Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion More Expensive At Quaternary Care Centers? An Application Of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing, Jay Trivedi, Advith Sarikonda, Adam Leibold, D. Mitchell Self, Nikolaos Mouchtouris, Steven R. Glener, Ashmal Sami, Kavantissa M. Keppetipola, Emily Isch, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Srinivas Prasad, Ashwini Sharan, James Harrop, Alex R. Vaccaro, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Hospital setting is postulated to be a key driver of cost variation for neurosurgical procedures. Limitations in contemporary costing methodologies have led to the development of time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). This study applies TDABC to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) to compare intraoperative costs at quaternary care centers versus satellite hospitals affiliated with the same health network.

METHODS: Nine hundred and fifty-eight ACDF cases performed at two quaternary care hospitals (n = 806) and six satellite hospitals (n = 152) were reviewed. Process maps were created to map the intraoperative episode, and TDABC methodology was used to calculate …

Sirt6 Deficiency Promotes Senescence And Age-Associated Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In Mice, Pranay Ramteke, Bahiyah Watson, Mallory Toci, Victoria Tran, Shira N Johnston, Maria Tsingas, Ruteja Barve, Ramkrishna Mitra, Richard Loeser, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major risk factor contributing to chronic low back and neck pain. While the etiological factors for disc degeneration vary, age is still one of the most important risk factors. Recent studies have shown the promising role of SIRT6 in mammalian aging and skeletal tissue health, however its role in the intervertebral disc health remains unexplored. We investigated the contribution of SIRT6 to disc health by studying the age-dependent spinal phenotype of mice with conditional deletion of Sirt6 in the disc (Acan^CreERT2; Sirt6^fl/fl). Histological studies showed a degenerative phenotype in knockout mice …

Hippocampal-Prefrontal Functional Neural Networks In A Rat Model Of Fragile X Syndrome Are Poorly Organized With Limited Resiliency, Mohamed Ouardouz, Patrick Jasinski, Mohamed Khalife, J. Matthew Mahoney, Amanda E. Hernan, Rod C. Scott

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a common cause of autism spectrum symptoms. The genetic mutation results in multiple molecular alterations that are hypothesized to negatively impact neural circuit development although the nature of any functional neural dynamic consequences remain unclear. Therefore, the characteristics of hippocampal-prefrontal (H-PFC) network dysfunction were investigated in a rat model of FXS. FMR-KO and control rats underwent behavioral tests assessing sociability, memory, and anxiety to validate and replicate previously recognized deficits. Single-unit electrophysiology in the H-PFC circuit during exploration was used to measure patterns of action potential firing that were then compared between groups using generalized …

Comparing Treatment Effectiveness And Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Of Four Treatment Options For Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Robert Diecidue, Dmd, Md, Phd, Mba, Msph, Joseph Harrington, Bs, Erika L. Manning, Phd, Md, Mph, Colin T. Huntley, Md

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Posters

Abstract

- There are four common treatment modalities for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

• CPAP, MAD, UAS, MMA

- Retrospective data was examined to compare efficacies between these treatments for patients treated with one of these four OSA therapies.

• Primary outcome: Mean disease alleviation (MDA) - calculated value based on improvement of AHI adjusted by compliance.
• Secondary outcomes: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) - ESS, PRAQ, SAQLI

- It was found that the greatest mean disease alleviation was found in patients who underwent MMA. PROMs showed the most significant improvement in daytime sleepiness (ESS) for MMA.

Characterising Acute And Chronic Care Needs: Insights From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, A. A. Asadi-Pooya

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care addresses short-term conditions. Chronic conditions increasingly strain health systems, which are often unprepared for these demands. This study examines the burden of conditions requiring acute versus chronic care, including sequelae. Conditions and sequelae from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 were classified into acute or chronic care categories. Data were analysed by age, sex, and socio-demographic index, presenting total numbers and contributions to burden metrics such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years Lived with Disability (YLD), and Years of Life Lost (YLL). Approximately 68% of DALYs were attributed to chronic …

Parvovirus B19 Infection In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Hatem Najar, Kiran Goli, Maria P. Martinez Cantarin

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

On August 14, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory due to a surge in Parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections in the United States. Our report presents two cases of suspected donor-derived Parvovirus B19 infection in kidney transplant patients. Both cases had refractory anemia requiring treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. These cases highlight the importance of awareness and monitoring of B19V infection in the context of recent epidemiologic trends to improve clinical outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Multilevel Factors Influencing Perceived Barriers To Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Among Breast Cancer Patients At Medication Onset, Timothy Cocozza, Rita Smith, Ana Maria Lopez, Shari Rudoler, Rachel Slamon, Tingting Zhan, Jazmarie L. Vega, Minal Dhamankar, Aruna Padmanabhan, Suzanne M. Miller, Kuang-Yi Wen

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) significantly diminishes recurrence and mortality risks in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BCa) patients. Nonetheless, suboptimal adherence and premature discontinuation during the initial year of treatment undermine these positive outcomes. This study aims to understand the potential diverse factors associated with perceived barriers to AET compliance at the onset of medication. Methods: We assessed perceived barriers to AET using the ASK-20 instrument for BCa patients initiating AET within 3 months. Our survey also included demographic variables (e.g., musculoskeletal symptoms) and clinical traits (e.g., medication type). Stepwise regression analyses were employed to elucidate the links between multilevel …

Reduced Vns Settings Paradoxically Decreases Seizure Burden In A Patient Following Resolution Of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Austin Sponaugle, Rebecca Stainman, Christopher M. Carosella

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can be a highly effective treatment option for patients with drug resistant epilepsy. Notably, VNS has demonstrated side effects including a unique form of sleep disordered breathing known as vagus nerve stimulator associated sleep disordered breathing (VaS). However, the ways in which VaS interacts with seizure frequency is unknown. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented to our department with complaints of worsening sleep quality 3 years following VNS implantation. Upon polysomnographic (PSG) evaluation, it was discovered that she suffered from VaS. The patient’s VNS output current was then down titrated during a …

Relationship Between Maternal Iron Indices In The Second Trimester With Cord Blood Iron Indices And Pregnancy Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study, J.P. Akshaykirthan, Manjunath S. Somannavar, M.S. Deepthy, Umesh Charantimath, S. Yogeshkumar, Amaresh Patil, Mrutyunjaya B. Bellad, Richard Derman, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Global Health Articles

Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy poses risks to mothers and infants. This study aimed to correlate maternal iron indices in the second trimester with cord blood indices and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was nested within the RAPIDIRON Trial (Reducing Anaemia in Pregnancy in India) at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Karnataka, India. A total of 292 pregnant women with moderate anemia who received oral iron supplementation were enrolled from April 2021 to May 2023. Maternal iron indices were measured at multiple time points and correlated with cord blood indices and pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Increased hemoglobin levels were …

Latin American Prevalence Of Glaucoma: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Denisse J Mora-Paez, Jaime Guedes, Dillan Cunha Amaral, Marcelo Alves Ferreira, Bruno Fernandes, Sacha Pereira, Bruno Botton, Alisha Desai, Helena Messinger Pakter, Fabio Lavinsky, Adroaldo Alencar Costa Filho

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of all types of glaucoma in Latin America (LATAM) and evaluate potential demographic associations. This study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024506330). A comprehensive search of PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science was conducted to identify population-based or cross-sectional studies reporting glaucoma prevalence in LATAM. Studies were categorized into two groups: Group 1 included general population studies without selection based on visual acuity (VA), and Group 2 included studies limited to individuals with VA < 20/60. Data from five studies in Group 1 (25,288 individuals) and eight studies in Group 2 (29,882 individuals) were analyzed using R software. The pooled prevalence of glaucoma was 4% (95% CI: 1–3%) in Group 1 and 1% (95% CI: 0–1%) in Group 2. No statistically significant associations were found between glaucoma prevalence and sex (p = 0.08) or age (p = 0.5669). Although our findings …

Evaluation Of A Multistage Implementation Of Medication For Opioid Use Disorder Services In Primary Care, Sarah Lawson, Allie Hamilton, Jordan Lazarus, Gregory A. Jaffe, Erica Li, Lara Weinstein, Susan Fidler, Erin Kelly

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Despite effective treatment for opioid use disorder, access to care is limited. Increased availability of evidence-based medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment within primary care is urgently needed. This study describes efforts to increase MOUD services within a large urban primary care practice.

METHODS: After an internal assessment of barriers to MOUD services, a two-phase approach was used to educate providers and to implement MOUD services within a primary care practice over 2.5 years. Physicians became X-waiver certified in the education phase and completed four internal training sessions. Physicians completed pre-post surveys to assess their intention to prescribe …

Rescue Of The First Mitochondrial Membrane Carrier, The Mpic, By Tat-Mediated Protein Replacement Treatment, Samar Zabit, Orly Melloul, Michal Lichtenstein, Erin L. Seifert, Haya Lorberboum-Galski

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The mitochondrial phosphate carrier (mPiC), encoded by the nuclear gene SLC25A3, is synthesized with an N-terminus mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS), enabling its import into the mitochondria. mPiC imports inorganic phosphate (P_i) into the mitochondrial matrix for ATP production and other matrix phosphorylation reactions, as well as regulates mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and buffering of matrix Ca²⁺. PiC also imports copper (Cu), crucial to COX subunit holoenzyme assembly. Variants in SLC25A3 exist and lead to mPiC deficiency (MPCD), cause a rare autosomal recessive disease with no current cure; patients with MPCD usually die within the first …

Validating Biomarkers Of Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques, Julia S. Evans, Michael Fishman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: A Structured Curriculum For Occupational Therapy Students On Level Ii Fieldwork In Acute Care, Caroline Cameron, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Students achieve entry-level competence through didactic education and fieldwork (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education [ACOTE], 2023). However, transitioning from student to practitioner can be challenging (Mason et al., 2020). Research has identified challenging areas globally across fieldwork settings environment (Knecht-Sabres et al., 2013; Mason et al., 2020) and specifically in the acute care. These challenges indicate a compelling need to cultivate lacking skills and close the gap between students' didactic curriculum and clinical placement in acute care, where supervisors have the highest expectations for students (Kemp & Crabtree, 2018).

Objectives: This project aimed to develop an educational program …

Empowering Occupational Therapists: Integrating 3d Printing Into Rehabilitation For Spinal Cord Injury Patients, Juliana Sullivan, Ms, Otr/L, Cbis

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) encounter significant challenges in performing activities of daily living (ADLs). Adaptive equipment (AE) is widely recognized as essential for enhancing ADL participation, which in turn improves quality of life, autonomy, and long-term functional outcomes (Sturm et al., 2021). However, access to AE is hindered by barriers such as lack of personalization, lesion level, financial limitations, and limited rehabilitation access (Hertig-Godeschalk et al., 2017). 3D printing to create custom AE can increase patient satisfaction, adherence, and participation (Schwartz et al., 2019). Occupational therapists (OTs) working in inpatient rehabilitation focus on maximizing patient independence before …

Solute Transport From Synovial Fluid To Articular Cartilage And Subchondral Bone At Different Stages Of Osteoarthritis In A Live Mouse Model, Mengcun Chen, Yanmei Yang, Mingshu Cui, Bin Wang

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to (1) identify a simplified method to preserve sample integrity and maintain original fluorescence distribution; (2) assess the diffusivity of small and large molecules within articular cartilage (AC), calcified cartilage (CC), and subchondral bone (SB); and (3) investigate the changes in solute transport at various stages of osteoarthritis (OA) in a destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) murine model.

METHODS: Fluorescent dyes of small and large molecules were injected into the knee joints of live mice. Joints were harvested and rapidly frozen immediately post-euthanasia. Optimal dye concentrations and dwelling times were determined through exploratory studies. Mice …

An Integrative, Holistic Treatment Approach For Veterans With Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury And Associated Comorbidities: Case Report, Rebekka Dieterich-Hartwell, Janine Brodovsky, Kathryne Dealba, Allison Rubin, Emily Mcguigan, Bindal M. Mehmel, Yevgeniya Sergeyenko

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

This case report of a veteran with a history of multiple traumatic brain injuries, posttraumatic stress, and chronic pain highlights the MossRehab Institute for Brain Health (MRIBH) model of care: a collaborative, interdisciplinary, intensive outpatient treatment program. Unique to this case was the severity of symptomatology and the concerted engagement by the clinicians, who fully tailored and adjusted their approaches based on team rounds and daily exchanges. The client's main concerns of headaches, difficulty sleeping, difficulty with memory and cognition, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, anger, and chronic musculoskeletal pain were addressed and significantly improved within three weeks. The outcome of …

Editorial–Special Issue On Application Of Cold Atmospheric Plasma In Human And Veterinary Disease, Katharina Stapelmann, Eloisa Sardella, Vandana Miller

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

Plasma medicine is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field that combines plasma science and engineering, chemistry, biology, and medicine. This special issue focuses on various ways to apply cold atmospheric pressure plasma in translating plasma technology into clinical applications. Ongoing research on the redox-based mechanism of plasma action, the concept of 'plasma dose' and device control is critical for advancing plasma medicine. As these applications move toward the clinic, ensuring the reproducibility and quality control of plasma sources is essential. The articles in this issue present examples of both direct and indirect plasma applications, with indirect treatments describing cell exposure to …

Crispr/Ncas9-Edited Cd34+ Cells Rescue Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva Fibroblasts Phenotype, Angélica María Herreno-Pachón, Andrés Felipe Leal, Shaukat Khan, Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA is a bone-affecting lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by impaired degradation of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin 6-sulfate (C6S) due to deficient N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme activity. Previously, we successfully developed and validated a CRISPR/nCas9-based gene therapy (GT) to insert an expression cassette at the AAVS1 and ROSA26 loci in human MPS IVA fibroblasts and MPS IVA mice, respectively. In this study, we have extended our approach to evaluate the effectiveness of our CRISPR/nCas9-based GT in editing human CD34+ cells to mediate cross-correction of MPS IVA fibroblasts. CD34+ cells were electroporated with the CRISPR/nCas9 system, …

Improving Accessibility Of Anatomy Physical Study Aids, Michael Hopwood, Dorothy Berenbrok, Timberlyn Weber, Abby L. Adamczyk Mlis, Ahip

Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations

Background

Physical anatomy models are a valuable tool for student learning.^1-3 The Scott Memorial Library, an academic health sciences library, houses a total of 240 anatomy models in 75 different forms (e.g., hand, arm and shoulder, whole torso, etc.) at the service desk. These models are used by students across the health professions including medicine, physician assistants, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Previously, library catalog records were the only way to find a list of available models. These catalog records were not comprehensive, did not use a consistent naming system, and did not contain images of the models. This …

Exploring Spatial Arrangements And Smart Technology To Manage Cognitive Load In Kitchens For Aging In Place, Monique Chabot

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Older adults undergo natural physiological changes in various physical and cognitive functions, including balance, strength, memory, attention, and executive functioning. Memory, attention, and executive functioning integrate to form functional cognition, a skill that allows people to safely and efficiently complete daily tasks. Functional cognition is integral to the ability to age in place and is sensitive to demands in the environment. While a decline in some cognitive functions is expected with age, it is not typically observable except in the presence of pathological conditions or situations of cognitive overload from complex tasks or high environmental demands.

Older adults have identified …

How Reliable Is The Assessment Of Fusion Status Following Acdf Using Dynamic Flexion-Extension Radiographs?, Christopher T. Martin, Sangwook Tim Yoon, Ram Kiran Alluri, Edward C. Benzel, Chris M. Bono, Samuel K. Cho, Dean Chou, Xiaolong Chen, Jason P. Y. Cheung, Juan P. Cabrera, Stipe Ćorluka, Andreas K. Demetriades, Matthew F. Gary, Zoher Ghogawala, Waeel Hamouda, Inbo Han, Dimitri Hauri, Patrick C. Hsieh, Amit Jain, Jun S. Kim, Hai V. Le, Philip K. Louie, Zhuojing Luo, Hans-Jörg Meisel, Sathish Muthu, Dal-Sung Ryu, Charles A. Sansur, Andrew J. Schoenfeld, Laura Scaramuzzo, Gregory D. Schroeder, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Veranis Sotiris, Gianluca Vadalà, Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen, Jeffrey C. Wang, Yabin Wu, K. Daniel Riew

Rothman Institute Papers

Study DesignReliability study.ObjectivesThe radiographic diagnosis of non-union is not standardized. Prior authors have suggested using a cutoff of < 1 mm interspinous process motion (ISPM) on flexion-extension radiographs, but the ability of practicing surgeons to make these measurements reliably is not clear.Methods29 practicing spine surgeons measured ISPM on 19 levels of ACDF from 9 patients. Surgeons relied on these measurements to report on fusion status. Inter-observer correlation co-efficients (ICC), standard error (SEM) and the minimum detectable difference (MD) of these measurements were calculated. We screened for clerical errors by checking measurements more than one standard deviation from the group mean.ResultsThe ICC for ISPM was .76 (.64; .88) with a SEM of 1 mm and a MD of 2.76 mm. Agreement on fusion status was moderate, with an ICC of .6 (.44; .76). After screening for and removing clerical errors, the ICC improved to .82 (.71; .91), SEM improved to .83 mm, and MD improved to 2.29 mm. Six reviewers had an ICC >.9. The ICC from these high performing reviewers was .94 (.9; .97), SEM was .45 mm, and MD was 1.26 mm.ConclusionsThe MD of 2.29 mm in our study group was not precise enough to support a cutoff of < 1 mm ISPM as the sole measurement technique in screening for non-union after ACDF, and there was only moderate agreement amongst surgeons on fusion status based on dynamic radiographs. More stringent techniques are necessary to avoid mis-diagnosing non-union in clinical studies. Future studies should consider auditing measurements to identify clerical errors.

Association Between Food Insecurity And Chronic Eye Disease In The National Institutes Of Health's All Of Us Research Program, Ramin Talebi, Fei Yu, Victoria L. Tseng, Anne L. Coleman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Purpose

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Librarian Support For Hospital Gme Programs: Evaluating A New Position, Emmett Booth, Mlis, Gary Kaplan, Mlis, Ahip, Abby Adamczyk, Mlis, Ahip, John Caruso, Md

Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations

Background

In 2015, Jefferson Health completed the process of merging with Abington Hospital. In 2021, Jefferson Health completed the process of merging with Einstein Philadelphia Hospital. Graduate Medical Education (GME) leadership at both hospitals, in conjunction with the Thomas Jefferson University Libraries' leadership, identified a need for a clinical librarian to provide library support and services to their faculty, residents, fellows, and staff, building on a model introduced in 2019.¹ Library support is essential to fulfilling the scholarly output requirements of ACGME accreditation.² This was a new position created to help integrate both hospital networks into Jefferson Health …

A Word From The Writing Team (May 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Hemma Murali, Ms

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Two Ways to Fund Open Access Fees
• Mark Your Calendar for the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize Reception & Reading (See Flyer)
• Citation Manager Updates
• Check out the Instructional Design Team’s Podcast, The Learning Curve!
• Looking for Your Next Read?
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools

Novel Application Of Orthopedic Suture Tape For Sternal Closure After Upper Hemisternotomy, Vishal N. Shah, Joshua R. Chen, Konstadinos A. Plestis

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

The FiberTape (FT) System (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA), initially developed for orthopedic surgery, is a new, nonmetallic, suture-based alternative to standard stainless-steel wires for sternal reapproximation. Publications on FT use after cardiothoracic surgery are limited. The FT System has not been used in upper hemisternotomy (UHS) closure. Consequently, we report the use of the FT System for sternal closure in a 70-year-old man after UHS aortic valve replacement and discuss several advantages of its application.

Targeting Bard1 Suppresses A Myc-Dependent Transcriptional Program And Tumor Growth In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sohum Patel, Eleanor Jenkins, Rutuj P. Kusurkar, Sherry Lee, Wei Jiang, Avinoam Nevler, Matthew Mccoy, Michael J. Pishvaian, Rosalie C. Sears, Jonathan R. Brody, Charles J. Yeo, Aditi Jain

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest cancers demanding better and more effective therapies. BARD1 or BRCA1-Associated -Ring Domain-1 plays a pivotal role in homologous recombination repair (HRR). However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in PDAC are still not fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that BARD1 is overexpressed in PDAC and its genetic inhibition suppresses c-Myc and disrupts c-Myc dependent transcriptional program. Mechanistically, BARD1 stabilizes c-Myc through ubiquitin-proteasome system by regulating FBXW7. Importantly, targeting BARD1 using either siRNAs or CRISPR/Cas9 deletion blocks PDAC growth in vitro and in vivo, without any signs of toxicity to mice. …

Alphamissense Predictions And Clinvar Annotations: A Deep Learning Approach To Uveal Melanoma, David J. Taylor Gonzalez, Mak B. Djulbegovic, Meghan Sharma, Michael Antonietti, Colin K. Kim, Vladimir N. Uversky, Carol L. Karp, Carol L. Shields, Matthew W. Wilson

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Uveal melanoma (UM) poses significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges due to its variable genetic landscape. We explore the use of a novel deep learning tool to assess the functional impact of genetic mutations in UM.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional bioinformatics exploratory data analysis of genetic mutations from UM cases.

SUBJECTS: Genetic data from patients diagnosed with UM were analyzed, explicitly focusing on missense mutations sourced from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database.

METHODS: We identified missense mutations frequently observed in UM using the COSMIC database, assessed their potential pathogenicity using AlphaMissense, and visualized mutations using AlphaFold. Clinical …

Clinical Implications Of Mismatch Repair Deficiency In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Zachary Kaplan, Elizabeth Prezioso, Aditi Jain, Harish Lavu, Charles Yeo, Wilbur Bowne, Avinoam Nevler

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive and lethal disease, characterized by a limited response to chemotherapy and overall poor prognosis. Pancreatic cancers with a distinct mismatch repair deficiency, although relatively rare, have been shown to be associated with markedly better outcomes in comparison. Furthermore, whereas pancreatic cancers are generally unresponsive to current immunotherapy, this specific group of tumors has been shown to have a notable susceptibility to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

AIMS: In this review, we aim to summarize the relevant literature regarding mismatch-repair associated pancreatic cancers, the impacted biological mechanisms, and the resulting vulnerabilities for potential opportunistic immunotherapeutic treatment …

Channeling Relaxation Through Multiple Means: Tmem16a Antagonism For Asthma, Arun K. Jannu, Raymond B. Penn

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.