Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Feeding Difficulties And Survival Outcomes In Advanced Dementia: A Multicentre Retrospective Study From Oman, Fatma Al-Shamsi, Ahmed Al-Darmaki, Said A Al-Busafi, Hamed Al-Sinawi, Ahmed Al-Harrasi, Athba Al-Ajmi, Abdullah Mohammed Al Alawi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Feeding problems are among the most common in patients with advanced dementia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of feeding problems and evaluate survival outcomes following the onset of feeding problems in patients with advanced dementia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of adults with advanced dementia identified from the electronic patient record using diagnostic codes and keyword searches was conducted. This multicentre study took place at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman and the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, from January 2010 to December 2023. Results: A total of 202 patients were included. The median age was 78.5 …

Severe Drug-Induced Gingival Overgrowth In A 21-Year-Old: A Rare Presentation And Its Surgical Resolution, Raagul Somasundaram, Sumit Malhotra, Rahul Chopra, Gaurav Das

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Gingival overgrowth is well documented side effect associated with three major classes of drugs viz, anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, and immunosuppressants. Dental Surgeons need to discuss this issue with their medical colleagues and to practice care while prescribing the drugs associated with gingival overgrowth. The aim of present article is to report a rare case of gingival enlargement with long term Drug history. Drug-induced gingival enlargement often occurs due to patient’s lack of awareness about the side effects of prescribed medications. This case report presents with an unusual rare instance of massive drug-induced gingival overgrowth in a 21-year-old male, successfully …

Management Of Anterior Teeth Affected By Molar Incisor Hypomineralization Using Resin Infiltration Technique: A Case Report, Atika Bouabid, Selsebil Laajimi, Yamina Elelmi, Fatma Masmoudi, Ahlem Baaziz

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Background: Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) is a developmental enamel defect affecting first permanent molars and often incisors, presenting unique restorative challenges. In line with minimally invasive dentistry, the “Würzburg concept” promotes conservative management strategies with resin infiltration.

Objectives: This case report investigates the impact of modifications to the ICON resin infiltration protocol on esthetic outcomes and adhesion in MIH-affected anterior teeth.

Method: Three clinical cases involving MIH lesions on anterior teeth were treated using the Icon® resin infiltration system by DMG (Hamburg, Germany).

Results: Preconditioning hypomineralized enamel with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite followed by resin infiltration enhances the physical integrity of composite …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Solubility Of Three Commonly Used Root Canal Sealers When Exposed To Xylene And Endosolv: An In Vitro Study, Aparna Palekar, Piyush Mantri, Basawaraj Biradar, Mukund Singh, Vaidehi Joshi, Pushpal Ingle

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This in vitro study compared the solubility of three root canal sealers, AH Plus (epoxy resin-based), MTA Fillapex (MTA-based), and Cerafill RCS (bioceramic), in two solvents: Xylene and Endosolv.

Methods: Sixty standardized cylindrical specimens were prepared using the three sealers of interest. The specimens were divided into six groups (n = 10) and immersed in either Xylene or Endosolv for 10 minutes. Solubility was assessed by calculating the percentage weight loss before and after immersion. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (α= 0.05).

Results: All sealers exhibited statistically significant solubility in both solvents (p …

Effect Of Red Wine Immersion On The Flexural Strength Of Glass Ionomer Cement: An In Vitro Study, Niyola Crasta, Upasana Reddy, Jayaprakash Kukkila

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Background: Alcoholic beverages such as red wine are widely consumed for social and cultural reasons. Ethanol and other constituents in red wine might alter the physical properties of dental restorative materials, particularly those exposed in the oral environment. Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are commonly used in restorative dentistry for their beneficial properties, but their mechanical strength under exposure to acidic or alcoholic solutions is a concern.

Objectives: To evaluate how exposure to red wine over time affects the flexural strength of glass ionomer cement (Shofu FX Ultra Mini).

Methods: Thirty rectangular specimens of glass ionomer cement (Shofu FX Ultra Mini), …

Interdisciplinary Full-Mouth Rehabilitation Addressing Midline Shift And Gingival Discrepancies Through Crown Lengthening And Root Reshaping Procedures: A Case Report, Ghida Lawand, Roudy Khayat, Stephanie Khalaf, Tamara Rebeiz, Hani Tohme

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

This report describes a minimally invasive approach to address midline deviation and gingival discrepancies in a 50-year-old patient seeking rapid aesthetic results. Treatment included prosthetic crown lengthening, selective root modification, and biologic shaping to correct a 3 mm midline shift. Digital smile design and CAD/CAM technology guided the fabrication of zirconia restorations, achieving improved midline alignment, gingival harmony, and smile aesthetics with high patient satisfaction. This technique provides an efficient alternative for complex aesthetic cases.

Exploring Cellular Heterogeneity: Single-Cell And Spatial Transcriptomics Of Alzheimer's Disease Brains And Ipsc-Derived Microglia, Anjali Garg, Sheeny Vo, Iara D De Souza, Ayslan Castro Brant, Logan Brase, Ekaterina Aladyeva, Ricardo D 'O Albanus, Aasritha Nallapu, Hongjun Fu, Oscar Harari

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, play a pivotal role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. These cells exhibit diverse transcriptional states in response to neuroinflammatory stimuli, and characterizing these states is essential for understanding AD mechanisms. METHODS: We integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets from multiple cohorts and brain regions, encompassing both experimental models and human tissues. Findings were validated through immunostaining of human brain samples. RESULTS: Our comprehensive atlas revealed pronounced heterogeneity among microglial states, with disease-associated microglia (DAM) significantly enriched in AD brains compared to controls. Spatial transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that DAM predominantly localize to external …

Evaluating The Analgesic Activity Of The Ethanolic Leaf Extract Of Ipomoea Aquatica (Convolvulaceae), Blessy H. Vale, Lenny Shai Somer, Julie Mae Suico, Roselle L. Remulta, Junnin Gay Garay

Pacific Journal of Health

Ipomoea aquatica, commonly known as water spinach, is a leafy vegetable widely consumed in tropical and subtropical regions for its nutritional benefits. This study investigated the potential analgesic activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of I. aquatica, as no prior scientific evidence supports its role in acute pain management. Male Swiss albino mice were used in an acetic acid-induced writhing test, with aspirin as the positive control and plain normal saline solution (PNSS) as the negative control. The extract was administered at low, medium, and high doses. In the writhing test, I. aquatica significantly inhibited the writhing response …

Is It Rape Or Consent? College Men Just Don’T Know, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera, Eva S. S. Goldfarb, Amanda S. Birnbaum, Lisa D. Lieberman

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Introduction: Women and LGBTQ+ undergraduates face higher rates of sexual assault and rape compared to cisgender male peers—the overwhelming majority of perpetrators. Federal policies have aimed to curb campus sexual violence, yet questions remain about the efficacy of consent education, particularly among cisgender heterosexual men. Methods: This study surveyed 1567 undergraduate students at a large Northeastern public university in 2017 and 2022. Responses to a nine-item consent scale were analyzed by gender, sexuality, and demographic factors. Results: Cisgender heterosexual (cis-het) men had poorer understanding of consent compared to women and LGBTQ+ students, both in 2017 and 2022. Cis-het men’s consent …

Mediapipe-Based Extraction Of Joint Rom And Position From Patient Videos For The Functional Movement Screen: An Exploratory Study, Joshua Paul Verdillo, Lily Ann Bautista

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely used to identify movement deficiencies and potential injury risk. However, its reliance on visual inspection introduces subjectivity, requires specialized training, and necessitates face-to-face assessment. Advances in computer vision, offer opportunities to automate and better objectify functional movement assessment. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a MediaPipe-based system, Software-Optimized Movement Assessment (SOMA), to extract joint range of motion (ROM), joint position, and compensatory movement patterns from patient videos during FMS performance.

Methods. SOMA was developed using MediaPipe Pose and MediaPipe Hands libraries integrated with Python-based tools to analyze videos …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Standardizing Assessment Of Clinical Performance In Physical Therapy: From Good Intentions To Shared Standards, Arvie Vitente, Carmina Rafael, Rolando Lazaro

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Clinical education is the crucible in which physical therapy students integrate knowledge, skills, and professional judgment into safe, ethical, and person-centered practice. Yet globally, the assessment of clinical performance remains highly variable, shaped by disparate tools, rubrics, and levels of assessor preparation. While several countries have adopted nationally standardized approaches to clinical assessment, many contexts—including the Philippines—continue to rely on locally developed or institution-specific systems, resulting in inconsistent expectations, inequitable student experiences, and limited capacity for benchmarking, research, and quality improvement. This editorial argues that good intentions alone are insufficient and that the profession must move toward shared, trustworthy standards …

Precision Education In Health Sciences Education: A Call-To-Action For Developing An Interprofessional Strategy, Arvie Vitente, Jennifer Bosworth, Robert Sweet, Rebecca Cozzi, Christopher Galloway, Piotr Szczurek, Melanie Obispo-Young, Eron Bozec, Erica Brkovic, Tina Bobo, Jennifer Lubinski

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction. Growing learner diversity, expanding biomedical knowledge, and rapid clinical digitization have exposed the limits of on-size-fits-all health sciences training. Competency-Based Education (CBE) has sharpened the focus on outcomes, yet many programs still move learners through fixed sequences, infrequent assessments, and retrospective remediation. Precision Education (PE) offers a complementary, data-enabled approach that uses learning analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and continuous feedback loops. Embedded within CBE, PE converts competencies from static milestones into dynamic trajectories that can be measured, visualized, and adjusted in real time across the curriculum. This abstract highlights the need for an interprofessional strategy to design, fund, and …

A Spatiotemporal Model Of Cxcl10 As A Master Regulator Of Immune Evasion And Metastasis In Osteosarcoma, Benjamin B Gyau, Tsz-Kwong Man

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) is implicated in the progression of osteosarcoma (OS), the most aggressive pediatric bone malignancy. However, its role often presents a profound clinical paradox: although high circulating levels are strongly linked to poor prognosis, its canonical function is to recruit anti-tumor immune cells. This review unravels these contrasting roles by proposing a novel spatiotemporal model. We argue that in the early stages, immune-evading OS cells initiate the formation of a pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in the lungs, creating a localized inflammatory environment that becomes the primary source of elevated circulating CXCL10. As the disease progresses, …

Amino Acid Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Is Blunted By Prematurity In A Piglet Model, Antonio C Ramos Dos Santos, Agus Suryawan, Ki Beom Jang, Rosemarie D Parada, Mahmoud A Mohammad, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Preterm (PT) infants are at increased risk for reduced postnatal lean mass accretion. We established that the feeding-induced stimulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle is blunted in piglets born PT compared with those born at term.

Objectives: We evaluated the extent to which key components of the amino acid-sensing pathways that regulate mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation contribute to anabolic resistance in skeletal muscle of piglets born PT compared with those born term.

Methods: Piglets delivered by cesarean section 10 d PT (n = 23) or at term (n = 22) were administered total parenteral …

Community And Academic Synergy For Cancer Survivorship Care Delivery Enhancement (Project Cascade): A Study Protocol For A Pragmatic, Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Trial In Texas Primary Care Community Health Centers, Mary-Louise E Millett, Lauren Q Malthaner, Katharine Mccallister, Derek W Craig, Rebecca Eary, Melissa A Valerio-Shewmaker, L Aubree Shay, Suja S Rajan, Hilary Y Ma, Samiran Ghosh, Benjamin F Crabtree, Simon J Craddock Lee, Bijal A Balasubramanian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In the United States, over 18 million individuals are living with cancer. The majority of these cancer survivors also manage other chronic conditions and receive care from multiple specialists, including oncology, cardiology, and primary care clinicians. However, it remains unclear who holds primarily responsibility for coordinating their care across specialties. Because of its generalist nature, primary care is uniquely suited to deliver whole-person and coordinated care for all conditions for cancer survivors. However, primary care teams experience many challenges delivering high-quality survivorship care. While integrating care for all conditions including cancer is a core principle of high-quality primary care, …

Collagen Type Ii-Targeting Lentiviral Gene Therapy For Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva, Betul Celik, Sampurna Saikia, Shaukat Khan, Krishna Sai Musini, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS IVA) is caused by pathogenic variations in the GALNS gene, leading to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in tissues and causing progressive skeletal lesions. While conventional lentiviral vectors (LVs) provide long-term stable expression, they do not deliver therapeutic levels to bone and cartilage. We hypothesized that engineering the LV envelope with a collagen type II-targeting peptide (WYRGRL) increases the binding affinity of the LVs for bone and cartilage. These modified vectors carrying the CBh and COL2A1 promoters delivered the GALNS gene to MPS IVA newborn mice via intravenous (IV) or intraarticular (IA) administration. The peptide-modified LVs exhibited markedly increased …

Loss Of The Maternal Effect Gene Nlrp2 Impairs Embryonic And Extra-Embryonic Development, Revealing A Novel Genetic Cause Of Congenital Anomalies†, Momal Sharif, Zahra Anvar, Imen Chakchouk, Sara H El-Dessouky, Roni Zemet, Eric C Kao, Wessam E Sharaf-Eldin, Ying-Wooi Wan, Zhandong Liu, Pengfei Liu, Michael Jochum, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Maternal-effect genes (MEGs) play a crucial role in early mammalian development, and their dysfunction can lead to severe embryonic and extra-embryonic abnormalities. NLRP2, a MEG that encodes a subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) protein, has been implicated in preimplantation development, but its role after implantation remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the developmental consequences of maternal Nlrp2 loss-of-function in a maternal knockout (KO) mouse model at embryonic day 11.5. Embryos derived from Nlrp2-KO females have abnormal yolk sac vasculature, increased embryonic resorption, craniofacial abnormalities, neural tube defects, and congenital heart defects. Placental architecture is disrupted with an altered junctional zone …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Standardizing Assessment Of Clinical Performance In Physical Therapy: From Good Intentions To Shared Standards, Arvie Vitente, Carmina Rafael, Rolando Lazaro

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Clinical education is the crucible in which physical therapy students integrate knowledge, skills, and professional judgment into safe, ethical, and person-centered practice. Yet globally, the assessment of clinical performance remains highly variable, shaped by disparate tools, rubrics, and levels of assessor preparation. While several countries have adopted nationally standardized approaches to clinical assessment, many contexts—including the Philippines—continue to rely on locally developed or institution-specific systems, resulting in inconsistent expectations, inequitable student experiences, and limited capacity for benchmarking, research, and quality improvement. This editorial argues that good intentions alone are insufficient and that the profession must move toward shared, trustworthy standards …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Tumor Biology And Access To Care And Metastatic Breast Cancer Outcomes, Matthew R. Dunn, Sarah C. Van Alsten, Marc A. Emerson, Katherine Reeder-Hayes, Terry Hyslop, Melissa A. Troester

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To understand how access to care influences metastatic breast cancer burden (MBC) while accounting for molecular tumor characteristics, and identify interventions to reduce metastatic disease burden.

METHODS: The Carolina Breast Cancer Study is a population-based cohort with invasive breast cancer (diagnosed 2008-2013). Both de novo metastasis (stage IV at diagnosis) and distant recurrence were evaluated (12 years of follow-up. Tumor data were from medical records, pathology reports, and RNA expression data. Social variables and access to care were from participant surveys. Generalized linear models were used to estimate associations of biological and access characteristics with MBC; Cox models were …

Seroprevalence And Risk Determinants Of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection In Pregnant Women In Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tajul Haram, Kamran Khan

Journal of Bioresource Management

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally important zoonotic parasite, and maternal infection during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or severe neonatal complications. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 367 pregnant women attending hospitals in District Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and associated risk factors. Blood samples were analyzed using Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) for initial screening, and positive cases were confirmed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Overall, 34.6 % (127/367) of women tested positive. While no significant differences were observed across age groups, gestational trimesters, or abortion history, higher prevalence was noted in women …

Teach-Back Techniques In Telehealth: A Review And Insights For Future Directions, Faith A. Albertson, Waka Alnakhi, Shanikque Barksdale, Shannon Stark Taylor, Shaniece Criss, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Karen A. Kemper, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Wanda Thompson, Phyllis Macgilvray, Nabil Natafgi

Publications

Background and objectives: The rapid expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges in patient-provider communication due to the absence of in-person interactions and visual cues. Teach-back, a method where patients repeat information to confirm understanding, is a promising tool for improving communication in virtual care. This review evaluates the effectiveness of teach-back techniques in telehealth settings.

Methods: A search of four databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed) was conducted, yielding 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The article inclusion/exclusion criteria consisted of the following: (1) telehealth services topic; (2) direction provision related to teach-back; and (3) …

Managing The Uncertainty Of "Precision" While Navigating Goals Of Care: A Framework For Collaborative Interpretation Of Complex Genomic Testing Results In Critically-Ill Neonates, Donnamaria E. Cortezzo, Katharine Press Callahan, Bimal P. Chaudhari, Elliott M. Weiss, Monica Hsiung Wojcik, Krishna Acharya, Amy B. Schlegel, Kevin M. Sullivan, Jessica T. Fry

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Each year, many neonates are born with genetic diagnoses that carry a range of prognoses. As the types and availability of genetic testing have expanded, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have served as "launching points" for their clinical application. Broad genetic testing has both improved diagnostic precision and expanded uncertainty. Genetic information may be explicitly uncertain, as in the case of a variant of unknown significance (VUS). But it is also frequently uncertain whether/how the information relates to a patient's phenotype or what it may mean for a child's future. Even without ambiguity in the diagnosis or prognosis, the significance …

Sex Differences In The Association Of Vascular Risk And Apoe Genotype With Cognitive Decline And Dementia: Evidence From A U.S. Longitudinal Study, Longjian Liu, Jintong Hou, Saishi Cui, Xiaopeng Zhao, Zuolu Liu, J. Craig Longenecker, Nathalie S May, Jin Jun Luo, Rose Ann Dimaria-Ghalili, Howard J. Eisen

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the association between vascular factors and cognitive outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of blood pressure metrics (hypertension, systolic blood pressure [SBP), pulse pressure, ankle and brachial pressures, and ankle to brachial pressure index [ABI]) with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

METHODS: We conducted a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (begun in 1987-1989) in the United States. We analyzed a total of 12,268 participants aged 45-64 years who had validated exposure measurements, cognitive function tests (first administrated 1990-1992), and followed up for incidence …

Detection Of The Linac Jaw Face Angle Misalignment Using High Energy Electron Beam Symmetry, Song Gao, Andres Cibrian, Jared Ohrt, Peter Balter

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To demonstrate the usage of a high energy electron beam symmetry measured at different collimator angles to detect jaws face angle misalignments on Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators (linac) during acceptance and commissioning processes.

Methods: During the linac acceptance, all beams were steered to a symmetric shape with the gantry and collimator at 0°. We noted that the symmetries of higher energies electrons (e.g., 16 MeV, 20 MeV) changed over 2% when measured with the collimator at 90° and/or 270° for two linacs commissioned within 5-months of each other. Misaligned applicators were ruled out as the cause of this issue. …

The Impact Of Targeting Traf2 And Nck-Interacting Protein Kinase On Antitumor Effect And Tumor Immune Environment In C-Myc-High Sclc, Azusa Tanimoto, Kavya Ramkumar, C Allison Stewart, Bingnan Zhang, Kyle Concannon, Robert J Cardnell, Li Shen, Qi Wang, Jing Wang, Carl M Gay, Lauren Averett Byers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation contributes to tumorigenesis and chemo-resistance in SCLC, yet clinical attempts to target this pathway have been unsuccessful. TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK), an essential nuclear activator of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, has not yet been validated as a viable therapeutic target in SCLC. Here, we validated that TNIK inhibition is a promising approach for personalized anticancer therapy in SCLC.

Methods: We correlated the IC50 values of a TNIK inhibitor, NCB-0846, with proteomic profiling (reverse phase protein array) data across 28 SCLC cell lines. Cytokine array analysis was performed to quantify changes in 105 cytokines after …

Anti-Saccade Error Rates Are Associated With Somatic Depressive Symptoms In Cocaine Use Disorder, Constanza De Dios, Heather E Webber, Margaret C Wardle, Jin H Yoon, Michelle A Patriquin, Jessica N Vincent, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Inhibitory control deficits are associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD) development and maintenance. Additionally, drug use and inhibitory control can be negatively affected by depressive symptoms, including somatic factors like sleep disturbance and fatigue.

Aim: The current study assessed the relationship between inhibitory control and depressive symptoms among individuals initiating CUD treatment. We examined associations among anti-saccade response inhibition performance, total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and individual BDI-II items.

Methods: N = 101 patients enrolled in a clinical trial for CUD completed drug-specific anti-saccade and depression (BDI-II) measures prior to treatment. Generalized linear models tested the …