Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

New Patient Onboarding, Jennifer Fournier, Sarah Flagg, Alletta Roberts Dzik, Lyndsay Stevens, Shannon Smith, Karen Waterhouse

Operations Transformation

Currently there are barriers to establish a new patient with a primary care. The workflow for patients who self-refer currently requires 10 steps and is performed by 7 care team members.

• 4 PSR at the front desk complete paper intake forms that are then manually entered into a spreadsheet by 3 other care team members.

The step in the workflow, to obtain the release of information for patient records to be requested and submit the form, is inconsistently followed internally and externally and results in very long process time of 40+ days. This step is frequently overlooked due to the …

Templating Of Monomeric Alpha-Synuclein Results In Inflammation And Snpc Dopamine Neuron Death In A Genetic Mouse Model Of Induced Synucleinopathy, Matthew D. Byrne, Peyman Petramfar, Jae-Kyung Lee, Richard J. Smeyne

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

While the etiology of most cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) are idiopathic, it has been estimated that 5-10% of PD arise from known genetic mutations. The first mutations described that leads to the development of an autosomal dominant form of PD are in the SNCA gene that codes for the protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn). α-syn is an abundant presynaptic protein that is natively disordered and whose function is still unclear. In PD, α-syn misfolds into multimeric b-pleated sheets that aggregate in neurons (Lewy Bodies/neurites) and spread throughout the neuraxis in a pattern that aligns with disease progression. Here, using IHC, HC, …

Impact Of Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide-Based Gvhd Prophylaxis In Patients 70 Years And Older: An Update From Bmt Ctn 1703., Sameem Abedin, Michael J Martens, Javier Bolaños-Meade, Monzr M Al Malki, Qinghua Lian, Lyndsey Runaas, Hany Elmariah, Mahasweta Gooptu, Karilyn T Larkin, Brian C Shaffer, Alison W Loren, Melhem Solh, Amin M Alousi, Omer H Jamy, Miguel-Angel Perales, Andrew Rezvani, Ami Bhatt, Najla El Jurdi, Janny M Yao, Kristy Applegate, Leslie S Kean, Yvonne A Efebera, Ran Reshef, William Clark, Eric Leifer, Wael Saber, Mary M Horowitz, Richard J Jones, Shernan G Holtan, Mehdi Hamadani

Oncology Articles

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) is underutilized in adults aged ≥70 years. Morbidity, often driven by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), is considered a major barrier to its use. The BMT CTN 1703 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03959241) randomly assigned adults with hematologic malignancies undergoing allo-HCT after reduced intensity conditioning to receive either posttransplant cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus (PTCy) or tacrolimus and methotrexate (Tac/MTX) for GVHD prophylaxis. Overall study results revealed superior GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) with PTCy-based prophylaxis. This analysis explored the impact of PTCy in patients aged ≥70 years enrolled in BMT CTN 1703. We analyzed outcomes for 96 patients …

Policy Review Of The Aha Clinical Practice Guideline For Congestive Heart Failure: Evaluating Best Practices, Brenda E. Garcia

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant public health challenge that impacts various populations and contributes to rising hospital admission rates.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this scholarly project was: For healthcare policymakers and interprofessional teams (P), how does a policy review of the American Heart Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Heart Failure (I), guided by the CDC’s Polaris Framework (C), conducted over a 12-week period (T), evaluate alignment with evidence-based practices and potential for adoption in the care of patients with congestive heart failure (O)?

Evidence: This scholarly project focused on reviewing the current clinical guidelines …

2025 Student Research Fellowship Program: Serf Abstract Booklet, Isabella Bailey, Megan Keen Do, Mindy Flanagan Phd, Noah Bergsma, Jimmy Yen Phd, Joshua Dippold, Jared Lee, Benjamin Bower, Micah Smith Md, Peyton Clouse, Joseph Mccollom Do, Madeline Ku, Molly Jain Md, Nnemka Kiki Iloani, Amy Souers Md, Facep, Lisa Hollister Dnp, Jacob Jones, John Morton Ccp, Asim Mohammed Md, Meghana Nalamolu, Cecelia Hale Do, Scott Yen Md, Xintong Lu Mph, Abigail Nita, Jovan Simakoski, Christopher N Johnson Md, Roy Small Do, Jaishna Sivakumar, Zineb Ammous Md, Juan Carlos Vazquez, Barbara Schroeder, Noah Wilder, Thomas Gutwein Md, Jana Sanders Men, Grant Yager, Jonathan Lynch Md, Michelle Drouin Phd, Amanda Coupe Ms, Christopher N. Johnson

Medical Student Research

2025 Student Research Fellowship Program: Abstracts included:

Baseline Data Assessment to Support Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol

Identifying 8-11B as a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Compound on Attenuating Neuroinflammation and Disease Severity in MS

Mid-Term Outcomes of 3D-Printed Custom Pelvic Implants for Acetabular Bone Loss and Pelvic Discontinuity: A Single-Surgeon Retrospective Review.

Radiographic Outcomes of 1 and 2 Level TLIF’s Based on Type of Cage Utilized.

Integrating Palliative Care into Oncology and its Effects on Patient Outcomes

Feasibility of Carrying Whole Blood in Northeast Indiana

Red Cell Distribution Width as a Prognostic Indicator of Mortality in Extracorporeal Life Support …

Act With Nmosd: A Targeted, Telehealth-Delivered Mental Health Intervention For Patients & Caregivers, Darcy C. Esiason, Patrick J. Smith, Charles L. Peppers, Emily Wakschal, Leigh Andrews, Chelsi N. Nurse, Hallie M. Kushner, Christopher F. Drescher, Heather Bruschwein, Wendy Erler, Tom Hattrich, Ankita Deshpande, Michael Levy, Thomas P. Leist, C. Virginia O'Hayer

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The rare, unpredictable, debilitating nature of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) constitutes a unique psychological burden. This single-arm, pilot clinical trial examined the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) tailored to meet the psychological burden of NMOSD, a brief telehealth-delivered intervention, targeting this burden.

METHODS: Forty-three adults with NMOSD (76 % aquaporin-4 seropositive (AQP4+)) in USA, with elevated anxiety and/or depression completed 6-weeks of an experiential talk therapy designed to increase psychological flexibility and valued action, specifically tailored to address the psychological burden of NMOSD: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) w NMOSD. Patients attended via Zoom, along with …

Staff Education On Early Diagnosis And Management Of Hypertensive Crisis, Sharon Fairweather

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This project is a Doctor of Nursing Practice initiative to educate healthcare professionals at a primary healthcare clinic. The focus was on improving staff knowledge of hypertensive crises in African American patients aged 20 to 40. The project included face-to-face training sessions and educational resources to empower providers and enhance patient outcomes. Hypertensive crises are a significant health risk, especially in African Americans. This group has higher rates of hypertension, leading to serious health complications. Addressing this issue is crucial in nursing practice. Early diagnosis and timely interventions can significantly improve care. Equipping nurses with the necessary skills is …

Emergency Nurses’ Perceptions Of A Trauma-Informed Organizational Climate: A Cross-Sectional Study, Audrey Kobina

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare leaders face numerous challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment. The most pressing issues are staffing shortages and burnout among healthcare workers. By 2025, the U.S. healthcare system could experience a shortfall of up to 450,000 nurses, or 20% fewer nurses than needed to provide adequate patient care. High job dissatisfaction and burnout levels are significant factors driving many nurses away from the profession. This three-paper dissertation portfolio addressed how trauma-informed approaches and practices can enhance the work environment by establishing trauma-informed organizational climates to mitigate burnout. Understanding the impact of trauma-informed practices within healthcare systems supports the nursing workforce. …

Potential Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On The Practice And Profession Of Speech-Language Pathology: A Working Paper, Manish Rami

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

This paper explores the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the profession of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). AI is widely recognized as a transformative force, presenting opportunities across both service delivery and professional practice in SLP. This paper examines how AI may partially or fully automate and augment key tasks such as screening, assessment, and treatment. It also addresses associated challenges, including data bias and the “black box” problem while advocating for proactive engagement with AI technologies. Finally, the paper posits that AI will reshape the field, serving as a collaborative partner for SLPs, enhancing efficiency, and expanding access to …

Clinicopathologic Risk Factors For Post-Operative Complications After Enucleation Of Pancreatic Neoplasms, Isheeta Madeka, Steven Yi, Julia S. Evans, David Baek, Haresh V. Naringrekar, Harish Lavu, Charles J. Yeo, Avinoam Nevler, Wilbur B. Bowne

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic enucleation is a parenchymal-sparing procedure used for highly select patients with pancreatic neoplasms. We aim to utilize a multi-institutional health research network platform (TriNetX) and a single, high-volume center to assess complications and identify risk factors associated with post-operative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) after pancreatic enucleation.

METHODS: A two-tiered retrospective study was conducted. We identified 423 patients from TriNetX, and 34 patients from a single-institution IRB-approved database who underwent pancreatic enucleation between 2004-2025 and 2012-2023, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine risk factors associated with post-operative complications and occurrence of POPFs.

RESULTS: In the TriNetX cohort, …

Amaurosis Fugax Progressing To Retinal Artery Occlusion With Anterior Migration Of A Retrobulbar Embolus On Orbital Color Doppler Imaging, Ari H. August, Turner D. Wibbelsman, Erik Massenzio, Sarah E. Thornton, Danijel J. Peričić

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Orbital color Doppler imaging (CDI) is useful in the evaluation of sudden monocular vision loss, providing information on etiology which may guide management. We present two cases of amaurosis fugax progressing to retinal artery occlusion (RAO) associated with migration of a hyperechoic particle within the central retinal artery (CRA) and altered vascular dynamics found on CDI.

OBSERVATIONS: Both patients presented with amaurosis fugax, and CDI revealed a hyperechoic particle 2.8 mm from the optic nerve head in both patients. Patient 1 was found to have severe aortic stenosis and a thoracic aortic aneurysm and was managed with dual antiplatelet …

Participant Engagement In A National Longitudinal Study Of Covid-19: Insights From The Inspire Study, Kris Pui Kwan Ma, Tracy Stober, Michael Gottlieb, Rachel E. Geyer, Kristin L. Rising, Sharon Saydah, Michelle Santangelo, Kristyn Gatling, Dylan Grau, Ralph C. Wang, Juan Carlos Montoy, Ahamed Idris, Samuel Macdonald, Mandy J. Hill, Ryan Huebinger, Maria G. Prado, Nicole L. Gentile, Erica Spatz, Caitlin Maliki, Jocelyn Dorney, Joann G. Elmore, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert A Weinstein, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Kari A. Stephens

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To examine participants' motivations and their experiences throughout a decentralized, longitudinal COVID-19 study in the U.S.

METHODS: We recruited 355 participants from the Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE) between November 2022 - March 2023 to answer five qualitative survey questions anonymously. We used an inductive content analysis approach to analyze the data.

RESULTS: We identified five key themes from the analysis, which reflected participants' a) motivations to join the study, b) study benefits, c) perceptions of survey questions, d) experiences with the research process, and e) preferences for disseminating research findings. Participants were motivated to …

Oncology Nurse Self-Assessment Of Caring Behaviors Following Telehealth And In-Person Visits, Maryann Connor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oncology nurses coordinate care, ensure the safe administration of treatments, manage symptoms, and support those newly diagnosed with cancer. Traditionally, oncology care included in-person visits, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth, transforming how oncology care is delivered. The purposes of this study, guided by Watson’ theory of human caring, were to determine (a) if there is a difference in oncology RNs’ self-assessments of applying caring behaviors during in-person visits compared to oncology RNs’ self-assessments of applying caring behaviors of telehealth visits with newly diagnosed cancer patients, and (b) if there is a difference in self-assessment of caring …

Predicting Dietary Behavior In Obese Adult Diabetics Using Social Cognitive Theory, Precious Mueller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Predicting Dietary Behavior in Obese Adult Diabetics Using Social Cognitive Theory by Precious Mueller MA, University of Phoenix, 2009 BS, University of Iowa, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2024 “ Diabetes mellitus Type II is a prevalent and serious condition affecting millions globally, particularly among obese adults. The association between dietary behaviors and diabetes management is critical, as it directly impacts health outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals. This study aims to identify the determinants of dietary behaviors that influence Type II …

Type Of Intimate Partner Violence And Association With Perpetrator Demographics, Katrisha Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern because of its long-term impact on health and well-being with 1 in 4 American women experiencing some form of IPV. To help understand how age, gender, and race of both, the perpetrator and victim, impact the type of IPV, multiple regression analysis was performed with secondary data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey (N=541). This study used Raewyn Connell’s Theory of Masculinity as a conceptual framework. This theory states that males have a need to show dominance, strength, and suppress emotion, which can inform patterns of violence in …

“The Technology We’Ve Been Forced To Use”: Impact Of Online Service Delivery For Kinship Families During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angela Tobin, Amanda Klein-Cox, Ramona Denby

Social Work Faculty Research

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changed the service landscape for both professionals and families. Kinship families, who often navigate multiple systems concurrently with higher service needs, were among the most vulnerable. This study explores kinship caregivers’ and child welfare professionals’ perceptions of changes in service delivery during the pandemic, specifically the sudden shift to virtual platforms.

Materials and Methods: To understand participants’ experiences, focus groups with protocols shaped by initial Delphi Rounds were implemented with 25 kinship caregivers and 34 child welfare professionals from a national sample.

Results: Caregiver and professionals shared themes related to how COVID-19 precautions impacted service …

Effects Of Elicitation Method On Functionally Relevant Item Selection In Spanish And English Monolinguals And Bilinguals, Dallin J. Bailey, Esther Barahona Wilkes

Faculty Publications

Purpose: One important decision speech language pathologists make when planning anomia treatment is the identification and selection of the specific vocabulary items to target during therapy. However, this process is not entirely straightforward. Although ‘functional relevance’ has high face validity for the identification of target items, interpretations differ, which may impact which words are selected for therapy. As such, target item selection methods vary, with resulting items impacted by the specific method used. There are also many person-level variables that may impact the functional relevance of specific items, such as the heritage language of the patient or their bilingualism status. …

Biblical Servant Leadership And Physical Therapists' Clinical Decision Making For Breast Cancer Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Correlational Study, Cleve Carter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine whether a relationship exists between physical therapists’ (PTs’) perceptions of their manager’s or director’s application of BSL and the clinical decision-making of the PT when treating patients of varying socioeconomic status (SES) and race after breast cancer surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy) in the United States (U.S.). This study utilized case-based vignettes for a patient population seeking skilled physical therapy services after breast cancer surgery within the U.S. healthcare system context. The sample population consisted of PTs from across the U.S. who actively evaluate and treat patients following breast cancer (BC) …

Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness when working with senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas. The study was guided by two theories: Invitational Education Theory, introduced by Purkey and Novak, used to understand how preceptors teach, and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, used to understand how preceptees learn. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of being a nurse preceptor to senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas? Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews, field and journal notes, and a demographic survey. Braun and Clarke’s …

Providing Evidenced Based Practice Interventions To Direct Care Providers In Long-Term Facilities To Increase Knowledge Of Mental Health Care In Older Adults: An Educational Toolkit, Chelisa Ann Crabtree

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this scholarly project is to increase the knowledge of mental health (MH) care among direct care providers in long-term facilities by developing an educational toolkit focused on evidence-based education and training, with the goal of enhancing staff competencies in MH care, improving the management of residents’ MH needs, and ultimately optimizing care and quality of life. With the increasing number of younger and sicker individuals, particularly those with MH issues, residing in long-term facilities and lack of specialized training for direct care providers which leads to inadequate/complicated care and poor patient outcomes, there is a pressing need …

The Relationship Of Worship Drumming On Christian Spiritual Well-Being: A Qualitative Case Study, Micah Joseph Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to bridge the knowledge gap and discover the relationship between worship drumming and Christian spiritual well-being. It also examined the spiritual disciplines developed from worship drumming that impact Christian spiritual well-being. The theory guiding this study was the religious attribution theory, as it is used to describe how people use religious explanations to understand events that cannot be explained by natural causes. The theoretical framework that falls under the religious attribution theory was the Feedback Loop Model for Religious Worship Experiences, which showed the dynamic of how music and the environment can provoke …

Experience Matters: An Application Of The Operative Value Index For Lumbar Fusions, Danyal Quraishi, Advith Sarikonda, D. Mitchell Self, Steven R. Glener, Arbaz A. Momin, Emily L. Isch, Ashmal K. Sami, Matthews Lan, Nicholas Clark, Ashwini Sharan, Srinivas Prasad, Jack Jallo, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Alex R. Vaccaro, James Harrop, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: As healthcare systems transition to value-based care models, it is critical to understand factors influencing costs and outcomes in neurosurgery. This study utilizes Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to assess the impact of surgeon experience and case volume on costs, clinical outcomes, and operative value in lumbar fusions. While TDABC has been applied in various surgical specialties, its use in neurosurgery, particularly in analyzing surgeon-specific factors, remains limited.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center, analyzing lumbar instrumented arthrodesis procedures from 2017 to 2019. Primary variables included surgeon experience (years) and case volume (annual procedures). Confounding …

Improving Staff Knowledge Of Insulin Protocols, Farzana Dalal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A midwestern inpatient hospital experienced a rise in insulin-induced hypoglycemic events on an acute medical-surgical floor as evidenced by 6-23 incidences per month between September 2024 to February 2025. A gap in practice revealed deficiencies in knowledge on the use of insulin protocols, which led to the project question addressing if nursing education on the use of insulin protocols would improve nursing staff knowledge as measured by pre- and post-educational surveys, thus resulting in decreased hypoglycemic events. This educational project utilized the ADDIE pedagogy, the John Hopkins evidence-based practice (JHEBP) model, and the Walden University's DNP Project Process Guide. This …

Unintentional Drowning In Florida: An Analysis Of Demographic And Water Type Associations Among Youth And Young Adults, Michelle Sterling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unintentional drowning is a leading cause of preventable injury fatalities among youth and young adults in the United States. Despite the preventability, drowning continues to affect specific populations disproportionately. Limited research has examined demographic and environmental factors that contribute to drowning fatalities among individuals aged 5 to 25 years old in Florida. Understanding these patterns is key to informing targeted prevention strategies. This quantitative, retrospective study explored the relationship between demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, race, and ethnicity), environmental context (i.e., water type), and drowning fatalities of 5- to 25-year-olds in Florida from 2018 to 2022. Data for this study, which …

Enhancing Hypertension Management In Correctional Facilities: Educating Advanced Practice Providers On Effective Strategies, Kimbreya E. Otey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and remains a significant public health concern, particularly within correctional facilities where access to consistent guideline-based care is often limited. Incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of chronic conditions, including hypertension, yet standardized approaches to management are frequently lacking. To address this gap, an evidence-based educational program was developed for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in the correctional setting. Grounded in the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines, the program was developed to enhance awareness and knowledge among NPs and PAs regarding evidence-based hypertension management practices using the International …

Precision Care In Screening, Surveillance, And Overall Management Of Barrett's Esophagus, Yeshaswini Reddy, Madhav Desai, Bernadette Tumaliuan, Nirav Thosani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Barrett's esophagus (BE), a metaplastic transformation of an esophageal squamous epithelium into an intestinal-type columnar epithelium, is the primary precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Traditional management strategies have relied heavily on selective screening, tailored surveillance intervals, and early dysplasia detection and treatment algorithms. However, the heterogeneity in progression risk among BE patients necessitates a more nuanced, personalized approach involving precision care, tailoring decisions to individual patient characteristics, promises to enhance outcomes in BE through more targeted screening, personalized surveillance intervals, and risk-based therapeutic strategies. This review explores the current landscape and emerging trends in precision medicine for Barrett's esophagus, highlighting …

Timing Of Nodal Metastasis In Patients With Eyelid Sebaceous Carcinoma And Implications For Surveillance And Survival, Tracy Lu, Casey Anthony, Xinyang Jiang, Jing Ning, Ryan Goepfert, Bita Esmaeli

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/aims: Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare cancer with periocular predilection. Studies focused on patterns and timing of nodal metastasis are scarce.Our aim is to report patterns of regional nodal metastasis in patients with eyelid SC, including results of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).

Methods: All consecutive patients with eyelid SC treated during 1999-2023 were retrospectively reviewed.All subjects had standard of care surgery for eyelid SC and regional lymph node evaluation using physical examination and ultrasonography (US) at baseline and during the surveillance period. 38 patients with negative findings on US had SLNB to rule out microscopic metastasis.The frequency and …

The Adaptation And Translation Of A Transition Readiness Scale For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Antonio F Pagán, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Autistic young adults often face significant challenges during the transition to adulthood, yet few tools exist to assess their readiness in a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive manner. This study presents the development and initial validation of the Transition Readiness Scale for Autistic Adolescents and Adults (TRS-A), a brief caregiver- and self-report measure designed to assess key domains of transition readiness. Guided by qualitative input from Latino families, community stakeholders, and clinicians, the TRS-A was piloted with 114 autistic young adults, 66 Spanish-speaking parents, and 48 English-speaking parents. Psychometric analyses supported the scale's internal consistency and construct validity, mirroring the …

An Alternative Neural Basis Underlying Leptin Resistance, Hongli Li, Cunjin Su, Yuanzhong Xu, Mette Q Ludwig, Jon Davis, Qingchun Tong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Overconsumption of a palatable Western diet, a condition linked to central leptin resistance, contributes extensively to the current obesity epidemic. In this context, intensive efforts have focused on detailing the molecular mechanisms underlying leptin resistance. Here, we demonstrate that chronic inhibition of hypothalamic arcuate GABAergic neurons (ArcGABA) effectively reduced diet-induced obesity (DIO). Interestingly, palatable food exposure increased the activity level of ArcGABA neurons, which do not express the leptin receptor (non-LepR neurons; nonresponsive to leptin). Chronic activation of ArcGABA non-LepR neurons led to massive obesity, which was associated with normal leptin-induced pSTAT3 signaling but phenotypic leptin resistance; i.e., high leptin …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Gut Microbiome And Metabolome Correlates Of Response And Toxicity With Idecabtagene Vicleucel, Satabdi Saha, Lubna Rehman, Abdur Rehman, Faezeh Darbaniyan, Donna M Weber, Melody Becnel, Mahmoud Gaballa, Sheeba K Thomas, Hans C Lee, Chia-Chi Chang, Reetakshi Arora, Meghan Menges, Salvatore Corallo, Marco L Davila, Frederick L Locke, Mark R Tanner, Sattva S Neelapu, Elizabeth J Shpall, Christopher R Flowers, Robert Z Orlowski, Robert R Jenq, Michael D Jain, Christine Peterson, Doris K Hansen, Neeraj Y Saini, Krina K Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may influence the responses and toxicities associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. We conducted whole-genome shotgun sequencing on stool samples (N = 117) collected at various times from patients with multiple myeloma (n = 33) who underwent idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) anti-B-cell maturation antigen CAR-T therapy. We observed a significant decrease in bacterial diversity after ide-cel infusion, along with significant differences in the bacterial composition linked to therapy response and toxicities. Specifically, we found significant enrichment of Flavonifractor plautii, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Blautia fecis, and Dysosmobacter species in ide-cel responders. A notable finding …