Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

For Weight Loss: Why Do Glp-1 Agonists Work, And How Can We Make Them Work Better?, Charlise Giang, Jieyi Meng, Mahmoud Ali Mohammad, Zhenqi Liu, Xinle Wu, Yi Zhu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have revolutionized the management of not only type 2 diabetes but also obesity. However, even with rapid therapeutic advances in GLP-1RAs, questions regarding the fundamental principles of GLP-1-mediated weight loss and the enhanced efficacy of next-generation therapies remain. In this comprehensive review article, we first examine the milestones of GLP-1, from its initial discovery and biological characterization to its successful translation into clinical therapy. Furthermore, this review highlights the latest clinical trial data, specifically HbA1c reduction, weight-loss efficacy, and safety profiles, while exploring current pipelines of major pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, we delineate the mechanistic …

Lineage Tracing Reveals A Shared Cellular Origin For Supraclavicular Brown And Inguinal Beige Adipocytes, Yali Ran, Kai Zhang, Yi-Ting Shen, Qianxing Mo, Ziyi Wang, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Sharon John, Mari Kogiso, Xia Gao, Chunmei Wang, Tanvi Sinha, Brian L Black, Miao-Hsueh Chen

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

The metabolic importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been recognized, but its origins, particularly supraclavicular BAT (scBAT), remain unclear. Here, we traced scBAT to Mef2c-anterior heart field (AHF)-marked cells. Mef2c-AHF-marked cells isolated from scBAT can spontaneously differentiate into brown adipocytes, express mesenchymal stem cell markers, and can be isolated from the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) of wild-type scBAT as [CD31

Brain Perivascular Macrophages Regulate Endothelial Cell Function Via A Cmaf-Dependent Transcriptional Program In Mouse And Human, Simone Brioschi, Julia A Belk, Steffen E Storck, Yue Wu, Zhuoying Wang, Ziang Feng, Lynn Van Olst, Josie L Emery, Raki Sudan, Junjie Wu, Siling Du, Marco Genua, Federica La Terza, Alex J Edwards, Khai M Nguyen, Jessie Sanford, Daniel D Lee, Mattia Bugatti, Arnold J Federico, Yun Chen, Zuoxu Wang, Silvia Penati, Patrick Fernandes Rodrigues, Alina Ulezko Antonova, Hui Qi Loo, Igor Smirnov, Susan Gilfillan, Carmen M Halabi, Jennifer Ponce, Jun Yan, Howard Y Chang, Gwendalyn J Randolph, William Vermi, Marina Cella, Michael Meers, Renato Ostuni, David Gate, Aivi T Nguyen, Carlos Cruchaga, Song Hu, Jonathan Kipnis, Marco Colonna

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Brain perivascular macrophages maintain brain physiology, yet their transcriptional regulators and functions in health and disease remain unclear. Using single-cell multi-omics and functional experiments, we identify cellular musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene (cMAF) as a key transcription factor for brain perivascular macrophages, and conditional deletion of cMAF disrupts their phenotype in vivo. Functionally, cMAF drives insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) expression in perivascular macrophages, enabling communication with endothelial cells. Consistently, cMAF deletion in perivascular macrophages causes transcriptional alterations in cerebral arteries, affecting vascular functions. Notably, cMAF emerges as the main transcription factor for human perivascular macrophages, suggesting conservation of this transcriptional module. During …

Staff Re-Entry Plan — Indian Trail, Flett, Woodridge, Travis Schulhauser

Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium Repository

Following the downgrade of Level 3 Evacuation orders at Flett Middle School and Indian Trail and Woodridge elementary schools on Aug. 9, district staff worked with Fulcrum Environmental Consulting to conduct visual inspections and air-quality testing at these sites. More than 100 interior and exterior locations were tested, with indoor air quality within the Good-to-Moderate range under the EPA Air Quality Index. Inspectors also found no indication of unusual ash, soot or other settled particulates inside or outside the buildings.

Motherhood-Defining Memories And Narrative Identity Awareness In Relation To Psychological Wellbeing And Maternal Functioning Following A Parenting Program, Christin Camia, Antje Von Suchodoletz, Michelle P. Kelly

All Works

Introduction – Drawing on previous research showing that self- and relationship-defining memories relate to psychological and relational functioning, this study began to explore motherhood-defining memories and their relation to psychological wellbeing and maternal functioning within a parenting program context. The study aimed to examine whether participation contributes to the narrative coherence of motherhood-defining memories. Methods – Participants were 155 mothers from diverse cultural backgrounds (M age = 32.85 years, SD age = 5.20) residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Seventy-five mothers participated in an eight-session parenting program, and 80 mothers served as controls in a comparison group. Motherhood-defining memories …

Formative Work To Guide Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Breast And Cervical Cancer Prevention And Early Detection Behavioral Health Program In Clinics: Qualitative Study Guided By The Consolidated Framework For Implementation Research, Marlyn A Allicock, Crystal Costa, Ashley Hedrick Mckenzie, Preena Loomba, Roshanda S Chenier, Ross Shegog, Angelita Alaniz, Maria E Fernandez, Lara S Savas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Salud en Mis Manos (SEMM) is a community health worker-delivered evidence-based intervention shown to increase breast and cervical cancer screening in medically underserved Latinas. Despite SEMM's success in community-based settings, clinic-based implementation is limited.

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors influencing the implementation of SEMM in clinic settings using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to inform and refine implementation strategy development.

Methods: We developed theory-informed (eg, CFIR, Social Cognitive Theory, and Readiness) interview guides to elicit barriers and facilitators of SEMM clinic implementation. We conducted 12 semistructured interviews with clinic leaders, outreach coordinators, and community health …

Digital Markers For Passive Remote Monitoring Of Bipolar Disorder: Systematic Review, Thomas P Kutcher, Isha Chakraborty, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Akane Sano, Nidal Moukaddam, Jeffrey A Herron, Wayne K Goodman, Sameer A Sheth, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Nicole R Provenza

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) features episodic shifts among mania, hypomania, depression, mixed states, and euthymia. Timely detection of mood transitions is difficult due to infrequent clinical touchpoints. Digital health technologies, including wearables and smartphones, offer a unique opportunity to passively and continuously monitor behavior and physiology that could reflect underlying mood dynamics in real-world settings.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review passively collected digital markers for BD mood states, characterize devices/modalities and analytic approaches, appraise risk of bias, and identify design gaps and priorities for clinical translation.

Methods: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) …

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 …

Reducing Live Discharges Using A Tiered Protocol In A Rural Hospice: A Quality Improvement Project, Jemma Lowak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To reduce 30-day caregiver-driven hospice revocations by implementing a tiered post-admission nursing visit protocol based on caregiver preparedness. Background: Caregiver distress and inadequate support contribute to hospice revocations and interruptions in care. Increased nursing contact during the first week of enrollment may improve caregiver preparedness and reduce crisis-driven hospitalizations. Methodology: An eight-week quality improvement project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented at a rural hospice agency. Caregivers completed a Caregiver Preparedness Survey to assign preparedness tiers and guide additional nursing visits during the first week. Process measures included survey completion and protocol adherence. Outcome measures included caregiver preparedness and …

Telomere-To-Telomere Genome Assembly And A Pangenome For The Rat, Kai Li, Julia L Ciosek, Sergey Koren, Adam M Phillippy, Yaming Zhu, William A Lauer, Shelise Y Brooks, Gerard G Bouffard, Brandon D Pickett, Beth L Dumont, Melissa L Smith, Theodore S Kalbfleisch, Peter A Doris

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

We report a complete rodent telomere-to-telomere genome assembly from the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus. Annotation was enriched with multi-tissue long-read RNA sequencing and uncovered numerous novel genes. Assembly of both sex chromosomes reveals the absence of gene coding in the presumed pseudo-autosomal regions and the presence of centromeric satellite repeats on distal chromosome Y (chrY). We provide evidence of meiotic conjunction between Xp and Yq. The genome assembly reveals several expanded autosomal regions enriched for testis-expressed genes. Finally, we have generated a pangenome from recent high-quality assemblies of 8 distinct inbred rat strain genomes. This allows the strain-specific distribution of …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

Pre-Implementation Factors For Active Music Engagement (Ame): Barriers And Facilitators To Integrating An Evidence-Based Dyadic Intervention Into Pediatric Oncology Care., Kristin M. Story, Elizabeth Harman, Kristin Stegenga, Jelena Golubovic, Sheri L. Robb

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer treatment is a difficult and distressing experience that often results in sustained, interrelated distress in young children and parents, and traumatic stress symptoms for some parents. Few evidence-based interventions address this dyadic distress. Active Music Engagement (AME) is a manualized, evidence-based music play intervention that significantly reduces distress in child/parent dyads and mitigates traumatic stress and improves well-being among highly distressed parents and those experiencing sociodemographic risk. Successfully integrating AME into standard care requires a systematic understanding of implementation factors. This study aimed to identify site-specific barriers and facilitators that influenced successful AME delivery during a recently …

Psychological Interventions For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities In The Context Of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Evangelos Mantsos, Soultana Papadopoulou, Efthymia Efthymiou, Maria Theodoratou, Maria Sofologi, Eugenia Toki

All Works

Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Abstract Background/Objectives: This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities …

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 …

Improving Patient Preparedness Through Implementation Of A Structured Wound Care Discharge Protocol, Kiran N. Gupta

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a structured wound care discharge protocol to improve patient preparedness and confidence in wound self-management after hospital discharge.

Background: Patients discharged with active wounds may experience complications, delayed healing, and unplanned health care use when discharge education and follow-up support are inconsistent. Standardized education may strengthen readiness for self-care and improve transitions from hospital to home.

Methodology: A three-month project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework in an inpatient medical-surgical setting. Thirty adults discharged with active wounds received standardized wound care education, written instructions, teach-back verification, and a follow-up telephone call …

Runx1+23 Enhancer Marks Erythro-Megakaryocyte Lineages In Early Waves Of Hematopoiesis In Human Esc Differentiation, Chika Nishida, Michihiro Kobayashi, Alina Syed, Philipp Kramer, Haizi Cheng, Pamela L Wenzel, Motomi Osato, Jason David Chobirko, Andrew Grimson, Igor I Slukvin, Brian R Davis, Momoko Yoshimoto

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

No abstract provided.

Belonging And Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia Hickman

Papers

Graduate students experience substantial academic, personal, and professional demands that can negatively affect well-being and persistence. For students enrolled in professional programs, belonging may develop within two overlapping communities: the academic institution and the emerging profession. Institutional and professional belonging can provide connection, support, engagement, and opportunities for identity and professional development. This paper synthesizes literature on these two forms of belonging and proposes a conceptual framework describing their potential relationship with whole-person formation and flourishing. Whole-person formation extends graduate education beyond knowledge acquisition and professional competence to include development across interconnected dimensions of the person. Within the proposed framework, …

08-19-26 Bor Hsc Committee Notice Of Meeting Revised, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-26 BOR HSC Committee Notice of Meeting Revised

Early Mobilization In Post Op Care, Jakob Hollenbach, Taylor Grove, Rachael Nembo

Vizient/ AACN Nurse Residency Program™ EBP Projects

No abstract provided.

Translational Reading Frame Predicts The Pathogenicity Of C-Terminal Frameshift Deletions In Mecp2, Jacky Guy, Elena Hein, Beatrice Alexander-Howden, Timur Von Bock Und Polach, Tricia Mathieson, Benjamin P Kleinstiver, Huda Y Zoghbi, Adrian Bird

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Mutations in the MECP2 gene cause the severe neurological disorder Rett syndrome. A cluster of frameshift-causing C-terminal deletions (CTDs) removes ~100 amino acids and accounts for approximately 10% of RTT-causing mutations. Their pathogenicity is unexpected because this C-terminal domain is dispensable in mice. Analysis of pathogenic and benign human MECP2 variants reveals that some individuals with apparently typical CTDs do not develop Rett syndrome, confirming that C-terminal truncations are not intrinsically pathogenic. Using human sequence data and mouse models we show that pathogenicity results from a marked reduction in MeCP2 levels and depends on the presence of a proline proline …

Improving Cpr Quality In The Emergency Department By Implementing Data Driven Debriefs, Alyssa M. Hughes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a data driven debrief tool to improve the average compressions in target in adult cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events.

Results

In FY23 prior to implementation the average compressions in target was only 1.65%. During the implementation phase of the project the average compressions in target reached 41% (n=3). In addition, the staff provided positive feedback regarding the tool and the integration in the workflow.

Background

The project was completed in a tertiary academic medical center emergency room. All adult CPR events within the emergency department utilizing …

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 …

A Case Report Of Myocardial Infarction Complicated With Blood Pressure Fluctuations Caused By Pheochromocytoma, Huiping Li, Wei Yang, Yu Feng, You Zhang, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Pheochromocytoma typically presents with sustained or paroxysmal hypertension, but initial manifestation as acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is rare. Peri-procedural hemodynamic fluctuations are often dramatic, making diagnosis and management challenging. We report a 51-year-old male admitted with chest tightness for 17 days. Elevated troponin and coronary angiography showing multivessel disease with total occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD) led to a preliminary diagnosis of NSTEMI. During percutaneous coronary intervention, blood pressure surged to 240/130 mmHg; intravenous nitroprusside caused an instantaneous drop to 95/55 mmHg, with rapid rebound to >200 mmHg upon withdrawal, showing no clear temporal relationship …

E3 Ligase Rnf145 Regulates Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Via The Pp2a-P70s6k Signaling Axis, Vijaya Kumar Gangipangi, Erin O. Curley, Deepak A. Deshpande, Pawan Sharma

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a key determinant of airway caliber and a major contributor to structural remodeling in obstructive lung diseases, including asthma and COPD. ASM proliferation is regulated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, including ubiquitin-dependent protein turnover mediated by E3 ubiquitin ligases. Here, we investigated the role of the RING-type E3 ligase RNF145 in mitogenic signaling and ASM cell proliferation. Human ASM cells were transfected with RNF145 shRNA or treated with the E3 ligase inhibitor SMER3, followed by stimulation with fetal bovine serum (FBS) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). RNF145 knockdown or SMER3 treatment dose-dependently inhibited mitogen-induced ASM …

Cigarette Smoke Induces Fasn-Dependent Fatty Acid Metabolic Rewiring To Drive Bladder Cancer Progression, Chandra Sekhar Amara, Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee Piyarathna, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Yuen San Chan, Karthik Reddy Kami Reddy, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Mohammed Khurshidul Hassan, Pratik Shriwas, Tanmay Gandhi, Antrix Jain, Tanja Gangnus, Pooja Popli, Roshan Borkar, Sung Wook Kang, Silvia L Summers, Vasanta Putluri, Sandra L Grimm, Sharan Venkatesh, Ningxin Song, Erin H Seeley, Jenna Hedlich-Dwyer, Shu-Hsia Chen, Nupam P Mahajan, Abhinav K Jain, Lacey Elizabeth Dobrolecki, Gabrielle A Wells, Hugo Villanueva, Jenny Li, Xuefeng Liu, Roni J Bollag, Anna Malovannaya, Sung Yun Jung, Hyun-Sung Lee, Irfan A Asangani, Martha K Terris, Chad J Creighton, Leomar Y Ballester, Balasubramanyam Karanam, Suyu Liu, Minjae Lee, Rajeeva R Raju, M Minhaj Siddiqui, Livia S Eberlin, Ramakrishna Kommagani, Arun Sreekumar, Jianjun Gao, Nicolas L Young, H Courtney Hodges, Cristian Coarfa, Natalie R Gassman, Seth P Lerner, Yair Lotan, Nagireddy Putluri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cigarette smoke promotes bladder tumor growth by enhancing cancer cell survival and proliferation through smoke mediated carcinogens. FASN, a key enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, is dysregulated in many cancers and correlates with aggressive phenotypes. In this study, we demonstrate elevated fatty acid levels and FASN specifically in smokers with bladder cancer. Elevated FASN under smoke exposure imparted epigenetic alterations, particularly histone acetylation, impacts DNA repair and DNA-binding transcription factors which regulate metabolic pathways. Under cigarette smoke, bladder cancer cells undergo a metabolic shift, utilizing glutamine as a major carbon source through reductive carboxylation to fuel fatty acid biosynthesis via …

Improving Response To Patient Alarms And Reducing Alarm Fatigue By Implementing An Alarm Fatigue Bundle Protocol In An Intermediate Care Unit At A Small Public Hospital, Christina Galvan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce alarm fatigue by implementing an alarm fatigue bundle protocol in an Intermediate Medical Unit (IMU) at a mall public hospital in Houston, Texas. The project aimed to achieve 80% compliance with daily electrode changes, improve alarm response times by 10%, reduce telemetry technician calls by 15%, and reduce alarm fatigue levels by 20%.

Background: Frequent non-actionable alarms can lead to desensitization, delayed responses, and missed alarms.

Methodology: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model guided implementation of the CEASE bundle, focusing on staff education and daily electrode changes. Daily audits assessed skin preparation and …

Frequency And Outcome Of Peg Tube Implantations In Hospitalized Parkinson's Disease Patients, Rachael M. Burke, Ruina He, Hikaru Kamo, Tejas R. Mehta, Anne Brooks, Adrianne Smiley, Michael S. Okun, Christopher W. Hess, Matthew A. Remz

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a known complication of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement is a therapy for select patients with dysphagia. There is a paucity of information on the role of PEG in PD management.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency and outcomes of PEG tube implantations in hospitalized patients with PD.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the PINC AI™ Healthcare Database of hospitalized PD patients between 2017 and 2023. PEG implantation, discharge status, and aspiration pneumonia (AP) diagnoses were collected and analyzed. The relationships between AP and PEG were evaluated using logistic regression. Generalized estimating …

A Distinct Form Of Fat Fibrosis Is Linked To Insulin Resistance In People With Hiv, Diana L Alba, Alaa Abdellatif, Moon Kyung Choi, Stephen M Brown Mayfield, Thuy An T Pham, David I Berrios, Antonio E Rodriguez, Marin Ewing, Tony R Figueroa, Judy Gonzalez-Vargas, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Dawei Bu, Steven G Deeks, Philipp E Scherer, Peter W Hunt, Suneil K Koliwad

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

BACKGROUND

Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV (PWH) are at heightened risk for insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) fibrosis contributes to metabolic disease, but its role in IR among PWH is unknown. We investigated the relationship between SAT fibrosis and IR in PWH, along with transcriptional signatures to distinguish it from SAT fibrosis due to obesity.

METHODS

We analyzed body composition and SAT fibrosis (hydroxyproline) in 46 PWH and 74 people without HIV (PWoH), excluding individuals with T2D. We examined fibrosis-related gene transcription in the SAT using a targeted panel and measured …

Recalibrating Risk: A Call For South Asian-Focused Heart Failure Prediction Models, Nandini Nair, Dongping Du, Aiswarya J. Pillai, Swarna Mahesh, Mrudula R. Munagala, Howard J. Eisen, Balakrishnan Mahesh

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Background: Heart failure (HF) represents the final common pathway of diverse cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease, primary myocardial pathology, and abnormalities of cardiac conduction. These conditions arise from an interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychosocial influences, making it essential to understand these determinants to improve risk prediction and prevention. Multiple biological pathways of inflammation, fibrosis, coagulation, oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances are shaped by inherited susceptibility and modifiable exposures. Together, these mechanisms drive HF development and progression, though their relative contributions vary across populations. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for clinical, biomedical, and …

Potential Effects Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxation On Oral And Systemic Health Outcomes, Rahnuma Ahmad, Muhammad Noorani, Mainul Haque, Mohammed Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.