Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Noncoding Rna Transcripts Based Molecular Phenotyping Of Masld And Mash Patients, Frida M. Delgadillo, Karla Perez, Barbara Yang, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Murali Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Enrique I. Ramos, Shrikanth S. Gadad

School of Medicine Publications

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive hepatic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes. MASLD can advance to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These conditions often lead to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) if not timely diagnosed and managed; thus, molecular phenotyping of MASLD and MASH conditions is highly desirable. The analyses were performed to identify distinct, differentially expressed genes, particularly noncoding ones, in MASLD and MASH patient samples, thereby expanding diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Methods: We extracted the data from a recent transcriptomic study by Govaere et al. on MASLD …

Bridging The Dermatology Divide: A Literature Review Of Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Point-Of-Care Tools For Skin Cancer Detection In Primary Care, Jared Hensley, Smaran Marupudi, Maria Villegas

School of Medicine Publications

The United States faces a critical dermatology workforce shortage, with more than 60% of counties lacking specialist access. Primary care providers (PCPs) are often tasked with managing suspicious skin lesions but demonstrate lower diagnostic accuracy than dermatologists. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer potential solutions, and meta-analytic evidence demonstrates that AI assistance improves PCP sensitivity by 13 percentage points and specificity by 11 percentage points. Yet only 1 Food and Drug Administration–authorized device (January 2024) is cleared for nondermatologist use in the United States. This device achieves 96% sensitivity but only 21% specificity, meaning most positive results are false alarms. A …

Uncovering The Genetic Landscape Of Pediatric Hearing Loss Along The Texas–Mexico Border, Desiree Lanehart, Michelle Gray, Roberta Sierra, Camille Maldonado, Daniel Brooks, Hongzheng Dai, Aaly Rahimtoola, Sandy Magallan, Alberto Allegre, Lori Berry

School of Medicine Publications

Children in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including the US border regions, experience delays in the diagnosis of hereditary hearing loss (HL), driven primarily by limited access to specialized genetic services. Although approximately 60% of congenital HL has a genetic etiology, many affected children in these communities remain undiagnosed, delaying timely intervention. Project GIVE is an NIH-funded virtual genomics program that expands access to genome sequencing (GS) for children with undiagnosed multisystemic conditions along the Texas–Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and El Paso regions of Texas, USA. Children (0–18 years) with suspected rare diseases were referred by …

Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Antigen 85B (Ag85B), an immunodominant protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), induces robust T-cell-mediated immunity in host cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant BCG strains overexpressing Ag85B (BCG85B) confer significant protection against tuberculosis in mouse models. This study hypothesized that enhanced protection by recombinant BCG85B results from modulation of host immune gene expression by the Ag85B antigen. To test this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on splenocytes from mice immunized with the wild-type BCG (BCG-WT) and BCG85B strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the splenocytes of BCG85B-immunized mice indicated upregulation of immune-related KEGG pathways, including Th1/Th2 and Th17 differentiation, NF-kappa …

Miconazole As A Repurposed Anticancer Candidate For Prostate Cancer, Eswara Naga Hanuma Kumar Ghali, Lindsey Shim, Rajasekhar Baru, Anupam Dhasmana, Ryan Chang, Sung Yun Jung, Rahul Tiwari, Neeraj Chauhan, Vivek K. Kashyap, Sheema Khan, Diane Nguyen, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali Mohan Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

Prostate cancer is one of the major health concerns, with increasing incidence and persistent therapeutic resistance worldwide. Despite various available treatments (radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, biological therapy, and high-intensity focused ultrasound), patients still show treatment-related side effects over many years. These challenges highlight the urgent need for novel and safe therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we repurposed five FDA-approved antifungal agents, namely natamycin (NM), terbinafine hydrochloride (TH), ketoconazole (KZ), miconazole (MZ), and clotrimazole (CZ), as they can modulate conserved cellular processes, including sterol metabolism and mitochondrial function, which are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of cancer cell …

Vitamin D As A Candidate Host Susceptibility Factor In Sugar-Driven Oral Dysbiosis, Moldir Turaliyeva, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Adil Y. Yerezhepov, Mohammed Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) represent a modifiable dietary factor that promotes oral dysbiosis by supplying fermentable sugars and generating low-pH conditions that favor acidogenic and acid-tolerant biofilms. Vitamin D plays a biologically significant role in oral host defense through regulation of the epithelial barrier, induction of antimicrobial peptides, immune modulation, inflammatory control, and mineral metabolism. However, the extent to which vitamin D modifies the SSB -oral microbiome -disease pathway in humans remains unclear.

Methods: This narrative-conceptual review employed structured evidence mapping. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, with additional sources obtained via citation …

Global Disparities In Neurosurgical Literature: A Narrative Review Of Underrepresentation Of Low- And Middle-Income Countries And Pathways To Research Equity, Tirath Patel, Naveed Ahmad, Abbas Hussain, Bisma Faraz, Amna Binte Naeem, Urooj Sheraz, Laiba Noor, Saleha Khan, Muhammad Seerat Ali, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

The global neurosurgical literature is dominated by high-income countries, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) contributing minimally despite bearing the most significant share of the neurosurgical disease burden. Underrepresentation limits equitable knowledge dissemination and the relevance of guidelines. The objective of this review was to assess neurosurgical publication disparities, identify deterrents to LMIC participation, and outline initiatives that foster equity and inclusion in research. This narrative review synthesized evidence on global disparities in neurosurgical literature through a structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (2010–2025). Eligible studies examined research output, authorship trends, publication barriers, or equity initiatives. Findings mapped …

From Algorithm To Alarm: A Narrative Review On Insulin Delivery Innovation, Noor Ul Asaleem, Faraz Arshad, Maria Qadri, Muhammad Saqlain Mushtaq, Mishaim Khan, Pakeeza Shakoor, Tirath Patel, Anaya Noor, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background and objective: The global rise in the incidence of diabetes mellitus necessitates innovative management strategies to mitigate the severity of the disease. The mainstay of diabetes treatment is still insulin therapy, although there are drawbacks, such as the need to maintain ideal glycemic control while lowering the risk of hypoglycemia and user fatigue. The development, clinical usefulness, and constraints of insulin delivery systems are examined in this narrative review, with particular attention to sensor-augmented and closed-loop technologies.

Methods: A thorough electronic database search was conducted to obtain pertinent data on major insulin delivery devices, including sensor-augmented and closed-loop systems. …

Isolated Transverse Colon Perforation During Corticosteroid Tapering In Quiescent Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Histopathology-Supported Diagnosis Of Exclusion, Ridwan A. Lawal, Nestor Malaga, Nida Asif, Fatimah Bello, Juliana Yang

School of Medicine Publications

Gastrointestinal perforation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon but potentially fatal, and attribution is clinically consequential because perforation may reflect lupus enteritis with mesenteric vasculitis, infection, diverticular or stercoral disease, malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), medication-related injury, or a combination of mechanisms. Corticosteroid-associated perforation is therefore best treated as a diagnosis of exclusion rather than as an isolated novel observation. We report a 62-year-old woman with SLE who developed sudden severe right-sided abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, and radiographic pneumoperitoneum while tapering prednisone from 60 mg/day to 10 mg/day over three months, with 10 mg/day documented at …

Developmental Stability Of Task-Rest Neural Efficiency In Youth Using A Threat And Cognitive Control Task, Parmis Khosravi, Julia O. Linke, Anjali D. Poe, Chase Antonacci, Reut Naim, Elise M. Cardinale, Katharina Kircanski, Anderson M. Winkler, Nathan A. Fox, Daniel Samuel Pine, Simona P. Haller

School of Medicine Publications

Behaviors arise from coordinated neural activity across diverse spatial and temporal scales. Prior work has linked better task performance and cognitive functioning to patterns of global network connectivity requiring minimal reconfiguration when switching between task demands. This metric indexing similarity in functional connectivity across task and rest has been termed “neural efficiency.” Here we assess stability of neural efficiency over approximately 3 years in adolescence, specificity across two task-rest combinations and associations with anxiety. At approximately age 16 and/or 19, 95 participants completed a resting state scan alongside a cognitive control and/or threat task. Neural efficiency was quantified as partial …

Ai-Driven Detection Of Neurodevelopmental Disorder From Emotional Speech Using A Hybrid Cnn–Bilstm–Attention Framework, Nayarah Shabir, Parveen Lehana, Sheema Khan

School of Medicine Publications

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are associated with impairments in communication, behavior, and social interaction, making accurate diagnosis clinically challenging. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a major NDD, often exhibits atypical speech patterns characterized by altered prosody and reduced emotional expressiveness. The study proposes a hybrid dual-path framework for ASD detection from emotional speech using two strategies: PCA–GMM-based acoustic modeling and a CNN–BiLSTM–Attention architecture for spectral–temporal feature learning. The proposed framework captures probabilistic, spectral, and temporal speech characteristics for robust ASD classification. Acoustic analysis demonstrated clear separability between ASD and non-ASD speech, while the deep learning framework achieved stable and reliable performance across …

Perspective On Lessons Not Learned: From Coley’S Toxins To Microbial Drug Delivery, Guidance For Institutional Review Boards (Irbs), Brian P. Hanley, Alejandro J. Betancourt, Gustavo Gross, Wilbur (Bo) Bowne

School of Medicine Publications

The bacterial and toxin methods of cancer treatment date back 130 years. This paradigm rests on nonspecific bacterial-toxin-generated immunotherapy. This high-risk oncology research is experiencing a renaissance of methods that are among the most effective yet. Glioblastomas and other resistant cancers are the modern touchpoint, because of remission history following sepsis. Spurred by recent research deaths, we discuss protocols IRBs should consider in live bacterial or synthetic immuno-stimulatory trials. Human systemic inflammatory response syndrome immunology is unique due to non-functioning SIGLEC-13 and 17, which control excessive Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) signaling. This is not a technicality like human CD8+/CD4+ T …

Challenge-Based Ex Vivo Immune Profiling Reveals Stimulus-Dependent Peripheral Immune Reprogramming In Alzheimer's Disease, C. A. Naranjo-Galvis, Jovanny Zabaleta, Ney Alliey Rodriguez, Luisa Matilde Salamanca-Duque

School of Medicine Publications

Altered immune function is increasingly recognized as a contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, it remains unclear whether peripheral immune alterations reflect constitutive inflammation or stimulus-dependent changes in immune responsiveness. Addressing this distinction is critical for understanding immune dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we applied a challenge-based ex vivo immune profiling approach to characterize functional immune responsiveness in patients with AD and in cognitively healthy older adults. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were exposed to defined innate, antigenic, and mitogenic stimuli, and cytokine and β-amyloid (Aβ) responses were quantified in culture supernatants. Diagnosis-by-stimulus interaction effects were assessed using generalized …

Endovascular Thrombectomy In Medium And Distal Vessel Occlusions: A Focused Guideline From The Society Of Vascular And Interventional Neurology Guidelines And Practice Standards Committee, Shahram Majidi, Amol Mehta, Sami Al-Kasab, Kaustubh Limaye, Adam A. Dmytriw, Adam De Havenon, Farhan Siddiq, Robin Novakovic, Alexandra L. Czap, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The authors present an overview of the current evidence and management recommendations for evaluation and treatment of adults with acute ischemic stroke from distal- and medium-vessel occlusion (DMVO) for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The intended audiences are prehospital care providers, physicians, and allied health professionals.

Methods: The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Standards committee formed a writing group to conduct a structured literature review on EVT for DMVO-related acute ischemic stroke and to draft practice recommendations in accordance with the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Algorithm. A structured literature search was conducted …

Sex-Based Differences In Clinical Outcomes Among Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated With Mechanical Circulatory Support, Emmanuel Olumuyide, Ju Young Bae, Rongras Damrongwatanasuk, Ezaz Rahman, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Jiun-Ruey Hu, S. Elissa Altin

School of Medicine Publications

Despite advances in therapies, cardiogenic shock (CS) remains associated with high mortality rates, often necessitating mechanical circulatory support (MCS) to preserve end-organ perfusion. Despite increasing rates of MCS utilization, less is known about sex-related differences in clinical outcomes to guide practice. Additionally, standardized management protocols for CS patients requiring MCS that account for sex differences are lacking. In this study, we evaluate sex-specific outcomes in CS patients requiring MCS, examine patterns of MCS utilization by sex, and further stratify clinical outcomes by sex across the overall CS cohort, including the acute myocardial infarction-related CS (AMI-CS), acute heart failure-related CS (AHF-CS), …

Two Decades Of Progress In The Prevention And Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer: From Aspirin To Targeted Therapy, Lovyanne Vergel De Dios, Salique Hassan Shaham, Puneet Vij, Manish Kumar Tripathi

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Improving Procedural Confidence: Outcomes Of A Surgical Skills Workshop For Medical Students, Mary Arden G Guillory, Jennifer Escamilla, Anika Doppalapudi, Ashlyn Holubar, Kaitlyn Ybanez, Mark Manickath, Maci Oestreich, Mckenna Stallworth, Kelsey Baker

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction Introducing surgical skills early in medical training may enhance students' confidence and readiness for clinical training. Simulation-based skill workshops provide students with a comfortable learning environment, resulting in effective learning. The goal of the Surgical Skills Workshop was to provide first- and second-year medical students with hands-on exposure to essential surgical skills. The educational impact on medical students' confidence in performing the respective surgical skills and changes in surgical career interest was assessed.

Methods: First- and second-year medical students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine participated in a hands-on surgical skills workshop comprising eight …

Gene × Sex Interactions On Cognition In The Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, Josephine Mollon, Emma M. Knowles, Samuel R. Mathias, Amanda Rodrigue, Ruben C. Gur, Juan M. Peralta, Daniel J. Weiner, Elise B. Robinson, Armin Raznahan, Raquel E. Gur, John Blangero, Laura Almasy, David C. Glahn

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Small differences between females and males in cognitive abilities have been consistently reported, but the factors underlying these sex differences remain unclear. Social and cultural factors are thought to play a key role, but studies on this topic have been inconclusive. Examination of genetic factors may shed some light on the mechanisms underlying cognitive sex differences.

Methods: Using data from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, a large, general population sample of individuals aged 8 to 21 years old (N = 4,694), we tested for sex differences in the genetic factors (i.e., Gene × Sex interactions) underlying cognitive ability. Participants completed …

Seizure-Induced Resolution Of Depressive And Psychotic Symptoms In A Pregnant Patient: A Case Of Spontaneous Neuromodulation, Ariel E. Sosa Gomez, Ryan M. Go, David Valdez

School of Medicine Publications

Many individuals with epilepsy often develop major depressive disorder (MDD), creating a complex interplay that exacerbates outcomes for affected individuals. The relationship between these disorders may be mediated by overlapping neurobiological mechanisms, including disturbances in the limbic system, neurotransmitter imbalances, and the psychosocial stressors of chronic illness. While the co-occurrence typically leads to a worsening of symptoms, rare instances have been reported in which seizure activity appears to ameliorate psychiatric symptomatology. We present the case of a 23-year-old pregnant Hispanic female with a longstanding history of treatment-resistant depression with psychotic features and epilepsy, who demonstrated full remission of depressive and …

Vitamin D–Amp Axis In Host Defense Against Fungal Infections, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Svetlana K. Sakhanova, Kuanysh Tastambek, Dinara K. Sherelkhan, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Vitamin D–mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important focus in innate immunology and is aimed at elucidating the role of vitamin D in enhancing antimicrobial defense. AMPs are short protein chains that serve as a first line of defense against invading pathogens, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. Unlike conventional antibiotics, AMPs are produced endogenously and are less likely to induce antimicrobial resistance, making them promising candidates for treating infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Studies indicate that optimal vitamin D levels are essential for activating antimicrobial pathways and regulating AMPs that target multiple fungal pathogens. This article summarizes recent …

Secondary Cutaneous Involvement In Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: Diagnostic Frameworks, Staging Integration, And Therapeutic Implications, Aura Calderon, Jose Loayza Pintado, Cristina Kochi, Jared Hensley, Andres Suarez Parraga, Everardo Cobos

School of Medicine Publications

The occurrence of secondary cutaneous manifestations in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is relatively infrequent and can resemble benign dermatoses, leading to diagnosis delays. We present the case of a 78-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of PTCL affecting the left parotid gland, who experienced a 2-day sudden and intensely pruritic skin eruption, which progressed from both forearms to the trunk, involving more than 50% of the total body surface area. Initially, the eruption was managed as a hypersensitivity reaction with antihistamines and corticosteroids, with temporary symptomatic relief; however, the rapid clinical progression in the context of an established diagnosis of …

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Detecting Cognitive Impairment Early In Hispanic And Black Older Adults: Community Voices From South Central Texas, Robin C. Hilsabeck, Stephanie Santiago-Mejias, Tara L. Fletcher, Shanae L. Rhodes, Gladys Maestre, Sudha Seshadri, Neela K. Patel, Fayron R. Epps

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) are more prevalent in Black and Hispanic older adults and are also more likely to be undetected and misdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to engage with Black and Hispanic communities about interest in and support needed for memory screening.

Methods: Participants were recruited from established community partners of the South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center to engagein a 90-minute listening session. The session was recorded with participants' permission, and a thematic analysis was conducted by 2 independent coders.

Results: Sixteen individuals (81% female, 88% Hispanic or Black) from various perspectives participated …

Mitigating Disparities In Diagnosis Of Dementia, Lycia Tramujas Vasconcellos Neumann, Simin Mahinrad, Erin L. Abner, Soo Borson, Goldie S. Byrd, Maria Carrillo, Lindsay Clark, Anthony N. Correro Ii, Kacie D. Deters, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

The field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) is undergoing a transformative shift with a better understanding of disease biology, biomarker-based diagnostics, and disease-modifying therapies. Yet, these advancements risk exacerbating existing disparities in diagnosis and care. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) Advancements: Exploring Equity in Diagnosis convened interdisciplinary experts to address these inequities and chart a path toward population-generalizable research and practice. This article synthesizes key insights from the conference, highlighting considerations for inclusive and representative research design, ethical approaches in diagnostic disclosure, as well as challenges and solutions at individual, community, and systemic levels to advance …

Understanding And Overcoming Innate And Acquired Mapk Inhibition Resistance In Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, Peter Y F Zeng, Jalna Meens, Amir Hossein Karimi, Harrison Pan, Matthew J. Cecchini, Laura Jarycki, Sarah B. Ryan, Alice E. Dawson, Mushfiq H. Shaikh, David A. Palma

School of Medicine Publications

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is highly lethal. Although patients with the BRAFV600E alteration respond to the type I RAF inhibitor (RAFi) dabrafenib with trametinib, most rapidly develop adaptive or acquired resistance. Here, multi-region whole-genome, high-coverage whole-exome, and single-nuclei RNA sequencing of tumors from ATC patients undergoing type I RAFi and MEKi therapy reveals that reactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, along with immunosuppressive macrophage proliferation, may underlie the development of acquired resistance. Screening of several RAFi reveals that ATC cell lines are exquisitely sensitive to the type II RAFi naporafenib, which inhibits EphA2-mediated MAPK signaling. Further, naporafenib and …

Pernicious Anemia Presenting As Pseudothrombotic Microangiopathy: A Case Report, Sai Sushrutha M Vemula, Shreeya Adhikari, Shreya Motkur, Alfarooq Alshaikhli, Borys Hrinczenko

School of Medicine Publications

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and end-organ dysfunction, with high untreated mortality that can be effectively reduced with timely plasma exchange (PLEX) and immunosuppressive therapy. However, several conditions can produce a clinically similar pseudo-TMA picture, among which severe vitamin B12 deficiency is an underrecognized and potentially treatable mimic that occurs due to ineffective intramedullary erythropoiesis, megaloblastic fragmentation of structurally abnormal erythrocytes, and pancytopenia in the absence of true endothelial injury or ADAMTS13 deficiency. We present a 74-year-old female patient who presented with altered mental status, bradycardia, and severe …

Enhanced Recovery Of High-Quality Dna From Limited Ffpe Tissue For Advancing Cancer Genomics, Shweta Singh, Sierra Vidaurri, Astrid Perez, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Monica Betancourt-Garcia, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

School of Medicine Publications

Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are crucial assets in cancer research. However, despite the availability of commercial DNA purification kits, researchers face persistent challenges. The limited tissue availability, formalin-induced crosslinking, and DNA fragmentation in FFPE blocks often results in low DNA yield and compromised quality, hindering downstream applications. In this study, we optimized and standardized DNA purification methods to achieve high-yield, high-integrity DNA, making it ideal for DNA library preparation and high-throughput sequencing. Therefore, we optimized DNA extraction protocols using two Qiagen kits, the QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit and the QIAamp DNA FFPE Advanced Kit. The optimized methods …

Joint Disease And Demographic Factors In Clinical Populations Of Medically Underserved Communities, Blake C. Martin, Juan Lopez-Alvarenga, Michael Sander

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The Rio Grande Valley is a medically underserved, demographically unique population that warrants the exploration of various conditions.

Objectives: We sought to analyze the demographic disparities between the different types of common joint conditions in this community. We hypothesized that osteoarthritis would be the most common joint condition and that the demographics between the various joint conditions would vary depending on age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort, from January 1, 2018, to September 4, 2024. Patients’ charts were obtained using the ICD-10 diagnosis codes M15-M19 for osteoarthritis, M05-M06 for rheumatoid arthritis, M10 or M1A …

Phosphate-Mediated Regulation Of Intracellular Calcium Dynamics, Huma Shahzad, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Phosphate (Pi) and calcium (Ca2+) are essential mineral ions that play coordinated roles in maintaining normal cellular functions. While various steps of calcium signaling are well characterized, emerging evidence suggests the critical role of both intracellular and extra cellular phosphate in regulating intracellular Ca2+. In the cytoplasm, phosphate influences ATP production and organelle calcium buffering and influences the activity of calcium pumps, such as sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA). Extracellular phosphate, taken up via sodium-dependent phosphate transporters, triggers signaling cascades that affect the processes of calcium influx, storage, and release. Additionally, high extracellular phosphate levels …

Obesity Rise Plateaus In Developed Nations And Accelerates In Developing Nations, Ncdrf Collaboration, Bin Zhou, Nowell H. Phelps, Agnese Galeazzi, Olivia N. O’Driscoll, James E. Bennett, Lakshya Jain, Ysé D’Ailhaud De Brisis, Gladys E. Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo

School of Medicine Publications

Global reporting of obesity is commonly based on comparisons over multiple decades1 and lacks a granular and systematic analysis of its dynamics. We used 4,050 population-based studies with measured height and weight data on 232 million participants to assess the worldwide dynamics of obesity from 1980 to 2024. The rise in obesity decelerated in school-aged children and adolescents throughout the 1990s in many high-income countries, and subsequently plateaued in most at age-standardized prevalences spanning 20 percentage points, from 3–4% for girls in Japan, Denmark and France to 23% for boys in the USA. There were indications of a small …