Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Normative Growth Trajectories Of Fetal Brain Regions Validated By Satisfactory Maturation Of Neurodevelopmental Domains At 2 Years Of Age, Madeleine Wyburd, Stephen Kennedy, Michelle Fernandes, Nicola Dinsdale, Linde Hesse, Robert Gunier, Leila Ismail, Eric Ohuma, Michael Gravett, Maria Carvalho

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

We previously constructed a qualitative, 3D ultrasound derived atlas of the normative spatiotemporal dynamics of fetal brain maturation. Here, using the same healthy multi-national cohort, we applied deep learning methods to 4205 fetal brain scans from 18–27 weeks’ gestation, to produce an extensive, quantitative description of the growth of 16 fetal brain structures associated with satisfactory domain-specific neurodevelopmental scores at 2 years of age. The methodology, which is publicly available, takes less than 10 seconds per scan. We define 28 region-specific, functionally relevant, normative growth trajectories, a ratio between the relative volumes of the insular (rILV) and parietal (rPLV) lobes …

The Use Of A Standardized Checklist For Image Acquisition: An Obstetric Ultrasound Quality Improvement Study, Ingrid Gichere, Nidhi Leekha, Sikolia Wanyonyi

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction A complete anatomical survey during the mid-trimester ultrasound is critical for detecting fetal anomalies. In sub-Saharan Africa, detection rates remain low, contributing to a significant disease burden. This study evaluated whether implementing a standardized electronic checklist, based on existing guidelines, would improve image acquisition.

Methods We carried out a pre- and post-intervention quasi-experimental quality improvement study. An electronic checklist replaced the previous ultrasound report template. A baseline review involved 385 mid-trimester scans conducted between November 2022 and December 2023. Following checklist implementation and targeted sonographer training, 238 scans were reassessed from July to December 2024. The image acquisition rate …

Can Tanzanian Neurosurgeons Access Tanzanian Neurosurgical Literature? A Systematic Review And Survey Of Neurosurgical Publications, Romani R. Sabas, Julie Woodfield, Chibuikem Anthony Ikwuegbuenyi, Magalie Cadieux, Consolata Shayo, Zarina Shabhay, Happiness Rabiel, Beverly Cheserem, Joel Bwemelo, Drew N. Wright

General Surgery, East Africa

Background and Objectives: Free and open access to research data and findings promotes equity in access to healthcare knowledge and equity in patient care and treatment. To benefit the health care of the population studied, research findings must be accessible to clinicians, academics, and policymakers serving those populations. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of published Tanzanian neurosurgical data and its accessibility to those practicing within the country.

Methods: A systematic review of all published neurosurgical studies from Tanzania was conducted. Authorship, funding, and open-access status were recorded. Tanzanian neurosurgeons were surveyed by telephone or in …

Proceedings Of The Second Artificial Intelligence In Primary Immunodeficiency (Aipi) Meeting, Jacques G Rivière, Lisa Bastarache, Luiza C Campos, Gerard Carot-Sans, Aaron Chin, Rumi Chunara, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, Lorenzo Erra, Jocelyn Farmer, Nicolas Garcelon, Elena Hsieh, Helen Leavis, Seungwon Lee, Liangying Liu, Maaike Kusters, Brian C Lloyd, Alexandra K Martinson, Rachel Mester, Justin B Moore, Despina Moshous, Jordan S Orange, Nefatia Parrish, Sarah Henrickson Parker, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Xiao P Peng, Martine Pergent, Jordi Piera-Jiménez, Jessica Quinn, Sidharth Ramesh, Kirk Roberts, Peter N Robinson, Guergana Savova, Christopher Scalchunes, Markus G Seidel, Rachel Simoneau, Pere Soler-Palacin, Kathleen E Sullivan, Marielle Van Gijn, Chung-Il Wi, Dawei Zhou, Vanessa Tenembaum, Manish J Butte, Nicholas L Rider

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in inborn errors of immunity offers transformative potential in diagnostics and disease management but faces multiple challenges that were discussed at the second Artificial Intelligence in Primary Immunodeficiency conference, held in New York City (March 19-22, 2025). The conference addressed 7 themes: predictive diagnostic algorithms, health equity, industry collaboration, advanced computational tools like large language models, patient-led AI initiatives, multiomics integration, and implementation science. Discussions highlighted the growing impact of AI on diagnostics, genomics, and health systems, emphasizing the need for high-quality, diverse datasets and ethical safeguards to ensure equitable application. Participants stressed that …

Scper: A Rigorous Computational Approach To Determine Cellular Subtypes In Tumors Aligned With Cancer Phenotypes From Total Rna Sequencing, Bingrui Li, Xiaobo Zhou, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful technique for understanding cellular diversity, but processing large patient cohorts to identify phenotype-associated cell populations remains challenging. Here, scPER (Estimating cell Proportions using single-cell RNA-seq Reference), a rigorous approach combining adversarial autoencoder and extreme gradient boosting to estimate tumor microenvironment cell compositions and identify phenotype-associated subclusters for bulk RNA-seq samples. Integrating scRNA-seq datasets from diverse studies, scPER constructed comprehensive reference panels and disentangled confounders from true signals. scPER achieved superior accuracy in cellular proportion estimation compared to CIBERSORTx, BayesPrism, Scaden, MuSiC, SCDC, DeSide and ReCIDE. It showed high accuracy in predicting metastatic melanoma …

Genetic Architecture Of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide In A Multiancestry Study Population, Naman S Shetty, Akhil Pampana, Mokshad Gaonkar, Amrita Nayak, Harshvir S Bal, Nirav Patel, Nehal Vekariya, J Gustav Smith, Alanna C Morrison, Bing Yu, Bruce M Psaty, Eric Boerwinkle, James S Floyd, Jerome I Rotter, Kent D Taylor, Leslie A Lange, Marguerite R Irvin, Mary Cushman, Stephen S Rich, Ramachandran S Vasan, Thomas J Wang, Xiuqing Guo, Peng Li, Garima Arora, Pankaj Arora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: NPs (natriuretic peptides) are bioactive hormones crucial for regulating blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism. Despite the high heritability of circulating NP levels, the genetic determinants of NP regulation, particularly across ancestries and sexes, remain poorly understood. The objective of the current study was to identify genetic variants associated with NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type NP) levels in a multiancestry study population.

Methods: Whole genome sequencing and array-based data from 81 213 individuals without heart failure were analyzed from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine cohorts, UK Biobank, All of Us Research Program, and REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences …

Bispectral Index-Guided Anesthesia For Older Patients Having Noncardiac Surgery: A Randomized Multicenter Trial, Li Zhou, Lin Ding, Hui Yang, Chengyu Li, Zhangsheng Yu, Wei Ma, Qiuyu Chen, Yanzhuo Zhang, Yong Li, Qingxiang Mao, Minghua Cheng, Gu Gong, Enqin Wang, Cunming Liu, Wei Hao, Hong Li, Changlin Chen, Yaling Fan, Zhenbo Su, Xiaoli Cai, Xiaole Zhang, Zhi Li, Bing Zhang, Yi Li, Chunxiu Jiang, Qinqin Yin, Jiali Jiao, Daniel I Sessler, Qian Li, Jin Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Older surgical patients are at risk because of age-related physiologic decline and comorbidities. Some guidelines recommend Bispectral Index (BIS; Medtronic, USA) monitoring to optimize anesthetic depth, but robust evidence supporting improved outcomes is lacking.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial was conducted across 21 tertiary-care hospitals in China (March 17, 2015, to February 5, 2022). Patients aged 65 yr or older scheduled for elective noncardiac surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] Physical Status I to IV) were randomized 1:1 to BIS-guided or routine anesthetic management. In patients assigned to BIS guidance, hypnotic depth was adjusted to maintain BIS between …

Examination Of Traffic Safety In Neighborhoods Associated With Active Commuting To School In Austin, Texas, Kathryn G Burford, Deborah Salvo, Harold W Kohl, Leigh Ann Ganzar, Cici X Bauer, Eugen Resendiz, Yuzi Zhang, Deanna M Hoelscher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Only 10% of US children participate in active commuting (walking and bicycling) to school (ACS). Parental concerns related to traffic are a primary barrier to ACS, yet no studies have assessed these concerns together with neighborhood traffic safety-related features. This study examined the associations between traffic safety-related features in neighborhoods and ACS among school-age children in Austin, Texas.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis utilized pre-COVID-19 baseline data (2019-2020) of parent-child dyads enrolled in the Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools study. ACS, traffic safety-related features in the neighborhood (sidewalk availability, safe road crossings, traffic safety, traffic speed, and safety …

Cellstaar: Incorporating Single-Cell-Sequencing-Based Functional Data To Boost Power In Rare Variant Association Testing Of Noncoding Regions, Eric Van Buren, Yi Zhang, Xihao Li, Margaret Sunitha Selvaraj, Zilin Li, Hufeng Zhou, Nicholette D Palmer, Donna K Arnett, John Blangero, Eric Boerwinkle, Brian E Cade, Jenna C Carlson, April P Carson, Yii-Der Ida Chen, Joanne Curran, Ravindranath Duggirala, Myriam Fornage, Nora Franceschini, Misa Graff, Charles Gu, Xiuqing Guo, Jiang He, Nancy Heard-Cosa, Lifang Hou, Yi-Jen Hung, Rita R Kalyani, Sharon L R Kardia, Eimear Kenny, Charles Kooperberg, Brian G Kral, Leslie Lange, Dan Levy, Changwei Li, Simin Liu, Donald Lloyd-Jones, Ruth J F Loos, Ani W Manichaikul, Lisa Warsinger Martin, Rasika Mathias, Ryan L Minster, Braxton D Mitchell, Josyf C Mychaleckyj, Take Naseri, Kari North, Jeff O'Connell, James A Perry, Patricia A Peyser, Bruce M Psaty, Laura M Raffield, Ramachandran S Vasan, Susan Redline, Alex P Reiner, Stephen S Rich, Jennifer A Smith, Brian Spitzer, Hua Tang, Kent D Taylor, Russell Tracy, Satupa'itea Viali, Lisa Yanek, Wei Zhao, Nhlbi Trans-Omics For Precision Medicine (Topmed) Consortium, Jerome I Rotter, Gina M Peloso, Pradeep Natarajan, Xihong Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Understanding how rare genetic variants influence complex traits remains a major challenge, particularly when these variants lie in noncoding regions of the genome. The effects of variants within candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) often depend on the cell type, making interpretation difficult. Here we introduce cellSTAAR, which integrates whole-genome sequencing data with single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing data to capture variability in chromatin accessibility across cell types via the construction of cell-type-specific functional annotations and regulatory elements. To reflect the uncertainty in cCRE-gene linking, cellSTAAR uses a comprehensive strategy to link cCREs to their target genes. We applied cellSTAAR …

Volumetric Buccal Bone Alterations At Immediate Implant Sites With Or Without Soft Tissue Augmentation: A 6-Month Assessment, Mary Jung, Duong Tran, Chi-Ching Chang, Sung K Kim, Yosuke Tsukiboshi, Seiko Min, Srinivas Ayilavarapu, Chun-Teh Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: This study is part of a randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of soft tissue augmentation (STA) using subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) (immediate implant with subepithelial connective tissue graft [ICT] group) or acellular dermal matrix (ADM) (immediate implant with acellular dermal matrix [IAD] group) versus no STA (control) on the clinical outcomes following immediate implant placement (IIP). This study aimed to investigate volumetric buccal bone dimensional changes at immediate implant sites 6 months after the surgery.

Methods: Forty-five patients requiring extraction of a maxillary anterior tooth or premolar and randomly assigned to one of the three groups were …

Ex Vivo Comparative Analysis Of Retrievability Among Four Calcium Silicate-Based Sealers For Regaining Apical Patency, Darian Shomali, Timothy Kirkpatrick, Sang Won Kwak, Hyeon-Cheol Kim, Ji Wook Jeong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: : Efficient retrievability is a key requirement for endodontic sealers. This study evaluated the retrievability of four different calcium silicate-based sealers (CSS).

Methods: A total of 153 single-rooted human teeth with straight canals were decoronated to a standardized working length of 12 mm. The canals were negotiated to working length using K files up to size 15/.02, followed by rotary instrumentation up to 35/.04, 2 mm short of working length. The teeth were randomly assigned to five groups: NeoSEALER Flo (NEO; Avalon Biomed), Ceraseal (CS; Meta Biomed), Endosequence BC Sealer (BC; Brasseler USA), AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer (AHB; Dentsply …

Development Of A Predictive Model For Cardiac Dysfunction In Mis-C Patients Utilizing Laboratory Biomarkers, Guliz Erdem, Brendan Galdo, Roshini S Abraham, Allayne Stephans, Simon Lee, Jun Yasuhara, Brent Merryman, Diego Cruz Vidal, Nathan M Money, Jennifer Colgan, Risa Bochner, Ron L Kaplan, Erin Aldag, Thomas Graf, Steve Rust

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Early identification of cardiac dysfunction in multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is crucial for effective management. Our primary objective was to predict left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) through a multicenter collaborative assessing admission laboratory data and echocardiogram findings.

Methods: Laboratory and clinical data were collected by retrospective chart review from a cohort of pediatric patients admitted and treated for MIS-C in our institutions. Laboratory data including absolute lymphocyte count, albumin, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, d-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, interleukin-6 level, and lymphocyte subsets (T, B and NK quantitation, TBNK) were collected. We built a LASSO logistic …

Controlled Antibiotic Release From Emulsion-Loaded Alginate And Fibrin Hydrogels Using Ultrasound, Ziba Ghareh Nazi Fam, Asia Winslow, Mario Fabiilli, Sam Varghese, Brian Oeffinger, Flemming Forsberg, Noreen Hickok, Lauren Delaney

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Postoperative infections remain a major complication after spinal fusion surgery, often caused by biofilm-forming bacteria that resist short-term antibiotic prophylaxis. Vancomycin (VAN) is sometimes delivered locally during surgery; however, levels diminish rapidly, leaving patients vulnerable to late-onset infections. We developed a composite hydrogel integrating perfluorohexane-based emulsions within alginate or fibrin matrices to enable both sustained and ultrasound-triggered VAN release. Water-in-oil-in-water emulsions were prepared using fluorosurfactant-stabilized perfluorohexane as the volatile oil phase, then embedded in hydrogels and exposed to ultrasound (2.5 MHz, 5.5 MPa peak negative pressure) to initiate acoustic droplet vaporization for triggered release. Drug release was quantified spectrophotometrically and …

Mapping Social Determinants Of Health Data In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol, Felix Anyiam, Jessica Gjonaj, Ngeresa Osango, Richard Mugo, Peace Aber, Jasmit Shah, Judith Mangeni, Rajesh Vedanthan, Joseph Hogan, Ann Mwangi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Research has increasingly underscored the impact of factors such as socioeconomic status, education, healthcare access, housing and environmental conditions in shaping population health outcomes. These factors, collectively called social determinants of health (SDOH), provide crucial context for understanding drivers of health outcomes. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the study of SDOH is critical due to the region’s unique sociocultural and economic conditions. Understanding how SDOH interacts with health systems and capturing SDOH in data is crucial for informing modelling efforts and policies improving population health more effectively. This scoping review aims to map the types of data used to capture …

Evaluation Of The Intempo Path Set For Cyberknife Prostate And Lung Sbrt: A Single-Institution Experience, Yingcui Jia, Lei Fu, Shari Rudoler, Eric Gressen, Yevgeniy Vinogradskiy, Qianyi Xu

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The InTempo adaptive imaging system is an important component of the Accuray CyberKnife System, designed to enhance the system's ability to track and correct tumor motion during treatment. However, a limitation of this feature is the reduction of available nodes for treatment planning. The impact of a reduced number of nodes on the quality of InTempo-based treatment plans has not previously been evaluated. This retrospective study aims to compare the dosimetry of CyberKnife plans with and without The InTempo path set for both prostate and lung stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

METHODS: This study included twelve consecutive prostate SBRT patients …

High-Flow Oxygen Therapy In Ild Exacerbations: An Imperfect Therapy, Kathleen Spritzer, Jesse Roman, Ross Summer, Gautam George

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Caring For Post Icu Patients: Knowledge And Attitude Among Nurses Working In General Wards, At Tertiary Hospitals, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Nazahed Mkiramweni, Kahabi Isangula, Masunga Iseselo, Dickson Mkoka, Emmanuel Mlay

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Caring for patients from the Intensive Care Unit (post-ICU) in general wards iscritical in determining patient outcomes. As primary caregivers, nurses provide hour-to-hour care and are essential in monitoring and addressing any signs of deterioration during this crucial transition period. Adequate knowledge and a positive attitudeare vital for ensuring the timely identification and management of complications. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nurses caring for post-ICU patients in general wards.

Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study wasconducted from May to August 2021 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MHN), Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI), and Jakaya …

The Impact Of Lipid Apheresis On Changes Of Lipoprotein(A): A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Bahman Razi, Masoud Eslami, Saeed Aslani, Shahab Alizadeh, Alireza Hatami, Wael Almahmeed, Salim Virani, Amirhossein Sahebkar

Population Health, East Africa

Aims Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of lipid apheresis therapy on serum Lp(a) levels in a wide array of disorders, particularly CVDs.

Methods and results Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to May 2025. Studies reporting pre- and post-treatment Lp(a) levels in participants undergoing lipid apheresis were included. A random-effects model was used when heterogeneity was significant. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. A total …

Real-World Prevalence Of Pd-L1 Positivity In Early-Stage/Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Primary Results And Pathology Insights From The Global Retrospective Observational Vanessa Study, Corrado D'Arrigo, Sitki Tuzlali, Romualdo Barroso-Sousa, Nagi El Saghir, Rebecca Dent, Nataša Medić-Milijić, Gyungyub Gong, Shahin Sayed, Tu Anh, Alisan Zirtiloglu

Pathology, East Africa

Aim To understand whether the worldwide implementation of PD-L1 testing in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be achieved in routine clinical practice.

Methods and results The multicentre retrospective observational VANESSA study consecutively and uniformly enrolled patients treated with systemic therapy for early or metastatic (e/m)TNBC diagnosed between 2014 and 2017. PD-L1 status was retrospectively assessed locally and centrally using the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) Assay (PD-L1 expression on tumour-infiltrating immune cells covering ≥1% of the tumour area). The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of PD-L1 positivity assessed locally on primary and/or metastatic tumour tissue. Concordance between local and central …

Investigation Of Teratogenic Concerns In The Coronavirus Disease Of 2019 Era, Kate Richardson, Emily C Daykin, Kathleen Shields, S Shahrukh Hashmi, Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, Molly Daniels, Myla Ashfaq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: MotherToBaby (MTB) is a teratogen information service that provides information about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding to the public and healthcare providers. During the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, MTB received an influx of queries regarding the teratogenicity of the virus and the vaccine. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and type of exposures asked about prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 2022 and to evaluate the demographics of individuals who made inquiries.

Methods: Data from MTB contacts (2018-2022) were accessed through a data-sharing agreement. The data were cleaned and …

Development And Implementation Of An Mri-Only Simulation, Planning, And Treatment Workflow For Prostate Radiotherapy Using Synthetic Ct On Mr-Linac, Reza Reiazi, Yao Ding, Sarath Vijayan, Jinzhong Yang, Ergys Subashi, Yao Zhao, Belinda M Lee, Hunter L Emory, Vi T Dinh, Greg L Swiedom, Jie Deng, Mu-Han Lin, Peter Balter, Rajat J Kudchadker, Elaine E Cha, Seungtaek Choi, Yusung Kim, Eun Young Han, Surendra Prajapati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility of a magnetic resonance (MR)-only simulation, planning, and treatment (MROSPT) workflow for prostate cancer patients using synthetic computed tomography (sCT) generated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. By validating sCT-based dose calculations, we aimed to streamline radiotherapy workflows, eliminate the need for CT simulation, and enable reliable clinical implementation of MR-based radiotherapy for MR-linac (MRL).

Methods: We developed a comprehensive workflow encompassing the entire process from initial consultation to treatment delivery. After developing the workflow, a retrospective dosimetric validation study was performed on nine men with prostate cancer. They underwent CT and MRI simulations, and …

Inferring High-Fat Dietary Patterns From Electronic Health Record Data Using Machine Learning, Ya-Yun Yeh, Hsin-Yueh Lin, Jingchuan Guo, Ramon C Sun, Sizun Jiang, Jiang Bian, Hao Dai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Electronic health records (EHRs) rarely capture dietary detail, limiting diet-disease research. We aimed to develop machine learning (ML) computable phenotypes to identify high-fat diet (HFD) using variables typically available in EHRs.

Materials and methods: We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2020 data, where 24-h dietary recall served as ground truth. Dietary fat intake was summarized into a score (0-30) based on percent energy from fat, carbohydrate, and protein; lower scores indicated HFD. We defined HFD at cutoffs of 10, 15, and 20, and trained ML models (Extreme Gradient Boosting, logistic regression, random forest) using EHR-compatible variables …

Implanting Microelectrode Arrays In The Bottom Of The Central Sulcus Targeting Somatosensory Area 3a For Restoration Of Proprioception, Tyler R Johnson, Sarah Moralle, Ziling Luo, Dawn M Taylor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The long-term goal of this work is to develop a sensorimotor brain-machine interface (BMI) in which intended movements are decoded from the motor cortex and proprioceptive feedback is delivered via intracortical microstimulation of Brodmann's area 3a. A vital step toward this goal is to demonstrate in rhesus macaques a novel surgical approach for the precise and safe implantation of custom-length microelectrode arrays into area 3a at the bottom of the central sulcus.

Methods: Preoperative planning combined high-resolution 7-T MR and CT imaging to generate 3D models of the cortices of 2 subjects. These models were used to fabricate 3D-printed …

Hootation: A Gui And Api Library For Ontology Validation And Verbalization., Muhammad Amith, Xubing Hao, Warren Manuel, Manqi Li, Shun Rao, Kirk Roberts, Hua Xu, Yang Gong, Frank Manion, Cui Tao, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ontology verbalization refers to the process of translating formal axioms into natural language expressions. The primary objective is to facilitate the review and validation of ontology content by subject matter experts without requiring extensive technical expertise. While previous approaches based on templates or controlled grammar have been effective, they often face limitations in scalability, fluency, and adaptability. To address these issues, we developed Hootation, an open-source software system that supports ontology verbalization through both a graphical user interface and an API library. The tool implements rule-based translation of OWL2 axioms and further incorporates optional Large Language Model (LLM) components for …

Visit-Level Quality Measurement Reveals Missed Opportunities And Overuse In Preventive Oral Health Care, Bunmi Tokede, Suhasini Bangar, Swaroop Gantela, Ryan Brandon, Alfa Yansane, Donald B Rindal, Don Worley, Joel White, Joanna Mullins, Ana Neumann, Todd Johnson, Nicholas Skourtes, Gregory Olson, Janelle Urata, Heather Weidner, Katie Lamberger, Aaron Truong, Heiko Spallek, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad F Walji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Traditional annual dental quality measures fail to capture real-time care delivery and can mask critical gaps in patient-specific treatment. The authors developed and implemented visit-level adaptations of established caries quality measures to enable actionable, point-of-care assessment.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 1.09 million dental visits across 400,000 patients (2021-2023) at 4 US institutions using axiUm (Henry Schein Corp) or Epic (Epic Systems) electronic health records. The authors transformed 2 annual measures involving caries risk assessment and risk-based preventive treatment into visit-level metrics using a 2 × 2 matrix framework: action due and performed, due and not …

Medical Aid In Dying: A Narrative Review Of The Recent Academic Literature In The United States., Holland Kaplan, Soraira Pacheco, Keziah M Thomas, Christopher L Ulmschneider, Anjiya Sulaiman, Chandni Lotwala, Derek Dawes, Issa A Hanna, Courtney Nguyen, Caroline G Snider, Gabriel M Aisenberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Medical aid in dying (MAiD) is a practice in which a healthcare professional provides assistance to a terminally ill patient seeking to end their life. To assess how academic discourse may shape public opinion and policy in the United States, we conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 2020 and 2024. Articles were categorized as supportive, opposing, or neutral, and patterns were examined across authorship, disciplinary focus, and target populations. Our findings reveal that most recent publications adopt supportive or neutral stances toward MAiD, with a slight increase in opposition beginning in 2022. Authorship discipline strongly influenced position, …

Therapeutic Potential Of C1-Inhibitor In Vascular Diseases And Beyond, Linda Sundler Björkman, Harish Eswaran, Steven P Grover

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

C1INH (C1-inhibitor) is a multifunctional SERPIN (serine protease inhibitor) that functions as a major negative regulator of the complement, coagulation, and kallikrein-kinin systems. C1INH products were originally developed for the treatment of hereditary angioedema associated with C1INH deficiency. A growing body of literature indicates that C1INH products may find utility in the management of several other disease states. In this review, we detail the key biological activities of C1INH and consider the pathophysiological role of C1INH targets in many conditions. The therapeutic potential of exogenous C1INH is highlighted in the settings of thromboembolism, ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis, transplantation, and coronavirus disease …

Urinary Biomarkers Of Acute Kidney Injury In Neonates < 25 Weeks’ Gestation: A Pilot Study, Jazmin D Humphreys, Aman Jain, Amir M Khan, Tina O Findley, Mar Romero-Lopez, Sepideh Saroukhani, Rita D Swinford, Matthew A Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 30% of premature neonates and is associated with adverse outcomes that may be mitigated with early detection. Diagnosis of AKI relies on serum creatinine (SCr) which has several limitations, including lack of sensitivity and specificity. There are limited data on the utility of alternative urine biomarkers to predict AKI in neonates born at < 25 weeks' gestation.

Methods: Urine was collected from neonates born at < 25 weeks' gestation during the first postnatal week. Two urine AKI biomarkers, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were measured. Study participants were prospectively followed to determine development of AKI, defined by the neonatal modified Kidney Disease-Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, during the first postnatal week. The association of NGAL and EGF with AKI was analyzed using mixed-effect linear regression models adjusting for gestational age at birth.

Results: A total of 26 neonates were enrolled in this study. After adjusting for gestational age at birth, the mean difference in log-transformed biomarkers at three time points for urine NGAL and …

Markvcid2 Consortium For Clinical Validation Of Biomarkers Of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Validation Framework And Baseline Characteristics, Steven M Greenberg, Marylin S Albert, Hongyu An, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Arnold M Evia, Arvind Caprihan, Andria L Ford, Myriam Fornage, Gregory S Day, Jason D Hinman, Gregory A Jicha, Amir H Kashani, Joel H Kramer, Christian Lachner, Jin-Moo Lee, Peiying Liu, Hanzhang Lu, Pauline Maillard, Ronald C Petersen, Bruce M Psaty, John M Ringman, Gary A Rosenberg, Claudia L Satizabal, Sean I Savitz, Julie A Schneider, Sudha Seshadri, Prashanthi Vemuri, Danny J J Wang, Donna M Wilcock, B Gwen Windham, Rong Zhang, Carissa Tuozzo, Herpreet Singh, Sue Moy, Vilma Okey-Ewurum, Courtney B Page, Hillary Mulder, Pia Kivisäkk, Deborah Blacker, Lidiya Mazina, Karl G Helmer, Kristin Schwab, Lisa M Wruck, Roderick A Corriveau

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To establish a framework for validating candidate biomarkers of cerebral small vessel diseases (SVD) associated with cognitive impairment and characterize individuals enrolled by the MarkVCID2 consortium under this framework.

Methods: Participants age 60 to 90 years were enrolled across 17 MarkVCID2 sites. Recruitment was targeted to enrich in cognitive symptoms (mild dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive decline), defined risk factors (diabetes mellitus, advanced hypertension), and Black/African American, White, and Hispanic/Latino subgroups. Enrolled participants underwent baseline visits that included cognitive testing, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biofluid collection. Provisional risk for SVD-related cognitive decline was estimated primarily by …

Outcomes Of Witnessed Versus Unwitnessed Patients With Stroke After Endovascular Therapy In The Extended Time Window, Liisa Tomppo, Nicolas Martinez-Majander, Muhammad M Qureshi, Thanh N Nguyen, Raul G Nogueira, Simon Nagel, Jelle Demeestere, Volker Puetz, Hilde Henon, Marta Olive-Gadea, João Pedro Marto, Anne Dusart, Peter A Ringleb, Osama O Zaidat, Diogo C Haussen, Mahmoud H Mohammaden, Mohamad Abdalkader, Jean Raymond, Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez, Sunil A Sheth, Hiroshi Yamagami, João Nuno Ramos, Francois Caparros, Daniel P O Kaiser, Marc Ribo, Sergio Salazar-Marioni, Kanta Tanaka, Pekka Virtanen, Ajit S Puri, James E Siegler, Syed F Zaidi, Mouhammad Jumaa, Eugene Lin, Jordi Mayol, Rita Ventura, Simon Winzer, Piers Klein, Flavio Bellante, Jorge Cespedes, Anke Wouters, Hesham E Masoud, Liqi Shu, Alicia C Castonguay, Christian Herweh, Monica Cheng, Wei Hu, Daniel Roy, Shadi Yaghi, Robin Lemmens, Charlotte Cordonnier, Markus A Möhlenbruch, Daniel Strbian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: It remains unclear whether outcomes of patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy with large-vessel occlusion and unwitnessed onset of stroke differ from those with witnessed onset in the extended time window.

Methods: We enrolled patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (internal carotid artery, M1, or M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy within 6 to 24 hours from the time last seen well, from 2014 to 2022, at 66 sites in Europe, North America, and Asia. Patients with a prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of >3 or age < 18 were excluded. We categorized patients by onset mode as witnessed or unwitnessed. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale shift at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were functional independence, a composite of functional independence or return of Rankin to prestroke level, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality, and a composite of severe disability or mortality at 90 days. We applied inverse probability of treatment weighting to compare outcomes between the groups.

Results: Of 5098 patients assessed for eligibility, we included …