Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Development And Impact Of A Review Course For The Praxis Examination In Speech- Language Pathology, Miriam Baigorri, George Pagano

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Abstract

The Praxis II: Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology is a required national examination for certification and licensure in the United States. However, disparities in pass rates, particularly among culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) test takers, create barriers to professional entry. This study examines students' perceptions of the effectiveness of an Examination Preparation Course, designed to enhance student success through structured content review, practice exams, and test-taking strategies. A total of 70 graduates (2018–2023) who completed the course participated in an online survey assessing their demographics, perceptions of the course’s effectiveness, and confidence levels before and after taking the course. …

Recent Advances In The Pharmacological Properties Of Scutellarin: Mechanistic Insights And Therapeutic Potential, Hind A. Satar, Emad Yousif, Ahmed Ahmed, Muna Bufaroosha

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Scutellarin, a flavonoid glycoside primarily derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, has garnered increasing scientific interest for its multifaceted pharmacological properties. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of scutellarin's therapeutic effects, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and anticancer activities. Emphasis is placed on elucidating its molecular mechanisms of action, such as modulation of the NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt pathways, and its role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Additionally, we discuss formulation innovations, including nanoparticle and liposomal delivery systems, aimed at overcoming scutellarin's poor oral bioavailability and enhancing therapeutic performance. Key limitations in current research …

2026 February 17 - Medical Student Education Committee Minutes, Medical Student Education Committee, East Tennessee State University

Medical Student Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of E-Cigarettes: A Review Of Risks And Emerging Evidence, Alexander Girgis, Kamran H. Awan Dr

Annual Research Symposium

Abstract Body:

Objectives: This review aims to examine the overall effects of e-cigarettes on oral health, including its associations with xerostomia, dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using databases like PubMed, ScienceDirect, NIH, and MDPI, analyzing many studies published between 2010-2025. Inclusion criteria consisted of peer-reviewed human and in-vitro studies that evaluated the oral effects of e-cigarettes. Studies were screened for correlation to caries formation, salivary changes, mucosal alterations, microbiome disruptions, and carcinogenic potential.

Results: A total of fifteen studies were included. Findings across studies showed that e-cigarettes reduce salivary flow rates and …

Remnant Cholesterol And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Populations With Different Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Elevations: A Prospective Cohort Study, Hong Zheng, Guanlin Chen, Zhenyu Huo, Yulong Lan, Yuxian Wang, Peng Fu, Weiqiang Wu, Haixiang Zheng, Kuangyi Wu, Zegui Huang, Dan Wu, Shouling Wu, Youren Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC) are risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the extent to which differences in RC levels affect ASCVD risk in populations with varying degrees of LDL-C elevation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether RC can provide additional risk stratification value across different sexes, ages, and elevated LDL-C statuses. Methods: This study included 12 743 elevated LDL-C participants (LDL-C ≥3.4 mmol/L) and 50 073 age- and sex-matched non-elevated LDL-C controls from the Kailuan Study. Elevated LDL-C participants were categorized by RC levels into <0.5, 0.5 to <1.0, and ≥1.0 mmol/L subgroups. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relationship between RC levels and ASCVD risk across different sexes, ages, and high LDL-C statuses. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 1686 elevated LDL-C participants (13.2%) and 5252 non-elevated LDL-C participants (10.5%) developed ASCVD. In the borderline-high LDL-C group (3.4 ≤ LDL-C < 4.1 mmol/L), those with the lowest RC levels showed no significant risk difference compared with controls (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.93-1.13]), and this pattern remained consistent across different sexes and ages. In contrast, in the high LDL-C group (LDL-C ≥4.1 mmol/L), even when RC was at the lowest level, ASCVD risk remained significantly higher than that of controls (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.02-1.41]). CONCLUSIONS: In the borderline-high LDL-C population, those with the lowest RC levels showed no significant risk difference compared with controls, and this pattern remained consistent across different sexes and age subgroups. In the high LDL-C population, even when RC was at the lowest level, ASCVD risk remained significantly higher than that of controls.

General Anesthesia Versus Conscious Sedation For Mechanical Thrombectomy In Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke In The Most Trial, Umeshkumar Athiraman, Akash Roy, Andrew Barreto, Joseph Broderick, Colin Derdeyn, Jordan Elm, James C Grotta, James Ingles, Achala Vagal, Max Wintermark, Opeolu Adeoye

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have supported the use of conscious sedation (CS) for endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and associated general anesthesia (GA) with poor functional outcomes. Recently, few randomized controlled trials have shown no difference in the functional outcomes between GA and CS. The aim of this paper is to compare the outcomes of GA versus CS in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in the MOST (Multi-arm Optimization of Stroke Thrombolysis) trial.

METHODS: Patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke under GA or CS in the MOST trial were included. The …

Community Engagement And Implementation Science: A Hermeneutic Review For Implementation Scientists, Minh X Nguyen, Zhuoheng Yin, Ye Liu, Cory D Bradley, Elvin Geng, Mayuko Itofukunaga, Nyanyiwe M Mbeye, Rayner K J Tan, Sherika Hanley, Radhika Sundararajan, Joseph D Tucker

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Community engagement is increasingly part of implementation research. However, some implementation scientists are less familiar with how to use community engagement approaches in implementation research. This hermeneutic review explores the gaps in community engagement within implementation research and examines community engagement approaches for implementation researchers.

METHODS: We conducted a hermeneutic review to synthesize information in the literature on community engagement in implementation research. We searched PubMed related to community engagement and implementation research. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were published in English, had full-text available and were likely to add meaning and valuable insights to address our …

Accurate Interpretation Of Within-Host Dissemination Using Barcoded Bacteria, Rachel T Giorgio, My T Le, Ting Zhang, Caitlyn L Holmes, Karthik Hullahalli

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Bacterial dissemination across tissues is a critically important process influencing infection outcomes. Monitoring within-host dissemination is challenging because conventional measures of bulk bacterial burden cannot distinguish between lineages that are shared between tissues and those that replicate locally. This limitation can be overcome using barcoded bacteria, where deep sequencing of the barcode locus and comparisons of barcodes between tissues define which lineages spread within the host. Numerous studies have used barcoded bacteria to generate high-resolution maps of dissemination. However, since multiple cells in the infectious inoculum can contain identical barcodes, inferences about dissemination can be confounded when distinct lineages from …

Associations Between The Microbiome And Immune Responses To An Adenovirus-Based Hiv-1 Candidate Vaccine Are Distinct Between African And Us Cohorts, Yuhao Li, Daniel J Stieh, Lindsay Droit, Andrew Hyoungjin Kim, Rachel Rodgers, Kathie A Mihindukulasuriya, Leran Wang, Maria G Pau, Olive Yuan, Herbert W Virgin, Dan H Barouch, Megan T Baldridge, Scott A Handley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Optimization of prophylactic vaccine regimens to elicit strong, long-lasting immunity is an urgent need highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stronger vaccine immunogenicity is frequently reported in individuals living in high-income countries compared to individuals living in low- and middle-income countries. While numerous host genetic and immune factors may influence vaccine responses, geographic restrictions to vaccine effectiveness may also be influenced by the intestinal microbiota, which modulates host immune systems. However, the potential role of the gut microbiota on responses to HIV-1 vaccines has not yet been explored. We analyzed the bacteriome by targeted 16S sequencing and the virome by virus-like …

Variable And Conserved Features Of Copy-Back Viral Genome Populations Generated De Novo During Sendai Virus Infection, Yanling Yang, Yuchen Wang, Carolina B López

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Copy-back viral genomes (cbVGs) are generated during the replication of negative-sense RNA viruses when the polymerase drops off from the genome and reattaches to the nascent strand. cbVGs have strong immunostimulatory properties and impact infection outcomes. Despite their importance, the composition and mechanisms of

Engineering Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cd4 T Cells For Alzheimer's Disease, Pavle Boskovic, Rotem Shalita, Wenqing Gao, Hailey Vernon, Yu Lin Deng, Marco Colonna, Robbie G Majzner, Ido Amit, Jonathan Kipnis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the prevailing cause of age-associated dementia worldwide. Current standard of care relies on antibody-based immunotherapy. However, antibody-based approaches carry risks for patients, and their effects on cognition are marginal. Increasing evidence suggests that T cells contribute to AD onset and progression. Unlike the cytotoxic effects of CD8

Cannabis And Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, And Legalization Support, Carla J Berg, Cassidy R Loparco, Darcey M Mccready, Laura C Schubel, Patricia A Cavazos-Rehg, Erin Kasson, Shriya Thakkar, Diane M Ndisebuye, Y Tony Yang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This study assessed the correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among young adults in the United States (US). Using 2025 data among adults ages 18-34 (

Larval Zebrafish Minimize Energy Consumption During Hunting Via Adaptive Movement Selection, Thomas Darveniza, Robert Wong, Shuyu I Zhu, Zac Pujic, Biao Sun, Matthew Levendosky, Ramesh Agarwal, Michael H Mccullough, Geoffrey J Goodhill

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Animals must balance behavioral goals with the energetic costs of movement. How such trade-offs are implemented algorithmically during natural behavior, and how they adapt to changing energetic constraints, remains poorly understood. Here we show that larval zebrafish adjust their motor strategies during prey hunting to minimize energy expenditure. Using high-speed video tracking and 3D computational fluid dynamics simulations, we quantified the energy costs (in Joules) of different movement types across three developmental stages. While the structure of discrete movement types ("bouts") remained stable with age, their selection probabilities changed depending on their energetic cost, such that more expensive bouts were …

02-17-26 Bor Hsc Committee Meeting Minutes, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

02-17-26 BOR HSC Committee Meeting Minutes

Ns5-Targeting Nucleoside Analogs Inhibit Dengue Virus And Other Flaviviruses, Priyanka Bhakt, Swechha Pokharel, Yue Li, Tamanna Srivastava, Jesse Miller, Mark Dittmar, Yongqing Zhu, David Nguyen, Zachary Walter, Kasirajan Ayyanathan, Matthew Tudor, Chenguang Yu, Arnab Chatterjee, Holly Ramage, David Schultz, Sara Cherry

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that circulates globally as four distinct serotypes and poses a substantial threat to public health. There are an estimated ~96 million symptomatic infections yearly, including severe cases of dengue fever, underscoring the urgency of identifying effective therapeutics targeting all four serotypes. Nucleoside analogs, which mimic endogenous nucleosides to inhibit viral RNA replication, offer a promising strategy for broad-spectrum antiviral development. Here, we conducted a high-throughput screen of 1,101 nucleoside analogs against DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) in a panel of human cell models, including human epithelial cells, hepatocytes, and fibroblasts. Candidates that were active …

Neurophysiological Connectomic Signatures Of Consciousness During Propofol-Induced General Anesthesia, Yuqin Li, Xiaoxiao Chen, Hui Zheng, Senqi Li, Qingyu Teng, Chengyu Wang, Fali Li, Zhongcong Xie, Daniel Sessler, Zhe Zhang, Peng Xu, Ti-Fei Yuan, Tao Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

General anesthesia induces reversible changes in consciousness through cortical activity and connectivity alterations, yet the functional connectome dynamics underlying propofol-induced unconsciousness remains unclear. We analyze high-density 128-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) from 31 surgical patients using source localization to identify neurobiological connectome signatures of propofol anesthesia. Propofol anesthesia increases delta and theta functional connectivity and decreases alpha, beta, and gamma connectivity. A classification model and dynamic analysis of consciousness loss reveals that alpha-band connectivity between parietal, occipital, and subcortical regions is critical for sustaining consciousness, with its disruption marking a key transition to unconsciousness. EEG from 46 additional patients under mild sedation …

Managing Acute Myocardial Infarction In Remote Oman: Real-World Data From Al Wusta Governorate, Thuraiya Malik Abdullah Al Harthi, Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Amin Elbanna, Karema Hamed, Mohammed Abushilla, Venkatesh Kumar, Maryam Al Nabhani, Hasina Al Harthi, Abdulmunim Al Farsi, Adil Al Mahrouqi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a time-sensitive cardiac emergency requiring prompt reperfusion therapy. Management and outcomes in remote areas are underexplored. This study explored the STEMI reperfusion network in Al Wusta governorate in Oman and evaluated the effectiveness of pharmacological thrombolysis in general practitioner (GP)-led, resource-limited hospitals. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed administrative health registries and medical records of patients presenting with STEMI to hospitals in the Al Wusta governorate between June 2017 and December 2024. Response to thrombolysis was defined as 50% resolution of ST-segment on electrocardiogram. Outcomes post-thrombolysis were prespecified. Multivariate logistic regression was used …

Artificial Intelligence Versus Human Dental Expertise In Diagnosing Periapical Pathosis On Periapical Radiographs: A Multicenter Study, Fatma E.A Hassanen, Radwa R. Hussein, Mohamed Riad Elgarhy, Shaymaa Mohamed Maher, Marwa Ezz, Ahmed Hassen, Sherif Heidar, Amr Edress, Asmaa Abou-Bakr

Dentistry

Periapical pathosis in periapical radiographs must be properly diagnosed for the success of endodontic treatment but is often muddled by 2D imaging limitations and subjective interpretation. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a solution, but whether the diagnostic granularity of AI versus human clinicians in everyday clinical practice has been adequately explored remains to be addressed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT-5 in detecting periapical radiographic abnormalities compared with the three-expert consensus reference standard. Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy retrospective study, 270 periapical radiographs were independently read by a large language model (ChatGPT-5) and a …

Improving Medication Adherence Of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics In Schizophrenia Through Staff Education, Rosemary Eboka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was developed as a staff education, evidence-based quality improvement project to enhance psychiatric nursing staff’s knowledge of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. The project addressed variability in medication adherence among individuals with schizophrenia, despite evidence that use of LAIs reduces relapses and hospitalization. Nurses play a critical role in medication administration, patient education, and adherence monitoring, underscoring the importance of addressing knowledge gaps. The project question was: Does staff education on LAIs for outpatient psychiatric nursing staff improve nursing knowledge compared to pre- to post-education? The purpose of the project was to assess the …

Evaluating The American Society Of Hematology Quality Measure On Timeliness Of Analgesics For Sickle Cell Disease Pain Crisis, Ibrahim Gwarzo, Harish Chandra Dega, Paula Tanabe, Robin Miller, David C. Brousseau

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) proposed the median time to first emergency department (ED) administration of pain medication for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) vaso-occlusive pain episodes (VOE) as a site-level quality measure. Generalizable studies assessing current guideline adherence recommending pain medications within 60 minutes are lacking. We leveraged multisite electronic health record data from Epic's Cosmos research platform to analyze ED encounters for SCD VOE from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2024, with administration of at least 1 pain medication. We calculated the quality measure (median time to first pain medication) and ranked sites based on …

Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials: 2025, Amanda M. Leisgang Osse, Yadi Zhou, Jefferson W. Kinney, Andrew Hooyman, Ayan Sengupta, Jorge Fonseca, Aaron H. Burstein, Laura Nisenbaum, Howard M. Fillit, Feixiong Cheng, Jeffrey L. Cummings

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Biomarkers play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials in several contexts of use, including defining trial eligibility and serving as outcome measures. Utilizing clinicaltrials.gov, a registry of clinical trials, we assessed biomarker usage across all active AD disease-targeted therapeutic (DTT) trials. Biomarkers are widely used in AD DTT trials, with 84% including a fluid, imaging, and/or digital biomarker, either as an inclusion criterion or as an outcome measure. In DTT trials, biomarkers were included in 83% of Phase 3 trials, 91% of Phase 2 trials, and 72% of Phase 1 trials. Biomarkers were used for trial inclusion …

Search Techniques In Pubmed, Kristin Kroger

Library Learn - Complete Video Collection

This recording provides an overview of essential PubMed search techniques to develop a structured search strategy, integrate MeSH terms with keywords, refine and manage results, access full‑text articles, and make use of key My NCBI features to streamline ongoing research.

A Project Proposal For Discharge Strategies For Unhoused Patients, Heidi Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project is a practice-focused executive leadership proposal addressing inconsistent discharge planning for unhoused surgical patients in an acute care hospital. Unhoused patients experience disproportionately poor outcomes, including prolonged length of stay, elevated 30-day readmission rates, and fragmented transitions of care. The practice-focused question guiding this project asks whether development of a standardized, housing-informed discharge planning program could improve transitions of care and reduce length of stay and readmissions when compared with current nonstandardized practices. Analytical strategies included synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, review of internal quality and utilization data, assessment of community-level housing instability trends, and …

The Relationship Between Social Determinants And Primary Care Utilization Among Medicaid Recipients In A Managed Care Community Health Worker Program, Rachel Elaine Rosensteel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community health worker (CHW) programs are an increasingly important strategy for addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) within Medicaid systems. However, evidence on how specific SDOH impact healthcare utilization remains limited. In this quantitative, correlational study, the relationship between SDOH factors like housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation barriers, and primary care utilization among adult Medicaid recipients aged 18–65 who participated in a Medicaid managed care organization’s CHW program in Clark County, Nevada, during 2023 were examined. Retrospective administrative data from 441 participants were analyzed using negative binomial regression to assess associations between SDOH factors and postintervention primary care visits …

Telepsychiatry Follow-Up To Reduce Emergency Department Visits In Adults With Bipolar Disorder, Obianuju Tobechukwu Ibe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project involved the development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for implementing structured telepsychiatry follow-up visits to reduce relapse rates and emergency department (ED) use among adults with bipolar disorder. The project addressed the growing need for accessible, evidence-based psychiatric follow-up care, particularly for patients facing barriers to consistent in-person visits. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In adults with bipolar disorder, how do structured telepsychiatry follow-up visits, compared with in-person visits, affect relapse rates and Ed utilization? A systematic review and critical appraisal of current evidence were conducted using the Johns Hopkins …

Lipidomic Profiles Associated With Treatment Related Hepatotoxicity In Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia., Emily J Mason, Jeremy M Schraw, John P Woodhouse, M Monica Gramatges, Kevin J Williams, Baojiang Chen, Melissa B Harrell, Olga A Taylor, Michael E Scheurer, Philip J Lupo, Karen R Rabin, Joanna S Yi, Van Huynh, Steven D Mittelman, Etan Orgel, Austin Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can result in hepatotoxicity. Despite being a common complication of ALL therapy, mechanisms and biomarkers of treatment-associated hepatotoxicity (TAH) are not well described.

Methods: We conducted lipidomic profiling to identify plasma lipids associated with TAH in children receiving ALL therapy utilizing a nested case-control framework. TAH was defined as (1) transaminitis: ALT/AST ≥ CTCAE grade 3, and/or (2) conjugated hyperbilirubinemia: > 3.0 mg/dL during induction therapy or > 2.0 mg/dL post induction. A total of 90 patients (45 matched pairs) treated at Texas Children's Hospital between 2012 and 2021 were selected for lipidomic profiling, …

Spatiotemporal Histogenesis Of The Developing Human Cerebellum Reveals Dynamic Layering Of Bergmann Glia, Guanyi He, Simon Du, Henry Tan, Sri Yellampally, Anders W Erickson, Virginia Fernandez, Ferechte Encha-Razavi, Kimberley A Phillips, Christine Haberler, Nicole Amberg, Victor Borrell, Paul A Northcott, Michael D Taylor, Kathleen J Millen, Parthiv Haldipur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bergmann glia (BG) are a specialized glial population essential for cerebellar development, yet their developmental timeline and molecular identity in the human cerebellum remain poorly understood. Here, we combined detailed histopathological analysis with spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA sequencing to generate a developmental atlas of human cerebellar BG. Histology revealed that BG emerge around 11 post-conception weeks (PCW), initially serving as a scaffold for Purkinje cells (PCs) migrating into the PC layer of the cerebellar cortex. Following the establishment of a multilayered PC arrangement, BG form a distinct parallel layer separated from the PCs by the lamina dissecans (LD), with …

Community-Associated Quinolone-Resistant And Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia Coli Isolates Are Similar To Clinical Infection Isolates By Sequence Type And Resistome, Emily E Benedict, Wesley Agee, Tiffany Hink, Katelyn L Parrish, Kimberly A Reske, Kate Peacock, Rachel E Bosserman, Alyssa Valencia, Akshay Saluja, Elianora Ovchiyan, Olivia Arter, Kevin Jolani, Erik R Dubberke, Gautam Dantas, Jennie H Kwon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Lymphatic Pumping Failure In The Arm Precedes Dermal Backflow And Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema, Melissa B Aldrich, Meghan E Mcwain, Simona F Shaitelman, Rian E Kuhns, John C Rasmussen, Wendy A Woodward, Sarah M Desnyder, Wenyaw Chan, Eva M Sevick-Muraca

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Background

Breast cancer patients who undergo regional nodal irradiation therapy (RNI) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy or lumpectomy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) frequently encounter breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). Early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. Previously, near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRF-LI) detection of dermal backflow, or retrograde lymphatic flow into initial lymphatics, was shown to precede clinical BCRL diagnosis by 8–23 months. Herein, we hypothesize that lymphatic pump failure is responsible for dermal backflow and may be a target to prevent onset of BCRL symptoms.

Methods

Arm lymphatics in 51 patients with locally advanced breast cancer were …

S6k1 Modulates Stat3 Activation To Promote Resistance To Radiotherapy In Lung Cancer, Ali Calderon-Aparicio, Noelle Francois, Tyler Grenda, Shan Xu, Olugbenga Okusanya, Jun He, Nicole L Simone

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Radiotherapy is a mainstay in the management of locally advanced lung cancer; however, intrinsic and acquired radioresistance contribute to poor prognosis. S6K1, a serine/threonine kinase, regulates cell growth, protein synthesis, and survival, and is increased in tumors, which is linked to enhanced survival under therapeutic stress, including radiation. The mechanisms, however, are not fully understood. This study investigates the role of S6K1 in lung cancer radioresistance and the mechanisms involved. Intrinsic radioresistance in lung cancer cells was associated with increased S6K1 activation. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic deletion of S6K1 enhanced radiosensitivity both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting the therapeutic …