Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Lived Experiences Of Men Working In Both White-Collar And Blue-Collar Jobs: A Systematic Literature Review, Pius Omolewa, John Bressan, Nassrine Noureddine, Adekemi Adedipe

All Faculty Scholarship

The objective of this systematic review was to identify, appraise, and meta-synthesize qualitative evidence regarding the experiences and perceptions of men in both white-collar and blue-collar jobs. The systematic review of qualitative studies searches was conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCohost, ProQuest, CINAHL, and PsycINFO of articles published between 2005 and 2025 to ensure information is current and relevant to modern practices and to analyze trends and the evolution of a research field over a significant period of 20 years. In total, 2,074 articles were identified, and after screening using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, …

Refining Aicardi Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria: An Expert-Based Consensus Using A Modified Delphi Approach, Silvia Masnada, Valentina De Giorgis, Umberto Carugo, Nadia Bahi-Buisson, Mara Cavallin, Mark Corbett, Manuela Formica, Jozef Gecz, Natalia Petros, Emilio Perucca, Anna Pichiecchio, Paolo Fusar Poli, Elliott H Sherr, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver, Federico Zara, Martin Geroldinger, Pierangelo Veggiotti, Alexis Arzimanoglou

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Background and objectives: Aicardi syndrome (AIC) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder historically characterised by the presence of chorioretinal lacunae, corpus callosum agenesis, infantile spasms and several supporting features that aid in diagnosis. However, the unclear aetiology and evolving diagnostic tools have led to ongoing reconsideration of the criteria, based on individual approaches. Our study aimed to establish, for the first time, an expert-based consensus on diagnostic criteria for AIC by integrating both existing and novel ones.

Methods: A geographically diverse and multidisciplinary group of expert physicians was invited to participate in a modified Delphi study, to achieve consensus on major, …

Prolonged Qt Interval In Hiv-1 Infected Humanized Mice Treated Chronically With Dolutegravir/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine, Ali Namvaran, Julian V. Garcia, Mahendran Ramasamy, Kayla Nguyen, Farzaneh Tavakkoli Ghazani, Bryan T. Hackfort, Prasanta Dash, Reagan E. Fisher, Benson J. Edagwa, Santhi Gorantla, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. …

Cone Beam Computed Tomography For Endodontics: Incidental Findings And Respective Significance, Erin J Key, Nina K Anderson, Dan Colosi, Mina Mahdian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, distribution, and follow-up recommendations of incidental findings in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans acquired for endodontic treatment.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of limited field-of-view (FOV) CBCT images for endodontic evaluation obtained at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine between 2018 and 2022. All scans were reviewed by 1 oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMR) resident and all incidental findings were corroborated with the radiology report approved by 1 of 2 board-certified OMRs. Data extracted for each case included age, gender, and reason for scan; and …

Crossing The Theory Threshold: The Pedagogical Potential Of Generative Artificial Intelligence In Educational Research, Amanda Burbage, Jennifer L. Styron

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Purpose

This paper presents findings from an educational research graduate course in which generative artificial intelligence (AI) was incorporated to strengthen learners' understanding of threshold concepts related to theoretical frameworks. Medical and health professionals often struggle with the transition from a clinical role into the educational research role.

Methods

The study posits that the use of generative AI will help learners understand and apply theoretical frameworks beyond a superficial level, furthering their understanding, constructing new knowledge, and strengthening their ability to develop sound educational research studies. Journal and AI transcripts were analyzed for 37 participants.

Results

Open-ended codes were grouped …

Chronobiology Of Meal Timing In Early-Stage Hypertension: A Controlled Feeding Pilot Study Investigating The Effects On Renal And Vascular Function, Natalie J. Bohmke, Brittany Barton, Patrice Wiecek, Paula Rodriguez-Miguelez, Dave L. Dixon, Youngdeok Kim, Salvatore Carbone, Danielle L. Kirkman

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Lifestyle intervention is critical for young adults with early-stage hypertension. A Western diet has negative effects on kidney function and blood pressure; however, time-of-day effects are understudied. We hypothesized that consumption of a Western-style meal that is misaligned with the endogenous circadian rhythm would have adverse effects on blood pressure, kidney function, and vascular function. Ten young adults with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (means ± SD: 26 ± 8 yr, 50% female) underwent a randomized crossover, isocaloric controlled feeding intervention. Participants were allocated to receive a Western-style meal high in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat in the …

First-Generation Medical School Applicants: A Quantitative Study Designed To Identify Areas Of Educational Support, Bethsabe Romero, Amanda K. Burbage

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

First-generation (First Gen) students are unique medical school applicants. Due to their lived experience, they approach patient care by prioritizing trust, comfort and understanding. They have proven ability to overcome obstacles and were found to be more resilient than their continuing generation (Cont Gen) peers. Despite these notable attributes, they face unique challenges in gaining medical school acceptance. There are very few quantitative studies examining this student subpopulation, and our study identifies characteristics of first-generation medical school applicants while highlighting areas of needed support. This cross-sectional study used deidentified Application and Matriculating Student Questionnaire survey data that was obtained from …

Early And Sustained Improvements In Sense Of Smell With Tezepelumab Treatment In Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Waypoint), Joaquim Mullol, Joseph K. Han, Tanya M. Laidlaw, Claire Hopkins, Anju T. Peters, Oliver Pfaar, Martin Desrosiers, Stella E. Lee, Andrew P. Lane, Claudia Chen, Yun Chon, Sandhia S. Ponnarambil, Andrews Foster, Andrew W. Lindsley, Christopher S. Ambrose

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Background

Loss of smell is a principal symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), affecting health-related quality of life and posing a safety hazard.

Methods

WAYPOINT (NCT04851964), a phase 3, multicenter trial in adults with uncontrolled CRSwNP, randomized patients 1:1 to receive tezepelumab 210 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. Changes from baseline in biweekly mean Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary (NPSD) loss of smell item, University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), and 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) loss of smell/taste item scores, as well as anosmia (UPSIT score ≤18) prevalence, were assessed over 52 …

Progression Of Mild Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Children Managed With Watchful Waiting, Erin M. Kirkham, Stacey Ishman, Susan Garetz, Cristina M. Baldassari, Ron B. Mitchell, Christopher Liu, Ignacio E. Tapia, Lisa M. Elden, Fauziya Hassan, Sally Ibrahim, Kristie Ross, Mengqi Cen, Rui Wang, Susan Redline, Ronald D. Chervin

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose

To identify clinical characteristics that may be associated with persistence or progression of mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children who are observed without surgery.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the control arm of the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS), which randomized 458 children aged 3.0 to 12.9 years with mild SDB (snoring with obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [oAHI] <  3 events/hour) to early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) versus watchful waiting with supportive care (WWSC). Participants were assessed at baseline and 12 months with the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire-Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (PSQ-SRBD) scale and polysomnography (PSG). We tested for factors predictive of either (1) PSG progression defined by a 12-month oAHI ≥ 3 or (2) symptom persistence or progression defined by a 12-month PSQ-SRBD score ≥ 0.33.

Results

A total of 234 participants were observed (mean age 6.2 years, 111 [47%] female, 65 [28%] Black or African American, 37 [16%] Hispanic). Overall, only 13% (n = 20/150) progressed to an oAHI ≥ 3 on repeat PSG, …

American Board Of Emergency Medicine Report On Residency And Fellowship Training Information (2025-2026), Yvette Calderon, Barry Knapp, Felix K. Ankel, Ted Gaeta, Lynne Holden, Derek Linklater, Zeno St. Cyr Ii, Ernest Wang, Melissa Barton, Andrews R. Trotter, Kevin Joldersma, Robert G. Purosky, Michael Gottlieb

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

The American Board of Emergency Medicine gathers extensive background information on Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited emergency medicine residency and fellowship programs, as well as the residents and fellows training in those programs. We present the 2026 annual report on the status of physicians training in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited emergency medicine training programs in the United States.

Association Of Valvular Disease Progression Using Echocardiographic Findings In A Large U.S. Cohort, Abes A. Bautista Neughebauer, Amin Yehya, Raymond L. Benza, Deepak Talreja

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

The prevalence of valvular disease in the US is approximately 2.5%. Given that over 5 million Americans are affected, it is crucial to find those at higher risk of progression. The goal of this paper is to uncover which patients are more likely to have valvular disease progression using demographic factors, EKG and echocardiogram (ECHO) findings.

Methods

This paper utilized the EchoNext Database, which pairs 100,000 electrocardiograms and echocardiograms based on specific structural heart disease labels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to find risk factors for progression for aortic stenosis (AS), aortic regurgitation (AR), mitral regurgitation (MR), …

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

The Mediating Effect Of Socioeconomic Status And Persistent Poverty On Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Pediatric Cancer Mortality In The United States, Josiane Kabayundo, Apu Das, Cheng Zheng, Emma Hymel, Krishtee Napit, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic (SE) factors have been shown to mediate racial and ethnic disparities in adult cancer mortality. However, evidence in pediatric cancer is limited, especially at finer geographic levels.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the mediating effect of socioeconomic status (SES) and persistent poverty in racial and ethnic disparities in childhood cancer mortality using census tract-level data.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2006-2020 SEER Incidence Data with Census Tract Attributes Database and included children 0-19 years. Neighborhood-level SES was measured using a composite variable with five categories. Census tracts were classified as persistently poor if 20% or more of the population lived …

Ebola In The Drc: A Different Problem Compounded By Violence, David Brett-Major

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) has been declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to Ebola disease from Bundibugyo virus. Non-health-focused factors should be fundamental to how DRC and its partners respond to and recover from the current emergency. Filovirus emergencies are violent in every sense-the disease experience of patients and their caregivers, the tumult in impacted communities, sometimes the physical manifestations of frustration against healthcare services, the fits and starts of concerted response, and the milieu of conflict in which this emergency occurred. Yet, interpersonal and organized violence may contribute to frequency of health …

The Treatment Of Obesity In The Context Of The Obesity Paradox In Patients With Heart Failure: A Narrative Review, Pamela L. Alebna, Sarah Martey, Anurag Mehta, Carl J. Lavie, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Purpose of review

While excess adiposity is a known risk factor for incident heart failure ( HF), once the condition is established, observational data suggest that increased body mass index (BMI) may confer a survival advantage. This paradox has emphasized the underlying roles of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition, particularly lean mass (LM), in influencing clinical outcomes.

Recent findings

In this review, we explore the multifaceted nature of the obesity paradox in HF, with a focus on emerging anti-obesity incretin-mimetic therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. These agents …

Mucin 5ac Modulates Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity Through Epigenetic Reprogramming Of Precursor Cells, Rachel J. Kehrberg, Namita Bhyravbhatla, Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani, Xiaoqi Li, Gopalakrishnan Natarajan, Imran Khan, Randall E. Brand, Maneesh Jain, Surinder K. Batra, Sushil Kumar

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is characterized by extensive desmoplasia, with heterogeneous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as a major component. However, the contribution of distinct precursor cells to CAF heterogeneity remains poorly defined. This study investigated the role of Muc5ac in modulating CAF heterogeneity by maturing precursor cells, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs), and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), into different CAF subsets. RNA sequencing of precursor cells treated with conditioned media from Muc5ac-proficient or -deficient cancer cells revealed distinct transcriptional profiles. Muc5ac significantly modulated the expression of Dnmts and Tets in AD-MSCs, promoting the acquisition of extracellular matrix …

Therapeutic Landscape Of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Translated Into Everyday Practice For Geriatric Providers., Melissa J Bailey-Taylor, Paula Morrow, James Hendrix, Katherine E. Galluzzi, Golnosh Sharafsaleh

PCOM Scholarly Works

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases. Recent advances in diagnostic biomarkers of early symptomatic AD (ie, mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD) and amyloid-targeting therapies (ATTs) have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AD. Two ATTs (donanemab and lecanemab) are currently approved and available for use in the US. Both ATTs can slow disease progression as well as cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic AD. Treatment with ATTs is associated with specific safety concerns such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Therefore, the benefit versus risk profile needs to be …

Editor's Choice - International Expert Consensus On The Management Of Acute Aortic Type B Intramural Haematoma And Penetrating Ulcer, Francesco Squizzato, Mario D'Oria, Michele Antonello, Santi Trimarchi, Kevin Mani, Andrew Holden, Tilo Kölbel, Stephan Haulon, Eric Verhoeven, Dittmar Böckler, Tim Resch, Ali Azizzadeh, Joseph Lombardi, Michele Piazza, Aaron Thomas Fargion, Alexander Zimmerman, Ali Azizzadeh, Anders Wanhainen, Andrew Holden, Antonio Freyrie, Adam W. Beck, Adi Bachar, Barend M. E. Mees, Blandine Maurel, Cristoph A. Nienaber, Christos Karkos, Daniela Branzan, Darren Schneider, Randall Demartino, Dittmar Boeckler, Domenico Angiletta, Emanuel J. R. Tenorio, Enrico Gallitto, Eric Verhoeven, Fabio Verzini, Felice Pecoraro, Filippo Benedetto, Firas F. Mussa, Francesco Squizzato, Franco Grego, Gabriele Piffaretti, Emanuele Gatta, Giovanni Pratesi, Giovanni Tinelli, Giuseppe Asciutto, Glenn Wei Leong Tan, Hence Verhagen, Giacomo Isernia, Jean-Paul P. M. De Vries, Jacob Budtz-Lilly, Jorge Fernández-Noya, Jonathan Sobocinski, Joseph Hockley, Kak Khee Yeung, Andrea Kahlberg, Kevin Mani, Joseph V. Lombardi, Luca Bertoglio, Luca Mezzetto, Ludovic Canaud, Manar Khashram, Marcelo Ferreira, Marco Virgilio Usai, Mark G. Davies, Mark Farber, Martin Czerny, Matthew R. Smeds, Mauro Gargiulo, Germano Melissano, Michel Bosiers, Michele Antonello, Michele Piazza, Miranda Witheford, Michel M.P.J. Reijnen, Marc Schermerhorn, Nikolaos Tsilimparis, Nun Dias, Jean Panneton, Kosmas Paraskevas, Gianbattista Parlani, Patrick W.H.E. Vriens, Rafael Malgor, Raffaele Pulli, Ross Milner, Salvatore T. Scali, Sani J. Laukontaus, Santi Trimarchi, Sandro Lepidi, Konstantinos Spanos, Stefano Fazzini, Theodosios Bisdas, Thomas Maldonado, Tilo Koelbel, Tim Resch, Tomasz Jakimowicz, Nicola Troisi, Isabelle Van Herzeele, Vicente Riambau, Wassim Mansour, Wouter Van Den Eynde, Yamume Tshomba

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Objective

The aim of this study was to achieve an international expert consensus on managing acute type B penetrating aortic ulcers (PAUs) and intramural haematomas (IMHs).

Methods

A modified Delphi consensus process was employed to develop recommendations for the management of acute type B PAU and IMH. Surveys were sent to international experts practicing in high volume aortic centres worldwide. Statements were voted on using a four point Likert scale in a three round Delphi process. Statements achieving grade A (full agreement 75%) or B (overall agreement 80%, full disagreement <  5%) were included as expert recommendations. Consistency of responses was measured using Cohen's κ and the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results

Eighty three experts were included in the final analysis: …

An Analysis Of Pediatric Retinoblastoma Medical Malpractice Litigation, Victoria Miller, Alyssa D. Reese, Katherine Foote, Alejandro Navarro, Andrew Galfano, Christian Hietanen

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the retina that is most commonly diagnosed in the pediatric population. Unfortunately, this cancer can spread, leading to poor outcomes such as enucleation. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of medical malpractice litigation associated with a diagnosis of retinoblastoma in the pediatric population.

METHODS: A search for all available cases associated with "retinoblastoma" in the Westlaw Campus Research Legal Database was conducted. This spanned from database inception to August 2023. Cases were included if there was a complaint of medical malpractice related to retinoblastoma present in a pediatric patient. Demographic …

Assessing The Impact Of The 2021 Vwd Guidelines On The Diagnosis/Management Of Low Vwf Patients, Michael Dong, Joanna Larson, Sepideh Saroukhani, Miguel Escobar, Lakshmi Srivaths

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The 2021 ASH/ISTH/NHF/WFH VWD diagnosis guidelines recommend Type 1 VWD diagnoses for patients with (a) VWF < 0.30 IU/mL or (b) 'Low VWF' 0.30-0.50 IU/mL with the presence of abnormal bleeding. This recommendation recategorizes 'Low VWF' patients with abnormal bleeding into Type 1 VWD.

Aim: To assess the impact of the 2021 VWD guidelines on the diagnosis and management of 'Low VWF' patients.

Methods: A single centre retrospective study was conducted to review all patients presenting for VWD evaluation between January 2000 to September 2024, analyzing for clinical features, ISTH-BAT scores, VWF/FVIII levels, and management of bleeding. 149 patients, totalling 305 clinical encounters, were included in the study.

Results: Seventy five percent of patient encounters had a change in diagnosis from 'Low VWF' to Type 1 VWD …

Safety And Effectiveness Of Stereotactic Radiosurgery For Larger Hemangioblastomas (>2cc): A Multi-Center Retrospective Study, Pavel S Pichardo-Rojas, Salem M Tos, Georgios Mantziaris, Ahmed Shaaban, Ahmed M Nabeel, Wael A Reda, Sameh R Tawadros, Khaled Abdelkarim, Amr M N El-Shehaby, Reem M Emad, Zhishuo Wei, Lindsay M Mckendrick, Ajay Niranjan, L Dade Lunsford, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Roman Liscak, Jaromir May, David Mathieu, Cheng-Chia Lee, Huai-Che Yang, Antonio Dono, Angel I Blanco, Yoshua Esquenazi, Nuria Martinez Moreno, Roberto Martinez Álvarez, Piero Picozzi, Andrea Franzini, Manjul Tripathi, Takuma Sumi, Takeo Uzuka, Hideyuki Kano, David Bailey, Brad E Zacharia, Christopher P Cifarelli, Daniel T Cifarelli, Joshua D Hack, Herwin Speckter, Erwin Lazo, Ronald E Warnick, Jonathan E Schoenhals, Joshua D Palmer, Zhiyuan Xu, Jason P Sheehan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Hemangioblastomas (HGB) are the most common primary intra-axial tumors in the posterior fossa in adults, with an overall occurrence of 7-10%. They occur sporadically or as part of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a minimally invasive treatment in larger HGB (>2cc) has not been thoroughly investigated.

METHODS: This multi-center study retrospectively analyzed data from 91 patients with large HGB (>2cc) treated between 1993 and 2023. Patients were stratified into VHL-associated and sporadic groups, with assessments including radiosurgical parameters, tumor response, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS: Patients with VHL-associated …

Evaluation Of Interventions For Cognitive Symptoms In Long Covid: A Randomized Clinical Trial, David S Knopman, Deborah Koltai, Daniel T Laskowitz, Jacqueline Becker, Leigh Charvet, Juan Wisnivesky, Alex Federman, Adam Silverstein, Yuliya Lokhnygina, Giuseppina Pilloni, Michelle Haddad, Henry Mahncke, Tom Van Vleet, Rong Huang, Wendy Cox, Diana Terry, Jeannie Karwowski, Netia Mccray, Jenny J Lin, Grace A Mccomsey, Upinder Singh, Linda N Geng, Helen Y Chu, Rebecca Reece, James Moy, Zoe Arvanitakis, Sairam Parthasarathy, Thomas F Patterson, Aditi Gupta, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Jeffrey Parsonnet, Elaine T Kiriakopoulos, Tamara G Fong, Janet Mullington, Sarah Jolley, Nirav S Shah, Sarah Shizuko Morimoto, Joyce K Lee-Iannotti, William D S Killgore, Brigid Dwyer, William Stringer, Carmen Isache, Jennifer A Frontera, Jerry A Krishnan, Ashley O'Steen, Melissa James, Barrie L Harper, Kanecia O Zimmerman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Treatment for cognitive dysfunction due to postacute sequelae of long COVID (ie, symptoms of fatigue, malaise, weakness, confusion that persist beyond 12 weeks after an initial COVID infection) remains a significant unmet need.

Objective: To test evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for improving cognitive symptoms in persons with long COVID.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a 5-arm, multicenter, randomized clinical trial of 3 remotely delivered interventions conducted between August 17, 2023, and June 10, 2024. The study took place at 22 trial sites and included the screening of individuals with cognitive long COVID.

Interventions: Participants were randomized to 1 of …

Z Variant Heterozygosity In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Disease Risk And Treatment Implications, Craig P. Hersh, Jeffrey H. Teckman, Pavel Strnad, Aaron Hakim, Tomás P. Carroll, Ian P. Hall, Auyon J. Ghosh, Igor Barjaktarevic, Noel G. Mcelvaney, Joseph E. Kaserman, David A. Lomas, Charlie Strange, M Bradley Drummond, Stephen I. Rennard, Kathi E. Hanna, Virginia C. Clark, Monica P. Goldklang, Peg Iverson, Andrew A. Wilson

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Individuals heterozygous for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have one copy of the normal "M" allele and one copy of an abnormal allele ("Z", "S", or another variant) in the SERPINA1 gene. Historically, evidence has been lacking to support the concept that heterozygotes are at increased risk for liver and/or lung complications compared to individuals homozygous for the M allele. However, growing evidence suggests that inheritance of a single Z allele increases the risk of disease in some individuals. The Alpha-1 Foundation convened a workshop on October 27, 2023, in Bethesda, Maryland that included stakeholders from the research, pharmaceutical, and …

Health Insurance As A Mediator Of Neighborhood Deprivation And Pediatric Cancer Survival: An Analysis Of State Cancer Registry Data, Emma Hymel, Cheng Zheng, Jenna Allison, Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, Edward S. Peters, Sarah H. Nash, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: To develop interventions to reduce neighborhood-level disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes, it is necessary to understand their underlying mechanisms. It has been suggested that individual-level health insurance is a mediator of neighborhood deprivation and pediatric cancer survival.

METHODS: This study was a population-based longitudinal study of children with cancer from 2000 to 2020 in the Iowa Cancer Registry and Louisiana Tumor Registry. Neighborhood deprivation was measured using the Area Deprivation Index. Log-binomial regression models were used to identify predictors of health insurance status at diagnosis. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between health insurance status at …

Bayesian Reanalysis Of Early Remdesivir For The Treatment Of Covid-19 In Outpatients With High Risk Of Progression To Severe Disease, Mazin Abdelghany, Fang Yu, Stephen I. Rennard, Yeongjin Gwon

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Though Bayesian methods are flexible, intuitive, and readily incorporated into clinical decision-making, with particular utility when prior information is available, they remain underutilized in the analysis of clinical trials.

METHODS: In PINETREE, a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial (RCT) of remdesivir (RDV) for the treatment of outpatients with COVID-19 at high risk of severe disease, the primary outcome of COVID-19-related hospitalization or all-cause death was reanalyzed using a range of reference and data-driven priors. Posterior probability distributions were used to calculate the probability that the estimated hazard ratio (HR) was below a range of clinically meaningful specified thresholds and …

Peculiarities Of Phosphatidylserine Externalization By Nano- And Microsecond Electric Pulses, Mantas Silkunas, Alayna Enos, Iurii Semenov, Giedre Silkuniene, Eleni Zivla, Olga N. Pakhomova, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization is a hallmark of apoptosis but can also be triggered within seconds by pulsed electric fields (PEFs). Whether PS reaches the outer leaflet by lateral migration through electropores or indirectly through Ca²⁺-dependent signaling and scramblase activation remains debated. We used total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy with Annexin V-Alexa Fluor 568 and/or bovine lactadherin-FITC to resolve PS externalization in HEK293 cells placed on an indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrode. PEF exposures produced discrete PS-positive puncta ("freckles") within ~ 10 s after a 20-µs pulse (1.2-2.5 kV/cm) or with a ~ 1-min delay after a …

Clinical Test Cases For Commissioning, Qa, And Benchmarking Of Model-Based Dose Calculation Algorithms In 1⁹2ir Hdr Gynecologic Tandem And Ring Brachytherapy, Vasiliki Peppa, Maude Robitaille, Fatemeh Akbari, Shirin Enger, Rowan Thomson, Firas Mourtada, Gabriel Fonseca

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To develop clinically relevant test cases for commissioning Model-Based Dose Calculation Algorithms (MBDCAs) for ¹⁹²Ir High Dose Rate (HDR) gynecologic brachytherapy following the workflow proposed by the TG-186 report and the WGDCAB report 372.

ACQUISITION AND VALIDATION METHODS: Two cervical cancer intracavitary HDR brachytherapy models were developed based on a real patient, using either uniformly structured regions or realistic segmentation. The patient's computed tomography (CT) images were processed, converted to a series of digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) CT images, and imported into two treatment planning systems (TPSs), the Oncentra Brachy and BrachyVision. The original segmentation …

Does Dexmedetomidine Affect Opioid Consumption Following Orthognathic Surgery?, Allen F. Champion, Jung-Me Lee, Daniel Taub, Yu Jin Lee

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite its purported analgesic effects, controversy exists regarding dexmedetomidine's efficacy as an opioid-sparing anesthetic adjunct.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to measure the association between dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration during orthognathic surgery and postoperative opioid consumption.

STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLE, AND SETTING: A single-blind randomized prospective cohort study was implemented. Patients consenting for orthognathic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University from January 2022 to October 2024 were screened. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III individuals aged ≥14 years were included. Exclusion criteria were revision surgery, recreational drug use, opioid prescription within 2 years, and chronic pain.

PREDICTOR …

Persistence Of Pet Scan Positivity After Chemoimmunotherapy For Dlbcl, James O. Armitage, Matthew A. Lunning, Julie M. Vose, Dan L. Longo

Journal Articles: Oncology and Hematology

Approximately 80% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieve a complete response after chemoimmunotherapy as defined by positron emission tomography (PET) scan. However, not all patients who fail to achieve a metabolic complete response are destined to relapse. In a number of these patients, the PET scan is falsely positive (ie, 20%-40% in several large series), particularly when the PET scan has a Deauville score of 4. Reflexively intervening with salvage systemic therapy or radiotherapy in these patients is potentially harmful. It seems that very sensitive measurements of circulating tumor DNA might be able to differentiate between patients who …

Efficacy And Safety Of Epcoritamab In Relapsed Or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma: 3-Year Update From The Epcore Nhl-1 Trial, Yasmin H. Karimi, Chan Y. Cheah, Michael Roost Clausen, David Cunningham, Umar Farooq, Tatyana Feldman, Herve Ghesquieres, Wojciech Jurczak, Kim M. Linton, Tycel Phillips, Julie M. Vose, Won Seog Kim, Pegah Jafarinasabian, Barbara D'Angelo Månsson, David Soong, Andrew J. Steele, Zhu Li, Christian W. Eskelund, Martin Hutchings, Catherine Thieblemont

Journal Articles: Oncology and Hematology

Epcoritamab, a CD3xCD20 bispecific antibody, resulted in deep, durable responses with a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) in EPCORE^® NHL-1 (NCT03625037). We report results from a 3-year follow-up. Adults with relapsed/refractory LBCL received epcoritamab until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Median age was 64.0 years, 39% of patients received prior CAR T-cell treatment, and 75% were refractory to ≥ 2 consecutive lines of treatment. As of May 3, 2024 (median follow-up 37.1 months [range, 0.3-45.5]), ORR was 59% and complete response (CR) rate …