Medical Sciences Commons^™

Quality And Clinical Care Development In Spine Surgery-Connecting The Dots: An Expanded Clinical Narrative., Sarah Hopkins, Polly Brune, Jens R Chapman, Marc Horton, Rod J Oskouian, Akshal Patel, Marc D Moisi

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Our health care system is an evidenced-based quality-centric environment. Pursuit of quality is a process that encompasses knowledge development and care advancements through collaboration and expertise. Depicted here is the foundational knowledge, process, and contributions that hallmark successful clinical quality programs. Beginning with methodology, followed by process and form, we create the foundational knowledge and exemplars demonstrating framework and continuum of process in pursuit and attainment of successful clinical quality and care development for patients. Although our protocol has been devised for complex spine care, this could be implemented across all health care specialties to provide individualized and high-quality care …

Dysfunctional Mitochondrial Biogenesis: A Potential Underlying Cause For Metabolic Diseases, Caroline Ann Hunter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Mitochondria are essential organelles that play crucial roles in many aspects of cellular homeostasis. More importantly, the mitochondria are home to the majority of the metabolic pathways within the cell and are responsible for producing most of the cell’s useable energy in the form of adenine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In mammals, the majority of OXPHOS complex subunits are encoded by nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); however, 13 core subunits essential for the function of OXPHOS complexes I, III, IV, and V are encoded in the mitochondrial (mt) DNA (mtDNA) and are synthesized within the mitochondria by its own …

Insights Into The Dynamics Between Viruses And Their Hosts In A Hot Spring Microbial Mat, Jessica K. Jarett, Mária Džunková, Frederik Schulz, Simon Roux, David Paez-Espino, Emiley Eloe-Fadrosh, Sean P. Jungbluth, Natalia Ivanova, John R. Spear, Stephanie A. Carr, Christopher B. Trivedi, Frank Corsetti, Hope A. Johnson, Eric Becraft, Nikos Kyrpides, Ramunas Stepanauskas, Tanja Woyke

Biology

Our current knowledge of host–virus interactions in biofilms is limited to computational predictions based on laboratory experiments with a small number of cultured bacteria. However, natural biofilms are diverse and chiefly composed of uncultured bacteria and archaea with no viral infection patterns and lifestyle predictions described to date. Herein, we predict the first DNA sequence-based host–virus interactions in a natural biofilm. Using single-cell genomics and metagenomics applied to a hot spring mat of the Cone Pool in Mono County, California, we provide insights into virus–host range, lifestyle and distribution across different mat layers. Thirty-four out of 130 single cells contained …

Age Differences In Hippocampal Glutamate Modulation During Associative Learning And Memory: A Proton Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1h Fmrs) Study, Chaitali Anand

Wayne State University Dissertations

Episodic and associative memory decline is one of the earliest cognitive impairments in normal aging and among the defining cognitive features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since, age-related cognitive decline gradually devolves into AD, with neuropathology preceding cognitive changes by many years, the identification of biomarkers of early disease progression is crucial. Reduction in glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in associative memory, in key brain regions such as the hippocampus, has been theorized as one of the cellular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in aging and AD. A few neuroimaging studies that demonstrated a link between older adults’ weaker cognitive performance …

Detection Of A Peptide Hormone - Somatostatin - Label-Free Split-Aptameric Probes, Charles A. Dowis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Peptide hormones are important biomolecules that transduce downstream effects such as cell proliferation, regulation, and gene expression. Their levels have been upregulated in various disorders such as cancer, yet detection methods are lacking. We designed two split aptamer-based assays for the detection of a peptide hormone – Somatostatin (SST) – with different signal readouts: fluorescent readout based on light-up aptamers and the colorimetric readout of ABTS peroxidation from a G-quadruplex. We used an already selected split-aptamer –SSTA5–for SST for our designs and we had expected the developed detection systems to exhibit detection and quantification capabilities that would hopefully allow their …

Nanopore-Based Metagenomic Comparison Of Airway Colonizers Between Cystic Fibrosis Patients And Healthy Individuals, Anita Samadabadi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder involving a mutation in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR), which causes dysfunctional transport of chloride ions across cell membranes. CF affects multiple body systems and a few of its symptoms include chronic cough, difficulty breathing, obstructive airway disease, bacterial pulmonary infections, maldigestion, malabsorption, pancreatitis, and male infertility. Until recently, treatment options have been limited to alleviating symptoms, but a new classification of drugs, CFTR modulators, provide an opportunity to slow the progression of the disease and improve clinical outcomes. The effect of CFTR modulators may be attributed to the …

Systematic Literature Review Of Cognitive Behavioral Treatments For Patients With Classical, Secondary, And Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia, Linnea B. Herzog

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful neuralgia with a complicated pathology that is not clearly understood. Due to the ambiguity of the condition, patients often have to search for medical providers that specialize in trigeminal neuralgia, and even with the guidance of a specialist, some patients do not respond well to treatment.¹ Despite the uncertainty surrounding the specifics of the disease, there are treatments available that can provide some level of pain relief for patients suffering from this disorder. When a patient does not respond well to medical therapy, surgery can be the next appropriate step in patient care management. …

Differentiating Peripherally-Located Small Cell Lung Cancer From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using A Ct Radiomic Approach, Bihong T. Chen, Zikuan Chen, Ningrong Ye, Isa Mambetsariev, Jeremy Fricke, Ebenezer Daniel, George Wang, Chi Wah Wong, Russell C. Rockne, Rivka R. Colen, Mohd W. Nasser, Surinder K. Batra, Andrei I. Holodny, Sagus Sampath, Ravi Salgia

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Lung cancer can be classified into two main categories: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which are different in treatment strategy and survival probability. The lung CT images of SCLC and NSCLC are similar such that their subtle differences are hardly visually discernible by the human eye through conventional imaging evaluation. We hypothesize that SCLC/NSCLC differentiation could be achieved via computerized image feature analysis and classification in feature space, as termed a radiomic model. The purpose of this study was to use CT radiomics to differentiate SCLC from NSCLC adenocarcinoma. Patients with primary lung cancer, …

First-Time Characterization Of Viable But Non-Culturable Proteus Mirabilis: Induction And Resuscitation, Reham Wasfi, G. R. Abdellatif, H. M. Elshishtawy, Hossam M. Ashour

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Pathogenic bacteria can enter into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state under unfavourable conditions. Proteus mirabilis is responsible for dire clinical consequences including septicaemia, urinary tract infections and pneumonia, but is not a species previously known to enter VBNC state. We suggested that stress-induced P. mirabilis can enter a VBNC state in which it retains virulence. P. mirabilis isolates were incubated in extreme osmotic pressure, starvation, low temperature and low pH to induce a VBNC state. Resuscitation was induced by temperature upshift and inoculation in tryptone soy broth with Tween 20 and brain heart infusion broth. Cellular ultrastructure and gene …

Gelsolin-Mediated Actin Filament Severing In Crowded Environments, James Heidings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actin is an essential cytoskeletal protein that plays key roles in several cellular functions such as phagocytosis and cell motility with the help of actin binding proteins (ABPs). Gelsolin is a calcium regulated ABP that severs and caps actin filaments. Gelsolin helps control actin filament assembly dynamics that are required for cell survival. Cleavage products of gelsolin lead to Familial Amyloidosis, Finnish type, and conformational changes to gelsolin are implicated in disease progression. The majority of in vitro studies of gelsolin and actin have been performed in dilute buffer conditions which do not simulate the molecular interactions occurring in the …

Glp-1 Mediated Diuresis And Natriuresis Are Blunted In Heart Failure And Restored By Selective Afferent Renal Denervation, Kenichi Katsurada, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Hong Zheng, Xuefei Liu, Neeru M. Sharma, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) induces diuresis and natriuresis. Previously we have shown that GLP-1 activates afferent renal nerve to increase efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity that negates the diuresis and natriuresis as a negative feedback mechanism in normal rats. However, renal effects of GLP-1 in heart failure (HF) has not been elucidated. The present study was designed to assess GLP-1-induced diuresis and natriuresis in rats with HF and its interactions with renal nerve activity.

METHODS: HF was induced in rats by coronary artery ligation. The direct recording of afferent renal nerve activity (ARNA) with intrapelvic injection of GLP-1 and total …

Long Non-Coding Rna Profiling Of Pediatric Medulloblastoma, Varun Kesherwani, Mamta Shukla, Don W. Coulter, J. Graham Sharp, Shantaram Joshi, Nagendra K. Chaturvedi

Journal Articles: Genetics, Cell Biology & Anatomy

BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant cancers in children. MB is primarily classified into four subgroups based on molecular and clinical characteristics as (1) WNT (2) Sonic-hedgehog (SHH) (3) Group 3 (4) Group 4. Molecular characteristics used for MB classification are based on genomic and mRNAs profiles. MB subgroups share genomic and mRNA profiles and require multiple molecular markers for differentiation from each other. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are more than 200 nucleotide long RNAs and primarily involve in gene regulation at epigenetic and post-transcriptional levels. LncRNAs have been recognized as diagnostic and prognostic markers in …

Alkalinizing Agents: A Review Of Prescription, Over-The-Counter, And Medical Food Supplements., Karen L. Stern, Noah Canvasser, Michael Borofsky, Vanessa M. Gleason, Guido Kamphuis, Marawan M. El Tayeb, Ryan Hsi, Kymora B. Scotland

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

Introduction

Kidney stones affect 1 in every 11 people in the United States each year. There is a significant high recurrence rate without a stone prevention protocol. Alkali citrate is beneficial in decreasing stone recurrence, but due to the cost and gastrointestinal side effects there is a low adherence rate. This study aims to serve as a review of some of the most commonly used alkalizing over‐ the‐ counter supplements that are advertised to prevent and treat kidney stones.

Methods

Data was gathered by a comprehensive online literature search and company inquiries for kidney stone prevention supplements. An additional informal …

Investigating The Effects Of Brainstem Neuronal Adaptation On Cardiovascular Homeostasis., James H Park, Jonathan Gorky, Babatunde Ogunnaike, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli, James S Schwaber

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Central coordination of cardiovascular function is accomplished, in part, by the baroreceptor reflex, a multi-input multi-output physiological control system that regulates the activity of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems via interactions among multiple brainstem nuclei. Recent single-cell analyses within the brain revealed that individual neurons within and across brain nuclei exhibit distinct transcriptional states contributing to neuronal function. Such transcriptional heterogeneity complicates the task of understanding how neurons within and across brain nuclei organize and function to process multiple inputs and coordinate cardiovascular functions within the larger context of the baroreceptor reflex. However, prior analysis of brainstem neurons revealed …

Resting-State Static And Dynamic Functional Abnormalities In Active Professional Fighters With Repetitive Head Trauma And With Neuropsychological Impairments., Xiaowei Zhuang, Virendra Mishra, Rajesh Nandy, Zhengshi Yang, Karthik Sreenivasan, Lauren Bennett, Charles Bernick, Dietmar Cordes

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Previous neuroimaging studies have identified structural brain abnormalities in active professional fighters with repetitive head trauma and correlated these changes with fighters' neuropsychological impairments. However, functional brain changes in these fighters derived using neuroimaging techniques remain unclear. In this study, both static and dynamic functional connectivity alterations were investigated (1) between healthy normal control subjects (NC) and fighters and (2) between non-impaired and impaired fighters. Resting-state fMRI data were collected on 35 NC and 133 active professional fighters, including 68 impaired fighters and 65 non-impaired fighters, from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study at our center. Impaired fighters performed worse …

Foraminal Ligaments Tether Upper Cervical Nerve Roots: A Potential Cause Of Postoperative C5 Palsy., Andrew Jack, Brooks R Osburn, Zane Tymchak, Wyatt L Ramey, Rod J Oskouian, Robert A Hart, Jens R Chapman, Line G Jacques, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background Nerve root tethering upon dorsal spinal cord (SC) migration has been proposed as a potential mechanism for postoperative C5 palsy (C5P). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate this relationship by anatomically comparing C5-C6 nerve root translation before and after root untethering by cutting the cervical foraminal ligaments (FL). Objective The aim of this study is to determine if C5 root untethering through FL cutting results in increased root translation. Methods Six cadaveric dissections were performed. Nerve roots were exposed via C4-C6 corpectomies and supraclavicular brachial plexus exposure. Pins were inserted into the C5-C6 roots and …

Primary Cns Lymphoma Commonly Expresses Immune Response Biomarkers., Alexander Ou, Ashley Sumrall, Surasak Phuphanich, David Spetzler, Zoran Gatalica, Joanne Xiu, Sharon Michelhaugh, Andrew Brenner, Manjari Pandey, Santosh Kesari, W Michael Korn, Sandeep Mittal, Jason Westin, Amy B Heimberger

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare and there is limited genomic and immunological information available. Incidental clinical and radiographic responses have been reported in PCNSL patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Materials and Methods: To genetically characterize and ascertain if the majority of PCNSL patients may potentially benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors, we profiled 48 subjects with PCNSL from 2013 to 2018 with (1) next-generation sequencing to detect mutations, gene amplifications, and microsatellite instability (MSI); (2) RNA sequencing to detect gene fusions; and (3) immunohistochemistry to ascertain PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was calculated …

A Crucial Role For The Protein Quality Control System In Motor Neuron Diseases., Riccardo Cristofani, Valeria Crippa, Maria Elena Cicardi, Barbara Tedesco, Veronica Ferrari, Marta Chierichetti, Elena Casarotto, Margherita Piccolella, Elio Messi, Mariarita Galbiati, Paola Rusmini, Angelo Poletti

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are fatal diseases characterized by loss of motor neurons in the brain cortex, in the bulbar region, and/or in the anterior horns of the spinal cord. While generally sporadic, inherited forms linked to mutant genes encoding altered RNA/protein products have also been described. Several different mechanisms have been found altered or dysfunctional in MNDs, like the protein quality control (PQC) system. In this review, we will discuss how the PQC system is affected in two MNDs-spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-and how this affects the clearance of aberrantly folded proteins, which …

Tulip-Screw Head Disjunction From Posterior C2 Fracture Fixation Instrumentation., Halle E K Burley, Darius S Ansari, Alexander Von Glinski, Ryan Goodmanson, Benjamin A Schell, Jens R Chapman, Rod J Oskouian

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

This report presents an unusual case of instrumentation failure after posterior fixation of a C2 fracture and reviews currently available treatment alternatives. The patient, a 53-year-old female, initially presented to the emergency department at an outside facility with acute alcohol intoxication and acute neck pain following a fall from a ladder. CT demonstrated bilateral C2 pars fractures and unstable posteroinferior displacement of the posterior elements. She underwent an emergent C2 open-reduction internal fixation (ORIF) at the outside facility with 3.5 mm polyaxial synapse pedicle screws (DePuy Synthes, Switzerland). There were no known complications and the patient was discharged. Two years …

Sex Moderates The Relationship That Number Of Professional Fights Has With Cognition And Brain Volumes., Lauren L Bennett, Steve J Stephen, Charles Bernick, Guogen Shan, Sarah J Banks

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Objective: Incidence of concussions and report of symptoms are greater among women across sports. While structural brain changes and cognitive declines are associated with repetitive head impact (RHI), the role of sex is not well-understood. This study aimed to determine if there is a moderating effect of sex on the relationship the number of professional fights has with cognitive functioning and regional brain volumes in a cohort of boxers, mixed martial artists, and martial artists. Methods: A total of 55 women were matched with 55 men based on age, years of education, ethnicity, and fighting style. Cognition was assessed via …

The New Onset Of Dysphagia Four Years After Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Case Report And Literature Review., Darius Ansari, Halle E K Burley, Alexander Von Glinski, Christopher Elia, Jens R Chapman, Rod J Oskouian

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: Dysphagia is a common complication immediately following anterior cervical spine surgery. However, its onset more than 1-year postoperatively is rare.

Case Description: A 45-year-old male initially underwent a C3-4 and C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). At age 49, 4 years later, he presented with worsening dysphagia accompanied by neck and right upper extremity pain. Radiographs demonstrated an extruded left C3 screw, which had migrated into the prevertebral soft tissues at the C4-C5 level; there was also loosening of the right C3 screw. The subsequent barium swallow study revealed that the screw was embedded in the pharyngeal wall. …

Triggering Receptor Expressed On Myeloid Cell 2 R47h Exacerbates Immune Response In Alzheimer's Disease Brain., Olena Korvatska, Kostantin Kiianitsa, Alexander Ratushny, Mark Matsushita, Neal Beeman, Wei-Ming Chien, Jun-Ichi Satoh, Michael O Dorschner, C Dirk Keene, Theo K Bammler, Thomas D Bird, Wendy H Raskind

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The R47H variant in the microglial triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2) receptor is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). To characterize processes affected by R47H, we performed an integrative network analysis of genes expressed in brains of AD patients with R47H, sporadic AD without the variant, and patients with polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy (PLOSL), systemic disease with early-onset dementia caused by loss-of-function mutations in TREM2 or its adaptor TYRO protein tyrosine kinase-binding protein (TYROBP). Although sporadic AD had few perturbed microglial and immune genes, TREM2 R47H AD demonstrated upregulation of interferon type I …

Cerebellar-Cortical Function And Connectivity During Sensorimotor Behavior In Aging Fmr1 Gene Premutation Carriers., Walker S Mckinney, James Bartolotti, Pravin Khemani, Jun Yi Wang, Randi J Hagerman, Matthew W Mosconi

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

INTRODUCTION: Premutation carriers of the FMR1 gene are at risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline as well as cerebellar and cerebral white matter pathology. Several studies have documented preclinical sensorimotor issues in aging premutation carriers, but the extent to which sensorimotor brain systems are affected and may represent early indicators of atypical neurodegeneration has not been determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen healthy controls and 16 FMR1 premutation carriers (including five with possible, probable, or definite FXTAS) group-matched on age, sex, and handedness completed a visually guided precision gripping …

Current Advancements In The Management Of Spinal Cord Injury: A Comprehensive Review Of Literature., Manan Shah, Catherine Peterson, Emre Yilmaz, Dia Radi Halalmeh, Marc Moisi

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) carries debilitating lifelong consequences and, therefore, requires careful review of different treatment strategies.

Methods: An extensive review of the English literature (PubMed 1990 and 2019) was performed regarding recent advances in the treatment of SCI; this included 46 articles written over 28 years.

Results: Results of this search were divided into five major modalities; neuroprotective and neuroregenerative pharmaceuticals, neuromodulation, stem cell-based therapies, and various external prosthetic devices. Lately, therapeutic strategies were mainly focused on two major areas: neuroregeneration and neuroprotection.

Conclusion: Despite recent advancements, more clinical trials on a larger scale and further research are …

Association Of Use Of Rehabilitation Services With Development Of Dementia Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Analysis Of Domestic Data In Taiwan, Ming-Chi Lu, Hanoch Livneh, Chieh-Tsung Yen, Hua-Lung Huang, Miao-Chiu Lin, Shu-Wen Yen, Ning-Sheng Lai, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was found to trigger the higher risk of dementia. Limited information, however, is available on whether the use of rehabilitation services (RS), an integral part of healthcare programs, can lessen dementia risk for RA subjects. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of RS use to the development of dementia in RA patients.

Methods: We identified 2,927 newly diagnosed patients with RA, 20–70 years of age between 1998 and 2007, from a national health insurance database. 965 patients from this sample received RS, and 1,962 patients were designated as a control group (non-RS …

Prophylaxis Of Food Allergen Sensitivity, Dustin Gottfeld

Physician Assistant Studies | Student Authored Articles

Food allergies can have a severe and drastic effect on a person’s lifestyle, while prevention of allergic disease can help to ensure others do not have to live with this burden. There are a variety of differing hypotheses that offer explanations for the early development of food allergies, particularly peanut allergies. Two of the foremost hypotheses are the Hygiene Hypothesis and the Dual-Allergen Hypothesis. The Hygiene Hypothesis claims that the diversity of a child’s microbiota creates a beneficial balance of microorganisms which can help prevent the development of allergic disease. Alternatively, the Dual-Allergen Hypothesis states that early environmental exposure to …

The Performance Effect Of Scheduled Carbohydrate And Caffeine Intake During Simulated Team Sport Match-Play, John Keane, Aidan Shovlin, Simon Devenney, Shane Malone, Damien Young, Giuseppe Coratella, Kieran Collins, Marcus Shortall

Articles

The aim of the current investigation was to identify the effects of scheduled carbohydrate (CHO) and caffeine (CAF) supplementation on simulated team sport match-play performance. Ten male hurling players completed three hurling match-play simulation protocols (HSP) performed 7 days apart in a double-blind, randomized design. Supplementation included CHO, CHO + CAF, and placebo (PLA). In a randomized order, participants ingested either a 6% CHO solution, a PLA solution of similar taste, or a combined intake of 6% CHO solution + 200 mg CAF capsule. At specific time points (Pre-0 min; half time (HT)-30 min; full time (FT)-60 min), participants completed …

Analysis Of Student Perceptions Of Just-In-Time Teaching Pedagogy In Pharmd Microbiology And Immunology Courses, Charitha Madiraju, Eglis Tellez-Corrales, Henry Hua, Jozef Stec, Andromeda M. Nauli, Deborah M. Brown

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Just-In-Time Teaching (JiTT) active learning pedagogy is utilized by various disciplines, but its value in a professional pharmacy curriculum has not yet been demonstrated. The purpose of our research study is to implement and evaluate JiTT in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. The impetus in implementing JiTT into a PharmD curriculum was to provide students with an out-of-classroom learning opportunity to enhance knowledge-based skills. The current study summarizes the implementation of JiTT in four distinct instances: two iterations of the required courses “Integrated Microbiology and Virology” (Fall 2016 and Fall 2017) and “Integrated Immunology” (Winter 2016–2017 and Winter 2017–2018). …

Lack Of Cd8+ T-Cell Co-Localization With Kaposi’S Sarcoma- Associated Herpesvirus Infected Cells In Kaposi’S Sarcoma Tumors, Salum J. Lidenge, For Yue Tso, Owen Ngalamika, Jaydeep Kolape, John R. Ngowi, Julius Mwaiselage, Charles Wood, John T. West

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Despite the close association between Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and immune dysfunction, it remains unclear whether tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIIC), by their absence, presence, or dysfunction, are mechanistically correlated with KS pathogenesis. Therefore, their potential capacity to serve as prognostic biomarkers of KS disease progression or control is unclear. Because epidemic-KS (EpKS) occurs with HIV-1 co-infection, it is particularly important to compare TIIC between EpKS and HIV-negative African endemic-KS (EnKS) to dissect the roles of HIV-1 and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in KS pathogenesis. This cross-sectional study of 13 advanced KS (4 EnKS, 9 EpKS) patients and 3 healthy controls …

Prevalence Of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus And Transfusion-Transmissible Infections In Tanzanian Blood Donors, Salum J. Lidenge, Tara Tran, For Yue Tso, John R. Ngowi, Danielle M. Shea, Julius Mwaiselage, Charles Wood, John T. West

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Objective: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), one of the most common cancers in Tanzania. We have investigated KSHV prevalence and factors associated with KSHV infection in Tanzania.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of voluntary blood-donors from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Plasma was screened for KSHV, HIV-1, HBV, HCV and Treponema pallidum (syphilis). Associations between KSHV sero-status and risk factors were analyzed. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported to evaluate risk factors of KSHV infection. All tests were 2-tailed, and P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: The overall KSHV seroprevalence was 56.9%. Significantly …