Diseases Commons^™

A Natural Small Molecule Isoginkgetin Alleviates Hypercholesterolemia And Atherosclerosis By Targeting Acly, Zhidan Zhang, Meijie Chen, Yitong Xu, Zhihua Wang, Zhenghong Liu, Chenyang He, Fanshun Zhang, Xiaojun Feng, Xiayun Ni, Yuanli Chen, Jixia Wang, Xinmiao Liang, Zhifu Xie, Jingya Li, Maciej Banach, Jaroslav Pelisek, Yuqing Huo, Yunhui Hu, Paul C Evans, Li Wang, Xiao-Yu Tian, Jianbo Xiao, Yuhua Shang, Yijun Zheng, Xunde Xian, Jianping Weng, Suowen Xu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Rationale: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) represents the predominant cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Given the established role of hypercholesterolemia as a significant risk factor for ASCVD, the discovery of new lipid-lowering medications is of paramount importance. ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a crucial enzyme in cellular metabolism, providing acetyl-CoA as the building block for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. Consequently, it has emerged as a promising drug target for innovative treatments of lipid metabolic disorders.

Methods: Virtual screening of a natural product library was performed to identify small-molecule ACLY inhibitors, leading to the discovery of isoginkgetin (ISOGK). …

Intraocular Lens Power Calculation In Challenging Cases, Jack X Ma, Li Wang, Douglas D Koch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In this article, we reviewed recently published papers of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in special eyes. In short eyes, accurate estimation of effective lens position is critical, and the ZEISS artificial intelligence IOL calculator produces the best outcomes. In long eyes, accuracy has been improved with axial length (AL) adjusted formulas such as the Wang-Koch AL adjustment and newer IOL formulas. In keratoconic eyes, hyperopic refractive outcomes increase with steeper keratometric values, and accuracy is poor in eyes with keratometric values ≥50.0 D. Two keratoconus-specific formulas (Barrett True K for keratoconus and Kane keratoconus) have been introduced. In eyes …

Tools And Methods For Cataract Recognition In Low-Resource Settings: A Narrative Review, Paulina N Truong, Elizabeth A Merlinsky, Nicholas C Maamari, Christina Y Weng, Andrew G Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cataracts are a leading cause of global blindness, with many low-resource populations having poor access to eye care. While much is known regarding surgical access and outcomes, less is understood about the initial detection of operable cataracts in low-resource settings. We performed a comprehensive literature review on existing and emerging cataract screening methods in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The search keywords were "cataract detection, diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation in low- and middle- income countries". 1,825 articles were identified and 62 were selected for final inclusion comprising reviews, meta-analyses, and original research studies. Only 12 studies proposed new cataract screening …

Genetic Newborn Screening For Retinoblastoma: A Belgian Initiative Baby Detect, Daniel A Rodriguez, Alex Song, Anshul Bhatnagar, Christina Y Weng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Baby Detect Project, started in September 2022, aimed to create a newborn screening test using targeted next-generation sequencing for all early-onset, treatable, and serious conditions. The elaborated gene panel covers 405 genes, associated with 165 genetic conditions, and includes RB1, linked to retinoblastoma, the only oncological disease tested for. Germline RB1 mutations concern around 50% of all retinoblastoma cases and 100% of the most severe, bilateral cases. Ninety percent of them occur de novo, which delays the diagnosis by about a year with subsequent loss of vision and sometimes the eye itself. Detecting children with germline RB1 mutation at …

Maintenance Therapy With A P2y12 Receptor Inhibitor After Cangrelor In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome The Electra-Sirio 2 Investigators’ Viewpoint, Jacek Kubica, Piotr Adamski, Robert Gajda, Aldona Kubica, Małgorzata Ostrowska, Gavino Casu, Diana A Gorog, Paul A Gurbel, Tomasz Hajdukiewicz, Miłosz Jaguszewski, Young-Hoon Jeong, Agata Kosobucka-Ozdoba, Zuzana Motovska, Piotr Niezgoda, Maciej Piasecki, Przemysław Podhajski, Paolo Raggi, Uzeyir Rahimov, Jolanta M Siller-Matula, Grzegorz Skonieczny, Łukasz Szarpak, Paweł Szymański, Udaya Tantry, Eliano P Navarese

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

According to the ESC guidelines, cangrelor may be considered in P2Y12-inhibitor-naïve acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this review is to summarize available evidence on the optimal maintenance therapy with P2Y12 receptor inhibitor after cangrelor. Transitioning from cangrelor to a thienopyridine, but not ticagrelor, can be associated with a drug-drug interaction (DDI); therefore, a ticagrelor loading dose (LD) can be given any time before, during, or at the end of a cangrelor infusion, while a LD of clopidogrel or prasugrel should be administered at the time the infusion of cangrelor ends or within …

Impact Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Surveillance And Decolonization In The Nicu: The Texas Children’S Hospital Experience, Nahid Hiermandi, Catherine Foster, Judith Campbell, Krystal Purnell, Elizabeth Tocco, Tjin Koy, Kenneth Nobleza, Duc Nguyen, Lucila Marquez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of screening and decolonization on methicillin-resistant

STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study comparing patient characteristics among MRSA-colonized and MRSA-infected infants, rates of MRSA infection before and after screening with targeted decolonization, and MRSA infection among those receiving single or combined decolonization agents.

SETTING: Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women is a 42-bed level three neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Houston, TX.

PATIENTS: Neonates admitted to the NICU from 2012 to 2022 were included in analysis of MRSA colonization and infection. The gestational age ranged from 22 weeks to 42 weeks.

INTERVENTIONS: …

Increasing Premedication For Neonatal Intubation: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Michelle H Lucena, Toshiba Morgan-Joseph, Alecia Thompson-Branch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Endotracheal intubation is frequent in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but may result in neonatal distress and instability. Premedication reduces adverse effects, such as hypoxia, bradycardia, and pain. The Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound aim for this project was to increase premedication use for nonemergent neonatal intubation in a specific NICU from 22% to 80% from March 2021 to May 2023.

METHODS: We use quality improvement methodology to explain our theory for improvement. Our key driver diagram depicts this initiative's aims, key drivers, and interventions to increase premedication use for neonatal intubation. We defined exclusion criteria and …

Altering The Intracellular Trafficking Of Necator Americanus Gst-1 Antigen Yields Novel Hookworm Mrna Vaccine Candidates, Athos Silva De Oliveira, Leroy Versteeg, Neima Briggs, Rakesh Adhikari, Maria Jose Villar, Jeanna R Redd, Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Jeroen Pollet

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The antigen Na-GST-1, expressed by the hookworm Necator americanus, plays crucial biochemical roles in parasite survival. This study explores the development of mRNA vaccine candidates based on Na-GST-1, building on the success of recombinant Na-GST-1 (rNa-GST-1) protein, currently assessed as a subunit vaccine candidate, which has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies.

METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: By leveraging the flexible design of RNA vaccines and protein intracellular trafficking signal sequences, we developed three variants of Na-GST-1 as native (cytosolic), secretory, and plasma membrane-anchored (PM) antigens. After one immunization in mice, mRNA vaccines induced an earlier onset of antigen-specific antibodies compared to …

Use Of A Mouse Model For The Isolation Of Borrelia Puertoricensis From Soft Ticks, Edwin Vázquez-Guerrero, Alexander R Kneubehl, Guadalupe C Reyes-Solís, Carlos Machain-Williams, Aparna Krishnavajhala, Paulina Estrada-De Los Santos, Job E Lopez, José Antonio Ibarra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The isolation of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes has proven to be a useful tool to understand their distribution in geographic areas where the tick vectors inhabit. However, their isolation and culture are not easy and in general an animal model is needed to achieve this task. Here, argasid ticks were collected from a neighborhood in Ciudad Caucel, and they were identified as Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis. To determine whether these were infected with TBRF bacteria they were fed with healthy mice but only a low burden of spirochetes was observed. An immunosuppressed mouse model was used to feed the ticks …

Outcomes In Pediatric Cholesteatoma, Katherine M Miller, Yi-Chun Carol Liu, Jaqueline E Weinstein, Michael S Cohen, David H Chi, Samantha Anne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the outcomes of surgical management options for cholesteatoma using a national database.

STUDY DESIGN: Database analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System database to identify children undergoing surgical intervention for cholesteatoma from October 2015 to December 2022.

METHODS: Patients were categorized by initial surgical modality: tympanoplasty (TM), tympanoplasty with canal wall-up tympanomastoidectomy (TM-CWU), and tympanoplasty with canal wall-down tympanomastoidectomy (TM-CWD). Group comparisons were done on number of surgical revisions and number of patients identified with recommendations for hearing aids.

RESULTS: A total of 6304 patients were identified in the database who …

Healthcare Utilization Unchanged In The Control Arm Of A Randomized Clinical Trial, Pratik Gongloor, Saad Nadeem, Xiaoying Yu, Mukaila Raji, Kristina D Mena, Elizabeth M Vaughan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

including among control groups. Increased access to care and heightened health awareness during trial enrollment could lead to altered behaviors, a phenomenon known as the Hawthorne effect, which may obscure true intervention impacts; however, this effect remains poorly studied in low-income environments.

Aim: To conduct a secondary exploratory analysis of healthcare utilization among control participants of a randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records from the control arm (n = 26) of an RCT involving low-income Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes receiving care at a community clinic. Before randomization to a 12-month diabetes education intervention …

The Infected Diabetic Foot: Incidence And Risk Factors For Dehiscence After Surgery For Diabetic Foot Infections, Lawrence A Lavery, Mario C Reyes, Bijan Najafi, Tyler L Coye, Jayer Chung, Michael C Siah, Arthur N Tarricone

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Our objective was to assess the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of dehiscence after foot surgery in diabetic patients. We used pooled patient‐level data from two randomised clinical trials with 240 diabetic patients who required foot surgery for infections. Most patients (n = 180, 75.0%) had surgical wound closure. We defined dehisced surgical wounds (DSW) when the surgical site was not completely epithelialized with no drainage after sutures/staples were removed with a 2‐week validation of healing. We evaluated the time to heal, re‐infection, re‐ulceration, hospital admissions and amputations. Moderate and severe infection was based on criteria of the …

Long-Term Health-Related Quality Of Life In Kawasaki Disease-Related Coronary Artery Aneurysm: A Large Single-Center Assessment In Nanjing, China, Yun Zhou, Mei Chen, Wenting Gao, Yu Chen, Ying Meng

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

BACKGROUND: The impact of coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD) on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children has not been well documented.

METHODS: This study investigated long-term HRQOL in a large sample of children diagnosed with KD-related CAAs. A case-control, retrospective study included 66 patients with KD-related CAAs. A total of 98 hospitalized patients were matched as controls based on age and sex: 49 patients were allocated to a group with pneumonia and 49 patients were allocated to a group with arterio-arterial fistula. Both child-reported and parent-proxy-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory surveys were collected. …

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia And Patent Foramen Ovale In A Patient In The Setting Of Covid-19, Laura Sarmiento, Riyad Kherallah, Guilherme Vianna Silva

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare condition characterized by positional dyspnea and hypoxemia, with symptoms presenting in the upright position and improving when recumbent. Hypoxemia in platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is defined as a drop in Pao

Double Atrial Septum With Interatrial Space In Patients Experiencing Ischemic Attack, Blerim Berisha, Fadhel Hamidani, Mathias Humm

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

On The Nose: Nasal Neurostimulation As A Technology Countermeasure For Sinonasal Congestion In Astronauts, Timon Ax, Philipp H Zimmermann, Tomas L Bothe, Karen Barchetti, Cintia S De Paiva, Francesc March De Ribot, Slade O Jensen, Thomas J Millar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human spaceflight subjects the body to numerous and unique challenges. Astronauts frequently report a sense of sinonasal congestion upon entering microgravity for which the exact pathomechanisms are unknown. However, cephalad fluid shift seems to be its primary cause, with CO2 levels and environmental irritants playing ancillary roles. Current management focuses on pharmacotherapy comprising oral and nasal decongestants and antihistamines. These are among the most commonly used treatments in astronauts. With longer and more distant space missions on the horizon, there is a need for efficacious and payload-sparing non-pharmacological interventions. Neurostimulation is a promising countermeasure technology for many ailments on Earth. …

Decline In Us-China Science: Can Ophthalmology Remain Collaborative?, Kevin Y Huang, Parth A Patel, Austin Huang, Allen C Ho, Jost B Jonas, Xiaodong Sun, Youxin Chen, Yingfeng Zheng, Yih-Chung Tham, Christina Y Weng, Tien Yin Wong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Utilizing Probiotics To Reduce Diet Induced Dysbiosis And Inflammation In Myelodysplastic Syndromes Susceptible Mice, Tejaswee Bolloju

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Human gut microbiota is helpful in digestion by helping in breaking complex carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers and many other physiological functions. The Western diet which is high in fat and carbo hydrate percentage alters gut microbiota and leads to growth of pathogenic bacteria and altered gut flora referred to as dysbiosis, which in turn cause gut inflammation and increased permeability of gut and it causes translocation of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which causes low grade systemic inflammation. Disturbance in gut microbiota correlated with metabolic conditions like obesity and leads to progression of hematologic diseases like Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Chronic Health Conditions In Black Individuals, Emily K. Etringer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and chronic health conditions among Black individuals of different genders. The study employs quantitative research methods and utilizes secondary data analysis on the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, range, and inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses, independent groups t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. This research revealed a statistically significant finding that Black individuals with an ACE score of 4+ have more chronic …

Ribosome Hibernation In Mycobacterium Abscessus And Its Effect On Antibiotic Resistance, Ryan Treen

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) represent a diverse repertoire of species, most of which are ubiquitous in the environment. Some NTM species, such as Mycobacterium abscessus, can cause life-threatening infections in people with underlying medical conditions. The clinical incidence of such infections is on the rise, posing an emerging threat to public health. M. abscessus is characterized by intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance, complicating treatment strategies. Most chemotherapeutic approaches for M. abscessus infection target the bacterial ribosome, necessitating a better understanding of the physiological processes which confer this resistance. Multiple mycobacterial species respond to zinc-limiting conditions by inducing remodeling and hibernation …

Predictors Of Viral Suppression Among People Living With Hiv (Plhiv) On Antiretroviral Treatment In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ainur Kussainova

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region is experiencing the world’s fastest-growing HIV epidemic, with Kazakhstan among the countries most affected. Despite progress in HIV testing and treatment, Kazakhstan continues to face significant challenges in achieving optimal viral suppression among PLHIV. While 82% of PLHIV in Kazakhstan know their HIV status, only 73% are on ART, and just 67% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Adherence to ART remains a critical barrier, influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, and structural factors, including mental health disorders such as depression, substance use, stigma and discrimination. Understanding …

Association Of Non-Communicable Diseases With Severe Covid-19 Among People Living With And Without Diagnosed Hiv/Aids In New York State, Ravi Kumar Balu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: People living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) have a higher chance of co-infections and co-morbidities than the general population. When SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and later declared a pandemic, it was speculated that PLWDH might be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease outcomes given their increased vulnerability to other respiratory infections like influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and tuberculosis. However, several facets of COVID-19 disease in PLWDH are incompletely understood, including whether non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are strong risk factors for severe disease outcomes and death as they are in the general population.

Methods: The data …

Investigating Rna Dysfunction Of Inherited Neuromuscular And Neurodevelopmental Disease, Jacob H. Schroader

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

ITPase deficiency is a rare but fatal, autosomal recessive enzyme deficiency involving encephalopathy, microcephaly, congenital cataracts, hypotonia, developmental delay, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Within a decade since the original description of the severe form in humans, there are huge gaps in the field regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms driving pathogenesis resulting from ITPase deficiency. Past studies have focused on characterization of the organism level ITPase-deficient phenotype, but the molecular and cellular characterization remains to be fully described. Due to the biochemical function and established biological role of the ITPase enzyme, investigation into the consequences of inosine accumulation and misincorporation into RNA …

Investigating The Impact Of Phthalate Exposures From Personal Care Products On Uterine Fibroid Incidence And Prevalence In Us-Born Black Women, Ella Brissett

CMC Senior Theses

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue that develop within or on the walls of the uterus. Despite being non-cancerous, they can severely affect quality of life by causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, and reproductive complications. Fibroids are typically found in women of reproductive age, but they disproportionately affect Black women, who experience higher incidence and severity. The underlying causes of this disparity is poorly understood; however, an emerging body of research is highlighting the role of phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many personal care products, in exacerbating fibroid development. Through a critical analysis …

Comparative Analysis Of Lipid Accumulation And Antioxidant Responses In Masld And Control Ipsc-Heps, Anna Werts

CMC Senior Theses

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent liver condition characterized by lipid accumulation and associated inflammation, driven by genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors. Much is still unknown about the mechanisms of the disease, and research on this is important for advancing effective treatments. This study investigated lipid accumulation and oxidative stress responses to varying concentrations of oleic acid (OA) and palmitic acid (PA) in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes (iPSC-Heps) from MASLD and healthy donors. BODIPY staining revealed that MASLD iPSC-Heps exhibit significantly higher lipid accumulation than controls, especially under prolonged OA and PA exposure. Additionally, PLIN2 expression …

Regulation Of Neuronal Autophagy By Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Als) - Associated Kinase Tbk1: Evaluating The Role Of Ncoa7, Vikram Chatterjee

CMC Senior Theses

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss and the pathological accumulation of misfolded proteins. Autophagy, a lysosome-mediated clearance mechanism, plays a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by removing damaged organelles and protein aggregates. Impairments in autophagy have been increasingly linked to ALS, underscoring its importance in neuronal health. TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a key regulator of selective autophagy, facilitating the recognition and sequestration of specific cargo through phosphorylation of autophagy receptors. Notably, mutations in the TBK1 gene have been identified in ALS patients, directly implicating TBK1 dysfunction in disease pathogenesis. Through …

Diversity Within Species: Mechanisms, Evolution And Implications In Bacterial Disease, Kathryn R. Piper

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli are ubiquitous commensal and opportunistic pathogens. In humans, S. aureus is commonly found on the skin and mucus membranes, and is known to cause infections in the skin, bloodstream and brain. E. coli is a normal part of the gut microbiota in humans and can cause intestinal and extraintestinal infections alike. S. aureus and E. coli pose global threats to public health, due to the high morbidity and mortality of invasive strains. The wide range of infections they cause in humans and other animals are exacerbated by the presence …

Enhancing The Accuracy Of Image Classification For Degenerative Brain Diseases With Cnn Ensemble Models Using Mel-Spectrograms, Sang-Ha Sung, Michael Pokojovy, Do-Young Kang, Woo-Yong Bae, Yeon-Jae Hong, Sangjin Kim

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are prevalent neurodegenerative disorders among the elderly, leading to cognitive decline and motor impairments. As the population ages, the prevalence of these neurodegenerative disorders is increasing, providing motivation for active research in this area. However, most studies are conducted using brain imaging, with relatively few studies utilizing voice data. Using voice data offers advantages in accessibility compared to brain imaging analysis. This study introduces a novel ensemble-based classification model that utilizes Mel spectrograms and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to distinguish between healthy individuals (NM), AD, and PD patients. A total of 700 voice …

An Electrochemical Sensor For Tenofovir Monitoring, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Effective monitoring of tenofovir (TFV) adherence is critical for ensuring the success of antiretroviral therapies in preventing and managing HIV, as nonadherence can lead to treatment failure and the development of drug-resistant strains. In this study, a highly sensitive and selective novel biomimetic sensor for TFV determination is developed utilizing laser-scribed graphene (LSG) modified with gold spiky nanostructures (AuNSp) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The MIP layer is engineered with precise control to maximize molecular specificity for TFV. Electrochemical characterization demonstrates excellent performance, including the broadest linear detection range (10 nM to 200 μM) reported to date with a sensitivity …

Hiv Protein Tat Dysregulates Multiple Pathways In Human Ipscs- Derived Microglia, Liam Liyang Guo, Robert Jiang, Yan Cheng, Brooke Russell, Yan Y. Sanders, Ming-Lei Guo

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

In the era of combined antiretroviral therapy, around 50% of chronic HIV (+) individuals show varying degrees of memory and cognitive deficiency (NeuroHIV), a phenomenon of accelerated brain aging. HIV protein transactivator of transcription (TAT) has been well-accepted as a risk factor contributing to NeuroHIV through dysregulating microglia (Mg) functions. Previous studies have demonstrated that HIV-TAT can affect lipid metabolism, immune responses, autophagy, and senescence in rodent Mg. However, due to the significant species differences between rodent and human Mg (hMg), it is essential to take caution when interpreting the results obtained from rodent models into human conditions. For the …