Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mindful Diagnostics In Culture-Negative Endocarditis: Early Noninvasive Diagnosis Of Tropheryma Whipplei By Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna, Ashita Jain, Sarwat Khalil, Muhammad R Sohail, Laura C Lelenwa, Enrique Garcia-Sayan, Kenneth K Liao, Ahmed Hamdi, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tropheryma whipplei was identified by plasma microbial cell-free DNA sequencing within 4 days in severe culture-negative endocarditis after antibiotics had already been started. The result supported earlier diagnostic clarification and antimicrobial de-escalation before valve pathology was available, illustrating a practical diagnostic-stewardship role for noninvasive sequencing in high-acuity endocarditis.

Midterm Outcomes Of The Self-Expanding Navitor Transcatheter Heart Valve: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Sahar Samimi, Chloe Kharsa, Mangesh Kritya, Joe Aoun, Syed Zaid, Nadeen N Faza, Stephen H Little, Neal S Kleiman, Michael J Reardon, Sachin S Goel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

• A 19-study meta-analysis (7743 patients) found high Navitor technical/device success.
• ≥Moderate PVL was low: 1.3% at 30 days and 0.6% at 1 year.
• Pacemaker implantation was 16.7% at 30 days and 20.4% at 1 year.
• Thirty-day outcomes were favorable: all-cause mortality 1.5% and stroke 1.7%.

Pd-L1-Centric Whole Blood-Based Immune Signature Profiles Of Tuberculosis Patients During Therapy, Johanna Eggeling, Martina Sester, Christoph Lange, Jan Heyckendorf, Barbara Kalsdorf, Anna M Mandalakas, Andrew R Dinardo, David Lewinsohn, Dagmar Schaub, Tina Schmidt, Eva Tolosa, Maja Reimann, Patricia M Sánchez Carballo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This prospective study investigated whole blood-based immune cell biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) immunoprofiling. Blood samples from 34 healthy controls and 51 tuberculosis patients were analyzed at three timepoints: Prior to therapy (T0), after 14 days of therapy (T1), and at the end of treatment (Te). Using multiparameter flow cytometry, 386 immune cell populations were analyzed. Predictive models were developed using two machine learning algorithms. A TB5LF change score, which was based on five cell populations, effectively distinguished tuberculosis patients from controls (AUC = 0.89) and tuberculosis patients before and at the end of treatment (AUC = 0.92). Similarly, the …

A Year In Review On Tuberculosis And Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Disease: A 2026 Update For Clinicians And Scientists, Simone Tunesi, Graham Bothamley, Gunar Günther, Yousra Kherabi, Liga Kuksa, Berit Lange, Christoph Lange, Natalie Lorent, Francesca Saluzzo, Martina Sester, Xenia Emilie Sinding Iversen, Marc Tebruegge, Conor Tweed, Anca Vasiliu, Lorenzo Guglielmetti, Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (Tbnet)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, while infections from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) represent a growing public health threat. In its 20th year of activity, the Tuberculosis Network European Trials group (TBnet; www.tbnet.eu) is one of the leading research networks in Europe. In this review, we summarize the main advances in TB and NTM that occurred in 2025.

Methods: We conducted a non-systematic review of articles published in 2025, with a strong emphasis on research with current or potential impact on clinical practice. We also selected the most impactful papers regarding the management of adult …

Beyond Mean Length Of Utterance: Novel Measures For Characterizing The Spoken Language Of Autistic Children, Janine Mathee-Scott, Courtney E. Venker

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

Mean length of utterance (MLU) is a common measure of expressive language complexity in young children, including autistic children. However, means, by nature, obscure some information about spread and variability in data. Thus, we aimed to examine a new approach to characterizing linguistic complexity in autistic children by investigating the validity of two novel measures—range of length of utterance (RLU), standard deviation of length of utterance (SDLU)—alongside established measures: MLU and total utterances (TU).

Method:

Participants were 40 autistic children (12 girls, 28 boys; M_age = 41.78 months). Children participated in 10-min, play-based language samples with their caregivers. …

Improving Compliance With Safe Sleep Guidelines For Vulnerable Patients In A Community Safety Net Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Andrew Beverstock, Samantha Carlton, Hillary Lee, Thomas Lu, Kelsi Morgan, Ashlee Smith-Patel, Kelli Phillips, Joseph Hagan, Pablo Lohmann, Caraciolo Fernandes, Lisa Owens, Daniela Dinu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Modeling safe sleep in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) increases the likelihood that parents will follow these practices after discharge. Many NICU infants are put to sleep unsafely, and unsafe sleep practices are the leading cause of nonnatural death among children locally. We created safe sleep standards for infants older than 32 weeks based on national guidelines: infants should be placed supine in a flat, empty crib and should never be swaddled loosely. We aimed to increase the weekly percentage compliance with safe sleep recommendations from a baseline of 58% (0.58 compliant) to 85% (0.85 compliant) by March …

A Review Of Current Research And Barriers To Access: Exploring Disparities In Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, Nikita Das, Ali A Mohamed, Akshat Katyayan, Meena Vessell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) impacts at least 30% of pediatric epilepsy patients, adversely affecting neurodevelopment and quality of life, as well as risk of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). While surgical intervention has proven to be an effective treatment for DRE, disparities in access to surgical care persist. Compared to adults, pediatric patients face unique challenges, including delayed recognition of surgical candidacy, limited access to specialized epilepsy centers, complex care coordination, and socioeconomic barriers.

Summary: This review explores the current state of pediatric epilepsy surgery, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving seizure freedom, improving neurocognitive outcomes, and reducing long-term healthcare …

Layers To Leaves: A Suite Of Modular 3d Printed Hydroponics Components For Research And Education, Ethan A Shaw, Suraj K Chandramouli, Michael P Dzakovich

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hydroponics is a widely utilized technique to precisely control the plant growing environment and maximize productivity. In some cases, hydroponics systems can be expensive and require specialized expertise to build and maintain. Here, we present a suite of 3D-printed devices that can be constructed into a single or double tower hydroponics system of variable height and composition. This system is easily scalable to fit the needs of a user and can be implemented in a variety of research and educational contexts. Components in this suite can be made from inexpensive plastic filament using household-grade 3D printers. The vertical design of …

Association Of Alcohol Use With Helmet Use In Cyclists: Analysis Of The National Trauma Data Bank, Daniel C Brock, Gaibo Yan, Chad T Wilson, Emanuel Narcis Husu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Helmet use significantly reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury among cyclists; however, the influence of alcohol use on helmet-wearing adherence remains understudied in large national data sets. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between alcohol use and helmet use in injured cyclists.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 155 766 cyclists with traumatic injuries from the National Trauma Data Bank spanning 8 years (2017-2023). Cyclists were categorized by blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as follows: not screened, sober (BAC < 0.02), impaired (BAC 0.02-0.08), intoxicated (BAC ≥0.08), and multidrug intoxicated (BAC ≥0.08 plus ≥1 positive drug screen). The primary outcome was helmet usage. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, Injury Severity Score, and adverse events. Comorbid substance use disorders were considered as covariates.

Results: Alcohol use was associated with a dose-response decrease in helmet use. Helmet …

Phase I Study Of Niraparib With Radiotherapy For Treatment Of Metastatic And Locally Advanced Invasive Carcinoma Of The Cervix (Nivix), Piyush Pathak, Eunji Jo, Susan Hilsenbeck, Matthew L Anderson, Alfredo Echeverria, Shelly Sharma, Jan Sunde, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Claire Hoppenot, Michelle Ludwig

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: This Phase I study evaluated the safety and tolerability of concurrent niraparib, an oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1/2 inhibitor, with definitive radiotherapy in women with locally advanced or platinum-sensitive metastatic cervical cancer. Dose escalation followed a Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design with a target dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate of 30%.

Methods: Women ≥18 years with FIGO stage IIIC2 (bulky nodes >1 cm) or stage IV cervical cancer demonstrating response to platinum-based induction chemotherapy were eligible. Niraparib 100 mg was administered daily concurrent with pelvic radiotherapy (45-57.5 Gy via IMRT with nodal boosts) and brachytherapy, continuing 28 days post-radiation. Per …

Comparing Rotational Thromboelastometry And Standard Coagulation Assays For Predicting Intraoperative Bleeding In Pediatric Liver Transplantation, Kirby Deshotels, Trung Nguyen, Jun Teruya, Muhammed Umair M Mian, Kelby Fuller, Sanjiv Harpavat, Anna Banc-Husu, Amir Navaei, John Goss, Moreshwar Desai, Arun Saini

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Utility of preoperative rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) over standard coagulation assays (SCAs) in predicting intraoperative bleeding during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in children with liver failure (LF) remains unclear.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort of pediatric OLT recipients, we compared the predictive values of preoperative ROTEM parameters (intrinsic pathway (INTEM) maximum clot firmness (MCF), extrinsic pathway (EXTEM) clotting time (CT), INTEM CT, and fibrinogen-based (FIBTEM) MCF) and the corresponding SCAs (platelet count, international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen level, respectively) for significant intraoperative bleeding (blood loss of > 22 mL/kg; i.e., ≥ 85th percentile for …

Modulation Of Corneal Sensory Processing And Pain Responses By Dry Eye And Corneal Wounding, Ebru Yaman, Yangluowa Qu, Kaylin C Arpaia, Fairouz Elsaeidi, Uma Lakshmi Balakrishnan, Lance He, Henry Skrehot, Jehan Alam, Rui Chen, Mary Ann Stepp, Cintia S De Paiva, Stephen C Pflugfelder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface in which tear film instability, epithelial barrier disruption, and neurosensory dysfunction contribute to symptom generation. Although several contributing factors have been identified, how different forms of ocular surface stress affect sensory pathways and behavioral responses remains unclear.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate corneal barrier function, sensory responses, and pain-related behaviors across acute and chronic dry eye and corneal injury models, and to assess stimulus-specific responses associated with TRPV1 and TRPM8 mediated pathways.

Methods: Female C57BL/6 J wild type and Mmp9KO mice were evaluated in acute desiccating …

Differences In Gene Expression May Contribute To The Racial Differences In The Risk Of Masld, Ivan P Gorlov, Olga Y Gorlova, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), exhibits marked racial disparities in incidence, progression, and clinical outcomes. While diet, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors have been shown to influence these disparities, biological mechanisms underlying racial differences in MASLD risk remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that race-associated variation in hepatic gene expression may contribute to differential susceptibility and progression of MASLD. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed publicly available gene expression data from liver biopsies obtained from over 300 Black and White individuals undergoing bariatric surgery. Gene expression profiles were compared across four histological stages: …

Discovery Of Genetic Susceptibility Variants In Pediatric And Adult Ependymoma, Joshua D Strauss, Priya B Shetty, Spiridon Tsavachidis, Jinyoung Byun, Stephen C Mack, Xiao Xiangjun, Terri S Armstrong, Mark R Gilbert, (On Behalf Of Nci-Connect);, Lisa Mirabello, Smita Bhatia, Wendy M Leisenring, Lindsay M Morton, Gregory T Armstrong, Jon Foss-Skiftesvik, Christian Munch Hagen, Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm, (On Behalf Of Gicc), Manel Ghozal, Audrey Bonaventure, Jacqueline Clavel, Melissa L Bondy, Christopher I Amos, Thanh T Hoang, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Ependymoma is a malignancy of the neuroepithelium-derived ependyma that lines the spinal cord and ventricles of the brain, occurring most frequently in young children and older adults. Genetic susceptibility to ependymoma has proven difficult to assess due to disease rarity.

Methods: We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 478 ependymoma patients and 4,841 disease-free controls of European ancestry. Ependymoma patients consisted of 117 children (< 18 years old) with whole-genome sequencing (WGS), 142 children with genotyping, and 219 adults (≥18 years old) with genotyping. Genotyped samples were imputed using the 1,000 Genomes Project as the reference panel and underwent quality control filtering. The GWAS was performed separately by age group and technology (genotyped or WGS). GWAS variants were considered significant at P < 5 × 10-8.

Results: Among pediatric subjects with WGS data, we identified a significant intronic variant in EDIL3 (rs149378, P = 1.9 × 10-8) and a nearly significant intronic variant in LHX4 (rs79008224, P = 7.2 …

Training Set Augmentation And Biology-Aware Harmonization Improve Radiomic Models For Lung Cancer Prediction In Indeterminate Nodules, Claire Huchthausen, Menglin Shi, Gabriel De Sousa, James Larner, Einsley Janowski, Jonathan Colen, Krishni Wijesooriya

Data Science Faculty Publications

CT radiomics-based machine learning has potential to predict lung cancer in pulmonary nodules (PNs) earlier than standard-of-care methods. Low malignancy rates in early-development PNs and variable image acquisition hinder development of radiomic models for diagnosing these PNs. To address these challenges, we augmented training using later-development PNs and harmonized for acquisition effects. We examine early-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 106) below the sensitivity of standard-of-care diagnosis. Classifiers predicting malignancy performed near chance when trained on ComBat-harmonized radiomic features from only early-development PNs. We then augmented training with later-development benign and malignant PNs (n = 225). We evaluated whether …

Mixed Methods Studies Examining The Physical Activity Practices Among African American And Black Women: Protocol For A Methodological Scoping Review, Annette Moore Hubbell, Laura Killingsworth, Michele Shropshire

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Background: African American and Black women are among the least physically active demographic groups in the United States and experience disproportionate burdens of chronic disease that may be reduced through regular physical activity (PA). Mixed methods research is increasingly used to examine the behavioral, social, and contextual factors that influence PA in this population.

Objective: This study aims to identify, examine, and describe the mixed methods designs used in research on PA practices among African American and Black women in the United States; compare methodological approaches; identify gaps in the literature; and provide recommendations for future research.

Methods: This scoping …

Primary Care Access And Preventable Hospitalizations: A Multi-Variable Analysis Of Medicare Populations In California (2022–2025), Mariam Shenouda, Suchetha Shashi

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Based on prior literature, limited access to primary care has been linked to higher preventable hospitalization rate. Particularly, rural communities often face physician shortages, contributing to disparities in health outcomes. Objective: To understand the relationship between primary care access and preventable hospitalization rates among medicare populations in California. Methods: The data was gathered from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps for 56 California counties, excluding Sierra and Alpine. This study used unpaired t-tests to determine the difference in the PCP ratio and preventable hospitalization rate between rural and urban counties in California in 2025. A paired t-test was performed to …

Factors Affecting Percentage Of Low Birth Weight In Ohio, Maureen Schmid, Mira Krishnan

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

A multitude of environmental factors correlate to negative outcomes on maternal and fetal health such as low birth weight. While studies reveal that housing quality, air pollution, and stress contribute to negative birth outcomes, it is unclear which housing factors have the greatest impact and how rural, suburban, and urban settings in the U.S. differ. The objective of this study was to delve into how environmental factors such as housing quality and community type impact low birth weight in Ohio. This study used publicly available data from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps to examine how different housing conditions correlate to …

Exploring Demographic Factors Relating To Low Birth Weight In Rural Vs Urban Ohio, Meghan Curran, Jessica Terrell

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Although medical advancements have improved the outcomes for infants born with low birth weight (LBW), these interventions are very expensive and low birth weight still was attributed to 16.1% of infant deaths in the United States in 20201. By understanding the factors that influence the incidence of low birth weight in the United States, preventative measures can be implemented to reduce the need for costly interventions and enhance infant health outcomes. In this study, we focused on 38 counties in Ohio that had either 75% or greater rural regions or 30% or less rural regions. Additionally, we focused on four …

When Climate Change Forces Flight: Legal Duties In The Age Of Retreat, Mark P. Nevitt

Faculty Articles

In the face of climate-driven disasters, government officials and individuals alike must decide whether to invest in climate-exposed areas or retreat. This Article analyzes emerging legal and policy issues associated with both climate retreat (when the government relocates people and infrastructure away from climate-exposed areas) and abandonment (when individuals leave climate-exposed areas, following natural disasters or otherwise). I argue that government-driven climate retreat must consider four overlapping legal duties, raising novel questions in an era of climate destabilization. First, does the government have an affirmative duty to rescue its citizens, and is this duty transformed by the government’s role in …

Communicating With The Virtual Patient: Student Perceptions Of Genai In Dietetic Training, Suzanne Doyle Dr, Aileen Kennedy Dr

Case studies: Digital Education

Background: Communication skill development is a key component of dietetic education. Traditional teaching methods such as role play and simulated consultations are effective but resource intensive. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) may provide an accessible supplementary tool for communication skills practice. This initiative aimed to explore dietetic students’ experiences of using a GenAI simulated patient consultation as a revision aid to support communication skill development.

Methods: This evaluation involved second-year BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics students undertaking the Professional Practice and Communications module. Following six face-to-face communication workshops, students completed a GenAI simulated consultation involving a 56-year-old male recently diagnosed with …

Radial And Carotid Arterial Pulse Signals For Assessing Cardiovascular Function At Rest And During Post-Exercise Recovery In A Heart Transplant Patient: A Case Study, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Mamun Hasan, Jennifer F. May, John M. Herre, Leryn Reynolds, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Aim: This study investigates the feasibility of using radial and carotid arterial pulse signals to assess cardiovascular (CV) function at rest and during post-exercise recovery in a heart transplant (HTx) patient. Method: Two micro-fabricated tactile sensors were used to simultaneously acquire arterial pulse signals at the radial artery (RA) and carotid artery (CA). Measurements were taken at rest and at multiple time points post-exercise on three subjects: an HTx patient, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; coronary stent) patient and a healthy control. An SDOF-TF-based time-frequency analysis algorithm was applied to extract a comprehensive set of CV parameters, including heart rate …

New Therapies, New Challenges: Cystic Lung Disease After Cancer Immunotherapy, Ananya Venkatesh, David Camacho, Ross Summer, Michael Dong

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Immunotherapies have reduced reliance on cytotoxic strategies with their associated high toxicity levels, revolutionizing cancer care. However, these targeted therapies have also increased prevalence of previously rare sequelae, impacting patients experiencing longer survival. We describe a case of endometrial adenocarcinoma with lung metastases, in which tumor resolution following immunotherapy created cystic airspaces, leading to a pneumothorax complication. A 49-year-old female with advanced stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and lung metastasis developed cystic lung lesions in areas of previous metastatic lesions after treatment with Pembrolizumab and Bevacizumab. She developed a pneumothorax secondary to the rupture of one of the large lung cysts, leading …

Dynamic Modeling Of The Earth's Trapped Proton Environment, Xiaojing Xu, Steve R. Blattnig, Francis F. Badavi, Martha S. Clowdsley, Edward J. Semones

Physics Faculty Publications

Context: Reliable prediction of space radiation exposure is critical for safeguarding spacecraft systems and ensuring astronaut health during missions. Accurate radiation risk assessment for space mission requires advanced models of the Earth’s trapped proton environment. These models must reflect temporal variations driven by geomagnetic field evolution and solar cycle modulation. Existing static models, such as AP8 and IRENE-AP9, are not designed to fully capture these evolving conditions. Aims: This paper presents a dynamic modeling method for the prediction of trapped proton fluxes, which incorporate time-dependent variations due to geomagnetic field evolution and solar cycle fluctuations. Methods: The …

Real-Space Imaging Of The Electron-Pair Density Hole In Molecular Auger-Meitner Decay, Mats Simmermacher, Nathan Goff, Andres Moreno Carrascosa, Elke Fasshauer, Thomas Northey, Lingyu Ma, Haiwang Yong, Brian Stankus, Asami Odate, Xuan Xu, Wenping Du, Kyle Acheson, Joseph C. Cooper, Daniel Ratner, Mengning Liang, Ruaridh Forbes, Michael P. Minitti, Adam Kirrander, Peter M. Weber

Physics Faculty Publications

Electrons in matter can rearrange extremely quickly under external perturbations, underpinning subsequent structural and chemical transformations. Coulomb interactions between neighbouring electrons often shape this response, giving rise to correlated motion and strongly affecting the distribution of electrons in the system. Here we show that non-resonant hard X-ray scattering can directly access changes in the radial electron-pair density during the rapid rearrangement of core and valence electrons. We do this by studying sulfur hexafluoride molecules undergoing Auger–Meitner decay. We exploit a second-order interaction between the X-ray photons and the molecules to trigger and probe the decay dynamics with a single pulse, …

Driving Impairment In Patients With Movement Disorders: Examining The Baylor Driving Questionnaire By Objective Driving Assessment, Abhishek Lenka, Ruosha Li, Karim Makhoul, Alan Gonzalez, Rory D Mahabir, Joseph Jankovic

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The development of a screening tool to identify driving impairment in patients with movement disorders is an unmet need.

Objective: To validate Baylor Driving Questionnaire for Movement Disorders (BDQMD) by objective driving assessment (ODA).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 142 patients with various movement disorders completed the 10-item BDQMD and of those, 25 completed ODA using the driver performance analysis system (DPAS).

Results: The mean total BDQMD score for the whole cohort was 14.7 ± 5.6 (range 10-47). Patients who underwent ODA had a mean BDQMD score of 12.8 ± 2.9. Four had minimum driving skill, 20 had average, …

Cultured Ex Vivo Human Brain Tissue Maintains Cell-Type Transcriptional Identities, J P Mcginnis, Sai Mallannagari, Maria Camila Guevara, Joshua Ortiz-Guzman, Benjamin D W Belfort, Suyang Bao, Snigdha Srivastava, Maria Morkas, Emily Ji, Kalman A Katlowitz, Angela Addison, Evelyne K Tantry, Carrie A Mohila, Melissa M Blessing, Nisha Gadgil, Samuel G Mcclugage, David F Bauer, William E Whitehead, Guillermo Aldave, Omar Tanweer, Naser Jaleel, Ali Jalali, Akash J Patel, Sameer A Sheth, Howard L Weiner, Shankar Gopinath, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Daniel Curry, Benjamin R Arenkiel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is growing recognition of the need for human-based models of the nervous system and its diseases. Studies have investigated the electrophysiological properties of neurons in ex vivo human brain tissue, but the maintenance of other cell types remains unclear. We therefore used single-nucleus RNA sequencing of six patient samples to determine how well various cell types maintain their transcriptional identities over two weeks in organotypic slice culture (day 0, with 83 501 nuclei, and day 14, with 45 738). For each patient sample (two pediatric temporal lobectomies, one adult frontal cortex, two glioblastomas, and one medulloblastoma), we generated correlations …

Frontline Aspiration Versus Stent Retriever Thrombectomy For M2 Occlusions: Insights From The Star Registry, Michael Gaub, Rahim Abo Kasem, Ilko Maier, Ansaar Rai, Pascal Jabbour, Joon-Tae Kim, Brian Howard, Ali Alawieh, Stacey Quintero Wolfe, Robert M Starke, Marios-Nikos Psychogios, Amir Shaban, Nitin Goyal, Justin Dye, Ali Alaraj, Mohamad Ezzeldin, Shinichi Yoshimura, David Fiorella, Omar Tanweer, Daniele G Romano, Pedro Navia, Hugo Cuellar, Isabel Fragata, Adam Polifka, Joshua Osbun, Fazeel Siddiqui, Mark Moss, Kaustubh Limaye, Maxim Mokin, Charles Matouk, Min S Park, Waleed Brinjikji, Ergun Daglioglu, Richard Williamson, David J Altschul, Christopher S Ogilvy, Roberto Crosa, Michael R Levitt, Benjamin Gory, Alexandra Paul, Peter Kan, Walter Casagrande, Shakeel Chowdhry, Michael F Stiefel, Ramesh Grandhi, Alejandro Spiotta, Justin Mascitelli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Recent trials have furthered uncertainty regarding the endovascular benefit for medium vessel occlusions (MeVO). Stent retrievers (SR) were employed in the first attempt in most interventional arm participants. We sought to compare outcomes in acute MCA M2 occlusions between frontline aspiration and SR, and to delineate procedural and anatomical covariates associated with differential treatment effect.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a multicenter stroke thrombectomy cohort identified cases of MT for M2 occlusions. Unmatched and propensity score-matched (PSM) cohorts were generated comparing frontline aspiration to standalone and combined SR. The primary outcome was functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. Recanalization, …

Combinatorial Effects Of Multi-Site Stimulation On Depression-Related Brain Regions: Clinical Data Analysis And Predictive Modeling, Atefeh Ghazavi, Koorosh Mirpour, Masoud Soroush, Eleonora Bartoli, Nisha Giridharan, Denise Oswalt, Nicole R Provenza, Anusha Allawala, Wayne Goodman, Sameer A Sheth, Nader Pouratian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Despite growing evidence supporting deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment- resistant depression (TRD), how stimulation delivered across hemispheres or across multiple targets interact to shape large-scale network activity remains poorly characterized.

Objective: Using a unique opportunity to simultaneously stimulate the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) and ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS) in subjects with TRD while recording neural activity across putative prefrontal networks underlying depression via intracranial electrodes, we investigated whether bilateral or multi-target stimulation has additive, synergistic/super-additive, or antagonistic/sub-additive effects on power modulation across depression-related brain networks.

Methods: Four DBS leads, and ten stereo-electroencephalography (sEEG) leads were implanted in depression-related prefrontal …

Microplastics Suppress Copepod Grazing Of The Harmful Algal Bloom-Forming Dinoflagellate, Alexandrium Catenella, Megan Ladds, Christopher Gobler

OES Faculty Publications

While harmful algal blooms (HABs) are prominent occurrences in coastal zones where microplastic concentrations are maximal, the manner in which microplastics may influence food webs and HABs is poorly understood. This study explored how polystyrene microplastics affected copepod grazing of the saxitoxin-synthesizing harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium catenella, as well as a non-toxic dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium aureolum. Experiments were performed using multiple densities of microplastics (250 – 10,000 mL^–¹) of differing sizes (4 and 10 µm), as well as multiple densities of microalgae in microplates. The addition of 10 µm microplastics at densities of 1000 – 10,000 beads mL^{– …}