Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Allostatic Load And Incident Dementia Among Older Adults In The United States, Mohammed Usman Kabeto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Allostatic load (AL), the cumulative physiological burden of chronic stress, is a significant health problem, and it has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including cognitive functioning. There is a paucity of literature examining associations between AL and incident dementia in the United States. This quantitative study used data from the United States Health and Retirement Study cohort (2016-2020) to examine the association between AL quartile and incident dementia among participants who were aged 56 and older at baseline. Dementia status was determined measuring immediate and delayed recall, serial seven subtraction, and backward count, as well as self-report conditions for …

Effect Of Steroids On The Progression Of Alzheimer's Dementia: A Retrospective Chart Review., Julijana Zoran Conic, Alexandra Chetty, Lily Chen, Audrey Marsh, Sean Barry, Rodney Pattabhi, Thomas Reske, Erwin Aguilar, Lobna Ali

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent age‐related neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of individuals in the United States. Neuroinflammation is a driver of the neurodegenerative changes that characterize AD, prompting interest in how inflammation can be modulated for treatment and prevention. Methods: ICD‐10 codes were quarried from electronic medical records to identify patients diagnosed with AD from 2012 to 2020. The patients were then divided into those who used systemic steroids and those who did not before the progression of their disease. Data on medication prescribed was used to measure the disease's progression. Clinical findings and laboratory results were …

The First International Experience With Histotripsy: A Safety Analysis Of 230 Cases, Chase J. Wehrle, Kevin Burns, Evan Ong, Allison Couillard, Neehar D. Parikh, Elaine Caoili, Jaekeun Kim, Federico Aucejo, Andrea Schlegel, Emily Knott, Paul Laeseke, J Philip Boudreaux, Philipp Von Breitenbuch, Mikhail Silk, Mohamed Alassas, Andrew Guzowski, Brian Fuller, Erica Knavel Koepsel, Brock Hewitt, Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, David C. Kwon

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Histotripsy is a novel, noninvasive, nonionizing, and nonthermal approach that uses focused ultrasound waves to treat liver tumors. This technology received a de novo Food and Drug Administration grant in late 2023. This study aimed to provide the first report on post-trial real-world clinical safety data. METHODS: Safety outcomes within 30 days of histotripsy were collected after obtaining Food and Drug Administration clearance (December 22, 2023 to July 26, 2024). All centers that performed histotripsy were invited to participate in this study. Complications requiring treatment were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). RESULTS: A total …

A Comparison Study Of Sensory Processing In Older Adults With And Without Dementia, Medi̇ne Nur Özata Değerli̇, Di̇dem Karaduman, Burcu Balam Doğu, Onur Altuntaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Sensory processing is affected by aging, and dementia may lead to changes in sensory processing. This study aimed to examine the differences in sensory processing and sensory modulation between older adults with and without dementia.Materials and methods: This study was designed as a comparative study of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older with and without dementia. Participants and their caregivers were recruited at the occupational therapy clinic of a public hospital. They completed a sociodemographic information form and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile to assess sensory processing and sensory modulation.Results: The study included 120 older adults (60 with …

Trends In Ischemic Stroke Hospitalization And Outcomes In The United States Pre- And Peri-Covid-19 Pandemic: A National Inpatient Sample Study, Alibay Jafarli, Mario Di Napoli, Rachel S Kasper, Jeffrey L Saver, Louise D Mccullough, Setareh Salehi-Omran, Behnam Mansouri, Vasileios Arsenios Lioutas, Mohammed Ismail, Afshin A Divani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare systems globally, disrupting the management and treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Understanding how AIS admissions, treatments, and outcomes were affected is critical for improving stroke care in future crises. The objective of this work was to assess the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on AIS admissions, treatment patterns, complications, and patient outcomes in the U.S. from 2016 to 2021, focusing on differences between pre-pandemic (2016-2019) and peri-pandemic (2020-2021) periods.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, analyzing weighted discharge records of AIS patients over six years. Data encompass …

Cardiac Screening Findings And Referral Patterns In Male African-American Basketball Players: Analysis Of The Heartbytes Registry, Douglas Corsi, Avinash Saraiya, Maggie Doyle, Vacha Shah, Blaise O'Malley, Grace Qiu, Renee Lanstaff, Imran Masood, Brian Osler, Alexander G. Hajduczok, Drew Johnson, David Shipon

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes. Male African American basketball players (MABP) demonstrate particularly elevated risk for SCD. Despite increasing screening and preventative efforts, the incidence of SCD remains elevated in this population. This retrospective analysis of the HeartBytes National Youth Cardiac Registry (2015-2023) aimed to characterize cardiac screening findings, including symptoms, family history, physical exam, and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in MABP compared to other youth athletes undergoing cardiac screening. We secondarily examined referral patterns based on screening results between the two groups. Of 8,303 individuals screened, 200 MABP were identified. MABP …

Staff Education On Medication Nonadherence For Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Julius Chick Abam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary From both the literature and the staff observation in this private practice, bipolar disorder (BD) patients who do not comply with medication are at a higher risk of hospitalization and poor quality of life. The purpose of the project was to implement staff training focused on adherence strategies, including motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to improve medication adherence rates among BD patients. The project question was: Does providing an interactive education program using case studies improve staff knowledge and self-confidence? Different studies support the effectiveness of both psychoeducation and motivational interviewing in improving adherence and functionality in BD. An interprofessional …

Iroc Phantoms Accurately Detect Mlc Delivery Errors, Sharbacha S Edward, Julianne M Pollard-Larkin, Peter A Balter, Rebecca M Howell, Christine B Peterson, Stephen F Kry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: We evaluated the impact of random and whole-bank multileaf collimator (MLC) delivery errors on dosimetric delivery accuracy in the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC) phantom audits, as well as differences in delivery accuracy between the IROC phantom prescription and typical clinical fraction sizes.

Methods and materials: Plans were created for the IROC IMRT head and neck (H&N) and SBRT spine phantoms. MLC leaf errors were introduced into the plans: random shifts between -2 and 2 mm, and whole bank shifts of 0.5, 1, and 2 mm. Plans were recalculated and delivered on a Varian Truebeam, and the log …

Nanrilkefusp Alfa (Sot101), An Il-15 Receptor Βγ Superagonist, As A Single Agent Or With Anti-Pd-1 In Patients With Advanced Cancers, Stephane Champiat, Elena Garralda, Vladimir Galvao, Philippe A Cassier, Carlos Gomez-Roca, Iphigenie Korakis, Peter Grell, Aung Naing, Patricia Lorusso, Romana Mikyskova, Nada Podzimkova, Milan Reinis, Kaissa Ouali, Andreu Schoenenberger, Joachim Kiemle-Kallee, Sascha Tillmanns, Richard Sachse, Ulrich Moebius, Radek Spisek, David Bechard, Lenka Palova Jelinkova, Irena Adkins, Aurelien Marabelle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Nanrilkefusp alfa (nanril; SOT101) is an interleukin (IL)-15 receptor βγ superagonist that stimulates natural killer (NK) and CD8

Single-Cell Analysis Of Neoplastic Plasma Cells Identifies Myeloma Pathobiology Mediators And Potential Targets, Luz Yurany Moreno Rueda, Hua Wang, Keiko Akagi, Minghao Dang, Amishi Vora, Li Qin, Hans C Lee, Krina K Patel, Pei Lin, David E Mery, Fenghuang Zhan, John D Shaughnessy, Qing Yi, Yang Song, Bo Jiang, Maura L Gillison, Sheeba K Thomas, Donna M Weber, Lixia Diao, Jing Wang, Isere Kuiatse, Elisabet E Manasanch, David E Symer, Robert Z Orlowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiple myeloma is a clonal plasma cell (PC) dyscrasia that arises from precursors and has been studied utilizing approaches focused on CD138+ cells. By combining single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with scB-cell receptor sequencing (scBCR-seq), we differentiate monoclonal/neoplastic from polyclonal/normal PCs and find more dysregulated genes, especially in precursor patients, than we would have by analyzing bulk PCs. To determine whether this approach can identify oncogenes that contribute to disease pathobiology, mitotic arrest deficient-2 like-1 (MAD2L1) and S-adenosylmethionine synthase isoform type-2 (MAT2A) are validated as targets with drug-like molecules that suppress myeloma growth in preclinical models. Moreover, functional studies show a …

An Integrative Multiparametric Approach Stratifies Putative Distinct Phenotypes Of Blast Phase Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, Kristian Gurashi, Yu-Hung Wang, Fabio M R Amaral, Katherine Spence, Rachel Cant, Chi-Yuan Yao, Chien-Chin Lin, Christopher Wirth, David C Wedge, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Simona Colla, Hwei-Fang Tien, Tim C P Somervaille, Kiran Batta, Daniel H Wiseman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Approximately 30% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) undergo transformation to a chemo-refractory blastic phase (BP-CMML). Seeking novel therapeutic approaches, we profiled blast transcriptomes from 42 BP-CMMLs, observing extensive transcriptional heterogeneity and poor alignment to current acute myeloid leukemia (AML) classifications. BP-CMMLs display distinctive transcriptomic profiles, including enrichment for quiescence and variability in drug response signatures. Integrating clinical, immunophenotype, and transcriptome parameters, Random Forest unsupervised clustering distinguishes immature and mature subtypes characterized by differential expression of transcriptional modules, oncogenes, apoptotic regulators, and patterns of surface marker expression. Subtypes differ in predicted response to AML drugs, validated ex vivo in …

A New Formula For Predicting The Actual Volume Of Parathyroid Adenoma In Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism, İbrahi̇m Kilinç, Mustafa Oruç, Serap Ulusoy, Ali̇ Coşkun, Mehmet Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Backround/AimKnowing the adenoma volume in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is useful for surgeons during parathyroidectomy. The primary aim of our study was to determine how to calculate adenoma volume with the greatest accuracy. Our secondary aim was to determine the relationship between adenoma volume and preoperative biochemical parameters (parathyroid hormone [PTH] and calcium levels).Material and MethodsWe prospectively collected the medical history of 75 patients who underwent surgery for a single parathyroid adenoma. After excision, the adenomas were placed in water-filled syringes and the actual volume was determined according to the amount of water displaced. The radiological volume of the …

Effects Of Vitamin D Replacement Combined With Graves’ Disease Therapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Beyza Taşkent Sezgi̇n, Muhammed Kizilgül, Özgür Özçeli̇k, Taner Demi̇rci̇, Hayri̇ Bostan, Ümran Gül, Beki̇r Uçan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: In Graves’ disease (GD), an autoimmune disease, antibodies targeting the TSH receptor cause the production of excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. A significant association has been reported between low 25(OH) Vitamin D3 (VitD) levels and various autoimmune disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of VitD deficiency and replacement therapy on laboratory and clinical parameters in GD patients.Methods:Fourty GD and 37 healthy control patients were included in this study. Patients with GD were divided into two groups, and the first group was given only antithyroid treatment (n:18), and the second group was given antithyroid treatment plus VitD …

Characteristics Of The Home Environment In Children With Developmental Concerns And Delays: Insights From A Cross-Sectional Study In Türkiye, Emel Ömerci̇oğlu, Ebru Ci̇han Çam, Ömer Nazim Gülçek, Eli̇f N. Özmert

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: A stimulating home environment in early childhood plays a crucial role in fostering child development. This study aimed to evaluate the home environment of children who were referred due to developmental delays or concerns and had not received any intervention at the child or family level.Materials and methods: The study comprised of 50 atypically developing preschool children monitored at the Developmental Pediatrics Department of *** and 70 typically developing preschool children from the General Pediatrics Department at ***. Physicians and experienced child development professionals employed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to perform developmental assessments on each child. The …

Does Cd47 Expression Have Prognostic Significance In Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma?, Aydan Kiliçarslan, Gülnaz Kurt Çevi̇k, Mehmet Doğan, Ayşegül Aksoy Altinboğa, Funda Ceran, Şule Mi̇ne Bakanay Öztürk, Gülşah Efeci̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aimHodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is highly treatable, but new chemotherapy agents are needed for patients with progression or recurrence. CD47 regulates anti-phagocytic activity by signaling through the SIRPα (signal regulatory protein alpha) pathway on macrophages. This study aims to assess the expression of CD47 in HL cases and explore its relationship with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) status and the International Prognostic Index (IPI).Materials and Methods120 patients diagnosed with Classical HL, characterized by the presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, for whom IPI scores were available. Demographic data and EBV status were retrieved from hospital records. CD47 immunohistochemical expression in HRS cells …

Relationship Between Uncoupling Protein 1 (Ucp1) Levels And Psoriasis, Fi̇kret Akyurek, Fatma Tuncez Akyurek, Fatma Sengul

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Psoriasis is an autoimmune, chronic and common skin disease. Comorbidities also increase the mortality risk of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in UCP1 levels in psoriasis patients and to evaluate their possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease, focusing on disease severity (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), dyslipidemia, inflammation and cardiovascular risk.Materials and methods: This study included 30 psoriasis patients and 30 healthy individuals as a control group. Serum UCP1 was measured using an ELISA test kit. The laboratory results of psoriasis patients and healthy controls were compared.Results: UCP1 level was …

Could Eras Protocols Be Integrated Into The National Standards For Quality In Healthcare In Türkiye?, Mi̇ne Gürsaç Çeli̇k, Adem Az, Mehmet Çeti̇n, Nesli̇han Alkiş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Erratum To “ Telemedicine In Pediatric Rheumatology: The Video Pediatric Gait, Arms, Legs, And Spine (V-Pgals) Examination” [Turkish Journal Of Medical Sciences 54 (5) 2024 963-969 ], Zeynep Balik, Seher Şener, Yağmur Bayindir, Müşerref Kasap Cüceoğlu, Emi̇l Ali̇yev, Özge Başaran, Yelda Bi̇lgi̇ner, Seza Özen, Ezgi̇ Deni̇z Batu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

This erratum is written to correct an error in our previous publication. Supplement Figure 2 was published incorrectly as one page instead of six.
DOI of original article: https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.5874

Assessing Knowledge Levels Of Intensive Care Unit Nurses And Doctors Regarding Drug Administration Via Enteral Feeding Tubes: A Survey Study, Ayşe Gül Koçoğlu Kinal, Yunus Emre Ayhan, Aslinur Albayrak

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aimKnowledge deficiency regarding appropriate drug administration through enteral feeding tubes (EFTs). is common in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge levels of nurses and doctors in ICUs about drug administration via EFTs.Materials and methodsThis study was conducted as a cross-sectional online survey. Survey questions were created using Google Forms and distributed to nurses and doctors in various ICUs across hospitals in Istanbul, Türkiye. The researchers designed the survey questions based on literature reviews and existing examples. The survey consisted of three sections and a total of 25 questions: the first section included …

Ipscs And Ipsc-Derived Cells As A Model Of Human Genetic And Epigenetic Variation, Kara Quaid, Xiaoyun Xing, Yi-Hsien Chen, Yong Miao, Amber Neilson, Vijayalingam Selvamani, Aaron Tran, Xiaoxia Cui, Ming Hu, Ting Wang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Understanding the interaction between genetic and epigenetic variation remains a challenge due to confounding environmental factors. We propose that human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are an excellent model to study the relationship between genetic and epigenetic variation while controlling for environmental factors. In this study, we have created a comprehensive resource of high-quality genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic data from iPSC lines and three iPSC-derived cell types (neural stem cell (NSC), motor neuron, monocyte) from three healthy donors. We find that epigenetic variation is most strongly associated with genetic variation at the iPSC stage, and that relationship weakens as epigenetic …

Podcasting Towards Togetherness: Utilizing Podcasts To Improve Departmental Camaraderie And Well-Being, Michael Petrauskis, Colleen Gutman, Rosemarie Fernandez

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician burnout is on the rise, and this is of particular concern in emergency medicine. Burnout is associated with medical errors, adverse events, poor professionalism, and litigation. A sense of community can build engagement and mitigate workplace stressors on well-being. Emergency physicians may have trouble connecting due to the nature of shift-work and various practice settings. Communication technology, and particularly podcasting, has the potential to help overcome these barriers and positively impact relatedness and well-being.

Approach: We developed an inward-facing podcast, “The ER Break Room” within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida. Through the …

Natural And Bioengineered Extracellular Vesicles In Diagnosis, Monitoring And Treatment Of Cancer, Xin Luo, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell derived nanovesicles which are implicated in both physiological and pathological intercellular communication, including the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. The exchange of biomolecules between stromal cells and cancer cells via EVs can provide a window to monitor cancer development in real time for better diagnostic and interventional strategies. In addition, the process of secretion and internalization of EVs by stromal and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can be exploited for delivering therapeutics. EVs have the potential to provide a targeted, biocompatible, and efficient delivery platform for the treatment of cancer and other …

Mitochondrial Defects And Metabolic Vulnerabilities In Lynch Syndrome-Associated Msh2-Deficient Endometrial Cancer, Mikayla Borthwick Bowen, Brenda Melendez, Qian Zhang, Diana Moreno, Leah Peralta, Wai Kin Chan, Collene Jeter, Lin Tan, M Anna Zal, Philip L Lorenzi, Kenneth Dunner, Richard K Yang, Russell R Broaddus, Joseph Celestino, Nisha Gokul, Elizabeth Whitley, Deena M Scoville, Tae Hoon Kim, Jae-Wook Jeong, Rosemarie Schmandt, Karen Lu, Hyun-Eui Kim, Melinda S Yates

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lynch syndrome (LS), caused by inherited mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, including MSH2, carries a 60% lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer (EC). Beyond hypermutability, mechanisms driving LS-associated EC (LS-EC) remain unclear. We investigated MSH2 loss in EC pathogenesis using a mouse model (PR-Cre Msh2LoxP/LoxP, abbreviated Msh2KO), primary cell lines, human tissues, and human EC cells with isogenic MSH2 knockdown. By 8 months, 58% of Msh2KO mice developed endometrial atypical hyperplasia (AH), a precancerous lesion. At 12-16 months, 50% of Msh2KO mice exhibited either AH or ECs with histologic similarities to human LS-ECs. Transcriptomic profiling of EC from Msh2KO …

Your Healthiest Year Yet: Practical Tips For Mental And Physical Well-Being, Aaron Hunt

All Current Publications

As a new year begins, it’s important to prioritize our health. In a world that continues to evolve, maintaining mental and physical wellness is key to thriving in both personal and professional life. Small, intentional changes can lead to transformative results, improving not only how we feel but also how we connect, grow, and succeed. This guide presents actionable tips for fostering mental clarity, physical strength, and overall balance, all grounded in evidence-based practices. Whether you're looking to boost your fitness, reduce stress, or enhance your daily routines, these strategies will empower you to make this year your healthiest yet.

Crème De La Conference: 8th World Congress Of Pediatric Cardiology And Cardiac Surgery-Wcpccs 2023, Carissa M. Baker-Smith, Liesl Zühlke, Jennifer Co-Vu, Shubhika Srivastava, Renelle George, Shelby Kutty, Ali N. Zaidi, David J. Goldberg, Erica D. Sood, Kathryn M. Dodds, David S. Cooper, Mitchel I. Cohen, Gil Wernovsky, Jeffrey P. Jacobs

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Unveiling The Genetic Landscape Of Coronary Artery Disease Through Common And Rare Structural Variants, Kruthika R Iyer, Shoa L Clarke, Rodrigo Guarischi-Sousa, Ketrin Gjoni, Adam S Heath, Erica P Young, Nathan O Stitziel, Cecelia Laurie, Jai G Broome, Alyna T Khan, Joshua P Lewis, Huichun Xu, May E Montasser, Kellan E Ashley, Natalie R Hasbani, Eric Boerwinkle, Alanna C Morrison, Nathalie Chami, Ron Do, Ghislain Rocheleau, Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Joshua C Bis, James S Floyd, Gregory L Kinney, Donald W Bowden, Nicholette D Palmer, Emelia J Benjamin, Matthew Nayor, Lisa R Yanek, Brian G Kral, Lewis C Becker, Sharon L R Kardia, Jennifer A Smith, Lawrence F Bielak, Arnita F Norwood, Yuan-I Min, April P Carson, Wendy S Post, Stephen S Rich, David Herrington, Xiuqing Guo, Kent D Taylor, Joann E Manson, Nora Franceschini, Katherine S Pollard, Braxton D Mitchell, Ruth J F Loos, Myriam Fornage, Lifang Hou, Bruce M Psaty, Kendra A Young, Elizabeth A Regan, Barry I Freedman, Ramachandran S Vasan, Daniel Levy, Rasika A Mathias, Patricia A Peyser, Laura M Raffield, Charles Kooperberg, Alex P Reiner, Jerome I Rotter, Goo Jun, Paul S De Vries, Themistocles L Assimes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Genome-wide association studies have identified several hundred susceptibility single nucleotide variants for coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite single nucleotide variant-based genome-wide association studies improving our understanding of the genetics of CAD, the contribution of structural variants (SVs) to the risk of CAD remains largely unclear.

Method and results: We leveraged SVs detected from high-coverage whole genome sequencing data in a diverse group of participants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program. Single variant tests were performed on 58 706 SVs in a study sample of 11 556 CAD cases and 42 907 controls. …

Metabolic Effects Of Testosterone Added To Intensive Lifestyle Intervention In Older Men With Obesity And Hypogonadism, Adrian M Gonzalez-Gil, Yoann Barnouin, Alessandra Celli, Viola Viola, Marcos D Villarreal, Maria Liza Duremdes Nava, Adam Sciuk, Clifford Qualls, Reina Armamento-Villareal, Dennis T Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) conveys additional cardiometabolic benefit to an intensive lifestyle therapy (LT) in older men with obesity and hypogonadism remains unclear.

Objective: To determine whether TRT augments the effect of LT on metabolic outcomes in older men with obesity and hypogonadism.

Design: Secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Participants: Eighty-three older (age ≥ 65 years) men with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) and persistently low Am testosterone (< 10.4 nmol/L) associated with frailty.

Interventions: LT (weight management and exercise training) plus either testosterone (LT + TRT) or placebo (LT + Pbo) for …

Unveiling The Genetic Landscape Of Coronary Artery Disease Through Common And Rare Structural Variants, Kruthika R Iyer, Erica P Young, Nathan O Stitziel, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies have identified several hundred susceptibility single nucleotide variants for coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite single nucleotide variant-based genome-wide association studies improving our understanding of the genetics of CAD, the contribution of structural variants (SVs) to the risk of CAD remains largely unclear.

METHOD AND RESULTS: We leveraged SVs detected from high-coverage whole genome sequencing data in a diverse group of participants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program. Single variant tests were performed on 58 706 SVs in a study sample of 11 556 CAD cases and 42 907 controls. …

Development And Implementation Of A Personal Virtual Assistant For Patient Engagement And Communication In Postsurgical Cancer Care: Feasibility Cohort Study, Miguel Bargas-Ochoa, Alejandro Zulbaran-Rojas, M G Finco, Anthony B Costales, Areli Flores-Camargo, Rasha O Bara, Manuel Pacheco, Tina Phan, Aleena Khichi, Bijan Najafi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cancer-care complexity heightens communication challenges between health care providers and patients, impacting their treatment adherence. This is especially evident upon hospital discharge in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Digital health tools offer potential solutions to address communication challenges seen in current discharge protocols. We aim to explore the usability and acceptability of an interactive health platform among discharged patients who underwent oncology-related procedures.

METHODS: A 4-week exploratory cohort study was conducted. Following hospital discharge, a tablet equipped with an integrated Personal Virtual Assistant (PVA) system was provided to patients who underwent oncology-related procedures. The PVA encompasses automated features that provide …

The Potential Of Using Screening Tools For Bipolar Disorder To Predict Lithium Response, Delfina Janiri, Mario Pinto, Silvia Montanari, Ester Maria Marzo, Greta Sfratta, Guglielmo Donofrio, Alexia Koukopoulos, Giovanni Camardese, Alessio Simonetti, Lorenzo Moccia, Gianna Autullo, Gabriele Sani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Lithium is the gold standard for treating Bipolar Disorder (BD), but its effectiveness varies widely. While clinical and environmental factors may influence response, it remains unclear if screening tools can reliably predict lithium response outcomes. This study explores this potential using two widely used screening instruments for BD.

Methods: A total of 146 patients with BD were evaluated. Lithium response was assessed using the Alda Scale, while hypomanic and manic symptoms were characterized through the Hypomania Checklist-32 (HCL-32) and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Group differences in HCL-32 and MDQ scores were analyzed using ANOVA, and a multivariate model …