Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Surgical Revision In The Presence Of An S. Aureus Infection Increases Virulence Factor Expression And Activates A Multi-Tissue Inflammatory Response, Carly J. Smith, Arianna J. Moniodes, Amanda R. Watkins, Autumn G. Melvage, Thomas P. Thompson, Eirene Choi, Abigail A. Lucas, Brendan F. Gilmore, Thomas P. Schaer, Noreen J. Hickok, Theresa A. Freeman

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Replacing implanted medical hardware due to infection often requires one or more revision surgeries. Each surgery triggers a tissue injury response and disrupts the established bacterial biofilm. However, the complex tissue response to reinjury and biofilm disturbance is not well understood. Our results show that with an existing infection, immunological niches such as the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and circulating blood further upregulate pro-inflammatory programs in response to revision. Rather than reducing bacterial burden, this heightened inflammation provokes virulence factor expression and tissue damage, including bone osteolysis and muscle fibrosis. While muscle fibrosis appears transient and begins resolving by 14 …

Urinothorax And Empyema: Presentation Of An Unusual Complication Of A Rare Condition, Nolan Fox, Nicholas Fox, Shourjo Chakravorty, Neeraj Sinha

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

A 68-year-old male with a history of metastatic bladder cancer and urinary obstruction presented with intractable hiccups and chest pain is presented in this case. He was found to have a unilateral pleural effusion in addition to ipsilateral renal metastasis abutting the diaphragm. Imaging revealed empyema. Thoracentesis revealed positive cultures and a lack of malignant cells on cytology. Comorbid urinary obstruction and urinary tract infection suggested the rare diagnosis of an infected urinothorax. Thoracentesis also revealed pleural fluid creatinine greater than serum creatinine, meeting the most specific diagnostic criteria for urinothorax and establishing the diagnosis. Treatment aimed at evacuating the …

Adjudicated Cardiovascular Events In Patients With Covid-19: Association With Vaccination Status And Changes Over Time, Behnood Bikdeli, Darsiya Krishnathasan, Antoine Bejjani, Candrika D. Khairani, Nada Hamade, Umberto Campia, Julia Davies, Nicole Porio, Ali Assi, Andre Armero, Anthony Tristani, Marcos D. Ortiz-Rios, Victor Nauffal, Zaid I. Almarzooq, Eric Q. Wei, Bridget Mcgonagle, Mariana Pfeferman, Sina Rashedi, Alyssa Sato, Giovanni Scimeca, Valeria Zuluaga-Sánchez, Mehrdad Zarghami, Aditya Achanta, Sirus Jesudasen, Bruce C. Tiu, Geno J. Merli, Orly Leiva, John Fanikos, Aditya M. Sharma, Samantha M. Rizzo, Ruth B. Morrison, Alec Vishnevsky, Shiavax J. Rao, Sivan Naveh, Abdelghani El Rafei, James Welker, Marc P. Bonaca, Brett J. Carroll, Samuel Z. Goldhaber, Zhou Lan, Gregory Piazza, The Corona-Vte Network Investigators

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

BACKGROUND: Patients with COVID-19 are at risk of thrombotic and cardiovascular complications. Existing risk estimates derive from early COVID-19 experiences. More recent event rates, temporal trends, and the association between vaccination status and cardiovascular outcomes remain unclear.

METHODS: The CORONA-VTE Network (COVID-19 Registry to Assess Frequency, Risk Factors, Management, and Outcomes of Arterial and Venous Thromboembolic Complications) multicenter registry included patients with COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2024. A composite of venous and arterial thrombotic events and a composite of adjudicated cardiovascular events were assessed at 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. Time-to-first-event analyses were stratified by inpatients and outpatients …

Robotic Anatomical Left Hepatectomy With Enbloc Caudate Resection For Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, Bhavya Bansal, Parisa Yazdankhah-Kenary, Sharona Ross, Iswanto Sucandy

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Introduction: Minimally invasive robotic technique is gaining popularity due to its technical advantages when compared with conventional laparoscopy. Major hepatic lobectomy, however, remains a technically demanding procedure and requires extensive training to ensure safety and efficacy, especially when undertaken using minimally invasive approach.^1–4 With focus on robotic surgery techniques, in this video we describe our standardized technical approach of robotic anatomical left hepatectomy with enbloc caudate lobe resection. Methods: A 78-year-old man presented with a caudate lobe cholangiocarcinoma infiltrating the caudate lobe and dorsal aspect of segment 4 with a very close proximity to the base of umbilical fissure. …

Implementation And Outcomes Of A Digital Onboarding Taskforce In The Acute Care Setting, Julianna Lenoir, Alexzandra Gentsch, Akshay Krishnan, Jeffrey Ndubisi, Marissa Witmer, Kristin L. Rising, Brooke Worster, Angela M. Gerolamo

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Use of digital health technology can improve patient health outcomes; however, not all patients have the knowledge and skills to download a health app and access a patient portal. Providing digital onboarding support to hospitalized patients has potential to overcome some barriers to accessing needed education in the community, including both having the time and a location to receive education. To address this, our team developed the Jefferson Digital Onboarding Taskforce (JeffDOT), a group of staff and students who approach hospitalized patients and provide one-on-one teaching on how to sign up for and use a patient portal.

METHODS AND …

Radiogenomic Profiling Of Prostate Tumors Prior To External Beam Radiotherapy Converges On A Transcriptomic Signature Of Tgf-Β Activity Driving Tumor Recurrence, Anson T. Ku, Uma Shankavaram, Shana Y. Trostel, Hong Zhang, Sumeyra Kartal, Houssein A. Sater, Stephanie A. Harmon, Nicole V. Carrabba, Yang Liu, Hyunnam Ryu, James A. Proudfoot, Boon Hao Hong, Bradford J. Wood, Peter A. Pinto, Peter L. Choyke, Mack Roach, Howard M. Sandler, Stephanie L. Pugh, Kenneth L. Zeitzer, Lucas C. Mendez, Nirav S. Kapadia, William A. Hall, Anand B. Desai, Radka S. Stoyanova, Alan Pollack, Elai Davicioni, Melvin L. K. Chua, Baris Turkbey, Adam G. Sowalsky, Deborah E. Citrin

Einstein Health Papers

PURPOSE: Clinical risk grouping based on PSA, tumor grade, and disease extent guides treatment intensity for localized prostate cancer. However, many patients with intermediate- or high-risk disease treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) still develop biochemical recurrence (BCR). Early identification of patients at high risk for BCR could enable personalized treatment strategies.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We prospectively enrolled 29 patients with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer undergoing EBRT and ADT. Pretreatment biopsies (n = 60) underwent whole-transcriptome microarray and whole-exome sequencing. Patients received multiparametric MRI at baseline and 6 months after treatment, with a median follow-up …

Vasoactive Drug Use In Children With Community Acquired Septic Shock In Australia And New Zealand, Elliot Long, Stephen Hearps, Amanda Williams, Ben Gelbart, Warwick Butt, Thomas Rozen, Sarah Mcnab, Meredith Borland, Simon Erickson, Shefali Jani, Marino Festa, Eunicia Tan, Natalie Phillips, Sainath Raman, Amit Kochar, Subodh Ganu, Simon Craig, Anna Lithgow, Arjun Rao, Emma Whyte, Stuart Dalziel, Shane George, Fran Balamuth, Scott Weiss, Nathan Kuppermann, Franz Babl

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Vasoactive agents are a critical supportive therapy for children with sepsis. We describe the choice and use patterns of vasoactive agents in children with sepsis.

METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in 11 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand through the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) Network from April 2021 to December 2023. Children aged 0-< 18 years with suspected sepsis were included. Children admitted to hospital and treated with parenteral antibiotics and either 1) a provisional diagnosis of sepsis, and/or 2) treatment for suspected sepsis (fluid bolus to treat poor perfusion). The frequency and sequence of use of vasoactive agents, and contributors to the choice of initial vasoactive were collected.

FINDINGS: 6232 children with suspected sepsis were included; median age of 2.1 years (IQR 0.3-7.1 years), in-hospital mortality of 60 (1.0%), in whom a subset of 306 (4.9%) met Phoenix sepsis criteria. Vasoactive agents were used in 179 (2.9%) children overall …

Extracellular Matrix-Mycaf Signatures Correlate With Resistance To Neoadjuvant Apd-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition With Durvalumab + Metformin In Hpv+ Hnscc, Pablo Llerena, Hani Samarah, Kathryn Nunes, Zhao Lin, Kelly Bridgham, Sruti Tekumalla, Amiti Jain, Larry A. Harshyne, Sanket Kumar Shukla, Ioannis Vathiotis, Madalina Tuluc, Stacey Gargano, John R. Eisenbrey, Scott W Keith, David Cognetti, Voichita Bar-Ad, Adam J. Luginbuhl, Rita S. Axelrod, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli, Hushan Yang, Diana Whitaker-Menezes, Megan Roche, My G. Mahoney, Athanassios Argiris, Charalambos C. Solomides, Jennifer Johnson, Md, Mouadh Barbirou, Amanda Miller, Andrew P. South, Ramkrishna Mitra, Alban J Linnenbach, Ubaldo E. Martinez-Outshoorn, Joseph Curry

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated clinical benefit in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, single-agent efficacy is limited, leaving significant unmet needs. Metformin may synergize with ICIs, offering promise to improve response rates. We leveraged multiomic data from a randomized, presurgical neoadjuvant trial (NCT03618654) evaluating a single infusion of the anti-PD-L1 ICI durvalumab with or without daily, standard dose metformin in previously untreated, nondiabetic patients with HNSCC to understand predictors of response and the effect of combination therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical, pathologic, and correlative data were analyzed to investigate response and resistance mechanisms. We present …

Diagnosis Of Platelet Dysfunction In Children: Clinical Predictors And Test Methods, Bhavya S. Doshi, Eric N. Thompson, Walter Faig, Abigail Wax, Amrom E. Obstfeld, Michele P. Lambert

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Evaluation for platelet function disorders (PFD) in children is complicated by their limited exposure to hemostatic challenges, large volumes needed for light transmission aggregometry (LTA) testing, and limited data on the performance characteristics of whole-blood methods such as whole-blood impedance lumiaggregometry (WBILA). The objective of this study was to determine the clinical variables associated with the diagnosis of a PFD. A single-center, retrospective, cohort study of children evaluated for PFD was conducted. Medical charts were abstracted for demographics, medications, testing indications, bleeding sites and severity, and laboratory results. Univariate odds ratios (OR) and multivariable modeling were conducted for association of …

Impact Of Postoperative Intraocular Pressure Spikes On Outcomes Following Goniotomy: A Comparative Study Of Surgical Techniques, Wesam S. Shalaby, Steven L. Chang, Julia Yu, Teresa Horan, Sagar Shah, Shahin Hallaj, Marlene Moster, Reza Razeghinejad, Daniel Lee, Michael Pro, Aakriti Shukla, Ping Huang, Jonathan S. Myers, Tina Xia, Dilru Amarasekera

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

AIM AND BACKGROUND:To compare postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes and 1-year surgical success among goniotomy procedures: Kahook Dual Blade (KDB), OMNI, bent ab interno needle goniotomy (BANG), and gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center, retrospective chart review included glaucoma patients ≥18 years, who underwent goniotomy from January 2021 to December 2022 with ≥3 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes were IOP spikes (≥10 mm Hg increase within 3 months) and 12-month surgical success (≥20% IOP and/or ≥1 medication reduction without further surgery). Secondary outcomes included IOP and medication changes.

RESULTS: Among 247 eyes (107 KDB, 63 OMNI, 77 …

From Evidence To Action: A Rapid Review To Support Acute Care Ot Guidelines For Heart Failure Self-Care, Alan K. Cook, Ms, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Heart failure (HF) significantly affects individuals’ ability to perform daily activities and sustain quality of life, with disproportionate impact on older adults and marginalized populations due to structural inequities embedded in Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). Although self-care is central to HF management, occupational therapy (OT) remains underrepresented in acute care HF intervention research and clinical guidelines. This doctoral capstone project conducted a rapid review, following Cochrane Rapid Review methodology, to inform the development of preliminary Acute Care Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines for Heart Failure Self-Care and Health Management. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, and Scopus, developed …

A Mixed Methods Exploration Of Autistic Adults' Leisure Experiences, Sevia Raelson, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Across ages and populations, leisure participation is essential to humans and associated with improved well-being, and both mental and physical health (Bishop-Fitzpatrick et al., 2017; Coster & Khetani, 2008; Lapa, 2013). The American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA] formally defines leisure as intrinsically motivating, non-obligatory, self-chosen, and enjoyable activities done in one’s free time (AOTA, 2020). Leisure participation trends for autistic populations are better understood in pediatric populations than adults, but studies rely on neurotypically defined leisure activities. Given the differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent brains, it is likely that leisure activities are experienced differently by autistic adults; thus, …

Assistive Technology Transitions From School To Adult Life For Students With Intellectual Disability: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Madeleine Clements, Ms, Otr/L, Atp

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction
In the United States, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that schools consider assistive technology (AT) during transition planning for students with intellectual disability (ID) as they move from school to adult life (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2004). AT can improve outcomes for adults with ID across multiple areas, including vocational, daily living, and communication (Johnson et al., 2023; Morash-Macneil et al., 2018). However, AT is often underutilized by adults with ID (Boot et al., 2017; Alshamrani et al., 2025). The Quality Indicators Assistive Technology (QIAT)-Transition framework provides best practice guidelines, in the form of six quality …

Implementation Factors For Wearable Fall Injury Mitigation Technology: A Framework For Technology Adoption, Richard G. Stefanacci, Rebecca J. Tarbert, Nicole Hemenover

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To identify implementation factors influencing the adoption of wearable fall injury mitigation technology in long-term care (LTC) settings and develop a practical framework for technology implementation success.

DESIGN: Mixed-methods assessment of a multicenter evaluation examining organizational, staff, and resident factors affecting technology adoption.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Ten LTC facilities implementing the Tango Belt, a wearable airbag device for hip protection during falls. Analysis included 134 intervention participants (mean age 87.3 years, 76% female, 93% with fall history in past year) and comprehensive stakeholder feedback from staff, leadership, residents, and families.

METHODS: Quantitative measures included device adherence rates, training attendance, …

Electrochemical Detection Of No And Ca2+ During Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment Of Acute Wounds: Sensor Selectivity And Stability In The Plasma-Bio-System, Jonathan E. Thomas, Kristina Pattison, Suneel Kumar, Gagana Karkada, Duncan Trosan, Aunic Goodin, Jason Rainone, Dnyaneshwari Rananavare, Vandana Miller, Francois Berthiaume, Katharina Stapelmann

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Cold atmospheric plasmas (CAP) are a versatile tool in medical applications like wound healing. Its therapeutic benefits are partially attributed to the generation of biologically active reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Characterization of RONS, however, typically only occurs after treatment. Here we report the first real-time in situ detection of CAP-generated nitric oxide (NO), and the simultaneous detection of cellular calcium ions (Ca²⁺) release using electrochemical sensors during CAP treatment of murine wounds. In vivo, NO rose rapidly within the first minute of CAP treatment but accumulated less overall than in PBS, reflecting reactions with wound-bed targets. In situ …

Dose Adjustment Of The Anti-Seizure Medications Levetiracetam And Lamotrigine During The Postpartum Period. Schedule Plan, Safety And Efficacy, Nadejda Khmelev, Firas Fahoum, Lilach Goldstein

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Lamotrigine (LTG) and Levetiracetam (LEV) are anti-seizure medications (ASMs) widely used for treatment of women with epilepsy (WWE) of childbearing age due to low teratogenic potential. Physiological changes during gestation results in enhanced clearance. Drug level monitoring and frequent dose adjustments are required to avoid decline in serum levels and compromised seizure control. Postpartum, physiological changes reverse and ASM clearance trends back to pre-pregnancy rate. Rapid metabolic changes make drug level monitoring and dose adjustments challenging. A delay in dose decrement could result in toxicity. The optimal postpartum dose reduction rate hasn't been established.

METHODS: We retrospectively examined medical …

Correction: Amino Acid Transporter Lat1 (Slc7a5) Promotes Metabolic Rewiring In Tnbc Progression Through The L-Trp/Qprt/Nad+ Pathway, Margot Y. Fedoroff, Lei Zhao, Shaomin Wang, Leili Saeednejad Zanjani, Alok Bhushan, Haifeng Yang, Karen M. Bussard, Stephen C Peiper, Jun He

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Correction: J Exp Clin Cancer Res 44, 190 (2025) Following publication of the original article [1], the authors found that Dr. Leila Saeednejad Zanjani was not included in the final author list despite her contributions. The details are provided below: Current authors: Margot Y. Fedoroff1†, Lei Zhao1†, Shaomin Wang1, Alok Bhushan2, Haifeng Yang1, Karen M. Bussard3, Stephen C. Peiper1 and Jun He1*. Updated author list: Margot Y. Fedoroff1†, Lei Zhao1†, Shaomin Wang1, Leili Saeednejad Zanjani1, Alok Bhushan2, Haifeng Yang1, Karen M Bussard3, Stephen C Peiper1, Jun He1*. The correction does not compromise the validity of the conclusions and the overall …

Sex-Specific Angiogenic Responses In Endothelial Cells-Role Of The Pluripotency Factor Oct4, Junchul Shin, Junyoung Hong, Iuliia Molokotina, Irene Krukovets, Ellin Kim, Svyatoslav Tkachenko, Eugene Podrez, Tatiana V Byzova, Olga A Cherepanova

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The study investigates the sex-specific effects of the pluripotency factor OCT4 deficiency in endothelial cells (ECs) on angiogenesis. OCT4 is known for its role in embryonic stem cells, but we recently found that it plays a protective role in ECs during atherosclerosis. Herein, we utilized cultured mouse aortic ECs (MAECs) and several in vivo models, including skin wounding, melanoma tumor implantation, and hindlimb ischemia, to explore the role of OCT4 in angiogenesis in both male and female mice. Our findings revealed significant sexual dimorphism in wild type mice, along with sex differences in responses to OCT4 deficiency across all three …

Incomplete (A3) Versus Complete (A4) Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: Results From A Prospective International Multicenter Cohort Study, Jin W. Tee, Barry T. S. Kweh, Alex R. Vaccaro, Klaus J. Schnake, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Eugen C. Popescu, Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran, Lorin M. Benneker, Sebastian F. Bigdon, John France, Jerome Paquet, R. Todd Allen, William F. Lavelle, Miguel Hirschfeld, Spyridon Pneumaticos, Richard J. Bransford, Andrei F. Joaquim, Harvinder S. Chhabra, Ulrich Spiegl, Hauri Dimitri, F. Cumhur Oner, Marcel Dvorak, Gregory D. Schroeder, Charlotte Dandurand

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare incomplete (A3) versus complete (A4) thoracolumbar burst fractures managed nonoperatively or operatively with respect to reaching minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score.

METHODS: A prospective observational international multicenter cohort study was conducted. After stratification using the AO Spine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System, A3 and A4 outcomes were analyzed separately within nonoperative and operative management groups. Outcomes included absolute and relative improvement in ODI scores between discharge and 12-month follow-up. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated and compared with the log-rank test. Multivariable Cox regression models were constructed. The Cox regression models …

Structural Basis Of Panx1 Permeation And Positive Modulation By Mefloquine, Yangyang Li, Zheng Ruan, Junuk Lee, Ian Orozco, Edward Zhou, Juan Du, Wei Lü

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Purinergic signaling relies on ATP release through exocytosis and large-pore channels. Large-pore channels permeate both small anions like chloride and large signaling molecules like ATP, but how this broad cargo selectivity is structurally controlled remains elusive. Here we investigate PANX1, a prototypical large-pore channel, and uncover structural plasticity at the extracellular entrance formed by seven tryptophan (W74) residues. The W74 sidechains are flexible, sampling conformations that range from a constricted state permissive only to chloride to a dilated state compatible with ATP. These states are coupled to variable cation-π interactions between W74 and arginine 75 (R75), suggesting a mechanism for …

A Nationwide Registry Study Of Surgical And Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Part 2 - Cage With Versus Without Local Bone Graft, Daniel De Wilde, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Patrick Vigren, Victor E. Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Local bone grafts are commonly used as filling material in cages during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Alternatively, cages without filling materials can be used. The literature comparing these approaches is limited, and their respective effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROM) have been scarcely studied. This study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and PROMs between local bone graft-packed cages and empty cages in ACDF surgery.

METHODS: This observational study utilized data from the Swedish nationwide registry, Swespine. All adults who underwent ACDF between 2006 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included missing baseline or outcome data. …

Delayed Delivery Of Antibiotics By Ultrasound-Mediated Rupture Of Polylactic Acid Pockets: In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Selin Isguven Billmyer, Priscilla Machado, Ryan Tomlinson, Lauren J. Delaney, Ji-Bin Liu, Alexander H Harris, Eric Mclaughlin, Noreen J. Hickok, Flemming Forsberg

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Surgical site infections are a devastating complication of instrumented orthopaedic surgery, particularly in the spine. Bacterial biofilms, once formed on the implant surfaces, exhibit antibiotic tolerance and immune escape, which lead to treatment challenges. Up to 9% of instrumented spine surgeries result in infection, despite the use of systemic antibiotics and local, powdered antibiotics for prophylaxis. The bacteria that survive the initial prophylaxis may be susceptible to a second, high dose of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to establishing at the site. Hence, we designed a local drug delivery system consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) film pockets that can be noninvasively triggered …

Patient Preferences When Selecting Their Total Joint Arthroplasty Surgeon: A Multicenter Survey Study, Jake Laverdiere, Danielle Lonati, Swaroopa Vaidya, Gregory Panza, Antonia Chen, Mary Morcos, Yale Fillingham, Jessica Leipman, Molly Hartzler, Jenna Bernstein

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgeon selection can influence patient satisfaction, outcomes, and access in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Awareness of patient preferences enables practices to enhance trust, optimize communication, and improve adherence. While referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations often outweigh online marketing, prospective multicenter research exploring how patients choose their TJA surgeon is limited. The aim of this study was to identify key decision-making factors and how they vary by demographics.

METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cross-sectional survey study included patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty at 4 high-volume institutions from January 2024 to 2025. Participants completed a survey on surgeon selection, including how they …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A. Darwish, Patricia J. Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H. Aboul-Enein

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

METHODS: A scoping review …

The Breakdown Of Neurovascular Barriers: Molecular Mechanisms Of Tight Junction Dysfunction, Sowmya Shree Gopal, Mandeep Kaur, Sophie Lanzkron, Amit K. Srivastava

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The central nervous system (CNS) relies on tightly regulated barriers to maintain homeostasis and protect neural tissue from blood-borne toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory mediators. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), forming selective paracellular seals that regulate molecular trafficking. These structures comprise transmembrane proteins and cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins, which anchor TJs to the actin cytoskeleton. The spatial organization and function of TJs are dynamically regulated by calcium-dependent signaling, phosphorylation events, and G-protein-mediated pathways, which govern their assembly, disassembly, and response to physiological and pathological stimuli. The integrity of TJ complexes is …

Electrochemical Sensors For In Situ Monitoring Of Reactive Species During Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Based Therapies, Jonathan Thomas, Suneel Kumar, Gagana Karkada, Julia Sutter, Kristina Pattison, Jason Rainone, Dhruv Patel, Shashank Madhavan, Fred Krebs, Francois Berthiaume, Vandana Miller, Katharina Stapelmann

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) is emerging as a clinically relevant therapy for dermatological conditions such as actinic keratosis, warts, and chronic wounds. However, these therapies lack strategies to monitor CAP delivery in situ and to ensure delivery of an effective CAP dose without unwanted toxicity. CAP acts as a therapeutic agent in these biomedical applications primarily (but not solely) through reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated at transiently high local concentrations. Here we demonstrate the use of bio-electrochemical sensors capable of real-time measurements of key CAP RONS: hydrogen peroxide and oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP). In in vitro scratch assays and …

Using Mean Airway Pressure (Map) As An Indicator To Help Predict Successful Extubationof Preterm And Term Infants In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, William F. Bucher, Rrt-Nps, Eliza C. Desantis, Md

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Posters

Background
Extubation of preterm and term infants in a neonatal intensive care setting has always proven to be a challenge often resulting in failure. One of the challenges to a successful extubation in this vulnerable patient population is maintaining proper lung inflation at the time of extubation. We often rely on the use of the mean airway pressure (MAP) as an indicator to help predict patient readiness to extubate these patients.

Methods
23 patients ranging from 24 weeks to 41 weeks corrected gestational age were extubated from either conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) or high frequency ventilation (HFV) using their mean …

Characterization Of Peg-Modified Composite Membranes For Microfluidic Oxygenator Applications, Nicholas C. Higgins, David G. Blauvelt, Shuvo Roy

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Microfluidic oxygenators promise to advance extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices with enhanced hemodynamics and low prime volume. We are developing a silicon-based membrane oxygenator that will offer improved gas transfer and fluid flow control. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been used to improve hemocompatibility by providing excellent resistance to protein adsorption. Here, we characterized a polyethylene glycol surface modification of composite silicon–PDMS membranes to evaluate their effects on microfluidic oxygenator properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle goniometry confirmed successful PEG attachment, evidenced by the presence of characteristic C-O bonds and increased hydrophilicity, which was stable for 2 weeks. …

Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction And Repair In Nonthrowing Athletes, William L. Johns, Neel K. Patel, Benjamin Miltenberg, Ryan W. Paul, Adeeb J. Hanna, Michael C. Ciccotti, Steven B. Cohen, Michael G. Ciccotti, Christopher C. Dodson

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears in nonthrowing athletes is less commonly performed, and the outcomes of that management have not been thoroughly described.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical outcomes of surgical management of UCL injury in nonthrowing athletes.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on all patients who underwent UCL reconstruction or repair across a 10-year period (2010-2020), with nonthrowing athletes who had >2-year follow-up being specifically identified. Demographic variables such as age, sport participation, concomitant procedures, and graft type, as well as postoperative outcomes such as complications, …

A Case Of The Blue Blues: The Safety Issue Of Recognizing And Avoiding The Retinal Toxicity Of Methylene Blue Compared To Brilliant Blue And Trypan Blue, Sidra Zafar, Jose S. Pulido, Samir N. Patel, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Jordan D. Deaner

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

While blue vital dyes remain indispensable in ophthalmic surgery, medication errors, particularly the inadvertent use of methylene blue instead of trypan blue and brilliant blue, pose a significant risk to patient safety. Methylene blue has been reported to cause damage to anterior segment structures, We reported a case of inner retinal toxicity from injection of methylene blue into the vitreous cavity resulting in profound vision loss. Standardization, vigilant verification, and safer packaging are critical to preventing these never events.