Diseases Commons^™

Accelerated Symptom Improvement In Parkinson’S Disease Via Remote Internet-Based Optimization Of Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial, Alireza Gharabaghi, Sergiu Groppa, Marta Navas-Garcia, Alfons Schnitzler, Laura Muñoz-Delgado, Vicky L. Marshall, Jessica Karl, Lin Zhang, Ramiro Alvarez, Mary S. Feldman, Michael J. Soileau, Lan Luo, S. Elizabeth Zauber, Benjamin L. Walter, Chengyuan Wu, Hong Lei, Damian M. Herz, Ming-Hua Chung, Yagna Pathak, Bram Blomme, Binith Cheeran, Corneliu Luca, Daniel Weiss

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as an important therapeutic intervention for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. After initial programming, clinicians are tasked with fine-tuning DBS parameters through repeated in-person clinic visits. We aimed to evaluate whether DBS patients achieve clinical benefit more rapidly by incorporating remote internet-based adjustment (RIBA) of stimulation parameters into the continuum of care.

METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled multicenter study (ClinicalTrails.gov NCT05269862) involving patients scheduled for de novo implantation with a DBS System to treat Parkinson's Disease. Eligibility criteria included the ability to incorporate RIBA as part of routine follow-up care. Ninety-six patients were …

Network Analysis Of Headache Diagnoses Using International Classification Of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition, Pengfei Zhang, Thomas Berk

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third Edition (ICHD-3), significantly influences clinicians' understanding of headache disorders. In this study, we aim to elucidate how the hierarchical structure of ICHD-3 shapes the understanding of interconnectivity among headache disorders.

METHODS: A network comprises elements known as "nodes," with the connections between them referred to as "edges." In our study, a node represents a headache diagnosis that meets at least one ICHD-3 diagnostic criterion of the ICHD-3. We developed two network models for ICHD-3: a non-hierarchical model, where edges are only formed by cross-references found within the text of diagnoses, …

Genetic Ancestry Concordant Rna Splicing In Prostate Cancer Involves Oncogenic Genes And Associates With Recurrence, Muthana Al Abo, Wen-Chi Foo, Lauren Howard, Shannon Mcgue, Bonnie Lacroix, Julie Kephart, Angela Clayton, Blair Thornburg, Monika Anand, Michael Rothberg, Shannon Mccall, Jiaoti Huang, Thomas Esther, Judd Moul, Michael Ferrandino, Thomas Polascik, Cary Robertson, Brant Inman, Andrew Armstrong, Yuan Wu, Terry Hyslop, Daniel George, Steven Patierno, Jennifer Freedman

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Black men suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer (PCa) compared to men of other races and ethnicities. Comparing the molecular landscape of PCa among Black and White patients has the potential to identify targets for development of new precision medicine interventions. Herein, we conducted transcriptomic analysis of prostate tumors and paired tumor-adjacent normals from self-reported Black and White PCa patients and estimated patient genetic ancestry. Clinical follow-up revealed increased biochemical recurrence (BCR) among Black patients compared to White patients with high-grade PCa. Transcriptomic analysis identified differential alternative RNA splicing events (ARSs) between Black and White PCa patients. Genes undergoing genetic ancestry-concordant …

Pulmonary Pathology In Culture-Negative Sepsis: A Potential Confounder For Sepsis Treatment And Research, Brett Biebelberg

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

No abstract provided.

Use Of Multi-Modal Non-Contrast Mri To Predict Functional Outcomes After Stroke: A Study Using Dp-Pcasl, Dti, Noddi, And Map Mri, Julia Diamandi, Christian Raimondo, Keenan Piper, Joanna Roy, Stephanie Serva, Mahdi Alizadeh, Adam Flanders, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Pascal Jabbour, Robert Rosenwasswer, Nikolaos Mouchtouris

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess whether water exchange rate (k_w), a surrogate for blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, is associated with functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODS: We studied 22 AIS patients enrolled from 1/2022 to 4/2024 who underwent multi-modal non-contrast imaging on a 3.0-Tesla scanner, including DP-pCASL, DTI, NODDI and MAP imaging. For each parametric map, the intensity and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for the infarcted region. The diffusion maps included were b0, Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Mean Diffusivity (MD), Intra-cellular Volume Fraction (ICVF), Free Water Fraction (FWF), and Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI), …

Prevalence Of Autoimmune Diseases In Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: An Epidemiological Study Using A Global Network Of Health Care Organizations, Pushti Khandwala, Devashish Desai, Arthur Lau

Einstein Health Papers

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate prevalence of new onset autoimmune conditions (ACs) after commencement of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

METHODS: This retrospective observational study was done using TriNetX. Patients with neoplasm for which ICIs were approved were stratified into two groups based on ICI use. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan Meier method were used to assess risk of developing ACs among the groups. Subgroup analysis was done to evaluate risk of ACs in patients receiving cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor (CTLA4i) versus program cell death protein 1 inhibitor (PD1i) and program death ligand 1 inhibitor (PDL1i) inhibitors and combination treatment (CT) …

Atm Expression And Activation In Ataxia Telangiectasia Patients With And Without Class Switch Recombination Defects, Fereshte Salami, Tannaz Moeini Shad, Nazanin Fathi, Hanieh Mojtahedi, Marzie Esmaeili, Sepideh Shahkarami, Ladan Gol Mohammad Pour Afrakoti, Parisa Amirifar, Samaneh Delavari, Hassan Nosrati, Azadehsadat Razavi, Mohammad Reza Ranjouri, Mahsa Yousefpour, Zahra Hamidi Esfahani, Gholamreza Azizi, Mahmoudreza Ashrafi, Nima Rezaei, Reza Yazdani, Hassan Abolhassani

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase plays a critical role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients exhibit abnormalities in immunoglobulin isotype expression and class switch recombination (CSR). This study investigates the role of residual ATM kinase expression and activity in the severity of A-T disease.

METHODS: A-T patients with defined genetic diagnoses were classified based on CSR and based on the severity of their medical complications. Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from any patient were evaluated before and after exposure to 0.5 Gy ionizing radiation for one minute. Western blotting was performed to identify the expression …

Comparative Outcomes Of Endovascular Vs. Surgical Treatment In Craniocervical Junction Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Basel Musmar, Joanna Roy, Atakan Orscelik, Sravanthi Koduri, Spyridon Karadimas, Saman Sizdahkhani, Elias Atallah, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Michael Gooch, Hekmat Zarzour, Ritam Ghosh, Richard Schmidt, Robert Rosenwasser, Pascal Jabbour

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Craniocervical junction dural arteriovenous fistulas (CCJ-DAVFs) are rare and complex vascular malformations that are challenging to diagnose and treat. This study aims to compare surgical and endovascular treatments for CCJ-DAVFs through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to July 2024.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies involving 266 patients were included. Of these, 143 (53.8 %) patients underwent surgical treatment alone and 123 (46.2 %) underwent endovascular treatment alone. In the surgical group, the complete obliteration rate at last …

Superotemporal Predisposition To Traumatic Subretinal Fibrosis In Stargardt Disease: A Case Report, Jaime Nassur, Jose Pulido, Jose Pulido, Alaa Ghoneim, Anton Orlin, Richard Kaiser, Saif Hamdan

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Subretinal fibrosis has been reported as a presumed late sequela of orbital trauma in those with Stargardt disease (STGD). This case report highlights the sequential pathologic changes in response to trauma utilizing multimodal imaging.

OBSERVATIONS: An asymptomatic 19-year-old female with no significant ocular history presented for possible drusen. Initial imaging noted yellow-white pisciform perifoveal flecks in both eyes with corresponding hyper-and hypo-fluorescent lesions on fundus autofluorescence and hyperreflective deposits on near-infrared and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). A few months later, the patient presented with a new onset "black shadow" in the right eye after a traumatic periorbital injury, …

Il-1Β In Neoplastic Disease And The Role Of Its Tumor-Derived Form In The Progression And Treatment Of Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Yetunde Oyende, Luke Taus, Alessandro Fatatis

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Since its discovery, IL-1β has taken center stage as a key mediator of a very broad spectrum of diseases revolving around immuno-mediated and inflammatory events. Predictably, the pleiotropic nature of this cytokine in human pathology has led to the development of targeted therapeutics with multiple treatment indications in the clinic. Following the accumulated findings of IL-1β's central modulatory role in the immune system and the implication of inflammatory pathways in cancer, the use of IL-1β antagonists was first proposed and then also pursued for oncology disorders. However, this approach has consistently relied on the perceived need of interfering with IL-1β …

Hiv Associated Epigenetic Trends And Chronic Diseases: Insights Into The Hidden Burden Of Chronic Infection, Courtney G. Wallace, Zachary Capriotti, Zachary Klase

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major health challenge despite dramatic advances in treatment and prevention. People living with HIV (PLWH) continue to experience high rates of non-AIDS comorbidities, including cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, oncologic, and neurocognitive disorders. These conditions persist under viral suppression, underscoring the lasting biological impact of infection. Epigenetic dysregulation has emerged as a key driver of these outcomes. HIV integration, viral proteins, chronic inflammation, and ART exposure have all been reported to alter DNA methylation, histone modifications, transcription factor networks, and noncoding RNA regulation. These changes extend beyond infected cells, reprogramming uninfected immune and tissue compartments. Long-lived …

Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Risk After Catheter Ablation In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pongprueth Rujirachun, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, Svita Taveeamornrat, Patompong Ungprasert, Nithi Tokavanich, Krit Jongnarangsin

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: The association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) is well-established. However, data on the impact of RA on AF recurrence postcatheter ablation (CA) remain unclear. This current study aimed to assess the impact of RA on AF recurrence after catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation.

METHODS: Potentially eligible studies were identified from Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to December 20, 2023. Eligible study must consist of two cohorts of patients with and without RA who underwent catheter ablation for AF. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI were calculated using Dersimonian and Laird's random-effect, …

Expansion Of Genotypic And Phenotypic Findings In Adamts18-Related Ocular Pathology, Ari August, Rebecca Procopio, Christopher Rapuano, Jose Pulido

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Purpose: ADAMTS18-related ocular pathology is rare with few described cases. Features include distinctive facies, refractive error, anterior segment dysgenesis, and retinal dystrophy. Previous patients were found to have ho- mozygous variants in ADAMTS18. Here, we present a patient with compound heterozygous ADAMTS18-related pathology and its associated findings. Observations: A 37-year-old male with a history of bilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, dry eye syndrome, mild myopia, and accommodative esotropia presented to the Retina Service. He was found to have multiple features of anterior segment dysgenesis and retinal dystrophy, some of which have not been previously reported in association with ADAMTS18 variants. …

Adenosine-Sensitive Upper Septal Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia Associated With Takotsubo Syndrome, Parker O'Neill, Daniel Underberg, Reginald Ho, Darius Farzad, Gregary Marhefka

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

We describe a rare case of upper septal fascicular ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with takotsubo syndrome that failed to convert with synchronized shock but converted to normal sinus rhythm after intravenous adenosine administration. The excess catecholamine state of takotsubo syndrome likely provided substrate for cyclic adenosine monophosphate–mediated triggered activity, causing fascicular VT.

Nitroglycerine For Retained Placenta: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Alessandro Petrecca, Gabriele Saccone, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of nitroglycerine on placenta delivery after retained placenta.

DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PROSPERO, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, EMBASE, Sciencedirect, the Cochrane Library, Scielo were searched from their inception until February 2024.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: We included all randomized clinical trials comparing use of nitroglycerine (i.e. intervention group) with placebo or with no treatment (i.e. control group) given for retained placenta after vaginal delivery.

DATA SYNTHESIS: The primary outcome was rate of manual removal of the placenta. The summary measures were reported as relative risk (RR) or as mean difference (MD) with …

A Longer Duration Of Intravenous Antibiotic Treatment For Patients With Early Periprosthetic Joint Infections Is Not Associated With A Lower Failure Rate, Janneke Meijer, Alex Soriano, Wierd Zijlstra, Bas Ten Have, Saad Tarabichi, Paul Jutte, Javad Parvizi, Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of an early switch to oral antibiotics after surgical treatment in orthopedic-related infections. However, large analyses on periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are lacking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study in patients diagnosed with an early post-operative PJI, defined as one occurringdebridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR). Patients from Europe and the USA were included. We took advantage of the fact that an early oral antibiotic switch is routine practice in Europe as opposed to a long duration of intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment in the USA. Failure …

Residual Traditional Risk In Non-Traditional Atherosclerotic Diseases, Federico Biscetti, Giorgia Polito, Maria Margherita Rando, Maria Anna Nicolazzi, Luis H. Eraso, Paul J. Dimuzio, Massimo Massetti, Antonio Gasbarrini, Andrea Flex

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Individuals with chronic inflammatory and immune disorders are at an increased risk of atherosclerotic events and premature cardiovascular (CV) disease. Despite extensive literature exploring the relationship between "non-traditional" atherosclerotic conditions and CV risk, many aspects remain unresolved, including the underlying mechanisms promoting the "non-traditional CV risk", the development of an innovative and comprehensive CV risk assessment tool, and recommendations for tailored interventions. This review aims to evaluate the available evidence on key "non-traditional" CV risk-enhancer conditions, with a focus on assessing and managing CV risk factors. We conducted a comprehensive review of 412 original articles, narrative and systematic reviews, and …

The C-Terminal Phdvc5hch Tandem Domain Of Nsd2 Is A Combinatorial Reader Of Modified H3k4 And Tri-Methylated H3k27 That Regulates Transcription Of Cell Adhesion Genes In Multiple Myeloma, Andrea Berardi, Charlotte Leonie Kaestner, Michela Ghitti, Giacomo Quilici, Paolo Cocomazzi, Jianping Li, Federico Ballabio, Chiara Zucchelli, Stefan Knapp, Jonathan Licht, Giovanna Musco

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Histone methyltransferase NSD2 (MMSET) overexpression in multiple myeloma (MM) patients plays an important role in the development of this disease subtype. Through the expansion of transcriptional activating H3K36me2 and the suppression of repressive H3K27me3 marks, NSD2 activates an aberrant set of genes that contribute to myeloma growth, adhesive and invasive activities. NSD2 transcriptional activity also depends on its non-catalytic domains, which facilitate its recruitment to chromatin through histone binding. In this study, using NMR, ITC and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the tandem PHD domain of NSD2 (PHDVC5HCHNSD2) is a combinatorial reader of unmodified histone H3K4 and tri-methylated H3K27 …

Modern Digital Query Analytics Of Patient Education Materials On Acanthosis Nigricans: Systematic Search And Content Analysis, Kevin Johny Varghese, Som Singh, Emily Kamali, Fahad Qureshi, Aleena Jamal, Fawad Qureshi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: Online digital materials are integral to patient education and health care outcomes in dermatology. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common condition, often associated with underlying diseases such as insulin resistance. Patients frequently search the internet for information related to this cutaneous finding. To our knowledge, the quality of online educational materials for AN has not been systematically examined.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to profile the readability and quality of the content of publicly available digital educational materials on AN and identify questions frequently asked by patients.

METHODS: This study analyzed publicly available internet sources to …

Multiparametric Mri Along With Machine Learning Predicts Prognosis And Treatment Response In Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma, Anahita Fathi Kazerooni, Adam Kraya, Komal Rathi, Meen Chul Kim, Arastoo Vossough, Nastaran Khalili, Ariana Familiar, Deep Gandhi, Neda Khalili, Varun Kesherwani, Debanjan Haldar, Hannah Anderson, Run Jin, Aria Mahtabfar, Sina Bagheri, Yiran Guo, Qi Li, Xiaoyan Huang, Yuankun Zhu, Alex Sickler, Matthew R Lueder, Saksham Phul, Mateusz Koptyra, Phillip Storm, Jeffrey Ware, Yuanquan Song, Christos Davatzikos, Jessica Foster, Sabine Mueller, Michael J Fisher, Adam Resnick, Ali Nabavizadeh

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGGs) exhibit heterogeneous prognoses and variable responses to treatment, leading to tumor progression and adverse outcomes in cases where complete resection is unachievable. Early prediction of treatment responsiveness and suitability for immunotherapy has the potential to improve clinical management and outcomes. Here, we present a radiogenomic analysis of pLGGs, integrating MRI and RNA sequencing data. We identify three immunologically distinct clusters, with one group characterized by increased immune activity and poorer prognosis, indicating potential benefit from immunotherapies. We develop a radiomic signature that predicts these immune profiles with over 80% accuracy. Furthermore, our clinicoradiomic model predicts progression-free …

Nls-Binding Deficient Kapβ2 Reduces Neurotoxicity Via Selective Interaction With C9orf72-Als/Ftd Dipeptide Repeats, Kevin Kim, Amandeep Girdhar, Maria Elena Cicardi, V. Kankate, Miyuki Hayashi, Ruoyu Yang, Jenny Carey, Charlotte M Fare, James Shorter, Gino Cingolani, Davide Trotti, Lin Guo

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Arginine-rich dipeptide repeat proteins (R-DPRs) are highly toxic proteins found in patients with C9orf72-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (C9-ALS/FTD). R-DPRs can cause toxicity by disrupting the natural phase behavior of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Mitigating this abnormal phase behavior is, therefore, crucial to reduce R-DPR-induced toxicity. Here, we use FUS as a model RBP to investigate the mechanism of R-DPR-induced aberrant RBP phase transition. We find that this phase transition can be mitigated by Kapβ2. However, as a nuclear import receptor and phase modifier for PY-NLS-containing RBPs, the function of WT Kapβ2 could lead to undesired interaction with its …

Treatment Sequence With Tebentafusp And Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors In Patients With Metastatic Uveal Melanoma And Metastatic Gna11/Gnaq Mutant Melanocytic Tumors, Florentia Dimitriou, Marlana Orloff, Erica Koch Hein, Phil Cheng, Isaac Hughes, Ester Simeone, Kamaneh Montazeri, Piyush Grover, Inderjit Mehmi, Camille Gerard, Caroline Gaudy-Marqueste, Jean-Jacques Grob, Olivier Michielin, Omid Hamid, Georgina Long, Ryan Sullivan, Ellen Kapiteijn, Douglas Johnson, Paolo Ascierto, Anthony Joshua, Richard Carvajal, Marcus Butler, Jessica Hassel, Reinhard Dummer

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) is rare. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown modest efficacy in mUM. Tebentafusp prolonged overall survival (OS) in a phase 3 study. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the sequence of tebentafusp and ICIs.

METHODS: Patients with HLA-A * 02:01 positive mUM, or metastatic GNA11/GNAQ mutant melanocytic tumors treated with tebentafusp followed by ICIs (group 1) or the inverse sequence (group 2) at any treatment line were retrospectively identified. The primary objective was OS rate at 2 years.

RESULTS: 131 patients were included; 51 in group 1 and 80 in group 2. …

Association Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection With Pediatric Asthma In Palestine, Alaa Hrizat, Amal A Shahin, Banan M Mafarjeh, Mohammad A Atawneh, Kamel Gharaibeh, Nisreen Rumman, Mutaz Sultan

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Significant debate exists on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and childhood asthma. We aimed to explore this association in a cohort of children in Palestine while estimating the prevalence of H. pylori in this population. Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study among children aged 6–15 years in Palestine, including 44 asthma cases diagnosed by pediatric pulmonologists and 99 age-matched healthy controls recruited through cluster sampling from schools. H. pylori status was determined using a stool antigen test. Asthma severity was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Data on recent antibiotic use, …

Emcreg-International Multidisciplinary Consensus Panel On Management Of Hyperkalemia In Chronic Kidney Disease And Heart Failure, Natalie Kreitzer, Nancy M. Albert, Alpesh N. Amin, Craig J. Beavers, Richard C. Becker, Gregg Fonarow, W. Brian Gibler, Katherine W. Kwon, Robert J. Mentz, Biff F. Palmer, Charles V. Pollack, Iliana L. Piña

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hyperkalemia, generally defined as serum potassium levels greater than 5.0 mEq/L, poses significant clinical risks, including cardiac toxicity and muscle weakness. Its prevalence and severity increase in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus, and heart failure (HF), particularly when compounded by medications like angiotensin converting inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and potassium sparing diuretics. Hyperkalemia arises from disruptions in potassium regulation involving intake, excretion, and intracellular-extracellular distribution. In CKD and acute kidney injury, these regulatory mechanisms are impaired, leading to heightened risk. The management of chronic hyperkalemia presents a challenge due to the necessity of balancing effective cardiovascular …

Comparing Patency Of Pulmonary Stent Implantation And Balloon Angioplasty In Pulmonary Vein Stenosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Izza Batool, Muhammad K. Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Ibrahim A. Khan, Syed A. A. Bukhari, Shreeja Shah, Khaled Harmouch, Hussam Al Hennawi, Bruce D. Klugherz

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an insidious diagnosis associated with morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic therapy may suffice initially, but advanced stages demand mechanical intervention. Pulmonary stent implantation (PSI) and pulmonary balloon angioplasty (PBA) are common strategies, both carrying restenosis risks. This meta‐analysis compares PSI and PBA to determine the superior revascularization strategy. We systematically searched databases until November 2023, identifying 11 studies with 780 patients. Studies, including those involving patients undergoing balloon angioplasty (BA) or stent angioplasty (SA) for PVS, were selected. Case reports, editorials, and cross‐sectional studies were omitted. Primary outcomes included restenosis requiring reintervention, 5‐year freedom from restenosis, …

Revascularization Strategies For Multivessel Disease In Acute Coronary Syndrome: Network Meta-Analysis, Khaled M. Harmouch, Mohammad Hamza, Nomesh Kumar, Zarghoona Wajid, Neel Patel, Masooma Naseem, Jawad Basit, Prakash Upreti, Manoj Kumar, Waqas Ullah, Yasar Sattar, Timir K. Paul, Emmanouil Brilakis, M. Chadi Alraies

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: The optimal revascularization strategy for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and multivessel disease (MVD) remains debated. This study compares the efficacy and safety of different revascularization strategies in these patients.

METHODS: We included 20 studies comparing staged, complete, and culprit-only (CO) revascularization strategies in patients with ACS and MVD. We divided the revascularization strategies into 3 distinct strategies: CO, complete index procedure (CIP), and complete staged procedure (CSP). We then compared CIP and CSP with CO. Outcomes studied are all-cause mortality, cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), need for revascularization, bleeding, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), stroke, bleeding, and stent …

Early Detection Of Amniotic Fluid Embolism Leading To Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Prior To Cardiac Arrest, Enad Haddad, Hamza Muhammadzai, Shayan Iqbal Khan, Angad Bedi, Rajesh Patel

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Amniotic fluid embolism is a life-threatening peripartum condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is defined as the passage of fetal material into the maternal circulation which elicits a multisystem reaction that can lead to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and severe hemodynamic instability. Despite established diagnostic criteria for amniotic fluid embolism, its identification relies heavily on clinical judgment, and early diagnosis is key to patient survival. In several cases, early utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support has provided a salvage approach to correct cardiopulmonary collapse. Herein, we present a case of successful application of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a …

Iatrogenic Ventricular Septal Defect After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Rare Complication, Muhammad Sabri, Hussam Al Hennawi, Shayan Qadir, Lucy Checchio, Chaitra Janga, Hamza Muhammadzai, Donald C. Haas

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a rare complication following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). An 83-year-old male underwent TAVI for severe aortic stenosis (AS) and was diagnosed with a peri-membranous VSD on echocardiography, which was not evident on pre-procedural imaging. This case highlights the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of iatrogenic VSD following TAVI.

Acute Myocarditis Secondary To Human Metapneumovirus: A Case Series And Mini-Review, Hussam Al Hennawi, Aamna Khan, Alexander Shpilman, Jennifer A. Mazzoni

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Among viral myocarditis, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a rare causative agent with associated cardiac complications. This report provides insight into the disease progression and sheds light on reported cases from the literature. We present the clinical courses of two patients, aged 68 and 58, who developed myocarditis secondary to hMPV infection. Despite the typical severity associated with viral myocarditis in older populations, both patients experienced significant improvement in their condition and ultimately survived. This report highlights the necessity of recognizing hMPV as a potential cause of myocarditis, particularly in older adults presenting with simultaneous respiratory and cardiac symptoms. The recovery …

The Complexity And Significance Of Fibroblast Growth Factor (Fgf) Signaling For Fgf-Targeted Cancer Therapies, Anh Nguyen, Caroline Facey, Bruce Boman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have diverse functions in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in development, tissue maintenance, wound repair, and angiogenesis. The goal of this review paper is to (i) deliberate on the role of FGFs and FGF receptors (FGFRs) in different cancers, (ii) present advances in FGF-targeted cancer therapies, and (iii) explore cell signaling mechanisms that explain how FGF expression becomes dysregulated during cancer development. FGF is often mutated and overexpressed in cancer and the different FGF and FGFR isoforms have unique expression patterns and distinct roles in different cancers. Among the FGF members, the FGF 15/19 …