Diseases Commons^™

Mind Matters: How Anxiety And Depression Shape Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Adherence In A Real-World Population, Zachariah Taylor, Kayla Meyer, Danielle Terrenzio, Ryan Wong, Sharon L. Larson, Stephanie Kjelstrom, Natalina Contoreggi, Laurence Belkoff, Ilia Zeltser

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

PURPOSE: While the mental health impact of a prostate cancer diagnosis, including low-risk prostate cancer, is well-documented, the effect of pre-existing anxiety and/or depression on adherence to active surveillance protocols in low-risk prostate cancer patients remains unclear. This study assessed the association between prior anxiety and/or depression and active surveillance adherence in men with low-risk prostate cancer.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study involving 426 men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer who were recommended active surveillance as the primary management strategy. Active surveillance adherence was defined by completion of both a prostate-specific antigen test and a prostate biopsy within …

Using Ehr Reminders To Control Hypertension, Umme Kulsoom Ghous, Logan Mcculley, Danielle C. Hall, Linda Katherine Lambert, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases but is often under-diagnosed and poorly managed. Electronic Health Records (EHR) can help by providing automated reminders to recheck elevated blood pressure (BP) readings, ensuring accurate measurements, and guiding clinical interventions. This study aims to determine if EHR-based reminders improve BP control in adult patients aged 21 and older, focusing on hypertension diagnosis accuracy and timely management.

Methods

After a literature review, the study took place in a primary care clinic and only included patients with an existing diagnosis of hypertension. Thirty patients were included in the study. …

Comparing Postoperative Opioid Use In Primary And Revision Lumbar Fusion: A Propensity-Matched Analysis, Jonathan Dalton, Jarod Olson, Nicholas B. Pohl, Rajkishen Narayanan, Omar Tarawneh, Yunsoo Lee, Michael V. Carter, Gokul Karthikeyan, Logan Witt, Aayush Mehta, John J. Mangan, Mark F. Kurd, Jose A. Canseco, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Gregory D. Schroeder, Christopher K. Kepler

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: This study compared postoperative opioid use for patients undergoing short segment primary versus revision lumbar fusion.

METHODS: Patients who underwent primary or revision 1-2 level lumbar fusion (2017-2021) were included in this study. The state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was reviewed for all patients to quantify preoperative and postoperative opioid, benzodiazepine, muscle relaxant, and gabapentin use. A 1:1 propensity match was performed to match primary lumbar fusion patients with revision lumbar fusion patients. Revision lumbar fusion patients were substratified into those with or without persistent postoperative opioid use to identify demographic differences between these patient cohorts.

RESULTS: The final …

Effects Of Exercise On Inflammation, Circulating Tumor Cells, And Circulating Tumor Dna In Colorectal Cancer, Justin C. Brown, Stephanie L. Compton, Andrew Kang, Anjana Jayaraman, L Anne Gilmore, Brian J. Kirby, Frank L. Greenway, Shengping Yang, Guillaume Spielmann

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The biological mechanisms by which postdiagnosis physical activity improves disease-free survival in colorectal cancer survivors remain incompletely understood. This trial tested the hypothesis that 12 wk of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, when compared with a control group, would change inflammation, CTCs, and ctDNA in a manner consistent with an improved cancer prognosis. METHODS: This trial randomized Stages I-III colorectal cancer survivors to 12 wk of home-based moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or a waitlist control group. The co-primary endpoints were high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), secondary endpoints were soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2 (sTNFαR2) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), …

Genetic Associations With C-Peptide Levels Before Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis In At-Risk Relatives, Taylor M Triolo, Hemang M Parikh, Mustafa Tosur, Lauric A Ferrat, Lu You, Peter A Gottlieb, Richard A Oram, Suna Onengut-Gumuscu, Jeffrey P Krischer, Stephen S Rich, Andrea K Steck, Maria J Redondo

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: We sought to determine whether the type 1 diabetes genetic risk score-2 (T1D-GRS2) and single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with C-peptide preservation before type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 713 autoantibody-positive participants who developed type 1 diabetes in the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study who had T1DExomeChip data. We evaluated the relationships of 16 known single nucleotide polymorphisms and T1D-GRS2 with area under the curve (AUC) C-peptide levels during oral glucose tolerance tests conducted in the 9 months before diagnosis.

Results: Higher T1D-GRS2 was associated with lower C-peptide AUC in the 9 months before …

Blood Tnf-Α And Gabra-1 Levels In Individuals With Poor Ovarian Response Underwent In Vitro Fertilization Program, Gadsara Ruangprachum, Paweena Thuwanut, Wisan Sereepapong, Vorasuk Shotelersuk, Siraprapa Tongkobpetch, Porntip Sirayapiwat

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Poor ovarian response (POR) to ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF) program remains a critical issue contributing to decreased ovarian reserve and cancellation of IVF cycles. Nevertheless, the complete etiology of PRO condition remains inadequately understood.

Objectives: This research primarily aimed to compare levels of blood pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and apoptotic marker (GABRA-1) between those exhibiting normal ovarian response (NOR) and those with poor ovarian response during IVF program.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving whole blood collection from 25 participants was conducted (15 individuals in NOR group and 10 in POR group). Relative gene expression levels of blood …

Mobilizing Prevention And Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias (Adrd) In Allegheny County Through The Area Agency On Aging (Aaa), Laiba N. Mirza

Public Health Capstone Projects

1. Objectives: In collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS): the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) using the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), my capstone project will involve the development of a comprehensive literature review examining the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) on patients and their caregivers. The project aims to help the AAA focus on strategies to delay the onset of ADRD in Allegheny County. It also seeks to evaluate and enhance early detection programs for ADRD established by the AAA in communities within the county. Additionally, the project will explore how public health initiatives can …

Cracking The Code Of Hbv Persistence: Cutting-Edge Approaches To Targeting Cccdna In Chronic Hepatitis B With Or Without Pyogenic Liver Abscesses, Umar Saeed, Zahra Zahid Piracha, Mahmood Khan, Muhammad Nouman Tariq, Syed Shahan Gilani, Muhammad Raza, Rakshana Munuswamy, Naveen Bose, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Ilker Özşahin, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection remains a formidable global health challenge, driving severe liver complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA). At the core of HBV persistence lies covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), a viral reservoir that fuels ongoing infection despite antiviral treatments. This review highlights molecular mechanisms governing cccDNA formation, maintenance, and clearance, spotlighting innovative therapeutic strategies to disrupt this key viral element. We explore cutting-edge approaches, including epigenetic modulation to silence cccDNA, RNA interference (RNAi) for viral RNA degradation, and CRISPR/Cas genome editing to excise cccDNA directly. Additionally, emerging antiviral therapies and immunotherapies, …

Effect Of Testosterone Treatment During Puberty In Boys With Klinefelter Syndrome (The Tipy Study): Protocol For A Nationwide Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study, Ida Dyhr Caspersen, Andrés Felipe Østergaard Fritzbøger, Jørgen Holm Petersen, Niels Birkebæk, Ann-Margrethe Rønholt Christensen, Anders Jørgen Schou, Kurt Kristensen, Judith L. Ross, Shanlee Davis, Gary Butler, Sophie Van Rijn, Anders Juul, Lise Aksglaede

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a genetic condition characterised by the presence of an extra X chromosome in males (47,XXY). KS is associated with various phenotypic characteristics in adult life, including infertility, hypogonadism and increased risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Additionally, individuals with KS often experience mental health challenges and functional impairments that significantly impact their quality of life. Currently, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in adolescence is considered the first-line treatment by some physicians for patients with KS and biochemical signs of hypogonadism. However, comprehensive evidence on its effectiveness in preventing typical phenotypic traits associated with …

Effects Of Social Isolation On Locus Coeruleus Opioid Receptor Expression And Affective Behavior, John Tkaczynski, Jordan Riser, Maya Patel, Nicole Shellenbarger, Jin Park, Daniel Manvich, Daniel J Chandler

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Social isolation is a stressor that impairs homeostatic neuroendocrine functions and is associated with the development of several mood disorders characterized by persistent negative affect. Persistent feelings of loneliness have been growing public health concerns for several years and were greatly exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem has grown so severe the U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness to be an epidemic health concern that is associated with poor mental and somatic health outcomes. Therefore, identifying mechanisms of neuroadaptation that contribute to the development of persistent negative affect is a critical step in the identifying better …

Precision Phenotyping For Curating Research Cohorts Of Patients With Unexplained Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19, Alaleh Azhir, Jonas Hügel, Jiazi Tian, Jingya Cheng, Ingrid V Bassett, Douglas S Bell, Elmer V Bernstam, Maha R Farhat, Darren W Henderson, Emily S Lau, Michele Morris, Yevgeniy R Semenov, Virginia A Triant, Shyam Visweswaran, Zachary H Strasser, Jeffrey G Klann, Shawn N Murphy, Hossein Estiri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Scalable identification of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is challenging due to a lack of reproducible precision phenotyping algorithms, which has led to suboptimal accuracy, demographic biases, and underestimation of the PASC.

METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study, we developed a precision phenotyping algorithm for identifying cohorts of patients with PASC. We used longitudinal electronic health records data from over 295,000 patients from 14 hospitals and 20 community health centers in Massachusetts. The algorithm employs an attention mechanism to simultaneously exclude sequelae that prior conditions can explain and include infection-associated chronic conditions. We performed independent chart reviews …

Facial Follicular Porokeratosis Simulating Discoid Lupus Erythematosus In An African American Woman, Pritika Singh, Layna Mager, Jeffrey Y. Liu, Jason B. Lee, Sylvia Hsu

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Body Composition And Its Outcomes And Management In Multiple Sclerosis: Narrative Review, Ariel Kidwell-Chandler, Justin Jackson, Brenda Jeng, Stephanie L Silveira, Lara A Pilutti, Paul R Hibbing, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is emerging interest in obesity and its prevalence, outcomes, and management in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Body mass index (BMI) is the traditional marker of obesity in MS, whereas body composition, inclusive of specific body tissue compartments (e.g., fat, bone, and muscle), is often overlooked despite its relevance.

Objective: This narrative review (a) underscored the use and utility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as an accurate and reliable measure of body composition; (b) thematically analyzed and synthesized the current evidence regarding body composition (using DEXA); and (c) determined gaps to be addressed in future research. Methods: …

Strategies To Improve Antibody-Mediated Protection Against Herpes Simplex Virus Infections, Matthew D. Slein

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

No efficacious vaccine exists for herpes simplex virus and the global burden of disease remains high. Antibodies can serve as potent therapeutics to protect high risk populations such as neonates. Although rare, neonatal HSV (nHSV) infections can result in significant mortality and lifelong neurological morbidity even with antiviral therapy. While HSV-specific maternally derived antibodies significantly reduce the risk of neonatal disease in humans, the mechanisms by which they mediate protection have yet to be described. Using a mouse model of neonatal HSV (nHSV) infections we aimed to determine the mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting two of …

Preoperative Brain Volume Loss Is Associated With Postoperative Delirium In Advanced Heart Failure Patients Supported By Left Ventricular Assist Device, Iván Murrieta-Álvarez, Jacob P Scioscia, José M Benítez-Salazar, Jason Uwaeze, Zicheng Xu, Guangyao Zheng, Shiyi Li, Vladimir Braverman, Carl P Walther, Alexis E Shafii, Camila Hochman-Mendez, Todd K Rosengart, Kenneth K Liao, Nandan K Mondal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Delirium is a common neurological complication in patients with advanced heart failure (ADHF) following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, significantly impacting recovery. This study aimed to analyze non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain in ADHF patients undergoing LVAD implantation to determine the association between pre-existing brain atrophy and postoperative delirium. A study involving 166 ADHF patients was conducted from March 2020 to July 2023. Non-contrast CT scans were analyzed using advanced quantitative neuroimaging techniques before implantation. The primary marker assessed was the lateral ventricle fraction (LVF), with secondary markers including cortical gray matter fraction (cGMF), white matter …

Protocol And Design Of The Repose Study: A Double-Blinded, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Suvorexant To Improve Postoperative Sleep And Reduce Delirium Severity In Older Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery, John Michael Fallon, Mona Hashemaghaie, Christy E. Peterson, Dieplinh Tran, Sophie R. Wu, Jonathan M. Valdes, Nicole M. Pedicini, Melissa E. Adams, Marjorie Soltis, Wissam Mansour, Mary Cooter Wright, Karthik Raghunathan, Miriam M. Treggiari, Cina Sasannejad, Michael J. Devinney

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative delirium occurs in up to 40% of older surgical patients and has been associated with prolonged hospital stays, long-term cognitive impairment and increased 1-year postoperative mortality. Postoperative sleep disturbances may increase the risk of delirium, but studies investigating pharmacotherapies to improve postoperative sleep to prevent delirium remain limited. Suvorexant is a selective antagonist of orexin 1 and 2 receptors and is approved for insomnia pharmacotherapy by the Food and Drug Administration. It has the potential to improve postoperative sleep and reduce postoperative delirium rates, but randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to determine the efficacy of postoperative suvorexant …

Respiratory Muscle Training Reduces Painful Swallowing And Opioid Use During Radiation Therapy For Head And Neck Cancer: A Matched Pair Analysis, Andrew D. Ray, Chi-Chen Hong, Nicolas F. Schlecht, Han Yu, Kristopher Attwood, Kent L. Nastiuk, Bryan A. Spinelli, Ann Marie Flores, Hillary Jacobson, Julia Fulfaro, M. Jeffrey Mador, Austin J. Iovoli, Mark K. Farrugia, Anurag K. Singh

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receiving radiation therapy (RT) are at increased risk for symptoms of oral mucositis (OM), opioid use, and declines in physical function, outcomes that contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to determine the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on OM and opioid use, as well as functional performance in patients with HNC receiving RT with or without concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT).

METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 18 years of age with stage I to IV HNC being treated with RT or CCRT receiving a home-based respiratory muscle training (RMT) (n …

The Role Of Electrophysiologic Study In Device Selection For Leadless Atrial Pacing, Joshua R Hirsch, Jordan M Gales, Irakli Giorgberidze, Hamid Afshar

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

The AVEIR DR (Abbott Medical) was the first dual-chamber leadless pacing system approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Many patients with sinus node dysfunction have physiologically normal atrioventricular conduction, so an atrial-only pacing system may be appropriate for them. Three patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction underwent device implantation with electrophysiologic study, including incremental atrial pacing until loss of 1:1 atrioventricular conduction (atrioventricular Wenckebach cycle length) and His-ventricular interval measurement. If the atrioventricular Wenckebach cycle length was no more than 400 milliseconds and the His-ventricular interval measurement was no more than 55 milliseconds, single-chamber atrial implantation was deemed …

Successful Limb Salvage In A Severe Diabetic Foot Infection: A Case Study Of Aggressive Surgical Intervention And Grafting Technique, Stephanie N. Campbell, Amanda Killeen, Michael Sobolevsky

Research Symposium

Background: Severe necrotizing diabetic foot infections are known to have high morbidity, high amputation risk, and high complication rates. Efforts at preserving the limb require significant surgical efforts and lengthy wound care. This process is more complicated in patients with significant housing instability.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male with uncontrolled diabetes (A1c 7.9%), housing insecurity, food insecurity presented with severe necrotizing diabetic foot infection with ascending cellulitis, infectious hemorrhagic bullae, multi-compartment abscesses of the foot and anterior leg. It is known that patients with diabetes are at increased risk of both amputation and surgical interventions than patients without diabetes. This …

Frontotemporal Dementia And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Report And Clinical Insights, Audrey Grigore, Lynne J. Goebel

Internal Medicine

Primary care providers are often the first contact for patients with neurodegenerative illnesses, however, they may not be aware of the relationship of certain diseases that may have an impact on their patients' longevity. This case report reminds clinicians of the association between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Physicians should be aware of the association, because FTD commonly occurs first and may prepare clinicians to be alert to the signs of ALS in these patients, leading to earlier detection of ALS and the prescription of disease-modifying medication that may extend the lifespan of people with these diseases. …

A Case Of Turmeric-Induced Hepatotoxicity With Hyperferritinemia, Nina R. Spitofsky, Albert A. Huang, Aria Jalalian, Stefanie Gallagher, Scott Fink

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Introduction: We present the first published case of turmeric-associated drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accompanied by significant ferritin elevation. Case Presentation: Our patient, a 59-year-old female with DILI caused by long-term ingestion of oral turmeric supplements, presented with painless jaundice on an annual exam. The patient’s liver function tests exhibited a hepatocellular pattern and hyperferritinemia (>2,000 ng/dL). Additional testing was negative except for heterozygosity for the H63D allele associated with hemochromatosis. A liver biopsy indicated acute hepatitis without fibrosis or stainable iron. Conclusion: Upon discontinuation of the supplement, liver enzymes normalized within a month. This case highlights the potential for …

Spontaneous Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm In A Young Male With Full Mutation Of The Fragile X Syndrome With A High-Functioning Phenotype: Illustrative Case, Eleni Papadopoulos, Anna Abrimian, Hekmat Zarzour, Randi J Hagerman, Richard F Schmidt

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder that typically presents with neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Patients with FXS can present with signs and symptoms of connective tissue disorder (CTD) and occasionally with vascular disease. However, cerebrovascular disease is not well documented in these patients, and it is unknown whether there is a direct link between abnormal levels of fragile X protein (FMRP) and its mRNA.

OBSERVATIONS: Here, the authors present a rare case of an adult male with full mutation FXS of a high-functioning phenotype who presented with syncope, and on further evaluation, a fusiform dissecting aneurysm of the distal …

Meta-Analysis On Sex Differences In Mortality And Neurodevelopment In Congenital Heart Defects, Alyssa K Crain, Zhia N Lim, Chloe J Sarfatis, Magela Arias, Travis Holder, Alvaro G Moreira, Antonio F Corno, Tina O Findley

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Given the increasing survival rates among congenital heart disease (CHD) patients and the growing emphasis on their quality of life, there is a need to comprehensively assess the impact of surgical interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes. With increasing awareness in sex-related disparities in CHD, there is a need to explore potential differences in surgical mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes between male and female patients. In this systematic review, we adhered to PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration (#CRD42021225610). Articles published from 2015 to 2021 were searched using MeSH descriptors in three major databases (MEDLINE Ovid, Elsevier Embase, and Cochrane Library). Study selection criteria …

Impact Of Chromatin On Hiv-1 Latency: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective, Joanna E. Jones, Chelsea E. Gunderson, Brian Wigdahl, Michael R. Nonnemacher

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus that infects multiple immune cell types and integrates into host cell DNA termed provirus. Under antiretroviral control, provirus in cells is able to evade targeting by both host immune surveillance and antiretroviral drug regimens. Additionally, the provirus remains integrated for the life of the cell, and clonal expansion establishes a persistent reservoir. As host cells become quiescent following the acute stage of infection, the provirus also enters a latent state characterized by low levels of transcription and virion production. Proviral latency may last years or even decades, but stimuli such as …

Condensed Low-Dose Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy For Mycosis Fungoides: An Institutional Retrospective Review And Subgroup Analysis Of Patients With Large Cell Transformation, Louis Cappelli, Megan Cappelli, Nilanjan Haldar, Tiara Paul, Jenna Mandel, Tingting Zhan, Neda Nikbakht, Wenyin Shi

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is an effective treatment option for mycosis fungoides (MF) with proven palliative effects and reduced toxicity. Presented is an institutional analysis of survival/response rate and quality of life for MF patients with subgroup analysis of those possessing pathologic large cell transformation (LCT). This is a single institutional retrospective review of patients with mycosis fungicides treated from 2014 to 2023 with low-dose TSEBT. All patients received 12 Gy in 6 fractions every other day with the modified Stanford technique, with boosts to shadowed sites between treatments, completed in 2 weeks. Outcomes evaluated included clinical …

Unraveling Genetic Links Between Diabetes And Heart Failure-A Machine Learning Approach, Sunakhi Sahoo, Marzieh Ayati

Research Symposium

Background: Diabetic heart failure (DHF) is defined as a chronic and progressive disease which is associated with both diabetes and heart failure (HF). Even though there have been many developments in the knowledge of these diseases, there is still much to learn about the genetic crossovers between the two. In this study, we identified genes that are associated with diabetic heart failure and heart failure by using gene expression data from patients with DHF, HF, and a control group of patients who died of natural causes. We sought to identify genes that had altered expression levels which could possibly play …

Interlink Between Genomics By Gtex Portal And Gut Microbiome In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sriya Gullapalli, Nina Mourao, Tori Sayers, Lois Baldado, Megan W. Szobody, Arjun Bellamkonda, Blake C. Martin, Kory D. Punch, Kevin Garcia Valdez, Anesu Karen Murambadoro, Miguel Quintanilla, Bethany Woolman, Kelsey Baker, Bharathi S. Gadad

Research Symposium

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors, social deficits, and highly restrictive sensory patterns which results from aberrant early-life central nervous system functioning. While ASD has been traditionally associated with molecular genetic alterations, emerging evidence underscores the role of environmental elements. In fact, pathologic genetic variations of key regulator genes coupled with environmental factors, such as: advanced maternal age, poor maternal health during pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, and altered gut microbiome and/or secondary environmental challenges to the offspring in early childhood have all been attributed to increased risk of developing ASD. In efforts …

Proteomic Profiling Of Stress-Associated Proteins In Hepatocellular Carcinoma And The Hepatoprotective Effects Of Silymarin, Mohammad Shabir Hussain, Yamile A. Anaya, Amairani Sanchez, Sophia Leslie, Manish Kumar Tripathi

Research Symposium

Background: The liver is the principal organ responsible for the detoxification of exogenous and endogenous toxins, xenobiotics, and viruses and bacteria, making it susceptible to damage by various chemicals and metabolites that enter the body. In clinical relevance, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health concern, being the sixth most common cancer worldwide and third leading cause of cancer-related death. HCC accounts for 85–90% of liver cancers globally. Texas is projected to have the second-highest liver cancer-related deaths, with Hispanic populations experiencing the highest mortality rates. The liver, a vital metabolic organ, is particularly vulnerable to stress-induced damage. According …

Maternal Health And Congenital Heart Defects: Investigating Ventricular Septal Defects In South Texas Region 11, Miguel A. Lopez, Sophia Moon, Jonathan M. Hebert, Padmanabhan Rengasamy

Research Symposium

Congenital heart defects are a known risk factor for early childhood mortality and can be traced to poor maternal health, a crisis plaguing the South Texas region. This perspective research project utilizes previously computed data on the prevalence of ventricular septal defects (VSD) in South Texas region 11 combined with a comprehensive literature review to investigate the correlation between both maternal obesity and diabetes with VSD. Current literature supports a significant association between maternal diabetes and VSD, with one Russian study reporting an eight to nine fold increased risk in VSD in children born to diabetic mothers. By contrast, the …

Subcutaneous Insulin Aspart Every 4 Hours In The Treatment Of Covid-19 Patients With Mild-To-Moderate Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Series, Dararat Chiewchalermsri, Chayanin Wanittansirichok, Chutintorn Sriphrapradang

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

This case series evaluates the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) insulin Aspart administered every four hours for managing mild-to-moderate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in COVID-19 patients, addressing a current evidence gap. We conducted a retrospective review of confirmed COVID-19 patients over 15 years old who developed mild to moderate DKA between July 2020 and October 2021. Insulin Aspart was administered at 0.4 units/kg SC every 4 hours, reduced to 0.2 units/kg when blood glucose (BG) decreased to/dL, and SC basal insulin was initiated at 0.15-0.2 units/kg at DKA diagnosis. A total of seven patients, with a mean age of 67.4±13.2 …