Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea On Circulating Immune Cells Profiles: Evidence From Nhanes Dataset And Mendelian Randomization, Yajie Jia, Xiang Gao, Shenglong Xu, Jingli Shi, Haifeng Hou, Yanru Li, Demin Han

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on immune cell profiles by utilizing both the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset and a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) method. Methods: We included 20,732 participants from the NHANES to explore the relationship between symptom defined OSA and peripheral immune cells. Additionally, we conducted a two-sample MR analysis to investigate the effect of OSA on 35 summarized peripheral immune cell properties and 731 immunophenotypes. To ensure the robustness of findings in MR analysis, we conducted a sensitivity analysis. Results: The NHANES dataset and MR analysis …

Inpatient Versus Outpatient Management Of Bilateral Optic Nerve Head Elevation Presentation To A Tertiary Emergency Department, Mengchen Suo, Johnny Lo, Fred K. Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Increased accessibility to fundus cameras has changed the referral pattern for patients with suspected bilateral optic nerve head elevation (BONHE) presenting to emergency departments (EDs). We aim to review the management of these patients to streamline the process. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with suspected BONHE referred to a tertiary centre ED between 2017 and 2022. We collected demographics, referral source, clinical assessment, neuroimaging and retinal imaging results. Final diagnosis and treatment outcomes were compared between those managed as inpatients and those managed as outpatients. Results: 100 patients were referred to the ED with a suspected BONHE. Most …

The Contribution Of Adolescent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors To Vascular Stiffness And Cardiac Remodelling In Young Adults, Anne E. Barden, Lawrence J. Beilin, Nick S.R. Lan, Amro Sehly, Girish Dwivedi, Rae-Chi Huang, Brendan Adler, Trevor A. Mori

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Early identification of abnormalities in vascular and cardiac structure offers an opportunity for intervention to reduce future cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined factors contributing to increased CVD risk from adolescence to young adulthood. Methods and results: Raine Study participants (n = 716) classified as low- or high-CVD risk using cluster analysis at 17 years were re-studied at 27 years. Outcomes at 27 years were vascular stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV), and left atrial (LA) myocardial strain and respective ejection fractions (EF) assessed by cardiac …

Social Determinants As Pathways In Disparities In Oral Cavity Cancer Stage At Diagnosis: A Registry-Based Analysis From 2010–2020, Guillermo A Tortolero, Erich M Sturgis, Itunu O Sokale, Abiodun Oluyomi, Kristina R Dahlstrom, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Racial and ethnic differences in oral cavity cancer (OCC) stage at diagnosis are substantial, but the reasons remain unclear. We assessed insurance status and social neighborhood factors as potential pathways.

Methods: Using the Texas Cancer Registry, we identified adults diagnosed with OCC between 2010 and 2020. We examined the crude and multivariable associations of race and ethnicity, insurance status, and social neighborhood factors with stage at diagnosis. We investigated the mediating effects of insurance status and neighborhood-level social factors on racial and ethnic differences in stage at diagnosis using four-way decomposition with modified Poisson regression and robust standard errors. …

Age-Appropriate Low Dosing For Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome Oral Food Challenges: Proposing A Standardized Approach, Sara Anvari, Mary Grace Baker, Theresa Bingemann, J Andrew Bird, Terri Brown-Whitehorn, Antonella Cianferoni, Raquel Durban, Malika Gupta, Erin Hosein, George Konstantinou, Stephanie Leonard, Melanie A Ruffner, Allison Schaible, Amy M Scurlock, Pooja Varshney, Antonella Muraro, Alessandro Fiocchi, Alexandra F Santos, Stefania Arasi, Marta Vazquez-Ortiz, Hideaki Morita, Ichiro Nomura, Julia E M Upton, Michael Levin, Eric Lee, Cesar Galvan, Rodrigo Hoyos-Bachiloglu, Pantipa Chatchatee, Kirsten Beyer, George Du Toit, Purificacion Gonzalez-Delgado, Lydia Su Yin Wong, Marion Groetch, Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Current oral food challenge (OFC) protocols for food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) exhibit significant variability, creating potential for inconsistent diagnostic outcomes and severe reactions. Based on the published evidence and our clinical experience, we propose a practical, standardized OFC dosing protocol that emphasizes patient safety, goals based on age-appropriate servings (AASs), and clinical monitoring. A recent systematic review reported that most patients with persistent FPIES who underwent OFCs reacted to just 25% of an AAS, with low rates of severe reactions. Thus, we recommend that most patients undergoing a medically supervised FPIES OFC receive a cumulative dose of 25% AAS, …

Helminth-Infected Mozambican Children With Malaria Have Increased Anaemia, Cytokines And Helminth-Specific Antibodies, Inocência Cuamba, Rebeca Santano, Berta Grau-Pujol, Marta Vidal, Anélsio Cossa, Chenjerai Jairoce, Rojelio Mejía, José Muñoz, Ruth Aguilar, Bin Zhan, Augusto Nhabomba, Gemma Moncunill, Carlota Dobaño

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Owing to their overlapping geographical distribution and the consequent occurrence of coinfections, several studies have evaluated the impact of helminth infections on malaria immune responses and clinical outcomes. However, little has been reported on how malaria coinfection affects anthelmintic responses in children harbouring worm infections. We therefore aimed to assess the impact of malaria coinfection on helminth-related clinical and immune outcomes in children. Here, we measured in plasma the levels of 30 cytokines, total IgE, and helminth-specific IgM, IgA, IgG, IgG1-4, and IgE antibodies to a panel of 11 helminth antigens by Luminex. Samples were obtained from 441 children aged …

Venous Thromboembolism In Pediatric Intestinal Failure: A Single-Center Experience, Grant Ebel Bs, Rachel Bordelon Md, Julia Dansby Md, John Shin Bs, Ethan Porter Md, Tien Pham Np, Rn, Nutan Hebballi Phd, Essam Imseis Md, Allison Speer Md

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Streamlining Pediatric Appendicitis Evaluation In The Emergency Department, Joan C. Bruce, Douglas J. Fox, Owen N. Ferriola, Allen J. Huang, Nicholas A. Long, Erin M. Morris, Krysta M. Sutyak, Jeannette M. Joly, Carleen V. Cuevas, Akemi L. Kawaguchi, Kuojen Tsao

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Between Burn And Graft: Evaluating Outpatient Management In Pediatric Burn Patients, Nicholas A. Long, Alexa Cumming, Ananya Sampathkumar, Taylor Sweeney, Emma K. Young, Douglas J. Fox, Joan C. Bruce, Allen Huang, Owen N. Ferriola, Erin M. Morris, Anna Sabu Kurian, Jeannette M. Joly, Carleen V. Cuevas, Kuojen Tsao, Natalie A. Drucker

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Delayed Diagnosis Of A Rare Metabolic Disorder In Adulthood, Isaiah K Mensah, Angie Carreno Martinez, Taylor Wilson, Miguel Valdez, Maria Laura Duque Lasio

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Neuroprotective Effects Of Sorghum Polyphenol In Alzheimer’S Disease: In Vitro And In Silico Analyses, Rasheed A. Abdulraheem, Ralph N. Martins, Rajapandiyan Krishnamoorthy, Mohammad A. Alshuniaber, Prashant Bharadwaj, Zhaoyu Li, Ranil Coorey, Vijay Jayasena, Stuart K. Johnson, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objective: Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) senile plaques in the human brain is a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which manifests as progressive decline in memory and cognitive functions and currently lacks effective disease-modifying therapies. Emerging evidence demonstrates that polyphenol-rich plant foods are potential complementary therapies for AD. Methods: In this study, we investigated crude polyphenol extracts (CPEs) and purified polyphenol extracts (PPEs) from three sorghum genotypes for their ability to inhibit Aβ42-induced toxicity in MC-65 cells. Thioflavin T fluorescence, cell viability, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress assays, and Western blotting, along with RNA sequencing and computational analyses, were used to …

Predicting Accumulation And Age At Onset Of Amyloid-Β From Genetic Risk And Resilience For Alzheimer's Disease, Eleanor K. O'Brien, Timothy Cox, Shane Fernandez, Pierrick Bourgeat, Tenielle Porter, Ben Goudey, James D. Doecke, Colin L. Masters, Jurgen Fripp, Kwangsik Nho, Victor L. Villemagne, Carlos Cruchaga, Christopher C. Rowe, Andrew J. Saykin, Vincent Doré, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accumulation of brain amyloid beta (Aβ), a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), begins decades before cognitive symptoms. Being able to predict the risk of Aβ accumulation, or the age at which Aβ exceeds a critical threshold, may enable intervention to delay or prevent onset of AD. Methods: Using published genome-wide association studies (GWASs), we developed polygenic scores (PGS) for AD risk (PGSrisk) and resilience (PGSresilience), and tested whether these predicted (i) if an individual is an Aβ accumulator (‘Accumulator Status’), and (ii) in accumulators, the age at which brain Aβ exceeds a 20 centiloid (CL) threshold (‘Age …

Ebneo Commentary: The Lakana Trial: Mass Administration Of Azithromycin To Infants In Mali Did Not Reduce Mortality, Maya I Brasher, Monika S Patil

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The LAKANA trial: a randomized control trial evaluating the impact of mass administration of azithromycin to infants 1 to 11 months of age in Mali showed no reduction in mortality.

Human Exposure To Spirochete-Infected Ornithodoros Turicata In A Residential Setting In The Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area, Serhii Filatov, Bonny Mayes, Sarah M Gunter, Alexander R Kneubehl, Job E Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A central Texas resident found an engorged Ornithodoros turicata tick attached to their ankle while at home. The tick tested positive for Borrelia turicatae, an agent for soft tick-borne relapsing fever. Three weeks earlier, the patient started experiencing febrile episodes, rash, and nausea, yet the etiological agent went undiagnosed.

Epinephrine Underuse For Anaphylaxis In Infants And Toddlers: A Practical Review For Pediatricians, Stephanie Leeds, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Michael Pistiner, Jay Lieberman, Nicole B Ramsey, Rachael Griffiths, Julie Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A recent consensus report defined anaphylaxis as a serious allergic reaction that may involve the skin/mucosa, respiratory, cardiovascular, and/or gastrointestinal systems that can progress rapidly and may cause death. Epinephrine treatment is recommended in suspected anaphylaxis cases; however, numerous barriers exist to consistent, widespread epinephrine use, including difficulty identifying anaphylaxis signs and symptoms; challenges recognizing when to use epinephrine; low propensity of prescribing and filling prescriptions; low epinephrine carrying rates; knowledge gaps in epinephrine administration techniques; fears of contacting emergency medical services; use of antihistamines, inhaled bronchodilators, and other medications as first-line agents over epinephrine; and limited epinephrine device availability …

Arrhythmia Burden And Clinical Responses Under Continuous Monitoring In Heart Failure: Observations From The Alleviate-Hf Trial., Rami Kahwash, Javed Butler, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, David Zhang, Jonathan Dukes, Madhu Reddy, Rachel M Kaplan, Anish Amin, Rahul Kanwar, Shantanu Sarkar, Verla Laager, Jennifer Wehking, Brian Van Dorn, Bart Gerritse, Nirav Patel, Aimee Laechelt, Michael R Zile, Alleviate-Hf Investigators

OhioHealth Research Institute Articles

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmia burden in ambulatory patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF) without cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is not well defined, and it remains uncertain whether device-guided remote congestion management modifies arrhythmia occurrence.

OBJECTIVES: The goal was to assess whether arrhythmia burden differed between randomized congestion-management strategies and characterize the occurrences and associations of insertable cardiac monitor (ICM)-detected arrhythmias with therapeutic actions and clinical events.

METHODS: In ALLEVIATE-HF, patients with NYHA functional class II-III HF with any ejection fraction (EF) and a recent HF event, without prior CIEDs, underwent ICM implantation and were randomized to ICM-guided, physician-directed, nurse-facilitated congestion management …

Objective Biomarker Development For Parameter Optimization In Neuromodulation Using High-Density Emg Temporal And Spatial Features, Shirin Madarshahian, Nikoo Javadpour, Michael Trakhtorchuck, Tatiana Guerrero-David, Kristin Gustafson, James Harrop, Caio Matias, M. J. Mulcahey, Alessandro Naopli, Alex R. Vaccaro, Mijail Serruya

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a promising neuromodulation approach for motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), yet clinical programming remains largely dependent on subjective parameter selection. This study evaluated high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG)–derived spatial and temporal features as objective biomarkers for tSCS optimization in three adults with chronic cervical SCI. A 64-channel electrode array recorded stimulation-evoked responses across five cervical stimulation levels, four pulse widths, and graded amplitudes. Features describing activation magnitude, spatial distribution, cluster morphology, and temporal dynamics were extracted from epoch-based activation maps. Of the three enrolled participants, two demonstrated measurable stimulation-evoked responses and contributed to …

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (Fsrt) For Symptomatic Who Grade 1 Cavernous Sinus Meningiomas: Long-Term Local Control, Clinical Response, And Toxicity Outcomes, Ryan Shah, Shray Jain, Nilanjan Haldar, Lauren A. Holt, Robert Walker, Christopher J Farrell, Md, Debanjan Haldar, James J. Evans, Gregory S. Alexander, Wenyin Shi

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Cavernous sinus meningiomas represent a significant clinical challenge, given the high prevalence of neurological deficits and limited surgical options. Radiation therapy is often the preferred treatment. This study evaluates the effectiveness of fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (fSRT) in achieving local control and symptomatic relief in patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas.

METHODS: This is a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with symptomatic presumed WHO grade 1 cavernous sinus meningiomas treated with fSRT (1.8-2 Gy per fraction). Clinical data were collected by chart review. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to assess local control. Clinical responses were evaluated for symptom improvement, stability, or …

Tumor-Immune Dynamics With Memory And Time Delay: A Fractional-Order Model With Ctla-4 Regulation, Mutaz Mohammad, Mohyeedden Sweidan, Alexander Trounev, Fathalla Rihan

All Works

This study develops a fractional-order tumor-immune interaction model incorporating Caputo memory effects, delayed immune activation, and CTLA-4 checkpoint regulation. The model describes the coupled dynamics of tumor cells, CD4^+ T cells, IFN-γ, and CTLA-4, and extends classical integer-order tumor-immune models by accounting for hereditary immune responses and biologically motivated latency effects. Theoretical properties, including positivity, boundedness, equilibrium structure, and fractional-order stability, are examined to establish the biological and mathematical consistency of the model. The delayed fractional system is then investigated computationally by comparing several numerical methods, including finite difference discretization, Daubechies wavelet collocation, Euler wavelet collocation, and a predictor-corrector scheme. …

Sex-Based Differences In Clinical Outcomes Among Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated With Mechanical Circulatory Support, Emmanuel Olumuyide, Ju Young Bae, Rongras Damrongwatanasuk, Ezaz Rahman, Barbara Malaga-Espinoza, Jiun-Ruey Hu, S. Elissa Altin

School of Medicine Publications

Despite advances in therapies, cardiogenic shock (CS) remains associated with high mortality rates, often necessitating mechanical circulatory support (MCS) to preserve end-organ perfusion. Despite increasing rates of MCS utilization, less is known about sex-related differences in clinical outcomes to guide practice. Additionally, standardized management protocols for CS patients requiring MCS that account for sex differences are lacking. In this study, we evaluate sex-specific outcomes in CS patients requiring MCS, examine patterns of MCS utilization by sex, and further stratify clinical outcomes by sex across the overall CS cohort, including the acute myocardial infarction-related CS (AMI-CS), acute heart failure-related CS (AHF-CS), …

Crispr/Cas9-Based Genome Editing: Understanding Differences In Dna Repair Pathways, Profiles, And Outcomes, Samuel Effah, Shirley Barrera, Nahia Urturi Ortiz, Will Dampier, Michael Nonnemacher, Brian Wigdahl

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Over a decade of advances in Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based technologies have culminated in the first-ever FDA-approved CRISPR/Cas-based therapy. Aside from this approved therapy for sickle cell anemia, several CRISPR/Cas-based therapies are currently under development or testing for a range of chronic diseases, including viral diseases like human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, genetic diseases like familial hypercholesterolemia, and cancer. The success of these therapies hinges on the effective delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components to target regions, efficient Cas endonuclease editing, repair profiles generated, and their resulting outcomes. Here, we discuss the …

Us Race/Ethnic Disparities In Diabetes Technologies: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of 950 000 Individuals, Maria L. M. Rego, Maxim Barnett, Maria Helena Siqueira Tavares De Melo, Ana Rivadeneira

Einstein Health Papers

PURPOSE: To provide a descriptive summary and to quantitatively examine racial and ethnic disparities in the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) among people living with diabetes in the United States.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We followed the Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251124678). Search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane up to August 2025. Observational studies were included if they (1) were conducted in the United States, (2) evaluated the use of CGM/CSII across different races/ethnic groups, and (3) reported odds ratios (ORs) for between-group comparisons. Three-level random-effect meta-analyses examined OR in …

Patterns Recognized In Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Scoping Review, Marica Botha, Janine Van Der Linde, Zoe Mailloux

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Associations between scores on tests of sensory integration functions demonstrated in numerous studies over six decades have contributed to the development of Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) theory and practice. Understanding these "patterns" aids therapists in their interpretation of assessment results, ensuring appropriate and effective intervention. This study aimed to describe and discuss published research on identified patterns related to constructs in the Ayres Sensory Integration® approach. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist were used. The literature review search was guided by the following …

Comprehensive Prediction Analysis Of Novel Noncoding Regulatory Variants Identified In The Microrna Binding Regions In Complement System Genes, Anthony Shadid, Haydn E Rich, Kathryn D Hok, Marie-Francoise Doursout, Marcos I Restrepo, Nirmal K Banda, Lavanya Gunamalai, Pooja Shivshankar

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

The complement system is a central component of innate immunity that coordinates host defense, immune surveillance, and inflammatory responses through tightly regulated proteolytic cascades. Genetic variation within complement genes contributes substantially to interindividual differences in complement activity and disease susceptibility. While coding variants directly alter complement protein structure and function, the microRNA (miRNA)-mediated control and post-transcriptional regulation is not fully understood in shaping complement gene expression across immune and inflammatory mechanisms. Complement pathway genes exhibit extensive and heterogeneous 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs), which serve as primary platforms for miRNA binding and RNA-binding protein interactions. Both common and rare single-nucleotide polymorphisms within …

Male Allyship: What Utahns Need To Know, Susan R. Madsen, Deborah Lin

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Women do not always have the same opportunities as men, particularly in cultures where more traditional gender norms are embraced. Male allyship can positively impact women’s lives by increasing opportunities (e.g., safety, education attainment, career development, financial security). In addition, understanding and embracing gender differences can optimize women’s participation and leadership contributions. By intentionally removing barriers and encouraging full participation, women’s talents and perspectives can be leveraged. This both expands opportunities for women and enhances innovation, improves decision-making, and contributes to stronger communities.

Modeling Framework To Demonstrate Elimination Of A Vector Population: Tsetse Elimination In Chad, John Hargrove, Mahamat Hissene Mahamat, Moukhtar Aldjibert, Wilfrid Yoni, Djoukzoumka Signaboubo, Justin Darnas, Ernest Salou, Inaki Tirados, Albert Mugenyi, Priscille Barreaux, Philippe Solano, Antoine Marc Gaby Barreaux

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Every year, over 700,000 people, particularly children under five, die from vector-borne diseases worldwide. Effectively controlling endemics and preventing new outbreaks requires an integrated approach that can lead to the elimination of both vectors and diseases. In the last two decades, integrating medical interventions and vector control has significantly reduced the incidence of Gambian Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT), with the World Health Organization validating eight countries as having eliminated the disease as a public health problem. However, elimination of the tsetse vector has not been confirmed, leaving the possibility of re-emergence. We developed a six-step modeling framework to assess vector …

Risk-Based Nurse-Managed Personalized Heart Failure Interventions: The Alleviate-Hf Trial., Javed Butler, Rami Kahwash, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, David Zhang, Jonathan W Dukes, Madhu Reddy, Anupam Basuray, Elie Gharib, Bart Gerritse, Aimee Laechelt, Jennifer Wehking, Shantanu Sarkar, Brian Van Dorn, Nirav Patel, Verla Laager, Michael R Zile, Alleviate-Hf Investigators

Heart and Vascular Articles

BACKGROUND: Early identification of worsening heart failure (HF) may improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess if insertable cardiac monitor (ICM)-based high-risk detection combined with centrally managed, nurse-facilitated, individually protocolized diuretic interventions is safe and improves HF outcomes.

METHODS: A Reveal LINQ (Medtronic) ICM with an investigational HF risk-status software was implanted in participants with HF who were randomized 1:1 to an intervention arm (high-risk HF alert triggering protocolized diuretic regimen) or an observation arm (standard care). The primary safety endpoint was intervention-related serious adverse events and the primary efficacy endpoint was a 5-component hierarchical composite including cardiovascular death …

Effect Of Androgen Receptor Polymorphism On Hypogonadism Severity And Efficacy Of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Nelson W Mills, Beatriz S Hernandez, Peyton J Coady, Arnaav Walia, Gal Saffati, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Dalia Khera, Nadia Khera, Weitao Song, Mohit Khera

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The preferred treatment for hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), has a varying efficacy that is currently not fully understood. This observation may be explained by polymorphism of the androgen receptor (AR), a ligand-binding transcription factor whose polyglutamine tract length affects various health conditions and androgen sensitivity. It has been theorized that this polymorphism may also affect the severity of hypogonadism. This study sought to determine a correlation between hypogonadism severity, TRT efficacy, and number of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the AR gene.

Methods: One hundred sixty-two males presenting to a single institution with symptoms of hypogonadism were recruited for …

Oncocytic Intraductal Carcinoma Of The Parotid Gland With Strn::Alk Fusion, Reham H Soliman, Chris Shi, Kevin E Fisher, Hong Yu, Fouad El-Dana, Xu Cao, Li Liang, Pei Ying, Songlin Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Intraductal carcinoma (IDC) of the salivary gland is an uncommon epithelial neoplasm characterized by a predominantly intraductal or intracystic proliferation rimmed by a myoepithelial cell layer. Advances in molecular profiling have revealed recurrent gene fusions in IDC, most frequently involving RET, although fusions implicating other kinase genes have also been described. Among these, ALK rearrangements are rare and remain poorly characterized. Herein, we report a case of oncocytic IDC of the parotid gland harboring a STRN::ALK fusion, further expanding the molecular landscape of this tumor. Although this fusion has been previously reported in intercalated duct IDC, to our knowledge, this …

Leading Healthcare Improvement: An Implementation Strategy, Kelley Arredondo, Anthony Ecker, Lindsay Vaclavik, Jacquelene Shahin, Ashley Thompson, Molly Horstman, David Ramsey, Kyler M Godwin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Healthcare professionals often implement quality improvement (QI) initiatives but lack training to implement and sustain QI initiatives. Leading Healthcare Improvement (LHI) is a course that combines principles from change management, team science, and leadership effectiveness into an implementation strategy to enable clinicians to lead sustainable change.

Methods: LHI is a 6-session, 4-month interactive training. Learners work on an active QI project throughout the course. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted to evaluate pre- and post-course changes in learners' self-reported confidence across five QI competencies.

Results: Veterans Healthcare Administration clinicians and fellows completed the LHI pre- (n = 111) and …