Diseases Commons^™

Circulating Tumor Dna Reflects Uveal Melanoma Responses To Protein Kinase C Inhibition, John J. Park, Russell J. Diefenbach, Natalie Byrne, Georgina V. Long, Richard A. Scolyer, Elin S. Gray, Matteo S. Carlino, Helen Rizos

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The prognosis for patients with UM is poor, and recent clinical trials have failed to prolong overall survival (OS) of these patients. Over 95% of UM harbor activating driver mutations, and this allows for the investigation of ctDNA. In this study, we investigated the value of ctDNA for adaptive clinical trial design in metastatic UM. Longitudinal plasma samples were analyzed for ctDNA in 17 metastatic UM patients treated with PKCi-based therapy in a phase 1 clinical trial setting. Plasma ctDNA was assessed using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) and a custom melanoma gene panel for targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Baseline …

Using Exercise And Nutrition To Alter Fat And Lean Mass In Men With Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Narrative Review, Rebekah L. Wilson, Dennis R. Taaffe, Robert U. Newton, Nicolas H. Hart, Philippa Lyons-Wall, Daniel A. Galvao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Fat mass (FM) gain and lean mass (LM) loss are common side effects for patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Excess FM has been associated with an increased risk of developing obesity-related comorbidities, exacerbating prostate cancer progression, and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. LM is the predominant contributor to resting metabolic rate, with any loss impacting long-term weight management as well as physical function. Therefore, reducing FM and preserving LM may improve patient-reported outcomes, risk of disease progression, and ameliorate comorbidity development. In ADT-treated patients, exercise and nutrition programs can lead to improvements in quality of life and …

Effect Of Exercise Adjunct To Radiation And Androgen Deprivation Therapy On Patient-Reported Treatment Toxicity In Men With Prostate Cancer: A Secondary Analysis Of 2 Randomized Controlled Trials, Oliver Schumacher, Daniel A. Galvão, Dennis R. Taaffe, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Colin Tang, Raphael Chee, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Physical inactivity, in addition to clinical factors, has been associated with higher levels of late pelvic symptoms in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a structured multicomponent exercise program comprised of aerobic and resistance training as well as impact loading on the prevalence and severity of symptoms commonly resulting from androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and pelvic radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: We performed a secondary analysis of pooled data from 2 randomized controlled trials that investigated the role of exercise on treatment-related side effects in patients …

Covid-19 Disease Severity And Death In Relation To Vitamin D Status Among Sars-Cov-2-Positive Uae Residents, Habiba Alsafar, William B. Grant, Rafiq Hijazi, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Fatme Al Anouti

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Insufficient blood levels of the neurohormone vitamin D are associated with increased risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Despite the global rollout of vaccinations and promising preliminary results, the focus remains on additional preventive measures to manage COVID-19. Results conflict on vitamin D’s plausible role in preventing and treating COVID-19. We examined the relation between vitamin D status and COVID-19 severity and mortality among the multiethnic population of the United Arab Emirates. Our observational study used data for 522 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at one of the main hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Only 464 of those …

Cdk5 Positively Regulates Notch1 Signaling In Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Phosphorylation, Qiaoyun Chu, Liyong Wang, Jie Zhang, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The marked overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) or Notch1 receptor, which plays critical roles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development, has been detected in numerous PDAC cell lines and tissues. Although, a previous study has demonstrated that CDK5 inhibition disrupts Notch1 functions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the mechanism underlying Notch1 activation regulated by CDK5 remains unclear. Herein, we identified a physical interaction between CDK5 and Notch1 in PDAC cells, with the Notch1 peptide phosphorylated by CDK5/p25 kinase. CDK5 blockade resulted in the profound inhibition of Notch signaling. Accordingly, CDK5 inhibition sensitized PDAC cell proliferation and migration following …

Causal Inference Between Chronic Periodontitis And Chronic Kidney Disease: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis In A European Population, Jie Yang, Tianyi Chen, Yahong Zhu, Mingxia Bai, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Previous epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between chronic periodontitis (CP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the causal relationship remains uncertain. Aiming to examine the causal relationship between these two diseases, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with multiple MR methods. Methods: For the casual effect of CP on CKD, we selected seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specific to CP as genetic instrumental variables from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the GLIDE Consortium. The summary statistics of complementary kidney function measures, i.e., estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), were derived from …

A Model For Inhalation Of Infectious Aerosol Contaminants In An Aircraft Passenger Cabin, Bert A. Silich

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Aerosol contamination of an aircraft cabin by infectious passengers is a concern of passengers, aircrew and the aviation industry. This may be especially important during a pandemic, such as COVID-19, where the full extent of aerosol transmission is not well understood. A statistical method to determine the number of infectious passengers on board along with a mathematical model estimating the contaminant concentration of aerosols in the cabin and the number of inhaled infectious particles by passengers is presented. An example is used to demonstrated how the results can be estimated during normal operations and emergency conditions with malfunctions of the …

Deep Neural Network Analysis Of Pathology Images With Integrated Molecular Data For Enhanced Glioma Classification And Grading, Linmin Pei, Karra A. Jones, Zeina A. Shboul, James Y. Chen, Khan M. Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Gliomas are primary brain tumors that originate from glial cells. Classification and grading of these tumors is critical to prognosis and treatment planning. The current criteria for glioma classification in central nervous system (CNS) was introduced by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016. This criteria for glioma classification requires the integration of histology with genomics. In 2017, the Consortium to Inform Molecular and Practical Approaches to CNS Tumor Taxonomy (cIMPACT-NOW) was established to provide up-to-date recommendations for CNS tumor classification, which in turn the WHO is expected to adopt in its upcoming edition. In this work, we propose a novel …

Mitral Valve Repair Complicated By Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Occlusion: The Vital Role Of The Anesthesiologist, Andres Bacigalupo Landa, Jason Hoyos, Jayanand D'Mello

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The anatomical relationship between the mitral valve and the left circumflex coronary artery places this vessel at risk for occlusion during mitral valve repair or replacement. In view of the potential high morbidity and mortality of this complication, the anesthesiologist has a vital role in its prompt diagnosis. We present the case of a 47-year-old man who underwent a minimally invasive mitral valve repair, which was complicated by left circumflex coronary artery occlusion.

A New Aortic Arch Dissection Classification: The Fuwai Classification, Juntao Qiu, Xinjin Luo, Jinlin Wu, Wei Pan, Qian Chang, Xiangyang Qian, Xiaogang Sun, Bo Wei, Liang Zhang, Shen Liu, Wenxiang Jiang, Cuntao Yu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aims: We describe a new aortic arch dissection (AcD) classification, which we have called the Fuwai classification. We then compare the clinical characteristics and long-term prognoses of different classifications.

Methods: All AcD patients who underwent surgical procedures at Fuwai Hospital from 2010 to 2015 were included in the study. AcD procedures are divided into three types: Fuwai type Cp, Ct, and Cd. Type Cp is defined as the innominate artery or combined with the left carotid artery involved. Type Cd is defined as the left subclavian artery or combined with the left carotid artery involved. All other AcD surgeries are …

Rapid Induction Of The Unfolded Protein Response And Apoptosis By Estrogen Mimic Ttc-352 For The Treatment Of Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer, Balkees Abderrahman, Philipp Y Maximov, Ramona F Curpan, Sean W Fanning, Jay S Hanspal, Ping Fan, Charles E Foulds, Yue Chen, Anna Malovannaya, Antrix Jain, Rui Xiong, Geoffrey L Greene, Debra A Tonetti, Gregory R J Thatcher, V Craig Jordan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Patients with long-term estrogen-deprived breast cancer (BC), after resistance to tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors develops, can experience tumor regression when treated with estrogens. Estrogen’s anti-tumor effect is attributed to apoptosis via the estrogen receptor (ER). Estrogen treatment can have unpleasant gynecological and non-gynecological adverse events thus the development of safer estrogenic agents remains a clinical priority. Here, we study synthetic selective estrogen mimics (SEMs) BMI-135 and TTC-352, and the naturally-occurring estrogen estetrol (E4), which are proposed as safer estrogenic agents compared to 17β-estradiol (E2), for the treatment of endocrine-resistant BC. TTC-352 and E4 are being evaluated in BC clinical trials. …

Small-Molecule Inhibitor Of Af9/Enl-Dot1l/Af4/Aff4 Interactions Suppresses Malignant Gene Expression And Tumor Grow, Fangrui Wu, Shenyou Nie, Yuan Yao, Tong Huo, Xin Li, Xiaowei Wu, Jidong Zhao, Yi-Lun Lin, Yinjie Zhang, Qianxing Mo, Yongcheng Song

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chromosome translocations involving mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene cause acute leukemia with a poor prognosis. MLL is frequently fused with transcription cofactors AF4 (~35%), AF9 (25%) or its paralog ENL (10%). The AHD domain of AF9/ENL binds to AF4, its paralog AFF4, or histone-H3 lysine-79 (H3K79) methyltransferase DOT1L. Formation of AF9/ENL/AF4/AFF4-containing super elongation complexes (SEC) and the catalytic activity of DOT1L are essential for MLL-rearranged leukemia. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) between AF9/ENL and DOT1L/AF4/AFF4 are therefore a potential drug target.

Methods: Compound screening followed by medicinal chemistry was used to find inhibitors of such PPIs, which were examined for their biological …

N95 Respirator Reuse, Decontamination Methods, And Microbial Burden: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Zi Yang Jiang, Zhen Huang, Isaac Schmale, Eric L Brown, Michael C Lorenz, Scott J Patlovich, Karan Goswami, Hannah B Wilson, Jumah Ahmad, Ronda Alexander, William Bryan, Luke Burke, Martin J Citardi, Jose Elias, Tang Ho, Jack Jacob, Garren Low, Pedro Miramón, Aniruddha U Patki, William C Yao, Amber U Luong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and ease of N95 respirator decontamination methods in a clinic setting and to identify the extent of microbial colonization on respirators associated with reuse.

METHODS: In a prospective fashion, N95 respirators (n = 15) were randomized to a decontamination process (time, dry heat, or ultraviolet C light [UVC]) in outpatient clinics. Each respirator was re-used up to 5 separate clinic sessions. Swabs on each respirator for SARS-CoV-2, bacteria, and fungi were obtained before clinic, after clinic and post-treatment. Mask integrity was checked after each treatment (n = 68). Statistical analyses were performed to determine factors …

N95 Respirator Reuse, Decontamination Methods, And Microbial Burden: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Zi Yang Jiang, Zhen Huang, Isaac Schmale, Eric L Brown, Michael C Lorenz, Scott J Patlovich, Karan Goswami, Hannah B Wilson, Jumah Ahmad, Ronda Alexander, William Bryan, Luke Burke, Martin J Citardi, Jose Elias, Tang Ho, Jack Jacob, Garren Low, Pedro Miramón, Aniruddha U Patki, William C Yao, Amber U Luong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and ease of N95 respirator decontamination methods in a clinic setting and to identify the extent of microbial colonization on respirators associated with reuse.

METHODS: In a prospective fashion, N95 respirators (n = 15) were randomized to a decontamination process (time, dry heat, or ultraviolet C light [UVC]) in outpatient clinics. Each respirator was re-used up to 5 separate clinic sessions. Swabs on each respirator for SARS-CoV-2, bacteria, and fungi were obtained before clinic, after clinic and post-treatment. Mask integrity was checked after each treatment (n = 68). Statistical analyses were performed to determine factors …

Pathologic Femur Fracture Through Osteoid Osteoma After Radiofrequency Ablation: Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Nathan B Rogers, Brennan P Roper, Alfred A Mansour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This is a case report of a 4-year-old girl who sustained a femoral shaft fracture 2 weeks after radiofrequency ablation of an osteoid osteoma. The fracture occurred after a relatively low-energy impact, jumping off the second to last step of a staircase. The pathologic fracture was successfully treated with closed reduction and spica casting, with full return to activities. Cases have been reported in the literature of femoral shaft fractures in older patients after radiofrequency ablation, but all are farther out than 2 weeks and none in patients as young as 4 years.

The Bile Acid Induced Hepatokine Orosomucoid Suppresses Adipocyte Differentiation, Sung Ho Lee, Jong Min Choi, Sung Yun Jung, Aaron R Cox, Sean M Hartig, David D Moore, Kang Ho Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Bile acids have recently emerged as key metabolic hormones with beneficial impacts in multiple metabolic diseases. We previously discovered that hepatic bile acid overload distally modulates glucose and fatty acid metabolism in adipose tissues to exert anti-obesity effects. However, the detailed mechanisms that explain the salutary effects of serum bile acid elevation remain unclear. Here, proteomic profiling identified a new hepatokine, Orosomucoid (ORM) that governs liver-adipose tissue crosstalk. Hepatic ORMs were highly induced by both genetic and dietary bile acid overload. To address the direct metabolic effects of ORM, purified ORM proteins were administered during adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells …

Adipocyte-Specific Ablation Of Pu1 Promotes Energy Expenditure And Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome In Aging Mice, Ke Yun Chen, Alejandra De Angulo, Xin Guo, Aditya More, Scott A Ochsner, Eduardo Lopez, David Saul, Weijun Pang, Yuxiang Sun, Neil J Mckenna, Qiang Tong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Although PU.1/Spi1 is known as a master regulator for macrophage development and function, we have reported previously that it is also expressed in adipocytes and is transcriptionally induced in obesity. Here, we investigated the role of adipocyte PU.1 in the development of the age-associated metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We generated mice with adipocyte-specific PU.1 knockout, assessed metabolic changes in young and older adult PU.1^fl/fl (control) and AdipoqCre PU.1^fl/fl (aPU.1KO) mice, including body weight, body composition, energy expenditure, and glucose homeostasis. We also performed transcriptional analyses using RNA-Sequencing of adipocytes from these mice.

Results: aPU.1KO mice have elevated energy …

Lifestyle Risk Factors, Quality Of Life, And Intervention Preferences Of Barrett's Esophagus Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study, Xiaotao Zhang, Sharmila Anandasabapathy, Julian Abrams, Mohamed Othman, Hoda J Badr

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lifestyle counseling to achieve a healthy weight, quit smoking, and reduce alcohol is a cornerstone in the management of Barrett's Esophagus (BE). However, little is known about whether patients make these recommended lifestyle changes or the impact of non-adherence on their quality of life (QOL). This study characterized the lifestyle risk factors, QOL, and intervention preferences of BE patients as a first step toward developing lifestyle change interventions for this population.

METHODS: Patients with a confirmed BE diagnosis (N = 106) completed surveys at a surveillance endoscopy visit (baseline) and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Patients reported …

Meld-Na Is More Strongly Associated With Risk Of Infection And Outcomes Than Other Characteristics Of Patients With Cirrhosis, Zachary P Fricker, V V Pavan Kedar Mukthinuthalapati, Samuel Akinyeye, Naga Chalasani, Bashar M Attar, Maya Balakrishnan, Marwan Ghabril, Michelle T Long

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The nature and outcomes of infection among patients with cirrhosis in safety-net hospitals are not well described. We aimed to characterize the rate of and risk factors for infection, both present on admission and nosocomial, in this unique population. We hypothesized that infections would be associated with adverse outcomes such as short-term mortality.

METHODS: We used descriptive statistics to characterize infections within a retrospective cohort characterized previously. We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess potential risk factors for infection and associations with key outcomes such as short-term mortality and length of stay.

RESULTS: The study cohort …

Helicobacter Pylori Diagnosis And Therapy In The Era Of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Akiko Shiotani, Priya Roy, Hong Lu, David Y Graham

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The diagnosis and therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection have undergone major changes based on the use the principles of antimicrobial stewardship and increased availability of susceptibility profiling. H. pylori gastritis now recognized as an infectious disease, as such there is no placebo response allowing outcome to be assessed in relation to the theoretically obtainable cure rate of 100%. The recent recognition of H. pylori as an infectious disease has changed the focus to therapies optimized to reliably achieve high cure rates. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has also led to restriction of clarithromycin, levofloxacin, or metronidazole to susceptibility-based therapies. Covid-19 resulted in …

Alcohol Consumption And The Risk Of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia In A Us Veterans Population, Hudson M Holmes, Andre G Jove, Mimi C Tan, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic alcohol use is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. However, it is less well understood whether alcohol use is a risk factor for premalignant mucosal changes, namely gastric intestinal metaplasia. We examined the association between various parameters of alcohol use and risk of gastric intestinal metaplasia.

METHODS: We used data from 2084 participants (including 403 with gastric intestinal metaplasia) recruited between February 2008-August 2013 into a cross-sectional study at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas. All participants underwent a study upper endoscopy with systematic gastric mapping biopsies. Cases had intestinal metaplasia on …

Safety And Efficacy Of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation To Treat And Prevent Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile In Cancer Patients, Hiba Ali, Shruti Khurana, Weijie Ma, Yuanzun Peng, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Herbert Dupont, Hao Chi Zhang, Anusha S Thomas, Pablo Okhuysen, Yinghong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Cancer patients are at increased risk of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) due to malignancy itself, cancer therapy, and frequent antibiotic use and have a lower response rate to standard oral antibiotics. There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating rCDI in cancer patients. We aim to describe our experience of using FMT to treat rCDI at a tertiary cancer center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of cancer patients who underwent FMT for rCDI at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from June 2017 through January 2020. Baseline …

Intrapulmonary Administration Of Purified Neil2 Abrogates Nf-Κb-Mediated Inflammation, Nisha Tapryal, Shandy Shahabi, Anirban Chakraborty, Koa Hosoki, Maki Wakamiya, Gobinda Sarkar, Gulshan Sharma, Victor J Cardenas, Istvan Boldogh, Sanjiv Sur, Gourisankar Ghosh, Tapas K Hazra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aberrant or constitutive activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) contributes to various human inflammatory diseases and malignancies via the upregulation of genes involved in cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Thus, inhibition of NF-κB signaling has potential for therapeutic applications in cancer and inflammatory diseases. We reported previously that Nei-like DNA glycosylase 2 (NEIL2), a mammalian DNA glycosylase, is involved in the preferential repair of oxidized DNA bases from the transcriptionally active sequences via the transcription-coupled base excision repair pathway. We have further shown that Neil2-null mice are highly sensitive to tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)- and lipopolysaccharide-induced …

An International Study Of Interobserver Variability Of “String Sign” Of Pancreatic Cysts Among Experienced Endosonographers, Wanda Phipatanakul, David T Mauger, Theresa W Guilbert, Leonard B Bacharier, Sandy Durrani, Daniel J Jackson, Fernando D Martinez, Anne M Fitzpatrick, Amparito Cunningham, Susan Kunselman, Lisa M Wheatley, Cindy Bauer, Carla M Davis, Bob Geng, Kirsten M Kloepfer, Craig Lapin, Andrew H Liu, Jacqueline A Pongracic, Stephen J Teach, James Chmiel, Jonathan M Gaffin, Matthew Greenhawt, Meera R Gupta, Peggy S Lai, Robert F Lemanske, Wayne J Morgan, William J Sheehan, Jeffrey Stokes, Peter S Thorne, Hans C Oettgen, Elliot Israel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Asthma remains one of the most important challenges to pediatric public health in the US. A large majority of children with persistent and chronic asthma demonstrate aeroallergen sensitization, which remains a pivotal risk factor associated with the development of persistent, progressive asthma throughout life. In individuals with a tendency toward Type 2 inflammation, sensitization and exposure to high concentrations of offending allergens is associated with increased risk for development of, and impairment from, asthma. The cascade of biological responses to allergens is primarily mediated through IgE antibodies and their production is further stimulated by IgE responses to antigen exposure. In …

Extensive Mycobacterium Abscessus Pneumonia In An Immunocompetent Infant With No Underlying Lung Pathology, Morouge M Alramadhan, James R Murphy, Michael L Chang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium abscessus occurs in patients with cystic fibrosis, but rarely in immunocompetent children without underlying lung pathology. Treatment is complicated by frequent resistance to many antibiotics. We present a case report of a 4-month-old female infant with 2 months of cough, difficulty feeding, and failure to thrive, with extensive culture-confirmed M. abscessus pulmonary infection without identified immunodeficiency or underlying lung pathology following multidisciplinary evaluation. We describe our complete evaluation including immunodeficiency evaluation incorporating whole-exome sequencing, describe our antibiotic selection and treatment duration given complicated susceptibility pattern of the M. abscessus isolate, and review literature for nontuberculous …

Recognizing A Mis-Chievous Cause Of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis, Rohit Josyabhatla, Ankur A Kamdar, Shabba A Armbrister, Rhea Daniel, Konstantinos Boukas, Keely G Smith, Melissa R Van Arsdall, Kokila Kakarala, Anthony R Flores, Audrey Wanger, Yuying Liu, Jon Marc Rhoads

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Historically, children evaluated for vomiting and diarrhea secondary to viral enteritis have symptoms lasting 2-4 days and respond to supportive care, including oral rehydration and anti-emetics if required. Recently, within a 14-day timespan, we encountered three children with severe diarrhea who rapidly became dehydrated and went into hypotensive shock. Although SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests were negative by nasopharyngeal swab, all were later found to have MIS-C. This small case series underscores features reported in previous larger studies and emphasizes the rapid clinical evolution of this condition. We highlight the importance of early recognition of cardinal laboratory findings characteristic of MIS-C (i.e., …

Can Erythropoietin Reduce Hypoxemic Neurological Damages In Neonates With Congenital Heart Defects?, Sara Ottolenghi, Giuseppina Milano, Michele Dei Cas, Tina O Findley, Rita Paroni, Antonio F Corno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Congenital heart defects (CHD), the most common cause of birth defects with increasing birth prevalence, affect nearly 1% of live births worldwide. Cyanotic CHD are characterized by hypoxemia, with subsequent reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, especially critical during brain development, beginning in the fetus and continuing through the neonatal period. Therefore, neonates with CHD carry a high risk for neurological comorbidities, even more frequently when there are associated underlying genetic disorders. We review the currently available knowledge on potential prevention strategies to reduce brain damage induced by hypoxemia during fetal development and immediately after birth, and the role of …

Recurrent Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Tenosynovitis, Melissa Kwan, Richard Tupler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria are an uncommon pathogen for musculoskeletal infection and are difficult to treat because of delays in diagnosis, prolonged treatment requiring both antimycobacterial therapy and surgical debridement, and high rates of resistance to antimycobacterial therapy.

Case Report: We report the case of an 88-year-old male with recurrent Mycobacterium avium complex tenosynovitis despite receiving multiple courses of pharmacologic therapy and surgical debridement.

Conclusion: Nontuberculous mycobacterial musculoskeletal infections can be difficult to diagnose and equally difficult to treat. A combination of antimycobacterial therapy and surgical debridement is often required; however, the rate of treatment failure remains high, particularly with rapidly …

Trace Element Concentrations In Blood And Scute Tissues From Wild And Captive Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia Mydas), Katherine R Shaw, Jennifer M Lynch, George H Balazs, T Todd Jones, Jeff Pawloski, Marc R Rice, Amanda D French, Jing Liu, George P Cobb, David M Klein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sea turtles are exposed to trace elements through water, sediment, and food. Exposure to these elements has been shown to decrease immune function, impair growth, and decrease reproductive output in wildlife. This study compares trace element concentrations in green turtles in captivity at Sea Life Park Hawaii (n = 6) to wild green turtles in Kapoho Bay, HI (n = 5 to 7). Blood and scute samples were collected and analyzed for eleven elements via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selenium was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the blood of captive turtles compared to wild turtles, while V, Ni, and Pb were significantly greater in the blood of wild turtles. In scute, V, Cu, Se, and Cr were significantly greater in captive turtles, while As was significantly greater in wild turtles. Pelleted food fed to the captive turtles and representative samples of the wild turtle diet were analyzed via ICP-MS to calculate trophic transfer factors and daily intake values. Wild turtles had greater estimated daily intake than captive turtles for all elements except Cu and Se. Because captive turtles are fed a diet very different from their wild counterparts, captive turtles do not represent control or reference samples for chemical exposure studies in wild turtles. No toxic thresholds are known for sea turtles, but rehabilitation and managed care facilities should monitor sea turtle elemental concentrations to ensure the animals’ health.

Complete Genome Sequence Of Rickettsia Parkeri Strain Black Gap, Sandor E. Karpathy, Christopher D. Paddock, Stephanie L. Grizzard, Dhwani Batra, Lori A. Rowe, David T. Gauthier

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A unique genotype of Rickettsia parkeri, designated R. parkeri strain Black Gap, has thus far been associated exclusively with the North American tick, Dermacentor parumapertus. The compete genome consists of a single circular chromosome with 1,329,522 bp and a G+C content of 32.5%.