Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Development Of Feature Extraction Models To Improve Image Analysis Applications In Cancer, Yu Shi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Cancer poses a significant global health challenge. With an estimated 20 million new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2022 and 9.7 million fatalities attributable to the disease, the economic burden of cancer is immense. It impacts healthcare systems and imposes substantial costs for its care on patients and their families. Despite advancements in early detection, prevention, and treatment that have reduced overall cancer mortality rates, the growing prevalence of cancer, particularly among younger individuals, remains a pressing issue.

Recent advancements in medical imaging technology have progressed significantly with the help of emerging computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Despite these …

High Prevalence Of Artifacts In Optical Coherence Tomography With Adequate Signal Strength, Wei-Chun Lin, Aaron Coyner, Charles Amankwa, Abigail Lucero, Gadi Wollstein, Joel Schuman, Hiroshi Ishikawa

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of artifacts in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images with acceptable signal strength and evaluate the performance of supervised deep learning models in improving OCT image quality assessment.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 4555 OCT images from 546 patients, with each image having an acceptable signal strength (≥6). A comprehensive analysis of prevalent OCT artifacts was performed, and five pretrained convolutional neural network models were trained and tested to infer images based on quality.

RESULTS: Our results showed a high prevalence of artifacts in OCT images with acceptable signal strength. Approximately …

Nanoparticle-Based Approaches To Brain Injury And Studies For Improved Detectability Toward Better Delivery Characterization, Hunter A. Miller

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The clinical translation of nanoparticle (NP) therapeutics for brain injury has been slow despite preclinical promise. The causes of disconnect between preclinical and clinical outcomes is multifactorial, but insufficient delivery is noteworthy. Preclinical delivery characterization often lacks, obscuring mechanisms of failure, slowing development. Multimodal imaging is a promising strategy to improve delivery characterization, combining the strengths of various modalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and luminescence imaging are a suitable combination for multimodal imaging, expanding the spatial and temporal resolution of either alone, but further material development is needed to enhance detectability. One problem is the interference of cellular autofluorescence in …

Application Of Geographic Information Systems (Gis) In The Study Of Prostate Cancer Disparities: A Systematic Review, Christiane J. El Khoury

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Introduction: PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, inconsistencies in their application exist. This systematic review will summarize GIS application within PCa disparities research, highlight gaps in the literature, and propose alternative approaches. Methods: This paper followed the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the criteria set of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in peer-reviewed journals were searched through …

Social Vulnerabilities In Head-Neck Melanoma Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study In The United States, Lillian Mccampbell, David Jun Fei-Zhang, Daniel Chelius, Ling-Lun Bob Hsia, Robert Dellavalle, Jill D'Souza, David Bentrem, Jeffrey Wayne, Jeffrey Rastatter, Anthony Sheyn

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Studies addressing social determinants of health (SDH) in head-neck melanomas (HNM) have only assessed socioeconomic factor impact but not a wider scope of SDH. OBJECTIVE: Utilizing the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), to assess the influence of specific SDH and their quantifiable associations with HNM management disparities across the varied community contexts in the United States. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed adults diagnosed with HNM from 1975 to 2017 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database. RESULTS: A total of 374,138 HNM in adults from 1975 to 2017 were assessed for disparities affiliated with increasing overall vulnerability/SVI …

Transcriptomic Features Associated To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response In Four Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes, Hedda Michelle Guevara-Nieto, Rafael Parra-Medina, Carlos Alberto Orozca, Alejandro Mejia-Garcia, Jovanny Zabaleta, Liliana Lopez-Kleine, Alba Lucia Combita-Rojas

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

12th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research, Virtual, May 5 - 9, 2024

Self-Harm In Female Youth With Undiagnosed Adhd: Implementing American Academy Of Pediatrics Screening Guidelines, Roselie M. Woodard

Dissertations

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. If undiagnosed or untreated, ADHD can lead to severe psychosocial issues such as academic failure, substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and incarceration. The financial burden in the U.S. from diagnostic errors creates an immense, rising fiscal impact. Early diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent these complications.

Females with ADHD, particularly those with the inattentive subtype, often face diagnostic challenges due to symptom masking and over-compensation. This results in poorer cognitive functioning and self-esteem compared to males with ADHD. ADHD is linked to autonomic nervous …

Roles Of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2s) As A Potential Therapeutic Agent In Cardiovascular Diseases: A Narrative Review, Kazi N. Islam, Ivan D. Nguyen, Rahib Islam, Humza Pirzadah, Hassan Malik

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) stands as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the continued search for novel therapeutics is vital for addressing this global health challenge. Over the past decade, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has garnered significant attention in the field of medical research, as it has been proven to be a cardioprotective gaseous signaling molecule. It joins nitric oxide and carbon monoxide as endogenously produced gasotransmitters. As for its mechanism, H₂S functions through the posttranslational addition of a sulfur group to cysteine residues on target proteins in a process called sulfhydration. As a result, the observed …

Enhancing Neoadjuvant Virotherapy's Effectiveness By Targeting Stroma To Improve Resectability In Pancreatic Cancer, Khandoker Usran Ferdous, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Aleksandra Cios, Randal S. Shelton, Conner Hartupee, Alicja Urbaniak, Jean Christopher Chamcheu, Michail N. Mavros, Emmanouil Giorgakis, Bahaa Mustafa, Camila C. Simoes, Isabelle R. Miousse, Alexei G. Basnakian, Omeed Moaven, Steven R. Post, Martin J. Cannon, Thomas Kelly, Bolni Marius Nagalo

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

About one-fourth of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are categorized as borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have not yielded the anticipated outcomes in curing patients with BR/LA PDAC. The surgical resection of these tumors presents challenges owing to the unpredictability of the resection margin, involvement of vasculature with the tumor, the likelihood of occult metastasis, a higher ratio of positive lymph nodes, and the relatively larger size of tumor nodules. Oncolytic virotherapy has shown promising activity in preclinical PDAC models. Unfortunately, the desmoplastic stroma within the PDAC tumor microenvironment establishes a barrier, hindering …

Health Disparities In Cervical Cancer: Estimating Geographic Variations Of Disease Burden And Association With Key Socioeconomic And Demographic Factors In The Us, Tara Castellano, Andrew K. Elhabr, Christina Washington, Jie Ting, Yitong J. Zhang, Fernanda Musa, Ezgi Berksoy, Kathleen Moore, Leslie Randall, Jagpreet Chhatwal, Turgay Ayer, Charles A. Leath

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in cervical cancer (CC) prevention, detection, and treatment in the US, health disparities persist, disproportionately affecting underserved populations or regions. This study analyzes the geographical distribution of both CC and recurrent/metastatic CC (r/mCC) in the US and explores potential risk factors of higher disease burden to inform potential strategies to address disparities in CC and r/mCC. METHODS: We estimated CC screening rates, as well as CC burden (number of patients with CC diagnosis per 100,000 eligible enrollees) and r/mCC burden (proportion of CC patients receiving systemic therapy not in conjunction with surgery or radiation), at the geographic …

The Evolving Use Of Gold Nanoparticles As A Possible Reversal Agent For The Symptoms Of Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Narrative Review, Alan D. Kaye, Kelly R. Sala, Drew Dethloff, Matthew Norton, Corey Moss, Michael J. Plessala, Alyssa G. Derouen, Yair Lopez Torres, Julian Kim, Sridhar Tirumala, Sahar Shekoohi, Giustino Varrassi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Neurodegenerative diseases are broadly hallmarked by impaired energy metabolism and toxic intracellular accumulations such as damaged organelles or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Gold nanoparticles readily cross the blood-brain barrier and increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen (NADH) oxidation to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is vital for intracellular energy generation, cellular repair, and protection from ROS. Thus, the use of gold nanoparticles to treat and potentially reverse cellular injury seen in neurodegenerative disease has been an area of ongoing research. This systematic review explores current literature regarding the use of gold nanoparticle therapy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such …

Qualitative Interviews Exploring Adverse Event Mitigation Strategies In Adults Receiving Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension, Juzar Ali, Jasmanda Wu, Mariam Hassan, Jui-Hua Tsai, Nancy Touba, Kelly Mccarrier, Mark Ballard, Anjan Chatterjee

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study aimed to gain insight from patients with refractory Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD) into strategies used to manage adverse events (AEs) associated with amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS). Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with US patients with refractory MAC-LD prescribed ALIS in a real-world setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed and coded to identify patterns in participants’ descriptions of their ALIS treatment experiences, including AEs and their disruptiveness, and AE mitigation strategies, including participants’ ratings of strategies’ effectiveness. Concept saturation was also assessed. Results: Twenty participants (mean age 48.7 years; 80% women; mean ALIS duration 5.45 months) …

Rare Causes Of Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: A Case Series Of Adult Duodenal And Jejunal Gastric Heterotopia, Venkata Vinod Matli, John Kirkikis, Gregory Wellman, Dustin Hadley, Ross M. Dies, David F. Dies

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Gastric heterotopia (GH) is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. GH of the small bowel is rare, and the duodenum is more commonly involved than the jejunum. Here, we present five cases of GH involving the duodenum and jejunum, with presentations including gastrointestinal bleeding, symptomatic anemia, and no symptoms. A 63-year-old man presented with melenic stools but could not identify an obvious bleeding source during endoscopy. He was ultimately diagnosed with jejunal GH. A 70-year-old woman with melena and severe anemia had a duodenal bulb mass detected during endoscopy, which was histopathologically diagnosed as GH. A 54-year-old woman experienced nausea, …

Histopathology Imaging And Clinical Data Including Remission Status In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chloe Martin-King, Ali Nael, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Blake Calvo, Quinn Gates, Jamie Janchoi, Elisa Ornelas, Melissa Perez, Andrea Venderby, John Miklavcic, Peter Chang, Aaron Sassoon, Kenneth Grant

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing annually. Children with IBD often suffer significant morbidity due to physical and emotional effects of the disease and treatment. Corticosteroids, often a component of therapy, carry undesirable side effects with long term use. Steroid-free remission has become a standard for care-quality improvement. Anticipating therapeutic outcomes is difficult, with treatments often leveraged in a trial-and-error fashion. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated success in medical imaging classification tasks. Predicting patients who will attain remission will help inform treatment decisions. The provided dataset comprises 951 tissue section scans (167 whole-slides) obtained from 18 pediatric …

Splenic Artery Embolization In The Treatment Of Blunt Splenic Injury: Single Level 1 Trauma Center Experience, Katelyn Gill, Sarah Aleman, Alexandra H. Fairchild, Bahri Üstünsöz, Dan Laney, Alison A. Smith, Hector Ferral

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: To describe the experience of a single level 1 trauma center in the management of blunt splenic injuries (BSI). METHODS: This is a retrospective study with Institutional Review Board approval. The medical records of 450 patients with BSI treated between January 2016 and December 2022 were reviewed. Seventy-two patients were treated with splenic artery embolization (SAE), met the study criteria, and were eligible for data analysis. Spleen injuries were graded in accordance with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Organ Injury Scale. Univariate data analysis was performed, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The splenic salvage rate was 90.3% (n = 65/72). Baseline demographics were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). Distal embolization with Gelfoam had similar rates …

Toward The Development Of A Pan-Lyssavirus Vaccine, Sabrine Ben Hamed, Jacob Myers, Anisha Chandwani, Christoph Wirblich, Drishya Kurup, Nir Paran, Matthias Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

In addition to the rabies virus (RABV), 16 more lyssavirus species have been identified worldwide, causing a disease similar to RABV. Non-rabies-related human deaths have been described, but the number of cases is unknown, and the potential of such lyssaviruses causing human disease is unpredictable. The current rabies vaccine does not protect against divergent lyssaviruses such as Mokola virus (MOKV) or Lagos bat virus (LBV). Thus, a more broad pan-lyssavirus vaccine is needed. Here, we evaluate a novel lyssavirus vaccine with an attenuated RABV vector harboring a chimeric RABV glycoprotein (G) in which the antigenic site I of MOKV replaces …

Comprehensive Considerations For Dermatologists: The Application Of Fdg-Pet In Evaluating Cutaneous Lesions In Pediatric Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Sahithi Talasila, Eric M. Teichner, Robert C. Subtirelu, Naga Chaitanya P. Talasila, Sricharvi Mannam, Thomas Werner, Abass Alavi, Mona-Elisabeth Revheim

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a complex disorder characterized by the clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells, primarily affecting children and adolescents. This condition exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Cutaneous manifestations of LCH are significant, mimicking common dermatoses and posing diagnostic challenges. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) has emerged as an important tool in the evaluation of pediatric LCH, offering insights into disease activity, extent, and therapeutic response. Moreover, FDG-PET provides a non-invasive means to distinguish between active LCH skin lesions and other dermatological conditions with similar clinical appearances, enhancing diagnostic …

Ekg Is Key: A Quality Improvement Project To Decrease Door-To-Ekg Time In A Rural Emergency Department, Amanda Southwell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the priority when evaluating patients with chest pain who present to the Emergency Department (ED). The American Heart Association and other governing bodies suggest a 10-minute door-to-EKG (DTE) time. The target facility displayed a delay in DTE times.

Purpose: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to decrease the average DTE time for patients over 18 years old with chest pain who presented to the ED registration area.

Methods: The DNP project consisted of an EKG suite to perform EKGs near the ED registration/triage area. Registration and ED staff were educated on …

Data-Driven Drug Repurposing For Immune System-Related Diseases, Sabyasachi Mohanty

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this research, we explore a data-driven approach for drug repurposing to enhance the immunomodulatory effect by integrating pattern-based search and genome-scale metabolic modeling. This research helps to find a solution to the preexisting problems of drug discovery which includes expenses and a high amount of time consumption. By leveraging the pre-existing data of the approved drugs to identify the major metabolic pathway changes, we can find new drugs with similar effects with less off-target effects.

The focus on the immune system modulating drugs is due to the high prevalence of immune system-involved diseases and the growing demand for effective …

Development Of A Durable And Low-Dose Universal Vaccine Against Swine Influenza A Virus, Erika Petro-Turnquist

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Swine Influenza A Virus (IAV-S) imposes a significant burden on the pork industry and poses a great threat to public health due to its zoonotic potential. Susceptibility to human, avian, and swine influenza make pigs the ultimate mixing vessels for reassorted influenza A virus strains. Current vaccination strategies induce short-lived and strain-specific responses against IAV-S. Further, the substantial genetic diversity of IAV-S necessitates consistent revaccination and updating of commercial vaccines. Computational platforms have recently emerged as a promising strategy to develop new-age vaccines against infectious diseases in livestock animals. Here, we describe a computationally derived set of vaccine immunogens, called …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signs Of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Dagmar Beier, Johanne Juhl Korsbæk, Gabriel Bsteh, Stefan Macher, Wolfgang Marik, Berthold Pemp, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Areeba Nisar, Lisbeth Høgedal, Laleh Dehghani Molander, Snorre Malm Hagen, Christoph Patrick Beier, Simon Bang Kristensen, Rigmor Højland Jensen

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria currently used to diagnose idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are based on expert opinion and have limited accuracy. Additional neuroimaging signs have been proposed and used with contradictory results; thus, prospective evidence is needed to improve diagnostic accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based, accurate MRI signs for IIH diagnosis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2018 to May 2021 with 3 validation cohorts at 2 Danish headache centers and with 3 independent international cohorts. Consecutive patients with suspected IIH were enrolled. Eligibility required the clinical suspicion of IIH, age …

Mhealth-Based Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention To Improve The Physical Activity Levels Of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Rachel Carey, Ha Le, Donna Coffman, Inbal Nahum-Shani, Mohanraj Thirumalai, Cole Hagen, Laura Baehr, M. Schmidt-Read, Marlyn Lamboy, Stephanie A Kolakowsky-Hayner, Ralph Marino, Stephen Intille, Shivayogi Hiremath

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

BACKGROUND: The lack of regular physical activity (PA) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States is an ongoing health crisis. Regular PA and exercise-based interventions have been linked with improved outcomes and healthier lifestyles among those with SCI. Providing people with an accurate estimate of their everyday PA level can promote PA. Furthermore, PA tracking can be combined with mobile health technology such as smartphones and smartwatches to provide a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) for individuals with SCI as they go about everyday life. A JITAI can prompt an individual to set a PA goal or …

The Effects Of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation On Pain And Function In Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Critically Appraised Topic, P. Drake Short, Rileigh T. Ricken, Jennifer L. Volberding

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition that impacts upwards of 40% of patients over the age of 70, and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is a common treatment protocol. To date, there is no consensus on the effectiveness of TENS as a modality for knee OA. Thus, this critically appraised topic (CAT) aims to determine the impact of TENS on the pain and functional outcome of patients with knee OA. Methods: To assess the therapeutic efficacy of TENS, a systematic search of the available literature was conducted, focusing on pain and function in knee osteoarthritis. Online databases were searched …

Real-Life Experience On The Effect Of Sglt2 Inhibitors Vs. Finerenone Vs. Combination On Albuminuria In Chronic Kidney Disease, Mohamad Hanouneh, Dustin Le, Bernard G. Jaar, Christina Tamargo, C. Elena Cervantes

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There have been several recent advances in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including the use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). There are very few data reporting the outcomes of these treatments in real-world experience. The aim of this retrospective study is to report the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, finerenone, and their combination in CKD patients in our community-based setting.

METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with CKD with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 25 and 90 mL/min per 1.73 m² and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ …

Bd Vaginal Panel Assay Results On The High-Throughput Bd Cor System Compared To The Bd Max System, Elizabeth Stonebraker, Wallace Greene, Stephanie N. Taylor, Catherine L. Cammarata, April Bobenchik, Elizabeth Lockamy

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Molecular-based assays demonstrate excellent sensitivity for the detection of vaginitis causes. Here, the high-throughput BD Vaginal Panel for BD COR System (VP-COR) performance was compared to that of the predicate, BD MAX Vaginal Panel for BD MAX System (VP-MAX). Clinical or contrived samples were used to determine the agreement between VP-COR and VP-MAX. Acceptance criteria for VP-COR agreement were as follows: bacterial vaginosis (BV) required a positive percent agreement (PPA) point estimate of ≥ 95% and a negative percent agreement (NPA) point estimate of ≥ 98%; Candida group, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) required a PPA and …

Altered Extracellular Matrix Correlates With An Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment And Disease Progression In Younger Adults With Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Leonard Estephan, Gaurav Kumar, Matthew Stewart, Raphael Banoub, Alban Linnenbach, Larry Harshyne, Ubaldo Martinez-Outshoorn, My Mahoney, Joseph Curry, Jennifer Johnson, Andrew South, Adam Luginbuhl

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) occurs most frequently in patients >60 years old with a history of tobacco and alcohol use. Epidemiological studies describe increased incidence of OSCC in younger adults (years). Despite its poor prognosis, knowledge of OSCC tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics in younger adults is scarce and could help inform possible resistance to emerging treatment options.

METHODS: Patients with OSCC were evaluated using TCGA-HNSC (n=121) and a stage and subsite-matched institutional cohort (n=8) to identify differential gene expression focusing on the extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes in younger (≤45 years) vs. older adults …

Clinical Trial Recruitment Of People Who Speak Languages Other Than English: A Children's Oncology Group Report, Melissa P. Beauchemin, Maria Ortega, Sheila J. Santacroce, Joanna M. Robles, Jenny Ruiz, Anurekha G. Hall, Justine M. Kahn, Cecilia Fu, Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, Grace C. Hillyer, Samrawit Solomon, Wendy Pelletier, Raul Montiel-Esparza, Lindsay J. Blazin, Cassie Kline, Alix E. Seif, Paula Aristizabal, Lena E. Winestone, Maria C. Velez

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Persons who speak languages other than English are underrepresented in clinical trials, likely in part because of inadequate multilevel resources. We conducted a survey of institutions affiliated with the Children's Oncology Group (COG) to characterize current research recruitment practices and resources regarding translation and interpretation services. METHODS: In October 2022, a 20-item survey was distributed electronically to institutions affiliated with COG to assess consent practices and resources for recruiting participants who speak languages other than English to COG trials. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses; responses were compared by institution size and type as well as respondent role. …

Mechanistic Study Of Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Cyclic Amphipathic Peptide [R4W4] Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Clinical Isolates, Ajayi David Akinwale, Keykavous Parang, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Jason Yamaki

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being explored as a potential strategy to combat antibiotic resistance due to their ability to reduce susceptibility to antibiotics. This study explored whether the [R₄W₄] peptide mode of action is bacteriostatic or bactericidal using modified two-fold serial dilution and evaluating the synergism between gentamicin and [R₄W₄] against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by a checkered board assay. [R₄W₄] exhibited bactericidal activity against bacterial isolates (MBC/MIC ≤ 4), with a synergistic effect with gentamicin against E. coli (FICI = 0.3) but …

An Exploratory Analysis Of Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Physical Functional Impairment In Icu Survivors, Megan A. Watson, Marie Sandi, Johanna Bixby, Grace Perry, Patrick J. Offner, Ellen L. Burnham, Sarah E. Jolley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Physical functional impairment is one of three components of postintensive care syndrome (PICS) that affects up to 60% of ICU survivors. OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of objective physical functional impairment among a diverse cohort of ICU survivors, both at discharge and longitudinally, and to highlight sociodemographic factors that might be associated with the presence of objective physical functional impairment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a secondary analysis of 37 patients admitted to the ICU in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Denver, Colorado between 2016 and 2019 who survived with longitudinal follow-up data. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Our primary …

Effectiveness Of Empiric Carbapenem Versus Non-Carbapenem Therapy For Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Infections In Non-Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Real-World Investigation In A Hospital With High-Prevalence Of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales, Amy Y. Kang, Mary Elkomos, Danny Pham, Michelle Guerrero, Deborah Kupferwasser, Loren G. Miller

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective:

To investigate whether empiric carbapenem therapy, compared to empiric non-carbapenem therapy, was associated with improved clinical outcomes among hospitalized, non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales infections.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult, non-ICU patients admitted with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales infections. Primary outcome was time to clinical stability from the first empiric antibiotic dose. Secondary outcomes were early clinical response and 30-day all-cause hospital readmission. We used multivariate regression methods to examine time to clinical stability.

Results:

Of the 142 patients, 59 (42%) received empiric carbapenems and 83 (58%) received empiric …