Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Stimulated Cytokine Production, Attachment, And Emotional Well-Being In Dementia Spousal Caregivers, Daniel L Argueta, Sarah Roberts, Kelly N Brice, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Vincent D Lai, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Bryan T Denny, Charles Green, Samantha Henry, Luis D Medina, Paul E Schulz, Jennifer Stinson, Cobi Heijnen, Christopher P Fagundes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Proinflammatory cytokine production may be related to poor emotional adjustment in dementia spousal caregivers. People who display attachment insecurity may be at increased risk for adverse caregiving experiences and poor psychosocial outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to understand whether proinflammatory cytokine production was associated with anticipatory grief, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms and whether those relationships were stronger for caregivers higher on attachment anxiety or avoidance.

Method: A sample of 103 dementia spousal caregivers provided self-report data on demographics, health information, and psychosocial outcomes. We also determined lipopolysaccharide-induced whole-blood interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-10 production and combined …

Cultural Influences On Camouflaging And Autistic Burnout: Examining The Experiences Of Latino Autistic Young Adults, Antonio F Pagán, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The present study explored the relationship between camouflaging, autistic burnout, and cultural factors in Latino young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While autistic burnout and camouflaging have been widely studied in general ASD populations, limited research has focused on Latino individuals, who may experience unique pressures due to cultural values such as collectivism, familism, and traditional gender roles. Participants (N = 56) from the ¡Iniciando! la Adultez therapy program completed measures assessing burnout, camouflaging, acculturation, and cultural values. Results indicate that participants reported moderate to high levels of autistic burnout, with the highest levels observed in heightened self-awareness …

Role Of Childhood Trauma In Interoception And Alexithymia In Schizophrenia, Samantha Narvaez, Krista Wisner, Alina Siatka, L Elliot Hong, Joshua Chiappelli

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Childhood trauma (CT) is a notable risk factor for schizophrenia. Separately, CT has been associated with alexithymia, referring to difficulties in identifying and describing one's own feelings, as well as disturbed interoception, referring to difficulties sensing and responding to signals that originate from within the body. Both self-perception impairments have been observed in schizophrenia; however, the role of CT in these observations in schizophrenia is unclear. To address this gap, interoception was assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and CT was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) …

Dopamine Agonist Therapy Induced Fatal Pneumocephalus In Giant Prolactinoma, Archana M H, Anurag Ranjan Lila, Manjiri Karlekar, Saba Samad Memon, Rohit Barnabas, Tushar Bandgar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We report a man in the fifth decade of his life with an invasive giant prolactinoma (size: 7.3 cm; serum prolactin 56820 ng/mL [SI: 2470.4 nmol/L], reference range, 5-25 ng/mL [SI: 0.22-1.09 nmol/L]) who presented with hypogonadism and headache. Dopamine agonist (DA) cabergoline (0.25 mg twice weekly) was initiated, and serum prolactin levels reached 3941 ng/mL (SI: 171.3 nmol/L) after 2 doses. Two weeks later, he developed acute symptoms of headache, vomiting, and drowsiness associated with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. He presented to the casualty after 48 hours of the onset of these acute symptoms in an altered state. Neuroimaging demonstrated …

Cardiometabolic Parameter Change By Weight Regain On Tirzepatide Withdrawal In Adults With Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis Of The Surmount-4 Trial, Deborah B Horn, Bruno Linetzky, Melanie J Davies, Luke J Laffin, Hui Wang, Madhumita A Murphy, Sarah Zimner-Rapuch, Eva Lau, Avigdor D Arad, Clare J Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, most adults with obesity who had tirzepatide withdrawn following a 36-week treatment regained weight. The association between the degree of weight regain and cardiometabolic parameters after tirzepatide withdrawal is unknown.

Objective: To assess changes in cardiometabolic parameters by degree of weight regain after withdrawal of tirzepatide.

Design, setting, and participants: This post hoc analysis of the SURMOUNT-4 trial included tirzepatide-treated participants with 10% or greater weight reduction at week 36 initially randomized to placebo. Data were collected from March 2021 to May 2023, and data were analyzed from February 2024 to March 2025.

Interventions: After …

Cardiometabolic Indicators Of Cognitive Impairment In The Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, Fadi I Musfee, Seema Agarwal, Vahed Maroufy, Chelsea Liu, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan Fisher-Hoch, Sean I Savitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

Objective

Methods

Can Patients With Recurrent Or Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Anus In A Previously Irradiated Pelvis Receive Definitive Reirradiation, Jordan Mcdonald, Ethan P Damron, Prajnan Das, Eugene J Koay, Ethan B Ludmir, Bruce D Minsky, Sonal S Noticewala, Grace L Smith, Craig Messick, Van K Morris, Emma B Holliday

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Although salvage surgery is the standard of care for locoregionally recurrent anal cancer, few local options exist for inoperable pelvic recurrences. Newly diagnosed anal cancer arising in a previously irradiated field also provides a unique treatment challenge, as delivery of standard doses would result in unsafe cumulative dose to pelvic structures. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of a hyperfractionated accelerated reirradiation (reRT) regimen for such patients.

Methods and materials: Patients treated with hyperfractionated accelerated reRT at a single institution between 2005 and 2024 for nonmetastatic inoperable locoregionally recurrent anal cancer or primary anal cancer in a previously …

Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds To Engineer The Dormant Landscape Of Microscopic Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis, Sabrina N Vandenheuvel, Lucia L Nash, Abigail J Clevenger, Claudia A Collier, Oscar R Benavides, Sanjana Roy, Brinlee Goggans, Aelita Salikhova, Anvitha Tharakesh, Svasti Haricharan, Amber N Stratman, Scott Kopetz, Alex J Walsh, Shreya A Raghavan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recurrent liver-metastatic colorectal cancer contributes to high mortality. Recurrence occurs when dormant, microscopic residual disease survives initial treatment to escape dormancy. In their dormant, microscopic state within the liver, these metastatic lesions are undetectable by clinical diagnostic imaging until they form overt, chemoresistant metastases. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying dormancy in colorectal cancer liver metastases is a significant knowledge gap, motivating the engineering of nuanced in vitro models of disease. The current work presents an engineered model of liver-metastatic colorectal cancer dormancy. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds are used to provide microscopic colorectal cancer cell clusters with a biomimetic, …

Local Delivery Of Mir-27a* Using Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Cavitation Inhibits Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth, Nikhil S Chari, Cheng Chen, Thiruganesh Ramasamy, Xucai Chen, Geetika Wadhwa, Anurag N Paranjape, Stephen Y Lai, Flordeliza S Villanueva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Ultrasound-targeted microbubble (MB) cavitation (UTMC) is an image-guided therapeutic oligonucleotide delivery platform utilizing intravenously injected gas-filled ultrasound contrast agents, which carry the therapeutic on the MB shell. During transit of MBs in the microcirculation of target tissue, ultrasound causes MB oscillation, facilitating endocytosis-independent payload uptake within insonified cells. Here, we tested the hypothesis that UTMC-mediated miR-27a* delivery will reduce tumor growth rate and result in accumulation of miR-27a* within tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment.

Methods: We used UTMC to deliver miR-27a* to SCC-VII cells in vitro and in SCC-VII mouse tumor models. Pulsed ultrasound was delivered during intravenous …

Who Classification Of Skin Tumours: Key Updates In The Fifth Edition, Gabrielle Goldman-Lévy, Raymond Barnhill, Boris C Bastian, Werner Kempf, David Elder, Pedram Gerami, Wayne Grayson, Dmitry Kazakov, Daniela Massi, Jane Messina, Arnaud De La Fouchardière, Alexander J Lazar, Thomas Brenn, Brian Rous, Andrew Field, Anthony Gill, Jennelle C Hodge, Joseph D Khoury, Katia Leite, Shahin Sayed, Puay Hoon Tan, Rosalie Elenitsas, Eduardo Calonje, Lyn M Duncan, Liang Zhiyong, Holger Moch, Rajendra Singh, Harshima Wijesinghe, Ian Cree, Dilani Lokuhetty

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours (WCT) serves as a foundation for global diagnostic standards in tumour pathology. Similar to other volumes in this series, the Skin Tumours (Skin5) edition follows a standardized approach. This edition introduces two new chapters: 'Tumours of the nail unit' and 'Metastases to skin', along with new entities across relevant chapters. This review article provides an overview of the updates in Skin5 based on currently published evidence, with emphasis on newly introduced chapters and newly described entities that involve the skin, in particular, epidermal, melanocytic and appendageal tumours.

A Comparative Study Of Statistical Methods For Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes In Spatial Transcriptomics, Yishan Wang, Chenxuan Zang, Ziyi Li, Charles C Guo, Dejian Lai, Peng Wei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) provides unprecedented insights into gene expression patterns while retaining spatial context, making it a valuable tool for understanding complex tissue architectures, such as those found in cancers. Seurat, by far the most popular tool for analyzing ST data, uses the Wilcoxon rank-sum test by default for differential expression analysis. However, as a nonparametric method that disregards spatial correlations, the Wilcoxon test can lead to inflated false positive rates and misleading findings. This limitation highlights the need for a more robust statistical approach that effectively incorporates spatial correlations. To this end, we propose a Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) …

Melody: Mediation Analysis In Logistic Regression For High-Dimensional Mediators And A Binary Outcome, Sunyi Chi, Xingyu Li, Peng Wei, Xuelin Huang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mediation analysis is a pivotal tool for elucidating the indirect effect of an environmental factor or treatment on disease through potentially high‐dimensional omics data, such as gene expression profiles. However, traditional mediation analysis methods tailored for binary outcomes often rely on the rare disease assumption in logistic regression and provide inadequate measures of total mediation effect when multiple mediators have effects in different directions. In this paper, we develop a MEdiation analysis framework in LOgistic regression for high‐Dimensional mediators and a binarY outcome (MELODY). It leverages a second‐moment‐based measure analogous to the ��2 for linear models to quantify the total …

Tumour-Brain Crosstalk Restrains Cancer Immunity Via A Sensory-Sympathetic Axis, Haohan K Wei, Chuyue D Yu, Bo Hu, Xing Zeng, Hiroshi Ichise, Liang Li, Yu Wang, Ruiqi L Wang, Ronald N Germain, Rui B Chang, Chengcheng Jin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Body–brain communication has emerged as a key regulator of tissue homeostasis1–5. Solid tumours are innervated by different branches of the peripheral nervous system and increased tumour innervation is associated with poor cancer outcomes6–8. However, it remains unclear how the brain senses and responds to tumours in peripheral organs, and how tumour–brain communication influences cancer immunity. Here we identify a tumour–brain axis that promotes oncogenesis by establishing an immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment. Combining genetically engineered mouse models with neural tracing, tissue imaging and single-cell transcriptomics, we demonstrate that lung adenocarcinoma induces innervation and functional …

From A Papule To Friable Papillary Projections: A Case Of Old World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Zamanali Khakhar, Adil Salyani, Soraiya Manji, Rajiv Patel, Sayed Karar

Internal Medicine, East Africa

This case aims to characterize an unusual cutaneous manifestation in a patient with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis, highlighting clinical features that are often underrecognized and may contribute to diagnostic uncertainty. By exploring this atypical presentation, it underscores the potential for misdiagnosis and its implications for patient management. Additionally, it emphasizes the broad spectrum of cutaneous lesions that can mimic Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis, further increasing the risk of diagnostic error.

Striatum Volume And Affective Symptomatology Are Associated With Sleep In Schizophrenia, Alia R Warner, Xiaoming Du, Yizhou Ma, Kyle R Noll, Si Gao, Bhim Adhikari, Bruno Kluwe-Schiavon, Alina Siatka, Anya Savransky, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sleep dysfunction is common among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Sleep duration and other sleep quality metrics are associated with worse patient clinical and social outcomes. We examined if accumulative stress, gray matter structural volume measured with high-resolution structural brain MRI, diffusion tensor imaging measures of white matter microstructure, and psychopathology (for the schizophrenia group) may act as predictors of sleep quality and compared individuals with SSD (N = 101) and healthy controls (N = 86). We created an adjusted Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-A) score to measure sleep quality and account for abnormally long sleep duration as dysfunctional. …

The Concept Of Environmental Injustice In Allergy And Asthma, Ekta Perera, Christopher Codispoti, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: This review examines how environmental injustice contributes to disparities in allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. It focuses on the role of social, geographic, and economic inequities in shaping disease prevalence, severity, and access to care among underrepresented racial and ethnic communities.

Recent findings: Recent studies emphasize the persistent exposure of low-income and racially marginalized populations to environmental hazards such as air pollution, substandard housing, and climate-related changes, factors that are linked to increased prevalence and severity of allergic diseases. While environmental policies have led to overall improvements in air quality, disparities in exposure …

Investigating The Oxygen Dependence Of Flash-Rt Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging, Trey Waldrop, Grace Murley, Brett Velasquez, Elise Konradsson, Denae Neill, Luke Connell, Alan Lopez Hernandez, Abagail Delahoussaye, F William Schuler, Jorge De La Cerda, Ziyi Li, Mark D Pagel, Emil Schüler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The FLASH effect occurs when radiation given at ultra-high dose rates spares healthy tissue while achieving isoeffective tumor control relative to conventional (CONV) dose rate irradiation. Limited data has implicated oxygen in the FLASH effect. This study investigated the effect of tissue oxygen tension (pO2) on gastrointestinal (GI) FLASH sparing in mice.

Methods: pO2 was quantified in vivo by electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI)- noninvasive oximetry through spin probe injection and magnetic resonance co-registration- and a phosphorescent quenching microsensor. B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2 J/J female mice were imaged while breathing 10%, 21%, and 95% oxygen. C57BL/6 mice of both sexes underwent microsensor …

Tbr2-Dependent Parallel Pathways Regulate The Development Of Distinct Iprgc Subtypes, Takae Kiyama, Ching-Kang Chen, Halit Y Altay, Yu-Jiun Chen, Leviette Sigala, Dan Su, Steven Eliason, Brad A Amendt, Chai-An Mao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) are the conduit between the retina and brain regions responsible for non-image-forming and image-forming vision. In mice, six ipRGC subtypes have been discovered based on morphological characteristics, functions, and molecular profiles. All ipRGCs arise from Tbr2-expressing RGCs during developmental stages and subsequently diverge and differentiate into the six mature, distinct subtypes in adult retinas. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the formation and maturation of the six ipRGC subtypes remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that two Tbr2-dependent transcription factors, Iroquois‑related homeobox 1 (Irx1) and T-box containing factor 20 (Tbx20), are key downstream …

Leveraging Large Language Models For Heuristic Usability Assessment Of Medical Software: Insights With The Radiation Planning Assistant, Laurence E Court, Jacobus Smit, Lourens Strauss, William Shaw, Andrea Marais, Christoph Trauernicht, Nanette Joubert, Elaine Smith, Shona Badre, Graeme L Lazarus, Thekiso Khotle, Lauren Netherton, Wanda Van Heerden, Carlos Cardenas, Monica Serban, Jan Seuntjens, Christine V Chung, Pavel Govyadinov, Meena Khan, Saurabh Nair, Tucker Netherton, Lifei Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Usability engineering is essential for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical software, as design-related issues are a leading cause of use errors in clinical settings. Heuristic evaluation provides a practical approach to identifying usability problems, but its outcomes depend heavily on expert interpretation. Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, offer a potential means to augment heuristic evaluation by generating structured, context-aware usability feedback. This study explored the use of ChatGPT to support heuristic assessment of the Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA), a web-based radiotherapy planning tool designed to support clinical teams in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: ChatGPT …

Neurological Recovery After Ich Is Mediated By The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Bilirubin Interplay Through Improved Erythrophagocytosis, Xiurong Zhao, Shun-Ming Ting, Guanghua Sun, Jaroslaw Aronowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hematoma clearance after ICH is a pro-hemostatic process aiming at repair/recovery and is achieved through microglia/macrophages (MMΦ)-mediated erythrophagocytosis. Upon the engulfment of masses of erythrocytes and toxic hemolysis products, hemoglobin and heme, phagocytes convert them to bilirubin (BrB). Bilirubin is essentially not soluble in water and when overproduced, it precipitates within the cell causing injury. Thus, keeping bilirubin soluble and at a low intracellular level is needed for proper function of MMΦ. Here, using cultured microglia (MG), we found that intracellular formation of BrB in microglia during erythrophagocytosis coincides with the activation of transcription factor AhR, and AhR target genes …

The Pandemic Effect: Secondary Impact On The Diagnosis Of Clinically Significant Congenital Heart Disease And Role Of Deprivation Index, Cassandra Campbell, Kristin Wyckoff, Ronak Naik, Nithya Swaminathan, Salima Ahmed Bhimani, Jason Johnson, Vijaya Joshi, Ranjit Philip

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We sought to determine the impact of the COVID-19 on prenatal diagnosis (PND) of clinically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) and the role of socioeconomic status (SES), complexity of diagnosis, and proximity to advance testing. This single-center retrospective study evaluated 2 eras of infants (COVID (born July 1, 2020–July 31, 2023) and pre-COVID (born June 1, 2017–July 1, 2020) who had cardiac surgery in the first year of life. 512 infants, 292 in pre-COVID era and 220 in COVID era with no significant difference in the rate of prenatal care (PNC) or PND in the COVID era (88%/42%) versus pre-COVID …

Venous Thromboembolism In Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Treated With Cd19 Car-T Therapy: Single-Institution Study, Neha Venkatesh, Kevin Milligan, Julia Parrish, Yun Qing, Ryan Sun, Paolo Strati, Jeremy Ramdial, Amy Ayers, Sairah Ahmed, Cristhiam Rojas Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs) are a common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized LBCL treatment, with high remission rates but also significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in CAR-T therapy patients is understudied.

Objective: This study aims to determine the incidence and characteristics of acute VTE in LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy and identify baseline clinical features associated with VTE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 172 adult LBCL patients treated with CAR-T therapy from January 2018 to November 2019 at MD …

Antenatal Prediction Of Early Cord Clamping Among Infants Born Extremely Preterm, Anup C Katheria, Rebecca A Dorner, William A Grobman, Matthew A Rysavy, Jenny Koo, Myra H Wyckoff, Grecio Sandoval, Sara B Demauro, Abhik Das, Henry C Lee, Michael Cotten, Laura Calvo, Shampa Saha

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To identify prenatal risk factors associated with early cord clamping (ECC) in infants born extremely preterm (22-28 weeks) and to use these factors to predict which infants have the highest risk of ECC.

Study design: Stepwise logistic regression and classification and regression tree analysis were performed to identify variables most associated with ECC and to build a parsimonious model to identify infants born preterm who are at the highest risk of ECC.

Results: There were 12 622 infants eligible for analysis (ECC, n = 8465 vs deferred cord clamping [DCC], n = 4157). In the classification and regression tree …

Artificial Intelligence In Neurosurgical Decision-Making: Promise And Peril In The United States Practice, Tirath Patel, Hamza Yousuf Ibrahim, Sana Sohrab, Muhammad Taha Altaf, Bhumi Patel, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into neurosurgical practices in the United States is transforming how diagnoses are interpreted, how surgical plans are developed, and how guidance is provided during operations as clinical needs continue to grow. Models based on radiomics and the Food and Drug Administration approved tools for tumor segmentation, aneurysm identification, and spinal navigation are showing enhanced accuracy and decreased variability among observers, highlighting AI’s potential for significant change. Nevertheless, there are major concerns about the opacity of black-box models, inaccurate outputs, and the increasing legal uncertainties arising from AI-related errors. Ethical challenges, such as the …

Increasing Phytochemical-Rich Foods And Lactobacillus Probiotics In Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer – A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Robert J. Thomas, Stacey A. Kenfield, Madeleine Williams, Robert U. Newton, Jeffrey Aldous, Anita Mitra, Zahoor Fazili

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Men on active surveillance (AS), with prostate cancer, are very interested in dietary strategies that could improve their symptoms and help prevent progression of their disease. In this real-world trial involving 208 men, intake of phytochemical-rich food capsules helped slow prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression significantly, and improved urinary symptoms and erectile function. What was novel about this study was that men randomised to take an additional blend of five Lactobacillus probiotics had a further three-fold slowing of PSA progression as well as reduction of inflammation. Currently, nearly 50% of men opt out of AS within 5 yr. If confirmed with …

Pediatric Pqct-Derived Tibial Bone Mineral Density Estimates: A Systematic Review And Meta-Regression, Anna Maria Markarian, Dennis R. Taaffe, Daniel A. Galvão, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre, Mark Markarian, Daniel J. Schiferl, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Assessing bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents is essential for detecting skeletal deficits and fracture risk. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) has gained increasing attention as a valuable imaging tool due to its ability to assess bone quality. Unlike dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, pQCT provides volumetric BMD measurements and distinguishes between cortical and trabecular compartments. Despite these advantages, its clinical adoption remains limited due to the lack of reference data and standardized protocols. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science from inception to November 2024. Studies reporting pQCT-derived tibial BMD …

Pathological Response Calculation Assessment Remains Accurate With Reduced Tumor Bed Examination After Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy In Clinically Detectable Stage Iii Melanoma, R. V. Rawson, N. G. Maher, A. M. Menzies, S. N. Lo, N. Mesbah Ardakani, L. A. Jackett, I. A. Vergara, T. E. Pennington, K. F. Shannon, S. Ch’Ng, M. Gonzalez, E. M. Burton, M. W. Lucas, I. L.M. Reijers, E. A. Rozeman, D. E. Gyorki, S. Sandhu, M. S. Carlino, J. Howle, M. Khattak, A. Van Der Westhuizen, M. C. Andrews, V. Atkinson, A. C.J. Van Akkooi, A. J. Spillane, R. P.M. Saw

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy produces event-free survival advantage over adjuvant therapy for patients with surgically resectable macroscopic stage IIIB/C/D melanoma. Pathological response, determined as percentage residual viable tumor (% RVT), provides critical prognostic information and informs management decisions. Here, we assessed accuracy of %RVT calculation when reduced tumor bed (TB) was examined and leverage these results proposing streamlined protocols for pathological examination. Patients and methods: Comprehensive histopathological examination was carried out on 134 patient specimens after neoadjuvant immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab. Impact on %RVT when evaluating less TB than recommended by the initial International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium (INMC) protocol was …

Radiation Realities: Radiation Safety Practices And Awareness Among Interventional Echocardiographers In The United States, Priscilla Wessly, Enrique Garcia-Sayan, Nishath Quader, Stephen Little, Omar Khalique, Renuka Jain

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: With the rise of structural heart interventions (SHIs), interventional echocardiographers (IEs) face significant radiation exposure in catheterization laboratories. However, US-specific radiation safety practices remain understudied. This study aims to address radiation safety practices and concerns among US IEs, focusing on occupational risks and sex-specific challenges.

Methods: A 21-item online survey was conducted from March to June 2025, targeting US IEs through a multifaceted recruitment strategy. It assessed demographics, SHI frequency, radiation monitoring, shielding practices, and reproductive health concerns. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, with sex-specific analyses for female IEs.

Results: Of 69 respondents (64% [n = 44] men, 36% [n …

Berlin Cannulation With An Outflow Interposition Graft-A Versatile Technique, Richard C Tang, Junsang Cho, Yishay Orr, Jeffrey S Heinle, Hari P Tunuguntla, Sebastian C Tume, Jun Teruya, Iki Adachi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The Berlin Heart EXCOR VAD is increasingly used to support more complex patients with heart failure. To accommodate variable arterial anatomy, a modified outflow with a long interposition graft connected to an "apical" cannula is an attractive alternative to the conventional, rigid "arterial" cannula.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent Berlin cannulation using this novel technique between September 2020 and May 2025.

Results: Fifty consecutive patients were identified. Median (range) age, weight, and body surface area at implantation were 0.7 (9 days-10.4) years, 7.8 (3.1-21.7) kg, and 0.4 (0.21-0.86) m2, respectively. Underlying etiologies …

Single-Cell Atlas Of The Transcriptome And Chromatin Accessibility In The Human Retina, Jin Li, Jun Wang, Ignacio L Ibarra, Xuesen Cheng, Malte D Luecken, Jiaxiong Lu, Aboozar Monavarfeshani, Wenjun Yan, Yiqiao Zheng, Zhen Zuo, Samantha Lynn Zayas Colborn, Berenice Sarahi Cortez, Leah A Owen, Brittney Wick, Xuan Bao, Jongsu Choi, Maximilian Haeussler, Nicholas M Tran, Karthik Shekhar, Joshua R Sanes, J Timothy Stout, Shiming Chen, Yumei Li, Margaret M Deangelis, Fabian J Theis, Rui Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Single-cell sequencing has revolutionized the scale and resolution of molecular profiling of tissues and organs. Here we present an integrated dual-modal reference atlas of the most accessible portion of the mammalian central nervous system, the retina. We compiled around 3.9 million cells from 125 donors of diverse ancestral backgrounds, including 8 published studies and 2.7 million unpublished data points, to create a comprehensive human retina cell atlas (HRCA) with more than 130 cell types identified. We annotated each cluster, identified marker genes and characterized cis-regulatory elements and gene regulatory networks. Our analysis uncovered differences in transcriptome, chromatin and gene regulatory …