliver IbTX systemically in a rat model of RA.

Results: A plasmid for inducible secretion of IbTX was constructed and transformed into probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA-6475 to generate LrIbTX. No differences …

Inhibition Of Epithelial Cell Yap-Tead/Lox Signaling Attenuates Pulmonary Fibrosis In Preclinical Models, Darcy Elizabeth Wagner, Hani N Alsafadi, Nilay Mitash, Aurelien Justet, Qianjiang Hu, Ricardo Pineda, Claudia Staab-Weijnitz, Martina Korfei, Nika Gvazava, Kristin Wannemo, Ugochi Onwuka, Molly Mozurak, Adriana Estrada-Bernal, Juan Cala-Garcia, Katrin Mutze, Rita Costa, Deniz Bölükbas, John Stegmayr, Wioletta Skronska-Wasek, Stephan Klee, Chiharu Ota, Hoeke A Baarsma, Jingtao Wang, John Sembrat, Anne Hilgendorff, Jun Ding, Andreas Günther, Rachel Chambers, Ivan Rosas, Stijn De Langhe, Naftali Kaminski, Mareike Lehmann, Oliver Eickelberg, Melanie Königshoff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Current IPF therapies slow disease progression but do not stop or reverse it. The (myo)fibroblasts are thought to be the main cellular contributors to excessive extracellular matrix production in IPF. Here we show that fibrotic alveolar type II cells regulate production and crosslinking of extracellular matrix via the co-transcriptional activator YAP. YAP leads to increased expression of Lysl oxidase (LOX) and subsequent LOX-mediated crosslinking by fibrotic alveolar type II cells. Pharmacological YAP inhibition via verteporfin reverses fibrotic alveolar type II cell reprogramming and LOX …

Dissecting The Heterogeneous Effects Of Opioid Prescribing Limit Laws On Pediatric Mortality: A Multidimensional And Negative Binomial Modeling Approach, Francine R. Vega

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid prescribing for children and adolescents continues to be a significant health crisis in the United States. Early naïve exposure to opioid prescriptions has been linked to later misuse, opioid use disorder, and death. In response to the crisis, many states have implemented opioid prescribing limit laws (OPLLs) aimed at reducing exposure to opioids. These laws vary widely in their approach, including differences in dosage restrictions, prescription duration limits, informed consent requirements, educational provisions, and whether they offer explicit protections specifically for minors. Despite their widespread adoption, there is limited understanding of how heterogeneity in legal regulations affects outcomes for …

Rethinking Health Systems Responsiveness In Low–And Middle-Income Countries, Meesha Iqbal

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Health systems responsiveness (HSR) refers to a health system’s ability to meet legitimate non-health expectations of the population. Traditionally, HSR has been conceptualized across eight domains: respect for dignity, autonomy, confidentiality, prompt attention to health needs, availability of basic amenities, choice of provider, access to social support networks, and clarity of communication. However, as the expectations of populations in high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs) differ significantly due to diverse social and cultural contexts, the conceptualization of HSR also varies. We conducted a systematic review of literature to adapt and contextualize the HSR framework for L&MICs based …

Management Approaches To Spastic Gait Disorders, Sheng Li, Tulsi Pandat, Bradley Chi, Daniel Moon, Manuel Mas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spastic gait presents clinically as the net mechanical consequence of neurological impairments of spasticity, weakness, and abnormal synergies and their interactions with the ground reaction force in patients with upper motor neuron syndromes and with some neuromuscular diseases. It is critical to differentiate whether the primary problem is weakness or spasticity, thus better understanding different phenotypes of spastic gait disorders. Pelvic girdle abnormality plays a pivotal role in determining the clinical presentation of gait disorders, since it determines the body vector and compensatory kinetic chain reactions in the knee and ankle joints. Knee joint abnormality can be a mechanical compensation …

Patient-Specific Preoperative Plans Can Optimize Femoral Head Coverage And Range Of Motion After Periacetabular Osteotomies, Shuyang Han, Carey A Clark, Nicholas J Dunbar, Madison Brenner, Alexis H Aboulafia, Alfred A Mansour Iii, Philip C Noble

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The goal of a periacetabular osteotomy is to increase the coverage of the femoral head, primarily in the antero-lateral region, through rotation of the acetabulum in three anatomical planes. The present study was undertaken to determine whether specific combinations of lateral rotation, anterior rotation, and anteversion of the acetabular fragment can be targeted to provide the best balance between femoral head coverage and joint motion.

Methods: Three-dimensional patient-specific hip models were reconstructed from preoperative computerized tomography scans of 15 patients diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Each model was placed in a standard coordinate system with neutral pelvic tilt and femoral …

Evaluating What Works: A Comparison Of Five Diabetes Prevention Programs For Latino Children, Ruchi Patel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background: Children in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are at increased risk of diabetes due to limited access to effective, culturally appropriate prevention programs. Existing programs are often time-intensive, require transportation, and lack cultural relevance, reducing participation and impacting outcomes. This project aimed to evaluate diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) in the literature and identify five that may benefit children in the RGV by reducing diabetes risk.

Methodology: The Eightfold Path policy analysis approach guided this project. A literature review identified DPPs for children, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess study quality. Limitations included difficulty finding …

A 65-Year-Old Man With Cough, Hypercalcemia, And Diffuse Opacities, Philip K Angelides, Oriana Salamo, Sujith V Cherian, Eduardo Yepez Guevara, Carlos A Jimenez, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Respiratory infections in patients with cancer are common. A low threshold for bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) should be maintained in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary opacities on chest imaging to evaluate for opportunistic infections. In those with unresolving symptoms, transbronchial biopsies may add significant diagnostic value. Concomitant hypercalcemia in patients with cancer is typically related to underlying malignant disease. However, in those with persistent respiratory symptoms or atypical infiltrates then granulomatous inflammatory diseases should be considered. Diagnosing histoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients can be difficult. Antigen testing is often more sensitive, but tissue biopsy or culture may be needed. We describe …

Anxiety During Perimenopause: A Narrative Qualitative Study Of The Women’S Lived Experiences, Kayla Mcelhany

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Objectives: Perimenopause has been associated with increased anxiety symptoms. However, data is lacking regarding the experiences of women with perimenopausal anxiety and the contributing factors to worsening anxiety symptoms. We explored the experiences of women with self-reported new onset or worsening of anxiety symptoms during perimenopause to better understand contributing factors.

Study design: Twenty women participated in one-on-one interviews to explore experiences of perimenopausal anxiety in the context of their daily lives and perimenopausal physical changes. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop codes and themes from the transcribed interview data. Analysis was done using MAXQDA software.

Main …

Association Of Epigenetic Aging With Plasma Cbiomarkers Of Amyloid, Tau, Neurodegeneration, And Neuroinflammation In Hispanic/Latino Adults, Myriam Fornage, Wassim Tarraf, Martha L Daviglus, Charles Decarli, Kevin A Gonzalez, Carmen R Isasi, Sayaka Kuwayama, Melissa Lamar, Bonnie E Levin, Humberto Parada, Alberto R Ramos, Tatjana Rundek, Bharat Thyagarajan, Hector M González

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background: Blood-based biomarkers hold significant promise for the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. Age-related changes in blood levels of AD biomarkers are well-documented but poorly understood. Epigenetic clocks are mathematical models based on DNA methylation patterns that reflect various aspects of the multidimensional aging process. We investigated the associations of epigenetic aging with five blood-based AD biomarkers in 2656 Hispanic/Latino adults (mean age 62.5 years; 65% females) from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We used multivariable linear regression models to estimate the associations of acceleration in each of five epigenetic clocks with …

Titer-First Vaccination Protocol In An Employee Health Clinic, Obehi Dickson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the clinical and financial outcomes of implementing a titer-first vaccination protocol for new employees at an Employee Health Clinic. This project sought to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce unnecessary vaccinations.

Background:

This project was conducted at a large healthcare organization in Houston, Texas, to address the cost burden of traditional vaccination protocols. Pre-vaccination serologic testing helps identify existing immunity, reducing unnecessary vaccinations and overall clinic costs.

Methodology:

The titer-first vaccination protocol includes serologic testing for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella, and hepatitis B, followed by vaccine administration for those without immunity. Data …

Culturally Centered, Primary Care Interventions For Effective Weight Management Goals In Hispanic/Latino Children, Remigio Acevedo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a clinic-based childhood obesity intervention program for Hispanic/Latino children.

BACKGROUND From 1975 to 2016, childhood obesity rates have more than quadrupled, affecting Hispanic/Latino families the most. Growing evidence suggests that incorporating the family unit and utilizing culturally centered weight management interventions can be cost-effective and pragmatic compared to a standard, generic approach.

METHODOOLOGY A quality improvement project was initiated to provide information on the degree of success of a clinic-based childhood obesity program for Hispanic/Latino children and their parents. The intervention focused on delivering a culturally centered health promotion message based on …

Integrating Bulk And Single-Cell Transcriptomics To Investigate Intratumor Heterogeneity, Shuai Guo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cancers are heterogeneous mixtures of tumor and surrounding cells, where each component comprises multiple distinct sub-types and/or states. Understanding the cell-type-specific contributions is critical for advancing cancer biology, yet high-throughput expression profiles from tumor tissues only represent combined signals from all diverse cellular sources. Bulk deconvolution with single-cell/nucleus (sc/sn) RNA-seq data has emerged as a powerful approach to dissect both cellular composition and cell-type-specific expression patterns, yet the technological discrepancy across sequencing platforms limits accuracy.

To systematically evaluate the impact of platform discrepancies on bulk deconvolution, we first generated a benchmark dataset of 24 healthy retinas with paired bulk and …

A Pilot Structured Mentorship Program To Increase Pediatric Advanced Practice Provider Engagement At An Academic Institution, Erica Annotti, Dnp, Aprn, Pnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) transitioning into academic healthcare often face challenges related to role clarity, professional identity, and emotional support, which can hinder their engagement and retention. This quality improvement project aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a structured mentorship pilot program for pediatric APPs to increase work engagement by 10%.

Methods: Grounded in the Strong Model for Advanced Practice and Wagner’s Caring Mentorship Framework, the project employed a mixed-methods QI design. Four pediatric APPs (n=4) participated in an 8-week structured mentorship program. Interventions included the intentional pairing of mentors and mentees, biweekly one-on-one sessions, and targeted professional development …

Implementation Of A Zen Room To Decrease Perceived Stress: A Quality Improvement Project, Michelle Tat

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Introduction: This quality improvement project addresses a lack of quiet space for staff to de-stress. The goal was to create a Zen room at a substance abuse treatment facility to decrease self-perceived stress in staff by 15% within three months.

Methodology: The PDSA cycle was applied to the creation of a Zen room. Stress was measured with questions from the Perceived Stress Scale at baseline, entry, and exit. 23 participants recorded Zen room entry. Limitations included small sample size and exit survey attrition. Implementation challenges included budget issues and low response rates. Stress levels were compared at baseline, room entry, …

Multicenter Span Trial Of Fasudil In Ischemic Stroke, Takahiko Imai, Andreia Lopes De Morais, Xuyan Jin, Tao Qin, Jessica Lamb, Karisma A Nagarkatti, Mu-Hsun Chen, Ligia S B Boisserand, Rakesh B Patel, Mariia Kumskova, Anjali Chauhan, Krishnan M Dhandapani, Mohammad B Khan, Pradip K Kamat, Yanrong Shi, Suyi Cao, Basavaraju G Sanganahalli, Joseph B Mandeville, Patrick D Lyden, David C Hess, Enrique C Leira, Anil K Chauhan, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Louise D Mccullough, Raymond C Koehler, Lauren H Sansing, Márcio A Diniz, Cenk Ayata

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: The SPAN (Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network) is a confirmatory multicenter trial network to test cerebroprotective interventions in experimental acute stroke. In a first-of-its-kind trial, SPAN tested 6 interventions in a rodent model of transient focal ischemic stroke. Here, we report the efficacy of fasudil, an isoform-nonselective rho-associated kinase inhibitor, on primary and secondary outcomes in the SPAN trial.

Methods: Fasudil was administered at 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally every 12 hours for 6 doses starting 5 minutes before reperfusion in a 60-minute endovascular filament middle cerebral artery occlusion model. The active treatment arm (n=345) was compared with the pooled intraperitoneal and …

Family-Level Factors That Influence Physical Activity Among Hispanic Adolescents At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes, Sandra Mihail, Ayleen A Hernandez, Erica G Soltero

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Family-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies are recommended as best practice; however, there is limited knowledge regarding the family-level factors that influence modifiable behavior risk factors like physical activity (PA) among Latinx adolescents. This study addressed this knowledge gap by using qualitative methods to identify perceptions of family-level factors that influence PA among Hispanic youth.

Methods: We conducted semistructured, open-ended interviews with 20 Latinx adolescents (14-16 years) with obesity (body mass index ≥95th percentile) to identify their perceptions of how family influences PA. Content analysis was used to identify emergent themes, which were then compared across demographic factors, …

Genetic Study Of Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels ≤ 50 Iu/Dl Identifies Variants Associated With Increased Risk Of Von Willebrand Disease And Bleeding, Rachel K Friedman, Adam S Heath, Jennifer E Huffman, James T Baker, Natalie R Hasbani, Sarah A Gagliano Taliun, Ming-Huei Chen, Tom E Howard, Joshua P Lewis, Nathan Pankratz, Snehal Patil, Alex P Reiner, Florian Thibord, Lisa R Yanek, Jie Yao, Hung-Hsin Chen, Joanne E Curran, Nauder Faraday, Xiuqing Guo, Marsha M Wheeler, Kathleen A Ryan, Xiang Zhou, Kelly Cho, Laura Almasy, Paul L Auer, Lewis C Becker, Peter W F Wilson, Eric Boerwinkle, Jeffrey R O'Connell, Stephen S Rich, David C Samuels, National Heart, Lung And Blood Institute (Nhlbi) Trans-Omics For Precision Medicine (Topmed) Consortium, Topmed Hematology & Hemostasis Working Group, Va Million Veteran Program, John Blangero, Myriam Fornage, Charles Kooperberg, Rasika A Mathias, Braxton D Mitchell, Jerome I Rotter, Andrew D Johnson, Nicholas L Smith, Zeynep H Coban-Akdemir, Jennifer E Below, Alanna C Morrison, Jill M Johnsen, Paul S De Vries

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels or activity of circulating von Willebrand factor (VWF). Genetic susceptibility to VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) below normal (≤ 50 IU/dL) in the general population is underexplored.

Objectives: To identify genetic variants influencing VWF:Ag levels ≤ 50 IU/dL.

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study in 926 cases with VWF:Ag levels ≤ 50 IU/dL and 12 846 controls from 7 studies from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program. We then examined whether significant genome-wide findings were also associated with clinical diagnosis of VWD in 5 biobanks with …

Impaired Rest-Activity Rhythm Characteristics Predict Higher Risk Of Incident Type 2 Diabetes In Uk Biobank Participants, Chris Ho Ching Yeung, Alison K Wright, Daniel P Windred, Angus C Burns, Andrew J K Phillips, Sean W Cain, Martin K Rutter, Qian Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Circadian rhythms play a key role in metabolic health. Rest-activity rhythms, which are in part driven by circadian rhythms, may be associated with diabetes risk. There is a need for large prospective studies to comprehensively examine different rest-activity metrics to determine their relative strength in predicting risk of incident type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: In actigraphy data from 83,887 UK Biobank participants, we applied both parametric and nonparametric algorithms to derive 13 different metrics characterizing different aspects of rest-activity rhythm. Diabetes cases were identified using both self-reported data and health records. We used Cox proportional hazards models …

Linking Chronic Kidney Disease To Incident Heart Failure And Adverse Cardiac Remodeling Through The Plasma Proteome: The Aric Study, Leo F Buckley, Pranav Dorbala, Victoria Lamberson, Brian L Claggett, Yue Ren, Morgan E Grams, Josef Coresh, Kunihiro Matsushita, Ryan T Demmer, Ruth F Dubin, Rajat Deo, Peter Ganz, Christie M Ballantyne, Ron C Hoogeveen, Bing Yu, Amil M Shah

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Investigation of circulating plasma proteins may reveal insights into molecular pathways that contribute to the development of heart failure (HF) among people with chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: The authors aimed to identify circulating kidney function-related plasma proteins that are associated with the risk of incident HF.

Methods: The authors studied participants of the ongoing longitudinal ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study. Relative plasma concentrations of 4,697 unique proteins were measured with the use of an aptamer assay (Somalogic). Each protein was tested for associations with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), log-transformed urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and incident HF by …

Trends In Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist Prescribing Patterns, Maria Ukhanova, Joseph S Wozny, Chau N Truong, Lopita Ghosh, Trudy M Krause

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Obesity affects more than 40% of US adults, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially indicated for diabetes, show promise in weight loss but face coverage issues, high costs, and premature prescribing from physicians. Research is needed to assess prescribing patterns, especially in patients without diabetes.

Study design: We conducted a retrospective, population-based, observational study using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database and the Merative MarketScan Medicare Supplemental Database, which capture person-specific clinical utilization and expenditures. We analyzed GLP-1 RA prescribing rates from 2018 to 2023, comparing semaglutide with other …

Effects Of Sex And Aging In The Response To Global Cerebral Hypoperfusion, Alexis Mcalister

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction

The prevalence of dementia worldwide is projected to double by the year 2030 and triple by 2050. Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) encompasses diseases that lead to cognitive decline and dementia due to cerebrovascular disease. VCID is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for approximately 15- 40% of all dementia cases. Reductions in cerebral blood flow from intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis increase VCID risk, even in the absence of overt clinical or imaging evidence of stroke/embolization. The pathology seen in patients with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, such as inflammation, neuronal loss, white matter abnormalities, …

Microbial Metabolite Regulation Of Microglial Ahr Signaling In Alzheimer’S Disease, Ghalya E. Alrousan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β plaque accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that systemic factors, particularly the gut microbiota and its metabolites, play a significant role in shaping brain immune responses, including microglial activation. However, the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to microglial dysfunction in AD are poorly understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor responsive to tryptophan metabolites, has recently gained attention as a key regulator of neuroinflammation and microglial function. I hypothesize that the loss of beneficial microbial AHR ligands, specifically indole derivatives, during aging and AD …

Autoantibody Profiling To Predict Response To The Anti-Pd-1 Therapy, Pembrolizumab, In Rare Tumors, M H Derbala, J Hajjar, B Stephen, S A Gurses, E Kwiatkowski, P Budde, H-D Zucht, M Bräutigam, A-S Lindemann, B A Abhari, M A Gouda, L Castillo, A Zarifa, J A How, E Rodriguez, J T Moyers, D S Hong, S Fu, F Meric-Bernstam, A Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have limited response rates in selected patients and can cause potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This underscores the urgent need for the development of biomarkers predictive of ICI response. Pre-existing autoantibodies (AAbs) have been linked with responses to ICIs and the development of irAEs. We conducted AAb profiling to assess associations between baseline AAbs and clinical benefit (CB) in patients with rare tumors treated with anti-programmed cell death protein 1-based therapy.

Patients and methods: We conducted AAb profiling using Oncimmune's SeroTag multiplex antibody discovery technology and immune oncology array containing 1168 antigens. The study …