Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Leveraging Existing Cohort Studies Of Mexican Women To Better Understand Hispanic Health And Cancer Risk, Dalia Stern, Liliana Gomez-Flores-Ramos, Britton Trabert, V Wendy Setiawan, Loïc Le Marchand, Henry Gomez, Paul A Scheet, Humberto Parada, Amber Pirzada, Martin Lajous, Leslie V Farland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hispanics have been historically underrepresented in epidemiologic cancer research. Existing cohort studies focused on recruiting Hispanic participants have been relatively small, making studying cancer outcomes challenging. Therefore, we aimed to compare the distribution of cancer risk factors among Hispanic women of Mexican heritage (HWMH) participating in existing cohorts to explore the possibility of future data pooling efforts.

Methods: We used baseline data of HWMH from three US-based studies, the Mexican American Cohort (MAC; n = 19,797; 2001-2017), the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC; n = 18,007; 1993-1996), and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL; n = 4,022; 2008-2011), and …

Ai-Powered Model For Accurate Prediction Of Mci-To-Ad Progression, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Jingna Feng, Xinyue Hu, Fang Li, Sori Lundin, Paul E Schulz, Cui Tao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a formidable challenge in modern healthcare, necessitating innovative approaches for its early detection and intervention. This study aimed to enhance the identification of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at risk of developing AD. Leveraging advances in computational power and the extensive availability of healthcare data, we explored the potential of deep learning models for early prediction using medical claims data. We employed a bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) deep learning model for predictive modeling of MCI progression across various prediction intervals, extending up to five years post-initial MCI diagnosis. The performance of the BiGRU model …

The Late Positive Potential Predicts Contingency Management Outcomes For Cocaine Use Disorder, Heather E Webber, Douglas J Calvillo, Francesco Versace, Constanza De Dios, Robert Suchting, Charles E Green, Scott D Lane, Joy M Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Contingency management (CM) relies on motivation and reward processing and is among the most effective treatments available for cocaine use disorder (CUD), yet success rates do not meet desired clinical efficacy. To improve treatment-individual fit, we investigated the late positive potential (LPP), a measure of incentive salience to cues, as a predictor of treatment response. Treatment-seeking adults with CUD (N = 58) completed an EEG task where they viewed pleasant, unpleasant, cocaine, and neutral images. Participants received CM and counseling for four weeks. Urine was collected thrice weekly. We defined incentive salience to cues by A) cluster analyses on LPP …

Polydrug Abuse: Choice Between Drugs As A Function Of Concurrent Nonindependent Ratio Sizes, Richard A Meisch, Thomas H Gomez, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Polydrug abuse is the persistent self-administration of more than one reinforcing drug. The present study provided rhesus monkeys concurrent access to two drugs: 8% alcohol and solutions of either cocaine or methadone. The liquids were available under concurrent nonindependent fixed-ratio (FR) schedules across increasing and then decreasing ratio sizes. These schedules generate high rates of changeover responses and yield a dependent variable of responses per delivery that is not rigidly tied to the ratio-schedule value. The programmed schedule size was equal for both liquids and increased in the sequence 8, 16, 32, and so on until responding decreased, whereupon the …

Trop2 Expression In Salivary Gland Adenoidcystic Carcinoma (Acc) According To Histologic Subtype: Therapeutic Implications, Juliana Mota Siqueira, Yoshitsugu Mitani, Mario L Marques-Piubelli, Camilla Oliveira Hoff, Flavia Bonini, Luana Guimaraes De Sousa, Mutsumi Mitani, Giovanna Lopes Carvalho, Fabio Daumas Nunes, Leandro Luongo Matos, Shiaw-Yih Lin, Michael T Spiotto, Ehab Y Hanna, Daniel J Mcgrail, Adel K El-Naggar, Renata Ferrarotto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a common salivary gland carcinoma with high recurrence and distant metastasis rates. Currently, there is no standard systemic treatment available. TROP2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in the oncogenesis of several tumors that can be therapeutically targeted by a TROP2-antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). We aimed to characterize TROP2 expression in ACC and assess TROP2 as a potential therapeutic target.

Methods: TROP2 immunohistochemistry was performed in a tissue microarray including 165 ACC of salivary gland. The tumors were grouped according to the histological pattern as non-solid, solid + non-solid, or solid. TROP2 protein expression in ACC …

Wuse-Oil Compound 03 Mitigates Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis By Modulating Oral Microbiota To Mediate Tlr4/Nf-Κb Pathway And Inhibit M1 Macrophage Polarization, Liqun Jia, Rong Huang, Chen Chen, Feng Teng, Tian Gu, Huafeng Liu, Li Ma, Ye Feng, Jingyi Long, Zihan Jin, Dong Li, Dongmei Chen, Yanni Lou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) is a prevalent condition among patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. It is characterized by a high incidence and severe symptoms that significantly compromise patients' quality of life. Currently, there exists no consensus regarding an effective treatment modality. Wuse-oil Compound 03 (WC03), a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, demonstrates potential in managing RIOM.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of WC03 in treating RIOM through the modulation of oral microbiota and associated biological pathways.

Study design: Mechanism study experimental design.

Methods: A rat model of RIOM was established via radiation exposure. WC03 …

Corrigendum To " Igf-1r Inhibitors In Cancer: A Review Of Available Evidence And Future Outlook" [Crit Rev Oncol/Hematol 214 (2025) 104809], Deniz Can Guven, Jibran Ahmed, Bettzy Stephen, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Which Score For What? Operationalizing Standardized Cognitive Test Performance For The Assessment Of Change, Cristan Farmer, Audrey Thurm, Tanvi Das, E Martina Bebin, Jonathan A Bernstein, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, Joseph D Buxbaum, Charis Eng, Thomas Frazier, Antonio Y Hardan, Alexander Kolevzon, Darcy A Krueger, Julian A Martinez-Agosto, Hope Northrup, Craig M Powell, Latha Valluripalli Soorya, Joyce Y Wu, Mustafa Sahin, Developmental Synaptopathies Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Developmental domains, such as cognitive, language, and motor, are key concepts of interest in longitudinal studies of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Normative scores (e.g., IQ) are often used to operationalize performance on standardized tests of these concepts, but it is the interval-distributed person-ability scores that are intended for the assessment of within-individual change. Here we illustrate the use and interpretation of several Stanford Binet, 5th Edition score types (IQ, extended IQ, Z-normalized raw score, developmental quotient, raw sum score, age equivalent, and ability score) using data from two longitudinal studies of rare genetic conditions associated with IDD. We found …

The Outcomes Of A Structured Bowel Management Programme On Childhood Functional Constipation: A Retrospective Pre – Post Intervention Study, Gunilla Flankegård, Peter Wide, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a six-month structured bowel management programme (SBMP) for children with therapy-resistant functional constipation (FC). Method: A retrospective review of medical records with a pre-post design was conducted at an outpatient paediatric clinic in Sweden. Bowel frequency, stool form, faecal incontinence, and abdominal pain were compared before and after the intervention. Predictive factors for successful discharge and duration of care through long-term follow-up were calculated. Results: Of the 142 children enrolled in the SBMP, 132 completed the programme. Despite previous FC therapy resistance, the SBMP achieved a …

A Large-Scale Multi-Centre Study Characterising Atrophy Heterogeneity In Alzheimer's Disease, Vikram Venkatraghavan, Damiano Archetti, Pierrick Bourgeat, Chenyang Jiang, Mara Ten Kate, Anna C. Van Loenhoud, Rik Ossenkoppele, Charlotte E. Teunissen, Elsmarieke Van De Giessen, Yolande A.L. Pijnenburg, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Béla Weiss, Zoltán Vidnyánszky, Tibor Auer, Stanley Durrleman, Alberto Redolfi, Simon M. Laws, Paul Maruff, Neil P. Oxtoby, Andre Altmann, Daniel C. Alexander, Wiesje M. Van Der Flier, Frederik Barkhof, Betty M. Tijms

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Previous studies identified atrophy-based Alzheimer's disease(AD) subtypes linked to distinct clinical symptoms, but their consistency across subtyping approaches remains unclear. This large-scale study evaluates subtype concordance using two data-driven approaches. In this work, we analyzed data from n=10,011 patients across 10 AD cohorts spanning Europe, the US, and Australia, extracting regional volumes using Freesurfer. To characterize atrophy heterogeneity in the AD continuum, we developed a two-step approach, Snowphlake (Staging NeurOdegeneration With PHenotype informed progression timeLine of biomarKErs), to identify subtypes and atrophy-event sequences within each subtype. Results were compared with SuStaIn (Subtype and Stage Inference), which jointly estimates subtypes and …

Automated Instance Segmentation And Registration Of Spinal Vertebrae From Ct-Scans With An Improved 3d U-Net Neural Network And Corner Point Registration, James Hill, Muhammad Rizwan Khokher, Chuong Nguyen, Matt Adcock, Ron Li, Stuart Anderson, Thomas Morrell, Tim Diprose, Olivier Salvado, Dadong Wang, Guan K. Tay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents a rapid and robust approach for 3D volumetric segmentation, labelling, and registration of human spinal vertebrae from CT scans using an optimised and improved 3D U-Net neural network architecture. The network is designed by incorporating residual and dense interconnections, followed by an extensive evaluation of different network setups by optimising the network components like activation functions, optimisers, and pooling operations. In addition, the network architecture is optimised for varying numbers of convolution layers per block and U-Net levels with fixed and cascading numbers of filters. For 3D virtual reality visualisation, the segmentation output of the improved 3D …

Comparison Of Decision-Making Skill In 360° Video To The Field Setting In Highly Skilled Rugby Union Players, Hannah J. Vawser, Khaya Morris-Binelli, Benjamin Piggott, Sean Müller, Paola Chivers, Evan Dekker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Little evidence exists of whether decision-making in immersive 360° video is representative of the field setting in sport. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether decision-making performance of a representative exemplar competition specific skill was similar between 360° video and a field task. Fifteen players from skilled junior rugby union pathways and professional rugby union teams in Australia were recruited to complete a 360° video decision-making choice response task involving four attackers and three defenders. Their decision-making was previously assessed in a similar field decision-making task that was representative of rugby game play. Decision-making was scored according to …

History Informing The Future Of Exercise Oncology, Daniel A. Galvão, Kerry S. Courneya, Alejandro Lucia, Anne M. May, Karen Mustian, Allison B. Warner, Wiskemann Joachim, Karen Wonders, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Exercise is increasingly recognized by patients, clinicians, and allied health professionals globally as an important component of cancer care. In this paper, we provide a viewpoint on developments in exercise oncology over the past 4 decades leading up to the creation of the International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO). We briefly review research in adult and pediatric cancers from early foundation studies to larger randomized controlled trials published in mainstream oncology journals alongside critical work undertaken in exercise and cancer biological mechanisms. We also discuss potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing ISEO in becoming a global forum for exercise …

Socioeconomic Disadvantage, All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality In Patients Treated With Maintenance Dialysis: A Mediation Analysis Of Geographical Inequity And Multimorbidity, Farzaneh Boroumand, Wai H. Lim, Shuvo Bakar, Ryan Gately, Pedro Lopez, Dharshana Sabanayagam, Anita Van Zwieten, Lin Zhu, Germaine Wong, Armando Teixeira-Pinto

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rationale & Objective: Social gradient in health (a “social gradient in health” refers to the observed pattern in which individuals with lower socioeconomic status typically experience poorer health outcomes than those with higher socioeconomic status. This indicates that health disparities exist across different social levels, with the most disadvantaged groups experiencing the worst health outcomes) is significant and established in patients with kidney failure, but the pathways of this relationship are unknown. We aimed to assess the mediating effects of multimorbidity and geographical remoteness in the socioeconomic status (SES)-death associations. Study Design: A cohort study. Setting & Participants: All patients …

Tissue-Specific Distribution Of Microplastics In Human Blood And Carotid Plaques: A Paired Sample Analysis, Cancan Cui, Zheng Guo, Yanxi Liu, Ning Han, Jiayin Song, Yuanmei Chen, Yulu Zheng, Chen Sheng, Lois Balmer, Haibin Li, Rui Liu, Lin Liu, Jianshi Du, Zhiyuan Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Backgrounds: Microplastics (MPs) have been increasingly detected in human tissues, raising concerns about their role in cardiovascular disease. However, their distribution in matched blood and vascular tissues, such as atherosclerotic plaques, remains poorly understood. Methods: Paired blood and carotid plaque samples were analyzed for 12 polymer types of MPs using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry among twenty patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Results: The mean concentration of total MPs was 75.2 μg/g in blood and 432.9 μg/g in plaque. Polyethylene (PE) dominated blood samples (46.5 %), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 16.8 %) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR, 16.3 %). In plaques, MPs were …

Triage Tools To Inform The Prioritisation Of Physical Health Services Following A Diagnosis Of Cancer: A Scoping Review, Georgia L. White, Lauren C. Capozzi, Corey Linton, Adrian Wright, Tamara Jones, Hattie H. Wright, Kate A. Bolam, Elizabeth A. Johnston, Briana K. Clifford, Keegan Bean, Stephanie Brown, Sarah Kolesaric, Mary A. Kennedy, Bryan A. Chan, Grace L. Rose

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Many people face multiple cancer- and treatment-related sequalae. Triage and referral to physical health services can manage such consequences, but a comprehensive understanding of available triage tools is lacking. This review (i) identifies tools used to triage to physical health services, (ii) maps tool characteristics and application outcomes and (iii) summarises existing gaps. Methods: A systematic search was conducted (three databases, April 2024). Articles were included if they used a tool to triage to physical health services. Tools were classified by triaged disciplines (i.e., diet, exercise, physical rehabilitation, multidisciplinary) and screened physical impairments (e.g., malnutrition). Tool characteristics (e.g., triage …

Combining Lumipulse P-Tau217 And Aβ42/40 As Confirmatory Tests For Aβ Positivity Prior To Disease-Modifying Therapy, James D. Doecke, Ahmed Chenna, Mintzu Lo, Youssouf Badal, Brandon Yee, Robert Martone, Christos Petropoulos, Christopher J. Fowler, Simon Laws, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, Christopher C. Rowe, Colin L. Masters, John Winslow

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: For a blood-based biomarker to be considered a confirmatory test for the detection of abnormal amyloid beta (Aβ) levels, the sensitivity and specificity must be equivalent to that of current cerebrospinal fluid tests. Methods: In the current study we assessed the ability of phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 and Aβ42/40 from the Lumipulse G p-tau217 and β-amyloid ratio (1-42/1-40) tests, individually and combined, to predict Aβ positron emission tomography status in two sub-cohorts from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle Study of Ageing. Results: Testing an Alzheimer's disease continuum cohort, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for …

Comparisons Between Different Methods Of Calculating Dynamic Strength Index: Effect On Training Recommendations, Nicholas Joel Ripley, Jack Fahey, Stuart Guppy, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An impulse-based dynamic strength index (iDSI) that constitutes time-dependent force expression in contrast to the common peak force-based DSI (fDSI) may be more insightful when considering training recommendations. However, a limitation of the iDSI is that any change in countermovement jump (CMJ) propulsion phase duration could affect longitudinal comparisons. A fixed duration (e.g., 250ms) iDSI however could overcome this limitation. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of different methods of calculating DSI (fDSI, iDSI matched, iDSI fixed) on the DSI value and resultant training prioritization. Thirty-seven team sport athletes (female=13, male=25, age=22.2±2.8 years, height=174.4±6.0cm, mass=74.9±11.9kg) performed …

Integrative Supportive Care Trial To Enhance Physical Activity In Malignant Pleural Effusion—Protocol For The Isc-Team/Ample-5 Randomised Controlled Trial, Bianca M. Iacopetta, Chloe Charlesworth, Emily Jeffery, Lauren J. Breen, Ai Ling Tan, Joanne Mcveigh, Kevin Murray, Rob U. Newton, Y. C. Gary Lee, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) heralds advanced cancer with poor patient outcomes. High symptom burden of weight loss, fatigue, breathlessness, distress, and anxiety leaves many patients unable to participate in desired activities of daily life and is associated with poor outcomes. Freedom from symptoms and maintaining daily activities are the key wishes of patients and carers. For the best outcome, accessible services aimed at prevention and management of malnutrition, care of psychological well-being, and support for increasing physical activity are required. Methods: The Integrative Supportive Care Trial to Enhance physical Activity in Malignant pleural effusion (ISC-TEAM) study is a two-armed, …

Management Of Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome With Triggers: Diagnostic And Treatment Algorithms From An Asia-Pacific Perspective, Hee Gyung Kang, Danny Hsu, Noritoshi Kato, Jin Seok Kim, Masayoshi Okumi, Min Hua Tseng, Kun Hua Tu, Desmond Yat Hin Yap, Wai H. Lim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Complement-amplifying events/conditions associated with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) include pregnancy/postpartum period, severe hypertension, autoimmune diseases, drug exposures, infections and organ transplantation. Some of these ‘triggers’ may exist comorbidly with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS; a complement-mediated form of TMA), unmask previously undiagnosed aHUS, or occur secondary to aHUS, thus creating a considerable diagnostic challenge. A major goal in patients presenting with TMA is to differentiate complement-mediated aHUS from other causes of TMA such that appropriate targeted treatment with complement 5 (C5) inhibitors can be initiated rapidly to avoid irreversible end-organ damage. To this end, nephrologists and haematologists from Australia, Hong Kong, …

Muscle Creatine Levels And Sprint Performance In Young Adult Vegans And Vegetarians After 7 Days Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation, Thomas Christian Bonne, Valentina Arthemalle, Colin Stephen Doherty, Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen, Jacob Bejder, Thomas Ehlers, Henrik Holm-Sørensen, Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Athletes use creatine monohydrate (CM) to enhance high-intensity exercise performance by increasing creatine phosphate availability. While CM supplementation is known to raise muscle creatine levels in vegans and vegetarians, its impact on exercise performance remains uncertain. We examined the effects of CM supplementation on muscle creatine content and exercise performance in vegans and vegetarians. In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled design, 15 healthy vegans and vegetarians consumed CM (0.3 g/kg/day, n = 7) or placebo (PLA, 0.3 g maltodextrin/kg/day, n = 8) four times a day for 7 days. Before and after supplementation, repeated sprint capacity was determined. Body mass and …

Restricted Social Engagement Is Associated With Depressive Symptoms In Older Chinese Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Yahong Zhu, Huacheng Wang, Jian Geng, Hengrui Liu, Piyong Ma, Lois Balmer, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: Social isolation has been linked to depressive symptoms in older adults. Previous studies have shown that greater engagement in social activities is associated with better mental health. However, it remains unclear whether restricted social engagement is related to poorer mental health outcomes. This study examined the association between reduced social activities/networking and the presence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Chinese adults. Methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, people chose to minimize going out to reduce the risk of infection, creating a natural setting that mimicked a passive intervention of restricted social engagement for community-based individuals. Data were …

Work While You Learn: Evaluating A Paid Employment Model For Postgraduate Midwifery Students In Diverse Contexts, Sadie Geraghty, Kirstie Balding, Sheena Mcchlery, Sarah Hay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Postgraduate midwifery student employment models are lacking robust evaluation of how the paid employment model serves as a workforce strategy in Western Australia. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students, that was implemented in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas in a Western Australian context. Methods: A convergent parallel design collected both quantitative and qualitative data. This study used a survey design with quantitative and qualitative questions within a well-established process evaluation framework. Results: All midwifery students reported benefits of the paid model of employment, which included financial stability while …

Antimicrobial Resistance Of Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile In Cambodia, Lengsea Eng, Papanin Putsathit, Su Chen Lim, Jessica M. Chisholm, Deirdre A. Collins, Archie C.A. Clements, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major topic of interest in infectious disease management. We studied AMR in Clostridioides difficile isolated in Cambodia. Methods: Agar dilution susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI guidelines to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobials for 192 isolates of C. difficile from four populations in Cambodia: hospitalised adults, hospitalised children, children from an outpatient department (OPD), and healthy adolescents in the community. Results: Using the CLSI MIC breakpoints for anaerobes and EUCAST breakpoints for C. difficile, all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, metronidazole, fidaxomicin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and none were resistant …

Evaluation Of A Theoretical And Experiential Training Programme For Allied Healthcare Providers To Prescribe Exercise Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Co-Designed Effectiveness-Implementation Study, Yvonne C. Learmonth, Georgios Mavropalias, Kym Wansbrough

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent neurological disorder in young adults, characterised by physical, psychological and cognitive dysfunction. Exercise training is a safe management strategy. Healthcare providers (HCPs) acknowledge deficiencies in awareness, counselling strategies, and resources that prevent them from promoting and prescribing this effective treatment. We implemented an online evidence-based educational programme and evaluated the effect, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the programme in improving HCP confidence, knowledge, and attitudes towards remote exercise prescription to persons with MS. Methods: Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists were recruited and received the educational programme (online theory and 16-week experience of prescribing …

Lower Limb Muscle Strength Matters: Effect Of Relative Isometric Strength On Countermovement And Rebound Jump Performance In Elite Youth Female Soccer Players, Jack Fahey, Paul Comfort, Nicholas Joel Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Expression of maximal and rapid force in the hip, knee, and plantar flexors is important for athletic performance in female soccer. This study was designed to determine the effect of relative isometric strength in the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) on countermovement jump (CMJ) and rebound jump (CMJ-R) performance in female youth soccer players. Methods: Ninety-six female soccer players (age: 14.1 ± 2.3 years, height: 160.5 ± 9.7 cm, mass: 55.0 ± 10.3 kg) completed three trials of the IMTP, CMJ, and CMJ-R using force plates. Players were categorized as stronger (top quartile, n = 19) and weaker players (bottom …

The Luminos Project: Co-Designing A Short-Stay Suicide Support Model For Young People, Aims Hansen, Samantha Speirs, Kirsten Panton, Jacinta Freeman, Zrinka Highfield, Kieren Marshall, Eleanor Tighe, Laura Hemming, Bep Uink, Francis Mitrou, Vu Vuong, Ashleigh Lin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Suicide was the leading cause of death among young Australians aged 15–24 years old in 2023, with 392 lives lost. The continued high numbers of youth suicide demand urgent exploration of alternative approaches to suicide intervention in this population. The United Kingdom-based suicide service Maytree offers an innovative short-term stay for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Grounded by the Maytree model-of-care, the aim of the current study was to co-design a short-stay service responsive to the specific needs of suicidal young people. Methods: Semi-structured and focus group interviews with young people (n = 38), caregivers (n = 11) and key …

Atypical Dengue Fever Presentation With Severe Leukopenia: A Case Report From An Endemic Border Region, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Alhasan Asaad, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

School of Medicine Publications

Dengue virus infection is increasingly recognized in South Texas, particularly in areas bordering Mexico. Although many cases are mild and self-limiting, dengue can present with atypical features, including hematological abnormalities and bleeding, even in the absence of plasma leakage. A 22-year-old Hispanic woman presented to a hospital in South Texas with hematemesis, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms following travel to northeastern Mexico (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon). Initial laboratory workup revealed severe leukopenia and neutropenia, mild thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes, but no evidence of plasma leakage. A bone marrow biopsy was performed due to persistent cytopenias, revealing a reactive process consistent with …

Assessing Stages Of Objective Memory Impairment And Neuroimaging As Risk Factors Of Incident Cognitive Impairment, Kellen K Petersen, Ali Ezzati, Bhargav T Nallapu, Richard B Lipton, Reisa A Sperling, Kathryn V Papp, Dorene M Rentz, Keith A Johnson, Ellen Grober

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The Stages of Objective Memory Impairment (SOMI) system, based on the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT), is a potential marker of subtle cognitive impairment in cognitively normal persons defined by a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) = 0. We investigated SOMI's ability to predict incident cognitive impairment (CDR >0) in combination with demographic features and neuroimaging biomarkers.

METHODS: Cognitively unimpaired participants (CDR = 0) from the Harvard Aging Brain Study had baseline FCSRT scores, MRI, FDG-PET, and PiB-PET as well as follow-up CDRs for 5 years. Cox proportional hazards models with correction for multiple testing assessed the predictive …

Expression Graph Network Framework For Biomarker Discovery, Yang Liu, Jason Huse, Kasthuri Kannan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Biomarker discovery for complex diseases, such as cancer, hinges on uncovering molecular signatures that capture intricate, interconnected relationships within biological data-a challenge that traditional statistical and machine learning methods often fail to meet due to the complexity of high-dimensional gene expression profiles. To overcome this, we introduce the expression graph network framework (EGNF). This cutting-edge graph-based approach integrates graph neural networks with network-based feature engineering to enhance the predictive identification of biomarkers. EGNF constructs biologically informed networks by combining gene expression data and clinical attributes within a graph database, utilizing hierarchical clustering to generate dynamic, patient-specific representations of molecular interactions. …