Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage Is Not Associated With Adverse Outcomes Following Elective Spine Surgery In Older Veterans, Andrea L Strayer, Yubo Gao, Michael A Jacobs, Heather Davila, Carly A Jacobs, Susanne Schmidt, Leslie R M Hausmann, Paula K Shireman, George Wehby, Daniel E Hall, Mary Vaughan Sarrazin, Katherine E Hadlandsmyth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In the US, over half of all cervical and lumbar arthrodesis spine surgeries are for people ≥60 years of age. The extent to which adverse outcomes vary by social (eg, disadvantaged neighborhoods) and demographic factors have been scarcely investigated in spine surgery. We investigated the association of social, demographic, and clinical factors with complications, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality in older Veterans undergoing elective spine surgery.

Methods: Veterans (N=5,277) aged ≥65 years who underwent inpatient elective spine surgery for degenerative disease in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) comprised our retrospective cohort. VASQIP (2013-2019) data were merged …

Cll Cell-Derived Exosomes Alter The Immune And Hematopoietic Systems, Ivo Veletic, David M Harris, Uri Rozovski, Maria Teresa S Bertilaccio, George A Calin, Koichi Takahashi, Ping Li, Zhiming Liu, Taghi Manshouri, Rares-Constantin Drula, Ken Furudate, Muharrem Muftuoglu, Anwar Hossain, William G Wierda, Michael J Keating, Zeev Estrov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The origins of immunosuppression, neutropenia, and anemia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are not fully understood. Because in patients with CLL, circulating exosomes, which participate in cell-to-cell interactions, are CLL cell-derived, we examined whether those exosomes contribute to abnormal features of this disease. Our data revealed that CLL cell-derived exosomes engulfed by healthy donors’ monocytes, fibrocytes, and lymphocytes altered target-cell gene and protein expression and suppressed normal hematopoiesis. CLL cell-derived exosomes increased normal monocytes’ CD14 and CD16 expression such that it mimicked the accessory cell profile and upregulated T cells’ checkpoint PD-1 and CD160 protein levels, potentially reducing …

Implementation Of An Opt-Out And Rapid Point-Of-Care Syphilis Testing Program For Pregnant Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department, Irene Stafford, Carrie Bakunas, Joe Haydamous, Ana Mosqueda, Jeffrey D Klausner, Leandro Mena, Sean C Blackwell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adult and congenital syphilis rates are rising in the United States. The aim of this pre- and post-implementation study was to determine whether implementation of an opt-out laboratory-based and rapid syphilis point-of-care testing program in the emergency department (ED) improves the detection and treatment of syphilis during pregnancy in a high-prevalence region.

Methods: This pre- and post-implementation study was conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX. During the pre-implementation phase (November 1, 2023-February 29, 2024), pregnant patients presenting to the ED underwent laboratory-based syphilis testing using the reverse algorithm only when clinically indicated. In the …

Implementation Mapping To Guide Adoption Of A Semi-Structured Intraoperative Anesthesia Handoff Tool, Aubrey Samost-Williams, Reed Richter, Naveen Vanga, Spandana Mandaloju, Adlai Arandela, Srikanth Sridhar, Eric J Thomas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There frequently exists a gap between known best practices and real-world methods. Closing this gap involves thoughtful implementation, typically involving multiple implementation strategies. Implementation mapping is a technique that links the innovation being implemented with potential barriers to implementation and connects these barriers to the strategies that form the implementation plan. This study demonstrates the application of implementation mapping to guide the adoption of the Epic Health Systems Intraoperative Anesthesia Handoff Report. The objective is to create a comprehensive implementation plan tailored to the anticipated challenges of the local environment. There are five steps in implementation mapping: (1) performing a …

The Promising Use Of An Emergency Department Observation Unit To Manage Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Thai Tran, Nicholas Imperato, Akiva Dym, Anthony Rosania, Lewis Nelson, Christine Ramdin, Cynthia Santos

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The opioid epidemic continues to grow, placing a significant strain on Emergency Departments (EDs), resulting in patients presenting daily with opioid-related concerns including intoxication, withdrawal, infections, injury, and death. Consequently, in recent years many EDs, including our own, have utilized Emergency Department Observation Units (EDOU) to not only manage withdrawal and overdose, but also initiate long-term treatment. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who were managed in our EDOU.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients placed in an EDOU who had the primary diagnosis of OUD in a single …

Is There An Association Between Inflammatory Biomarkers And Organ Space Surgical Site Infection After Emergency Laparotomy In Massively Transfused Trauma Patients?, Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, Mokunfayo O Fajemisin, Chelsea J Guy-Frank, James M Klugh, Xu Zhang, Erin E Fox, Charles E Wade, Kimberly A Mankiewicz, Lillian S Kao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The relationship between inflammatory biomarkers (IB) and organ space surgical site infections (OS-SSIs) after emergency laparotomy (EL) is poorly understood.

Methods: Retrospective, single-center analysis of patients in the Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) trial who underwent EL and survived 48 h after admission was performed. IB levels of IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF, MCP-1, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and platelet to lymphocyte ratio were analyzed. IB and OS-SSIs association was evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Results: Of 74 eligible patients, 80 % were male, 69 % sustained blunt trauma, the injury severity score was 31 (24-41), …

Blockade Of A2ar Improved Brain Perfusion And Cognitive Function In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Mariana Sayuri Berto Udo, Julia Zaccarelli-Magalhães, Garrett Alan Clemons, Cristiane Teresinha Citadin, Julia Langman, Drew James Smith, Luiz Henrique Matuguma, Vesna Tesic, Hung Wen Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older, particularly women. Along with AD’s main hallmarks (formation of β-amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles), there are vascular alterations that occurs in AD pathology. Adenosine A2 receptor (A2AR) is one of the key factors of brain vascular autoregulation and is overexpressed in AD patients. Our previous findings suggest that protein arginine methyltransferase 4 (PRMT4) is overexpressed in AD, which leads to decrease in cerebral blood flow in aged female 3xTg mice. We aimed to investigate the mechanism behind A2AR signaling in the …

Familiarity Moderates Education Level Of Stigma For Professional Efficacy Of Treating Mental Illness, Jason J. Burrow-Sanchez, Shawnda Schroeder, Thomasine Heitkamp, Brian Urlacher, Sharon Cook, Paula Bennett, Carolina Corrales

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Background: About one in five adults in the United States experience any mental illness (AMI) whereas 14.2 million experience serious mental illness (SMI). The perception of stigma among these individuals can be associated with care seeking behavior and treatment adherence.

Purpose: Two factors that mitigate stigma are familiarity with someone experiencing AMI/SMI and general level of education. Heretofore, these factors have not been tested together to determine if familiarity moderates the relation between level of education and stigma of professional efficacy for treating mental illness.

Methods: In fall 2020, an online survey in the state of Utah measured 1,300 adults’ …

Developmental Lead Exposure And Aggression In Male Rats: Influences Of Maternal Care And Environmental Enrichment, Shamaila Zafar, Courtney K. Williams, Jaehyun Joo, Blanca E. Himes, Jay S. Schneider

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Developmental lead (Pb) exposure results in a variety of cognitive deficits and behavioral issues including increased antisocial behavior and aggression. This study investigated the effect of developmental Pb exposure on aggression and violent behavior in male rats and the potential modulatory influences of quality of maternal care and enriched/non-enriched housing conditions. Long-Evans male rats with or without Pb exposure (perinatal or early postnatal) from low or high maternal care mothers (based on amounts of licking/grooming and arched- back nursing) were randomly assigned to live in enriched or non-enriched environments at weaning. At post- natal day 120–190, offensive aggression was assessed …

Advocating For A Neonatal Fellowship Based On The Fundamentals Of Care, Angela Cyr, Megan Flynn

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Objective: Address knowledge gaps in neonatal care using the Fundamentals of Care Framework.

Predicting Discharge Destination And Length Of Stay After Open Reduction Internal Fixation Of Distal Femur Fractures, Akash A Shah, Brian K Zukotynski, Chohee Kim, Brendan Y Shi, Changhee Lee, Sai K Devana, Alexander Upfill-Brown, Erik N Mayer, Nelson F Soohoo, Christopher Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Prediction of nonhome discharge after open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of distal femur fractures may facilitate earlier discharge planning, potentially decreasing costs and improving outcomes. We aim to develop algorithms predicting nonhome discharge and time to discharge after distal femur ORIF and identify features important for model performance.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adults in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent distal femur ORIF between 2010 and 2019. The primary outcome was nonhome discharge, and the secondary outcome was time to nonhome discharge. We developed logistic regression and machine …

The Macrophage Sterol Transport Protein Orp2 Promotes Cholesterol Efflux And Prevents Foam Cell Formation And Atherosclerosis, Xiaowei Wang, Kenan Peng, Yudi Zhao, Liwen Qiu, Chenxi Liang, Yaqian Dou, Qianqian Dong, Xiaoting Ma, Jinye Tang, Yidan Ma, Lin Liu, Mingqi Zheng, Hongyuan Yang, Mingming Gao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cholesterol-loaded macrophage foam cells are a key feature of atherosclerotic plaques. Oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 2 (ORP2) facilitates the transport of cholesterol from lysosomes to the plasma membrane in cultured cell lines. However, the role of ORP2 in macrophages and its involvement in atherosclerosis remain unclear. In this study, we found ORP2 expression was reduced in atherosclerotic vessels and in macrophages exposed to oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Myeloid-specific human ORP2 overexpression (hORP2MOE) mice were generated and crossed with atherosclerotic-prone ApoE−/− mice and then fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce atherosclerosis. Our results showed that myeloid-specific hORP2 overexpression significantly reduced the atherosclerotic …

Time To Weight Plateau With Tirzepatide Treatment In The Surmount-1 And Surmount-4 Clinical Trials, Deborah B Horn, Scott Kahan, Rachel L Batterham, Dachuang Cao, Clare J Lee, Madhumita Murphy, Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, Farai Chigutsa, Adam Stefanski, Julia P Dunn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The rate of weight reduction during obesity treatment declines over time and eventually reaches a weight plateau. We investigated factors associated with time to weight plateau (TTWP) in tirzepatide-treated participants with obesity or overweight in a post-hoc analysis of SURMOUNT-1 and SURMOUNT-4 trials. Participants adherent to tirzepatide treatment and achieving ≥5% weight loss by primary endpoint (week 72 SURMOUNT-1; week 88 SURMOUNT-4) were included. Weight plateau was defined as a weight change < 5% over a 12-week interval and all subsequent 12-week intervals. TTWP was time from randomization to the start of the first 12-week interval. Association between baseline characteristics and TTWP was assessed. Overall, 1438 participants in SURMOUNT-1 and 259 in SURMOUNT-4 were included. Across BMI categories (overweight, class I, II, and III), median TTWP in SURMOUNT-1 was 24.3, 26.0, 36.1, and 36.1 weeks, respectively (p < .05, class II and III vs. overweight). By week 72, 90.2%, 88.9%, 87.6%, and 87.8% of participants in SURMOUNT-1 had reached a weight plateau across respective BMI categories [Correction added on 22 January 2025, after first online publication: The "72%" has been changed to "72" in this version.]. Higher doses of tirzepatide (10/15 mg), younger age, and female sex were more likely to reach a weight plateau later. Results in SURMOUNT-4 were similar. In this post-hoc analysis, most participants reached a weight plateau by week 72. Higher doses of tirzepatide, younger age, and female sex were associated with a longer TTWP. Further research into modifiers of weight reduction phases with tirzepatide may inform treatment decisions for its use in chronic weight management. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifiers NCT04184622 (SURMOUNT-1) and NCT04660643 (SURMOUNT-4), available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.

Measuring And Interpreting Individual Differences In Fetal, Infant, And Toddler Neurodevelopment, Halie A Olson, M Catalina Camacho, Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova, Sahar Ahmad, Emily M Chen, Haerin Chung, Renata Di Lorenzo, Áine T Dineen, Melanie Ganz, Roxane Licandro, Caroline Magnain, Natasha Marrus, Sarah A Mccormick, Tara M Rutter, Lauren Wagner, Kali Woodruff Carr, Lilla Zöllei, Kelly A Vaughn, Kathrine Skak Madsen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As scientists interested in fetal, infant, and toddler (FIT) neurodevelopment, our research questions often focus on how individual children differ in their neurodevelopment and the predictive value of those individual differences for long-term neural and behavioral outcomes. Measuring and interpreting individual differences in neurodevelopment can present challenges: Is there a "standard" way for the human brain to develop? How do the semantic, practical, or theoretical constraints that we place on studying "development" influence how we measure and interpret individual differences? While it is important to consider these questions across the lifespan, they are particularly relevant for conducting and interpreting research …

Enhancing Seizure Control In Ultra-Refractory Postencephalitic Epilepsies Using Multinodal Network Neuromodulation, Subhiksha Srinivasan, Surya Suresh, Ganne Chaitanya, Manoj Saranathan, Nitin Tandon, Sandipan Pati

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This case series reports the formidable challenge posed by postencephalitic epilepsies, characterized by frequent drug-resistant seizures and neuropsychiatric and cognitive comorbidities. Polypharmacy is frequently required, and surgical resection may not be feasible due to multifocality. Neuromodulation therapies, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS), offer a potential lifeline. In this case series, we shed light on the intricate landscape of seizure management and neuropsychiatric comorbidities in five individuals with frequent seizures (often weekly) and ultra-refractory epilepsy (defined as resistance to more than six different antiseizure medications, including failed epilepsy surgery) following catastrophic encephalitis. Four out of five patients …

Expanding The Clinical Spectrum Of Porokeratosis Ptychotropica, Brooke R Bartley, Dylan R Maldonado, Steven Mays, Ronald P Rapini

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Porokeratosis ptychotropica (PP) is a rare variant of porokeratosis, typically presenting as pink to brown hyperkeratotic plaques in the gluteal cleft and buttocks, defined histologically by multiple cornoid lamellae. Diagnosis of PP is challenging due to its clinical overlap with other dermatologic conditions and inconsistent terminology in the literature. This case report describes a 47-year-old woman exhibiting clinical and pathological features of PP but with a more diffuse presentation than previously documented. The case emphasizes the diagnostic complexities of PP, particularly in atypical presentations, and highlights the critical role of histological examination in distinguishing it from other porokeratoses.

The Great Mimicker: Forgotten But Not Gone, Blayne E Fenner, Kevin M Burningham, Jamael L Thomas, Brent C Kelly, Auris O Huen, Stephen K Tyring

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Once subdued after the advent of penicillin, syphilis has re-emerged in recent years, with incidence rates rising in many countries, including the United States. Its reputation as "the great imitator" is well earned due to its widely variable presentation, particularly in its second stage. This contributes to a high rate of delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, adding significant burden to patients and the health care system generally. Herein, we present 2 cases in which syphilis was misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary therapies and delay of symptom clearance until treponemal tests were performed. In the context of recent epidemiologic trends and its notorious …

Ao Spine Clinical Practice Recommendations For Diagnosis And Management Of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Evidence Based Decision Making - A Review Of Cutting Edge Recent Literature Related To Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Michael G Fehlings, Nathan Evaniew, Paula Valerie Ter Wengel, Aditya Vedantam, Daipayan Guha, Konstantinos Margetis, Aria Nouri, Aminul I Ahmed, Chris J Neal, Benjamin M Davies, Mario Ganau, Jefferson R Wilson, Allan R Martin, Lukas Grassner, Lindsay Tetreault, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar, Rex Marco, James Harrop, James Guest, Mohammed Ali Alvi, Karlo M Pedro, Brian K Kwon, Charles G Fisher, Shekar N Kurpad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Study Design

Literature review of key topics related to degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) with critical appraisal and clinical recommendations.

Objective

This article summarizes several key current topics related to the management of DCM.

Methods

Recent literature related to the management of DCM was reviewed. Four articles were selected and critically appraised. Recommendations were graded as Strong or Conditional.

Results

Article 1: The Relationship Between pre-operative MRI Signal Intensity and outcomes. Conditional recommendation to use diffusion-weighted imaging MR signal changes in the cervical cord to evaluate prognosis following surgical intervention for DCM. Article 2: Efficacy and Safety of Surgery for Mild …

Fracture Patterns In Craniofacial Gunshot Wounds: A Seven-Year Experience, Gabriela G Cruz, Sameer H Siddiqui, David Z Allen, Kunal R Shetty, Sean P Mckee, Brady J Anderson, Mark Knackstedt, W Katherine Kao, Tang Ho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To characterize facial fracture patterns and understand predictors of surgical repair and LOS with the objective of assisting providers in managing and understanding these complex injuries.

Study design: This is a retrospective cohort chart review study.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for patients admitted with gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the head, neck, or face between January 2013 and March 2020 at a level one trauma tertiary care hospital. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify associations with surgical repair and LOS.

Results: Of the 578 patients with head, neck, or facial GSWs, 204 survived and sustained facial …

New Frontiers: The Intern Experience In A Newly Established Integrated Plastic Surgery Program, Hendrik Lintel, Imran Rizvi, Michael Haydon, Erik S Marques, Matthew R Greives, Mohin A Bhadkamkar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The plastic surgery residency pathway has undergone many changes since its inception. The advent of integrated training has largely taken over as the predominant residency model with the addition of a few new programs every year. There is currently a paucity of literature describing the experiences of first-year interns in a new integrated residency program transitioning from the independent model. In this article, we seek to elucidate some of the advantages and difficulties encountered by the initial residents of a newly established integrated program and the steps taken to pave the way for future matched integrated trainees.

Assessment Of Contextualized Reinforcement Pathology In A Community Sample Of Young Adult Substance Users, Ángel García-Pérez, Alba González-Roz, Roberto Secades-Villa, Gema Aonso-Diego, Sara Weidberg, Jin H Yoon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among young populations, often leading to polysubstance use, which correlates with problematic consumption and adverse health outcomes. The contextualized reinforcer pathology (CRP) model explains addictive behaviors through several constructs, including the following: drug demand, delay discounting (DD), and substance-free and substance-related reinforcement. Most previous studies have focused on a single CRP construct and the couse of only two substances. This study aimed to characterize three subgroups of young adults reporting past month use of alcohol only, alcohol + tobacco or cannabis, and alcohol + tobacco + cannabis, in terms …

Glutamatergic Regulation Of Mirna-Containing Intraluminal Vesicle Trafficking And Extracellular Vesicle Secretion From Cortical Neurons, Marcela Bertolio, Qiyi Li, Francesca E Mowry, Kathryn E Reynolds, Rashed Alananzeh, Haichao Wei, Kyoeun Keum, Rachel Jarvis, Jiaqian Wu, Yongjie Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuronal extracellular vesicles (microvesicles and exosomes) are emerging secreted vesicular signals that play important roles in the CNS. Currently, little is known about how glutamatergic signalling affects the subcellular localisation of exosome precursor intraluminal vesicles (ILVs), microRNA (miR) packaging into ILVs and in vivo spreading of neuronal EVs. By selectively labelling ILVs and exosomes (but not plasma membrane-derived MVs) with GFP-tagged human CD63 (hCD63-GFP) in cortical neurons, we found that glutamate stimulation significantly redistributes subcellular localisation of hCD63-GFP+ ILVs, especially decreasing its co-localisation with multi-vesicular body (MVB) marker Rab7 while substantially promoting EV secretion. Interestingly, glutamate stimulation only modestly alters …

An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa)-Based Activity Assay For Amp-Activated Protein Kinase (Ampk), Trezze P Nguyen, Shangze Lyu, Yang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the master regulator of cellular and organismal energy homeostasis, playing an essential role in modulating metabolism and other cellular processes. Substantial efforts have been made to develop pharmacological modulators of AMPK activity due to their therapeutic potential against various diseases. Measuring AMPK activity in vitro is a fundamental step for testing AMPK activators and inhibitors. Here, we report an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based AMPK activity assay with simple steps and high sensitivity. This assay offers a robust, in-house alternative to the traditional radioactive methods and other approaches that rely on specialized reagents or commercial kits.

Pharmacogenetics Of Plasma Dolutegravir Exposure During 1-Month Rifapentine/Isoniazid Treatment Of Latent Tuberculosis, Nia Covington, Anne F Luetkemeyer, Marjorie Z Imperial, Rodney Dawson, Yoninah Cramer, Sue Rosenkranz, Susan Swindells, Irina Gelmanova, Anchalee Avihingsanon, Roberto C Arduino, Wadzanai Samaneka, Kelly E Dooley, Rada Savic, Anthony T Podany, David W Haas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally protocol A5372, a pharmacokinetic study of dolutegravir with 1-month of daily rifapentine/isoniazid, twice-daily dolutegravir offset the induction effects of rifapentine on plasma dolutegravir trough concentrations (C trough ). Here, we characterize the impact on dolutegravir C trough of UGT1A1 , AADAC , and NAT2 polymorphisms that affect dolutegravir, rifapentine, and isoniazid, respectively. People with HIV receiving dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy with an indication to treat latent tuberculosis underwent pharmacokinetic sampling during dolutegravir 50 mg once daily alone, and on day 28 of dolutegravir 50 mg twice daily with rifapentine/isoniazid. Multivariable linear regression models characterized genetic associations …

Three-Dimensional Printed Models To Accelerate Resident Surgical Learning Curve For Standard Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Techniques, Jumah G Ahmad, Alexander J Citardi, Amber U Luong, William C Yao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery presents significant visuospatial challenges to surgical trainees. We tested the utility of novel 3D printed models to simulate sinus surgery tasks to improve endoscopic skillsets in resident trainees.

Methods: This was a prospective quality improvement study of 10 ENT residents (PGY1-5). Participants rotated through 4 stations with different 3D simulation training modules designed to enhance endoscopic skillsets in the axial, sagittal and coronal planes (e.g., straight forceps to grasp a bead from a ledge, angled instruments to cannulate openings). Participants completed a self-assessment survey on the subjective sinus surgical skills using a visual analog …

Placenta Accreta Spectrum, Present And Future: The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Workshop Summary, Christina M Duzyj, Brett D Einerson, Yalda Afshar, Karin A Fox, Antonio F Saad, Daniela A Carusi, Christina L Herrera, Deirdre J Lyell, Alfred Z Abuhamad, Michaela K Farber, Anne C Roberts, Sebastian R Hobson, Loic Sentilhes, Baha M Sibai, Koji Matsuo, Kristen Terlizzi, Scott A Shainker, Robert M Silver, Helena C Bartels, Thomas D Shipp, Marilyn Huang, Alison G Cahill, Jason D Wright, George R Saade, Monica Longo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder poses significant risks to maternal health, given the complexities of screening, diagnosis, and management. To address these challenges, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) hosted a workshop on June 10-11, 2024, bringing together expert health care professionals, researchers, stakeholders, and patient advocates to identify knowledge gaps, with an overarching goal of informing future research and best practices for PAS. Key discussions revolved around the resources and infrastructure needed to advance screening, diagnosis, and clinical management of PAS, alongside ways to enhance collaboration across disciplines. Participants considered strategies to …

Cardio-Oncology Outcomes In Ultrasound-Assisted Versus Standard Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis For Acute Pulmonary Embolus, Dominique J Monlezun, Dinu Balanescu, Teodora Donisan, Arashk Motiei, Brenden S Ingraham, Keir Mackay, Hyeon-Ju Ali, Kevin Honan, Abdelrahman Ali, Salman Arain, Konstantinos Charitakis, Mehmet Cilingiroglu, Konstantinos Dean Boudoulas, Jaime Caballero, Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, Cezar Iliescu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Endovascular Repair Of Type A Dissection Using Thoracic Stent Graft With Innominate Artery Flaring To Correct For Length Mismatch, Aidin Baghbani-Oskouei, Lucas Ruiter Kanamori, Safa Savadi, Steven Maximus, Thanila A Macedo, Anthony Estrera, Salman A Arain, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Type A aortic dissection is the most common aortic catastrophe posing challenges for endovascular repair owing to the fragile aortic wall, proximity to the aortic valve, coronaries, and supra-aortic trunks. While open surgical repair remains the gold standard, endovascular repair is considered in select high-risk patients who meet anatomical criteria, including more than 10 mm length between sinotubular junction to primary tear, aortic diameter of less than 40 mm, and suitable length between sinotubular junction and innominate artery. This illustrated video and case presentation address a modified technique using stent graft flaring of the innominate artery to adjust for length …

Psychometrics Of Inflammatory Back Pain Criteria In The Us Population, Mark C Hwang, Seokhun Kim, Shervin Assassi, Alexis Ogdie, Michael H Weisman, John Reveille, Charles Green

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Evaluation of axial spondyloarthritis relies on capturing various inflammatory back pain (IBP) features represented in different criteria. These criteria are likely to be interpreted differently across demographic subpopulations. We examined IBP criteria dimensionality and differential item functioning (DIF) among different age, gender, and race groups using a nationally representative sample.

Methods: We utilised the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010 dataset, a US nationally representative data collection with demographic weighting. The Arthritis Questionnaire (ARQ) within NHANES included questions from published Calin, European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group, and Berlin criteria (8a and 7b). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed …

Design Of Conquest, A Novel, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2b Platform Clinical Trial To Investigate New Treatments For Patients With Early Active Systemic Sclerosis With Interstitial Lung Disease, Dinesh Khanna, Luke B Evnin, Shervin Assassi, Wade W Benton, Gregory Gordon, Karina Maslova, Juergen Steffgen, Toby M Maher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Safe, effective therapies are urgently needed for patients with systemic sclerosis. However, clinical trial recruitment is challenging given the limited number of people with systemic sclerosis and further restrictions imposed by eligibility criteria. Innovative approaches are needed to accelerate development of new therapies. This article describes the rationale and trial design for CONQUEST (NCT06195072), a novel platform clinical trial sponsored by the Scleroderma Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization.

Methods: CONQUEST is a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 2b platform trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacodynamics of multiple investigational products to treat early active systemic sclerosis with …