Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Estrogen-Induced Glial Il-1Β Mediates Extrinsic Retinal Ganglion Cell Vulnerability In Murine Nf1 Optic Glioma, Yunshuo Tang, Jit Chatterjee, Ngan Wagoner, Stephanie Bozeman, David H Gutmann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) arising in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can cause retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction and vision loss, which occurs more frequently in girls. While our previous studies demonstrated that estrogen was partly responsible for this sexually dimorphic visual impairment, herein we elucidate the underlying mechanism. In contrast to their male counterparts, female Nf1

Declining Prevalence Of Trichomonas Vaginalis Diagnosed By Wet Mount In A Cohort Of U.S. Women With And Without Hiv, Elizabeth M Daubert, Jodie Dionne, Jessica Atrio, Andrea K Knittel, Seble G Kassaye, Dominika Seidman, Amanda Long, Susan Brockmann, Igho Ofotokun, Margaret A Fischl, L Stewart Massad, Kathleen M Weber

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Gene-Based Association Study Of Rare Variants In Children Of Diverse Ancestries Implicates Tnfrsf21 In The Development Of Allergic Asthma, Selene Clay, Katherine Rivera-Spoljaric, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Most genetic studies of asthma and allergy have focused on common variation in individuals primarily of European ancestry. Studying the role of rare variation in quantitative phenotypes and in asthma phenotypes in populations of diverse ancestries can provide additional, important insights into the development of these traits.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the contribution of rare variants to different asthma- or allergy-associated quantitative traits in children with diverse ancestries and explore their role in asthma phenotypes.

METHODS: We examined whole-genome sequencing data from children participants in longitudinal studies of asthma (n = 1035; parent-identified as 67% Black and 25% …

Assessing Cardiac Contractility From Single Molecules To Whole Hearts, Ankit Garg, Kory J. Lavine, Michael J. Greenberg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Scapular Angular Deviations On Potential For Rotator Cuff Tendon Mechanical Compression, Rebekah L Lawrence, Laura B Richardson, Hannah L Bilodeau, Dane J Bonath, Daniel J Dahn, Mary-Ann Em, Sanjay Sarkar, Jonathan P Braman, Paula M Ludewig

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: One proposed mechanism of rotator cuff disease is scapular motion impairments contributing to rotator cuff compression and subsequent degeneration.

PURPOSE: To model the effects of scapular angular deviations on rotator cuff tendon proximity for subacromial and internal mechanical impingement risk during scapular plane abduction.

STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive laboratory study.

METHODS: Three-dimensional bone models were reconstructed from computed tomography scans obtained from 10 asymptomatic subjects and 9 symptomatic subjects with a clinical presentation of impingement syndrome. Models were rotated to average scapular orientations from a healthy dataset at higher (120°) and lower (subject-specific) humeral elevation angles to investigate internal and …

Predictors Of Digital Amputation In Diabetic Patients With Surgically Treated Finger Infections, Ella Gibson, Carrie R Bettlach, Emma Payne, John Daines, Linh Vuong, Corinne Merrill, Ida K Fox, Mitchell A Pet

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a well-established risk factor for severe digital infection, and patients are more likely to require digital amputation for adequate source control. This study aims to identify factors predictive of digital amputation compared with preservation in patients with diabetes who present with surgically treated finger infections.

METHODS: Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases Versions 9 and 10 (ICD-9/10) databases from a single academic medical center were queried to identify patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent surgical treatment in the operating room for treatment of a digital infection from 2010 to …

Correlation Between Rod Fracture And Shear Stress: A Novel Parameter, Seth Street, Abhijith V. Matur, Xu Tao, Geet Shukla, Julia Garcia-Vargas, Jay P. Mehta, Kelly Childress, Justin Gibson, Daryn Cass, Andrew Wu, Henry Ofori Duah, Benjamin Motley, Daniel Webb, Joseph Cheng, Owoicho Adogwa

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background We sought to assess the accuracy of a novel parameter proportional to the rod shear stress (RSS) in identifying patients at risk of rod fracture (RF) after surgery for correction of adult spinal deformity. Methods We performed a retrospective medical record review of patients aged ≥18 years treated for adult spinal deformity between 2004 and 2014 with ≥24 months of follow-up. The primary outcome was RFs identified radiographically. Patient weight (w), number of instrumented levels (N), and minimum rod diameter (d) were recorded and used to calculate the RSS parameter (). Receiver operating characteristic curves were produced and the …

Clinical Characteristics And Treatment Exposure Of Patients With Marked Treatment-Resistant Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder: A Recover Trial Report, Charles R Conway, Christopher L Kriedt, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: RECOVER is a randomized sham-controlled trial of vagus nerve stimulation and the largest such trial conducted with a psychiatric neuromodulation intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To describe pre-implantation baseline clinical characteristics and treatment history of patients with unipolar, major depressive disorder (MDD), overall and as a function of exposure to interventional psychiatric treatments (INTs), including electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and esketamine.

METHODS: Medical, psychiatric, and treatment records were reviewed by study investigators and an independent Study Eligibility Committee prior to study qualification. Clinical characteristics and treatment history (using Antidepressant Treatment History [Short] Form) were compared in those qualified (N = 493) …

Mfsd7c Functions As A Transporter Of Choline At The Blood-Brain Barrier, Xuan Thi Anh Nguyen, Angela Lee, Jorge L Granadillo, Catherine Gooch, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Mutations in the orphan transporter MFSD7c (also known as Flvcr2), are linked to Fowler syndrome. Here, we used Mfsd7c knockout (Mfsd7c

Hepsin Promotes Breast Tumor Growth Signaling Via The Tgfβ-Egfr Axis, Denis Belitškin, Pauliina Munne, Shishir M Pant, Johanna M Anttila, Ilida Suleymanova, Kati Belitškina, Daniel Kirchhofer, James Janetka, Taivo Käsper, Sami Jalil, Jeroen Pouwels, Topi A Tervonen, Juha Klefström

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hepsin, a type II transmembrane serine protease, is commonly overexpressed in prostate and breast cancer. The hepsin protein is stabilized by the Ras-MAPK pathway, and, downstream, this protease regulates the degradation of extracellular matrix components and activates growth factor pathways, such as the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway. However, how exactly active hepsin promotes cell proliferation machinery to sustain tumor growth is not fully understood. Here, we show that genetic deletion of the gene encoding hepsin (Hpn) in a WAP-Myc model of aggressive MYC-driven breast cancer inhibits tumor growth in the primary syngrafted sites …

Il-33 Potentiates Histaminergic Itch, Anna M Trier, Aaron M Ver Heul, Avery Fredman, Victoria Le, Zhen Wang, Kelsey Auyeung, James Meixiong, Paola Lovato, Michael J Holtzman, Fang Wang, Xinzhong Dong, Andrew L Ji, Brian S Kim

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Itch is a common symptom that can greatly diminish quality of life. Histamine is a potent endogenous pruritogen, and while antihistamines are often the first-line treatment for itch, in conditions like chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), many patients remain symptomatic while receiving maximal doses. Mechanisms that drive resistance to antihistamines are poorly defined.

OBJECTIVES: Signaling of the alarmin cytokine IL-33 in sensory neurons is postulated to drive chronic itch by inducing neuronal sensitization to pruritogens. Thus, we sought to determine if IL-33 can augment histamine-induced (histaminergic) itch.

METHODS: Itch behavior was assessed in response to histamine after IL-33 or saline …

A Pragmatic Trial Of A Family-Centered Approach To Childhood Obesity Treatment: Rationale And Study Design, Amanda E Staiano, Alyssa M Button, Alison Baker, Robbie Beyl, Anne-Marie Conn, Angela Lima, Jeanne Lindros, Robert L Newton Jr, Richard I Stein, R Robinson Welch, Stephen Cook, Denise E Wilfley, Team Up Research Group

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is an effective intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for obesity reduction in children and adolescents, but families have limited access. The purpose of this randomized, pragmatic, comparative effectiveness trial was to examine changes in child relative weight in a 12-month, enhanced standard of care (eSOC) intervention combined with FBT (eSOC+FBT) vs. eSOC alone.

METHODS: Children aged 6 to 15 years with obesity, and their primary caregiver, were recruited from primary care clinics. Families were randomized 1:1 to eSOC, a staged approach led by the primary care provider that gradually intensified dependent on a child's …

Programs And Processes For Advancing Pediatric Acute Kidney Support Therapy In Hospitalized And Critically Ill Children: A Report From The 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (Adqi) Consensus Conference, Tara M Neumayr, Benan Bayrakci, Rahul Chanchlani, Akash Deep, Jolyn Morgan, Ayse Akcan Arikan, Rajit K Basu, Stuart L Goldstein, David J Askenazi, Adqi 26 Workgroup

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pediatric acute kidney support therapy (paKST) programs aim to reliably provide safe, effective, and timely extracorporeal supportive care for acutely and critically ill pediatric patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), fluid and electrolyte derangements, and/or toxin accumulation with a goal of improving both hospital-based and lifelong outcomes. Little is known about optimal ways to configure paKST teams and programs, pediatric-specific aspects of delivering high-quality paKST, strategies for transitioning from acute continuous modes of paKST to facilitate rehabilitation, or providing effective short- and long-term follow-up. As part of the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative Conference, the first to focus on a …

Direct Prediction Of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Conformational Properties From Sequence, Jeffrey M Lotthammer, Garrett M Ginell, Daniel Griffith, Ryan J Emenecker, Alex S Holehouse

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are ubiquitous across all domains of life and play a range of functional roles. While folded domains are generally well described by a stable three-dimensional structure, IDRs exist in a collection of interconverting states known as an ensemble. This structural heterogeneity means that IDRs are largely absent from the Protein Data Bank, contributing to a lack of computational approaches to predict ensemble conformational properties from sequence. Here we combine rational sequence design, large-scale molecular simulations and deep learning to develop ALBATROSS, a deep-learning model for predicting ensemble dimensions of IDRs, including the radius of gyration, end-to-end …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - March 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Genetic Regulatory Effects In Response To A High-Cholesterol, High-Fat Diet In Baboons, Wenhe Lin, Jeffrey D. Wall, Ge Li, Deborah Newman, Yunqi Yang, Mark Abney, John L. Vandeberg, Michael Olivier, Yoav Gilad, Laura A. Cox

School of Medicine Publications

Steady-state expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) explain only a fraction of disease-associated loci identified through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), while eQTLs involved in gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions have rarely been characterized in humans due to experimental challenges. Using a baboon model, we found hundreds of eQTLs that emerge in adipose, liver, and muscle after prolonged exposure to high dietary fat and cholesterol. Diet-responsive eQTLs exhibit genomic localization and genic features that are distinct from steady-state eQTLs. Furthermore, the human orthologs associated with diet-responsive eQTLs are enriched for GWAS genes associated with human metabolic traits, suggesting that context responsive eQTLs with more …

Midwives’ Experiences Of Providing Pre-Eclampsia Care In A Low- And Middle-Income Country – A Qualitative Study, Isabella Garti, Michelle Gray, Angela Bromley, Jing-Yu (Benjamin) Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Problem: Like other low- and middle-income countries, Ghana has high maternal mortality stemming from pre-eclampsia. Ghanaian midwives are frontline service providers of emergency care in obstetric complications and have the greatest potential to maximise pre-eclampsia outcomes. Little is known about the potential barriers and challenges to midwives' capacity to provide quality care in pre-eclampsia in Ghana. Therefore, we aimed to explore and gain insights into midwives’ experiences of pre-eclampsia care including their knowledge, skills, and psychological aspects such as midwives' resilience. Background: There is a rising global incidence of pre-eclampsia. Quality midwifery care in inter-professional collaborative practice is crucial to …

Physical Activity And Amyloid Beta In Middle-Aged And Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, María Rodriguez-Ayllon, Patricio Solis-Urra, Cristina Arroyo-Ávila, Miriam Álvarez-Ortega, Pablo Molina-García, Cristina Molina-Hidalgo, Manuel Gómez-Río, Belinda Brown, Kirk I. Erickson, Irene Esteban-Cornejo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (A ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through A levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and A in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to April 28, 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and A data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level …

The Impact Of Final-Year Clinical Placements On Nursing Students' Career Planning For The Graduate Year And Beyond, Edah Anyango, Esther Adama, Janie Brown, Irene Ngune

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: This study had three objectives: 1) to determine final-year nursing students' career preferences and long-term career plans; 2) to investigate factors influencing nursing students' specialty choices following their final-year clinical placement(s); and 3) to understand how final-year clinical placements can be used to develop the career interests of nursing students to different nursing specialties. Background: Clinical placement provides an insightful experience that may influence students to feel inclined to work in certain specialties. Therefore, each clinical placement should promote students' learning and enhance positive experiences that could develop their career interests and encourage them to seek employment in the …

Anatomic Factors Associated With Degeneration And Fraying Of The Coracoacromial Ligament, Ryan Lopez, Jaspal Singh, Mohammad Ghoraishian, Thema Nicholson, Stephen Gates, Surena Namdari

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: The coracoacromial ligament (CAL) is frequently observed to be damaged during arthroscopy and it is unclear how demographic, anatomic, and radiographic factors are related to CAL degeneration in full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

METHODS: A prospective study was conducted of patients at a single institution undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for first-time, full-thickness rotator cuff tears. We evaluated preoperative anteroposterior radiographs to obtain critical shoulder angle, glenoid inclination, acromial index, acromiohumeral distance, lateral acromial angle, and acromial morphology. We documented CAL quality, rotator cuff tear size and pattern during arthroscopy. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for encountering severe …

Surgical Site Infections Post Cesarean Section And Associated Risk Factors: A Retrospective Case-Control Study At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya., David Odada, Jasmit Shah, Annastacia Mbithi, Reena Shah

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Surgical site infection is a common healthcare-associated infection that affects maternal health, yet it can be prevented or controlled. Caesarian sections are most likely to develop surgical site infections. The rates of delivery by caesarian section in reported to be higher that the acceptable rates in some healthcare facilities. Risk factors for surgical site infections can be identified and modified to reduce the occurrence of surgical site infections. This study aims to determine the risk factors that contribute to surgical site infections post caesarian section in a tertiary teaching hospital in Kenya.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control (1:2 …

Clinical Supervisors Competency And Readiness To Supervise Telehealth Practices, Myriam Buitrago

Dissertations

The growing effectiveness of telehealth as an alternative practice is gaining acceptance not only by professionals in the healthcare field but also by people who have benefited from this approach. New training and supervision practices are required to meet the new telehealth approach. Clinical supervision is a new profession identifying the competencies that define their best practices. However, telehealth is forcing us to evaluate and redefine them to meet the new telehealth requirements. This study used two assessments, the Supervisor competence self assessment and the supervisor evaluation and the Supervisor Competence Scale, to measure supervisors' self-evaluation of their performance as …

Severe Stiff-Person Syndrome After Covid: The First Video-Documented Covid Exacerbation And Viral Implications, Marinos C. Dalakas

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To describe a patient with mild GAD-positive stiff-leg syndrome (SLS) who developed severely disabling stiff-person syndrome (SPS) 1 week after mild COVID-19 and discuss the impact of viral implications.

METHODS: Video-documented serial clinical observations at baseline, after acute COVID-19, and after IVIG treatments.

RESULTS: A 39-year-old man with left-SLS was stable during a 2-year follow-up with low-dose antispasmodics, working fully and functioning normally, even able to run. One week after mild COVID-19, he started to experience generalized SPS symptomatology that steadily worsened the following 2-3 weeks, becoming unable to walk, requiring a walker, with significant thoracolumbar and bilateral leg …

Midterm Outcomes Of Suture Anchor Fixation For Displaced Olecranon Fractures, Michael Gutman, Jacob Kirsch, Jonathan Koa, Mohamad Fares, Joseph Abboud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Displaced olecranon fractures constitute a challenging problem for elbow surgeons. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of suture anchor fixation for treating patients with displaced olecranon fractures.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for all consecutive patients with displaced olecranon fractures treated with suture anchor fixation with at least 2 years of clinical follow-up. Surgical repair was performed acutely in all cases with nonmetallic suture anchors in a double-row configuration utilizing suture augmentation via the triceps tendon. Osseous union and perioperative complications were uniformly assessed.

RESULTS: Suture anchor fixation was performed on 17 patients with …

Functional Movement Disorders: Understanding, Approach And Diagnosis, Hudaibiya Ayub, Talbiya Ayub, Rasheed Azhar

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

ABSTRACT

This commentary offers a comprehensive examination of Functional Movement Disorders (FMD) and explores recent advancements in our understanding and treatment of these intricate syndromes. FMDs challenge clinicians due to their variable nature and diverse clinical presentations, often intertwined with psychological factors. Impairments in motor intention and agency must be considered when providing care. Recognizing that non-motor symptoms can have a major impact on a patient's quality of life is equally important. Recognizing FMDs as multi-faceted conditions requiring multidisciplinary care allows consideration of cognitive, social, and demographic aspects.

Hypertonic Saline For Ischemic Stroke: A Review, Rameen Ata Bajwa, Angelina Jessani, Hanan Farzand Raja, Bisma Aziz

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

ABSTRACT

Background and objective:

Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a critical complication of ischemic stroke. This review article summarizes existing literature pertaining to the role of hypertonic saline (HTS) in lowering ICP in ischemic stroke patients.

Methods:

Studies were selected using a comprehensive search of several research databases. Studies conducted in adult (aged 18 and older) human patients receiving HTS osmotherapy for elevated ICP were included, encompassing a wide range of neurological conditions and various administration methods, durations, and concentrations of HTS.

Results:

We found HTS to reduce ICP in ischemic stroke patients, on par effectively, and in some studies, …

The Impact Of Social Pressure On High-Income Working Mothers In Academia, Emily Pokorski, Ranelle Brew, Tess Scheidel

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

Working mothers are often displayed as superheroes for all that they manage by taking on roles like mother, professional, and homemaker, which leaves them feeling burnout. The purpose of this study is to explain social pressures impacting working mothers, who is inflicting social pressures, and what areas of their life are being impacted. Additionally, it investigates how the pandemic has changed the work-life balance and where they are spending their time. Researchers used an online Qualtrics survey to collect data from two social media platforms. A total of 272 participants filled out the questionnaire and were eligible for the study. …

A Case Of Parkinsonian Symptoms Secondary To Chronic Subdural Hematoma, Willbroad Kyejo, Frank Swai, Clement Mugisha, Philip Adebayo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Chronic subdural hematoma is a known neurosurgical entity often associated with a spectrum of neurological manifestations. While primarily recognized for its characteristic accumulation of blood between the dura mater and arachnoid membrane, emerging literature suggests a rare association between chronic subdural hematoma and Parkinsonian symptoms. This report aims to underscore this unique neurological relationship by presenting a case of a 70-year-old male who developed Parkinsonism following chronic subdural hematoma post-head trauma. This case underscores the rare association between chronic subdural hematoma and Parkinsonian symptoms, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention in managing such cases.

Identifying Rural Health Clinics Within The Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-Msis) Analytic Files, Katherine Ahrens Mph, Phd, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk Phd, John Gale Ms, Heidi O'Connor Ms

Rural Health Clinics

Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center describe a methodology for identifying Rural Health Clinic encounters within the Medicaid claims data using Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files.

Background: There is limited information on the extent to which Rural Health Clinics (RHC) provide pediatric and pregnancy-related services to individuals enrolled in state Medicaid/CHIP programs. In part this is because methods to identify RHC encounters within Medicaid claims data are outdated.

Methods: We used a 100% sample of the 2018 Medicaid Demographic and Eligibility and Other Services Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) Analytic Files for 20 states …

Systolic Hypertension As Side Effect Of Topical Low Dose Atropine Drops, Barry Wasserman, Erik Massenzio, Karen Lee, David Plager

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To present a case of increased systemic hypertension and pupil dilation related to low dose atropine eyedrops.

OBSERVATIONS: A thirteen-year-old male with progressive myopia received atropine 0.05% ophthalmic drops to slow down myopia progression. He exhibited systemic systolic hypertension, photophobia, and bilateral nonreactive mydriasis. The atropine drops were discontinued, and his blood pressure and pupillary function normalized.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This case demonstrates sensitivity to low dose atropine with increased systemic blood pressure and pupillary dilation.