Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Prospective Examination Of Sex Differences In Posttraumatic Autonomic Functioning., Antonia V Seligowski, Elizabeth R Steuber, Rebecca Hinrichs, Mariam H Reda, Charis N Wiltshire, Cassandra P Wanna, Sterling J Winters, Karlye A Phillips, Stacey L House, Francesca L Beaudoin, Xinming An, Jennifer S Stevens, Donglin Zeng, Thomas C Neylan, Gari D Clifford, Sarah D Linnstaedt, Laura T Germine, Kenneth A Bollen, Guia Guffanti, Scott L Rauch, John P Haran, Alan B Storrow, Christopher Lewandowski, Paul I Musey, Phyllis L Hendry, Sophia Sheikh, Christopher W Jones, Brittany E Punches, Michael C Kurz, Vishnu P Murty, Meghan E Mcgrath, Lauren A Hudak, Jose L Pascual, Mark J Seamon, Elizabeth M Datner, Anna Marie Chang, Claire Pearson, David A Peak, Roland C Merchant, Robert M Domeier, Niels K Rathlev, Brian J O'Neil, Leon D Sanchez, Steven E Bruce, Mark W Miller, Robert H Pietrzak, Jutta Joormann, Deanna M Barch, Diego A Pizzagalli, John F Sheridan, Beatriz Luna, Steven E Harte, James M Elliott, Karestan C Koenen, Ronald C Kessler, Samuel A Mclean, Kerry J Ressler, Tanja Jovanovic

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Cross-sectional studies have found that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit deficits in autonomic functioning. While PTSD rates are twice as high in women compared to men, sex differences in autonomic functioning are relatively unknown among trauma-exposed populations. The current study used a prospective design to examine sex differences in posttraumatic autonomic functioning.

Methods: 192 participants were recruited from emergency departments following trauma exposure (

Results: 2-week systolic BP was significantly higher in men, while 2-week HR was significantly higher in women, and a sex by PTSD interaction suggested that women who developed PTSD demonstrated the highest HR …

Characterization Of Hnrnpa1 Mutations Defines Diversity In Pathogenic Mechanisms And Clinical Presentation., Danique Beijer, Hong Joo Kim, Lin Guo, Kevin O'Donovan, Inès Mademan, Tine Deconinck, Kristof Van Schil, Charlotte M Fare, Lauren E Drake, Alice F Ford, Andrzej Kochański, Dagmara Kabzińska, Nicolas Dubuisson, Peter Van Den Bergh, Nicol C Voermans, Richard Jlf Lemmers, Silvère M Van Der Maarel, Devon Bonner, Jacinda B Sampson, Matthew T Wheeler, Anahit Mehrabyan, Steven Palmer, Peter De Jonghe, James Shorter, J Paul Taylor, Jonathan Baets

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Mutations in HNRNPA1 encoding heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 are a rare cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). hnRNPA1 is part of the group of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that assemble with RNA to form RNPs. hnRNPs are concentrated in the nucleus and function in pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA stability, and the regulation of transcription and translation. During stress, hnRNPs, mRNA, and other RBPs condense in the cytoplasm to form stress granules (SGs). SGs are implicated in the pathogenesis of (neuro-)degenerative diseases, including ALS and inclusion body myopathy (IBM). Mutations in RBPs that affect SG biology, including FUS, …

Isomirmap-Fast, Deterministic, And Exhaustive Mining Of Isomirs From Short Rna-Seq Datasets., Phillipe Loher, Nestoras Karathanasis, Eric R Londin, Paul Bray, Venetia Pliatsika, Aristeidis G. Telonis, Isidore Rigoutsos

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

MOTIVATION: MicroRNA (miRNA) precursor arms give rise to multiple isoforms simultaneously called "isomiRs." IsomiRs from the same arm typically differ by a few nucleotides at either their 5´ or 3´ termini, or both. In humans, the identities and abundances of isomiRs depend on a person's sex, population of origin, race/ethnicity, and on tissue type, tissue state, and disease type/subtype. Moreover, nearly half of the time the most abundant isomiR differs from the miRNA sequence found in public databases. Accurate mining of isomiRs from deep sequencing data is thus important.

RESULTS: We developed isoMiRmap, a fast, standalone, user-friendly mining tool that …

Common Concerns, Barriers To Care, And The Lived Experience Of Individuals With Hepatitis B: A Qualitative Study., Catherine Freeland, Sean Farrell, Priyanka Kumar, Maureen Kamischke, Michaela Jackson, Sierra Bodor, Timothy M Block, Rosemary Frasso Phd, Msc, Cph, Chari Cohen

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: An estimated between 257 and 292 million people live with chronic HBV globally. While much is known about the causes, and epidemiology of HBV, little is understood about the quality of life and impact of HBV on those living with the infection.

METHODS: A random sample of HBV-related email queries sent to the Hepatitis B Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, over a 12-month period in 2018-2019 were retrieved, tabulated, and analyzed qualitatively to highlight information needs and explore the experiences of people living with HBV and their families and loved ones. Codebook development was informed by the literature and …

Sepsis In Two Hospitals In Rwanda: A Retrospective Cohort Study Of Presentation, Management, Outcomes, And Predictors Of Mortality., Dennis A Hopkinson, Jean Paul Mvukiyehe, Sudha P Jayaraman, Aamer A Syed, Myles Dworkin, Willy Mucyo, Thierry Cyuzuzo, Anne Tuyizere, Christian Mukwesi, Gaston Nyirigira, Paulin R Banguti, Elisabeth D Riviello

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

PURPOSE: Few studies have assessed the presentation, management, and outcomes of sepsis in low-income countries (LICs). We sought to characterize these aspects of sepsis and to assess mortality predictors in sepsis in two referral hospitals in Rwanda.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in two public academic referral hospitals in Rwanda. Data was abstracted from paper medical records of adult patients who met our criteria for sepsis.

RESULTS: Of the 181 subjects who met eligibility criteria, 111 (61.3%) met our criteria for sepsis without shock and 70 (38.7%) met our criteria for septic shock. Thirty-five subjects (19.3%) …

Preparing Historically Underrepresented Trainees For Biomedical Cancer Research Careers At Huntsman Cancer Institute/University Of Utah Health., Ana Maria Lopez, Md, Mph, Macp, José E Rodríguez, Kathryn Browning Hawes, Anna Marsden, Don Ayer, Donna Harp Ziegenfuss, Kola Okuyemi

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Given the well-documented inequities in health care outcomes by race, ethnicity, and gender, many health career pipeline programs have focused on supporting the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The State of Utah, is vast, but sparsely populated outside the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. More than 96% of our nearly 85,000 square miles is designated rural (<100 people/square mile) or frontier (<7 people/square mile). The Salt Lake City area is home to the Hunsman Cancer Institute, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region, also noted the limited diversity in the biomedical cancer research workforce. Our primary objective was to increase the number of underrepresented trainees who pursue higher education with the goal of a career in cancer research. PathMaker is a regional, competitive pipeline program that nurtures high school or undergraduate trainees from historically underrepresented backgrounds towards a career in cancer research. Our faculty and staff team collaboratively developed a cohort model curriculum that increased student awareness of research …

Staphylococcus Aureus Floating Biofilm Formation And Phenotype In Synovial Fluid Depends On Albumin, Fibrinogen, And Hyaluronic Acid, Samantha Knott, Dylan Curry, Neil Zhao, Pallavi Metgud, Sana Dastgheyb, Caroline Purtill, Marc I. Harwood, Md, Antonia F Chen, Thomas P Schaer, Michael Otto, Noreen J. Hickok

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Biofilms are typically studied in bacterial media that allow the study of important properties such as bacterial growth. However, the results obtained in such media cannot take into account the bacterial localization/clustering caused by bacteria–protein interactions in vivo and the accompanying alterations in phenotype, virulence factor production, and ultimately antibiotic tolerance. We and others have reported that methicillin-resistant or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or MSSA, respectively) and other pathogens assemble a proteinaceous matrix in synovial fluid. This proteinaceous bacterial aggregate is coated by a polysaccharide matrix as is characteristic of biofilms. In this study, we identify proteins important for this …

The Bulletin: Sidney Kimmel Medical College At Thomas Jefferson University, Volume 70, Issue 1, Spring 2021

The Bulletin (formerly the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin)

This issue includes:

• Dean’s Column Leveling the Field, Paving the Way to Success
• Time Capsule Milestones and Influencers: Women in Medicine at Jefferson
• On Campus
• A Message from Elizabeth A. Dale Building a New Legend
• Discovery Predicting Heart Disease from the Skin
• Gender Equality in Medicine Still a Work in Progress
• Faculty Profile Diane Merry
• Student Profile Matt Rohn and Mark Shapses
• Class Notes 2020 Virtual Alumni Weekend
• Love Story Physician-Researchers Found Life’s Work—and Each Other—at Jefferson
• Class Agent
• In Memoriam
• Bookshelf

Resident Immune Cells Of The Avascular Lens: Mediators Of The Injury And Fibrotic Response Of The Lens., A. Menko, Jodirae Dedreu, Caitlin M. Logan, Heather Paulson, Alex V Levin, Janice L Walker

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Tissues typically harbor subpopulations of resident immune cells that function as rapid responders to injury and whose activation leads to induction of an adaptive immune response, playing important roles in repair and protection. Since the lens is an avascular tissue, it was presumed that it was absent of resident immune cells. Our studies now show that resident immune cells are a shared feature of the human, mouse, and chicken lens epithelium. These resident immune cells function as immediate responders to injury and rapidly populate the wound edge following mock cataract surgery to function as leader cells. Many of these resident …

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors And Angiotensin Receptor Blockers In Acute Heart Failure: Invasive Hemodynamic Parameters And Clinical Outcomes., Kevin Bryan Lo, Hesam Mostafavi Toroghi, Grace Salacup, Jiahui Jiang, Ruchika Bhargav, Eduardo Quintero, Kira Balestrini, Anum Shahzad, Roy O Mathew, Peter A Mccullough, Janani Rangaswami

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

There are limited data regarding the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARBs) in acute heart failure (AHF). The purpose is to determine the patterns of ACEi/ARB use at the time of admission and discharge in relation to invasive hemodynamic data, mortality, and heart failure (HF) readmissions. This is a retrospective single-center study in patients with AHF who underwent right heart catheterization between January 2010 and December 2016. Patients on dialysis, evidence of shock, or incomplete follow up were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors associated with continuation of ACEi/ARB use on discharge …

A Diagnostic Dilemma Of Antiglutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (Anti-Gad 65) And Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Antibodies In A Girl Presenting With Acute-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder., Cecilia Freeman, Antanoid J Langeveldt, Robyn R Miller

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Acute-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder can be challenging, especially when triggered by an underlying disease process. Clinicians often turn to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), but it is important to consider a broad differential in these patients. We present a case of a 9-year-old girl with acute-onset obsessive-compulsive behavior likely triggered by a post-infectious phenomenon that ultimately resolved following treatment with plasmapheresis.

Effects Of Combining Meditation Techniques On Short-Term Memory, Attention, And Affect In Healthy College Students., Samani Unnata Pragya, Neelam D Mehta, Bassam Abomoelak, Parvin Uddin, Pushya Veeramachaneni, Naina Mehta, Stephanie Moore, Melissa Jean-Francois, Stephanie Garcia, Samani Chaitanya Pragya, Devendra I Mehta

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Meditation refers to a family of self-regulation practices that focuses on training attention and awareness to foster psycho-emotional well-being and to develop specific capacities such as calmness, clarity, and concentration. We report a prospective convenience-controlled study in which we analyzed the effect of two components of Preksha Dhyāna – buzzing bee sound meditation (Mahapran dhvani) and color meditation (leśyā dhyāna) on healthy college students. Mahapran and leśya dhyāna are two Preksha Dhyāna practices that are based on sound and green color, respectively. The study population represents a suitable target as college students experience different stress factors during the school year. …

Historical Perspective Of The G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Family., Jeffrey L Benovic

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Agonist activation of G protein-coupled receptors promotes sequential interaction of the receptor with heterotrimeric G proteins, G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), and arrestins. GRKs play a central role in mediating the switch from G protein to arrestin interaction and thereby control processes such as receptor desensitization and trafficking and arrestin-mediated signaling. In this review, I provide a historical perspective on some of the early studies that identified the family of GRKs with a primary focus on the non-visual GRKs. These studies included identification, purification, and cloning of the β-adrenergic receptor kinase in the mid- to late-1980s and subsequent cloning and …

Psychological Experience And Coping Strategies Of Patients In The Northeast Us Delaying Care For Infertility During The Covid-19 Pandemic., David B Seifer, William D Petok, Alisha Agrawal, Tanya L Glenn, Arielle H Bayer, Barry R Witt, Blair D Burgin, Harry J Lieman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: On March 17, 2020 an expert ASRM task force recommended the temporary suspension of new, non-urgent fertility treatments during an ongoing world-wide pandemic of Covid-19. We surveyed at the time of resumption of fertility care the psychological experience and coping strategies of patients pausing their care due to Covid-19 and examined which factors were associated and predictive of resilience, anxiety, stress and hopefulness.

METHODS: Cross sectional cohort patient survey using an anonymous, self-reported, single time, web-based, HIPPA compliant platform (REDCap). Survey sampled two Northeast academic fertility practices (Yale Medicine Fertility Center in CT and Montefiore's Institute for Reproductive Medicine …

Global Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Education And Training In The Age Of Covid-19., Onyinyechi F Eke, Patricia C. Henwood, Grace W Wanjiku, Abiola Fasina, Sigmund J Kharasch, Hamid Shokoohi

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional global point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education and training, as a result of travel restrictions. It has also provided an opportunity for innovation using a virtual platform. Tele-ultrasound and video-conferencing are alternative and supportive tools to augment global POCUS education and training. There is a need to support learners and experts to ensure that maximum benefit is gained from the use of these innovative modalities.

Seizure Clusters, Seizure Severity Markers, And Sudep Risk., Manuela Ochoa-Urrea, Nuria Lacuey, Laura Vilella, Liang Zhu, Shirin Jamal-Omidi, M R Sandhya Rani, Johnson P Hampson, Mojtaba Dayyani, Jaison Hampson, Norma J Hupp, Shiqiang Tao, Rup K Sainju, Daniel Friedman, Maromi Nei, Catherine Scott, Luke Allen, Brian K Gehlbach, Victoria Reick-Mitrisin, Stephan Schuele, Jennifer Ogren, Ronald M Harper, Beate Diehl, Lisa M Bateman, Orrin Devinsky, George B Richerson, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Samden D Lhatoo

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Rationale: Seizure clusters may be related to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Two or more generalized convulsive seizures (GCS) were captured during video electroencephalography in 7/11 (64%) patients with monitored SUDEP in the MORTEMUS study. It follows that seizure clusters may be associated with epilepsy severity and possibly with SUDEP risk. We aimed to determine if electroclinical seizure features worsen from seizure to seizure within a cluster and possible associations between GCS clusters, markers of seizure severity, and SUDEP risk. Methods: Patients were consecutive, prospectively consented participants with drug-resistant epilepsy from a multi-center study. Seizure clusters were defined as …

Cytokine Storms, Evolution And Covid-19, Joe Alcock, Alix Masters

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Since the identification of severe illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the role of the host immune system in causing disease has attracted widespread attention, along with intense interest in medical interventions that target the host immune response. A wide variety of agents have been proposed to treat a cytokine storm in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but so far, only one class of medications, corticosteroids, has proved useful. In recent decades, experimental therapies for cytokine storms have been tried and mostly failed to help patients with severe sepsis and other infections. We summarize this history in order to frame …

Voxelotor Modulates The Analgesic Effect Of Certain Opioids., Samir K. Ballas

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

No abstract provided.

Post-Partum Skin-To-Skin Care And Infant Safety: Results Of A State-Wide Hospital Survey, Eileen Tyrala, Md, Michael H. Goodstein, Md, Erich Batra, Md, Barbara Kelly, Md, Judy Bannon, Mba, Ted Bell, Ms

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Objectives: Survey current experience with Skin to Skin care (SSC) in Pennsylvania Maternity Centers.

Study Design: The nursing director of each Maternity Center in PA (n = 95) was sent an on-line confidential survey querying SSC practices. Responses were compared by delivery size, location, and nature of affiliation. Statistics analyzed by chi-square and student t-test.

Results: Of these 64/95 MCs (67%) responded. All allowed SSC after vaginal deliveries, 55% after C-section, 73% mother’s room. Monitoring included delivery room nurse (94%) with support from other providers (61%), family members (37%), and electronic monitoring (5%). If SSC occurred in mother’s …

Biomolecules As Model Indicators Of In Vitro And In Vivo Cold Plasma Safety, Caitlin Heslin, Daniela Boehm, Julianne Megaw, Brendan F. Gilmore, Theresa A. Freeman, Noreen J. Hickok, P. J. Cullen, Paula Bourke

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Incidence And Severity Of Drug Interactions Before And After Switching Antiretroviral Therapy To Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide In Treatment-Experienced Patients., Jason J. Schafer, Pharmd, Mph, Bcps, Aahivp, Neha S Pandit, Agnes Cha, Emily Huesgen, Melissa Badowski, Elizabeth M Sherman, Jennifer Cocohoba, Ayako Shimada, Scott W Keith

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Background: Switching antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people with HIV (PWH) can influence their risk for drug-drug interactions (DDIs). The purpose of this study was to assess changes in the incidence and severity of DDIs among PWH who switched their ART to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF).

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of PWH on ART and at least 1 concomitant medication (CM) who switched to BIC/FTC/TAF between 3/2018 and 6/2019. Using the University of Liverpool's HIV Drug Interaction Database, 2 DDI analyses were performed for each patient. The first assessed patients' preswitch ART regimens with their CM list. The …

Collagen Structure-Function Mapping Informs Applications For Regenerative Medicine., James D San Antonio, Olena Jacenko, Andrzej Fertala, Joseph P R O Orgel

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Type I collagen, the predominant protein of vertebrates, assembles into fibrils that orchestrate the form and function of bone, tendon, skin, and other tissues. Collagen plays roles in hemostasis, wound healing, angiogenesis, and biomineralization, and its dysfunction contributes to fibrosis, atherosclerosis, cancer metastasis, and brittle bone disease. To elucidate the type I collagen structure-function relationship, we constructed a type I collagen fibril interactome, including its functional sites and disease-associated mutations. When projected onto an X-ray diffraction model of the native collagen microfibril, data revealed a matrix interaction domain that assumes structural roles including collagen assembly, crosslinking, proteoglycan (PG) binding, and …