Assessment Of Psycho-Emotional Symptoms In Cancer Patients In An Oncology-Palliative Care Department From Romania, Roxana Andreea Rahnea-Nita, Laura-Florentina Rebegea, Elena Gabriela Valcu, Mihaela Dumitru, Radu Valeriu Toma, Mihai Georgescu, Georgia Luiza Serbanescu, Maria Alexandra Barbu, Georgiana Bianca Constantin, Gabriela Rahnea-Nita

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Introduction. Anxiety and depression have an increased prevalence in cancer patients, especially in those in an advanced stage of the disease. These disorders have a major impact on the social life, existential concerns and quality of life of cancer patients. Materials and Methods. A number of 114 consecutive patients were included in the study (in a period of 2 weeks) who were screened for anxiety, depression and for other common symptoms, using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Results. Regarding the age - the abnormal level of anxiety and depression: the percentage of patients …

Telomeres Are Shorter In Portuguese Obese Adults, Catarina Duarte, Maria Teresa Braz, Ana Marques-Ramos, José Silva-Nunes, Luisa Veiga, Miguel Brito

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Obesity is a clinical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of adipose tissue with an increased risk of developing illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In obesity, the secretion of proinflammatory adipokines contributes to oxidative stress that can lead to a decline in the length of telomeres. Telomeres are structures of repetitive sequences delimiting the chromosomes, that plays a crucial role in maintaining their integrity and stability and, thus, its shortening is associated with cellular senescence and possible apoptosis. Although some studies indicate that obesity is associated with shorter telomeres, others contradict this data. Accordingly, the …

Giant Adrenal Myelolipomas: A Literature Review, Mircea Hogea, Anda Hogea, Marius Moga, Roxana Dragomir, Simona Grigorescu, Bogdan Socea

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Myelolipomas are described as small tumors, with some authors referring to sizes less than 4 cm in diameter. However, when greater than 10 cm, myelolipomas are labeled as giant tumors and thus, have a definite indication for surgical resection. Myelolipomas represent a small percentage of adrenal tumors. Giant myelolipomas are usually discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other conditions. They are often slow-growing and may reach sizes that significantly distort the anatomy of the affected area. Despite their large size, they are usually benign and do not spread to other parts of the body. Adrenal myelolipoma is a benign …

Hepatotoxicity Induced By Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Flaviu Muresan, Olga Hilda Orasan, Angela Cozma, Madalina Daiana Bancos, Lorena Ciumarnean, Mircea Vasile Milaciu, Tinca Codruta Pocol, Nicoleta Valentina Leach, Teodora Gabriela Alexescu, Ovidiu Vasile Fabian, George Ciulei, Mirela Georgiana Perne

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an effective immunotherapeutic approach for cancers affecting the lung, skin, kidney, mammary gland, or certain hematologic malignancies. Regarding the prognosis of these oncological conditions, treatments with ICIs open new therapeutic perspectives with benefits for both patients and healthcare providers. A drawback of immune checkpoint inhibition is the occurrence of immune-related adverse events that can involve a wide range of organs, such as the liver. Given widespread usage of immunotherapy, the number of patients who suffer from this unwanted condition has increased. Hepatopathy induced by ICIs can be severe and can even lead to death. Detecting …

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Associated With Ipsilateral Bell's Palsy, Patricia Salazar Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus with spread along the dorsal root ganglion and sensory nerve to a dermatome. In herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), involvement of the ophthalmic (V₁) branch of the trigeminal nerve results in ocular sequelae and often presents with a characteristic pseudodendrite. Reactivation within cranial nerve VII can lead to the neurologic complication of facial nerve palsy on the affected side. Case Report: This case report describes a patient diagnosed with HZO and subsequent same-sided facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) and discusses the potential link between the two …

Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy: A Case Report, Kendra R. Null Od, Danielle E. Toms Od, Elizabeth M. Phillips Od, Candice A. Law Od, Ms

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy is a rare manifestation of ocular syphilis that can significantly impact the patient’s vision. However, it has been shown to have a good prognosis with the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of the underlying systemic syphilis infection. In addition to discussing the details of the case, this report also highlights the systemic staging, diagnosis, and treatment of syphilis. Case Report: This case features a 60-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed and treated for acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy after a recent diagnosis of syphilis. Conclusion: With the incidence rates of syphilis infections increasing, it is imperative …

Micro Life, David Burton

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Painting is what I do to slow my brain and relax my body after a busy day at the hospital. Nothing puts me directly into a flow state like slowly moving acrylic paint across a canvas. This piece titled “Micro Life” depicts the diversity of life constantly surrounding us at the microbiological level everywhere we go. As a strong believer in nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, I know how important our microbiome is to healthy digestion and a properly functioning immune system. On the other side, I have witnessed the devastating effects dangerous microorganisms can have on our already compromised …

A Large Scale Multi Institutional Study For Radiomics Driven Machine Learning For Meningioma Grading, Mert Karabacak, Shiv Patil, Rui Feng, Raj K. Shrivastava, Konstantinos Margetis

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

This study aims to develop and evaluate radiomics-based machine learning (ML) models for predicting meningioma grades using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study utilized the BraTS-MEN dataset's training split, including 698 patients (524 with grade 1 and 174 with grade 2-3 meningiomas). We extracted 4872 radiomic features from T1, T1 with contrast, T2, and FLAIR MRI sequences using PyRadiomics. LASSO regression reduced features to 176. The data was split into training (60%), validation (20%), and test (20%) sets. Five ML algorithms (TabPFN, XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost, and Random Forest) were employed to build models differentiating low-grade (grade 1) from high-grade …

Factors Related To The Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (Ssbs) Among High School Students At Sma Negeri 68 Jakarta In 2024, Debora Karyoko, Wahyu Kurnia Yusrin Putra, Teguh Jati Prasetyo

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Indonesia ranked third in Southeast Asia for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) consumption in 2022, with a consumption rate of 20.23 liters/person/year. According to Riskesdas in 2018, 61.3% of the Indonesian population consumed more than once a day and 47.5% in 2023. This study aims to understand the patterns and levels of SSB consumption among various factors in students of SMA Negeri 68 Jakarta in 2024. This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2024 with 134 respondents using questionnaires and interviews for 24-hour food recall and SQ-FFQ. Univariate analysis showed that 12.69% of respondents had high SSB consumption. Bivariate analysis …

Factors Influencing Iron Intake Among Female Students In Universitas Indonesia, Kristina Adjie, Triyanti Triyanti

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

This study aims to determine the differences in iron intake among female college students based on consumption factors (animal-based side dishes, plant-based side dishes, vegetables, fruits, Ultra Processed Food) and individual factors (attitude towards red meat consumption, social media influence, nutrition knowledge, allowance, type of residence). The design of this study is cross-sectional, involving 147 undergraduate regular students from the Faculty of Public Health class of 2021, 2022, and 2023. Respondents were selected based on simple random sampling, and data collection was conducted online using Zoom. The research questionnaire was administered using Google Forms and Spreadsheets for the Semi Quantitative …

The Relationship Of Dietary Pattern And Physical Activity On Cholesterol Level In Young Adults, Wahyuni Sammeng

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

High blood cholesterol levels are a serious problem because they are one of the risk factors for degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular. Research data shows that in Ambon City, 32.49% of the population has the habit of consuming fatty/cholesterol/fried foods ≥1 time per day. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between dietary habit and physical activity with blood cholesterol levels. The type of research used was quantitative, sampling technique used was convenience sampling for 30 people. The independent variables in this study were dietary intake (amount, frequency, and type) measured using a semi-quantitative FFQ and physical …

The Relationship Between Snacking And Sugar, Salt, Fat Intake On Nutritional Status Of Adolescents Of Smkn 30 Jakarta, Khoirul Anwar, Syifa Aulia Putri

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat including from snacks can increase the risk of obesity or being overweight. The objective of this study to analyze the relationship between snacking and sugar, salt, and fat intake on nutritional status in adolescents. This design is cross-sectional with a sample of 90 grade X students at SMKN 30 Jakarta. The data collected include physical activity data using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), snacking habit data, frequency of sugar, salt, and fat consumption using the SQ-FFQ. The results of the correlation test showed that there was a significant relationship between snacking habits …

Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Compared With Standard Care In Adolescents And Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Mark C. Walters, Mary Eapen, Yiwen Liu, Fuad El Rassi, Edmund K. Waller, John E. Levine, John J. Strouse, Joseph H. Antin, Suhag H. Parikh, Nitya Bakshi, Carlton D Dampier, Jennifer J. Jaroscak, Shayla Bergmann, Trish E. Wong, Vamsi K. Kota, Betty Sue Pace, Lazaros J. Lekakis, Premal D. Lulla, Robert Nickel, Kimberly A. Kasow, Uday R. Popat, Wally R. Smith, Lolie C. Yu, Nancy L. Difronzo, Nancy L. Geller, Naynesh Kamani, Elizabeth Sue Klings, Kathryn Hassell, Adam M. Mendizabal, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Disease-modifying therapies are standard of care (SOC) for sickle cell disease (SCD), but hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has curative potential. We compared outcomes prospectively through 2-years after biologic assignment to a Donor or No Donor (SOC) Arm based on the availability of an HLA-matched sibling or unrelated donor (BMTCTN 1503; NCT02766465). A donor search was commenced after eligibility confirmation. The primary endpoint was the comparison of survival 2 years after biologic assignment between treatment arms. Power calculations required 60 participants on the Donor Arm and 140 on the No Donor Arm to determine if early transplant-related mortality might be balanced …

Implementation Science And Pediatric Diabetes: A Scoping Review Of The State Of The Literature And Recommendations For Future Research, Julia Price, Jaclynn Hawkins, Daniel J. Amante, Richard James, Debra Haire-Joshu

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This scoping review aimed to identify implementation science (IS) research in pediatric diabetes, report integration of IS theory and terminology, and offer guidance for future research.

RECENT FINDINGS: Of 23 papers identified, 19 were published since 2017 and 21 focused on type 1 diabetes. Most involved medical evidence-based practices (EBPs; n = 15), whereas fewer focused on psychosocial (n = 7) and diabetes education (n = 2). The majority either identified barriers and facilitators of implementing an EBP (n = 11) or were implementation trials (n = 11). Fewer studies documented gaps in EBP implementation in standard …

Periodontal Health In A Large Cohort Of Ugandans Living With Hiv: A Cross-Sectional Study, William Buwembo, Adriane Kamulegeya, Dunstan Kalanzi, Priscilla Naava Namuyonga, Proscovia Nakasujja, David P. Katete, F. Collins Semitala, Catherine Mwesigwa-Lutalo, Samuel Kalungi, Jennifer E. Cameron, Ian G. Munabi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: The impact of periodontitis on large populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-constrained settings remains largely un-investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive description of the periodontal health status among a sizable cohort of Ugandans living with HIV. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,449 participants who were over 18-years old with data captured on their reported age, gender, tobacco use, length of time on HAART and alcohol use. Periodontal health was assessed using the WHO periodontal probe and the modified CPI data entry form. Descriptive statistics were reported using …

Dynamic Dysregulation Of Retrotransposons In Neurodegenerative Diseases At The Single-Cell Level\, Wankun Deng, Citu Citu, Andi Liu, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Retrotransposable elements (RTEs) are common mobile genetic elements comprising ∼42% of the human genome. RTEs play critical roles in gene regulation and function, but how they are specifically involved in complex diseases is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the cellular heterogeneity of RTEs using 12 single-cell transcriptome profiles covering three neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. We identify cell type marker RTEs in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells that are related to these diseases. The differential expression analysis reveals the landscape of dysregulated RTE expression, especially L1s, in excitatory neurons of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. …

Sustaining Life On Earth: An Arts-Based Research Exploration Of Collective Lived Experiences Of Covid-19, Nancy Gerber, Karin Hannes, Marco Gemignani, Jacelyn Biondo, Richard Siegesmund, Lucia Carriera, Elisabetta Biff, Madeline Centracchio, Mandy Archibald, Gioia Chilton, Janet L. Kuhnke, Angela Dawson, Jorge Lucero, Nicky Haire, Sara Scott Shields

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

This article presents the philosophy, innovative methods, and final aesthetic synthesis of a collaborative arts-based research project about the lived experience of COVID-19. The project was initiated in 2020 and completed in 2022. Nineteen international arts-based research scholars participated as co-researchers, submitting their arts-based and narrative responses to the project. The six-member core research team guiding the project collected and organized the submissions while simultaneously entering into immersive, iterative, dynamic, arts-based data generation, dialogic analytic and syntheses processes with co-researchers, and each other. Materials-discursive analytic processes, arts-based responses, sensorial coding, intersubjective dialogues, and arts-based assemblages conducted iteratively throughout the project. …

Using Geographic Momentary Assessment To Explore Spatial Environment Influences On Wellbeing In People With Hiv, Rayna E. Gasik, Ethan A. Smith, Simone J. Skeen, Stephanie Tokarz, Gretchen Clum, Erica Felker-Kantor, Katherine P. Theall

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Place-based socio-economic and racial inequities contribute to health disparities among people with HIV (PWH). We used geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) methodologies to explore the interplay between psychosocial outcomes in daily diaries and community spatial measures among PWH in New Orleans. PWH (N = 69) were recruited from a clinic-based cohort study. Micro-longitudinal data were collected via smartphone-based daily diaries and geospatial tracking over 14 days. First, correlations were run between diary derived outcomes (e.g., feeling safe in current location, stress), and spatial measures (e.g., violent crime, alcohol outlets, and vacant lots) within a half-mile buffer around each diary point …

Radiomics-Based Machine Learning With Natural Gradient Boosting For Continuous Survival Prediction In Glioblastoma, Mert Karabacak, Shiv Patil, Zachary C. Gersey, Ricardo J. Komotar, Konstantinos Margetis

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

(1) Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with an aggressive disease course that requires accurate prognosis for individualized treatment planning. This study aims to develop and evaluate a radiomics-based machine learning (ML) model to estimate overall survival (OS) for patients with GBM using pre-treatment multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (2) Methods: The MRI data of 865 patients with GBM were assessed, comprising 499 patients from the UPENN-GBM dataset and 366 patients from the UCSF-PDGM dataset. A total of 14,598 radiomic features were extracted from T1, T1 with contrast, T2, and FLAIR MRI sequences …

Specialized Contact Sites Regulate The Fusion Of Chlamydial Inclusion Membranes, Christine Linton, Jordan Wesolowski, Anna Lobley, Toshiyuki Yamaji, Kentaro Hanada, Fabienne Paumet

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis replicates within a membrane-bound compartment called the inclusion. Upon infection with several chlamydiae, each bacterium creates its own inclusion, resulting in multiple inclusions within each host cell. Ultimately, these inclusions fuse together in a process that requires the chlamydial protein IncA. Here, we show that inclusions form unique contact sites (inclusion contact sites, ICSs) prior to fusion, that serve as fusogenic platforms in which specific lipids and chlamydial proteins concentrate. Fusion depends on IncA clustering within ICSs and is regulated by PI(3,4)P₂ and sphingolipids. As IncA concentrates within ICSs, its C-terminus likely interacts …

Digital, Social Micro-Interventions To Promote Physical Activity Among Midlife Adults With Elevated Cardiovascular Risk: An Ambulatory Feasibility Study With Momentary Randomization., Danielle Arigo, Leah M Schumacher, Kiri Baga, Jacqueline A Mogle

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Although regular physical activity (PA) mitigates the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) during midlife, existing PA interventions are minimally effective. Harnessing social influences in daily life shows promise: digital micro-interventions could effectively engage these influences on PA and require testing.

PURPOSE: This feasibility study employed ecological momentary assessment with embedded micro-randomization to activate two types of social influences (i.e., comparison, support; NCT04711512).

METHODS: Midlife adults (N = 30, MAge = 51, MBMI = 31.5 kg/m2, 43% racial/ethnic minority) with ≥1 CVD risk conditions completed four mobile surveys per day for 7 days while wearing PA monitors. After 3 days …

Multilevel Disparities Of Sex-Differentiated Human Papilloma Virus-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancers In The United States, Rhea Verma, David J. Fei-Zhang, Lily B. Fletcher, Sydney A. Fleishman, Daniel C. Chelius, Anthony M. Sheyn, Jeffrey C. Rastatter, Jill N. D’Souza

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study used multilevel social determinants of health (SDoH) models to determine how SDoH influence different sexes of patients diagnosed with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OPSCC) across the US. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study assessing HPV-confirmed patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers from 2010 to 2018 using census-level Yost Index socioeconomic status (SES) score and rurality–urbanicity measures alongside individual-level race–ethnicity while stratifying by biological sex. Age-adjusted multivariate regressions were performed for survival, treatment receipt, and delay of treatment initiation (of 3+ months). Results: Across 14,076 OPSCC-HPV-positive patients, delay of treatment uniquely featured positive predictors for males …

The Impact Of Changes In Depression On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease., Nishant Vatsa, Josiah Bennett, Sonika Vatsa, Alireza Rahbar, Daniel A Gold, Vardhmaan Jain, Matthew E Gold, Alexander Razavi, Adithya Yadalam, Shivang Desai, Muhammad Owais, Joy D Hartsfield, Yi-An Ko, Laurence Sperling, Viola Vaccarino, Puja K Mehta, Arshed A Quyyumi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Whether longitudinal changes in depression affect MACE in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the hypothesis that increasing or persistent depression predicts MACE in patients with CHD.

METHODS: At baseline, 3,483 Emory Cardiovascular Biobank participants (median age 65.5 years, 31.6% female) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ8) for depression evaluation. At 1 year, 2,639 of these event-free participants repeated the questionnaire. Depression was defined as a PHQ8 score >9 and change in depressive symptoms (Δ" role="presentation"> PHQ8) was year 1 score minus baseline …

Tick-Borne Diseases And Pregnancy: A Narrative Review Evaluating Pregnancy Complications Caused By Tick-Borne Diseases, Michael W Curtis, Job E Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ticks are vectors of public health concern because the pathogens they transmit can cause detrimental diseases in humans. Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and babesiosis are some of the most common diseases caused by the pathogens transmitted by ticks. The overlap between human activities and tick habitats is growing, contributing to an increase in tick-borne disease cases. Unfortunately, pregnancy as a risk factor for tick-borne diseases is largely ignored. In this narrative review we use case reports, epidemiological studies, and animal studies to evaluate the maternal, pregnancy, and …

The Dleu2/Mir-15a/Mir-16-1 Cluster Shapes The Immune Microenvironment Of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Ronghua Zhang, Priyanka Khare, Priyanka Banerjee, Cristina Ivan, Sarah Schneider, Federica Barbaglio, Karen Clise-Dwyer, Vanessa Behrana Jensen, Erika Thompson, Marisela Mendoza, Nicholas Chiorazzi, Shih-Shih Chen, Xiao-Jie Joy Yan, Nitin Jain, Paolo Ghia, Federico Caligaris-Cappio, Rima Mendonsa, Sashi Kasimsetty, Ryan Swoboda, Recep Bayraktar, William Wierda, Varsha Gandhi, George A Calin, Michael J Keating, Maria Teresa Sabrina Bertilaccio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The development and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) depend on genetic abnormalities and on the immunosuppressive microenvironment. We have explored the possibility that genetic drivers might be responsible for the immune cell dysregulation that shapes the protumor microenvironment. We performed a transcriptome analysis of coding and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during leukemia progression in the Rag2-/-γc-/- MEC1-based xenotransplantation model. The DLEU2/miR-16 locus was found downmodulated in monocytes/macrophages of leukemic mice. To validate the role of this cluster in the tumor immune microenvironment, we generated a mouse model that simultaneously mimics the overexpression of hTCL1 and the germline deletion of the …

Liposomal Eribulin (E7389-Lf) Plus Nivolumab: A Potential Treatment Option For Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer?, Ali Raza Shaikh, Daniel Lin

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Current Understanding Of The Impact Of United States Military Airborne Hazards And Burn Pit Exposures On Respiratory Health, Janeen Trembley, Paul Barach, Julie Tomáška, Jedidah Poole, Pamela Ginex, Robert Miller, Jacob Lindheimer, Anthony Szema, Kimberly Gandy, Trishul Siddharthan, Jason Kirkness, Joshua Nixon, Rosie Lopez Torres, Mark Klein, Timothy Nurkiewicz, Tammy Butterick

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Millions of United States (U.S.) troops deployed to the Middle East and Southwest Asia were exposed to toxic airborne hazards and/or open-air burn pits. Burn pit emissions contain particulate matter combined with toxic gasses and heavy metals. Ongoing research has demonstrated that exposures to the airborne hazards from military burn pits have profound and lasting health and wellness consequences. Research on the long-term health consequences of exposure to open burn pits has been limited. Work continues to understand the scope of the health impacts and the underlying pathobiology following exposures and to establish care standards. The U.S. Sergeant First Class …

Α4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Lipopolysaccharide-Related Lung Inflammation, J. Ritzenthaler, Walter H. Watson, Jesse Roman

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

Sepsis remains an important healthcare challenge. The lungs are often affected in sepsis, resulting in acute lung injury characterized by inflammation. Mechanisms involving lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling with induction of proinflammatory pathways have been implicated in this process. To date, however, studies targeting these pathways have failed to improve outcomes. We have found that LPS may also promote lung injury through the activation of α4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α4 nAChRs) in immune cells. We observed increased expression of α4 nAChRs in human THP-1 monocytic cells exposed to LPS (100 ng/mL, 24 h). We also observed that …

Micrornas Are Enriched At Covid-19 Genomic Risk Regions, And Their Blood Levels Correlate With The Covid-19 Prognosis Of Cancer Patients Infected By Sars-Cov-2, Simone Anfossi, Faezeh Darbaniyan, Joseph Quinlan, Steliana Calin, Masayoshi Shimizu, Meng Chen, Paola Rausseo, Michael Winters, Elena Bogatenkova, Kim-Anh Do, Ivan Martinez, Ziyi Li, Loredana Antal, Tudor Rares Olariu, Ignacio Wistuba, George A Calin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Cancer patients are more susceptible to an aggressive course of COVID-19. Developing biomarkers identifying cancer patients at high risk of COVID-19-related death could help determine who needs early clinical intervention. The miRNAs hosted in the genomic regions associated with the risk of aggressive COVID-19 could represent potential biomarkers for clinical outcomes.

Patients and methods: Plasma samples were collected at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from cancer patients (N = 128) affected by COVID-19. Serum samples were collected from vaccinated healthy individuals (n = 23) at the Municipal Clinical Emergency Teaching Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. An in …

Temporal Variations In And Predictive Values Of Abg Results Prior To In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Mina Attin, Jie Rin, Chad Cross, Sidath Kapukotuwa, Ryan Shao, Peter G. Kaufmann, C.D. (Joey) Lin, Kim Arcoleo

Nursing Faculty Research

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has been understudied relative to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Further, studies of IHCA have mainly focused on a limited number of pre-arrest patient characteristics (e.g., demographics, number and types of comorbidities). Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, one of the most common diagnostic tests for assessing and managing critically or acutely ill hospitalized patients, reflects pathophysiological changes associated with adverse events or complications, including IHCA. Yet the predictive and prognostic values of patterns of pre-arrest ABG parameters for IHCA have not been fully studied. The purpose of this retrospective pilot cohort study was to investigate temporal variations in …