Diseases Commons^™

High Prevalence Of A-Β+ Ketosis-Prone Diabetes In Children With Type 2 Diabetes And Diabetic Ketoacidosis At Diagnosis: Evidence From The Rare And Atypical Diabetes Network (Radiant), Elizabeth Kubota-Mishra, Xiaofan Huang, Charles G Minard, Marcela Astudillo, Ahmad Refaey, Graciela Montes, Stephanie Sisley, Nalini Ram, William E Winter, Rochelle N Naylor, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Maria J Redondo, Mustafa Tosur, Radiant Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND:A−β+ ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) in adults is characterized by presentation with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), negative islet autoantibodies, and preserved β-cell function in persons with a phenotype of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes (T2D). The prevalence of KPD has not been evaluated in children. We investigated children with DKA at “T2D” onset and determined the prevalence and characteristics of pediatric A−β+ KPD within this cohort.

METHODS: We reviewed the records of 716 children with T2D at a large academic hospital and compared clinical characteristics of those with and without DKA at onset. In the …

The Next-Generation Dna Vaccine Platforms And Delivery Systems: Advances, Challenges And Prospects, Bowen Lu, Jing Ming Lim, Boyue Yu, Siyuan Song, Praveen Neeli, Navid Sobhani, Pavithra K, Srinivasa Reddy Bonam, Rajendra Kurapati, Junnian Zheng, Dafei Chai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vaccines have proven effective in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. However, traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines suffer from certain drawbacks such as complex preparation, limited efficacy, potential risks and others. These limitations restrict their widespread use, especially in the face of an increasingly diverse range of diseases. With the ongoing advancements in genetic engineering vaccines, DNA vaccines have emerged as a highly promising approach in the treatment of both genetic diseases and acquired diseases. While several DNA vaccines have demonstrated substantial success in animal models of diseases, certain challenges need to be addressed before application in human subjects. …

Clinical Utility Of Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing In Determining Microbiologic Etiology Of Infectious Syndromes In Solid Organ Transplant Recipients, Jesal R Shah, Muhammad Rizwan Sohail, Todd Lasco, John A Goss, Mayar Al Mohajer, Sarwat Khalil

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is increasingly being used for microbial detection in various infectious syndromes. However, data regarding the use of mNGS in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) are lacking.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze real-world clinical impact of mNGS using plasma microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in SOTR.Design: Retrospectively reviewed all adult SOTR who underwent mNGS testing using plasma mcfDNA at Baylor St Luke's Medical Center from March 2017 to February 2023.

METHODS: Clinical impact (positive, neutral, and negative) was assessed using standardized objective criteria. Three Infectious Diseases physicians independently performed clinical adjudication to determine the correlation of mcfDNA …

Comparing The Effects Of Two Initial Specimen Diversion Techniques On Blood Culture Contamination Rates And Clinical Outcomes-A Multicenter Study, Anthony Febres-Aldana, Patrycja Ashley, Eva Amenta, Megan Duffey, Theresa Sepulveda, Corina Lopez, Sabra Shay, Miriam Barrett, Todd Lasco, Takei Pipkins, Margaret Reed, Bradley Lembcke, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although the initial specimen diversion device (ISDD) has been shown to reduce blood culture contamination (BCC) rates, its impact on clinical outcomes remains unclear. This multicenter study showed that ISDD significantly decreased BCC. However, there was no reduction in length of stay, days of therapy, or central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Detection Of Invasive Bartonella Infections With Next-Generation Sequencing Of Microbial Cell-Free Dna, Fernando H Centeno, Ahmed M Hamdi, Todd M Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We report 9 patients with invasive Bartonella infections, including 5 with endocarditis, who were diagnosed with microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing and Bartonella serology studies. Diagnosis with plasma mcfDNA NGS enabled a faster clinical and laboratory diagnosis in 8 patients. Prompt diagnosis impacted antibiotic management in all 9 patients.

The Impact Of Direct Inoculation Of Ascites Into Blood Culture Bottles On Ascites Culture Positivity, Tyler Brehm, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Assess whether direct inoculation of ascites into blood culture bottles would improve ascites culture yield.

DESIGN: Pre-post-study.

SETTING: The study was performed at a quaternary academic medical center in Houston, Texas, including all inpatient and emergency department encounters.

PATIENTS: Ascites cultures collected from November 2020 to December 2022 were reviewed and screened for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Patients were excluded if a prior ascites culture from the same patient was already included in the study or if there was evidence of secondary bacterial peritonitis.

INTERVENTION: In the pre-intervention period, ascites cultures were collected into a sterile container and inoculated onto/into …

Clinical Utility Of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing In Fever Of Undetermined Origin, Marilyne Daher, Roumen Iordanov, Mayar Al Mohajer, M Rizwan Sohail, Kristen Andrews Staggers, Ahmed Mufeed Hamdi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel diagnostic tool increasingly used in the field of infectious diseases. Little guidance is available regarding its appropriate use in different patient populations and clinical syndromes. We aimed to review the clinical utility of mNGS in patients with a specific clinical syndrome and identify factors that may increase its utility.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 72 non-immunocompromised adults hospitalized with the clinical syndrome of 'fever of undetermined origin' and underwent mNGS testing. Standardized criteria from a previously published study were used to determine the clinical impact of mNGS testing. We applied logistic …

Comparison Of Complication Types In Patients Receiving Vesicant Intravenous Antimicrobials Or Vasopressors Via Midlines And Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters, Bryan Grigg, Nishant Varghese, Christi Knapp, Sabra L Shay, Geraldine Jones, James P Herlihy, Prasad Manian, Bradley Lembcke, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We assessed adverse events in hospitalized patients receiving selected vesicant antibiotics or vasopressors administered through midline catheters or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). The rates of catheter-related bloodstream infections, thrombosis, and overall events were similar across the two groups, while occlusion was higher in the PICC group.

Creating A Plasma Coordination Center To Support Covid-19 Outpatient Trials Across A National Network Of Hospital Blood Banks, Anusha Yarava, Christi Marshall, David E Reichert, Aaron Ye, Preeti Khanal, Sanford H Robbins, Bruce S Sachais, David Oh, Ryan A Metcalf, Kathleen Conry-Cantilena, Karen King, Meredith Reyes, Jill Adamski, Marisa B Marques, Minh-Ha Tran, Elizabeth S Allen, Daniel Pach, Neil Blumberg, Rhonda Hobbs, Tammon Nash, Aarthi G Shenoy, Giselle S Mosnaim, Yuriko Fukuta, Bela Patel, Sonya L Heath, Adam C Levine, Barry R Meisenberg, Shweta Anjan, Moises A Huaman, Janis E Blair, Judith S Currier, James H Paxton, William Rausch, Kevin Oei, Matthew Abinante, Donald N Forthal, Martin S Zand, Seble G Kassaye, Edward R Cachay, Kelly A Gebo, Shmuel Shoham, Arturo Casadevall, Nichol A Mcbee, Daniel Amirault, Ying Wang, Erica Hopkins, David M Shade, Oliver Layendecker, Sabra L Klein, Han-Sol Park, John S Lee, Patrizio Caturegli, Jay S Raval, Daniel Cruser, Alyssa F Ziman, Jonathan Gerber, Thomas J Gniadek, Evan M Bloch, Aaron A R Tobian, Daniel F Hanley, David J Sullivan, Karen Lane

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rapidly implemented a plasma coordination center, within two months, to support transfusion for two outpatient randomized controlled trials. The center design was based on an investigational drug services model and a Food and Drug Administration-compliant database to manage blood product inventory and trial safety.

METHODS: A core investigational team adapted a cloud-based platform to randomize patient assignments and track inventory distribution of control plasma and high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma of different blood groups from 29 donor collection centers directly to blood banks serving 26 transfusion sites.

RESULTS: We performed 1,351 transfusions in …

A Novel System To Culture Human Intestinal Organoids Under Physiological Oxygen Content To Study Microbial-Host Interaction, Tatiana Y Fofanova, Umesh C Karandikar, Jennifer M Auchtung, Reid L Wilson, Antonio J Valentin, Robert A Britton, K Jane Grande-Allen, Mary K Estes, Kristi Hoffman, Sashirekha Ramani, Christopher J Stewart, Joseph F Petrosino

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mechanistic investigation of host-microbe interactions in the human gut are hindered by difficulty of co-culturing microbes with intestinal epithelial cells. On one hand the gut bacteria are a mix of facultative, aerotolerant or obligate anaerobes, while the intestinal epithelium requires oxygen for growth and function. Thus, a coculture system that can recreate these contrasting oxygen requirements is critical step towards our understanding microbial-host interactions in the human gut. Here, we demonstrate Intestinal Organoid Physoxic Coculture (IOPC) system, a simple and cost-effective method for coculturing anaerobic intestinal bacteria with human intestinal organoids (HIOs). Using commensal anaerobes with varying degrees of oxygen …

Dialysis Modality, Transplant Characteristics, And Incident Atrial Fibrillation After Kidney Transplant: An Observational Study Using Usrds Data, Leonardo Pozo Garcia, Sai Liu, Colin R Lenihan, Maria E Montez-Rath, Tara I Chang, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Pascale Khairallah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and is increasing in prevalence. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is high among patients receiving dialysis, affecting ∼21.3% of the patients receiving hemodialysis and 15.5% of those receiving peritoneal dialysis. The association of previous dialysis modality with incident atrial fibrillation in patients after receiving their first kidney transplant has not been studied.

STUDY DESIGN: We used the United States Renal Data System to retrospectively identify adult, Medicare-insured patients who received their first kidney transplant between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2012 and who had not previously been diagnosed with …

Inhibition Of Src-3 As A Potential Therapeutic Strategy For Aggressive Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Imani Bijou, Yang Liu, Dong Lu, Jianwei Chen, Shelby Sloan, Lapo Alinari, David M Lonard, Bert W O'Malley, Michael Wang, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has a poor prognosis and high relapse rates despite current therapies, necessitating novel treatment regimens. Inhibition of SRC-3 show effectiveness in vivo and in vitro in other B cell lymphomas. Additionally, previous studies have shown that SRC-3 is highly expressed in the lymph nodes of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, suggesting SRC-3 may play a role in the progression of B cell lymphoma. This study aimed to investigate novel SRC-3 inhibitors, SI-10 and SI-12, in mantle cell lymphoma. The cytotoxic effects of SI-10 and SI-12 were evaluated in vitro and demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity in a panel …

How Individuals’ Opinions Influence Society’S Resistance To Epidemics: An Agent-Based Model Approach, Geonsik Yu, Michael J. Garee, Mario Ventresca, Yuehwern Yih

Faculty Publications

Background: Protecting public health from infectious diseases often relies on the cooperation of citizens, especially when self-care interventions are the only viable tools for disease mitigation. Accordingly, social aspects related to public opinion have been studied in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of opinion-related factors on disease spread still requires further exploration. Methods: We propose an agent-based simulation framework incorporating opinion dynamics within an epidemic model based on the assumption that mass media channels play a leading role in opinion dynamics. The model simulates how opinions about preventive interventions change over …

Proton Pump Inhibitors: Rational Use And Use-Reduction - The Windsor Workshop, Peter Kahrilas, Foteini Anastasiou, Albert J Bredenoord, Hashem B El Serag, Joachim Labenz, Juan Mendive, Edoardo V Savarino, Daniel Sifrim, Mihaela Udrescu, Rena Yadlapati, A Pali Hungin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite deprescribing initiatives to curb overutilization of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), achieving meaningful reductions in PPI use is proving a challenge.

SUMMARY: An international group of primary care doctors and gastroenterologists examined the literature surrounding PPI use and use-reduction to clarify: (i) what constitutes rational PPI prescribing; (ii) when and in whom PPI use-reduction should be attempted; and (iii) what strategies to use when attempting PPI use-reduction.

KEY MESSAGES: Before starting a PPI for reflux-like symptoms, patients should be educated on potential causes and alternative approaches including dietary and lifestyle modification, weight loss, and relaxation strategies. When commencing a …

Researching Covid To Enhance Recovery (Recover) Pediatric Study Protocol: Rationale, Objectives And Design, Rachel S Gross, Tanayott Thaweethai, Erika B Rosenzweig, James Chan, Lori B Chibnik, Mine S Cicek, Amy J Elliott, Valerie J Flaherman, Andrea S Foulkes, Margot Gage Witvliet, Richard Gallagher, Maria Laura Gennaro, Terry L Jernigan, Elizabeth W Karlson, Stuart D Katz, Patricia A Kinser, Lawrence C Kleinman, Michelle F Lamendola-Essel, Joshua D Milner, Sindhu Mohandas, Praveen C Mudumbi, Jane W Newburger, Kyung E Rhee, Amy L Salisbury, Jessica N Snowden, Cheryl R Stein, Melissa S Stockwell, Kelan G Tantisira, Moriah E Thomason, Dongngan T Truong, David Warburton, John C Wood, Shifa Ahmed, Almary Akerlundh, Akram N Alshawabkeh, Brett R Anderson, Judy L Aschner, Andrew M Atz, Robin L Aupperle, Fiona C Baker, Venkataraman Balaraman, Dithi Banerjee, Deanna M Barch, Arielle Baskin-Sommers, Sultana Bhuiyan, Marie-Abele C Bind, Amanda L Bogie, Tamara Bradford, Natalie C Buchbinder, Elliott Bueler, Hülya Bükülmez, B J Casey, Linda Chang, Maryanne Chrisant, Duncan B Clark, Rebecca G Clifton, Katharine N Clouser, Lesley Cottrell, Kelly Cowan, Viren D'Sa, Mirella Dapretto, Soham Dasgupta, Walter Dehority, Audrey Dionne, Kirsten B Dummer, Matthew D Elias, Shari Esquenazi-Karonika, Danielle N Evans, E Vincent S Faustino, Alexander G Fiks, Daniel Forsha, John J Foxe, Naomi P Friedman, Greta Fry, Sunanda Gaur, Dylan G Gee, Kevin M Gray, Stephanie Handler, Ashraf S Harahsheh, Keren Hasbani, Andrew C Heath, Camden Hebson, Mary M Heitzeg, Christina M Hester, Sophia Hill, Laura Hobart-Porter, Travis K F Hong, Carol R Horowitz, Daniel S Hsia, Matthew Huentelman, Kathy D Hummel, Katherine Irby, Joanna Jacobus, Vanessa L Jacoby, Pei-Ni Jone, David C Kaelber, Tyler J Kasmarcak, Matthew J Kluko, Jessica S Kosut, Angela R Laird, Jeremy Landeo-Gutierrez, Sean M Lang, Christine L Larson, Peter Paul C Lim, Krista M Lisdahl, Brian W Mccrindle, Russell J Mcculloh, Kimberly Mchugh, Alan L Mendelsohn, Torri D Metz, Julie Miller, Elizabeth C Mitchell, Lerraughn M Morgan, Eva M Müller-Oehring, Erica R Nahin, Michael C Neale, Manette Ness-Cochinwala, Sheila M Nolan, Carlos R Oliveira, Onyekachukwu Osakwe, Matthew E Oster, R Mark Payne, Michael A Portman, Hengameh Raissy, Isabelle G Randall, Suchitra Rao, Harrison T Reeder, Johana M Rosas, Mark W Russell, Arash A Sabati, Yamuna Sanil, Alice I Sato, Michael S Schechter, Rangaraj Selvarangan, S Kristen Sexson Tejtel, Divya Shakti, Kavita Sharma, Lindsay M Squeglia, Shubika Srivastava, Michelle D Stevenson, Jacqueline Szmuszkovicz, Maria M Talavera-Barber, Ronald J Teufel, Deepika Thacker, Felicia Trachtenberg, Mmekom M Udosen, Megan R Warner, Sara E Watson, Alan Werzberger, Jordan C Weyer, Marion J Wood, H Shonna Yin, William T Zempsky, Emily Zimmerman, Benard P Dreyer, Recover-Pediatric Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence, pathophysiology, and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 [PASC] or "Long COVID") in children and young adults remain unknown. Studies must address the urgent need to define PASC, its mechanisms, and potential treatment targets in children and young adults.

OBSERVATIONS: We describe the protocol for the Pediatric Observational Cohort Study of the NIH's REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. RECOVER-Pediatrics is an observational meta-cohort study of caregiver-child pairs (birth through 17 years) and young adults (18 through 25 years), recruited from more than 100 sites across the US. This report focuses on two of …

Crystal Structure Of Trichinella Spiralis Calreticulin And The Structural Basis Of Its Complement Evasion Mechanism Involving C1q, Zhihui Jia, Wen Yu, Jingmo Li, Mingming Zhang, Bin Zhan, Liming Yan, Zhenhua Ming, Yuli Cheng, Xiaolin Tian, Shuai Shao, Jingjing Huang, Xinping Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Helminths produce calreticulin (CRT) to immunomodulate the host immune system as a survival strategy. However, the structure of helminth-derived CRT and the structural basis of the immune evasion process remains unclarified. Previous study found that the tissue-dwelling helminth Trichinella spiralis produces calreticulin (TsCRT), which binds C1q to inhibit activation of the complement classical pathway. Here, we used x-ray crystallography to resolve the structure of truncated TsCRT (TsCRTΔ), the first structure of helminth-derived CRT. TsCRTΔ was observed to share the same binding region on C1q with IgG based on the structure and molecular docking, which explains the inhibitory effect of TsCRT …

Activation Of Mechanoreceptor Piezo1 Inhibits Enteric Neuronal Growth And Migration, Chioma Moneme, Oluyinka O Olutoye, Michał F Sobstel, Yuwen Zhang, Xinyu Zhou, Jacob L Kaminer, Britney A Hsu, Chengli Shen, Arabinda Mandal, Hui Li, Ling Yu, Swathi Balaji, Sundeep G Keswani, Lily S Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dysfunction of the enteric nervous system (ENS) is linked to a myriad of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Piezo1 is a mechanosensitive ion channel found throughout the GI tract, but its role in the ENS is largely unknown. We hypothesize that Piezo1 plays an important role in the growth and development of the ENS.

METHODS: Enteric neural crest-derived progenitor cells (ENPC) were isolated from adult mouse intestine and propagated in culture as neurospheres. ENPC-derived neurons were then subject to

RESULTS: Though stretch did not cause upregulation of Piezo1 expression in enteric neurons, both stretch and Piezo1 activation produced similar alterations in …

Patient Questions Surrounding Posterior Nasal Nerve Ablation For Chronic Rhinitis, Daniel Gorelik, Samuel E Razmi, Robert Kenneth Sims, Aatin K Dhanda, Masayoshi Takashima, Ella S Brissett, Nicholas R Rowan, Michael T Yim, Najm Khan, Meha G Fox, Omar G Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: In-office ablation of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN) has emerged as an effective treatment option for chronic rhinitis patients. This study explored questions patients commonly search online regarding this therapy and the quality of content available.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of online search criteria and sources was performed with subsequent analysis of results.

SETTING: Search and data acquisition was in September of 2023.

METHODS: Most common search terms related to cryotherapy and radiofrequency neurolysis of the PNN were identified with associated People Also Ask (PAA) questions. Questions were categorized and organized into subtopics and sources evaluated using readability …

Ginkgo Biloba For Tardive Dyskinesia And Plasma Mnsod Activity: Association With Mnsod Ala-9val Variant: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial, Dongmei Wang, Yang Tian, Jiajing Chen, Rongrong Zhu, Jiaxin Li, Huixia Zhou, Dachun Chen, Li Wang, Thomas R Kosten, Xiang-Yang Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Excessive free radicals are implicated in the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia (TD), and Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) scavenges free radicals, thereby enhancing antioxidant enzymes such as mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). This study examined whether EGb761 treatment would improve TD symptoms and increase MnSOD activity, particularly in TD patients with specific MnSOD Val-9Ala genotype.

Methods: An EGb761 (240 mg/day) 12-week double-blind clinical trial with 157 TD patients was randomized. The severity of TD was measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and plasma MnSOD activity was assayed before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Further, in an expanded …

Gsk-3Β As A Potential Coordinator Of Anabolic And Catabolic Pathways In Hepatitis C Virus Insulin Resistance, Gokul C Das, F Blaine Hollinger

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis C infection can result in insulin resistance (IR). We have previously shown that it occurs through the interaction of pathways for glucose homeostasis, insulin signaling, and autophagy. But it is not known how soon the pathways are activated and how IR is related to the signals generated by catabolic and anabolic conditions occurring in infected cells. We have extended our studies to a cell culture system mimicking acute infection and to downstream pathways involving energy-sensor AMPK and nutrient-sensor mTOR that are active in catabolic and anabolic processes within the infected cells.

METHODS: Huh7 liver cells in culture …

Delays In Hepatitis A Vaccination In People With Hiv In Houston, Texas Between 2010 And 2018, Emily T Ciocca, Kristen A Staggers, Jennifer Carey, Antone R Opekun, F Blaine Hollinger, Wendy A Keitel, Robert L Atmar, Hana M El Sahly, Jennifer A Whitaker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated low hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination rates among persons with HIV (PWH).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of persons entering HIV care at two clinics in Houston, Texas between 2010 and 2018. We defined those eligible for HAV vaccination as those who had no history of HAV vaccination and had a negative anti-HAV IgG at entry to care. Kaplan-Meier curves summarized time to receipt of HAV vaccines. The proportions of patients who received 1 and 2 HAV vaccines at 6, 12, and 24 months were estimated. Cox proportional hazards regression evaluated associations between patient characteristics …

Co-Designing An Online Treatment Decision Aid For Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Navigate, Penelope Schofield, Amelia Hyatt, Alan White, Fiona White, Mark Frydenberg, Suzanne Chambers, Robert Gardiner, Declan G. Murphy, Lawrence Cavedon, Jeremy Millar, Natalie Richards, Barbara Murphy, Ilona Juraskova

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To develop an online treatment decision aid (OTDA) to assist patients with low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) and their partners in making treatment decisions. Patients and methods: Navigate, an OTDA for LRPC, was rigorously co-designed by patients with a confirmed diagnosis or at risk of LRPC and their partners, clinicians, researchers and website designers/developers. A theoretical model guided the development process. A mixed methods approach was used incorporating (1) evidence for essential design elements for OTDAs; (2) evidence for treatment options for LRPC; (3) an iterative co-design process involving stakeholder workshops and prototype review; and (4) expert rating using the …

Editorial: Neurotoxins In Alzheimer's Disease And Other Dementias, Alexandre Henriques, Philippe L. L. Poindron, Binosha Fernando, Kevin N. Hascup

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a progressive decline in cognition and independence from activities of daily living. Dementia is multifactorial with numerous risk factors including age, genes, molecules, lifestyle, and environmental contributions to disease onset and progression. In recent years, an emerging focus on neurotoxins has added a new layer of complexity to our understanding of dementia. This editorial aims to discuss recent updates regarding the role of neurotoxins in the pathogenesis of dementia.

Quantifying Uptake And Completion Of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs In People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Known To Tertiary Care, Sarah Hug, Vinicius Cavalheri, Daniel F. Gucciardi, Kylie Hill

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: People with symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PRPs), but program attrition is common. Methods: For people with COPD who presented to tertiary care and appeared appropriate for a PRP, we prospectively mapped their PRP journey, explored factors influencing attendance to pre-program assessment and captured program attrition. Results: Of the 391 participants, 31% (95% CI 27 to 36) were referred to a PRP (n = 123; age 68 ± 10years, 62 males [50%], FEV1 45 ± 19%predicted). Of those referred, 94 (76% [69 to 84]) attended a pre-program assessment. Ex-smokers and those who had …

A Systematic Review Of Dementia Research Priorities, Manonita Ghosh, Pelden Chejor, Melanie Baker, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Patient involvement is a critical component of dementia research priority-setting exercises to ensure that research benefits are relevant and acceptable to those who need the most. This systematic review synthesises research priorities and preferences identified by people living with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: Guided by Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, we conducted a systematic search in five electronic databases: CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus. The reference lists of the included studies were also manually searched. We combined quantitative and qualitative data for synthesis and descriptive thematic …

Autonomic Modulation Of Cardiac Function In Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Jenna Rose Disser

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disorder. HCM is characterized by cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and an increased risk of fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Previous studies in humans with HCM have demonstrated increased cardiac norepinephrine spillover and reduced beta-1 receptor (β1R) expression in the left ventricle (LV). We have previously demonstrated that cardiac sympathetic tone is elevated in an alpha-tropomyosin mutant mouse model of HCM. We hypothesized that HCM mice would demonstrate reduced β1R expression in the LV and attenuated heart rate (HR) and dP/dt max responses to ramped infusion of the β1R agonist, dobutamine. …

Computational Analysis Of Vascular Aneurysms, Seyedmostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Vascular aneurysms, such as intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), pose significant health risks, particularly upon rupture. Disturbed hemodynamics, characterized by swirling flow patterns, can lead to cellular and structural changes that disrupt normal physiological processes and contribute to destructive vascular remodeling. Integrating hemodynamic analysis into clinical assessments of aneurysms has become crucial, especially through patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on medical imaging. However, the complexity of CFD tools presents challenges in model creation and post-simulation analysis, limiting their accessibility to clinicians.
This project aimed to advance aneurysm management by exploring the role of intraluminal thrombus …

Colonic Malakoplakia In A Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipient Case Report, Kristen G Valencia Deray, Richard Kellermayer, Alexis C Gomez, Kalyani R Patel, Peace Imani, Seiji Kitagawa, Claire E Bocchini, Alvaro Orjuela

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Malakoplakia is a rare, chronic granulomatous disease that mainly affects the genitourinary system of immunocompromised adults. It is caused by a bactericidal deficit in macrophages and, therefore, the treatment includes antimicrobials that reach high concentrations in macrophages. To our knowledge, we present the first case of malakoplakia in a pediatric solid organ transplant recipient. Our patient is a 15-year-old male renal transplant recipient who presented with recurrent diarrhea. Blood, urine, and gastrointestinal pathogen panel testing were positive for enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. A colonoscopy revealed diffuse malakoplakia. He had a complete resolution of symptoms with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy. Unfortunately, his malakoplakia recurred …

Smooth Muscle Contractile Responses To Bile Acids In Mouse Ileum Require Tgr5 But Not Asbt, Diana S Chang, Krishnakant G Soni, Geoffrey A Preidis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Many disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) are more prevalent in women than men and feature alterations in gastrointestinal motility and bile acid homeostasis. Mechanisms by which bile acids regulate gastrointestinal motility are poorly characterized. We recently validated an adapted tissue bath technique using everted mouse ileum, which revealed differential contractile responses to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA). Here, we aimed to determine whether these responses are dependent on host sex, the plasma membrane bile acid receptor TGR5, or the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter ASBT.

METHODS: Ileal segments from male and female mice were everted and suspended …

Recent Trends In The Incidence Of Gastric Cancer In The United States, Kyle S Liu, Syed Ahsan Raza, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) incidence rates overall in the United States have declined over recent decades and are predicted to continue declining. However, there have been mixed recent findings regarding the potential stabilization of rates and potential divergent trends by age group. We used the most recent cancer data for the United States and examined trends in GC between 1992 and 2019, overall and in important subgroups of the population.

METHODS: Age-adjusted GC incidence rates and trends in adults 20 years or older were calculated using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 12 program. Secular trends were …