Diseases Commons^™

Decreased Fxr Agonism In The Bile Acid Pool Is Associated With Impaired Fxr Signaling In A Pig Model Of Pediatric Nafld, Magdalena A Maj, Douglas G Burrin, Rodrigo Manjarín

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the impairment of farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) signaling in juvenile pigs with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with changes in the composition of the enterohepatic bile acid pool. Eighteen 15-day-old Iberian pigs, pair-housed in pens, were allocated to receive either a control (CON) or high-fructose, high-fat (HFF) diet. Animals were euthanized in week 10, and liver, blood, and distal ileum (DI) samples were collected. HFF-fed pigs developed NAFLD and had decreased FGF19 expression in the DI and lower FGF19 levels in the blood. Compared with …

A Multicenter Evaluation Of Pediatric Emergency Department Injury Visits During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Holly R Hanson, Margaret Formica, Danielle Laraque-Arena, Mark R Zonfrillo, Puja Desai, Joseph O O'Neil, Purnima Unni, Estell Lenita Johnson, Patricia Cobb, Maneesha Agarwal, Kristen Beckworth, Stephanie Schroter, Stephen Strotmeyer, Katie A Donnelly, Leah K Middelberg, Amber M Morse, James Dodington, Richard F Latuska, Brit Anderson, Karla A Lawson, Michael Valente, Michael N Levas, Andrew Waititu Kiragu, Kathy Monroe, Stephanie M Ruest, Lois K Lee, Tanya Charyk Stewart, Megan M Attridge, Maya Haasz, Mubeen Jafri, Alicia Mcintire, Steven C Rogers, Neil G Uspal, Ashley Blanchard, Max D Hazeltine, Teresa Riech, Charles Jennissen, Lynn Model, Quinney Fu, Lindsay D Clukies, David Juang, Michelle T Ruda, Jose M Prince, Stephanie Chao, Brian K Yorkgitis, Wendy J Pomerantz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Injuries, the leading cause of death in children 1-17 years old, are often preventable. Injury patterns are impacted by changes in the child's environment, shifts in supervision, and caregiver stressors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and proportion of injuries, mechanisms, and severity seen in Pediatric Emergency Departments (PEDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study from January 2019 through December 2020 examined visits to 40 PEDs for children < 18 years old. Injury was defined by at least one International Classification of Disease-10th revision (ICD-10) code for bodily injury (S00-T78). The main study outcomes were total and proportion of PED injury-related visits compared to all visits in March through December 2020 and to the same months in 2019. Weekly injury visits as a percentage of total PED visits were calculated for all weeks between January 2019 and December 2020.

RESULTS: The study included 741,418 PED visits for injuries pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Overall PED visits from all causes …

Development And Validation Of A Multiplex Real-Time Pcr Assay For Detection And Quantification Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae In Pediatric Respiratory Samples, Molly Butler, Garrett Breazeale, Eric Mwangi, Elaine Dowell, Samuel R Dominguez, Linda Lamberth, Kristina G Hultén, Sarah A Jung

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a bacterial pathogen that causes a range of disease manifestations in children, from acute otitis media to pneumonia, septicemia, and meningitis. Primary Spn laboratory diagnostic identification methods include culture, antigen testing, single-plex real-time PCR, and syndromic PCR panels. However, each method lacks sensitivity, specificity, and/or cost efficiency. We developed and validated a quantitative, multiplex PCR assay using three Spn genomic targets (lytA, piaB, and SP2020) for improved sensitivity and specificity to detect Spn in pleural fluid (PF), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), tracheal aspirate (TA), and upper respiratory (UR, research only) samples. Validation testing …

Metformin Plus Insulin For Preexisting Diabetes Or Gestational Diabetes In Early Pregnancy: The Mompod Randomized Clinical Trial, Kim A Boggess, Arielle Valint, Jerrie S Refuerzo, Noelia Zork, Ashley N Battarbee, Kacey Eichelberger, Gladys A Ramos, Gayle Olson, Celeste Durnwald, Mark B Landon, Kjersti M Aagaard, Kedra Wallace, Christina Scifres, Todd Rosen, Wadia Mulla, Amy Valent, Sherri Longo, Laura Young, M Alison Marquis, Sonia Thomas, Ashley Britt, Diane Berry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: Insulin is recommended for pregnant persons with preexisting type 2 diabetes or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy. The addition of metformin to insulin may improve neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of metformin added to insulin for preexisting type 2 or diabetes diagnosed early in pregnancy on a composite adverse neonatal outcome.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This randomized clinical trial in 17 US centers enrolled pregnant adults aged 18 to 45 years with preexisting type 2 diabetes or diabetes diagnosed prior to 23 weeks' gestation between April 2019 and November 2021. Each participant was treated with insulin and …

Oncogenic Kras Drives Lipofibrogenesis To Promote Angiogenesis And Colon Cancer Progression, Wen-Hao Hsu, Kyle A Labella, Yiyun Lin, Ping Xu, Rumi Lee, Cheng-En Hsieh, Lei Yang, Ashley Zhou, Jonathan M Blecher, Chang-Jiun Wu, Kangyu Lin, Xiaoying Shang, Shan Jiang, Denise J Spring, Yan Xia, Peiwen Chen, John Paul Shen, Scott Kopetz, Ronald A Depinho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) contributes to many cancer hallmarks. In colorectal cancer, KRAS* suppresses antitumor immunity to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we uncovered that KRAS* transforms the phenotype of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAF) into lipid-laden CAFs, promoting angiogenesis and tumor progression. Mechanistically, KRAS* activates the transcription factor CP2 (TFCP2) that upregulates the expression of the proadipogenic factors BMP4 and WNT5B, triggering the transformation of CAFs into lipid-rich CAFs. These lipid-rich CAFs, in turn, produce VEGFA to spur angiogenesis. In KRAS*-driven colorectal cancer mouse models, genetic or pharmacologic neutralization of TFCP2 reduced lipid-rich CAFs, lessened tumor angiogenesis, and improved overall survival. …

Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Perspectives In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men Taking Preexposure Prophylaxis In New Orleans, Meredith E. Clement, Jeremy Beckford, Aish Lovett, Julia Siren, Marie Adorno, Sara Legrand, Marsha Bennett, Jamilah Taylor, Emily Hanlen-Rosado, Brian Perry, Amy Corneli

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Profound sexual health disparities exist for Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US South, including a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually transmitted infection prevention strategies beyond condoms are needed for Black MSM taking preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with Black MSM taking PrEP in New Orleans, Louisiana. Informed by the Health Belief Model, we asked about participants' perceived susceptibility, severity, and concerns regarding STIs, and perceived benefits of STI prevention. We also asked about willingness to use various STI prevention strategies, including antibiotic prophylaxis. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed …

The Importance Of Triple Panel Testing For Hepatitis B And The Burden Of Isolated Anti-Hepatitis B Core Antibodies Within A Community Sample, Catherine Freeland, Vivek Sreepathi, Richard Hass, Jonathan Fenkel, Jessie Torgersen, Kenneth Rothstein, Chari Cohen, Robert Gish

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Within the United States (US), 2.4 million individuals are living with chronic hepatitis B, but less than 20% are diagnosed. Isolated anti-hepatitis B core (iAHBc) antibodies indicate serology in an individual that is positive for anti-HBc antibodies, while negative for surface antigen (HBsAg) and surface antibodies (anti-HBs). A result of iAHBc could indicate a chronic occult bloodstream infection, necessitating further testing. This study assesses the prevalence and risk factors associated with anti-HBc and iAHBc within community high-risk screening in Greater Philadelphia. Participants (n = 177) were screened for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc during community screening events in 2022. Chi-square tables …

Bringing Car T Cell Therapy Trials To Underserved Populations, Hoda Badr, Rayne Rouce, Michael E Scheurer, Premal Lulla, Martha Mims, Pavan Reddy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is a critical need for equitable access to cell therapies in cancer treatment, particularly within public safety-net healthcare systems that serve minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. We discuss how the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine is piloting a cell therapy program aimed at addressing cancer care disparities and has the potential to serve as a national model for enhancing health equity in cancer care.

Metformin: A Potential Treatment For Acne, Hidradenitis Suppurativa And Rosacea, Minah Cho, Yu Ri Woo, Sang Hyun Cho, Jeong Deuk Lee, Hei Sung Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Metformin is a widely used drug for treatment of diabetes mellitus, due to its safety and efficacy. In addition to its role as an antidiabetic drug, numerous beneficial effects of metformin have enabled its use in various diseases. Considering the anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-fibrotic and antioxidant properties of metformin, it may have the potential to improve chronic inflammatory skin diseases. However, further evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy of metformin in dermatological conditions, This review focuses on exploring the therapeutic targets of metformin in acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa and rosacea, by studying their pathogeneses.

Spatiotemporal Genomic Profiling Of Intestinal Metaplasia Reveals Clonal Dynamics Of Gastric Cancer Progression, Kie Kyon Huang, Haoran Ma, Roxanne Hui Heng Chong, Tomoyuki Uchihara, Benedict Shi Xiang Lian, Feng Zhu, Taotao Sheng, Supriya Srivastava, Su Ting Tay, Raghav Sundar, Angie Lay Keng Tan, Xuewen Ong, Minghui Lee, Shamaine Wei Ting Ho, Tom Lesluyes, Hassan Ashktorab, Duane Smoot, Peter Van Loo, Joy Shijia Chua, Kalpana Ramnarayanan, Louis Ho Shing Lau, Takuji Gotoda, Hyun Soo Kim, Tiing Leong Ang, Christopher Khor, Jonathan Wei Jie Lee, Stephen Kin Kwok Tsao, Wei Lyn Yang, Ming Teh, Hyunsoo Chung, Jimmy Bok Yan So, Khay Guan Yeoh, Patrick Tan, Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a pre-malignant condition of the gastric mucosa associated with increased gastric cancer (GC) risk. Analyzing 1,256 gastric samples (1,152 IMs) across 692 subjects from a prospective 10-year study, we identify 26 IM driver genes in diverse pathways including chromatin regulation (ARID1A) and intestinal homeostasis (SOX9). Single-cell and spatial profiles highlight changes in tissue ecology and IM lineage heterogeneity, including an intestinal stem-cell dominant cellular compartment linked to early malignancy. Expanded transcriptome profiling reveals expression-based molecular subtypes of IM associated with incomplete histology, antral/intestinal cell types, ARID1A mutations, inflammation, and microbial communities normally associated with the healthy …

The Dna Glycosylase Neil2 Is Protective During Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Nisha Tapryal, Anirban Chakraborty, Kaushik Saha, Azharul Islam, Lang Pan, Koa Hosoki, Ibrahim M Sayed, Jason M Duran, Joshua Alcantara, Vanessa Castillo, Courtney Tindle, Altaf H Sarker, Maki Wakamiya, Victor J Cardenas, Gulshan Sharma, Laura E Crotty Alexander, Sanjiv Sur, Debashis Sahoo, Gourisankar Ghosh, Soumita Das, Pradipta Ghosh, Istvan Boldogh, Tapas K Hazra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced aggravation of host innate immune response not only causes tissue damage and multiorgan failure in COVID-19 patients but also induces host genome damage and activates DNA damage response pathways. To test whether the compromised DNA repair capacity of individuals modulates the severity of COVID-19 infection, we analyze DNA repair gene expression in publicly available patient datasets and observe a lower level of the DNA glycosylase NEIL2 in the lungs of severely infected COVID-19 patients. This observation of lower NEIL2 levels is further validated in infected patients, hamsters and ACE2 receptor-expressing human A549 (A549-ACE2) cells. Furthermore, delivery of recombinant …

Therapeutic Effect Of Echinococcus Granulosus Cyst Fluid On Bacterial Sepsis In Mice, Shuying Wang, Donghui Jiang, Feifei Huang, Yayun Qian, Meitao Qi, Huihui Li, Xiaoli Wang, Zhi Wang, Kaigui Wang, Yin Wang, Pengfei Du, Bin Zhan, Rui Zhou, Liang Chu, Xiaodi Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The primary pathophysiological process of sepsis is to stimulate a massive release of inflammatory mediators to trigger systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), the major cause of multi-organ dysfunction and death. Like other helminths, Echinococcus granulosus induces host immunomodulation. We sought to determine whether E. granulosus cyst fluid (EgCF) displays a therapeutic effect on sepsis-induced inflammation and tissue damage in a mouse model.

METHODS: The anti-inflammatory effects of EgCF were determined by in vitro culture with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and in vivo treatment of BALB/C mice with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. The macrophage phenotypes were determined by …

A Timeline Of Klinefelter’S Syndrome, Xxy, Emma Chevalier, Tyler Venegas, Mary Salibi

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is a non-mendelian chromosomal disorder consisting of supernumerary X chromosomes in males, 80% of which manifest as the 47,XXY karyotype. The resulting gene dosage abnormalities affect both cognitive and physical development, with variable expressivity. The disease was first described by Harry Klinefelter in 1942 and was thought to be an endocrine disorder until the late 1950s, when karyotyping of affected individuals revealed an extra X chromosome.

(It is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy (1:500 males) and the most common cause of azoospermia. The phenotype for KS is highly contested due to its extremely variable expressivity and …

Comparing Measures Of Discourse Deficits In Individuals With Tbi And Cva, Amanda Carper, André Lindsey

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), otherwise known as strokes, can both result in discourse deficits. The present study compares the narrative discourse of individuals with CVA to individuals with TBI. This study aims to (1) determine potential diagnostic differences and (2) identify any consistent symptoms that may best guide treatment.

Injury Inequity Among Nevada Pedestrians: Assessment Using Measurements Of Community Needs, Merika Charupoom, Nicole Bacani, Emily Carter, Emily Strickler, Laura K. Gryder, Kavita Batra, Deborah A. Kuhls Md, Facs

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Nevada was the 10th highest ranking in pedestrian fatality rates. According to a report by Zero Fatalities, in 2021, there were 84 pedestrian deaths. Underserved communities, the elderly, and low income individuals are more likely to use walking, biking, or public transportation as a primary means of transportation due to vehicle expenses. Older adults, racial/ethnic minorities and those with lower socioeconomic statuses (SES) may bear a disproportionate burden of auto-pedestrian crashes.

A Phenotypically Robust Model Of Spinal And Bulbar Muscular Atrophy In Drosophila, Kristin Richardson, Medha Sengupta, Alyson Sujkowski, Kozeta Libohova, Autumn C. Harris, Robert Wessells, Diane E. Merry, Sokol V. Todi

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked disorder that affects males who inherit the androgen receptor (AR) gene with an abnormal CAG triplet repeat expansion. The resulting protein contains an elongated polyglutamine (polyQ) tract and causes motor neuron degeneration in an androgen-dependent manner. The precise molecular sequelae of SBMA are unclear. To assist with its investigation and the identification of therapeutic options, we report here a new model of SBMA in Drosophila melanogaster. We generated transgenic flies that express the full-length, human AR with a wild-type or pathogenic polyQ repeat. Each transgene is inserted into the same safe …

Perioperative Quality Initiative (Poqi) Consensus Statement On Perioperative Assessment Of Right Ventricular Function, Stephanie O Ibekwe, Jean Deschamps, Michael P W Grocott, Yafen Liang, Andrew Shaw, Tjorvi E Perry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The right ventricle (RV) plays a central role in the maintenance of effective cardiac pump function. Despite overwhelming evidence that perioperative RV dysfunction (RVD) and failure (RVF) are associated with poor clinical outcomes, there are very few published recommendations or guidelines for comprehensive, evidence-based RV assessment on the risk of developing either during the perioperative period.

MAIN TEXT: To address this gap, the Perioperative Quality Initiative-IX (POQI-IX) investigators group, comprised of clinical experts in anesthesiology, cardiovascular surgery, internal medicine, critical care medicine, and advanced practice nursing, has developed a consensus statement based on current literature, published society recommendations, and …

The Effects Of Night Shift Work On Heart, Gut, And Reproductive Health, A Systematic Review, Courtney Grayson, Preeti Oza

Pacific Journal of Health

Night shift work, a commonplace in today’s society, creates a variety of health-related challenges for individuals who participate in it. Often, the only adverse health effects discussed in relation to night shift work are sleep dysfunction and mental health issues. This systematic review examined the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and fertility health effects that plague individuals working night shift. The goal of this work is to illuminate these lesser known, but equally important, health effects in an effort to bring awareness to the issues. By educating night shift workers and health care providers of the acute risks associated with this type of …

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: Radiological And Microbiological Profile Of Patients Presented In An Outpatient Pulmonary Clinic In A Developing Country, Nousheen Iqbal, Muhammad Irfan, Mustafa Bin Ali Zubairi, Maaha Ayub, Safia Awan, Kauser Jabeen, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

There is limited data available about allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in Pakistan. The aim of the study was to describe the radiological and microbiological profile of ABPA patients presenting to the outpatient pulmonary clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A retrospective study was conducted on ABPA patients who presented to the pulmonary outpatient clinic at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2017 to December 2019. Data was collected on microbiology and radiology features on predesigned proforma. A total of 7759 asthmatic patients presented at the outpatient pulmonology clinic during the study period. Of the 245 …

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections In Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study By The Covid-19 Vaccination In Autoimmune Diseases (Covad) Group, Suhrud Panchawagh, Naveen Ravichandran, Bhupen Barman, Arvind Nune, Mahnoor Javaid, Abraham Edgar Gracia-Ramos, Jessica Day, Mrudula Joshi, Masataka Kuwana, Sreoshy Saha

Medical College Documents

To investigate the frequency, profile, and severity of COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BI) in patients with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) compared to healthy controls (HC) after vaccination. The second COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD-2) survey is a multinational cross-sectional electronic survey which has collected data on patients suffering from various autoimmune diseases including T1DM. We performed a subgroup analysis on this cohort to investigate COVID-19 BI characteristics in patients with T1DM. Logistic regression with propensity score matching analysis was performed. A total of 9595 individuals were included in the analysis, with 100 patients having T1DM. Among the fully vaccinated …

Alt Free Flap Coverage After Carotid Endarterectomy In The Setting Of Severe Radiation Changes, Richard F. Guidry, Hannah E. Doran, Mark W. Stalder

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty is commonly performed for severe atherosclerotic disease to reduce stroke risk. After neck radiation, loss of tissue planes; reactive fibrosis of skin; contraction; and rarely, necrosis of skin may occur, leading to severe wound complications and possible exposure of carotid artery reconstruction. Historically, local myocutaneous flaps have been performed to provide soft tissue coverage; however, these procedures may be associated with increased donor site morbidity and can be affected by radiation changes. This report describes the novel use of a fasciocutaneous free flap for durable vascularized soft tissue, and the associated secondary benefit of improved …

Abstinence Restores Cardiac Function In Mice With Established Alcohol-Induced Cardiomyopathy, Joshua M. Edavettal, Nicholas R. Harris, Sarah E. Cohen, Janos Paloczi, Bysani Chandrasekar, Jason D. Gardner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy (ACM) has a poor prognosis with up to a 50% chance of death within four years of diagnosis. There are limited studies investigating the potential of abstinence for promoting repair after alcohol-induced cardiac damage, particularly in a controlled preclinical study design. Here, we developed an exposure protocol that led to significant decreases in cardiac function in C57BL6/J mice within 30 days; dP/dt max decreased in the mice fed alcohol for 30 days (8054 ± 664.5 mmHg/s compared to control mice: 11,188 ± 724.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01), and the dP/dt min decreased, as well (−7711 ± 561 mmHg/s compared to control mice: −10,147 ± 448.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01). Quantitative PCR was used to investigate inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers, while histology was used to depict overt changes in cardiac fibrosis. We observed a complete recovery of function after abstinence (dP/dt max increased from 8054 ± 664 mmHg/s at 30 days to 11,967 ± 449 mmHg/s after abstinence, p < 0.01); further, both inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers decreased after abstinence. These results lay the groundwork for future investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying recovery from alcohol-induced damage in the heart.

Archery: A Prospective Observational Study Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Radiotherapy Treatment Planning For Cervical, Head And Neck And Prostate Cancer – Study Protocol, Ajay Aggarwal, Laurence Edward Court, Peter Hoskin, Isabella Jacques, Mariana Kroiss, Sarbani Laskar, Yolande Lievens, Indranil Mallick, Rozita Abdul Malik, Elizabeth Miles, Issa Mohamad, Claire Murphy, Matthew Nankivell, Jeannette Parkes, Mahesh Parmar, Carol Roach, Hannah Simonds, Julie Torode, Barbara Vanderstraeten, Ruth Langley

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Fifty per cent of patients with cancer require radiotherapy during their disease course, however, only 10%-40% of patients in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have access to it. A shortfall in specialised workforce has been identified as the most significant barrier to expanding radiotherapy capacity. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based software has been developed to automate both the delineation of anatomical target structures and the definition of the position, size and shape of the radiation beams. Proposed advantages include improved treatment accuracy, as well as a reduction in the time (from weeks to minutes) and human resources needed to deliver radiotherapy. …

Biomarkers For Heart Failure Prediction And Prevention, Prasanti Alekhya Kotta, Vijay Nambi, Biykem Bozkurt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic affecting over 64 million people worldwide. Its prevalence is on an upward trajectory, with associated increasing healthcare expenditure. Organizations including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have identified HF prevention as an important focus. Recently, the ACC/AHA/Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Guidelines on heart failure were updated with a new Class IIa, Level of Evidence B recommendation for biomarker-based screening in patients at risk of developing heart failure. In this review, we evaluate the studies that have assessed the various roles and contributions of biomarkers in …

Delayed Giant Pseudoaneurysm With Left-To-Right Shunt Following Postinfarct Ventricular Septal Perforation Repair, Yojiro Machii, Makoto Taoka, Yuki Hayashi, Atsushi Harada, Keita Kamata, Masashi Tanaka

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with a left-to-right shunt is extremely rare, requiring surgery if symptomatic; however, surgery has a high risk. Here, the case of a 77-year-old man with heart failure symptoms is reported, in which he develops a giant left ventricular pseudoaneurysm 16 months after ventricular septal perforation repair as a result of acute myocardial infarction, with mild shunt blood flow from the pseudoaneurysm to the right ventricle. Intraoperative findings showed a free wall rupture along the area where the patch was secured during the initial surgery. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 13, and postoperative examination revealed no …

Do We Still Need Aspirin In Coronary Artery Disease?, Muhammad Haisum Maqsood, Glenn N Levine, Neal D Kleiman, David Hasdai, Barry F Uretsky, Yochai Birnbaum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aspirin has for some time been used as a first-line treatment for acute coronary syndromes, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction, for secondary prevention of established coronary disease, and for primary prevention in patients at risk of coronary artery disease. Although aspirin has been in use for decades, the available evidence for its efficacy largely predates the introduction of other drugs, such as statins and P2Y12 inhibitors. Based on recent trials, the recommendation for aspirin use as primary prevention has been downgraded. In addition, P2Y12 inhibitors given as a single antiplatelet therapy have been associated with a lower incidence of bleeding than …

Effectiveness Of Conservative Management Versus Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy In The Prevention Of Recurrent Symptoms And Complications In Adults With Uncomplicated Symptomatic Gallstone Disease (C-Gall Trial): Pragmatic, Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial, Irfan Ahmed, Jemma Hudson, Karen Innes, Rodolfo Hernández, Katie Gillies, Rebecca Bruce, Victoria Bell, Alison Avenell, Jane Blazeby, Miriam Brazzelli, Seonaidh Cotton, Bernard Croal, Mark Forrest, Graeme Maclennan, Peter Murchie, Samantha Wileman, Craig Ramsay, C-Gall Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of conservative management compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the prevention of symptoms and complications in adults with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease.

DESIGN: Parallel group, pragmatic randomised, superiority trial.

SETTING: 20 secondary care centres in the UK.

PARTICIPANTS: 434 adults (>18 years) with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease referred to secondary care, assessed for eligibility between August 2016 and November 2019, and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive conservative management or laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

INTERVENTIONS: Conservative management or surgical removal of the gallbladder.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary patient outcome was quality of life, measured …

The Classification Of Obesity Based On Metabolic Status Redefines The Readmission Of Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma-An Observational Study, Hang Dong, Honglin Guo, Jing Du, Yiping Cheng, Dawei Wang, Junming Han, Zinuo Yuan, Zhenyu Yao, Ran An, Xiaoqin Wu, Kyle L Poulsen, Zhixiang Wang, Shanshan Shao, Xiude Fan, Zhen Wang, Jiajun Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The relationship between obesity and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was controversial, which may be due to the crudeness definition of obesity based on body mass index (BMI). As obesity and metabolic abnormalities often coexist, we aimed to explore whether the classification of obesity based on metabolic status can help to evaluate the real impact of obesity on the readmission of NHL.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, utilizing the 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified NHL-related index hospitalizations and followed them for non-elective readmission. The patients with NHL were classified as metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) and obese (MHO) and metabolically …

Variability In Provider Assessment Of Sepsis And Potential Of Host Response Technology To Address This Dilemma—Results Of An Online Delphi Study, Chadd K. Kraus, Hollis R. O’Neal, Nathan A. Ledeboer, Todd W. Rice, Wesley H. Self, Richard E. Rothman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Potentially septic patients have a huge clinical and economic impact on hospitals and often present to the emergency department (ED) with undifferentiated symptoms. The triage of these patients is complex and has historically relied heavily upon provider judgment. This study aims to evaluate the consistency of provider judgment and the potential of a new host response sepsis test to aid in the triage process. A modified Delphi study involving 26 participants from multiple specialties was conducted to evaluate provider agreement about sepsis risk and to test proposed actions based on the results of a sepsis test. The participants considered case …

Acss2 Gene Variants Determine Kidney Disease Risk By Controlling De Novo Lipogenesis In Kidney Tubules, Dhanunjay Mukhi, Lingzhi Li, Hongbo Liu, Tomohito Doke, Lakshmi P Kolligundla, Eunji Ha, Konstantin Kloetzer, Amin Abedini, Sarmistha Mukherjee, Junnan Wu, Poonam Dhillon, Hailong Hu, Dongyin Guan, Katsuhiko Funai, Kahealani Uehara, Paul M Titchenell, Joseph A Baur, Kathryn E Wellen, Katalin Susztak

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Worldwide, over 800 million people are affected by kidney disease, yet its pathogenesis remains elusive, hindering the development of novel therapeutics. In this study, we used kidney-specific expression of quantitative traits and single-nucleus open chromatin analysis to show that genetic variants linked to kidney dysfunction on chromosome 20 target the acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family 2 (ACSS2). By generating ACSS2-KO mice, we demonstrated their protection from kidney fibrosis in multiple disease models. Our analysis of primary tubular cells revealed that ACSS2 regulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL), causing NADPH depletion and increasing ROS levels, ultimately leading to NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis. Additionally, we discovered …