Medical Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating The Accuracy Of Point Of Care Testing Compared To Standard Laboratory Testing Among Inborn Infants In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Isha Parikh, Sepideh Saroukhani, Matthew Rysavy, Brian Chang, Mar Romero-Lopez, Lindsay F Holzapfel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Point-of-care (POC) testing offers expedited results with lower blood volume requirements than central laboratory (CL) tests, particularly for low-birth-weight infants.

Methods: A retrospective cohort included 118 patients with paired POC and CL tests within one hour in the first 14 postnatal days. Differences and agreement were assessed using linear mixed-effect models that account for within and between-subject variations.

Results: Compared to CL, POC testing underestimated sodium (6.0 mEq/L), potassium (0.1 mEq/L), chloride (5.1 mEq/L), and glucose (2.3 mg/dL), and overestimated hemoglobin (0.08 g/dL) and hematocrit (0.8%). Differences (CL- POC) varied by postnatal age and sample type, with larger differences …

Multi Agent Large Language Models For Biomedical Hypothesis Generation In Drug Combination Discovery, Qidi Xu, Claudio Soto, Mohammad Shahnawaz, Xiaozhong Liu, Xiaoqian Jiang, Yejin Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated their potential in scientific reasoning, but their ability to open-ended hypotheses in data-scarce domains remains underexplored. Here, we introduce Combinatorial Alzheimer’s Disease Therapeutic Efficacy Decision (Coated-LLM), an AI-driven framework that is inspired by scientific collaboration to predict efficacious combinatorial therapy when data-driven prediction is infeasible. Coated-LLM employs multiple specialized LLM agents—Researcher, Reviewers, and Moderator—to systematically generate and evaluate hypotheses through several in-context learning techniques. Using Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a test case, Coated-LLM outperformed traditional knowledge-based methods (accuracy: 0.74 vs. 0.52), with external validation achieving an …

Abnormalities In Sensorimotor Brain Function Are Related To Chronicity Of Low Back Pain, Jo Armour Smith, Rongwen Tain, Kelli G. Sharp, Laura M. Glynn, Linda R. Van Dillen, Jesse V. Jacobs, Steven C. Cramer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Maladaptive plasticity in the brain may contribute to chronic low back pain (LBP) and underlie the altered postural control of the lumbopelvic musculature that is evident in some individuals with LBP. We recently described an MRI-compatible leg-raise paradigm to measure brain activity associated with lumbopelvic postural control. The objective of this study was to compare brain function in young adults with and without a history of LBP and to determine relationships between brain function, pain, and postural control characteristics. We recruited 55 participants with a history of LBP, who were asymptomatic when studied, and 30 healthy controls. Postural control during …

Long Covid Incidence Across Sars-Cov-2 Lineages And Identification Of Conserved Spike Targets For Multivalent Vaccines, Grace J. Kim, Md Ashad Alam, Judy S. Crabtree, Rebecca Rose, Susanna L. Lamers, San Chu, Ronald Horswell, Daniel Fort, Lucio Miele

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Long COVID remains poorly characterized at the genomic level. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between viral sequences and the incidence of Long COVID at a tertiary care center in Louisiana between April 2020 and December 2022. A secondary aim was analysis of the Spike protein to identify conserved regions for multivalent vaccine targets. Method: To estimate Long COVID incidence across variants, we linked 4,789 SARS-CoV-2 sequences to 3,090 de-identified patient electronic health record information. The base population was defined as any patient with an International Classification of Diseases-10-Clinical Modification COVID-19 diagnosis code (U07.1) …

Daily Intake Of A Lycopene-Rich Juice Is Associated With Reductions In Inflammatory Markers But Not Increases In Skin Carotenoids In A Pilot Study Among Participants With Obesity, Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, Melissa N Laska, Elizabeth Gates, Megumi H Seese, Katelyn E Senkus, Santiago Carrero Longlax, Alexandra Portillo-Varela, Andrew R Dinardo, Nancy E Moran

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

Obesity is associated with systemic inflammation, increasing chronic disease risk. Carotenoids possess anti-inflammatory properties, yet the short-term impact of carotenoid-rich juice intake on inflammation in individuals with obesity remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to examine: (1) participant adherence to a 3-week lycopene-rich juice intervention; (2) variance and effect sizes of responses to the dietary intervention; (3) changes in skin and plasma carotenoids, and inflammatory markers among adults with obesity.

Methods

Twenty-five participants with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 were recruited and completed the study. Participants drank 4 ounces (118.3 mL) of study-provided tomato juice, …

Adaptive Neuromodulation Dialogues: Navigating Current Challenges And Emerging Innovations In Neuromodulation System Development, Frederik Lampert, Matthew R Baker, Michael A Jensen, Amir H Ayyoubi, Christian Bentler, Jessica L Bowersock, Rosana Esteller, Jeffrey A Herron, Graham W Johnson, Daryl R Kipke, Christopher K Kovach, Vaclav Kremen, Filip Mivalt, Joseph S Neimat, Theoden I Netoff, Enrico Opri, Alexander Rockhill, Joshua M Rosenow, Kristin K Sellers, Nathan P Staff, Chandra Prakash Swamy, Ashwin Viswanathan, Gerwin Schalk, Timothy Denison, Dora Hermes, Nuri F Ince, Peter Brunner, Gregory A Worrell, Kai J Miller

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Adaptive neuromodulation systems and implantable brain-computer interfaces have made notable strides in recent years, translating experimental prototypes into clinical applications and garnering substantial attention from the public. This surge in interest is accompanied by increased scrutiny related to the safety, efficacy, and ethical implications of these systems, all of which must be directly addressed as we introduce new neurotechnologies. In response, we have synthesized the insights resulting from discussions between groups of experts in the field and summarized them into five key domains essential to therapeutic device development: (1) analyzing current landscape of neuromodulation devices and translational platforms (2) identifying …

The Next Drug Epidemic Is Legal: The Nation's Kratom Problem Is More Complicated—And More Harmful—Than It Seems, Elizabeth Walsh

Capstones

This two-part health and science investigative piece reports how kratom and its offshoots have quietly fueled a lucrative and legal addiction epidemic for the last decade. While kratom’s derivative alkaloid 7-hyrdoxymitragynine made headlines this year and as the DEA is poised to ban the strong derivative, “natural” kratom and other kratom-derived products will remain. This piece tracks the history of the 'gas‑station opioid' crisis in the U.S. over ten years: what was thought to be an innocuous southeast Asian supplement has become multi-billion dollar industry built on gray‑area laws, marketed falsehoods, and regulatory loophooles.

Part 1: The ‘Gas Station Opioid’ …

Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Brain Lipid Alterations In Pex7-Deficient Models Of Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, Riya Sankhe, Meredith I Williams, Wedad Fallatah, Laura Mackay, Mary Layne Brown, Pranjali Bhagwat, Sarah H Elsea, Nancy Braverman, Michael F Wangler

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 1 (RCDP1) is a peroxisomal disorder characterized by skeletal shortening, intellectual disability, seizures, cataracts, and reduced lifespans. RCDP1 is caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in PEX7, which encodes a protein required for importing select enzymes into the peroxisome matrix, including those essential for ether lipid synthesis (e.g., plasmalogens) and the branched-chain fatty acid catabolism. Plasmalogen deficiency is a hallmark of RCDP1 and other peroxisomal disorders, including RCDP types 2-5 (RCDP2-5) and Zellweger spectrum disorders (ZSD). Here, we performed comprehensive metabolomic profiling of clinical samples from RCDP patients and Pex7-deficient mouse models. We identified profound …

3d Modeling Of Brain Removal With Cranial Nerve Preservation, Lauren Blank, Sophia Cox, Avery Preston

Student Scholar Symposium

3D Modeling of Brain Removal with Cranial Nerve Preservation Abstract: Visual- spatial skills are essential in learning anatomy as they allow students to mentally visualize and manipulate the three-dimensional structure of the human body. Traditional dissectors like Grant’s Dissector typically provide only 2D images to guide brain removal. These manuals often do not include the occipital wedge approach, which favors cranial nerve preservation during brain dissection. A 3D model that assists students in learning a non-traditional dissection approach through manipulating a brain model will help improve mental rotation skills, especially benefiting those with weaker spatial abilities. In collaboration with Lipscomb …

Life-Threatening Bradycardia In Anti-Nmda-Receptor Encephalitis And A Novel Use For Permanent Pacing, Sarah Tucker, Abhijit Das, Andres Jimenez, Areeba Basit, Yike Jiang, Emily A Smitherman, Heather Van Mater, Taylor Howard, Alexander J Sandweiss, Kristen S Fisher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pediatric anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (pNMDARE) is an autoantibody-mediated disorder that can cause severe autonomic dysfunction, including symptomatic bradycardia and asystole. Dysautonomia can last for years, making it very challenging to manage.

Objective: To describe outcomes of 5 pNMDARE patients with life-threatening bradycardic and/or asystolic events who were managed with permanent or semi-permanent pacemaker implantation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 5 patients from multiple institutions. We included patients with a diagnosis of pNMDARE (confirmed by positive cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum anti-NMDAR antibodies) who had a permanent or semi-permanent pacemaker placed due to symptomatic bradycardia, sinus pauses, and/or …

Mechanistic And Functional Characterization Of Abtb2 As A Novel Target For Pancreatic Cancer Therapy, Nan Lyu, Olamide T Olaoba, Qiongling Wang, Harinarayanan Janakiraman, Xinjian Liu, Ernest Ramsay Camp, Kun Cheng, Eric T Kimchi, Yi Miao, Kevin F Staveley-O'Carroll, Guangfu Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BTB/POZ domain-containing proteins are increasingly recognized for their context-dependent roles in cancer, acting as either tumor suppressors or oncogenic drivers depending on the cancer type. Among them, the function of ankyrin repeat and BTB domain-containing protein 2 (ABTB2) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal malignancy, has remained unexplored. In this study, we employed comprehensive functional genomics approaches—siRNA/shRNA knockdown, CRISPR-Cas9 knockout, plasmid-based overexpression, and a Cre-LoxP transgenic mouse model—to systemically modulate ABTB2 expression in human and murine PDAC cell lines, as well as in the KPC mouse model of PDAC. Our gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that ABTB2 plays …

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists For Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Song Peng Ang, Jia Ee Chia, Bruno Bezerra Lima, Jose Iglesias, Eunseuk Lee, Chayakrit Krittanawong, Mahboob Alam, Debabrata Mukherjee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial, with conflicting evidence from landmark trials. We aimed to assess the impact of MRAs on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes post-acute MI.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to February 2025 for randomised controlled trials comparing MRAs with placebo or standard care in adults experiencing acute MI. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, recurrent MI and ventricular arrhythmia. Data were pooled using random-effects models, with heterogeneity explored via subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

Results: 15 trials …

Transposable Element-Derived Mir-28-5p And Mir-708-5p: Exploring Potential Roles In Lung Cancer, Sergiu Chira, Cornelia Braicu, Stefan Strilciuc, George A Calin, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Transposable elements are normally silenced by epigenetic mechanisms; however, during malignant transformation, epigenetic alterations enable transposons to produce functional molecules like miRNAs. Among these, LINE-2 (L2) elements can generate miRNAs capable of regulating key genes, including tumor suppressors. Two L2-derived miRNAs, miR-28 and miR-708, have been linked to lung cancer, yet the mechanisms underlying their dysregulation remain poorly understood. Our study reveals how genomic context contributes to aberrant gene expression through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses.

Methods: Using bioinformatics analysis, we evaluated the expression of miR-28 and miR-708 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) datasets from TCGA. …

Endocrine Disruptors, Insulin Resistance, And Diabetes, Meri̇ç Coşkun, Ethem Turgay Ceri̇t, Tuğba Barlas, Alev Eroğlu Altinova

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that interfere with hormone synthesis, secretion, metabolism, or excretion. Evidence indicates that increased exposure to EDCs is associated with insulin resistance and, most notably, type 2 diabetes worldwide. This suggests a diabetogenic effect that is independent of obesity, underscoring the complex mechanisms and broad impact of EDCs on metabolic health. Key pathways include hormone mimicry and antagonism, altered hormone metabolism, inflammatory responses, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This review summarises the mechanisms through which EDCs contribute to these conditions and evaluates the epidemiological and experimental evidence supporting these associations.

Endocrine Disruptors, Obesity, And Metabolic Syndrome, Tuğba Barlas, Alev Eroğlu Altinova, Meriç Coşkun, Ethem Turgay Ceri̇t

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The global prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is rising worldwide, and increasing evidence suggests that chemical exposures—particularly endocrine disruptors (EDs)—represent a significant contributing factor. EDs can act as obesogens, increasing the risk of weight gain and related metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. They may also alter the basal metabolic rate, gut microbiota composition, and hormonal regulation of appetite and satiety. EDs are reported to exert their effects mainly through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma pathway, which is primarily expressed in adipose tissue and is a key regulator of adipogenesis. Common consumer products …

Effects Of Endocrine Disruptors On Thyroid Hormone Synthesis And Function And Consequences Of Fetal Exposure, Esra Eraslan Aydemi̇r, Mustafa Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Fetal development relies on intricate maternal-fetal-placental interactions, with thyroid hormones playing a critical role in growth and neurogenesis. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy has emerged as a significant risk factor for thyroid dysfunction and its associated developmental and cognitive disorders. EDCs, including bisphenol A (BPA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds (PFAS), pesticides, and heavy metals, disrupt thyroid hormone synthesis, secretion, and metabolism. Mechanisms include binding to thyroid hormone receptors, impairing the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, and altering thyroid peroxidase activity. BPA exposure, for instance, reduces free and total T4 levels and interferes with deiodinase activity. Similarly, …

Endocrine Disruptors And Pregnancy, Betül Yi̇ği̇t Yalçin, Gamze Bi̇li̇k Oyman, Ayşe Kubat Üzüm

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Sensitivity to endocrine disruptors is higher in early life. In pregnant women, endocrine disruptor chemicals can be passed to the baby through the placenta or through breast milk during lactation, leading to long-term and permanent adverse effects. These endocrine disruptors may cause adverse effects in women such as infertility, implantation defects, premature birth, spontaneous abortions, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes. Exposure to endocrine disruptors in the intrauterine period may result in adverse effects on the reproductive system, metabolic changes, low birth weight, retardation in mental and physical development and also may be associated with congenital malformations. It is of great importance …

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals And Thyroid Cancer, Özge Baş Aksu, Mustafa Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have emerged as a critical global health concern because of their role in various diseases, including thyroid cancer. Defined as exogenous substances that disrupt endocrine system functions, EDCs can affect multiple generations through mechanisms such as hormone receptor modulation, altered hormone synthesis, and epigenetic modifications.The increasing global incidence of thyroid cancer has heightened interest in environmental factors, with EDC exposure recognized as a significant contributor. Compounds such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and bisphenol A play crucial roles in disrupting thyroid homeostasis. Emerging evidence underscores the synergistic effects of multiple EDC …

Effects Of Endocrine Disruptors On The Neurological System, Kadi̇rcan Karatoprak, Soner Cander

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: There is increasing interest in endocrine disrupting chemicals because of the potential effects on neurological health. These chemicals are widely found in various consumer products and industrial processes, and can lead to serious disorders of the endocrine system by disrupting hormone synthesis, expression, and function. The aim of this review was to examine epidemiological and experimental findings by investigating the link between exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and adverse neurological outcomes.

Materials and methods: In the preparation of this review, a PubMed literature search was conducted using the words “endocrine disruptors,” “neuroendocrine effects,” “neurobehavioral effects,” and “neurodevelopmental effects” and …

Endocrine Disruptors And Children's Health, Ersen Karakiliç, Durmuş Doğan, Emre Sedar Saygili

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental contaminants that disrupt hormonal regulation by mimicking, inhibiting, or modifying endocrine signaling pathways. EDCs are commonly present in plastics, pesticides, industrial byproducts, and personal care products and pose substantial health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as infants and children. Early-life exposure is especially concerning due to the developing detoxification systems, the immaturity of the blood–brain barrier, and the ongoing organ differentiation, making these periods highly susceptible to EDCs’ harmful effects. Moreover, exposure during critical developmental periods, such as sex differentiation and neurodevelopment, can lead to significant long-term developmental impairments that persist into later life.Perinatal …

Osteoprogenitor Cells From Non-Regenerative Bone Show Greater Resistance To Cellular Stress Than Those From Regenerative Bone, Joshua Broussard, Sylvia Culpepper, Tyrel Long, Alexander J. Trostle, Robert J. Tower, Mimi C. Sammarco, Jennifer Simkin

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Bone regeneration following injury depends on osteoprogenitor cells derived predominantly from the periosteum. Incomplete regeneration has been attributed to both cell-extrinsic factors (e.g., environment, inflammation, mechanical instability) and cell-intrinsic factors (e.g., impaired proliferation or differentiation of stem cells). In the digit amputation mouse model, amputation through the third phalanx (P3) supports complete regeneration, while amputation through the second phalanx (P2) results in callus formation and scarring. Periosteal cells are known to be the major contributing cell source for repair and regeneration. Yet the healing outcomes of P2 and P3 amputations are significantly different. This study tests whether P2 and …

Clinical Outcomes Of Patients With Unsuccessful Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Best Medical Management Of Medium Vessel Occlusion Stroke In The Middle Cerebral Artery Territory, Tobias D Faizy, Vivek Yedavalli, Hamza Adel Salim, Dhairya A Lakhani, Basel Musmar, Nimer Adeeb, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Motaz Daraghma, Kareem El Naamani, Nils Henninger, Sri Hari Sundararajan, Anna Luisa Kuhn, Jane Khalife, Sherief Ghozy, Luca Scarcia, Leonard Ll Yeo, Benjamin Yq Tan, Robert W Regenhardt, Jeremy Josef Heit, Nicole M Cancelliere, Aymeric Rouchaud, Jens Fiehler, Sunil A Sheth, Ajit S Puri, Christian Dyzmann, Marco Colasurdo, Leonardo Renieri, João Pedro Filipe, Pablo Harker, Răzvan Alexandru Radu, Mohamad Abdalkader, Piers Klein, Thomas R Marotta, Julian Spears, Takahiro Ota, Ashkan Mowla, Pascal Jabbour, Arundhati Biswas, Frédéric Clarençon, James E Siegler, Thanh N Nguyen, Ricardo Varela, Amanda Baker, David Altschul, Nestor Gonzalez, Markus A Möhlenbruch, Vincent Costalat, Benjamin Gory, Christian Paul Stracke, Constantin Hecker, Gaultier Marnat, Hamza Shaikh, Christoph J Griessenauer, David S Liebeskind, Alessandro Pedicelli, Andrea Maria Alexandre, Illario Tancredi, Erwah Kalsoum, Max Wintermark, Boris Lubicz, Aman B Patel, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Adam A Dmytriw, Adrien Guenego, Mad-Mt Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current randomized controlled trials are investigating the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) stroke. Whether best medical management (MM) is more efficient than unsuccessful vessel recanalization during MT remains unknown.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe between September 2017 and July 2021. Only patients with occlusion of the distal branches (M2 and M3) of the middle cerebral artery territory were included. Unsuccessful MT was defined as a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 0-2a. Propensity score matching …

Hydrodynamic Contrast Recanalization-Facilitated Rotational Atherectomy To Treat A Heavily Calcified Coronary Chronic Total Occlusion, Som P Singh, Mustafa Al Qaysi, Angelo Nascimbene, Mauro Carlino, Salman A Arain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for heavily calcified chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains among the most challenging procedures in interventional cardiology. Hydrodynamic contrast recanalization (HDR) is a novel crossing technique for CTO that uses intraplaque contrast microinjections in the proximal CTO to facilitate the passage of polymer jacketed wires. The use of HDR combined with rotational atherectomy (RA) during CTO PCI in heavily calcified arteries has not been described.

CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old man with refractory angina was referred for revascularization of a chronically occluded ramus intermedius. The presence of heavy calcium and flush occlusion of the left main artery …

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals And Adrenal Gland​, Gülay Şi̇mşek Bağir, Melek Eda Ertörer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous compounds that have hormone-like effects inside the body. Endocrine disruptors can affect adrenal glands in humans and animals. Adrenocortical dysfunction related to chemical exposure has been reported in the literature.The human adrenal gland is crucial for the synthesis of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens) and amino acid-derived hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine). All steps in the adrenocortical steroidogenesis pathway are potential targets for chemical inhibition, including the adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, mitochondrial cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP11A1, CYP17, CYP21, CYP11B1, and CYP11B2), and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase D4,5 isomerase. EDCs either inhibit the …

The Influence Of Endocrine Disrupters On Gut Microbiota, Kader Ugur

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are closely associated with the second brain, the microbiota-derived enteric nervous system, commonly referred to as the gut microbiota. The microbiota plays a crucial role in human health and the development of diseases. In today’s industrialized world, the presence of EDs in air, water, and soil leads to primary human exposure through dermal contact and ingestion. The impact of these EDs on the microbiota remains unclear. EDs that disrupt the balance of the gut microbiota may contribute to a range of disorders, including metabolic (obesity, diabetes mellitus), cardiovascular (vascular stenosis, cerebrovascular disease), reproductive (infertility, ovarian and testicular …

The Effects Of Endocrine Disruptors On The Female Reproductive System, Riza Gökhan Baykal, Reyhan Ersoy

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a diverse, comprehensive group of mostly synthetic chemicals that disrupt many physiological functions in humans and animals. EDCs are particularly disruptive to the female reproductive system. Reproductive function in women is a dynamic process regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis. EDCs show their effects on the reproductive system through estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic, and antiandrogenic effects or by directly affecting gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Disruption in the menstrual cycle, decrease in fertility, infertility, increased risk of miscarriage, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, early or delayed puberty, and hormone-sensitive cancers can be listed as the main negative effects of endocrine disruptors …

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals In Metabolic Bone Diseases, Including Osteoporosis, Betül Gündüz, Eli̇f Kiliç Kan, Ayşegül Atmaca

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances widely utilized across various industrial sectors. Due to their structural similarity to natural ligands, they bind to receptors and influence the endocrine system via agonist–antagonist mechanisms. Exposure occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and water, inhalation of polluted air and dust, and dermal contact. Owing to their dynamic remodeling capacity, bones represent potential targets for endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These chemicals can disrupt bone formation, skeletal development, hormonal regulation, and calcium metabolism. Sensitivity to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is greatest during the prenatal and early postnatal periods. This review summarizes the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on bone tissue.

Green Synthesis Of And Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Of (2z)-2-[(4-Fluorophenyl)Methylidene]-1-Benzofuran-3-One, Rod Albert C. Olofernes

Honors Theses

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health challenge, rendering once-effective antibiotics less potent or entirely ineffective. In response, there is increasing interest in developing antimicrobial agents through environmentally sustainable methods. In this study, a fluorinated aurone derivative, (2Z)-2-[(4-fluorophenyl)methylidene]-1-benzofuran-3-one, was synthesized using a green Knoevenagel condensation approach. Eco-friendly catalysts were employed to minimize environmental impact and avoid hazardous byproducts. Product formation was confirmed to avoid wasting resources. The compound was evaluated for antimicrobial properties using a Kirby-Bauer plate, but did not demonstrate consistent or significant antimicrobial activity, therefore lacking promise as a standalone antibiotic.

Successful Treatment Of Comorbid Sapho Syndrome And Hidradenitis Suppurativa With Upadacitinib, Deepika Narayanan, Tiffaney Tran, Valeria Duque-Clavijo, Hung Q Doan, Stephen K Tyring

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical Practice Variation Among Pediatric Rheumatologists Treating Kawasaki Disease: Results Of A North American Survey, Daniel Ibanez, Bianca Lang, Julia Shalen, Ali Yalcindag, Linda Wagner-Weiner, Kenneth N Schikler, Shoghik Akoghlanian, Hulya Bukulmez, Kristen Hayward, Laura Berbert, Sivia Lapidus, Andrea A Ramirez, Cagri Yildirim-Toruner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The best treatment for children with KD who fail to respond to the first dose of IVIG (refractory KD) is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine treatment practices of pediatric rheumatologists in North America who manage IVIG-refractory KD.

Methods: A 34-item web-based survey was sent to 102 randomly selected members of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). The anonymous survey addressed the use of primary intensification as well as the treatment of IVIG-refractory KD.

Results: The response rate was 82%; 56% (all pediatric rheumatologists) completed the survey. Primary intensification was …