Diseases Commons^™

Solute Transport From Synovial Fluid To Articular Cartilage And Subchondral Bone At Different Stages Of Osteoarthritis In A Live Mouse Model, Mengcun Chen, Yanmei Yang, Mingshu Cui, Bin Wang

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to (1) identify a simplified method to preserve sample integrity and maintain original fluorescence distribution; (2) assess the diffusivity of small and large molecules within articular cartilage (AC), calcified cartilage (CC), and subchondral bone (SB); and (3) investigate the changes in solute transport at various stages of osteoarthritis (OA) in a destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) murine model.

METHODS: Fluorescent dyes of small and large molecules were injected into the knee joints of live mice. Joints were harvested and rapidly frozen immediately post-euthanasia. Optimal dye concentrations and dwelling times were determined through exploratory studies. Mice …

Association Between Food Insecurity And Chronic Eye Disease In The National Institutes Of Health's All Of Us Research Program, Ramin Talebi, Fei Yu, Victoria L. Tseng, Anne L. Coleman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Purpose

Design

Participants

Methods

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Targeting Bard1 Suppresses A Myc-Dependent Transcriptional Program And Tumor Growth In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sohum Patel, Eleanor Jenkins, Rutuj P. Kusurkar, Sherry Lee, Wei Jiang, Avinoam Nevler, Matthew Mccoy, Michael J. Pishvaian, Rosalie C. Sears, Jonathan R. Brody, Charles J. Yeo, Aditi Jain

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest cancers demanding better and more effective therapies. BARD1 or BRCA1-Associated -Ring Domain-1 plays a pivotal role in homologous recombination repair (HRR). However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in PDAC are still not fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that BARD1 is overexpressed in PDAC and its genetic inhibition suppresses c-Myc and disrupts c-Myc dependent transcriptional program. Mechanistically, BARD1 stabilizes c-Myc through ubiquitin-proteasome system by regulating FBXW7. Importantly, targeting BARD1 using either siRNAs or CRISPR/Cas9 deletion blocks PDAC growth in vitro and in vivo, without any signs of toxicity to mice. …

Clinical Implications Of Mismatch Repair Deficiency In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Zachary Kaplan, Elizabeth Prezioso, Aditi Jain, Harish Lavu, Charles Yeo, Wilbur Bowne, Avinoam Nevler

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive and lethal disease, characterized by a limited response to chemotherapy and overall poor prognosis. Pancreatic cancers with a distinct mismatch repair deficiency, although relatively rare, have been shown to be associated with markedly better outcomes in comparison. Furthermore, whereas pancreatic cancers are generally unresponsive to current immunotherapy, this specific group of tumors has been shown to have a notable susceptibility to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

AIMS: In this review, we aim to summarize the relevant literature regarding mismatch-repair associated pancreatic cancers, the impacted biological mechanisms, and the resulting vulnerabilities for potential opportunistic immunotherapeutic treatment …

Normative Variability In Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness: Does It Matter Where The Peaks Are?, Sowjanya Gowrisankaran, Ashkan Abbasi, Xubo Song, Joel Schuman, Gadi Wollstein, Bhavna Antony, Hiroshi Ishikawa

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), a glaucoma biomarker, has a wide normative range affecting its sensitivity and specificity for abnormality detection. The interindividual RNFLT peak location variability contribution to this wide normative range has not been directly evaluated. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of RNFLT peak normalization (PN) on normative variability.

METHODS: Circumpapillary RNFLT profiles at 1.7 mm radius from the optic nerve head (ONH) were re-sampled from optical coherence tomography (OCT) volumes (Cirrus HD-OCT, 200 × 200) obtained from one eye of 83 healthy individuals. Fovea-ONH axis (FOA) was calculated from corresponding …

The Impact Of Biomaterial Characteristics On Macrophage Phenotypes In Tissue Engineering: A Review, Julian Jackson, Hani Samarah, William Palmer, Zachary Kaplan, Marianna Nicodem, Parvesh Kumar, Spenser Short, Kelly Bridgham, Larry Harshyne, Joseph Curry

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Macrophages are highly plastic cells central to pathogen removal, tissue regeneration, and inflammation, making them key targets in biomaterial design for improved clinical outcomes. Foreign body responses (FBRs) to implanted biomaterials often involve excessive macrophage-mediated inflammation, leading to fibrotic encapsulation, infection, and implant failure. Advances in tissue engineering demonstrate that macrophage polarization - the transition from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes - can be influenced by biomaterial properties to mitigate these responses and enhance regeneration. This review synthesizes the relationship between biomaterial properties, such as surface chemistry, structure, and stiffness, and their ability to modulate macrophage behavior. Key innovations, …

Comparison Of Outcomes Among Neurovascular Patients Managed In Dedicated Neurological Intensive Care Units Vs. General Intensive Care Units, Joanna Roy, Basel Musmar, Nassos Tziviskos, Saarang Patel, Roberto Deleon, Ashley Thommana, Shady Mina, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Robert Rosenwasswer, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Patients with neurovascular conditions often require multidisciplinary management to optimize recovery. Our systematic review identifies literature comparing outcomes among neurovascular patients managed at dedicated neurological intensive care units (ICUs) compared to general ICUs. Methods: PubMed was searched to identify articles that reported outcomes among patients managed at dedicated neurological ICUs versus general ICUs. Articles that reported outcomes among patients with neurovascular conditions were included. Articles that reported outcomes among patients managed at stroke units were excluded. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess for risk of bias across individual studies. Results: After a title and abstract screen …

Leveraging Lower Body Negative Pressure For Enhanced Outcomes In Orthopedic Arthroplasty—Insights From Nasa’S Bone Health Research, Phani Paladugu, Rahul Kumar, Tamer Hage, Swapna Vaja, Tejas Sekhar, Samuel Weisberg, Kyle Sporn, Ethan Waisberg, Joshua Ong, Amar S. Vadhera, Mouayad Masalkhi, Ryung Lee, Chirag Gowda, Ram Jagadeesan, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Exposure to microgravity causes rapid bone loss and muscle atrophy, posing serious challenges for long-duration spaceflight. In response, NASA developed countermeasures such as Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) to simulate gravitational loading on astronauts’ lower extremities. LBNP, often combined with exercise, has proven effective in mitigating musculoskeletal degradation during bed rest analogs. This opinion paper argues that LBNP’s success in preserving bone mass and muscle function in microgravity can be translated to improve re- covery after orthopedic arthroplasty on Earth. We draw physiological parallels between microgravity-induced musculoskeletal disuse and the postoperative period following total joint replacement, during which reduced weight-bearing …

Editorial: Women In Science: Allergy Research, Gemma Carreras-Badosa, Vanesa Esteban, Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, Elina Toskala, Manali Mukherjee, Saba Al Heialy, Karin Fieten

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Environmental Exposures And Familial Background Alter The Induction Of Neuropathology And Inflammation After Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Debotri Chatterjee, Drishya Kurup, Richard Jay Smeyne

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Post-infection sequela of several viruses have been linked with Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we investigated whether mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 alone or in combination with two putative Parkinsonian toxins, MPTP and paraquat, increased the susceptibility to develop Parkinsonian pathology. We also examined if G2019S LRRK2 mice had any change in sensitivity to SARS-CoV-2 as well as if vaccination against this virus altered any neuropathology. Infection with WA-1/2020 or Omicron B1.1.529 strains sensitized both WT and G2019S LRRK2 mice to the neuropathological effects of a subtoxic exposure to MPTP, but not paraquat. These neuropathologies were rescued in WT mice vaccinated with …

Sleep Deprivation Increases Mortality Risk Among Older Adults With Epilepsy, Srikanta Banerjee, Jagdish Khubchandani, Stanley Nkemjika

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Introduction: Among U.S. adults, over 3 million report a history of epilepsy, accounting for nearly 1.2% of the population. Sleep deprivation is a well-known risk factor for increased likelihood, intensity, and length of seizures. However, the long-term impact of sleep deprivation on people with epilepsy is not well explored. The purpose of this study was to assess mortality risk among individuals with epilepsy based on sleep duration.

Methods: Data from the 2008–2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were linked with mortality data from the National Death Index (NDI) for US adults aged 65 years and older. Survival curves showed the …

Use Of Procalcitonin In Therapeutic Decisions In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pierre Tissières, Elisabeth Esteban Torné, Johannes Hübner, Adrienne Randolph, Corsino Rey Galán, Scott Weiss

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Procalcitonin (PCT) is frequently used by clinicians in children with suspected bacterial infections and sepsis. However interpretation in the critically ill child may be challenging due to the complexity of underlying conditions and its impact on PCT values. Herein, we propose a guidance for the use of procalcitonin in critically ill children, supported by a comprehensive analysis of the literature, to help the clinician for interpreting PCT in the various clinical conditions encountered in pediatric intensive care units. We describe the importance of the clinical context, timing of measurement and evidence on PCT values in diagnosing sepsis and to guide …

Characterizing Radiation-Related Laryngotracheal Stenosis, Natalia Queenan, Jay Trivedi, Dylan Bertoni, Sana Siddiqui, Austin Yap, Kathleen Tibbetts

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Radiation-related laryngotracheal stenosis (RLTS) develops due to fibrosis of the airway after radiotherapy. We aim to characterize the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with RLTS and compare these to patients with iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis (ILTS).

METHODS: In a single-center retrospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with RLTS between 2017 and 2022 were identified. Demographic data, risk factors, cancer history and treatment, presentation of stenosis, primary stenosis intervention, and outcomes were extracted. Patients were compared to a cohort of patients with ILTS and no history of radiation therapy. Data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Tests and paired t-tests.

RESULTS: Seven …

Adjuvant Radiotherapy In Pt3-4n0m0 Major Salivary Gland Cancer Without Other Adverse Features, Aman M. Patel, Afash Haleem, Praneet C. Kaki, Jake J. Lee, Russell Maxwell, Jason A. Brant, Robert M. Brody, Ryan M. Carey

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) utilization and associated differences in overall survival (OS) in pT3-4N0M0 major salivary gland cancer (MSGC) without evidence of other adverse pathologic features.

METHODS: The 2006 to 2018 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with MSGC classified as pT3-4N0M0. Patients with evidence of lymphovascular invasion or positive surgical margins were excluded. Multivariable binary logistic and Cox regression models adjusting for patient demographics, pathologic features including histology, and treatment were implemented.

RESULTS: Of 897 patients satisfying inclusion criteria, 368 (41.0 %) underwent aRT. Compared with those not undergoing aRT, patients undergoing aRT were younger (median …

Short Report: The Variants In Chek2 In Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, Mizue Terai, Rino S. Seedor, Usman Ashraf, Gretchen Hubbard, Sergei A. Koshkin, Marlana Orloff, Takami Sato

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Recent Studies On The Pathogenesis Of Systemic Sclerosis: Focus On Fibrosis Pathways, Sergio A. Jimenez, Fabian A. Mendoza, Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez

Scleroderma Center Faculty Papers

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by the development of frequently progressive cutaneous and internal organ fibrosis accompanied by severe vascular alterations. The pathogenesis of SSc is highly complex and, despite extensive investigation, has not been fully elucidated. Numerous studies have suggested that unknown etiologic factors cause multiple alterations in genetically receptive hosts, leading to SSc development and progression. These events may be functionally and pathologically interconnected and include: 1) Structural and functional microvascular and endothelial cell abnormalities; 2) Severe oxidative stress and high reactive oxygen species (3); Frequently progressive cutaneous and visceral fibrosis; …

Evolution Of The Tumor Immune Landscape During Treatment With Tebentafusp, A T Cell Receptor-Cd3 Bispecific, Joseph Sacco, Peter Kirk, Emma Leach, Alexander Shoushtari, Richard Carvajal, Camille Britton-Rivet, Sophie Khakoo, Laura Collins, Luis De La Cruz-Merino, Zeynep Eroglu, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Paul Nathan, Omid Hamid, Marcus Butler, Sarah Stanhope, Koustubh Ranade, Takami Sato

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Metastatic uveal melanoma is an aggressive disease with poor outcome, which is refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitors. A T cell receptor (TCR)-based CD3 bispecific, tebentafusp, delivers clinical benefit in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Understanding the molecular basis for the anti-tumor activity of tebentafusp in an indication where checkpoint inhibitors are ineffective could aid in identification of other solid tumor indications where CD3 bispecifics may serve an unmet need. By analyzing tumor biopsies taken prior to treatment, early on-treatment, and at progression (NCT02570308), using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), we show that expression of interferon-related genes in the tumor …

Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers Of Physical Frailty In Heart Failure: A Propensity Score Matched Discovery-Based Pilot Study, Quin Denfeld, Noelle Pavlovic, Christopher Lee, Jon Jacobs, Mary Roberts Davis, Samantha Powell, Marina Gritsenko, Susan Joseph, Beth Habecker

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Physical frailty is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF), but we lack an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Proteomic evaluation of plasma samples may elucidate potential mechanisms and biomarkers of physical frailty in HF.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify plasma proteomic biomarkers that are differentially expressed between physically frail and non-physically frail adults with HF.

METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a subset of data and plasma samples from a study of frailty among patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification I-IV HF. Physical frailty was measured using the Frailty Phenotype Criteria. Propensity score matching was …

Association Between High Triglyceride-Glucose Index And Macce In Hypertriglyceridemia Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Yichuan Wang, Yanfeng Lu, Shanshan Gao, Zhong Zhong, Jasmine Bao, Bo Liu, Ruihan Fan, Ning Guo

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: With a focus on metabolism-related cardiovascular diseases, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been used as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance in the prognosis of coronary heart disease. However, the prognostic role of the TyG index in patients with elevated triglycerides, still requires further research. This study aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular Events (MACCE) in patients with hypertriglyceridemia undergoing drug-eluting stent percutaneous coronary intervention (DES-PCI).

METHODS: Out of 2250 patients, 813 with hypertriglyceridemia who underwent DES-PCI were retrospectively analyzed. MACCE was regarded as the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves …

Hexasodium Fytate (Snf472 Or Csl525) Inhibits Ectopic Calcification In Various Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum And Calcinosis Cutis Animal Models, Miguel Ferrer, Maria Pérez-Ferrer, Marc Blasco, Ida Jacobs, Qiaoli Li, Olivier Vanakker, Lisa Dangreau, Andrea López, Gianluca Malagraba, Firas Bassissi, Joan Perelló, Carolina Salcedo

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Ectopic calcification is a pathological condition characterized by the mineralization of soft tissues due to the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals. Hexasodium fytate (CSL525, previously known as SNF472) is a crystallization inhibitor being developed for the treatment of ectopic calcification-related disorders. Our aim was to investigate CSL525 for the treatment of soft-tissue calcification disorders in animal models of pseudoxanthoma elasticum and calcinosis cutis. Methods: In a first study, abcc6^-/- zebrafish larvae were exposed to 1 mM CSL525 for 7 days or kept under the same conditions without CSL525, and spinal mineralization was quantified. In a second study, abcc6 …

Optimizing Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation: An Exploratory Study On The Role Of Electrode Montages And Stimulation Intensity On Reflex Pathway Modulation, Shirin Madarshahian, Michael Trakhtorchuck, Tatiana Guerrero, Kristin Gustafson, James Harrop, Caio Matias, M. J. Mulcahey, Alessandro Naopli, Alex Vaccaro, Mijail Serruya

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a promising non-invasive method to improve motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) by enhancing spinal reflex pathways. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different tSCS electrode placement montages and targeted spinal levels on neurophysiological responses such as spinally evoked motor responses (sEMRs), dorsal root reflex activation, and muscle recruitment in individuals with SCI and healthy controls to optimize stimulation strategies for motor recovery. Five participants (three individuals with SCI and two controls) underwent transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation using various electrode montages, target spinal level stimulation, and single- and paired-pulse …

Molecular Subtyping Of Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy, Michal Elovitz, Elaine Gee, Nathaniel Delaney-Busch, Alison Moe, Mitsu Reddy, Arkady Khodursky, Johnny La, Ilma Abbas, Kay Mekaru, Hunter Collins, Farooq Siddiqui, Rory Nolan, Rupsa Boelig, Daniel Kiefer, Pamela Simmons, George Saade, Antonio Saad, Ebony Carter, Thomas Mcelrath, Stephen Quake, Mark Depristo, Carrie Haverty, Manfred Lee, Eugeni Namsaraev, Vincenzo Berghella, Ai-Ris Collier, Antonia Frolova, Esther Park-Hwang, Luis Pacheco, Elizabeth Sutton, Maneesh Jain, Kara Rood, William A Grobman, Joseph Biggio, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Arun Jeyabalan, Morten Rasmussen

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia, affect 1 in 6 pregnancies, are major contributors to maternal morbidity and mortality, yet lack precision medicine strategies. Analyzing transcriptomic data from a prospectively-collected diverse cohort (n = 9102), this study reveals distinct RNA subtypes in maternal blood, reclassifying clinical HDP phenotypes like early/late-onset preeclampsia. The placental gene PAPPA2 strongly predicts the most severe forms of preeclampsia in individuals without pre-existing high risk factors, months before symptoms, and its overexpression correlates with earlier delivery in a dose-dependent manner. Further, molecular subtypes characterized by immune genes are upregulated in less severe forms of HDP. …

Daily Acute Intermittent Hypoxia Elicits Age & Sex-Dependent Changes In Molecules Regulating Phrenic Motor Plasticity, Jayakrishnan Nair, Alexandria Marciante, Carter Lurk, Mia Kelly, Maclain Capron, Gordon Mitchell

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) elicits a form of respiratory motor plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF). Exposure to repetitive daily AIH (dAIH) enhances pLTF, a form of metaplasticity. Little is known concerning cellular mechanisms giving rise to dAIH-induced metaplasticity and the age-dependent sexual dimorphism of AIH associated pro-plasticity mRNA expression. To test if age, sex, and dAIH effects are associated with differential expression of molecules that regulate the Q- and S-pathways and their cross-talk interactions to phrenic motor facilitation, we analyzed key regulatory molecules in ventral spinal (C3-C5) homogenates from young (3-month) and middle-aged (12-month) male and female Sprague-Dawley …

Ototoxicity Monitoring: The Evolution Of A Protocol For Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Jena Patel, Jacob Beiriger, Kalena Liu, Zachary Urdang, Julia Croce, Molly Wolfson, Jacob Hulswit, Olivia Giglio, Jacob B. Hunter, Irina L. Middleton

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated an ototoxicity monitoring program (OMP) for improving audiologic follow-up in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: Tertiary academic center.

METHODS: Two hundred and forty patients were recommended for chemotherapy between January 2017 and June 2022. An OMP was implemented in March 2021; every patient received an audiology referral and was contacted to schedule a pretreatment audiogram. Patients were divided into pre-OMP and post-OMP cohorts. Main outcome measures included rates of pretreatment audiograms, posttreatment audiograms, posttreatment otologic symptoms, and hearing aid utilization.

RESULTS: There were 131 patients evaluated pre-OMP and 109 evaluated …

Structural Updates To The Implant And Refill Needle Of The Port Delivery Platform, Dante J. Pieramici, Peter A. Campochiaro, Margaret Chang, Ian Pearce, Carl D. Regillo, Shamika Gune, Nancy Holekamp, Carlos Quezada-Ruiz, Shrirang V. Ranade, Natasha Singh, Geoffrey Wise, Joshua Horvath

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the impact of component-level changes and manufacturing process improvements on septum durability in the ocular implant of the Port Delivery Platform (PD-P), more commonly known as the Port Delivery System with ranibizumab (PDS) with its current formulation.

METHODS: Laboratory tests were conducted to determine (1) the bond strength of the septum to the overmold, (2) the amount of force utilized for the refill needle to puncture the septum, and (3) septum durability over 50 years. To simulate multiple refill-exchanges over long-term clinical use, implants were aged at elevated temperature in saline …

Case Report: Myeloid Neoplasms With The T(3;12)(Q26.2;P13.1)/ Mecom-Etv6 Translocation: Report Of Two New Cases And Review Of The Literature, Soumya Mikkilineni, Juan Pablo Pineda-Reyes, Lindsay Wilde, Andres Ferber, Zi-Xuan Wang, Stephen Peiper, Guldeep Uppal, Md, Jerald Gong, Jinglan Liu

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The MECOM (MDS1 and EVI1 complex locus) gene, located at 3q26.2, encodes an oncogenic transcription factor implicated in multiple signaling pathways. Rearrangements involving MECOM/3q26.2, including inversions, translocations, insertions and cryptic chromosomal changes, are observed in myeloid neoplasms and are associated with high-risk disease features and poor clinical outcomes. The translocation t(3;12)(q26.2;p13.1) is a rare genetic event, resulting in a fusion of the MECOM gene at 3q26.2 with the ETV6 gene at 12p13.1. To date, only 78 cases of hematologic neoplasms harboring t(3;12) have been reported in the English literature, primarily as case reports or case series. T(3;12) has …

The Role Of Non-Statin Lipid Lowering Therapies To Reduce Ascvd Events In Primary Prevention, Chukwuemezie Mamanu, Dean Karalis

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains a leading global health challenge, with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol a pivotal risk factor. While statins are cornerstone therapy for lowering LDL cholesterol, many high-risk primary prevention patients are unable to tolerate statin therapy and do not achieve their guideline directed LDL cholesterol goal. For these patients, non-statin therapies offer complementary and alternative approaches to LDL cholesterol reduction.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent advancements in non-statin therapies have expanded the options available to clinicians to lower LDL cholesterol in high-risk primary prevention patients. Yet these medications are often under-utilized in clinical practice. Observational studies, …

Streamlining The Journey Of Research Into Clinical Practice: Making Your Patients And Practice Flourish Evaluation And Treatment Of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Of The Spine: Ao Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma And Infection, Sebastian F. Bigdon, Emiliano Vialle, Charlotte Dandurand, Julian Scherer, Gaston Camino-Willhuber, Andrei F. Joaquim, Harvinder S. Chhabra, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Richard Bransford, Charles G. Fisher, Klaus J. Schnake, Gregory D. Schroeder

Rothman Institute Papers

Study DesignLiterature Review with clinical recommendations.ObjectiveTo highlight impactful studies on pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS), identified by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection, with recommendations for their integration into clinical practice.MethodsFive influential studies on PS that have the potential to shape current practice in spinal infections were selected and reviewed. Each study was chosen for its contribution to a critical phase in PS management: diagnosis, imaging, surgical vs conservative treatment, and antibiotic duration. Recommendations were graded as strong or conditional following the GRADE methodology.ResultsFive studies were highlighted. Article 1: Pluemer et al introduced the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation (SITE) Score, …

Larotrectinib Compared With Real-World Non-Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase Inhibitor Therapies In Patients With Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase Fusion Cancer, Marcia S. Brose, C. Benedikt Westphalen, Xiaoyun Pan, Vadim Bernard-Gauthier, Milena Kurtinecz, Helen Guo, Virginie Aris, Neil R. Brett, Abdelali Majdi, Vivek Subbiah, Nathan A. Pennell, Kenneth L. Kehl, Alexander Drilon

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusions are oncogenic drivers of various solid tumors. Larotrectinib is a highly selective tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor approved for patients with TRK fusion cancer on the basis of single-arm trials. This study was a matched comparative effectiveness study of larotrectinib in clinical trials versus standard of care (SOC) in the real-world (RW) setting.

METHODS: Adult patients with advanced/metastatic TRK fusion non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, thyroid cancer, or salivary gland carcinoma were included. Deduplicated data from RW patients were from US and ex-US data sources. Patients in the larotrectinib …

Vpac Receptor Positivity In Comparison With Mp-Mri In The Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer: A Preliminary Study, Nishant Setya, Shridhar Ghagane, Rajendra Nerli, Ashwin Bokare, Mathew Thakur, Leonard Gomella

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Objective: The study aimed to prospectively evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing PCa using voided urine samples and by targeting the genomic VPAC (vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide) receptors in comparison with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) in male patients (≥40 years of age) with lower urinary tract symptoms and having a serum PSA of >4 but < 15 ng/ml.

Patients and methods: Male patients attending urological services ≥40 years old, with lower urinary tract symptoms and serum PSA levels of >4 but < 15 ng/ml formed the study group. Voided urine samples were collected to target VPAC receptors on malignant cells. All patients underwent mp-MRI. A 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy was performed in all, and the results were compared for the diagnosis of PCa.

Results: A total of 61 patients with a median age of 65.33 ± 8.11 years and with a …