Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Calcium Rescues Streptococcus Pneumoniae D39 Δmnte Manganese-Sensitive Growth Phenotype, Reuben Opoku, Edgar Carrasco, Nicholas R De Lay, Julia E Martin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Calcium (Ca2+) functions as a universal signal messenger in eukaryotes but in bacteria, the physiological roles for Ca2+ are limited. Here, we examine the role of Ca2+ in Streptococcus pneumoniae during manganese (Mn2+) intoxication. S. pneumoniae mntE mutants, lacking the Mn2+ efflux transporter, exhibit impaired growth due to accumulation of Mn2+ when exposed to elevated exogenous Mn2+. This Mn2+-sensitive growth defect is restored to wild-type growth level by exogenous Ca2+, in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Despite growth restoration of the mntE mutant to wild-type levels, cellular Mn2+ remains elevated in this strain. Bacterial capsule production is also increased for the mntE …

Ablative Margin Quantification Using Deformable Versus Rigid Image Registration In Colorectal Liver Metastasis Thermal Ablation: A Retrospective Single-Center Study, Yuan-Mao Lin, Iwan Paolucci, Jessica Albuquerque Marques Silva, Caleb S O'Connor, Jun Hong, Ketan Y Shah, Mohamed E Abdelsalam, Peiman Habibollahi, Kyle A Jones, Kristy K Brock, Bruno C Odisio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of minimal ablative margin (MAM) quantification using biomechanical deformable (DIR) versus intensity-based rigid image registration (RIR) with local outcomes following colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) thermal ablation.

Methods: This retrospective single-institution study included consecutive patients undergoing thermal ablation between May 2016 and October 2021. Patients who did not have intraprocedural pre- and post-ablation contrast-enhanced CT images for MAM quantification or follow-up period less than 1 year without residual tumor or local tumor progression (LTP) were excluded. DIR and RIR methods were used to quantify the MAM. The registration accuracy was compared using Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). …

Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Intravenous Thrombolysis In Distal Medium Vessel Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Multinational Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Study, Hamza Adel Salim, Vivek Yedavalli, Basel Musmar, Nimer Adeeb, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Kareem El Naamani, Nils Henninger, Sri Hari Sundararajan, Anna Luisa Kühn, Jane Khalife, Sherief Ghozy, Luca Scarcia, Benjamin Y Q Tan, Benjamin Pulli, Jeremy J Heit, Robert W Regenhardt, Nicole M Cancelliere, Joshua D Bernstock, Aymeric Rouchaud, Jens Fiehler, Sunil Sheth, Ajit S Puri, Christian Dyzmann, Marco Colasurdo, Xavier Barreau, Leonardo Renieri, João Pedro Filipe, Pablo Harker, Razvan Alexandru Radu, Thomas R Marotta, Julian Spears, Takahiro Ota, Ashkan Mowla, Pascal Jabbour, Arundhati Biswas, Frédéric Clarençon, James E Siegler, Thanh N Nguyen, Ricardo Varela, Amanda Baker, David Altschul, Nestor R Gonzalez, Markus A Möhlenbruch, Vincent Costalat, Benjamin Gory, Christian Paul Stracke, Mohammad Ali Aziz-Sultan, Constantin Hecker, Hamza Shaikh, David S Liebeskind, Alessandro Pedicelli, Andrea M Alexandre, Illario Tancredi, Tobias D Faizy, Erwah Kalsoum, Boris Lubicz, Aman B Patel, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Adrien Guenego, Adam A Dmytriw, Mad Mt Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: The management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to distal medium vessel occlusion (DMVO) remains uncertain, particularly in comparing the effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) plus mechanical thrombectomy (MT) versus IVT alone. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy in DMVO patients treated with either MT-IVT or IVT alone.

Methods: This multinational study analyzed data from 37 centers across North America, Asia, and Europe. Patients with AIS due to DMVO were included, with data collected from September 2017 to July 2023. The primary outcome was functional independence, with secondary outcomes including mortality and safety measures …

Lysophospholipid Remodeling Mediated By The Lplt And Aas Protein Complex In The Bacterial Envelope, Wei Niu, Trung Vu, Guangwei Du, Mikhail Bogdanov, Lei Zheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lysophospholipid transporter LplT and acyltransferase Aas consist of a lysophospholipid-remodeling system ubiquitously found in gram-negative microorganisms. LplT flips lysophospholipid across the inner membrane which is subsequently acylated by Aas on the cytoplasmic membrane surface. Our previous study showed that the proper functioning of this system is important to protecting Escherichia coli from phospholipase-mediated host attack by maintaining the integrity of the bacterial cell envelope. However, the working mechanism of this system is still unclear. Herein, we report that LplT and Aas form a membrane protein complex in E. coli which allows these two enzymes to cooperate efficiently to move lysophospholipids …

Adrenal Hemangioma, Ahmed K Elsayes, Steven G Waguespack, Eduardo J Matta, Mindy X Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Wearing A Surgical Vest With A Sterile Surgical Helmet System Decreases Contamination Of The Surgical Field, Andrew P Konopitski, Hugh Jones, Kenneth B Mathis, Philip C Noble, David Rodriguez-Quintana

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Sterile surgical helmet systems are frequently utilized in total knee arthroplasty procedures to protect the surgeon while maintaining a comfortable working environment. However, common helmet systems pressurize the space between the surgical gown and the surgeon's skin. In gowns with a back seam, this may allow contaminated skin particles to escape into the surgical field. By measuring bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs), this study sought to determine if occlusion of the open back seam reduced the risk of potential contamination.

Methods: First, qualitative analysis depicting airflow variations between gown configurations was performed using the Schlieren Spherical Mirror imaging system. Each …

Operating Room Airborne Microbial Load: Nonscrubbed Staff Apparel Matters, Andrey Zuskov, Hugh L Jones, Brian P Crowley, Humberto A Aparicio, Ahmad A Quaddoura, Kenneth B Mathis, David Rodriguez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Infection is a leading cause of total joint arthroplasty failure. In previous studies, we found correlations between the level of contamination, concentrations of airborne particles, and the number of staff present. In this study, we focused on the apparel of nonscrubbed operating room (OR) staff to elucidate their contribution to the airborne microbial load.

Methods: We compared hospital-laundered scrubs to disposable coveralls using 2 methods. (1) Participants entered an isolation chamber with a controlled environment and completed tasks for 1 hour wearing both the approved and alternative OR attire. Settle plates collected viable contaminants that were shed by the …

A Case Of The Noncaseating Granuloma, Dia R Waguespack

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Complete Resection Of Aorticopulmonary Paraganglioma With Reconstruction In A Pediatric Patient, Andrew K Morse, Julija Dobrila, Jorge D Salazar, Damien J Lapar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aorticopulmonary paragangliomas are exceedingly rare tumors in pediatric populations. Complete surgical resection is the only curative treatment. However, resection is challenging due to the vascularity of paragangliomas and their close relationship with the great vessels. We present the resection of an aorticopulmonary paraganglioma that encased the main pulmonary artery bifurcation, compressed the left main coronary artery, and was densely adherent to the ascending aorta and right pulmonary artery via a median sternotomy with bypass. This case underscores the importance of complete resection for pediatric patients, despite the technical challenges.

Hydrops And Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Reported Incidence And Postnatal Outcomes Analysis Of The Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group Registry, Carmen Mesas Burgos, Ashley H Ebanks, Anna Löf-Granström, Kylie I Holden, Anthony Johnson, Peter Conner, Matthew T Harting, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) associated with hydrops is rare. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of this combination of anomalies and the postnatal outcomes from a large database for CDH.

Study design: Data from the multicenter, multinational database on infants with prenatally diagnosed CDH (CDHSG Registry) born from 2015 to 2021 were analyzed.

Results: A total of 3985 patients were entered in the registry during the study period, 3156 were prenatally diagnosed and 88 were reported to have associated fluid in at least 1 compartment, representing 2.8% of all prenatally diagnosed CDH cases in the …

Work Where You Live Or Live Where You Work? Resident Work And Sleep Patterns While On "Home Call", David T Mitchell, Noa G Koppin, Michael T Talanker, Mohin A Bhadkamkar, Erik S Marques, Matthew R Greives, David C Hopkins

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Unlike in-house call, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) does not require a postcall day for "home call" shifts. Despite this, we hypothesize that on-call residents are still in the hospital for the majority of their shift despite having the luxury of home call and, thus, are not protected by ACGME postcall duty hour regulations.

Methods: A prospective single center survey study was conducted by surveying junior and senior residents who completed overnight call shifts from January 2023 to April 2023 at one of the busiest level 1 trauma centers in the United States. Data include number …

Ketamine’S Mechanism Of Action With An Emphasis On Neuroimmune Regulation: Can The Complement System Complement Ketamine’S Antidepressant Effects?, Brandi Quintanilla, Carlos A Zarate, Anilkumar Pillai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Over 300 million people worldwide suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD). Unfortunately, only 30-40% of patients with MDD achieve complete remission after conventional monoamine antidepressant therapy. In recent years, ketamine has revolutionized the treatment of MDD, with its rapid antidepressant effects manifesting within a few hours as opposed to weeks with conventional antidepressants. Many research endeavors have sought to identify ketamine's mechanism of action in mood disorders; while many studies have focused on ketamine's role in glutamatergic modulation, several studies have implicated its role in regulating neuroinflammation. The complement system is an important component of the innate immune response vital …

Use Of Long Spinal Board Post-Application Of Protocol For Spinal Motion Restriction For Spinal Cord Injury, Amber D Rice, Philipp L Hannan, Memu-Iye Kamara, Joshua B Gaither, Robyn Blust, Vatsal Chikani, Franco Castro-Marin, Gail Bradley, Bentley J Bobrow, Rachel Munn, Mary Knotts, Justin Lara

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Historically, prehospital care of trauma patients has included nearly universal use of a cervical collar (C-collar) and long spine board (LSB). Due to recent evidence demonstrating harm in using LSBs, implementation of new spinal motion restriction (SMR) protocols in the prehospital setting should reduce LSB use, even among patients with spinal cord injury. Our goal in this study was to evaluate the rates of and reasons for LSB use in high-risk patients-those with hospital-diagnosed spinal cord injury (SCI)-after statewide implementation of SMR protocols.

Methods: Applying data from a state emergency medical services (EMS) registry to a state hospital discharge …

Utilizing Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation For An Electronic Seizure Diary In A Definite Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy Case, Surya Suresh, Yash Vakilna, Vladimir Vashin, Samden Lhatoo, Sandipan Pati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a serious threat to individuals with intractable epilepsies, contributing to premature mortality. Understanding the elusive pathophysiological mechanisms of SUDEP, especially in cases without observable terminal events, remains a crucial area for investigation. This study aimed to shed light on the burden of epileptiform activity preceding SUDEP by utilizing an automated electronic seizure diary derived from a sensing-enabled thalamic deep brain stimulator (DBS).

Methods: Herein, we present the case of a 57-year-old man afflicted with intractable multifocal epilepsy secondary to cortical dysplasia and encephalomalacia resulting from severe traumatic brain injury. Despite an initial …

Sex Disparities In Mortality After Endovascular Therapy In Large Core Infarcts, Ngoc Mai Le, Camille Neal-Harris, Emmanuel C Ebirim, Ananya S Iyyangar, Hussain Azeem, Anjan N Ballekere, Saagar Dhanjani, Eunyoung Lee, Sunil A Sheth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In recent large core endovascular therapy (EVT) trials of large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke (AIS), treatment was associated with reduced rates of mortality. Because post-AIS mortality can be influenced by societal and biological factors that differ between women and men, we investigate sex-based differences in mortality outcomes following EVT in large core AIS.

Methods: From our prospectively collected multicenter registry across 4 comprehensive stroke centers in the Greater Houston area, we identified patients from 2017 to 2022 with large vessel occlusion AIS and large infarct core. Large infarct core was defined by computed tomography perfusion exceeding 70 mL …

Emerging Treatment Landscape For Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Gbs): What’S New?, Alina Sprenger-Svačina, Martin K R Svačina, Tong Gao, Gang Zhang, Kazim A Sheikh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a monophasic immune neuropathic disorder characterized by acute paralysis. A significant portion of patients are left with residual deficits, which presents a considerable global healthcare challenge. The precise mechanisms underlying GBS pathogenesis are not fully elucidated. Recent studies have focused on postinfectious molecular mimicry and identified involvement of IgG autoantibodies and innate immune effectors in GBS. Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) and plasma exchange (PE) are two established evidence-based immunomodulatory treatments for GBS, but a significant proportion of GBS patients fails to respond adequately to either therapy. This emphasizes an urgent need for novel and more potent …

Progression Of Gestational Subclinical Hypothyroidism And Hypothyroxinemia To Overt Hypothyroidism After Pregnancy: Pooled Analysis Of Data From Two Randomized Controlled Trials, Michael W Varner, Lisa Mele, Brian M Casey, Alan M Peaceman, Uma M Reddy, Ronald J Wapner, John M Thorp, George R Saade, Alan T N Tita, Dwight J Rouse, Baha M Sibai, Maged M Costantine, Brian M Mercer, Steve N Caritis, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, Bethesda, Md, Usa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: To examine the incidence of overt hypothyroidism 1 and 5 years after pregnancies where screening before 21 weeks identified subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) or hypothyroxinemia (HT). Methods: Secondary analysis of two multicenter treatment trials for either SH or HT diagnosed between 8 and 20 weeks gestation. Current analyses focus only on individuals randomized to the placebo groups in the two parallel studies. SH was diagnosed with thyrotropin (TSH) ≥4.0 mU/L and normal free T4 (fT4) (0.86-1.9 ng/dL). HT was diagnosed with normal TSH (0.08-3.99 mU/L) but fT4 < 0.86 ng/dL. Serum from initial testing was stored for later thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody assay; results were not returned for clinical management. At 1 and 5 years after delivery, participants were asked whether they had either been diagnosed with or were being treated for a thyroid condition. Maternal serum was collected at these visits and thyroid function measured. Subsequent overt hypothyroidism was defined as TSH ≥4.0 mU/L with fT4 < 0.86 ng/dL. Results: Data for 1- and 5-year follow-up were available in 307 of the …

Distal Metaphyseal Ulnar Shortening Osteotomy Fixation: A Biomechanical Analysis, Christopher S Frey, Joanne Y Zhou, Kalpit N Shah, Calvin K Chan, Lauren Joseph, Hunter Storaci, Nicole Segovia, Jeffrey Yao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Ulnar shortening osteotomy can be used to treat ulnar impaction syndrome and other causes of ulnar wrist pain. Distal metaphyseal ulnar shortening osteotomy (DMUSO) is one technique that has been proposed to reduce the complications seen with a diaphyseal USO or a wafer resection. However, to our knowledge, the optimal fixation construct for DMUSO has not been studied. We sought to characterize the biomechanical stiffness and rotational stability of different DMUSO constructs.

Methods: A DMUSO was performed on 40 human cadaveric ulnas using 4 different fixation constructs (10 specimens per group): one 3.0 mm antegrade screw; two 2.2 mm …

Characteristics Of Medically Attended Influenza Infection Across Age Groups Before The Covid-19 Pandemic In Lebanon, Amani Haddara, Zeina Houry, Nada Zahreddine, Mark Atallah, Celina F Boutros, Joseph Tannous, Christian Sadaka, Sarah Wehbe, Tamara Kadi, Ahmad Ibrahim, Rihab Ahmadieh, Tala Kardas, Nadia Soudani, Habib Al Kalamouni, Youssef Zgheib, Noha El Yaman, Sarah Khafaja, Mireille Lteif, Rouba Shaker, Aia Assaf Casals, Yolla Youssef, Nour Youssef, Zeinab El Zein, Sarah Chamseddine, Ahmad Chmaisse, Magda Haj, Danielle Fayad, Shereen Kiblawi, Imad Isaac, Hind Anan, Najwa Radwan, Rima Hanna Wakim, Hassan Zaraket, Souha S Kanj, Ghassan S Dbaibo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Influenza represents a significant global health burden for individuals and society. This study assessed the burden of medically attended influenza at a tertiary medical center in Lebanon to describe the demographics, risk factors, and outcomes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who tested positive for the influenza virus during three seasons between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2019, at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

Results: A total of 2049 patients who tested positive for influenza were analyzed. Influenza A accounted for 79.6 % of cases, and influenza B for …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Age-Dependent Changes In Fontan Power Loss, A Sahni, L Marshall, M A Cetatoiu, J Davee, N Schulz, E R Eickhoff, N St Clair, S Ghelani, A Prakash, P E Hammer, D M Hoganson, P J Del Nido, R H Rathod, Vijay Govindarajan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The hemodynamics in Fontan patients with single ventricles rely on favorable flow and energetics, especially in the absence of a subpulmonary ventricle. Age-related changes in energetics for extracardiac and lateral tunnel Fontan procedures are not well understood. Vorticity (VOR) and viscous dissipation rate (VDR) are two descriptors that can provide insights into flow dynamics and dissipative areas in Fontan pathways, potentially contributing to power loss. This study examined power loss and its correlation with spatio-temporal flow descriptors (vorticity and VDR). Data from 414 Fontan patients were used to establish a relationship between the superior vena cava (SVC) to inferior vena …

The Geriatric Trauma Hospitalist Service: An Analysis Of A Management Strategy For Injured Older Adults, Heather R Kregel, Claudia Pedroza, Fatimah Sunez, Gina Khraish, Ezenwa Onyema, David E Meyer, Sasha D Adams, Lillian S Kao, Laura J Moore, Thaddeus J Puzio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Management of geriatric trauma patients requires balancing chronic comorbidities with acute injuries. We developed a care model in which patients are managed by hospitalists with trauma-centered education and hypothesized that clinical outcomes would be similar to outcomes in patients primarily managed by trauma surgeons.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of trauma patients aged ≥65 from January 2020 to December 2021. Groups were defined by admitting service: trauma surgery service (TSS) or geriatric trauma hospitalist service (GTHS). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Regression analyses and inverse probability treatment weighted (IPTW) propensity score (PS) analyses were performed to determine …

Four Important Questions About Between-Hospital Differences In Care At <25 Weeks' Gestation, Matthew A Rysavy, Ashley N Battarbee, Kelly S Gibson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Standardized Therapies After Ecmo Program (Step); A Novel Approach To Pediatric Post-Ecmo Care, Rebekah K H Shappley, Christen M Holder, Constance E Poplos, Pilar Anton-Martin, Thomas Spentzas, Toni M Whitaker, Swati Karmarkar, Samir H Shah, Hitesh S Sandhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The study objective was to characterize compliance with Standardized Therapy after ECMO Program (STEP), an intentional discharge pathway for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) survivors in a US pediatric hospital.

Methods: The program identified pediatric ECMO survivors before discharge, appropriate consultations were reviewed and requested, families were educated on ECMO sequelae, and ECMO summaries were sent to pediatricians. Compliance with institutional post-ECMO guidelines was evaluated before and after STEP implementation.

Results: We identified 77 ECMO survivors to hospital discharge (36 [46.8%] before and 41 [53.2%] after STEP implementation). There was a significant increase in complete (38.8% vs. 74.2%, p < 0.001) and time-appropriate neurodevelopmental testing (71.4% vs. 95.6%, p = 0.03). Significant increase in inpatient evaluations by neurology (52.7% vs. 75.6%, p = 0.03) and audiology (66.7% vs. 87.8%, p = 0.02), and in referrals for outpatient audiology (66.6 vs. 95.1%, p = 0.002), physical therapy (P.T.) (63.8% vs. 95.1%, p = 0.001), occupational therapy (O.T.) (63.8% vs. 95.1%, p = 0.001) and speech-language pathology (S.L.P.) (55.5% vs. 95.1%, p < 0.001) were noted.

Conclusion: …

Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis And Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation Lead To Severe Growth Failure In Infants, Allison L Speer, Kevin P Lally, Claudia Pedroza, Yuxin Zhang, Brenda B Poindexter, Walter J Chwals, Susan R Hintz, Gail E Besner, David K Stevenson, Robin K Ohls, William E Truog, Barbara J Stoll, Matthew A Rysavy, Abhik Das, Jon E Tyson, Martin L Blakely

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence of growth failure in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) and whether initial laparotomy versus peritoneal drainage (PD) impacted the likelihood of growth failure.

Summary background data: Infants with surgical NEC and SIP have high mortality, and most have neurodevelopmental impairment and poor growth. Existing literature on growth outcomes for these infants is limited.

Methods: This is a preplanned secondary study of the Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgery Trial dataset. The primary outcome was growth failure (Z-score for weight < -2.0) at 18 to 22 months. We used logistic regression, including diagnosis and treatment, as covariates. Secondary outcomes were analyzed using the Fisher exact or Pearson χ2 test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank sum test or one-way ANOVA for continuous variables.

Results: Among 217 survivors, 207 infants (95%) had primary outcome data. Growth …

Bioengineering Of Intestinal Grafts, Madushani Herath, Allison L Speer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Intestinal failure manifests as an impaired capacity of the intestine to sufficiently absorb vital nutrients and electrolytes essential for growth and well-being in pediatric and adult populations. Although parenteral nutrition remains the mainstay therapeutic approach, the pursuit of a definitive and curative strategy, such as regenerative medicine, is imperative. Substantial advancements in the field of engineered intestinal tissues present a promising avenue for addressing intestinal failure; nevertheless, extensive research is still necessary for effective translation from experimental benchwork to clinical bedside applications.

Decoding The Molecular Symphony: Interactions Between The M6a And P53 Signaling Pathways In Cancer, Rachel Shoemaker, Mo-Fan Huang, Ying-Si Wu, Cheng-Shuo Huang, Dung-Fang Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The p53 tumor suppressor gene governs a multitude of complex cellular processes that are essential for anti-cancer function and whose dysregulation leads to aberrant gene transcription, activation of oncogenic signaling and cancer development. Although mutations can occur at any point in the genetic sequence, missense mutations comprise the majority of observed p53 mutations in cancers regardless of whether the mutation is germline or somatic. One biological process involved in both mutant and wild-type p53 signaling is the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) epitranscriptomic network, a type of post-transcriptional modification involved in over half of all eukaryotic mRNAs. Recently, a significant number of …

Beneficial Effects Of Lactobacillus Plantarum On Growth Performance, Immune Status, Antioxidant Function And Intestinal Microbiota In Broilers, Xiao Xiao, Tiantian Cui, Songke Qin, Tao Wang, Jinsong Liu, Lihan Sa, Yanping Wu, Yifan Zhong, Caimei Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been globally regarded as antibiotic alternative in animal farming in the past few years. However, the potential function of L. plantarum in broilers has not been systemically explored. In this study, a total of 560 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups, fed with basal diet and drank with L. plantarum HJZW08 (LP) at the concentration of 0 (CON), 1000 × 10^5 (LP1000), and 2000 × 10^5 CFU/L (LP2000) for 70 d. Results showed that the body weight (BW), average daily …

Landmark-Based Auto-Contouring Of Clinical Target Volumes For Radiotherapy Of Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Carlos Sjogreen, Tucker J Netherton, Anna Lee, Moaaz Soliman, Skylar S Gay, Callistus Nguyen, Raymond Mumme, Ivan Vazquez, Dong Joo Rhee, Carlos E Cardenas, Mary K Martel, Beth M Beadle, Laurence Edward Court

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The delineation of clinical target volumes (CTVs) for radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer is complex and varies based on the location and extent of disease.

Purpose: The current study aimed to develop an auto-contouring solution following one protocol guidelines (NRG-HN001) that can be adjusted to meet other guidelines, such as RTOG-0225 and the 2018 International guidelines.

Methods: The study used 2-channel 3-dimensional U-Net and nnU-Net framework to auto-contour 27 normal structures in the head and neck (H&N) region that are used to define CTVs in the protocol. To define the CTV-Expansion (CTV1 and CTV2) and CTV-Overall (the outer envelope of …

Unraveling The Role Of Mir-181 In Skin Fibrosis Pathogenesis By Targeting Nudt21, Tingting W Mills, Minghua Wu, Jerry Alonso, Hydia Puente, Julio Charles, Zheng Chen, Seung-Hee Yoo, Maureen D Mayes, Shervin Assassi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by widespread fibrosis in the skin and several internal organs. Nudix Hydrolase 21 (NUDT2 or CFIm25) downregulation in fibroblasts is known to play detrimental roles in both skin and lung fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the upstream mechanisms that lead to NUDT21 repression in skin fibrosis. We identified transforming growth factor β (TGFβ1) as the primary cytokine that downregulated NUDT21 in normal skin fibroblasts. In the bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis model, consistent with the peak activation of TGFβ1 at the late fibrotic stage, NUDT21 was downregulated at this stage, and delayed …

Quantitative Evaluation Of 90y-Pet/Ct And 90y-Spect/Ct-Based Dosimetry Following Yttrium-90 Radioembolization, Srinivas Cheenu Kappadath, Eric Courtney Henry, Benjamin P Lopez, Armeen Mahvash

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Following yttrium-90 radioembolization (90Y-RE), 90Y-PET/CT and 90Y-SPECT/CT imaging provide the means to calculate the voxelized absorbed dose distribution. Given the widespread use of the two imaging modalities and lack of well-established standardized dosimetry protocols for 90Y-RE, there is a clinical need to systematically investigate and evaluate differences in the performance of voxel-based dosimetry between 90Y-PET/CT and 90Y-SPECT/CT.

Purpose: To quantitatively analyze and compare 90Y-PET/CT and 90Y-SPECT/CT-based dosimetry following 90Y-RE.

Methods: 90Y-PET/CT and 90Y-SPECT/CT imaging was acquired for 35 patients following 90Y-RE with TheraSphere for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Dosimetry was performed using the local deposition method with …