Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Pharmacokinetic Analysis Of Hemodialysis For Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis, Stephen A Harding, Rana Biary, Robert S Hoffman, Mark K Su, Mary Ann Howland

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Although hemodialysis is recommended for patients with severe metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA), the amount of metformin removed by hemodialysis is poorly documented. We analyzed endogenous clearance and hemodialysis clearance in a patient with MALA.

METHODS: A 62-year-old man with a history of type II diabetes mellitus presented after several days of vomiting and diarrhea and was found to have acute kidney injury (AKI) and severe acidemia. Initial serum metformin concentration was 315.34 μmol/L (40.73 μg/mL) (typical therapeutic concentrations 1-2 μg/mL). He underwent 6 h of hemodialysis. We collected hourly whole blood, serum, urine, and dialysate metformin concentrations. Blood, urine, …

Distribution Of Calcium Volume, Density, Number, And Type Of Coronary Vessel With Calcified Plaque In South Asians In The Us And Other Race/Ethnic Groups: The Masala And Mesa Studies, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Alka M Kanaya, Namratha R Kandula, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Jaideep Patel, Matthew Budoff, Michael H Criqui, Michael J Blaha, Salim S Virani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: South Asians (SA) experience disproportionately higher rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events than non-Hispanic whites (NHW) and several other Asian groups. The coronary artery calcium (CAC) Agatston score may not capture the unique characteristics of coronary plaque in SA. We therefore evaluated the prevalence and patterns of advanced CAC measures (specific coronary vessel involvement, CAC volume and density) in SA versus other race/ethnicities.

METHODS: We combined data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohorts. We used multivariable-adjusted linear regression models to compare advanced CAC …

Patient-Perceived Versus Actual Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease And Associated Willingness To Consider And Use Prevention Therapy, Ann Marie Navar, Tracy Y Wang, Shuang Li, Xiaojuan Mi, Zhuokai Li, Jennifer G Robinson, Salim S Virani, Eric D Peterson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular prevention guidelines use estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk based on the pooled cohort equations to guide treatment decisions and engage patients in shared decision-making. We sought to determine patient perceived versus actual risk of atherosclerotic CVD and associations with willingness for preventive therapy.

METHODS: We evaluated calculated and perceived CVD risk among 4187 patients across 124 sites in the Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management Registry. Ten-year risk was assessed using the pooled cohort equations; risk relative-to-peers was determined based on age-, sex-, and race-based percentiles; and patient estimates of risk were assessed using patient …

Hemoglobin A1c Threshold For Reduction In Bone Turnover In Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Sabaa Joad, Elliot Ballato, Fnu Deepika, Giulia Gregori, Alcibiades Leonardo Fleires-Gutierrez, Georgia Colleluori, Lina Aguirre, Rui Chen, Vittoria Russo, Virginia Carolina Fuenmayor Lopez, Clifford Qualls, Dennis T Villareal, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Emerging data suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is associated with an increased risk for fractures despite relatively normal or increased bone mineral density (BMD). Although the mechanism for bone fragility in T2D patients is multifactorial, whether glycemic control is important in generating this impairment in bone metabolism remains unclear. The purpose of our study is to identify a hemoglobin A1c (A1c) threshold level by which reduction in bone turnover begins in men with T2D.

METHOD: A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data was obtained from 217 men, ages 35-65, regardless of the presence or absence of hypogonadism or …

Alcohol Consumption And The Risk Of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia In A Us Veterans Population, Hudson M Holmes, Andre G Jove, Mimi C Tan, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic alcohol use is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. However, it is less well understood whether alcohol use is a risk factor for premalignant mucosal changes, namely gastric intestinal metaplasia. We examined the association between various parameters of alcohol use and risk of gastric intestinal metaplasia.

METHODS: We used data from 2084 participants (including 403 with gastric intestinal metaplasia) recruited between February 2008-August 2013 into a cross-sectional study at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. All participants underwent a study upper endoscopy with systematic gastric mapping biopsies. Cases had intestinal metaplasia on …

Nonliteral Language Processing Across The Lifespan, Kathrin Rothermich, Cristal Giorio, Sharon Falkins, Lindsay Leonard, Angela Roberts

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Studies investigating the effects of aging on nonliteral language processing have mainly focused on one sensory modality, for example written vignettes. In the current study, we used a video-based task to examine the effect of healthy aging on social communication perception using a novel database called RISC (Relation Inference in Social Communication). By means of an online recruitment platform, we asked young, middle-aged, and older adults between the ages of 18 and 76 (N = 100) to evaluate videos of actors using different forms of literal and nonliteral language, such as sarcasm or teasing. The participants' task was to infer …

Profiles Of Hiv Care Disruptions Among Adult Patients Lost To Follow-Up In Zambia: A Latent Class Analysis, Aaloke Mody, Kombatende Sikombe, Laura K. Beres, Sandra Simbeza, Njekwa Mukamba, Ingrid Eshun-Wilson, Sheree Schwartz, Jake Pry, Nancy Padian, Charles B. Holmes, Carolyn Bolton-Moore, Izukanji Sikazwe, Elvin H. Geng

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Patients report varied barriers to HIV care across multiple domains, but specific barrier patterns may be driven by underlying, but unobserved, behavioral profiles.

METHODS: We traced a probability sample of patients lost to follow-up (>90 days late) as of July 31, 2015 from 64 clinics in Zambia. Among those found alive, we ascertained patient-reported reasons for care disruptions. We performed latent class analysis to identify patient subgroups with similar patterns of reasons reported and assessed the association between class membership and care status (ie, disengaged versus silently transferred to a new site).

RESULTS: Among 547 patients, we identified …

Medicine And Surgery Residents' Perspectives On The Impact Of Covid-19 On Graduate Medical Education., Tanvi Rana, Christopher Hackett, Timothy Quezada, Abhishek Chaturvedi, Veli Bakalov, Jody Leonardo, Sandeep Rana

COVID-19 Papers, Posters, and Presentations

The COVID-19 crisis has had an unprecedented impact on resident education and well-being: social distancing guidelines have limited patient volumes and forced virtual learning, while personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, school/daycare closures, and visa restrictions have served as additional stressors. Our study aimed to analyze the effects of COVID-19 crisis-related stressors on residents' professional and personal lives. In April 2020, we administered a survey to residents at a large academic hospital system in order to assess the impact of the pandemic on residency training after >6 weeks of a modified schedule. The primary outcome was to determine which factors or …

Epidemiology Of Covid-19 And Predictors Of Outcome In Nigeria: A Single-Center Study., Olayinka Rasheed Ibrahim, Bello Muhammed Suleiman, Suleiman Bello Abdullahi, Taofeek Oloyede, Abdallah Sanda, Maruf Sanusi Gbadamosi, Bashir Olajide Yusuf, Rabilu Yandoma Iliyasu, Lawal Magaji Ibrahim, Adamu Danladi Dawud, Sulaiman Saidu Bashir, Nwawueze Efam Okonta, Wasinda Francis Umar, Abiodun Gbenga Tekobo, Muhammadu Sani Abubakar, Bashir Taiye Aminu, Shuaibu Onoruoyiza Ibrahim, Rasaq Olaosebikan, Olugbenga Ayodeji Mokuolu

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

There is a paucity of information regarding the epidemiology and outcome of COVID-19 from low/middle-income countries, including from Nigeria. This single-center study described the clinical features, laboratory findings, and predictors of in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients. Patients admitted between April 10, 2020 and June 10, 2020 were included. Forty-five patients with a mean age of 43 (16) years, predominantly male (87%), presented with fever (38%), cough (29%), or dyspnea (24%). In-hospital mortality was 16%. The independent predictors of mortality were hypoxemia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-5.1) and creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL (aOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.9-9.8).

Epilepsy Risk Prediction Model For Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Laura S Farach, Melissa A Richard, Philip J Lupo, Mustafa Sahin, Darcy A Krueger, Joyce Y Wu, Elizabeth M Bebin, Kit Sing Au, Hope Northrup, Tacern Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex are at increased risk of epilepsy. Early seizure control improves developmental outcomes, making identifying at-risk patients critically important. Despite several identified risk factors, it remains difficult to predict. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the combined risk prediction of previously identified risk factors for epilepsy in individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex.

METHODS: The study group (n = 333) consisted of individuals with tuberous sclerosis complex who were enrolled in the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Autism Center of Excellence Research Network and UT TSC Biobank. The outcome was defined as having an epilepsy diagnosis. …

Model For End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium Underestimates 90-Day Mortality Risk In Patients With Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure, Ruben Hernaez, Yan Liu, Jennifer R Kramer, Abbas Rana, Hashem B El-Serag, Fasiha Kanwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is unclear whether the model for end-stage liver disease-sodium (MELD-Na) score captures the clinical severity of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). We compared observed 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF with expected mortality based on the calculated MELD-Na and examined the consequences of underestimating clinical severity.

METHODS: We identified patients with ACLF during hospitalization for cirrhosis in 127 VA hospitals between 01/01/2004 and 12/31/2014. We examined MELD-Na scores by ACLF presence and grade. We used actual and observed 90-day mortality to estimate a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) by ACLF presence and grade. We used transplant center-specific median …

The Impact Of Uncorrected Mild Aortic Insufficiency At The Time Of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Yuki Tanaka, Tomohiro Nakajima, Irene Fischer, Fei Wan, Kunal Kotkar, Marc R Moon, Ralph J Damiano Jr, Muhammad F Masood, Akinobu Itoh

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to investigate the progression of uncorrected mild aortic insufficiency and its impact on survival and functional status after left ventricular assist device implantation.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 694 consecutive patients who underwent implantation of a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device between January 2006 and March 2018. Pre-left ventricular assist device transthoracic echocardiography identified 111 patients with mild aortic insufficiency and 493 patients with trace or no aortic insufficiency. To adjust for differences in preoperative factors, propensity score matching was used, resulting in 101 matched patients in each of the mild aortic insufficiency and no aortic …

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Evaluating Effects Of Lebrikizumab On Airway Eosinophilic Inflammation And Remodelling In Uncontrolled Asthma (Clavier), Cary D Austin, Kaharu Sumino, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The anti-interleukin 13 (IL-13) monoclonal antibody lebrikizumab improves lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma, but its effects on airway inflammation and remodelling are unknown. CLAVIER was designed to assess lebrikizumab's effect on eosinophilic inflammation and remodelling.

OBJECTIVE: To report safety and efficacy results from enrolled participants with available data from CLAVIER.

METHODS: We performed bronchoscopy on patients with uncontrolled asthma before and after 12 weeks of randomized double-blinded treatment with lebrikizumab (n = 31) or placebo (n = 33). The pre-specified primary end-point was relative change in airway subepithelial eosinophils per mm

RESULTS: There was a baseline …

Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, And Dexamethasone Plus Transplant In Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma, Jagoda K Jasielec, Ravi Vij, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In this phase 2 multicenter study, we evaluated the incorporation of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) into a carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd) regimen for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Transplant-eligible patients with NDMM received 4 cycles of KRd induction, ASCT, 4 cycles of KRd consolidation, and 10 cycles of KRd maintenance. The primary end point was rate of stringent complete response (sCR) after 8 cycles of KRd with a predefined threshold of ≥50% to support further study. Seventy-six patients were enrolled with a median age of 59 years (range, 40-76 years), and 35.5% had high-risk cytogenetics. The primary end point …

A Phase 1b Study Of Afm13 In Combination With Pembrolizumab In Patients With Relapsed Or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma, Nancy L Bartlett, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R HL), immunotherapies such as the anti-programmed death-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab have demonstrated efficacy as monotherapy and are playing an increasingly prominent role in treatment. The CD30/CD16A-bispecific antibody AFM13 is an innate immune cell engager, a first-in-class, tetravalent antibody, designed to create a bridge between CD30 on HL cells and the CD16A receptor on natural killer cells and macrophages, to induce tumor cell killing. Early studies of AFM13 have demonstrated signs of efficacy as monotherapy for patients with R/R HL and the combination of AFM13 with pembrolizumab represents a rational new treatment modality. Here, we describe a …

Functional Genomic Analyses Uncover Apoe-Mediated Regulation Of Brain And Cerebrospinal Fluid Beta-Amyloid Levels In Parkinson Disease, Laura Ibanez, Jorge A Bahena, Chengran Yang, Umber Dube, Fabiana H G Farias, John P Budde, Kristy Bergmann, Carol Brenner-Webster, John C Morris, Richard J Perrin, Nigel J Cairns, John O'Donnell, Rebecca Miller, Albert A Davis, Paul Kotzbauer, Meghan C Campbell, Joel S Perlmutter, Oscar Harari, Carlos Cruchaga, Bruno A Benitez, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Alpha-synuclein is the main protein component of Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. However, genetic modifiers of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) alpha-synuclein levels remain unknown. The use of CSF levels of amyloid beta

Impact Of Diabetes On The Gut And Salivary Iga Microbiomes, Eric L Brown, Heather T Essigmann, Kristi L Hoffman, Noah W Palm, Sarah M Gunter, Joel M Sederstrom, Joseph F Petrosino, Goo Jun, David Aguilar, William B Perkison, Craig L Hanis, Herbert L Dupont

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mucosal surfaces like those present in the lung, gut, and mouth interface with distinct external environments. These mucosal gateways are not only portals of entry for potential pathogens but also homes to microbial communities that impact host health. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) is the single most abundant acquired immune component secreted onto mucosal surfaces and, via the process of immune exclusion, shapes the architecture of these microbiomes. Not all microorganisms at mucosal surfaces are targeted by SIgA; therefore, a better understanding of the SIgA-coated fraction may identify the microbial constituents that stimulate host immune responses in the context of health …

Lung Nodule In A Patient With Multiple Myeloma, William C Harding, Mathieu Marcoux, Roberto F Casal, Lara Bashoura, John Stewart, Hans C Lee, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

A Genome-Wide Association Study Discovers 46 Loci Of The Human Metabolome In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Elena V Feofanova, Han Chen, Yulin Dai, Peilin Jia, Megan L Grove, Alanna C Morrison, Qibin Qi, Martha Daviglus, Jianwen Cai, Kari E North, Cathy C Laurie, Robert C Kaplan, Eric Boerwinkle, Bing Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Variation in levels of the human metabolome reflect changes in homeostasis, providing a window into health and disease. The genetic impact on circulating metabolites in Hispanics, a population with high cardiometabolic disease burden, is largely unknown. We conducted genome-wide association analyses on 640 circulating metabolites in 3,926 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos participants. The estimated heritability for 640 metabolites ranged between 0%-54% with a median at 2.5%. We discovered 46 variant-metabolite pairs (p value < 1.2 × 10

Genetics And Geography Of Leukocyte Telomere Length In Sub-Saharan Africans, Steven C Hunt, Michael A Province, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) might be causal in cardiovascular disease and major cancers. To elucidate the roles of genetics and geography in LTL variability across humans, we compared LTL measured in 1295 sub-Saharan Africans (SSAs) with 559 African-Americans (AAms) and 2464 European-Americans (EAms). LTL differed significantly across SSAs (P = 0.003), with the San from Botswana (with the oldest genomic ancestry) having the longest LTL and populations from Ethiopia having the shortest LTL. SSAs had significantly longer LTL than AAms [P = 6.5(e-16)] whose LTL was significantly longer than EAms [P = 2.5(e-7)]. Genetic variation in SSAs explained 52% of …

Variable Expression Of Msh6 In Endometrial Carcinomas With Intact Mismatch Repair And With Mlh1 Loss Due To Mlh1 Methylation, Nidhi Tandon, Courtney Hudgens, Bryan Fellman, Michael T Tetzlaff, Russell R Broaddus

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 is an effective screen to detect individuals at risk for Lynch syndrome. College of American Pathologists guidelines stipulate that protein expression should be reported as present versus absent, as most patients with germline mutations in a mismatch repair gene have complete loss of protein expression in tumor cells. A similar approach is employed to screen for cancer patients eligible for immune checkpoint blockade. This "all or none" interpretive approach ignores substantial evidence that mismatch repair may be more finely regulated by other mechanisms. We have observed clinically that MSH6 expression …

Paclitaxel Exposure: Long-Term Safety And Effectiveness Of A Drug-Coated Balloon For Claudication In Pooled Randomized Trials., Peter A Schneider, Marianne Brodmann, Laura Mauri, John Laird, Yoshimitsu Soga, Antonio Micari, Gary Ansel, Mehdi H Shishehbor, Prakash Krishnan, Qi Gao, Kenneth Ouriel, Thomas Zeller

Heart and Vascular Articles

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel drug-coated balloons (DCB) prevent recurrent claudication after angioplasty, yet data from randomized trials with incomplete follow-up have raised uncertainty regarding long-term mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of paclitaxel exposure on the long-term safety and efficacy of angioplasty of femoropopliteal artery lesions in the combined IN.PACT randomized trials.

METHODS: The IN.PACT randomized trials (SFA, N = 331 and Japan, N = 100) each compared the DCB with standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for claudication, and consented patients for 5 and 3 years, respectively. To address long-term safety, sites were requested to obtain vital status follow-up. In the pooled, …

The Impact Of Chronic Kidney Disease On Outcomes Following Peripheral Vascular Intervention., Dennis I Narcisse, Elizabeth Hope Weissler, Jennifer A Rymer, Ehrin J Armstrong, Eric A Secemsky, William A Gray, Jihad A Mustapha, George L Adams, Gary M Ansel, Manesh R Patel, William Schuyler Jones

Heart and Vascular Articles

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have worsened clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention; however, limited evidence exists in patients undergoing peripheral vascular intervention (PVI).

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the effect of CKD on outcomes following PVI for symptomatic peripheral artery disease.

METHODS: Using patients from the LIBERTY 360 study, we compared the rates of 30 day and 1 year major adverse vascular events (MAVE), a composite of all-cause mortality, major amputation, and target vessel/lesion revascularization, between patients with and without CKD (estimated glomular filtration rate less than 60) following PVI. Multivariable adjustment was performed to assess for …

Genetics Of Smoking Behaviors In American Indians, Jeffrey A Henderson, Dedra S Buchwald, Barbara V Howard, Patricia Nez Henderson, Yafang Li, Rachel F Tyndale, Christopher I Amos, Olga Y Gorlova, Collaborative To Improve Native Cancer Outcomes (Cinco), A P50 Center For Population Health And Health Disparities Program Project Sponsored By The National Cancer Institute

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The smoking behavior of American Indians (AI) differs from that of non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Typically light smokers, cessation interventions in AIs are generally less effective. To develop more effective cessation programs for AIs, clinicians, researchers, and public health workers need a better understanding of the genetic factors involved in their smoking behavior. Our aim was to assess whether SNPs associated with smoking behavior in NHWs are also associated with smoking in AIs.

METHODS: We collected questionnaire data on smoking behaviors and analyzed blood and saliva samples from two Tribal populations with dramatically different cultures and smoking prevalence, one in …

Pr Depression With Multilead St Elevation And St Depression In Avr By Left Circumflex Artery Occlusion: How To Differentiate From Acute Pericarditis, Zhong-Qun Zhan, Kjell Nikus, Yochai Birnbaum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PR-segment depression with multilead ST-segment elevation and ST-segment depression in lead aVR are classic ECG manifestation of acute pericarditis. We present a patient, where the etiology of these ECG features was acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to left circumflex artery occlusion. To avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary examinations, and inappropriate therapeutic decisions, the possibility of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction should be kept in mind even when ECG changes typical for pericarditis are encountered in chest pain patients. Findings of QRS widening and QT interval shortening in leads with ST-segment elevation could help to differentiate acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction from acute pericarditis.

A Retrospective Analysis Of Clinical Use Of Alirocumab In Lipoprotein Apheresis Patients, Anne C Goldberg, Richard L Dunbar, Linda Hemphill, Stephan P Babirak, Gerald Wilson, Michael Wooten, Mohamed Iydroose, Kelley Dacus, Heather Minchew, Julie-Ann Dutton, Patrick M Moriarty

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The previously published ODYSSEY ESCAPE trial demonstrated a significant reduction in the use of lipoprotein apheresis for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) patients when placed on alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks. In patients with HeFH who have consistently elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) despite maximally tolerated statin therapy, current lipid guidelines recommend apheresis. Although apheresis reduces LDL-C levels by 50%-75%, it must be repeated, as frequently as every 1-2 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical experience with apheresis and alirocumab for patients in a real-world practice setting.

METHODS: This retrospective review included patients from 5 apheresis centers who …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment In Patients With Familial Mediterranean Fever Related Renal Amyloidosis., Micol Romano, David Piskin, Roberta A Berard, Bradley C Jackson, Cengizhan Acikel, Juan J Carrero, Helen J Lachmann, Mahmut I Yilmaz, Erkan Demirkaya

Paediatrics Publications

Chronic inflammation and proteinuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney diseases and rheumatologic disorders. Our aim was to investigate the CVD events (CVDEs) and survival between the patients with FMF-related AA amyloidosis and glomerulonephropathies (GN) to define possible predictors for CVDEs. A prospective follow-up study with FMF-amyloidosis and glomerulonephropathy (GN) was performed and patients were followed for CVDEs. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), FGF-23, serum lipid, hsCRP levels, BMI and HOMA were assessed. A Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for CVDEs. There were 107 patients in the FMF-amyloidosis group and …

Association Of Patient-Centered Medical Home Designation And Quality Indicators Within Hrsa-Funded Community Health Center Delivery Sites, Nathaniel Bell, Rebecca Wilkerson, Kathy Mayfield-Smith, Ana Lòpez-De Fede

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) adoption is an important strategy to help improve primary care quality within Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) community health centers (CHC), but evidence of its effect thus far remains mixed. A limitation of previous evaluations has been the inability to account for the proportion of CHC delivery sites that are designated medical homes.

METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study using HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS) and certification files from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Joint Commission (JC). Datasets were linked through geocoding and an approximate string-matching algorithm. Predicted probability scores were …

Association Of Visceral Adipose Tissue And Subclinical Atherosclerosis In Us-Born Mexican Americans But Not First Generation Immigrants, Clarence Gill, Miryoung Lee, Kristina P Vatcheva, Nahid Rianon, Beverly Smulevitz, David D Mcpherson, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Susan T Laing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a primary driver for the cardiometabolic complications of obesity; VAT-associated cardiovascular disease risk varies by race, but most studies have been done on Non-Hispanics. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and metabolic correlates of VAT, its association with subclinical atherosclerosis, and the factors affecting this association in Mexican Americans. Methods and Results Participants (n=527) were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC), on whom a carotid ultrasound to assess carotid intima media thickness and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to assess for VAT were obtained. Those in the highest quartiles of …

Brain Function Distinguishes Female Carriers And Non-Carriers Of Familial Risk For Autism, Adam T Eggebrecht, Ally Dworetsky, Zoë Hawks, Rebecca Coalson, Babatunde Adeyemo, Savannah Davis, Daniel Gray, Alana Mcmichael, Steven E Petersen, John N Constantino, John R Pruett

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high population-level heritability and a three-to-one male-to-female ratio that occurs independent of sex linkage. Prior research in a mixed-sex pediatric sample identified neural signatures of familial risk elicited by passive viewing of point light motion displays, suggesting the possibility that both resilience and risk of autism might be associated with brain responses to biological motion. To confirm a relationship between these signatures and inherited risk of autism, we tested them in families enriched for genetic loading through undiagnosed ("carrier") females.

METHODS: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined brain responses to passive …