Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Murine Typhus Presenting With Acute Psychosis And Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: A Case Report, Abdullah M. Pervaiz, Rabail Tariq, Salman A. Bangash, Yasir Lal

School of Medicine Publications

Murine typhus is an endemic infectious disease caused by Rickettsia typhi and is transmitted by fleas. It typically causes a mild illness with symptoms of fever, rash, headache, chills, and non-specific gastrointestinal complaints. However, there have been no reported cases in the literature of murine typhus infection causing symptoms of acute psychosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

A 30-year-old female with a history of gastric bypass and chronic pain syndrome presented to the emergency department with altered mental state and fever. She developed vivid visual hallucinations, DIC, and hypoxia with pulmonary opacities, ultimately requiring intubation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed …

Glycated Serum Protein Genetics And Pleiotropy With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Matthew P. Johnson, Ryan Keyho, Nicholas B. Blackburn, Sandra Laston, Satish Kumar, Juan M. Peralta, Suman S. Thapa, Bradford Towne, Janardan Subedi, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Measurements of fasting glucose (FG) or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are two clinically approved approaches commonly used to determine glycemia, both of which are influenced by genetic factors. Obtaining accurate measurements of FG or HbA1c is not without its challenges, though. Measuring glycated serum protein (GSP) offers an alternative approach for assessing glycemia. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability of GSP and GSP expressed as a percentage of total serum albumin (%GA) using a variance component approach and localize genomic regions (QTLs) that harbor genes likely to influence GSP and %GA trait variation in a large …

A Qtl On Chromosome 3q23 Influences Processing Speed In Humans, Emma E. M. Knowles, Samuel R. Mathias, Josephine Mollon, Amanda Rodrigue, Marinka M. G. Koenis, Thomas D. Dyer, Harald H. H. Goring, Joanne E. Curran, Rene L. Olvera, Ravindranath Duggirala, Laura Almasy, John Blangero, David C. Glahn

School of Medicine Publications

Processing speed is a psychological construct that refers to the speed with which an individual can perform any cognitive operation. Processing speed correlates strongly with general cognitive ability, declines sharply with age, and is impaired across a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Thus, identifying genes that influence processing speed will likely improve understanding of the genetics of intelligence, biological aging, and the etiologies of numerous disorders. Previous genetics studies of processing speed have relied on simple phenotypes (e.g., mean reaction time) derived from single tasks. This strategy assumes, erroneously, that processing speed is a unitary construct. In the present …

Differential Methylation In Apoe (Chr19; Exon Four; From 44,909,188 To 44,909,373/Hg38) And Increased Apolipoprotein E Plasma Levels In Subjects With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Oscar Mancera-Páez, Kelly Estrada-Orozco, María Fernanda Mahecha, Francy Cruz, Kely Bonilla-Vargas, Nicolás Sandoval, Esneyder Guerrero, David Salcedo-Tacuma, Jesus Melgarejo, Edwin Vega

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Biomarkers are essential for identification of individuals at high risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for potential prevention of dementia. We investigated DNA methylation in the APOE gene and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plasma levels as MCI biomarkers in Colombian subjects with MCI and controls. Methods: In total, 100 participants were included (71% women; average age, 70 years; range, 43–91 years). MCI was diagnosed by neuropsychological testing, medical and social history, activities of daily living, cognitive symptoms and neuroimaging. Using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted by age and gender, we examined the risk association of MCI with plasma ApoE and …

Uncovering The Complex Genetics Of Human Personality: Response From Authors On The Pgmra Model, Igor Zwir, Pashupati Mishra, Coral Del-Val, C. Charles Gu, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Terho Lehtimäki, C. Robert Cloninger

School of Medicine Publications

Following publication of our two articles [1, 2], a critique of the methodology of Phenotype-Genotype Many-to-Many Relations Analysis (PGMRA) [1, 3, 4] questioned the validity of our results from the perspective of polygenic risk scores (PRS) [5]. We appreciate the importance of these questions, and here provide a concise discussion of the assumptions and mathematical constraints of both approaches. We thank this commentator and others who have discussed our articles with us for their thoughtful questions and critiques.

Identification Of Coordinately Regulated Microrna-Gene Networks That Differ In Baboons Discordant For Ldl-Cholesterol, Genesio M. Karere, Jeremy P. Glenn, Shifra Birnbaum, Roy Garcia, Jane F. Vandeberg, Laura A. Cox

School of Medicine Publications

Rationale

Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (plasma LDL-C), vascular endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), particularly monocytes, play key roles in initiating atherosclerosis, the primary cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the mechanisms underlying development of atherosclerosis are not well understood, LDL-C is known to influence expression of endothelial microRNAs (miRNAs) and gene-targets of miRNAs to promote cell senescence. However, the impact of LDL-C on expression of PBMC miRNAs and miRNA targeted genes in response to an atherogenic diet is not known. In this study, we used unbiased methods to identify coordinately responsive PBMC miRNA- gene networks that differ …

Cucurbitacin D Reprograms Glucose Metabolic Network In Prostate Cancer, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Neeraj Chauhan, Parvez Khan, Sonam Kumari, Vivek Kumar Kashyap, Sheema Khan, Aditya Ganju, Fathi T. Halaweish, Murali M. Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

Prostate cancer (PrCa) metastasis is the major cause of mortality and morbidity among men. Metastatic PrCa cells are typically adopted for aberrant glucose metabolism. Thus, chemophores that reprogram altered glucose metabolic machinery in cancer cells can be useful agent for the repression of PrCa metastasis. Herein, we report that cucurbitacin D (Cuc D) effectively inhibits glucose uptake and lactate production in metastatic PrCa cells via modulating glucose metabolism. This metabolic shift by Cuc D was correlated with decreased expression of GLUT1 by its direct binding as suggested by its proficient molecular docking (binding energy -8.5 kcal/mol). Cuc D treatment also …

Noise-Tolerant Modular Neural Network System For Classifying Ecg Signal, Alberto Ochoa, Luis J. Mena, Vanessa G. Felix, Apolinar Gonzalez, Walter Mena, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Millions of electrocardiograms (ECG) are interpreted every year, requiring specialized training for accurate interpretation. Because automated and accurate classification ECG signals will improve early diagnosis of heart condition, several neural network (NN) approaches have been proposed for classifying ECG signals. Current strategies for a critical step, the preprocessing for noise removal, are still unsatisfactory. We propose a modular NN approach based on artificial noise injection, to improve the generalization capability of the resulting model. The NN classifier initially performed a fairly accurate recognition of four types of cardiac anomalies in simulated ECG signals with minor, moderate, severe, and extreme noise, …

Genetic Architecture Of Human Obesity Traits In The Rhesus Macaque, Michael J. Raboin, John Letaw, Asia D. Mitchell, David Toffey, Jessica Mckelvey, Charles T. Roberts Jr, Joanne E. Curran, Amanda Vinson

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Whereas the metabolic consequences of obesity have been studied extensively in the rhesus macaque, corollary genetic studies of obesity are nonexistent. This study assessed genetic contributions to spontaneous adiposity in this species.

Methods: Phenotypic variation by age class and sex for BMI, waist to height ratio, waist to thigh ratio, and waist circumference was assessed in 583 macaques. Total and sex-specific heritability for all traits was estimated, including waist to thigh ratio adjusted for BMI, as well as genotypic and phenotypic correlations. In addition, functional genetic variation at BDNF, FTO, LEP, LEPR, MC4R, PCSK1, POMC, and SIM1 was assessed …

Stable Between-Subject Statistical Inference From Unstable Within-Subject Functional Connectivity Estimates, Diego Vidaurre, Mark W. Woolrich, Anderson M. Winkler, Theodoros Karapanagiotidis, Jonathan Smallwood, Thomas E. Nichols

School of Medicine Publications

Spatial or temporal aspects of neural organization are known to be important indices of how cognition is organized. However, measurements and estimations are often noisy and many of the algorithms used are probabilistic, which in combination have been argued to limit studies exploring the neural basis of specific aspects of cognition. Focusing on static and dynamic functional connectivity estimations, we propose to leverage this variability to improve statistical efficiency in relating these estimations to behavior. To achieve this goal, we use a procedure based on permutation testing that provides a way of combining the results from many individual tests that …

Christmas In July: A Case Report Of Santa Claus And His New Left Ventricular Assist Device, Baine Herrera, Alba Azola, Robert Samuel Mayer

School of Medicine Publications

Mr. SC is a 62-year-old male retired truck driver who enjoys creating bi-annual holiday cheer as Santa Claus. Mr. SC was admitted to Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Hospital for severe deconditioning following placement of a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). Post-operative complications included fever of unknown origin, leukocytosis, fluid overload, new blurry vision, new bouts of confusion, new onset benign tremors, acalculous cholecystitis, and new pain, weakness, and paresthesia in the left hip due to a psoas hematoma. Mr. SC’s goals for treatment were to return home and reengage with hobbies. Mr. SC eventually achieved a satisfactory level …

Cd(Ii)- And Pb(Ii)-Induced Self-Assembly Of Peripheral Membrane Domains From Protein Kinase C, Taylor R. Cole, Samuel G. Erickson, Krystal A. Morales, Minwoo Sung, Andreas Holzenburg, Tatyana I. Igumenova

School of Medicine Publications

Cd2+ and Pb2+ are xenobiotic heavy metal ions that use ionic mimicry to interfere with the cellular function of biomacromolecules. Using a combination of SAXS, electron microscopy, FRET, and solution NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that treatment with Cd2+ and Pb2+ causes self-assembly of protein kinase C regulatory domains that peripherally associate with membranes. The self-assembly process successfully competes with ionic mimicry and is mediated by conserved protein regions that are distinct from the canonical Ca2+-binding motifs of protein kinase C. The ability of protein oligomers to interact with anionic membranes is enhanced compared to the monomeric species. Our findings suggest …

The Common Rule’S “Reasonable Person” Standard For Informed Consent, Jake Greenblum, Ryan K. Hubbard

School of Medicine Publications

Laura Odwazny and Benjamin Berkman have raised several challenges regarding the new reasonable person standard in the revised Common Rule, which states that informed consent requires potential research subjects be provided with information a reasonable person would want to know to make an informed decision on whether to participate in a study. Our aim is to offer a response to the challenges Odwazny and Berkman raise, which include the need for a reasonable person standard that can be applied consistently across institutional review boards and that does not stigmatize marginal groups. In response, we argue that the standard ought to …

Calcium Channel Blockade With Nimodipine Reverses Mri Evidence Of Cerebral Oedema Following Acute Hypoxia, Matthew J. Rowland, Martyn Ezra, Anderson M. Winkler, Payashi Garry, Catherine Lamb, Michael Kelly, Thomas W. Okell, Jon Westbrook, Richard G. Wise, Gwenaëlle Douaud

School of Medicine Publications

Acute cerebral hypoxia causes rapid calcium shifts leading to neuronal damage and death. Calcium channel antagonists improve outcomes in some clinical conditions, but mechanisms remain unclear. In 18 healthy participants we: (i) quantified with multiparametric MRI the effect of hypoxia on the thalamus, a region particularly sensitive to hypoxia, and on the whole brain in general; (ii) investigated how calcium channel antagonism with the drug nimodipine affects the brain response to hypoxia. Hypoxia resulted in a significant decrease in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), a measure particularly sensitive to cell swelling, in a widespread network of regions across the brain, and …

Therapeutic Efficacy Of A Novel Βiii/Βiv-Tubulin Inhibitor (Veru-111) In Pancreatic Cancer, Vivek K. Kashyap, Qinghui Wang, Saini Setua, Prashanth K.B. Nagesh, Neeraj Chauhan, Sonam Kumari, Pallabita Chowdhury, Duane D. Miller, Murali M. Yallapu, Wei Li, Meena Jaggi, Bilal B. Hafeez, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The management of pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is exceptionally difficult due to poor response to available therapeutic modalities. Tubulins play a major role in cell dynamics, thus are important molecular targets for cancer therapy. Among various tubulins, βIII and βIV-tubulin isoforms have been primarily implicated in PanCa progression, metastasis and chemo-resistance. However, specific inhibitors of these isoforms that have potent anti-cancer activity with low toxicity are not readily available.

Methods: We determined anti-cancer molecular mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of a novel small molecule inhibitor (VERU-111) using in vitro (MTS, wound healing, Boyden chamber and real-time xCELLigence assays) and in vivo …

Pumping Iron - How Do Race And Gender Affect The Risk Of Anemia In A Cohort Of Predominantly Hispanic Heart Failure (Hf) Patients Seen In A Community Hospital In The Rio Grande Valley (Rgv)?, Michael Lapelusa, Andrea M. Cordero-Reyes, Francisco Avellan, Daniella Concha, Laura Garcia, James Hanley

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction Anemia in patients with heart failure (HF) is common. Data reported shows a variable prevalence ranging from 10-40%. Additionally, it has also been demonstrated that it is associated with poor outcomes. Multiple risk factors have been shown to contribute to the presence of anemia in HF patients (1). We were interested in determining the risk factors for anemia in HF patients in our population in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients admitted with a diagnosis of HF (Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction HFpEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction HFrEF …

Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Prevalence And Risk Of Cognitive Impairment In A Population Studied In The Mexican Health And Aging Study 2012–2015, Sara G. Aguilar-Navarro, Alberto José Mimenza-Alvarado, J E. Aguilar-Esquivel, Sara G. Yeverino-Castro, Teresa Juarez-Cedillo, Silvia Mejia-Arango

School of Medicine Publications

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome, describe associated risk factors and to determine the risk of progression to cognitive impairment after three years of follow-up, in a sample of Mexican older adults.

Design: A prospective panel study of health and aging in Mexico.

Setting and participants: Baseline and follow-up information was obtained from the Mexican Health and Aging Study's 2012 and 2015 waves. A total of 726 subjects aged 60 years or older with normal cognition at baseline were classified into 4 groups: 1) with MCR, 2) with memory …

Eyelid Cosmetic Enhancements And Their Associated Ocular Adverse Effects, Maliha Masud, Majid Moshirfar, Tirth J. Shah, Aaron T. Gomez, Michele R. Avila, Yasmyne C. Ronquillo

School of Medicine Publications

Numerous cosmetic enhancements and augmentations to the natural appearance of the periorbital area are readily available today. Due to the increasing popularity of these cosmetic procedures, it is important for ophthalmologists to be aware of their potential risks, complications and adverse effects. The aim of this literature review was to introduce some of the most common ocular cosmetic enhancements and provide a comprehensive overview of their associated adverse effects reported in various medical journals. PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were used to identify articles related to the following ocular cosmetic procedures; eyelash extensions, permanent eyelid tattooing, and eyelash dyeing. The …

Facile Synthesis Of Diverse N-Acyl Anthranilamides And Quinazolin-4-Ones As Hmg-Coa Reductase Inhibitor Via Pd-Catalyzed Cascade Reaction, Pathan Sultan Ismail, Irfan Khan, Vivek Kumar, Ved Prakash Verma, Monika Shukla, Anupam Dhasmana, Shashi Pandey, Girdhar Pal Singh, Jaybir Singh, Shahnawaz Khan

School of Medicine Publications

This manuscript describes the design and synthesis of a series of diverse N-Acyl Anthranilamides and quinazolin-4-ones derivatives (3a-3n, and 4a-4d) inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. A series of N-Acyl Anthranilamides and quinazolin-4-ones derivatives (3a-3n, and 4a-4d) were synthesized and their chemical structures were confirmed by 1 H, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. Analogs were optimized using structure-based design and physical property considerations resulting in the identification of 4b and 3d, a hepatoselective HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor with excellent acute and chronic efficacy in a vitro model.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis Of Novel Benzimidazoles As Antimalarial Agents Via Post Ugi Mcr, Anshu Dandia, Pankaj Potlia, Irfan Khan, Vivek Kumar Kashyap, Ved Prakash Verma, Mankiva Karnatak, Anupam Dhasmana, Shashi Pandey, Tarun Shrimali, Vijay Parewa, Shahnawaz Khan, Jaybir Singh

School of Medicine Publications

An efficient strategy for the syntheses of highly diverse benzimidazoles in exceptional yields via post Ugi reactions has been described. In our methodology we have utilized isocyanide based Ugi-reaction followed by acid catalyzed condensation cyclization reaction under microwave irradiations. All benzimidazole derivatives showed moderate to good antimalarial activity when compared with chloroquine as reference compound. Among these compounds, three of them (8b), (8c), (8d) were found to be most potent towards antimalarial activity. The synthesized hybrids were examined for their purity with the help of thin layer chromatography. Different analytical techniques were employed for further characterization like Mass studies, NMRs …

Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of 2,4-Diaminopyrimidine-5-Carbonitrile And N-(2-Amino-5-Cyanopyrimidin-4-Yl)Benzamide Derivatives As Egfr Inhibitors, Pathan Sultan Ismail, Irfan Khan, Vivek Kumar Kashyap, Ved Prakash Verma, Monika Shukla, Anupam Dhasmana, Shashi Pandey, Girdhar Pal Singh, Shahnawaz Khan, Jaybir Singh

School of Medicine Publications

A series of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile and N-(2-amino-5-cyanopyrimidin-4-yl) benzamide derivatives (5–14) were synthesized and their chemical structures were confirmed by 1 H, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. Anticancer activity of all the synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines i.e., human breast (MCF-7,), cervical cancer (C33A), oral (KB) and prostrate (DU-145). All the examined compounds, demonstrated potent to moderate anticancer activity. Among all the synthesized compounds, 6 and 11 were exhibited more potent activity. Docking studies for 6 and 11 into EGFR active site was carried out to investigate their …

A Rare Presentation Of Cardiac Aspergilloma In An Immunocompetent Host: Case Report And Literature Review, Abdullah M. Pervaiz, Salman A. Bangash, Raheel Akhtar, Zain Wahab, Hyder Bangash

School of Medicine Publications

Cardiac aspergilloma is exceptionally rare with only a handful of cases reported and majority of them being in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present a case of cardiac aspergilloma involving the right and left ventricle in an immunocompetent patient that initially presented with acute limb ischemia. He was later found to have a cardiac mass with histopathological diagnosis confirming Aspergillus species. Despite aggressive medical and surgical interventions, the patient had an unfavorable outcome due to low suspicion of invasive fungal endocarditis given his immunocompetent status. Cardiac aspergilloma should remain in the differential diagnosis of immunocompetent patients as early clinical suspicion will …

Efficient Region-Based Test Strategy Uncovers Genetic Risk Factors For Functional Outcome In Bipolar Disorder, Monika Budde, Stefanie Friedrichs, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, Seth Ament, Judith A. Badner

School of Medicine Publications

Genome-wide association studies of case-control status have advanced the understanding of the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders. Further progress may be gained by increasing sample size but also by new analysis strategies that advance the exploitation of existing data, especially for clinically important quantitative phenotypes. The functionally-informed efficient region-based test strategy (FIERS) introduced herein uses prior knowledge on biological function and dependence of genotypes within a powerful statistical framework with improved sensitivity and specificity for detecting consistent genetic effects across studies. As proof of concept, FIERS was used for the first genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based investigation on bipolar disorder …

Visual Prognosis After Explantation Of Small-Aperture Corneal Inlays In Presbyopic Eyes: A Case Series, Majid Moshirfar, David F. Skanchy, David J. Rosen, Madeline B. Heiland, Harry Y. Liu, Benjamin Buckner, Aaron T. Gomez, Yasmyne C. Ronquillo, Tim Melton, Phillip C. Hoopes

School of Medicine Publications

The purpose of this study was to report visual prognosis after explantation of a small-aperture corneal inlay used for the treatment of presbyopia. This is a retrospective case series conducted at a single site in Draper, Utah, USA (Hoopes Vision). Medical records of 176 patients who had received a small-aperture corneal inlay (KAMRA™, AcuFocus Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) were reviewed. Patients who had undergone explantation of the device were identified. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) were measured pre-implantation, post-implantation, pre-explantation, and post-explantation of the …

Harnessing The Gatekeepers Of Glucocorticoids For Chemoprevention Of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer, Anna M. Mancha-Ramirez, Xiaoyu Yang, Huiyun Liang, Jacob Junco, Kevin P. Lee, Sarah F. Bovio, Maricruz Espinoza, Julia Wool, Dae Joon Kim

School of Medicine Publications

Despite effective surgical methods for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), patients suffer from tissue damage, scarring, or even disfigurement; thus, there is a need for chemopreventive approaches. Because of the complex interplay between glucocorticoids (GCs), inflammation, and cancer, we sought to determine the role of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (11βHSD1 and 2) in regulating GCs during skin cancer development and progression. 11βHSDs modulate the activation of GCs in a tissue-specific manner and have been reported to play a role in development and progression of other types of cancer, but their role has not yet been reported in NMSC. Here, we …

Full-Length Human Cytomegalovirus Terminase Pul89 Adopts A Two-Domain Structure Specific For Dna Packaging, Janine Theiß, Min Woo Sung, Andreas Holzenburg, Elke Bogner

School of Medicine Publications

A key step in replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the host cell is the generation and packaging of unit-length genomes into preformed capsids. The enzymes involved in this process are the terminases. The HCMV terminase complex consists of two terminase subunits, the ATPase pUL56 and the nuclease pUL89. A potential third component pUL51 has been proposed. Even though the terminase subunit pUL89 has been shown to be essential for DNA packaging and interaction with pUL56, it is not known how pUL89 mechanistically achieves sequence-specific DNA binding and nicking. To identify essential domains and invariant amino acids vis-a-vis nuclease activity …

Molecular Mechanism Of Cancer Susceptibility Associated With Fok1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Of Vdr In Relation To Breast Cancer, Sana Raza, Anupam Dhasmana, Madan Lal Brahma Bhatt, Mohtashim Lohani, Jamal M. Arif

School of Medicine Publications

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women worldwide. It is a multi-factorial disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin D has been hypothesized to lower the risk of breast cancer via the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). Genetic variants of these vitamin D metabolizing genes may alter the bioavailability of vitamin D, and hence modulate the risk of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The distribution of Fok1 VDR gene (rs2228570) polymorphism and its association with breast cancer was analysed in a case–control study based on 125 breast cancer patients and 125 healthy females from North Indian …

The Role Of Women’S Empowerment And Male Engagement In Pregnancy Healthcare Seeking Behaviors In Western Kenya, Fatimah Oluwakemi Bello, Pamela Musoke, Zachary Kwena, George O. Owino, Elizabeth A. Bukusi, Lynae Darbes, Janet M. Turan

School of Medicine Publications

We sought to understand whether women’s empowerment and male partner engagement were associated with use of antenatal care (ANC). Women presenting for ANC in Nyanza province of Kenya between June 2015 and May 2016, were approached for participation. A total of 137 pregnant women and 96 male partners completed baseline assessments. Women’s empowerment was measured using the modified Sexual Relationship Power Scale. ANC use measures included timing of the first ANC visit and number of visits. Male engagement was based on whether a husband reported accompanying his wife to one or more antenatal visits during the pregnancy. Multiple linear and …

Environmental And Genetic Correlations Between The Metabolic Syndrome (Ms) And System Variables Representing Adaptive Immunity, Innate Immunity And Hemostasis, Jewel Udenwagu, Unyime-Abasi Eyobio, Stephanie Onyechi, Vincent P. Diego, Marcio A. Almeida, Tom E. Howard, John Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

The MS is prevalent in Mexican Americans (MAs) and is projected to increase. It is important therefore to better understand its genetic and environmental determinants. We hypothesized that the MS reflects dysfunction in important biological systems. To evaluate this concept, we analyzed gene expression data for the adaptive-immune, innate-immune, and hemostasis systems in relation to the MS from a study on MAs of San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.

Dopamine Perturbation Of Gene Co-Expression Networks Reveals Differential Response In Schizophrenia For Translational Machinery, Mark Z. Kos, Jubao Duan, Alan R. Sanders, Lucy Blondell, Eugene I. Drigalenko, Melanie A. Carless, Pablo V. Gejman, Harald H. H. Goring

School of Medicine Publications

The dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia (SZ) postulates that positive symptoms of SZ, in particular psychosis, are due to disturbed neurotransmission via the dopamine (DA) receptor D2 (DRD2). However, DA is a reactive molecule that yields various oxidative species, and thus has important non-receptor-mediated effects, with empirical evidence of cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration. Here we examine non-receptor-mediated effects of DA on gene co-expression networks and its potential role in SZ pathology. Transcriptomic profiles were measured by RNA-seq in B-cell transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from 514 SZ cases and 690 controls, both before and after exposure to DA ex vivo (100 μM). …