Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Integrated Computational Biology Approach Defines The Crucial Role Of Trip13 In Pancreatic Cancer, Swati Dhasmana, Anupam Dhasmana, Stella Rios, Iris A. Enriquez-Perez, Sheema Khan, Farrukh Afaq, Shafiul Haque, Upender Manne, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

Highlights

• Integrative computational biology techniques are holistic approaches in cancer discovery by exploring multiple levels of convolution in biological systems.

• Pancreatic cancer is expected that by 2030, it will become the 2nd leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States alone.•

• For the first time, the role and patholgenic events of TRIP13 in PanCa have been discussed.

• This study elucidates the role of TRIP13 on molecular level, as a specific signal for early events of pancreatic cancer, enhancing patient prognosis, and boosting targeted therapies in clinical settings.

• This study has potential to enrich the existing biomarker panel for …

Postmortem Brain Imaging In Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias: The South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Repository, Karl Li, Tanweer Rashid, Jinqi Li, Nicolas Honnorat, Anoop Benet Nirmala, Elyas Fadaee, Di Wang, Sokratis Charisis, Gladys E. Maestre, Peter T. Fox

School of Medicine Publications

Background:

Neuroimaging bears the promise of providing new biomarkers that could refine the diagnosis of dementia. Still, obtaining the pathology data required to validate the relationship between neuroimaging markers and neurological changes is challenging. Existing data repositories are focused on a single pathology, are too small, or do not precisely match neuroimaging and pathology findings.

Objective:

The new data repository introduced in this work, the South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease research center repository, was designed to address these limitations. Our repository covers a broad diversity of dementias, spans a wide age range, and was specifically designed to draw exact correspondences between …

Community Exercise Program Participation And Mental Well-Being In The U.S. Texas-Mexico Border Region, Alma G. Ochoa Del-Toro, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, Michael Machiorlatti, Candace A. Robledo, Amanda C. Davé, Rebecca N. Lozoya, Belinda M. Reininger

School of Medicine Publications

Hispanics are disproportionately affected by low rates of physical activity and high rates of chronic diseases. Hispanics generally and Mexican Americans specifically are underrepresented in research on physical activity and its impact on mental well-being. Some community-based interventions have been effective in increasing physical activity among Hispanics. This study examined data from a sample of low-income Hispanic participants in free community exercise classes to characterize the association between self-reported frequency of exercise class attendance, intensity of physical activity, and participant well-being. As part of two cross-sectional samples recruited from a stratified random sample of community exercise classes, 302 participants completed …

Global Variation In Diabetes Diagnosis And Prevalence Based On Fasting Glucose And Hemoglobin A1c, Ncd Risk Factor Collaboration (Ncd-Risc), Bin Zhou, Kate E. Sheffer, James E. Bennett, Edward W. Gregg, Goodarz Danaei, Rosie K. Singleton, Jonathan E. Shaw, Gladys Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo

School of Medicine Publications

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but these measurements can identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening, had elevated FPG, HbA1c or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardized proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed …

Sar Study Of Niclosamide Derivatives For Neuroprotective Function In Sh-Sy5y Neuroblastoma, Shizue Mito, Benxu Cheng, Benjamin A. Garcia, Xin Yee Ooi, Daniela Gonzalez, Tess C. Ruiz, Francisco X. Elisarraras

School of Medicine Publications

Neurodegenerative disease is a debilitating and incurable condition that affects millions of people around the world. The loss of functions or malfunctions of neural cells are the causes of mortality. A proteosome inhibitor, MG132, is well known to cause neurodegeneration in vitro when model neuronal-derived cell lines are exposed to it. Niclosamide, an anthelmintic drug, which has been used to treat tapeworm infections for more than 50 years, has recently attracted renewed attention in drug repurposing because it has been found to be a good candidate in many drug development screenings. We recently found that all markers of MG132-induced neuronal …

Effect Of 24-H Blood Pressure Dysregulations And Reduced Ocular Perfusion Pressure In Open-Angle Glaucoma Progression, Jesus D. Melgarejo, Jan V. Eijgen, Dongmei Wei, Gladys E. Maestre, Lama A. Al-Aswad, Chia-Te Liao, Luis J. Mena, Thomas Vanassche, Stefan Janssens, Peter Verhamme

School of Medicine Publications

Background:

Low ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), which depends on the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intraocular pressure (IOP), is associated with glaucoma. We studied 24-h MAP dysregulations and OPP in relation to the progression of glaucoma damage.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 155 normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and 110 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients aged 18 years old followed at the University Hospital Leuven with repeated visual field tests (n = 7000 measures, including both eyes) who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Twenty-four-hour MAP dysregulations were variability independent of the mean (VIM), and the five lowest dips in MAP readings …

Quality And Reliability Of Spanish-Language Youtube Videos On Breast Cancer, Fernando C. Diaz, Michael Lapelusa, Hansapani Rodrigo, Ismael Polo Perez, Dailis S. Corria Cedeno, Henry Kwang

School of Medicine Publications

As the number of Spanish- speaking patients with cancer in the USA grows, it is vital that reliable online breast cancer information is available in Spanish. The main objective of our study was to determine the quality and reliability of online videos in Spanish regarding breast cancer. We conducted a YouTube search using the phrase "cancer de mama" (breast cancer) and graded their quality and reliability using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), and the Modified DISCERN Questionnaire. Videos were characterized by descriptive variables. Videos were primarily from Spain (36.4%) and Mexico …

Texas Youth Depression And Suicide Research Network (Tx-Ydsrn) Research Registry And Learning Healthcare Network: Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics, Madhukar H. Trivedi, Abu Minhajuddin, Holli Slater, Regina Baronia, Joseph C. Blader, Jamon Blood, Ryan Brown, Cynthia Claassen, Melissa Defilippis, Cynthia Garza

School of Medicine Publications

Highlights

• TX-YDSRN will improve understanding of youth with depression and suicidal behaviors.

• TX-YDSRN consists of the UT Southwestern Network Hub and 12 medical school “Nodes”.

• The Research Registry will follow 2500 Texas youth for 2 years.

• This report includes the first 1000 youth enrolled in the Research Registry study.

Abstract

Background

American youth are seriously impacted by depression and suicide. The Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) Participant Registry Study was initiated in 2020 to develop predictive models for treatment outcomes in youth with depression and/or suicidality. This report presents the study rationale, design and baseline characteristics of …

A Case Report Of Candida-Induced Emphysematous Gastritis, Natalia Pinto, Jorge Nadal, Yilen Karen Ng-Wong, Michael Menowsky, Ryan Shine, Javier Malcom, Mario Moya, Julian Galindo, Samuel Serna

School of Medicine Publications

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare entity that has not much literature available. It is known to manifest as a diffused wall inflammation and air within the wall of the stomach and has been associated with gas-forming organisms.

We present a complex case of a middle-aged woman with a previous history of fulminant Clostridium difficile complicated with colectomy and diverting colostomy. She was admitted due to diabetic ketoacidosis, later complicated with worsening abdominal pain, and a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast revealed findings consistent with ischemic bowel, severe pneumatosis intestinalis, and extensive portal venous gas. A stomach …

Tuberculosis Presentation And Outcomes In Older Hispanic Adults From Tamaulipas, Mexico, Belinda Medrano, Miryoung Lee, Gretchen L. Gemeinhardt, Javier E. Rodríguez-Herrera, Moncerrato García-Viveros, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Older people are at high risk of developing and dying from pulmonary infections like tuberculosis (TB), but there are few studies among them, particularly in Hispanics. To address these gaps, we sought to identify host factors associated with TB and adverse treatment outcomes in older Hispanics by conducting a cross-sectional study of TB surveillance data from Tamaulipas, Mexico (2006–2013; n = 8381). Multivariable logistic regressions were assessed for older adults (OA ≥65 years) when compared to young (YA, 18–39 years) and middle-aged adults (40–64 years). We found that the OA had features associated with a less complicated TB (e.g., lower …

Synthesis And Antitumor Activity Of Brominated-Ormeloxifene (Br-Orm) Against Cervical Cancer, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, John Apraku, Sonam Kumari, Parvez Khan, Hassan Mandil, Sheema Khan, Murali M. Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chuahan

School of Medicine Publications

Aberrant regulation of β-catenin signaling is strongly linked with cancer proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis, thus, small molecules that can inhibit this pathway might have great clinical significance. Our molecular modeling studies suggest that ormeloxifene (ORM), a triphenylethylene molecule that docks with β-catenin, and its brominated analogue (Br-ORM) bind more effectively with relatively less energy (−7.6 kcal/mol) to the active site of β-catenin as compared to parent ORM. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a Br-ORM by NMR and FTIR, as well as its anticancer activity in cervical cancer models. Br-ORM treatment effectively inhibited tumorigenic features (cell proliferation …

Metabolomic Phenotype Of Hepatic Steatosis And Fibrosis In Mexican Children Living With Obesity, Nayely Garibay-Nieto, Karen Pedraza-Escudero, Isabel Omaña-Guzmán, María José Garcés-Hernández, Eréndira Villanueva-Ortega, Mariana Flores-Torres, José Luis Pérez-Hernández, Mireya León-Hernández, Estibalitz Laresgoiti-Servitje, Juan Carlos Lopez-Alvarenga

School of Medicine Publications

Background and Objectives: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD is the main cause of chronic liver diseases in children, and it is estimated to affect 35% of children living with obesity. This study aimed to identify metabolic phenotypes associated with two advanced stages of MASLD (hepatic steatosis and hepatic steatosis plus fibrosis) in Mexican children with obesity.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis derived from a randomized clinical trial conducted in children and adolescents with obesity aged 8 to 16 years. Anthropometric and biochemical data were measured, and targeted metabolomic analyses were carried out using mass spectrometry. …

Extracellular Vesicles In Triple–Negative Breast Cancer: Immune Regulation, Biomarkers, And Immunotherapeutic Potential, Kaushik Das, Subhojit Paul, Arnab Ghosh, Saurabh Gupta, Tanmoy Mukherjee, Prem Shankar, Anshul Sharma, Shiva Keshava, Subhash C. Chauhan, Vivek Kumar Kashyap

School of Medicine Publications

Triple–negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype accounting for ~10–20% of all human BC and is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification. Owing to its unique molecular profile and limited targeted therapies, TNBC treatment poses significant challenges. Unlike other BC subtypes, TNBC lacks specific molecular targets, rendering endocrine therapies and HER2–targeted treatments ineffective. The chemotherapeutic regimen is the predominant systemic treatment modality for TNBC in current clinical practice. However, the efficacy of chemotherapy in TNBC is variable, with response rates varying between a wide range …

One-Step Simultaneous Liquid Phase Exfoliation-Induced Chirality In Graphene And Their Chirality-Mediated Microrna Delivery, Pranav, Eswara N. H. K. Ghali, Neeraj Chauhan, Rahul Tiwari, Subhash Chauhan, Murali M. Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

Graphene (G) has established itself as an exciting prospect for a broad range of applications owing to its remarkable properties. Recent innovations in chiral nanosystems have led to sensors, drug delivery, catalysis, etc. owing to the stereospecific interactions between various nanosystems and enantiomers. As the molecular structure of G itself is achiral introducing chirality in G by simple attachment of a functional group (a chiral ligand) on the G nanosheet may result in more diverse applications. Herein, we demonstrate direct liquid phase exfoliation and chiral induction in G nanosheets abbreviated as L-graphene and D-graphene in the presence of chiral L-tyrosine …

Addressing Cervical Cancer Disparities In Texas: Expansion Of A Community-Based Prevention Initiative For Medically Underserved Populations, Samantha H. Batman, Melissa L. Varon, Maria Daheri, Tony Ogburn, Saul D. Rivas, Laura Guerra, Paul Toscano, Monica Gasca, Lori Campos, Savanah Foster

School of Medicine Publications

Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled …

Telemedicine Critical Care-Mediated Mortality Reductions In Lower-Performing Patient Diagnosis Groups: A Prospective, Before And After Study, Walter A. Boyle, Christopher M. Palmer, Lisa Konzen, Bradley A. Fritz, Jason White, Michelle Simkins, Brian Dieffenderfer, Ayesha Iqbal, Jill Bertrand, Igor Zwir

School of Medicine Publications

OBJECTIVES:

Studies evaluating telemedicine critical care (TCC) have shown mixed results. We prospectively evaluated the impact of TCC implementation on risk-adjusted mortality among patients stratified by pre-TCC performance.

DESIGN:

Prospective, observational, before and after study.

SETTING:

Three adult ICUs at an academic medical center.

PATIENTS:

A total of 2,429 patients in the pre-TCC (January to June 2016) and 12,479 patients in the post-TCC (January 2017 to June 2019) periods.

INTERVENTIONS:

TCC implementation which included an acuity-driven workflow targeting an identified “lower-performing” patient group, defined by ICU admission in an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation diagnoses category with a pre-TCC …

Multimodal Study Of The Neural Sources Of Error Monitoring In Adolescents And Adults, Stefania Conte, John E. Richards, Nathan A. Fox, Emilio A. Valadez, Marco Mcsweeney, Enda Tan, Daniel Samuel Pine, Anderson M. Winkler, Lucrezia Liuzzi, Elise M. Cardinale, Lauren K. White, George A. Buzzell

School of Medicine Publications

The ability to monitor performance during a goal-directed behavior differs among children and adults in ways that can be measured with several tasks and techniques. As well, recent work has shown that individual differences in error monitoring moderate temperamental risk for anxiety and that this moderation changes with age. We investigated age differences in neural responses linked to performance monitoring using a multimodal approach. The approach combined functional MRI and source localization of event-related potentials (ERPs) in 12-year-old, 15-year-old, and adult participants. Neural generators of two components related to performance and error monitoring, the N2 and ERN, lay within specific …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Resting-State Fmri In Anxiety Disorders: Need For Data Sharing To Move The Field Forward, André Zugman, Laura Jett, Chase Antonacci, Anderson M. Winkler, Daniel Samuel Pine

School of Medicine Publications

Highlights

• There are numerous studies investigating rs-fMRI and anxiety; however, the methodologies are inconsistent.

• Anxiety patients show hypoconnectivity between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex.

• This finding is not robust against possible publication bias. Thus, no strong findings manifest in available literature.

• More studies are needed with standardized methods and larger sample sizes.

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging findings remain uncertain, and resting state functional magnetic resonance (rs-fMRI) connectivity is of particular interest since it is a scalable functional imaging modality. Given heterogeneous past findings for rs-fMRI in anxious individuals, we characterize patterns …

Oral Pustular Lesions In The Setting Of Yersinia Enterocolitica Infection, Alberto D. Lopez Juarez, Kanisha Patel, Jordan Kishbaugh, Aaron Silva

School of Medicine Publications

Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative, rod-shaped, pleomorphic bacteria that is a common source of infectious gastroenteritis. In the United States, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention note yearly 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths [1]. Termed Yersiniosis, the infection is most often acquired via fecal-oral transmission, with sources arising from contaminated pork and unpasteurized milk. Following the fecal-oral transmission, the pathogen invades the intestinal lumen and attaches to the brush border [2]. The clinical presentation includes low-grade fever, vomiting, and invasive diarrhea and further manifestations range from pseudoappendicitis and reactive arthritis [2-3]. Although well-known for its ability to cause …

Safety Outcomes Of Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Combined Thrombectomy And Intravenous Thrombolysis In Tandem Lesions, Aaron Rodriguez-Calienes, Milagros Galecio-Castillo, Mudassir Farooqui, Ameer E. Hassan, Mouhammad A. Jumaa, Afshin A. Divani, Marc Ribo, Wondwossen G. Tekle, Hisham Alhajala, Sunil Sheth

School of Medicine Publications

Background: We aimed to describe the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with or without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for patients with tandem lesions and whether using intraprocedural antiplatelet therapy influences MT's safety with IVT treatment.

Methods: This is a subanalysis of a pooled, multicenter cohort of patients with acute anterior circulation tandem lesions treated with MT from 16 stroke centers between January 2015 and December 2020. Primary outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and parenchymal hematoma type 2. Additional outcomes included hemorrhagic transformation, successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2b-3), complete reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction …

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis And Treatment In High- And Low-Income Countries: A Narrative Review, Ernesto Calderon Martinez, Nancy Y. Ortiz-Garcia, Domenica A. Herrera Hernandez, David Arriaga Escamilla, Diana L. Diaz Mendoza, Diana Othon, Luz M. Ramirez, Jonathan Reyes-Rivera, Jinal Choudhari, George Michel

School of Medicine Publications

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary cardiac condition characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy without a hemodynamic cause. This condition is prevalent in the United States, resulting in various clinical manifestations, including diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular outflow obstruction, cardiac ischemia, and atrial fibrillation. HCM is associated with several genetic mutations, with sarcomeric mutations being the most common and contributing to a more complex disease course. Early diagnosis of HCM is essential for effective management, as late diagnosis often requires invasive treatments and creates a substantial financial burden. Disparities in HCM diagnosis and treatment exist between highincome and low-income countries. High-income …

Autophagy Modulation And Its Implications On Glioblastoma Treatment, Johnny Chen, Andrea Salinas Rodriguez, Maximiliano Arath Morales, Xiaoqian Fang

School of Medicine Publications

Autophagy is a vital cellular process that functions to degrade and recycle damaged organelles into basic metabolites. This allows a cell to adapt to a diverse range of challenging conditions. Autophagy assists in maintaining homeostasis, and it is tightly regulated by the cell. The disruption of autophagy has been associated with many diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. This review will center its discussion on providing an in-depth analysis of the current molecular understanding of autophagy and its relevance to brain tumors. We will delve into the current literature regarding the role of autophagy in glioma pathogenesis by exploring …

Sglt2 Inhibitors Among Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Akash Jaiswal, Vikash Jaiswal, Song Peng Ang, Muhammad Hanif, Ananya Vadhera, Vibhor Agrawal, Tushar Kumar, Anagha M. Nair, Vamsikalayan Borra, Vamsi Garimella

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been recommended in the practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; however, their effects among patients with preserved ejection fraction have been debatable.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the SGLT2 inhibitor effect among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, including DELIVER and EMPEROR-Preserved trials.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane libraries for relevant articles from inception until August 30th, 2022. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating hazard ratio (HR) using the random effect model with a …

Pathophysiological Concepts And Screening Of Cardiovascular Disease In Dialysis Patients, Gift Echefu, Ifeoluwa Stowe, Semenawit B. Burka, Indranill Basu-Ray, Damodar Kumbala

School of Medicine Publications

Dialysis patients experience 10–20 times higher cardiovascular mortality than the general population. The high burden of both conventional and nontraditional risk factors attributable to loss of renal function can explain higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death among dialysis patients. As renal function declines, uremic toxins accumulate in the blood and disrupt cell function, causing cardiovascular damage. Hemodialysis patients have many cardiovascular complications, including sudden cardiac death. Peritoneal dialysis puts dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease at increased risk of CVD complications and emergency hospitalization. The current standard of care in this population is based on observational data, …

Gene-By-Environment Interaction In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease And Depression: The Role Of Hepatic Transaminases, Eron G. Manusov, Vincent P. Diego, Edward Abrego, Kathryn Herklotz, Marcio A. Almeida, Xi Mao, Sandra L. Laston, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a range of liver conditions, from benign fatty accumulation to severe fibrosis. The global prevalence of NAFLD has risen to 25-30%, with variations across ethnic groups. NAFLD may advance to hepatocellular carcinoma, increases cardiovascular risk, is associated with chronic kidney disease, and is an independent metabolic disease risk factor. Assessment methods for liver health include liver biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE by FibroScan). Hepatic transaminases are cost-effective and minimally invasive liver health assessment methods options.

This study focuses on the interaction between genetic factors underlying the traits (hepatic transaminases …

Genotype-By-Socioeconomic Status Interaction Influences Heart Disease Risk Scores And Carotid Artery Thickness In Mexican Americans: The Predominant Role Of Education In Comparison To Household Income And Socioeconomic Index, Vincent P. Diego, Eron G. Manusov, Xi Mao, Joanne E. Curran, Harald H. H. Goring, Marcio A. Almeida, Michael Mahaney, Juan M. Peralta, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a potent environmental determinant of health. To our knowledge, no assessment of genotype-environment interaction has been conducted to consider the joint effects of socioeconomic status and genetics on risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We analyzed Mexican American Family Studies (MAFS) data to evaluate the hypothesis that genotype-by-environment interaction (GxE) is an important determinant of variation in CVD risk factors.

Methods: We employed a linear mixed model to investigate GxE in Mexican American extended families. We studied two proxies for CVD [Pooled Cohort Equation Risk Scores/Framingham Risk Scores (FRS/PCRS) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT)] in …

The Mex-Cog Cognitive Assessment Battery: Discriminant Analysis Of The Cognitive Performance Profile In Older Adults, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Sara Aguilar-Navarro, Alberto José Mimenza-Alvarado

School of Medicine Publications

Objective. To analyze the cognitive profile of a clinical sample using the Mex-Cog cognitive battery and establish which cognitive measures and domains contribute most to group separation.

Materials and methods. A group of 145 older adults previously diagnosed with dementia (n= 47), mild cognitive impairment MCI (n= 47), or as cognitively normal (n= 51) were assessed with the Mex-Cog cognitive battery. Six linear discriminant analyses (LDA) were estimated to compare dementia vs. cognitively normal, MCI vs. cognitively normal, and MCI vs. dementia, using ten individual measures and six cognitive domains. We used a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure to evaluate the predictive …

Enhanced Phenotypes For Identifying Opioid Overdose In Emergency Department Visit Electronic Health Record Data, Ralph Ward, Jihad S. Obeid, Lindsey Jennings, Elizabeth Szwast, William Garrett Hayes, Royal Pipaliya, Cameron Bailey, Skylar Faul, Brianna Polyak, George Hamilton Baker

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Accurate identification of opioid overdose (OOD) cases in electronic healthcare record (EHR) data is an important element in surveillance, empirical research, and clinical intervention. We sought to improve existing OOD electronic phenotypes by incorporating new data types beyond diagnostic codes and by applying several statistical and machine learning methods.

Materials and Methods

We developed an EHR dataset of emergency department visits involving OOD cases or patients considered at risk for an OOD and ascertained true OOD status through manual chart reviews. We developed and validated prediction models using Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boost, and Elastic Net models that incorporated …

The Difficulty In The Diagnosis And Management Of Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome, Sidney Charm D. Reyes

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS) is a condition that occurs in about 20% of patients following the abrupt reduction/stoppage of any antidepressant medication that has been taken continuously for at least one month.

Case Presentation: We present a 36-year-old Hispanic woman who initially presented for evaluation of flu-like symptoms (subjective fever, rhinorrhea) and worsening body aches, trouble sleeping, and headaches for the past three days. She also reported recent exposure to a sick co-worker. Rapid flu, strep, and COVID tests came back negative. Pt was diagnosed with a viral URI and was discharged with counseling on supportive treatment. The patient …

Insights From A Study On Multimodal Experiences In A Plaza, Yohany Albornoz, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

In the emerging field of neuroarchitecture, understanding the neurophysiological responses elicited by urban spaces is crucial for enhancing the quality of life. This study investigates the modulation of neurophysiological responses in relation to the perception of protection in urban environments. By exploring the impact of immediate, previously visited, or contiguous spaces on the sensory experiences of individuals, we aim to uncover insights into the interplay between architectural design, multisensorial experiences, and the modulation of perceived protection.

Using a holistic phenomenological approach, we designed an experiment involving 100 participants to examine how the atmosphere of preceding spaces influences the perception of …