Diseases Commons^™

Deletion Of Stim1 In Treg Cells Protects Against Lung Fibrosis And Associated Cardiovascular Complications In A Pre-Clinical Mouse Model, Nagaraja Nagre, Balaji Srinivas, Nicholas Richards, Ryan Washington, Gregory Nicholson, Yan Sanders, Beata Kosmider, Khalid Matrougui

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and incurable lung disease characterized by excessive tissue remodeling and impaired gas exchange. Evidence highlights the critical interplay between immune regulation, calcium signaling, and redox biology implications in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease. Regulatory T-cells (Tregs), known to modulate cardiovascular and immune function, are diminished in IPF, contributing to inflammation and tissue damage. Here, we demonstrate that the stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), a key regulator of intracellular calcium homeostasis, is significantly upregulated in Treg cells isolated from IPF patients and mice subjected to bleomycin-induced lung injury. This upregulation is associated with …

Senescent Fibroblasts In Aging And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sara B. Palega, Aiwei Y. Borengasser, Yan Y. Sanders

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Aging is a major risk factor for many chronic lung diseases, including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and incurable disease characterized by progressive fibrotic remodeling. Age-associated structural alterations, impaired regenerative capacity, and dysregulated cellular signaling collectively create a pro-fibrotic microenvironment. A central driver of this pathological shift is the accumulation of senescent cells, which undergo irreversible growth arrest and develop a robust pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging evidence identifies senescent lung fibroblasts as critical mediators of IPF pathogenesis. These cells promote excessive extracellular matrix deposition, myofibroblast differentiation, and tissue stiffening, while simultaneously impairing epithelial regeneration. Together, these effects …

Inhibition Of Histone Demethylase Lsd1 Suppresses Cd47 Expression And Enhances Efficacy Of Cd47 Blockade In Breast Cancer, Fengjie Jiang, Yu Shen, Bing Li, Michael Henry, Nancy Davidson, Yi Huang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background CD47 functions as a “don’t eat me” checkpoint, inhibiting macrophage-mediated phagocytosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). While anti-CD47 therapies can restore immune surveillance, their efficacy in TNBC is often limited by immune evasion and drug development challenges.

Methods We investigated the crosstalk between the histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and CD47 signaling in TNBC using in silico datasets, isogenic cell lines, conditional BRCA1 knockout models, and syngeneic mouse models. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, protein ubiquitination, chromatin immunoprecipitation, chemotaxis, flow cytometry, and phagocytosis assays were employed to examine the epigenetic regulation of CD47 by LSD1 and …

Aging With A Chronic Illness: Symptom Burden, Everyday Challenges, And Quality Of Life Among Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis, Swasati Handique

Social Work Dissertations

This three-article study examined the quality of life and everyday lived experience of older adults living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The first article is a scoping review of 14 peer-reviewed studies published between 2012 and 2025, conducted in accordance with Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework and the PRISMA checklist. The second article is a cross-sectional study using the Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) Phase II data set of 60 older adults living with MS. Multiple linear regression and moderation analysis was conducted to examine the association between physical symptom burden and quality of life, and whether participation …

Paneugenesis: A Regenerative Systems Hypothesis For Advancing Health Promotion, Craig M. Becker, Leslie Hoglund, Beth Chaney, Joseph G. L. Lee, Michael Stellefson, Alex Davis

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Despite major advances in health promotion science, dominant approaches remain largely prevention-and risk-reduction-oriented. The prevailing orientation creates a substantial opportunity to advance generative, system-design strategies that intentionally produce well-being rather than merely prevent disease. This article proposes paneugenesis as a regenerative systems framework and a testable theoretical model for the intentional creation of net-positive outcomes, thereby extending health promotion beyond its traditional pathogenic emphasis. Paneugenesis integrates systems science, salutogenesis, behavioral science, complexity theory, and quality management principles into a unified four-function process: operationalizing idealized outcomes, identifying key precursors, optimizing processes, and continually plotting progress through feedback mechanisms. The central hypothesis …

Prevalence Of Dengue Infection In Bangladesh: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Md. Estiar Rahman, Abdullah Al-Taiar, May Salama, Michele A. Kekeh, Ahmed N. Albatineh

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective: 

To estimate the pooled prevalence of dengue infection in Bangladesh.

Methods:

Literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Hinari between December 2024 and April 2025, supplemented by references searching. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used for evaluating study quality. A random effects meta-analysis of proportion, including subgroup analyses, was performed with R software (version 4.5.1).

Results:

Out of 2 087 records, 28 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of confirmed dengue infection among clinically suspected patients was 49.3% (95% Cl 36.1-62.6), with a significant high heterogeneity (I²=99.2%, τ²=1.81, P< 0.001). Stratified analysis showed a pooled prevalence of 47.9% (95% Cl 34.0-62.2, I2=99.1%, …

Rurality, Infant Feeding Practices, And Perinatal Cardiovascular Health Behaviors, Elly Marie Marshall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, with higher rates in rural areas. While limited healthcare access contributes to this disparity, other factors remain unclear. Breastfeeding provides long-term protection against cardiovascular disease, but modern infant feeding practices are complex and may impact maternal cardiovascular health (CVH) in unexpected ways. Healthy CVH behaviors of sufficient sleep duration, adequate physical activity, a healthy diet, and nicotine avoidance can enhance protection against future cardiovascular disease risk. Therefore, the aims of this dissertation are to 1) assess associations between rurality and first trimester CVH behaviors; 2) synthesize …

The Gendered Heart: Closing The Gender Gap In Heart Disease Diagnosis And Treatment, Aiden Varghese

Undergraduate Research Posters

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the primary cause of death for both men and women in the United States, being characterized and treated in a historically male-centric manner. This research paper will address the disparities in risk factors for heart disease between genders, gender differences in diagnosis, and gender differences in management/treatment, thereby demonstrating the critical importance of incorporating sex specific factors into the field of cardiology. It has been demonstrated that lifestyle changes such as physical activity and smoking cessation can reduce CVD risk universally. This signifies a necessary shift toward being proactive in the prevention of CVD. …

Associations Between Contralesional Neuroplasticity And Motor Impairment Through Deep Learning-Derived Mri Regional Brain Age In Chronic Stroke (Enigma): A Multicohort, Retrospective, Observational Study, Gilsoon Park, Mahir Khan, Justin Andrushko, Nerisa Banaj, Michael Borich, Lara Boyd, Amy Brodtmann, Truman Brown, Cathrin Buetefisch, Adriana Conforto, Steven Cramer, Michael Dimyan, Martin Domin, Miranda Donnelly, Natalia Egorova-Brumley, Elsa Ermer, Wuwei Feng, Fatemeh Geranmayeh, Colleen Hanlon, Brenton Hordacre, Neda Jahanshad, Steven Kautz, Mohamed Salah Khlif, Jingchun Liu, Martin Lotze, Bradley Macintosh, Feroze Mohamed, Jan Nordvik, Fabrizio Piras, Kate Revill, Andrew Robertson, Christian Schranz, Nicolas Schweighofer, Na Jin Seo, Surjo Soekadar, Shraddha Srivastava, Bethany Tavenner, Gregory Thielman, Sophia Thomopoulos, Daniela Vecchio, Emilio Werden, Lars Westlye, Carolee Winstein, George Wittenberg, Jennifer Ferris, Chunshui Yu, Paul Thompson, Sook-Lei Liew, Hosung Kim

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Stroke leads to complex chronic structural and functional brain changes that specifically affect motor outcomes. The brain predicted age difference (PAD) has emerged as a sensitive biomarker of both sensorimotor and cognitive function after stroke. Our previous study showed a higher global brain PAD associated with poorer motor function after stroke. However, the association between local stroke lesion load, regional brain age, and motor impairment is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between focal lesion damage, regional brain PAD in both hemispheres, and motor outcomes in chronic stroke, and to identify key predictors of motor impairment.

METHODS: …

Effects Of An Early-Onset Hfd On Hepatic Functioning In A 3xtg Model Of Ad, Matthias Hirst

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Approximately 1 billion people currently live with obesity. Driven by factors such as a high-fat diet (HFD), this pathology can have drastic effects throughout the body, with the liver in particular being a main target of its downstream consequences. Although it is capable of storing lipids, excess fat can conglomerate in the liver and contribute to various hepatic pathologies. A specific pattern of hepatic dysfunction seen in response to an HFD is increased acetylation of mitochondrial proteins. Further, expression and activity of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), involved in the degradation of Aβ, are altered in response to an HFD. Aβ …

Sex Differences In Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, And Outcomes Of Cardiovascular Disease: Kenya Heart Registry Analysis, Lilian Mbau, Martha Gulati, Mzee Ngunga, Jasmit Shah, Felix Barasa, Jeilan Mohamed, Anders Barasa, Bernard Gitura, Harun Otieno, Etienne Amendezo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, with approximately 80% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Sex differences in cardiovascular disease are well described in high-income countries but limited in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the sex differences in clinical presentation, cardiovascular risk profile, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes among patients in the Kenya Heart Registry.

Methods Data were prospectively collected from 3 tertiary hospitals, including patients with heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, venous thromboembolism, and atrial fibrillation. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 6-month mortality, as well as sex-specific differences …

Incorporating New Guidelines Into School-Based Asthma Management, Jessica Michala Jindra, Angela Duff Hogan

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Purpose of the Review

The aim of this review is to identify barriers and provide solutions to the implementation of inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol as rescue therapy within schools.

Recent findings

GINA guidelines in 2019 and NAEPP in 2020 recommended inhaled corticosteroids combined with formoterol for a rescue inhaler over the traditional short-acting beta-agonist.

Summary

The findings discussed in this article describe the barriers to the implementation of inhaled corticosteroids combined with formoterol for a rescue inhaler in school systems. Traditional asthma action plans, school nursing and parental education, and differences in dosing are some barriers identified. This paper provides solutions for …

Oral Pathogens Reprogram Endothelial Barrier And Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme2/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase-Nitric Oxide Signaling To Promote Blood Pressure Dysregulation, Ming-Shou Hsieh, Tung-Nien Hsu, Chin-Sheng Huang, Ting-Yi Renn, Kuang-Tai Kuo, Kuo-Yao Lin, Wei Jen Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Although periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, the endothelial mechanisms linking oral inflammation to vascular dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated whether Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) can directly disturb endothelial homeostasis and whether macrophage–endothelial crosstalk further worsens endothelial injury.

Materials and methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to Pg-LPS alone or co-cultured (transwell system) with Pg-LPS-primed human monocytic cells -derived macrophages. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed through nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, inflammatory and adhesion molecule expression, as well as junctional and cytoskeletal changes. Macrophage …

A Scoping Review To Conceptualize Social Privilege For Studying Patients' Health Outcomes And Health Disparities, Elizabeth A. Brown, Priyanka Patel, Esther May B. Sarino, Vladimir Markovic, Carles Muntaner

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Background

The continued reliance on single-category self-reported demographic data (e.g., race/ethnicity) reflects conceptual limitations that hinder the study and understanding of health outcomes research. There is a pressing need for more precise measures of social privilege that conceptualize privilege and oppression while enabling the examination of their effects on health outcomes in the United States (US) healthcare system.

Objective

The purpose of this scoping review was to review the literature, determine how researchers have measured aspects of privilege and oppression, and develop a conceptual framework to study patients' social privilege in the US healthcare system and public health research.

Methods …

Multiparametric Flow Cytometry Immune Profiling Of Pulmonary And Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis Reveals Distinct Blood-Based Biomarker Signatures, Kalaiarasan Ellappan, Prakash Babu Narasimhan, Harriet N. Garlant, Seshadri Vasan, Komal Jain, Saka Vinod Kumar, Vishnukanth Govindaraj, Vir Singh Negi, Karen E. Kempsell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigated immune cell distributions, cell-specific immune markers, and selected biomarker targets in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) using multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC). Whole blood was collected from 45 individuals, including healthy controls (HC), EPTB, and PTB patients (n = 15/group). Peripheral blood leukocytes were analysed by MFC to characterize CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK), invariant NKT (iNKT) and NKT cells, classical (CM), intermediate (IM) and non-classical monocytes (NCM), and activated monocytes (AM). Expression of GBP1, CALCOCO2, IFIT3, SNX10, ARG1, PD-1, and PD-L1 was assessed across these immune subsets. Increased frequencies of NK, NKT, …

Oxytocin Dosing During Trial Of Labor After Cesarean To Minimize The Risk Of Uterine Rupture: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pierpaolo Nicolì, Moti Gulersen, Jordan Beacham, Hila Hochler, Alessandra Familiari, Anna Locatelli, Cynthia Abraham, Ettore Cicinelli, Amerigo Vitagliano, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin remains the mainstay for induction and for the management of labor arrest during trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Therefore, the clinical question should be not whether to use oxytocin, but how to optimize its administration. This meta-analysis aimed to assess which oxytocin protocol, in terms of initial dose, amount of increase, timing to next increase, and maximum dose, may minimize the risk of uterine rupture (UR) during TOLAC.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched up to September 21, 2024.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomized and nonrandomized studies evaluating the association between induction and/or augmentation with oxytocin …

Variability In Parainfluenza Virus Derived From Persistently Infected Lung Epithelial Cells, Cassidy R. Conte

Honors Undergraduate Theses

An acute infection (AI) with RNA virus can progress to a persistent infection (PI) where infected cells continue to grow and replicate while producing progeny virions. PIs with respiratory viruses are clinically important, as they can lead to prolonged shedding of viruses and generation of mutant viruses that are altered in pathogenesis and/or immune responses. Parainfluenza type 5 (PIV5) is a prototypic RNA virus shown to cause PIs in cell culture. Plaques in tissue culture from an acute infection with parental PIV5 were homogeneous in size and shape. By contrast, plaques from PIV5 persistently infected cells were heterogeneous, having a …

Cologuard, Call To Action! A Structured Outreach Intervention For Patients With Unreturned Cologuard Kits, Crystal Bharat, Sophia Zia, Harsh Bhatt, Abd Almasih Barbar Askar, Kulwinder Bhatnura, Dhruv Patel, Dennis Besong

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Red Flags: Intraoperative Transfusion As A Predictor Of Anastomotic Failure, Alejandro De Leon Castro, Aj Schwartz, A Todd-Tharaday, A Collier, Ch Meyer, C Dente, Rn Smith, Jd Sciaretta, J Nguyen

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Comparative Assessment Of Arterial Line And Pulse Contour Derived Hemodynamics Monitoring In A Post-Cardiac Surgery Icu Patient: Pilot Observation, Chiraag Ashokkumar, Justin Gisel

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Biphasic Calcium Disturbance In Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report Of Recovery Phase Severe Hypercalcemia, Maham Shahid, Jean C. Ramos-Cardona, Maria Toustsoglou, Gunjan Y. Gandhi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Healing Times Of Mohs Defects Using Cellular, Acellular, And Matrix-Like Products Compared With Secondary Intention In A Single Patient, Benjamin R. Cooper, Anthony Concilla, Kathleen Ward, Taha Rasul, Arianne E. Chavez

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Use Of Ultrasound In The Pre-Hospital Setting To Differentiate Acute Dyspnea, Kenith D'Souza, Michael Cabebe, Taryn Hoffman, Martin Wegman, Justin Deaton, Christopher Carney

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Myxedema Coma With Cardiogenic Shock: Diagnostic Challenges And Risks Of Amiodarone In Acute Thyroid Failure, Munachiso Egbo, Jean Ramos-Cardona, Gunjan Mundhra, Veniamin Melnychuk, Suzanne Martinez

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Beneath The Pigment: An Unusual Cystic Complication Of Red Ink, Tamara Fakhoury, Erika Pulver, Karissa Lehew, Angelia Stepien

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Catheter Directed Therapy In Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Patient Characteristics And Variability, Kalyan Mantha, W Angelo Kantrales, Brooke Mcmurtie, Caroline Mills, Martin Wegman

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

A Diagnostic Dilemma: Rcvs Or Pacns In A Young Adult, Jyoti Moorjani, Reina Kwon, Karissa Lehew, Rohan Gupta, Kainat Khan, Harry Marty-Vigo

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Comprehensive Profiling And Clinical Utility Of Csf-Derived Cell-Free Dna/Rna For Evaluation Of Solid And Hematologic Malignancies Affecting The Central Nervous System, Renee Morecroft, Ryan Gimple, Maher Abitar, Omar Butt

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The History We Didn't Hear: An M&M On Communication And Misinformation, Ansh Patel, Anjan Parghi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Percutaneous Vegetectomy As An Emerging Alternative For Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis, Alexander Patel, Elias Wakim, William Zvagelsky, Ebad Ur Rahman, Youssef Al-Saghir, Ahmed Zaky

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.