Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ultrasound Quantitative Assessment Of Ventral Finger Microvasculopathy In Systemic Sclerosis With Raynaud’S Phenomena: A Comparative Study, Kibo Nam, Fabian A Mendoza, Corinne Wessner, Tanya C Allawh, Flemming Forsberg

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Objective: To assess the finger vascularity of systemic sclerosis patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP-SSc) using various ultrasound techniques.

Methods: All fingers (except thumbs) of 18 RP-SSc patients and 18 controls were imaged at room temperature using four ultrasound vascular imaging techniques. The percent vascular area was quantified by counting blood flow pixels in a 25 mm2 square centred at the nail fold for the dorsal side and in 25 mm2 and 100 mm2 square from the fingertip for the ventral side. The mean vascular intensity was calculated from the corresponding areas for dorsal and ventral sides.

Results: The percent vascular …

Efficacy Of Covid-19 Public Health Measures In Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, And Chicago, Brian Goldstein, Willie H. Oglesby

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Introduction: From the early days of the pandemic, US cities have implemented a variety of public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study investigates which policies were most effective in reducing cases of COVID-19 in four major cities: Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Chicago.

Methods: Through a cross-comparative analysis, we developed a timeline that tracked the implementation of a range of public health measures along with changes in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Data were collected from publicly available government sites and from press releases.

Results: The results from the stay-at-home orders illustrate the delayed impact …

A Word From The Writing Team (February 2023), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Writing Retreats on First Fridays
• Faculty Days 2023 Deadline
• On-Demand Workshops

Reducing The Risk Of Mortality In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease With Pharmacotherapy: A Narrative Review, Matthew Mintz, Igor Barjaktarevic, Donald A. Mahler, Barry Make, Neil Skolnik, Barbara Yawn, Bree Zeyzus-Johns, Nicola A. Hanania

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

In 2020, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the fifth leading cause of death in the United States excluding COVID-19, and its mortality burden has been rising since the 1980s. Smoking cessation, long-term oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, and lung volume reduction surgery have had a beneficial effect on mortality; however, until recently, the effects of pharmacologic therapies on all-cause mortality have been unclear. Inhaled pharmacologic treatments for patients with COPD include combinations of long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMAs), long-acting-β2-agonists (LABAs), and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The recent IMPACT and ETHOS clinical trials reported mortality benefits with ICS/LAMA/LABA triple therapy compared with …

Oral Ibrexafungerp For Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment: An Analysis Of Vanish 303 And Vanish 306, Oluwatosin Goje, Ryan Sobel, Paul Nyirjesy, Steven R Goldstein, Mark Spitzer, Brooke Faught, Shelagh Larson, Thomas King, Nkechi E Azie, David Angulo, Jack D Sobel

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Background: Ibrexafungerp is a novel antifungal treatment for acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Using pooled data from two phase three studies (VANISH 303 and 306) in the treatment of acute VVC, this analysis sought to determine the effectiveness of ibrexafungerp in various patient subgroups that may impact outcomes. Materials and Methods: Data from VANISH 303 (NCT03734991) and VANISH 306 (NCT03987620) evaluating ibrexafungerp 300 mg twice daily (BID) for 1 day versus placebo, were pooled and analyzed to determine clinical cure rate, clinical improvement, and mycological cure at the test-of-cure visit (day 11 ± 3) and symptom resolution …

Ob-Gyn Resident Education Of Postpartum Care: A Needs Assessment, Melanie Hotz, Ms, Md, Cheryl Godcharles, Md, Ibclc, Julia Switzer, Md

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Posters

Background

• Increased recognition of the importance of the ‘fourth trimester’ and the pressing need to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, has led to a renewed focus on postpartum care.
• Advanced Milestones for The Care of the Postpartum Patient include ability to effectively counsel patients on antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum complications, collaboration with other members of the health care team in postpartum care and application of innovative approaches to the management of patients in the postpartum period.¹
• The CREOG Learning objectives include several specific learning objectives regarding the diagnosis, management and counseling about normal postpartum recovery and complications of the …

A 36-Year-Old Woman With Acute Liver Failure Following Acetaminophen Overdose, Raised Inr Of 8.7, And Normal Blood Viscosity Measured By Rotational Thromboelastometry (Rotem), Uzung Yoon, Manny Lai, Tho Nguyen, Elia S. Elia

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is commonly associated with elevated prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). There is a commensurate decline in pro- and anti-hemostatic factors, and hemostatic function is rebalanced, not reflected in INR. This report presents the case of a 36-year-old woman with FHF following acetaminophen overdose, an increased INR above 8.7, and normal blood viscosity measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). CASE REPORT A 36-year-old woman presented with FHF following an acetaminophen overdose. On arrival, she was lethargic but arousable and followed commands. Her King's College Criteria for acetaminophen toxicity was 2 and her MELD score …

Influence Of Aerobic Exercise On Appetite-Regulating Hormones, Ghrelin-O-Acyltransferase And Perceived Hunger In Normal Weight And Obese Adults, Michael Bruneau, Richard Wood, Susan Sotir, Samuel Headley, Elizabeth O'Neil, Juan Muñiz, May Cheung, Marissa Pontarelli

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: Obesity is a major public health issue in the United States (U.S.), affecting an estimated 78 million US adults. Aerobic exercise (AE) is recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine to prevent and treat obesity, yet the effects of AE on circulating hunger hormones including acylated ghrelin and its biological catalyst, ghrelin o-acyltransferase (GOAT) are less known. Objectives: We investigated the effects of AE on circulating concentrations of appetite regulating hormones and GOAT in a pilot sample of adults classified with normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) body weight status. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, nine adults with …

Undergraduate Medical Student Perspectives On The Role Of Autopsy In Medical Education, Patrick Hearle, Wing Fei Wong, Joanna Chan

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Medical autopsy has historically been considered a valued experience in undergraduate medical education; however, student participation has declined in recent years. Medical education literature from the educator point of view supports autopsy as an educational tool, but more data are needed on undergraduate medical students' (UMS) perspectives on autopsy. This study aims to assess UMS opinions on the role of autopsy in undergraduate medical education. A 5-point Likert scale survey concerning autopsy and medical education was offered to all UMS at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. In addition, 28 senior students were assigned a 500 word essay on hospital autopsy and …

The Implementation Of A Required Book Club For Medical Students And Faculty, David B. Ney, Nethra Ankam, Anita Wilson, John Spandorfer

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

More medical schools are incorporating wellness activities and the medical humanities into their curriculum. Finding implementable programming that is feasible and enjoyable is challenging. Both student participants and faculty who might facilitate programs are busy with clinical and educational responsibilities. Book club discussions in general are an activity that bring people together and expose groups to literature. In medical education, informal books clubs have been shown to increase camaraderie and expose participants to topics in medicine that they may not have encountered without the structure of the group assignment. At one large private urban medical school, all fourth year medical …

Unrecognized Functional Dyspepsia Among Those With Refractory Chronic Constipation: Analysis Of A Tertiary Cohort, Taylor Boyd, Mary Paz, Imama Ahmad, Fatima Rao, Ahmad Samad, Isabelle Garcia-Fischer, Casey Silvernale, Helen Burton Murray, Kyle Staller

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with functional constipation (FC) are frequently dissatisfied with current treatment options which may be related to persistent, unaddressed symptoms. We hypothesized that refractory FC may actually represent functional dyspepsia (FD) overlap. Among adults presenting with refractory FC, we sought to (1) identify the prevalence of concurrent FD and (2) identify the symptoms and presentations most frequently associated with concurrent FD and FC.

METHODS: We assembled a retrospective cohort of 308 patients sequentially presenting to a tertiary neurogastroenterology clinic for evaluation of refractory FC, defined as having failed first-line therapy. Using Rome IV criteria, trained raters identified …

Minimally Invasive Surgery Using A Shannon Burr For The Treatment Of Hallux Valgus Deformity: A Systematic Review, Tyler Gonzalez, Rodrigo Encinas, William Johns, J Benjamin Jackson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Recently there has been an increase in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for the correction of hallux valgus deformity. This systematic review aims to evaluate and present the current literature on MIS hallux valgus correction in studies reporting the use of the Shannon burr with distal metatarsal osteotomies to help establish evidence-based guidelines for surgeons using this technique.

METHODS: Two independent authors performed a systematic literature search using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and the Cochrane Handbook guidelines were followed. All studies included were published …

Exploring The Past, Present, And Future Of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Glioblastoma., Ashley B. Zhang, Khashayar Mozaffari, Brian Aguirre, Victor Li, Rohan Kubba, Nilay C Desai, Darren Wei, Isaac Yang, Madhuri Wadehra

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Glioblastoma, a WHO grade IV astrocytoma, constitutes approximately half of malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Despite technological advancements and aggressive multimodal treatment, prognosis remains dismal. The highly vascularized nature of glioblastoma enables the tumor cells to grow and invade the surrounding tissue, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a critical mediator of this process. Therefore, over the past decade, angiogenesis, and more specifically, the VEGF signaling pathway, has emerged as a therapeutic target for glioblastoma therapy. This led to the FDA approval of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody designed against VEGF-A, for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. Despite the …

Safety Of Adenosine For The Treatment Of Supraventricular Tachycardia In Hospitalized Patients With Covid-19 Pneumonia, T. Zivan, Ramon L Ruiz, Alexandre Martinez, Behzad B. Pavri

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with pulmonary involvement and cardiac arrhythmias, including supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Adenosine is commonly used to treat SVT and is generally safe, but is rarely associated with bronchospasm. There are no data regarding the safety of adenosine use in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and physicians may hesitate to use it in such patients. We surveyed resident physicians and cardiology attendings regarding their level of comfort in administering adenosine to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We compared a study group of 42 COVID-19 hospitalized patients who received adenosine for SVT to a matched (for age, sex, and co-morbidities) …

3d Printed Coronary Arteries: A Useful Tool In Anatomical Education, Zachary Pang, Shreyas Chandragiri, Alexander Hajduczok, Md, Zachary Mace, Jesse Ottaway, Cannon Greco Hiranaka, Michael Wong, Tammy Yoshioka, Noah Haroian, Md, Pharmd, Guiyun Zhang, Md, Phd

Department of Medical Education Posters

Introduction

Learning 3D anatomy from 2D figures can be challenging. The use of 3D printing in medical education has shown to improve knowledge and skill in surgical training⁽¹⁾. We investigated the efficacy of 3D printed coronary artery models in teaching coronary anatomy to medical students.

Puncture Capsulotomy Technique For Hip Arthroscopy: Midterm Functional Outcomes, Christopher T Eberlin, Michael P Kucharik, Paul F Abraham, Mark R Nazal, William Conaway, Nathan H Varady, Scott D Martin

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: The most common surgical approaches in hip arthroscopy are interportal and T-capsulotomy. However, these methods may introduce capsular instability. Puncture capsulotomy preserves capsuloligamentous integrity by avoiding iatrogenic transection of the iliofemoral capsular ligament.

Purpose: To present minimum 2-year functional outcomes for patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for acetabular labral tears and concomitant femoroacetabular impingement using the puncture capsulotomy technique.

Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on patients who underwent arthroscopic acetabular labral tear treatment between December 2013 and May 2019. Included were patients aged ≥18 years …

Disparities In Contraception In Women With Cardiovascular Diseases In The Cardiac-Obstetrical Clinic, Laura Fiorini, Maria De Abreu Pineda, Jason K. Baxter, Rebekah J. Mccurdy, Andria Jones, Indranee Rajapreyar, Amanda Roman-Camargo

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Posters

Objective

- National Survey of Family Growth 2017-19 survey reported a 65.3% contraceptive use:

• 18% tubal, 5.6% vasectomy
• 18% hormonal therapy
• 8.4% intrauterine devices (IUD)
• 8.4% condoms

- To evaluate postpartum contraception plans and use in pregnant women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) after visits to the combined cardio-obstetric clinic

Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes And Macrophages As A Significant Prognostic Factor In Biliary Tract Cancer, Ryota Tanaka, Shimpei Eguchi, Kenjiro Kimura, Go Ohira, Shogo Tanaka, Ryosuke Amano, Hiroaki Tanaka, Masakazu Yashiro, Masaichi Ohira, Shoji Kubo

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: The impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) on the prognosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is not completely understood. Therefore, in our study, we investigated the effects of the various immune cells infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods: A total of 130 patients with BTC who underwent surgical treatment at our institution were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively evaluated TILs and TAMs with immunohistochemical staining.

Results: With CD8-high, CD4-high, FOXP3-high, and CD68-low in TME as one factor, we calculated Immunoscore according to the number of factors. The high Immunoscore group showed significantly superior overall survival …

Integrating Semaglutide Into Obesity Management - A Primary Care Perspective, Janine V. Kyrillos, Neil S. Skolnik, Bhasha Mukhopadhyay, Nicholas Pennings

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

This final article in the supplement aims to summarize a clinical approach for weight management geared toward primary care practitioners, offering practical advice about how to integrate weight management into day-to-day practice. To achieve long-term successful weight loss, a comprehensive multimodal approach is recommended, focusing on both lifestyle modification and appropriate use of therapy. Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg is a novel treatment that can be used as an adjunct to lifestyle modification for the management of overweight and obesity. Key considerations are presented to support its optimal administration in conjunction with lifestyle modification, with a focus on assessing suitability …

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Efficacy Of Semaglutide In The Step Program, Anastassia Amaro, Neil S. Skolnik, Danny Sugimoto

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

People with overweight or obesity often suffer from associated cardiometabolic diseases and comorbidities. Current therapies for obesity include lifestyle intervention, bariatric surgery, and pharmacotherapy. The magnitude of weight loss achieved with these therapies can determine the level of improvement in various comorbidities. Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity. This article reviews data from the global phase 3 Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity (STEP) program, comparing the efficacy of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg versus placebo for weight loss and …

Trend Of Left Ventricular Assist Device Related Complications: Insight From The National Inpatient Sample Database, Waqas Ullah, Muhammad Khawar Sana, Alexander G. Hajduczok, Yevgeniy Brailovsky, Donald C. Haas, Indranee N. Rajapreyar

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Analyses Of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Interviews, Alexander J Adams, Matthew Sherman, James J. Purtill

Rothman Institute Papers

Interviews are a critical component of orthopaedic surgery residency selection for both the applicant and the program. Some institutions no longer report Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) designation or class rank, and US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 recently switched to pass/fail scoring. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education programs conducted virtual interviews and subinternship rotations were restricted. These changes offer significant challenges to the residency match process. The purpose of this study was to examine the residency applicant interview and ranking process at a large urban academic university setting. We hypothesized …

Semi-Quantitative Detection Of Pseudouridine Modifications And Type I/Ii I/Ii Hypermodifications In Human Mrnas Using Direct Long-Read Sequencing, Sepideh Tavakoli, Mohammad Nabizadeh, Amr Makhamreh, Howard Gamper, Caroline A Mccormick, Neda K Rezapour, Ya-Ming Hou, Meni Wanunu, Sara H Rouhanifard

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Here, we develop and apply a semi-quantitative method for the high-confidence identification of pseudouridylated sites on mammalian mRNAs via direct long-read nanopore sequencing. A comparative analysis of a modification-free transcriptome reveals that the depth of coverage and specific k-mer sequences are critical parameters for accurate basecalling. By adjusting these parameters for high-confidence U-to-C basecalling errors, we identify many known sites of pseudouridylation and uncover previously unreported uridine-modified sites, many of which fall in k-mers that are known targets of pseudouridine synthases. Identified sites are validated using 1000-mer synthetic RNA controls bearing a single pseudouridine in the center position, demonstrating systematic …

A Training Curriculum For An Mhealth Supported Peer Counseling Program To Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding In Rural India, Roopa M. Bellad, Niranjana S. Mahantshetti, Umesh S. Charantimath, Tony Ma, Yukiko Washio, Vanessa L. Short, Katie Chang, Parth Lalakia, Frances J. Jaeger, Patricia J. Kelly, Geetanjali Mungarwadi, Chandrashekar C. Karadiguddi, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Richard J. Derman

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, that is the baby receiving only breast milk, no other foods or liquids, rates have remained relatively unchanged over the past two decades in low- and middle-income countries. One strategy for increasing exclusive breastfeeding is through community-based programs that use peer counselors for education and support. The use of mobile health applications is also gaining increasing applicability in these countries. Minimal information is available about training peer counselors in the use of mobile technologies to support exclusive breastfeeding. The present article describes our curriculum in the state of Karnataka, India …

Editorial: A Surgeon’S Framework For The Unplanned Intraoperative Consultation, Sunjay Kumar, Talar Tatarian, Francesco Palazzo

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Surgeons during their career will likely be called in to assist or offer advice with an unanticipated intraoperative event or finding. Yet, there is no practical framework of how to respond to these consults nor is there any formal training in this area.

Review of the limited literature and expert senior opinion can help explain the ethical components involved but do not address some of the practical aspects that the consulting surgeon may need to confront when responding to an unplanned intraoperative consultation.

In this manuscript we present a selected review of the available literature on the topic, establish some …

G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase-2 (Grk-2) Controls Exploration Through Neuropeptide Signaling In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kristen Davis, Christo Mitchell, Olivia Weissenfels, Jihong Bai, David M. Raizen, Michael Ailion, Irini Topalidou

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Animals alter their behavior in manners that depend on environmental conditions as well as their developmental and metabolic states. For example, C. elegans is quiescent during larval molts or during conditions of satiety. By contrast, worms enter an exploration state when removed from food. Sensory perception influences movement quiescence (defined as a lack of body movement), as well as the expression of additional locomotor states in C. elegans that are associated with increased or reduced locomotion activity, such as roaming (exploration behavior) and dwelling (local search). Here we find that movement quiescence is enhanced, and exploration behavior is reduced in …

A Rodent Model For Dirofilaria Immitis, Canine Heartworm: Parasite Growth, Development, And Drug Sensitivity In Nsg Mice, Jessica A. Hess, Mark L. Eberhard, Marcelo Segura-Lepe, Kathrin Grundner-Culemann, Barbara Kracher, Jeffrey Shryock, John Harrington, David Abraham

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Heartworm disease, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, remains a significant threat to canines and felines. The development of parasites resistant to macrocyclic lactones (ML) has created a significant challenge to the control of the infection. The goal of this study was to determine if mice lacking a functional immune response would be susceptible to D. immitis. Immunodeficient NSG mice were susceptible to the infection, sustaining parasites for at least 15 weeks, with infective third-stage larvae molting and developing into the late fourth-stage larvae. Proteomic analysis of host responses to the infection revealed a complex pattern of changes after infection, with at …

Chlamydia Trachomatis Subverts Alpha-Actinins To Stabilize Its Inclusion, A. Haines, J. Wesolowski, F. Paumet

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial disease and a global health burden. As an obligate intracellular pathogen, Chlamydia has evolved many strategies to manipulate its host and establish its intracellular niche called the inclusion. C. trachomatis reorganizes the host actin cytoskeleton to form scaffolds around the inclusion and reinforce the growing inclusion membrane. To control the kinetics and formation of actin scaffolds, Chlamydia expresses the effector InaC/CT813, which activates the host GTPase RhoA. Here, we have discovered that InaC stabilizes actin scaffolds through the host actin cross-linking proteins α-actinins 1 and 4. We demonstrate that α-actinins …

Expert Opinions And Clinical Experiences With Chlormethine Gel As Maintenance Treatment For Patients With Mycosis Fungoides, Larisa Geskin, Christiane Querfeld, Emmilia Hodak, Neda Nikbakht, Evangelia Papadavid, Marco Ardigò, Ulrike Wehkamp, Martine Bagot

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Maintenance treatment can be recommended for patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) whose disease responds to primary treatment. While positive outcomes have been observed in small studies with maintenance therapy, there is a lack of practical guidelines and agreement on when and how maintenance therapy for MF should be approached. In this article, we discuss expert opinions and clinical experiences on the topic of maintenance therapy for patients with MF, with a focus on chlormethine gel. Ideally, patients should have a durable response before initiating maintenance therapy. The definition of and required duration of durable response are topics that are open …

The “Evolving” Role Of Intravascular Imaging In Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries, D L Fischman, Vaikom S. Mahadevan, Eric R. Bates

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

No abstract provided.