Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Polθ Reverse Transcribes Rna And Promotes Rna-Templated Dna Repair, Gurushankar Chandramouly, Jiemin Zhao, Shane Mcdevitt, Timur Rusanov, Trung Hoang, Nikita Borisonnik, Taylor Treddinick, Felicia Wednesday Lopezcolorado, Tatiana Kent, Labiba Siddique, Joseph Mallon, Jacklyn Huhn, Zainab Shoda, Ekaterina Kashkina, Alessandra Brambati, Jeremy M Stark, Xiaojiang S Chen, Richard Pomerantz

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Genome-embedded ribonucleotides arrest replicative DNA polymerases (Pols) and cause DNA breaks. Whether mammalian DNA repair Pols efficiently use template ribonucleotides and promote RNA-templated DNA repair synthesis remains unknown. We find that human Polθ reverse transcribes RNA, similar to retroviral reverse transcriptases (RTs). Polθ exhibits a significantly higher velocity and fidelity of deoxyribonucleotide incorporation on RNA versus DNA. The 3.2-Å crystal structure of Polθ on a DNA/RNA primer-template with bound deoxyribonucleotide reveals that the enzyme undergoes a major structural transformation within the thumb subdomain to accommodate A-form DNA/RNA and forms multiple hydrogen bonds with template ribose 2'-hydroxyl groups like retroviral RTs. …

Chronic Kidney Disease For The Pcp, Lilli Flink, Md

Department of Family & Community Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

Learning Objectives

• Define CKD
• Review screening guidelines for CKD
• Review staging of CKD
• Outline diagnostic approach
• Review primary care management
• Understand indications for referral to specialty care

Intracranial Mycoplasma Hominis Infection Following Emergent Craniectomy, Zahra Qamar, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Matthew Pattengill, Maliha Ahmed, Bryan Hess

Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine Faculty Papers

We present a case of a young healthy female who developed recurrent cranial wound infections after a traumatic injury, the etiologic organism finally identified as Mycoplasma hominis, an uncommon and difficult to isolate bacterium.

Longitudinal Dynamics Of Circulating Tumor Cells And Circulating Tumor Dna For Treatment Monitoring In Metastatic Breast Cancer, Lorenzo Gerratana, Andrew A Davis, Qiang Zhang, Debora Basile, Giovanna Rossi, Kimberly Strickland, Alessandra Franzoni, Lorenzo Allegri, Zhaomei Mu, Youbin Zhang, Lisa E Flaum, Giuseppe Damante, William John Gradishar, Leonidas C Platanias, Amir Behdad, Hushan Yang, Fabio Puglisi, Massimo Cristofanilli

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Liquid biopsy-based biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are increasingly important for the characterization of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The aim of the study was to explore CTCs and ctDNA dynamics to better understand their potentially complementary role in describing MBC.

METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed 107 patients with MBC characterized with paired CTCs and ctDNA assessments and a second prospective cohort, which enrolled 48 patients with MBC. CTCs were immunomagnetically isolated and ctDNA was quantified and then characterized through next-generation sequencing in the retrospective cohort and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction in the prospective …

Tumor Metabolism And Associated Serum Metabolites Define Prognostic Subtypes Of Asian Hepatocellular Carcinoma., Yotsawat Pomyen, Anuradha Budhu, Jittiporn Chaisaingmongkol, Marshonna Forgues, Hien Dang, Mathuros Ruchirawat, Chulabhorn Mahidol, Xin Wei Wang

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Treatment effectiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) depends on early detection and precision-medicine-based patient stratification for targeted therapies. However, the lack of robust biomarkers, particularly a non-invasive diagnostic tool, precludes significant improvement of clinical outcomes for HCC patients. Serum metabolites are one of the best non-invasive means for determining patient prognosis, as they are stable end-products of biochemical processes in human body. In this study, we aimed to identify prognostic serum metabolites in HCC. To determine serum metabolites that were relevant and representative of the tissue status, we performed a two-step correlation analysis to first determine associations between metabolic genes and …

Rv Lead Placement - A Forgotten Cause Of Right Heart Failure., Muhammad Arslan Cheema, Talal Almas, Waqas Ullah, Donald C. Haas

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Introduction: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have opened new doors, improving the quality, and increasing the duration of life by providing support of heart rate, atrioventricular and interventricular synchrony, thereby preventing sudden cardiac death. Nevertheless, these devices can pose some risks to the patients, including pacemaker-mediated cardiomyopathy and endocarditis.

Case presentation: We elucidate the case of a patient who had severe Tricuspid Regurgitation as a result of single chamber Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) placement which led to right heart failure (RHF). His chief complaints were generalized fatigability and difficulty climbing steps at home. He also had orthopnea but denies paroxysmal …

Estimating The Tolerance Of Brachial Plexus To Hypofractionated Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: A Modelling-Based Approach From Clinical Experience., Irina Kapitanova, Sharmi Biswas, Sabrina Divekar, Eric J. Kemmerer, Robert A. Rostock, Kenneth M Forster, Rachel J. Grimm, Carla J Scofield, Jimm Grimm, Bahman Emami, Anand Mahadevan

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexopathy is a potentially serious complication from stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) that has not been widely studied. Therefore, we compared datasets from two different institutions and generated a brachial plexus dose-response model, to quantify what dose constraints would be needed to minimize the effect on normal tissue while still enabling potent therapy for the tumor.

METHODS: Two published SBRT datasets were pooled and modeled from patients at Indiana University and the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center from 1998 to 2007, as well as the Karolinska Institute from 2008 to 2013. All patients in both studies …

An Update On The Hiv Dna Vaccine Strategy, Joseph Hokello, Adhikarimayum Lakhikumar Sharma, Mudit Tyagi

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

In 2020, the global prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was estimated to be 38 million, and a total of 690,000 people died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)–related complications. Notably, around 12.6 million people living with HIIV/AIDS did not have access to life-saving treatment. The advent of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the mid-1990s remarkably enhanced the life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS as a result of improved immune functions. However, HAART has several drawbacks, especially when it is not used properly, including a high risk for the development of drug resistance, as well as undesirable …

Treating Early-Stage Dlbcl On The Flyer: What Lesson For Radiation Therapy?, Kelsey Sokol, Amanda Mcbride, Adam Binder, Pierluigi Porcu

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Inside Out, 2021

Inside Out

Contents:

Philadelphia 2020, Zoe Wong - Cover

Sun Dance, Matt Sears - Inside Cover

Five Islands Sunset, Zachary Davis - Back Cover

Arret to Art, Simran Rahi - This Page

Sunday, John Curran - Contents p. 2

Self-Portrait, John Curran - Contents p. 3

Light Bulbs, Michael O’Connor - 1

The Steamboat, Matthew Wallingford - 2

Untitled, Emily Bucher - 3

Green, Erica Westlake - 4

Animal Within, John Vaile - 5

Birch Trees, Matthew Wallingford - 6

A Hurry to Work, Matthew Wallingford - 7

A …

Inside Out, 2020

Inside Out

Contents:

Well Earned, Matt Sears - Cover, 16

Everglades, Benjamin Chipkin - Inside Cover

Wild Bill, Chen Zhou - Contents

Lying in Wait, Sarah Roselli - Contents

Begin Again, Daisy Zhang - 1

Grieving, Sonali Koduri - 2

Cascades, Kevin Tang - 3

Insomnia, Brittany File - 4

Blue, Chen Zhou - 5

Undone, Hana Chamoun - 6

Egg, Zoe Wong - 6

Two Weeks, Hana Chamoun - 7

Expansion, Zaynab Sajjadi - 8

Connections Across the Deep, Beverly Anaele - 9

Lifelight, Bryce Eng …

Targeted Treatment Of Head And Neck (Pre)Cancer: Preclinical Target Identification And Development Of Novel Therapeutic Applications, Anne Van Harten, Ruud H. Brakenhoff

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) develop in the mucosal lining ofthe upper-aerodigestive tract. In carcinogen-induced HNSCC, tumors emerge from premalignantmucosal changes characterized by tumor-associated genetic alterations, also coined as ‘fields’ that areoccasionally visible as leukoplakia or erythroplakia lesions but are mostly invisible. Consequently,HNSCC is generally diagnosedde novoat more advanced stages in about 70% of new diagnosis.Despite intense multimodality treatment protocols, the overall 5-years survival rate is 50–60% forpatients with advanced stage of disease and seems to have reached a plateau. Of notable concern isthe lack of further improvement in prognosis despite advances in treatment. This can be attributedto …

Comparative Analysis Of 1152 African-American And European-American Men With Prostate Cancer Identifies Distinct Genomic And Immunological Differences., Walter Rayford, Alp Tuna Beksac, Jordan Alger, Mohammed Alshalalfa, Mohsen Ahmed, Irtaza Khan, Ugo G. Falagario, Yang Liu, Elai Davicioni, Daniel E. Spratt, Edward M. Schaeffer, Felix Y. Feng, Brandon Mahal, Paul L Nguyen, Robert B. Den, Mark D. Greenberger, Randy Bradley, Justin M. Watson, Matthew Beamer, Lambros Stamatakis, Darrell J. Carmen, Shivanshu Awasthi, Jonathan Hwang, Rachel Weil, Harri Merisaari, Nihal Mohamed, Leslie A. Deane, Dimple Chakravarty, Kamlesh K. Yadav, Kosj Yamoah, Sujit S. Nair, Ashutosh K. Tewari

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Racial disparities in prostate cancer have not been well characterized on a genomic level. Here we show the results of a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 1,152 patients (596 African-American men (AAM) and 556 European-American men (EAM)) who underwent radical prostatectomy. Comparative analyses between the race groups were conducted at the clinical, genomic, pathway, molecular subtype, and prognostic levels. The EAM group had increased ERG (P < 0.001) and ETS (P = 0.02) expression, decreased SPINK1 expression (P < 0.001), and basal-like (P < 0.001) molecular subtypes. After adjusting for confounders, the AAM group was associated with higher expression of CRYBB2, GSTM3, and inflammation genes (IL33, IFNG, CCL4, CD3, ICOSLG), and lower expression of mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MSH6) (p < 0.001 for all). At the pathway level, the AAM group had higher expression of genes sets related to the immune response, apoptosis, hypoxia, and reactive oxygen species. EAM group was associated with higher levels of fatty acid metabolism, DNA repair, and WNT/beta-catenin signaling. Based on cell lines data, AAM were predicted to have higher potential response to DNA damage. In conclusion, biological characteristics of prostate tumor were substantially different in AAM when compared to EAM.

Integration Of Circulating Tumor Cell And Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio To Identify High-Risk Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients., Weelic Chong, Zhenchao Zhang, Rui Luo, Jian Gu, Jianqing Lin, Qiang Wei, Bingshan Li, Ronald E. Myers, Phd, Dsw, Grace Lu-Yao, William Kevin Kelly, Chun Wang, Hushan Yang

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been associated with survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, no study has examined the prognostic value of NLR and PLR in the context of CTCs.

METHODS: Baseline CTCs from mCRPC patients were enumerated using the CellSearch System. Baseline NLR and PLR values were calculated using the data from routine complete blood counts. The associations of CTC, NLR, and PLR values, individually and jointly, with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate Cox models.

RESULTS: …

Review Article: Diagnosis, Management And Patient Perspectives Of The Spectrum Of Constipation Disorders., Amol Sharma, Satish S C Rao, Kimberly Kearns, Kimberly D Orleck, Scott A Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic constipation is a common, heterogeneous disorder with multiple symptoms and pathophysiological mechanisms. Patients are often referred to a gastroenterology provider after laxatives fail. However, there is limited knowledge of the spectrum and management of constipation disorders.

AIM: To discuss the latest understanding of the spectrum of constipation disorders, tools for identifying a pathophysiologic-based diagnosis in the specialist setting, treatment options and the patient's perspective of constipation.

METHODS: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed for constipation diagnostic criteria, diagnostic tools and approved treatments. The authors provided insight from their own practices.

RESULTS: Clinical assessment, stool diaries and Rome IV …

Social Intervention By The Numbers: Evidence Behind The Specific Public Health Guidelines In The Covid-19 Pandemic., Michael P. Savage, David L. Fischman, Mamas A. Mamas

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a worldwide pandemic ushering in a global health and economic crisis. In the absence of vaccines or definitive drug therapies, current strategies against COVID-19 rely on preventing the transmission of disease through nonpharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing and proper hand hygiene. For practical and perhaps ethical reasons, the clinical efficacy of these public health measures for managing pandemics has not been demonstrated in randomized controlled clinical trials. Accordingly, guideline recommendations for using nonpharmaceutical interventions are based primarily on observational and modeling studies and on expert opinion. A recent position paper from the …

Active Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators In Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients, Kuldeep Shah, Rahul Chaudhary, Mohit K. Turagam, Mahek Shah, Brijesh Patel, Gregg Lanier, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, Jalaj Garg

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Introduction

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction reduces mortality secondary to malignant arrhythmias. Whether end-stage heart failure (HF) with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) derive similar benefits remains controversial.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of all published studies that examined the association between active ICDs and survival in advanced HF patients with cfLVAD. We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane for studies reporting the association between ICD and all-cause mortality in advanced HF patients with cfLVAD. Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) random-effects model was used to summarize data.

Results …

Evaluation Of Diazepam Nasal Spray In Patients With Epilepsy Concomitantly Using Maintenance Benzodiazepines: An Interim Subgroup Analysis From A Phase 3, Long-Term, Open-Label Safety Study., Eric B Segal, Daniel Tarquinio, Ian Miller, James W Wheless, Dennis Dlugos, Victor Biton, Gregory D Cascino, Jay Desai, R Edward Hogan, Kore Liow, Michael R Sperling, Blanca Vazquez, David F Cook, Adrian L Rabinowicz, Enrique Carrazana

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Diazepam nasal spray (Valtoco), indicated for acute treatment of frequent seizure activity (seizure clusters) in patients with epilepsy ≥6 years of age, is designed to be a rapid, noninvasive, socially acceptable route of administration. This interim analysis evaluated the safety profile of diazepam nasal spray in patients with and without concomitant use of benzodiazepines, with use of a second dose for a seizure cluster as a proxy for effectiveness.

METHODS: A long-term, phase 3, open-label safety study enrolled patients with epilepsy who had seizures despite a stable antiseizure medication regimen.

RESULTS: Among 175 patients enrolled by October 31, 2019, …

Emerging Targets For The Diagnosis Of Parkinson's Disease: Examination Of Systemic Biomarkers., Lara Cheslow, Adam E. Snook, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a highly prevalent and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that is typically diagnosed in an advanced stage. Currently, there are no approved biomarkers that reliably identify PD patients before they have undergone extensive neuronal damage, eliminating the opportunity for future disease-modifying therapies to intervene in disease progression. This unmet need for diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers has fueled PD research for decades, but these efforts have not yet yielded actionable results. Recently, studies exploring mechanisms underlying PD progression have offered insights into multisystemic contributions to pathology, challenging the classic perspective of PD as a disease isolated to the brain. …

Development Of A Standardized Histopathology Scoring System Using Machine Learning Algorithms For Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In The Mouse Model-An Ors Spine Section Initiative., Itzel Paola Melgoza, Srish S Chenna, Steven Tessier, Yejia Zhang, Simon Y Tang, Takashi Ohnishi, Emanuel José Novais, Geoffrey J Kerr, Sarthak Mohanty, Vivian Tam, Wilson C W Chan, Chao-Ming Zhou, Ying Zhang, Victor Y Leung, Angela K Brice, Cheryle A Séguin, Danny Chan, Nam Vo, Makarand V Risbud, Chitra L Dahia

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Mice have been increasingly used as preclinical model to elucidate mechanisms and test therapeutics for treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Several intervertebral disc (IVD) histological scoring systems have been proposed, but none exists that reliably quantitate mouse disc pathologies. Here, we report a new robust quantitative mouse IVD histopathological scoring system developed by building consensus from the spine community analyses of previous scoring systems and features noted on different mouse models of IDD. The new scoring system analyzes 14 key histopathological features from nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), endplate (EP), and AF/NP/EP interface regions. Each feature is categorized and …

Are Lumbar Fusion Guidelines Followed? A Survey Of North American Spine Surgeons, Thiago Montenegro, Christopher Elia, Kevin Hines, Zorica Buser, Jefferson Wilson, Zoher Ghogawala, Shekar N Kurpad, Daniel M Sciubba, James Harrop

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of guidelines for lumbar spine fusions among spine surgeons in North America.

METHODS: An anonymous survey was electronically sent to all AO Spine North America members. Survey respondents were asked to indicate their opinion surrounding the suitability of instrumented fusion in a variety of clinical scenarios. Fusion indications in accordance with North America Spine Society (NASS) guidelines for lumbar fusion were considered NASS-concordant answers. Respondents were considered to have a NASS-concordant approach if ≥ 70% (13 of 18) of their answers were NASS-concordant answers. Comparisons were performed using bivariable statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 105 …

B Cells In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Targeting Immune Cells With Antifibrotic Agents., Jesse Roman, Hirofumi Chiba

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Somatic Mutations And Intratumor Heterogeneity In Inflammatory Breast Cancer., Rui Luo, Weelic Chong, Qiang Wei, Zhenchao Zhang, Chun Wang, Zhong Ye, Maysa Abu-Khalaf, Daniel P. Silver, Robert T. Stapp, Wei Jiang, Ronald E. Myers, Bingshan Li, Massimo Cristofanilli, Hushan Yang

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Although it is a rare subtype, IBC is responsible for roughly 10% of breast cancer deaths. In order to obtain a better understanding of the genomic landscape and intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) in IBC, we conducted whole-exome sequencing of 16 tissue samples (12 tumor and four normal samples) from six hormone-receptor-positive IBC patients, analyzed somatic mutations and copy number aberrations, and inferred subclonal structures to demonstrate ITH. Our results showed that KMT2C was the most frequently mutated gene (42%, 5/12 samples), followed by HECTD1, LAMA3, FLG2, UGT2B4, STK33, BRCA2, …

Narrative Review Of Socioeconomic And Racial Disparities In The Treatment Of Early Stage Lung Cancer, Nathaniel R. Evans Iii, Tyler Grenda, Nkosi H. Alvarez, Olugbenga Okusanya

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: To review and discuss the current literature regarding socio-economic and racial disparities in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Background: Lung cancer is the most lethal solid organ malignancy in the United States, with the second-highest incidence of new malignances for both men and women. While overall survival for lung cancer is improving, significant socioeconomic and racial disparities in outcomes for lung cancer persist. Methods: Narrative review of peer reviewed literature synthesizing findings retrieved from searches of computerized databases, primary article reference lists, authoritative texts and expert options. Results: The current incidence of lung cancer appears …

Ferumoxytol For The Treatment Of Iron Deficiency And Iron-Deficiency Anemia Of Pregnancy., Jesse Gerb, William Strauss, Richard Derman, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph, Ben Mendelson, Huzefa Bahrain, Michael Auerbach

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Introduction: A litany of recent evidence supports the morbidity of intra-natal iron-deficiency anemia and its prodrome, iron deficiency. Oral iron administered during second and third trimesters does not get to the developing fetus if the mother is iron deficient. This is especially concerning as the rapidly developing fetal brain is in particular need of iron sufficiency. Intra-natal iron deficiency is associated with autism, schizophrenia and abnormal brain structure. The obstetrical literature reports an unacceptably high incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events with oral iron. The time iron honored standard in the United States for intravenous iron replenishment in gravidas is iron …

Insights From An Inaugural Eight-Month Interprofessional Collaborative Co-Design Educational Experience Between Occupational Therapy And Industrial Design, Rebecca Brown, Kimberly S. Mollo, Madalyn Peterson, Mikael Avery, Eric Schneider, Tod Corlett

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

The design of the built environment greatly impacts how all types of individuals and populations actively participate in their daily lives. Lack of access in the built environment for disabled populations remains a daily reality, negatively impacting engagement and life satisfaction, leading to isolation, loneliness, and depression. A university in the Northeastern United States sought to expand current constructs of the end-user and environment within a universal design (UD) perspective. On an eight-month inaugural interprofessional collaborative co-design experience, third-year occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students were embedded in a first-year masters of industrial design (MSID) curriculum, which ran the course of …

Cannabis Use And Car Crashes: A Review., Ulrich W Preuss, Marilyn A. Huestis, Miriam Schneider, Derik Hermann, Beat Lutz, Alkomiet Hasan, Joseph Kambeitz, Jessica W M Wong, Eva Hoch

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

In this review, state-of-the-art evidence on the relationship between cannabis use, traffic crash risks, and driving safety were analyzed. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other relevant papers published within the last decade were systematically searched and synthesized. Findings show that meta-analyses and culpability studies consistently indicate a slightly but significantly increased risk of crashes after acute cannabis use. These risks vary across included study type, crash severity, and method of substance application and measurement. Some studies show a significant correlation between high THC blood concentrations and car crash risk. Most studies do not support this relationship at lower THC concentrations. However, …

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 …

Aggressive Herpes Zoster In Young Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Under Dimethyl Fumarate: Significance Of Cd8, Maria Anagnostouli, Georgios Velonakis, Marinos Dalakas

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), exerts immune-mediated mechanisms crucial for T-cell survival and migration, preferentially reducing CD8+ T cells.1 Although baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is considered the most critical predictor of developing lymphopenia,2 it was recently concluded that lymphocyte subset monitoring is not required for safety vigilance because T-cell subset reduction does not increase risks for serious infections.3 We present 2 young patients with RRMS, under DMF treatment, negative for HIV and SARSCoV-2 (by RT-PCR in nasal swab) and with normal follow-up white blood cell (WBC)/ALC counts, who developed severe herpes zoster (HZ) infection with …

Improving Utilization Of Sglt2 Inhibitors In The Inpatient Setting, Andrea Verghese, Md, Bharaniabirami Rajaram, Md, Fred Karaisz, Md, Jason Ho, Md, Kaya Patel, Md, Michael Grodsky, Md, Shifa Gandhi, Md, Xuejun Wang, Md, Yair Lev, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

• SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to have a significant benefit for patients with DM2 or CAD (DAPA-HF, Emperor-reduced)
• The usage of these medications are low compared to other Goal Directed Medical Therapy.
• There are multiple contributing factors as to why these medications are underutilized

Our aim is to assess barriers against prescription of SGLT2-i at the time of discharge from TJUH and to increase utilization after placement on formulary.