Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction With Elevated Filling Pressures Is Associated With Embolic Stroke Of Undetermined Source And Atrial Fibrillation, Zubair Bashir, Liqi Shu, Yuqian Guo, Edward W Chen, Shuyuan Wang, Eric D Goldstein, Maheen Rana, Narendra Kala, Xing Dai, Daniel Mandel, Shadi Yaghi, Phinnara Has, Mingxing Xie, Tao Wang, James Simmons, Christopher Song, Philip Haines

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) are strong predictors of clinical outcomes across various populations. However, their diagnostic utility in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains unclear. We hypothesized that LVDD with elevated LVFP (based on echocardiography) was more likely to be prevalent in ESUS compared to non-cardioembolic stroke (NCE) and to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) on follow-up monitoring.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study that included adult patients with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke between January 2016 and June 2017. LV function was assessed by …

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin [Hs-Ctn] As A Valuable Biomarker For Pulmonary Hypertension Risk Stratification: A Contemporary Review Of The Literature, Vijay Durga Pradeep Ganipineni, Sahas Reddy Jitta, Mohan Chandra Vinay Bharadwaj Gudiwada, Jaswanth Rao Jasti, Chaitra Janga, Bhavyasri Merugu, Revanth Reddy Bandaru, Srikanth Puli, Vikramaditya Samala Venkata, Advait Vasavada, Rupak Desai

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can lead to cardiac failure, thereby signif- icantly affecting life expectancy and quality of life. Due to inadequate disease surveillance and risk assessment, clinical challenges persist despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to review the potential of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) as a biomarker for predicting outcomes in PH patients. Methods: A thorough examination of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted through March 2023. Studies involving adult PH patients and hsTn as a prognostic indicator of outcomes such as mortality, hospitalization, and disease progression were included, after screening their titles and abstracts. …

Cervical Osteomyelitis In The Setting Of Multiple Comorbidities: A Complex Anatomical Approach. Illustrative Case, Jack A. Leoni, Michelle E. Veillon-Bradshaw, Kaleb J. Derouen, John M. Wilson, Wesley M. Shoap

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO), also known as spinal osteomyelitis or spondylodiscitis, is a rather rare yet serious disease comprising 3%–5% of all osteomyelitis cases, with only 3%–6% of this subset affecting the cervical spine. Risk factors include an advanced age, diabetes, immunosuppression, and intravenous (IV) drug use. The incidence of VO has increased over recent decades, with high-risk patients experiencing higher mortality rates. Treatment guidelines for VO are not standardized and rely on physician preference, often starting with IV antibiotics and progressing to surgery, if necessary. OBSERVATIONS A 54-year-old female with tracheostomy-dependent obesity hypoventilation syndrome, hypertension, and morbid obesity presented …

Transjugular Random Renal Biopsy: A Review, Katelyn Gill, Dan F. Laney Iv, Hector Ferral

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Random renal biopsy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of systemic renal disorders. Percutaneous biopsy remains a safe option for most patients; however, the percutaneous approach may be considered too risky in approximately 5-10% of patients. In these high-risk patients, transjugular renal biopsy (TJRB) may represent an underutilized alternative. TJRB is a technically difficult procedure with a learning curve of approximately 10 cases. When performed properly, TJRB is a safe alternative to percutaneous biopsy in patients with renal failure or who are at high risk of bleeding. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the indications, …

Integrated Electrophysiological And Genomic Profiles Of Single Cells Reveal Spiking Tumor Cells In Human Glioma, Rachel N Curry, Qianqian Ma, Malcolm F Mcdonald, Yeunjung Ko, Snigdha Srivastava, Pey-Shyuan Chin, Peihao He, Brittney Lozzi, Prazwal Athukuri, Junzhan Jing, Su Wang, Arif O Harmanci, Benjamin Arenkiel, Xiaolong Jiang, Benjamin Deneen, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prior studies have described the complex interplay that exists between glioma cells and neurons, however, the electrophysiological properties endogenous to tumor cells remain obscure. To address this, we employed Patch-sequencing on human glioma specimens and found that one third of patched cells in IDH mutant (IDHmut) tumors demonstrate properties of both neurons and glia by firing single, short action potentials. To define these hybrid cells (HCs) and discern if they are of tumoral origin, we developed a computational tool, Single Cell Rule Association Mining (SCRAM), to annotate each cell individually. SCRAM revealed that HCs represent tumor and non-tumor cells that …

Sdeper: A Hybrid Machine Learning And Regression Method For Cell-Type Deconvolution Of Spatial Barcoding-Based Transcriptomic Data, Yunqing Liu, Ningshan Li, Ji Qi, Gang Xu, Jiayi Zhao, Nating Wang, Xiayuan Huang, Wenhao Jiang, Huanhuan Wei, Aurélien Justet, Taylor S Adams, Robert Homer, Amei Amei, Ivan O Rosas, Naftali Kaminski, Zuoheng Wang, Xiting Yan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spatial barcoding-based transcriptomic (ST) data require deconvolution for cellular-level downstream analysis. Here we present SDePER, a hybrid machine learning and regression method to deconvolve ST data using reference single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. SDePER tackles platform effects between ST and scRNA-seq data, ensuring a linear relationship between them while addressing sparsity and spatial correlations in cell types across capture spots. SDePER estimates cell-type proportions, enabling enhanced resolution tissue mapping by imputing cell-type compositions and gene expressions at unmeasured locations. Applications to simulated data and four real datasets showed SDePER's superior accuracy and robustness over existing methods.

Multicenter Pivotal Study Of The Alterra Adaptive Prestent For The Treatment Of Pulmonary Regurgitation, V Vivian Dimas, Vasilis Babaliaros, Dennis Kim, D Scott Lim, Gareth Morgan, Thomas K Jones, Aimee K Armstrong, Darren Berman, Jamil Aboulhosn, Vaikom S Mahadevan, Matthew J Gillespie, David Balzer, Thomas Zellers, Xiao Yu, Girish Shirali, Anitha Parthiban, Jonathan Leipsic, Philipp Blanke, Evan Zahn, Shabana Shahanavaz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: A dilated native right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) presents unique challenges for transcatheter management using balloon-expandable valves. The Alterra Adaptive Prestent was designed to expand transcatheter therapy to treat patients with dilated RVOTs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report 2-year outcomes of the main cohort of the ALTERRA (Multicenter Study of Congenital Pulmonic Valve Dysfunction Studying the SAPIEN 3 THV With the Alterra Adaptive Prestent) pivotal trial using the prestent with transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods: The prestent device used with the 29 mm SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve (THV) was evaluated for the management of …

When Less Is More: Sketching With Minimizers In Genomics, Malick Ndiaye, Silvia Prieto-Baños, Lucy M Fitzgerald, Ali Yazdizadeh Kharrazi, Sergey Oreshkov, Christophe Dessimoz, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Natasha Glover, Sina Majidian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The exponential increase in sequencing data calls for conceptual and computational advances to extract useful biological insights. One such advance, minimizers, allows for reducing the quantity of data handled while maintaining some of its key properties. We provide a basic introduction to minimizers, cover recent methodological developments, and review the diverse applications of minimizers to analyze genomic data, including de novo genome assembly, metagenomics, read alignment, read correction, and pangenomes. We also touch on alternative data sketching techniques including universal hitting sets, syncmers, or strobemers. Minimizers and their alternatives have rapidly become indispensable tools for handling vast amounts of data.

Why Do Early-Career Adult Reconstruction Surgeons Change Jobs? An American Association Of Hip And Knee Surgeons Young Arthroplasty Group Survey Study, Matan Ozery, Elizabeth G. Lieberman, Jenna A. Bernstein, Jesse I. Wolfstadt, David C. Landy, Claudia Leonardi, Anna Cohen-Rosenblum

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: There are high reported rates of burnout and job turnover among orthopedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of job change among early-career adult reconstruction surgeons and to examine which demographic or practice factors influenced job change. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to all practicing surgeon members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Young Arthroplasty Group. The survey included questions about practice type, demographics, job change, and a validated burnout questionnaire. Survey responses were collected using a secure database. Statistical analysis was performed to examine relationships between respondent characteristics and …

Integrating Hypertension Detection And Management In Hiv Care In South Africa: Protocol For A Stepped-Wedged Cluster Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Trial, Karla I Galaviz, Charles W Goss, Aaloke Mody, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: HIV clinical guidelines recommend hypertension detection and management to lower cardiovascular disease risk, but these have not been effectively implemented for people living with HIV (PWH). Addressing this implementation gap requires community-engaged implementation studies focused on addressing implementation barriers specific to the HIV care context.

METHODS: This protocol describes a type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid study conducted in nine primary care clinics in Johannesburg. The study will evaluate the effect of implementation strategies on guideline-recommended blood pressure assessment and management in HIV clinics and the effects of assessment/management on patient blood pressure. A stepped-wedge, cluster randomized study design was used …

The Role Of Jordanian Television Programs In Raising Awareness About Mental Health From The Perspective Of Psychiatrists, Yasmine Hamza Badis, Saddam Suleiman Salman Almashaqbeh Dr

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

The study aimed to identify the role of Jordanian television programs in raising awareness of mental health from the perspective of psychiatrists. The sample of the study was composed of 153 members from the Jordanian Association of Psychiatrists affiliated with the Jordanian Medical Association. To achieve the goal of this study, the descriptive approach was followed, and the study relied on the questionnaire as a tool for collecting data. The results of the study showed that the role of Jordanian television programs in raising awareness about mental health from the Perspective of psychiatrists was medium, and the diversity of features …

Effects Of Cadherin Mediated Contact Normalization On Oncogenic Src Kinase Mediated Gene Expression And Protein Phosphorylation, Rachel E Nicoletto, Cayla J Holdcraft, Ariel C Yin, Edward P Retzbach, Stephanie A Sheehan, Amanda A Greenspan, Christopher M Laugier, Jason Trama, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Nontransformed cells form heterotypic cadherin junctions with adjacent transformed cells to inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. Transformed cells must override this form of growth control, called "contact normalization", to invade and metastasize during cancer progression. Heterocellular cadherin junctions between transformed and nontransformed cells are needed for this process. However, specific mechanisms downstream of cadherin signaling have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we utilized a β-catenin reporter construct to determine if contact normalization affects Wnt signaling in transformed cells. β-catenin driven GFP expression in Src transformed mouse embryonic cells was decreased when cultured with cadherin competent nontransformed cells compared to …

Directionality In Bicros Hearing Aids: An Investigation Of Objective And Subjective Outcomes, Hasan K. Saleh, Paula Folkeard, Volker Kuehnel, Solveig C. Voss, Jinyu Qian, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objectives: To assess the effect of forward and omnidirectional microphone configurations in BiCROS versus monaural hearing aids on objective and subjective outcomes in different noise conditions.

Design: After fitting and a 4-week acclimatisation period, speech recognition and sound quality were measured using forward directional, omnidirectional, and unaided settings. Two noise configurations were used, surrounding noise and noise presented from the aided (better) ear. Subjective outcomes were assessed using the SSQ-b and BBSS questionnaires and participant interviews.

Study sample: Eighteen adult participants (mean: 74.6 y; range: 61–94 y; ten males, eight females) with mild to moderately severe SNHL in their better …

Effect Of Covid-19 Vaccination On Covid-19 Mortality By Age In Georgia, Brennan Bogdanovich, Mckenzie E. Maloney, James Pollock, Lane Langston, Brittany Ange, Jack Yu

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Purpose: The COVID-19 epidemic led to significant morbidity and mortality globally, especially among the elderly. Because SARS-CoV-2 is a novel viral pathogen, there was a lack of preventative and treatment options. Availability of effective vaccines has been an important factor in determining the epidemic trajectory. Analyzing the effects of the vaccines in reducing mortality across age groups is important for guiding future public health responses. The objective of this study was to determine the association between age and COVID-19 mortality pre- and post-vaccination periods amongst Georgians.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used COVID-19 case numbers, COVID-19 deaths, age at time of …

Barriers To Help-Seeking Behavior For Maternal Mental Health Disorders: Application Of The Health Belief Model, Tobi F. Oloyede, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have become a leading cause of maternal mortality due to suicide among women in the first year following pregnancy. Although the profile for new mothers who die by suicide is predominantly white, disparities exist between Black and White women in their seeking help for perinatal and/or post-natal mood disorders. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), there are differences in the perceptions of the benefits of seeking help for PMADs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal mental health disorders in the United States particularly for women who live in communities with limited access to …

Bi-Directional Allosteric Pathway In Nmda Receptor Activation And Modulation, Paula A Bender, Subhajit Chakraborty, Ryan J Durham, Vladimir Berka, Elisa Carrillo, Vasanthi Jayaraman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors primarily comprise two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits. The GluN2 subunit dictates biophysical receptor properties, including the extent of receptor activation and desensitization. GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors represent two functional extremes. To uncover the conformational basis of their functional divergence, we utilize single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to probe the extracellular domains of these receptor subtypes under resting and ligand-bound conditions. We find that the conformational profile of the GluN2 amino-terminal domain correlates with the disparate functions of GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors. Changes at the pre-transmembrane …

Stratomod: Predicting Sequencing And Variant Calling Errors With Interpretable Machine Learning, Nathan Dwarshuis, Peter Tonner, Nathan D Olson, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Justin Wagner, Justin M Zook

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the variety in sequencing platforms, mappers, and variant callers, no single pipeline is optimal across the entire human genome. Therefore, developers, clinicians, and researchers need to make tradeoffs when designing pipelines for their application. Currently, assessing such tradeoffs relies on intuition about how a certain pipeline will perform in a given genomic context. We present StratoMod, which addresses this problem using an interpretable machine-learning classifier to predict germline variant calling errors in a data-driven manner. We show StratoMod can precisely predict recall using Hifi or Illumina and leverage StratoMod's interpretability to measure contributions from difficult-to-map and homopolymer regions for …

Examining Assessment Tools To Predict Burnout Among Healthcare Practitioners And Students, Robin Hilliard Albertson, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The U.S. health system is stretched thin by pressures to expand service delivery and improve outcomes while reducing costs. This pressure is intensified by global health crises and other factors, resulting in further reductions in the healthcare workforce due to burnout. The strain leaves healthcare practitioners at risk of experiencing negative consequences of burnout, even death [1]. This study explored the correlations between three validated assessment tools to determine if early signs of burnout in healthcare practitioners and students can be identified succinctly, thus expanding the current body of evidence on the strengths of environments supporting career retention and healthcare …

Beyond The Checklist: Pilot Education, Aviation Resources, And Health Management Skills, Nancy Smith

Pacific Journal of Health

The research study investigates if pilots find aviation health-related materials provided from training or aviation associations to support their own health needs. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was conducted by sampling 27 pilots within general aviation to assess their utilization of aviation health-related materials, health management skills including self-efficacy and prioritization, as well as their views of implementing particular health topics into aviation training. Results of the study indicate that it is unclear if pilots find aviation health materials useful in managing their health, pilots have a relatively high level of self-efficacy and ability to prioritize one’s health and …

Navigating Artificial Intelligence In Spine Surgery: Implementation And Optimization Across The Care Continuum, Antony A. Fuleihan, Arjun K. Menta, Tej D. Azad, Kelly Jiang, Carly Weber-Levine, Daniel A. Davidar, Andrew M. Hersh, Nicholas Theodore

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

The field of spine surgery has long been characterized by innovations and technological advancements. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into spine surgery represents one of the latest technical developments in the field. The ability of AI to rapidly analyze datasets improves decision making, risk assessment, intraoperative precision, and postoperative management, all of which contribute to increasing personalized spine care and improving outcomes. However, the successful implementation of AI faces regulatory and privacy challenges that must be addressed before its full potential can be realized. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the current applications and future prospects of AI …

Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 1 In Cancer Metastasis And Therapeutic Resistance: Mechanistic Insights And Translational Advances., Mariana K Najjar, Munazza S Khan, Chuling Zhuang, Ankush Chandra, Hui-Wen Lo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase 1 (IRAK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a critical role as a signaling transducer of the activated Toll-like receptor (TLR)/Interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling pathway in both immune cells and cancer cells. Upon hyperphosphorylation by IRAK4, IRAK1 forms a complex with TRAF6, which results in the eventual activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. IRAK1 can translocate to the nucleus where it phosphorylates STAT3 transcription factor, leading to enhanced IL-10 gene expression. In immune cells, activated IRAK1 coordinates innate immunity against pathogens and mediates inflammatory responses. In cancer cells, IRAK1 is frequently activated, and the activation …

Pain After Licorice Or Sugar-Water Gargling In Patients Recovering From Oropharyngeal Surgery-A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial, Marita Windpassinger, Michal Prusak, Jana Gemeiner, Olga Plattner, Stefan Janik, Gerold Besser, Wolfgang Gstoettner, Pu Xuan, Daniel I Sessler, Kurt Ruetzler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Glycyrrhiza glabrata (licorice) is used in traditional medicine and herbal remedies and reduces sore throats consequent to intubation, but whether it is protective for more intense pain after oropharyngeal surgery remains unclear. We thus tested the joint hypothesis that gargling with licorice, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption.

Methods: We enrolled patients having elective oropharyngeal surgery. Participants were randomly allocated to gargle with either 1 g licorice or a sugar placebo before and for up to three days after surgery. A numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain along with morphine consumption was evaluated …

Sex Hormones And Risk Of Lung And Colorectal Cancers In Women: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Marion Denos, Yi-Qian Sun, Ben Michael Brumpton, Yafang Li, Demetrius Albanes, Andrea Burnett-Hartman, Peter T Campbell, Sébastien Küry, Christopher I Li, Emily White, Jewel N Samadder, Mark A Jenkins, Xiao-Mei Mai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The roles of sex hormones such as estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the etiology of lung and colorectal cancers in women, among the most common cancers after breast cancer, are unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study evaluated such potential causal associations in women of European ancestry. We used summary statistics data from genome-wide association studies on sex hormones and from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and large consortia on cancers. There was suggestive evidence of 1-standard deviation increase in total testosterone levels being associated with a lower risk of lung non-adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval …

Thrombotic, Cardiovascular, And Microvascular Complications Of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms And Clonal Hematopoiesis (Chip): A Narrative Review, Andrew I Schafer, Douglas L Mann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), with the exception of myelofibrosis, are venous and arterial thrombosis, as well as more recently discovered cardiovascular disease (CVD). Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is the subclinical finding in an individual of somatic mutations that are also found in clinically overt MPNs and other myeloid malignancies. The prevalence of "silent" CHIP increases with age. CHIP can transform into a clinically overt MPN at an estimated rate of 0.5 to 1% per year. It is likely, therefore, but not proven, that many, if not all, MPN patients …

A Proteomics Approach To Study Mouse Long Bones: Examining Baseline Differences And Mechanical Loading-Induced Bone Formation In Young-Adult And Old Mice, Christopher J Chermside-Scabbo, John T Shuster, Petra Erdmann-Gilmore, Eric Tycksen, Qiang Zhang, R Reid Townsend, Matthew J Silva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

With aging, bone mass declines and the anabolic effects of skeletal loading diminish. While much research has focused on gene transcription, how bone ages and loses its mechanoresponsiveness at the protein level remains unclear. We developed a novel proteomics approach and performed a paired mass spectrometry and RNA-seq analysis on tibias from young-adult (5-month) and old (22-month) mice. We report the first correlation estimate between the bone proteome and transcriptome (Spearman

Regular Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use Increases Stress Fracture Risk In The General Population: A Retrospective Case-Control Study, Alexandra Ciuciu, Chris Mulholland, Michael A. Bozzi, Chris C. Frymoyer, Leonardo Cavinatto, David Yaron, Marc I. Harwood, Jeremy D. Close, Christopher J. Mehallo, Ryan E. Tomlinson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Previous studies have shown that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with increased stress fracture risk. This phenomenon has been studied predominantly in high-activity individuals, so data regarding the general population are limited despite the substantial economic and resource burden of stress fracture injuries within the general US population. Furthermore, our preclinical studies demonstrate that regular use of NSAIDs also diminishes the intrinsic ability of bone to resist fracture. To determine the association of regular NSAID use with stress fractures in the general population, we surveyed subjects presenting with either stress fracture or uncomplicated ankle sprain to …

Comparative Outcomes Of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement In Elderly Patients With Severe Symptomatic Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review, Omar Hamodat, Saif Almuzainy, Salma Nizar

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease globally; while transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has proven to be a competitive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and revolutionized treatment, its safety and efficacy has yet to be comprehensively assessed against SAVR for certain subsets of aortic stenosis patients; therefore, this study aims to systematically analyze all the available clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials on TAVR versus SAVR among intermediate and low-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.

Methodology: We performed a systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCT), studies comparing TAVR and …

The Price Of Prevention: Spain And Italy's Approach To National Prep, Jon Burkart

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

While recent advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to improve the outlook for people living with HIV (PLHIV), new infections remain a concern for health authorities around the world. A clinically proven intervention holds the potential to dramatically reduce new infections: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-daily pill for high-risk populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), that substantially reduces HIV infection risk. However—much like rates of new infection—public provision of PrEP varies considerably among OECD countries. This case study thus seeks to answer the question: What might explain the disparate timeline of adopting public reimbursement for PrEP …

Genetic Knock-In Of Eif2ak3 Variants Reveals Differences In Perk Activity In Mouse Liver And Pancreas Under Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Shivesh Ghura, Noah R. Beratan, Xinglong Shi, Elena Alvarez-Periel, Sarah E. Bond Newton, Cagla Akay-Espinoza, Kelly L. Jordan-Sciutto

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Staff Papers and Presentations

Common single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3) slightly increase the risk of disorders in the periphery and the central nervous system. EIF2AK3 encodes protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a key regulator of ER stress. Three exonic EIF2AK3 SNVs form the PERK-B haplotype, which is present in 28% of the global population. Importantly, the precise impact of these SNVs on PERK activity remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that PERK-B SNVs do not alter PERK expression or basal activity in vitro and in the novel triple knock-in mice expressing the exonic …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - October 11, 2024, Lindsay Hughes

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the Friday, October 11, 2024 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter -- Watercooler.

Contents include:

• Furr elected board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians
• Students and alumni invited to Dean's Tailgate Oct. 26
• Biomedical Library to host Creative Arts and Storytelling in Health and Wellness Summit
• Pediatrics residents share important health messages at area schools
• Medical student presents prostate cancer research at urology meeting
• J-1 training session scheduled for Oct. 18