Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Daily Function And Quality Of Life In Markedly Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: Findings From A One-Year, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial, A John Rush, Charles R Conway, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Depression treatments aim to minimize symptom burden and optimize quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial function.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the effects of adjunctive versus sham vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on QoL and function in markedly treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 493 adults with TRD and ≥4 adequate but unsuccessful antidepressant treatment trials (current episode) were randomized to active (n = 249) or sham (n = 244) VNS (plus treatment as usual) over a 12-month observation period. Quarterly outcomes included QoL with the Q-LES-Q, Mini-Q-LES-Q, and EQ-5D-5L, and function with the WHODAS 2.0 and Work Productivity …

Exploring Factors Contributing To Patient Decision-Making In The Care Journey To Elective Hernia Care In Kenya, Helen W. Li, Jesse Kiprono Too, Sarah Nyanchama Nyariki, Charles Nathan Nessle, Sara Malone, Rachel Matsumoto, Teddy Ashibende Aurah, Jeffrey A. Blatnik, Joanna Hunter-Squires, Ivan Seno Saruni

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Capacity for elective general surgical care is an important reflection of a health system's ability to meet a population's surgical needs and is currently known to be inadequate in many low- and middle-income countries. Patient agency is a key, understudied factor which shapes how and when patients ultimately decide to engage with formal care. Understanding factors which influence patient care seeking activity can have important implications for how current and future health systems may be utilized. This study aims to explore how patients approach the navigation and triage of their elective hernia condition within the Kenyan surgical care system. …

Effects Of Obesity On Plasma Biomarker And Amyloid Pet Trajectories In Alzheimer's Disease, Soheil Mohammadi, Farzaneh Rahmani, Mahsa Dolatshahi, Suzanne E Schindler, Cyrus A Raji, Adni Collaborators

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its impact on AD blood biomarker (BBM) and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) trajectories is unknown.

METHODS: One thousand two hundred twenty-eight plasma samples from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were assessed using six leading commercial tests (C2N, Fujirebio, Janssen, ALZpath, Roche, and Quanterix). Amyloid PET scans were used to assess amyloid burden in Centiloids (CLs). Spearman partial correlations assessed cross-sectional associations, while linear mixed-effects models examined the longitudinal impact of obesity status on BBMs and CLs.

RESULTS: Higher body mass index at baseline was correlated with lower …

Schistosomiasis Interventions In Africa: Assessment And Systematic Review, Christopher Yaw Dumevi, George Boateng Kyei, Patience B Tetteh-Quarcoo, James-Paul Kretchy, Irene Ayi, Patrick F Ayeh-Kumi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

System Readiness And The Patient Care Pathway For Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis And Treatment, B Joy Snider, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Promising therapeutic interventions that target the underlying pathophysiology are changing the landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. The AD care pathway must be transformed to meet the challenge of bringing these new therapies to the increasing number of people living with AD within the existing healthcare framework. Challenges include identifying patients who may benefit from treatment interventions early in the course of the disease, ensuring that diagnostic tools are accessible and accurate, and developing capabilities to monitor the effectiveness of interventions over time. These challenges must be addressed at all levels, from primary care settings to tertiary treatment centers; this …

Clinical And Neuropathological Associations Of Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40, P-Tau217 And Neurofilament Light In Sporadic Frontotemporal Dementia Spectrum Disorders, Binita Rajbanshi, Randall J Bateman, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Plasma amyloid beta

METHODS: We compared the clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathological associations of plasma Aβ

RESULTS: Aβ

DISCUSSION: Plasma p-tau217 has clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathological correlates in sporadic FTD and may identify FTD cases with AD co-pathology.

HIGHLIGHTS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) features could be identified with plasma phosphorylated tau217 (p-tau217) in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).Plasma p-tau217 is a better discriminator of AD co-pathology and AD-associated features in FTLD than plasma amyloid beta

Impact Of Genetic Counseling And Testing In Individuals At High Risk Of Familial Alzheimer's Disease From Latin America: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial, Pablo M Bagnati, Ellen Ziegemeier, Eric Mcdade, Randall J Bateman, Jorge J Llibre-Guerra, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study involved evaluating a tailored genetic counseling and testing (GCT) protocol for families at risk of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) in Latin America (LatAm), focusing on essential cultural and regional adaptations.

METHODS: We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial among ADAD families in Colombia and Argentina. Participants were categorized based on their decision to learn their genetic status (GS), with further comparisons between mutation-positive versus mutation-negative participants who learned their status. Psychological impacts were measured using validated scales for anxiety and depression.

RESULTS: Of the 122 eligible participants, 97 completed the GCT protocol, and 87 opted to learn …

Psychosocial Behavioral Phenotypes Of Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Older Adults Enrolled In Habs-Hd Differ On Neuroimaging Measures Of Brain Age Gap, Hippocampal Volume, And Cortical Thickness, Alexandra L Clark, Makenna B Mcgill, Alexandra J Weigand, Julie K Wisch, Kalen Petersen, Beau Ances, Meredith N Braskie, Sid O'Bryant, Kelsey R Thomas, Habs‐Hd Study Team

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study examined whether previously identified psychosocial behavioral phenotypes differed on structural neuroimaging markers.

METHODS: Latent profile analysis (LPA) employed in a sample of 1820 community-dwelling older adults (1118 Hispanic and 702 Black) replicated previous Low Resource/Low Distress, High Resource/Low Distress, and Low Resource/High Distress phenotype classifications. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) adjusting for relevant factors examined phenotype differences on neuroimaging outcomes of predicted brain age gap (BAG) (DeepBrainNet

RESULTS: The Low Resource/Low Distress and Low Resource/High Distress phenotypes had significantly higher predicted BAGs relative to the High Resource/Low Distress phenotype, and the Low Resource/High Distress group displayed significantly lower …

Multi-Echo Acquisition And Thermal Denoising Advances Precision Functional Imaging, Julia Moser, Alyssa K Labonte, Michael J Myers, Babatunde Adeyemo, Abraham Z Snyder, Evan M Gordon, Nico U F Dosenbach, Timothy O Laumann, Chad M Sylvester, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The characterization of individual functional brain organization with Precision Functional Mapping has provided important insights in recent years in adults. However, little is known about the ontogeny of inter-individual differences in brain functional organization during human development. Precise characterization of systems organization during periods of high plasticity is likely to be essential for discoveries promoting lifelong health. Obtaining precision functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data during development has unique challenges that highlight the importance of establishing new methods to improve data acquisition, processing, and analysis. Here, we investigate two methods that can facilitate attaining this goal: multi-echo (ME) data acquisition …

Stated Preference Research In Otolaryngology: A Scoping Review, Lucy Xu, Molly N Huston, Victoria S Lee, John D Cramer, Deborah Goss, Matthew R Naunheim

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Stated preference research methods, including discrete choice experiments (DCEs), conjoint analysis (CA), best-worst scaling (BWS), and willingness-to-pay/contingent valuation (WTP/CV) studies, are excellent tools for understanding patient preferences in healthcare. Their application in otolaryngology has yet to be described. This work encompasses a scoping review assessing the field of stated preference research in otolaryngology, to identify gaps in the current literature and identify areas of future applications of such methodologies.

DATA SOURCES: Embase, Medline, and Web of Science.

REVIEW METHODS: A search of three databases for all relevant publications through 2023 was performed using relevant search terms. Eligibility criteria for …

Discovering Subtypes With Imaging Signatures In The Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome Consortium Using Weakly Supervised Clustering, Bhargav Teja Nallapu, Kellen K Petersen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the heterogeneity of brain structure in individuals with the Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome (MCR) may improve the current risk assessments of dementia.

METHODS: We used data from six cohorts from the

RESULTS: Three subgroups (Groups A, B, and C) were identified through MRI-based clustering with significant differences in regional brain volumes, gait speeds, and performance on Trail Making (Part-B) and Free and Cued Selective Reminding Tests.

DISCUSSION: Based on structural MRI, our results reflect heterogeneity in the population with moderate and slow gait, including those with MCR. Such a data-driven approach could help pave new pathways toward dementia …

Reply [To Burnout Reflections: Musings On Bianchi And Schonfeld’S Five Focal Areas], Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Contrary to what one might assume, the burnout construct did not emerge from systematic research. The definition of burnout was formulated in the 1970s based on prenotions and anecdotal evidence. No sound empirical studies, no in-depth theoretical reflections, not even a review of the stress literature underpinned the introduction of the construct. It is thus unsurprising that some observers regard the edifice of burnout research with scepticism. The pioneers of burnout research neglected basic scientific standards and, by overlooking the abundant work of contemporary stress researchers, deprived themselves of important safeguards against illusions of novelty making big claims based on …

Multidisciplinary Approach To Treating Complex Immune Dysregulation Disorders: An Adaptive Model For Institutional Implementation, Lauren A Henderson, Megan A Cooper, Anthony French, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Patients with immune dysregulation may present with varying combinations of autoimmunity, autoinflammation, immunodeficiency, atopy, lymphoproliferation, and/or malignancy, often with multisystem involvement. Recognizing specific patterns of immune dysregulation, coordinating and interpreting complex diagnostic testing, and choosing initial (often empiric) treatment can be challenging. Centers are increasingly assembling multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to standardize evaluation and optimize treatment of patients with complex immune dysregulation (immune dysregulation MDTs [immMDTs]). However, published information on the composition and function of immMDTs is sparse, and there is little guidance for those seeking to establish or optimize an immMDT. To inform this review, we assembled a panel of …

Use Of Telehealth For Measurement Of Anthropometrics In Toddlers And Their Parents, Sarah S Farabi, Cindy Schwarz, Bria Lee-Robinson, Lauren G Fiechtner, Victor Davila-Roman, Rachel G Tabak, Debra Haire-Joshu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: The use of telehealth (e.g., live video calling) to collect anthropometric data in toddlers and their parents to increase participation in lifestyle interventions holds promise. But, there is limited evidence to support reliability of telehealth for the collection of these measures. This study aimed to determine the reliability of use of telehealth with parents to collect anthropometric and blood pressure measures on themselves and anthropometric measures on their toddler and determine the acceptability of instruction.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the developmental phase of a larger study. Research staff instructed parents via video call to …

The Evolution And Application Of Multi-Omic Analysis For Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors, Sangami Pugazenthi, Shree S Pari, Ziyan Zhang, Julie Silverstein, Albert H Kim, Bhuvic Patel

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are a heterogeneous group of intracranial neoplasms that vary in hormonal activity, histological features, and clinical behavior. The rise of high-throughput sequencing and molecular profiling technologies has enabled multiomic approaches-including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics-to deepen our understanding of PitNET pathogenesis. These studies have identified key mutations, transcriptional lineages, epigenetic modifications, and proteomic features that contribute to tumor subtype classification, invasiveness, and treatment response. Integrative multi-omic analyses have further revealed distinct molecular subtypes, complex regulatory networks, and molecular profiles that can predict recurrence and therapeutic efficacy. These approaches hold strong potential for advancing personalized medicine …

Mapping Of Rorγt+ Dendritic Cells In Human Tissues Establishes Their Preferential Niche In Adult Lymph Nodes, Silvia Lonardi, Shitong Wu, Alina Ulezko Antonova, Yizhou A Liu, Marina Cella, Marco Colonna, William Vermi, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) isoform is required for the development of lymphoid organs, T-helper 17 cells (Th17), and innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). Recent data in mouse and human have revealed non-T, non-ILC3 cell populations with antigen presenting features that express RORγt. This study maps the presence of RORγt cells with dendritic cell (DC) features in human adult and fetal lymphoid tissues.

METHODS: By combining multicolor flow cytometry, RNAseq of peripheral blood cells, analysis of lymph node scRNAseq datasets, and microscopic analysis on human tissue sections and single-cell suspensions, this study maps the presence of RORγt cells …

Th9 Cells Provide Protective Tb Immunity, Mei Xia, Azra Blazevic, Huan Ning, Christopher S Eickhoff, Chad E Storer, Richard D Head, Jianguo Liu, Jessica Jarvela, David Stoeckel, Erin Rakey, Jan Tennant, Daniel L Miller, Kathleen R Holloway, Richard F Silver, Daniel F Hoft

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: CD4+ Th9 cells have been associated with inflammatory and allergic diseases. IL-9/Th9 can function as both positive and negative immune regulators, but their protective effects against

METHODS: To study TB-specific Th9 protective effects, we generated Th9 cells from ESAT6-specific TCR transgenic mice and healthy human donors.

RESULTS: Both murine and human Th9 cells significantly inhibited intracellular mycobacterial growth. In both

DISCUSSION: Th9 cells can provide important protection against Mtb infection, and should be targeted with future TB vaccine strategies. Furthermore, Th9 cells appear to utilize a novel protective mechanism independent from Th1-mediated protective responses.

"I Feel Like People Would Look At Me Like I'M Dirty Or Like I'M A Thief:" A Qualitative Exploration Of Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Experiences That Influence Recovery Among Adults At Risk Of Opioid-Related Overdose, Hannah S Szlyk, Sara Jones, Jordan Michener, Zhuoran Zhang, Nina Kaiser, Heidi Holtz, Melody Rachel Konadu Frempong, Husain Lateef, William Hutson, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Due to the nature of early termination of treatment and the transient lifestyles of many people who use substances, many providers are unaware of the factors that may have contributed to their client's engagement in treatment. Treatment providers and researchers need a better understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that impact recovery from the clients' perspective. This study uses qualitative methods to explore these factors.

METHODS: Eligible participants were adults who had used opioids and/or stimulants and were receiving treatment at a consenting facility. Participants completed one-month follow-up interviews after using a mobile health intervention. Transcripts were analyzed using …

Adapting Data Science Competencies By Role And Purpose: Voice Ai, David A Dorr, Andrea Krussel, Rachel Hauck, Christie Jackson, Abhijeet Dalal, Steven Bedrick, Philip R O Payne, Bridge2ai-Voice Consortium;, William Hersh

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Competencies help define the skills and knowledge needed by learners. Often broad, educators integrate competencies to provide a framework for curricula or professional standards. For data science, the rate of change in the field, role variations, and specificity in key applications can be challenging. Our objective was to adapt general data science competencies for different learner roles in an emerging area: the clinical utility of Voice, Language, and Speech-based Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). Using a persona-inductive approach, we adapted competencies to support learners from varying professional and educational backgrounds and implemented these adaptations in a multi-institutional summer school. Results from …

The Perfect Storm: Unraveling The Interplay Of Genetic Predisposition And Viral Triggers In Type 1 Diabetes Pathogenesis, Daniel A Veronese-Paniagua, Jeffrey R Millman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the T cell-mediated destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells, leaving patients reliant on exogenous insulin to establish normoglycemia. Despite advancements in glucose management, the precise pathological mechanisms linking genetic predisposition and environmental triggers to the loss of immune tolerance remain incompletely understood, hindering the development of preventative therapies. This comprehensive review synthesizes clinical, experimental, and epidemiological data to detail the intricate pathogenesis of T1D, focusing on the convergence of autoimmunity, high-risk genetics, and enteroviral infection. We discuss how T1D is fundamentally a disease caused by failures in central and …

Characterization Of Tlr9 Responsiveness In Cell Subsets Derived From In Vitro Pdc Differentiation Of Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells, Sabina Sánchez Hernández, Tobias Wang Bjerg, Ian Helstrup Nielsen, Anders Laustsen, Hai Q Tang, Lars Henning Pedersen, Eynav Klechevsky, Martin R Jakobsen, Rasmus O Bak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are multifunctional immune cells with roles in both the innate and adaptive immune system. Their hallmark function is production of large amounts of type I interferons in response to viral infections, but they are also capable of producing a range of other cytokines, antigen presentation, and cytotoxicity. Their potential as an immunotherapy for cancer and infectious disease is being explored, but broad application of these cells is challenged by low frequency in the blood and low viability during

Uncovering A Novel Binding Trench In Errα: Insights From Molecular Simulations, Lamees Hegazy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Although estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) holds significant therapeutic potential for treating various disorders, developing selective agonists remains challenging due to the poor pharmacokinetics and limited selectivity of current ligands. This study presents unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations of ERRα bound to an agonist ligand, uncovering dynamic ligand-binding behavior as the ligand shifts between two orientations: one in the orthosteric pocket and another in a newly identified trench adjacent to this site. The free energy landscape reveals that both binding orientations are comparably populated, with an accessible transition pathway between them. The identification of this novel binding trench expands our understanding of …

Exploring Implementation Strategies In Evidence-Based Open Streets Programs For Promoting Physical Activity In The Americas: A Scoping Review, Raúl D Gierbolini-Rivera, Milena Franco Silva, Lorna Fabiola Pineda, Bryan J Weiner, Byron J Powell, Ross C Brownson, Diana C Parra

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases are a leading public health concern in the Americas, and physical inactivity contributes significantly to their burden. Open streets program-community initiatives that temporarily close urban streets to vehicles-promote physical activity and community engagement, demonstrating positive health and social impacts. Effective implementation depends on identifying suitable strategies and frameworks. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) taxonomy, developed for clinical/healthcare contexts, has not been widely assessed for community-based interventions such as Open Streets. Implementation strategies could lead to specific outcomes (e.g., adoption, sustainability) that differ from program outcomes (e.g., PA levels, chronic disease prevalence). This scoping review focuses …

Caregiver Determinants And Capacity For Participation In Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, Hunter G Moore, Amy Ayala, Bhooma R Aravamuthan, Alyssa E Smith, Sharon L Ramey, Catherine R Hoyt

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIM: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy affects 1 in every 1,100 children, making it the most common pediatric motor disability. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based intervention that significantly improves upper extremity function when implemented with high fidelity. Despite its effectiveness, CIMT's intensive nature-requiring daily therapy for up to twenty days-limits its availability. This study examined caregivers' perspectives on implementing and adapting home-based CIMT to identify practical solutions for improving intervention accessibility.

METHOD: Caregivers of a child who has a diagnosis associated with upper extremity motor impairment consistent with cerebral palsy were recruited from the Cerebral Palsy Center at the St. …

The Stabilizing Potential Of The Supraspinatus Is Inhibited In Tear-Associated Scapula Shapes But Can Be Modulated By Kinematic Adjustments, Erin C S Lee, Nathan M Young, Ellen Y Li, Rebekah L Lawrence, Michael J Rainbow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Specific scapula shapes are associated with full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon. A primary role of the supraspinatus is to actively stabilize the glenohumeral joint against muscles that generate destabilizing shear forces. Mechanisms that increase the supraspinatus load required to perform this stabilizing function may increase an individual's susceptibility to tears. Previous work has shown that tear-associated scapula shapes increase the destabilizing action of the deltoid during arm-raising, but no work has investigated whether tear-associated shapes inhibit the stabilizing potential of the supraspinatus itself.

METHODS: We combined statistical shape modeling, kinematics-driven simulations of the glenohumeral joint, and a finite …

Expanding The Spectrum Of White Matter Abnormalities In Wolfram Syndrome: A Retrospective Review, Justin Simo, Heather M Lugar, Tamara Hershey, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a genetic disorder mainly caused by pathogenic variants in the

METHODS: We conducted an international multicenter retrospective study of the clinical, genetic, and radiological data from 17 unrelated WFS subjects.

RESULTS: Seven subjects (7/17; 41%) showed at least one focal white matter lesion evocative of MS. Among these seven, three fulfilled the McDonald radiological criteria of dissemination in space and time, suggesting an inflammatory demyelinating process. All subjects reviewed in the study had at least one of the classical WFS MRI features.

CONCLUSION: Our report expands the WFS spectrum of white matter involvement …

Cluster Randomized Multilevel Intervention For Promoting Physical Activity In Rural Communities, Alan M Beck, Natalicio Serrano, Dixie Duncan, Amy A Eyler, Amanda Gilbert, Fatemeh Naghiloo, Rodrigo Reis, Rachel G Tabak, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Rural areas of the United States have lower levels of physical activity (PA) as compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, leading to higher levels of chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to increase PA in rural communities via a multilevel intervention.

METHODS: We implemented a cluster randomized controlled trial of a community-based multilevel PA intervention between 2019 and 2022 in 14 rural communities. The intervention consisted of (1) text messaging (i.e., individual level), (2) encouragement of walking groups (i.e., interpersonal level), and (3) community-based marketing (i.e., community level).

RESULTS: Participants meeting the 2018 PA guidelines for …

Stimulating Training And Access To Hiv Research Experiences (Star Program): A Protocol For A Crowdsourced, Project-Based, Implementation Science Training Program Using Mixed-Methods Design, Juliet Iwelunmor, Idia Thurston, Collins Airhihenbuwa, Weiming Tang, Ucheoma Catherine Nwaozuru, Onyekachukwu Anikamadu, David Oladele, Bryce Takenaka, Khadijah Ameen, Olufunto A Olusanya, Temitope Ojo, Joseph D Tucker

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: HIV is more common among underrepresented minority adolescents and young adults (AYA, 13-24 years old) in the United States. Low uptake of HIV prevention services suggests a missed opportunity for implementing evidence-based interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexually transmitted infection testing among this important population. Most research institutions in the United States also have limited opportunities for AYA training, mentorship, and capacity-building activities.

METHODS: The "Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences" (STAR) program brings together a highly qualified group of research mentors to achieve three specific aims: (1) identify and recruit underrepresented minority AYA interested …

Unveiling Sub-Populations In Critical Care Settings: A Real-World Data Approach In Covid-19, Wesley Anderson, Andrew P Michelson, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Disease presentation and progression can vary greatly in heterogeneous diseases, such as COVID-19, with variability in patient outcomes, even within the hospital setting. This variability underscores the need for tailored treatment approaches based on distinct clinical subgroups.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify COVID-19 patient subgroups with unique clinical characteristics using real-world data (RWD) from electronic health records (EHRs) to inform individualized treatment plans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD)-based agglomerative hierarchical clustering approach was employed to analyze the real-world data, enabling the identification of distinct patient subgroups. Statistical tests evaluated cluster differences, and machine …

Blood Biomarkers As Surrogate Endpoints In Alzheimer's Disease Research, Guogen Shan, Hui Li, Yahui Zhang, Guoqiao Wang, Charles Bernick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be utilized as surrogate endpoints to accelerate therapeutic development for this condition.

METHODS: We assessed the association between short-term changes in blood biomarkers and long-term declines in cognitive and brain structure volume measures using the ADNI database, with a focus on amyloid-

RESULTS: A trend association was found between changes in the levels of plasma neurofilament light (NfL) at 12 months and changes in the scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 24 months in Aβ-positive mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. For A

CONCLUSION: Increased plasma levels of NfL or p-tau181 …