Medical Sciences Commons^™

Dean's Research Newsletter, February 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Effects Of Novel Hexylamine Compounds On Hn6 Carcinoma Cell Survival, Lydia Neven '27, Dominic Pittman '26

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Cancer is a broad term encompassing hundreds of distinct diseases, each arising from unique genetic and environmental factors. Because of this diversity, there is a continual need to develop new chemotherapies. Oral cancer, in particular, remains one of the most common cancers worldwide, yet effective therapeutic options for this malignancy remain limited. Although billions of dollars are invested annually in cancer drug discovery in the United States, the process of evaluating and advancing candidate compounds often represents a critical bottleneck, leading many promising therapies to be abandoned before their full potential is understood. In collaboration with the Hansen lab, we …

Development Of A Predictive Model For Cardiac Dysfunction In Mis-C Patients Utilizing Laboratory Biomarkers, Guliz Erdem, Brendan Galdo, Roshini S Abraham, Allayne Stephans, Simon Lee, Jun Yasuhara, Brent Merryman, Diego Cruz Vidal, Nathan M Money, Jennifer Colgan, Risa Bochner, Ron L Kaplan, Erin Aldag, Thomas Graf, Steve Rust

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Early identification of cardiac dysfunction in multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is crucial for effective management. Our primary objective was to predict left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) through a multicenter collaborative assessing admission laboratory data and echocardiogram findings.

Methods: Laboratory and clinical data were collected by retrospective chart review from a cohort of pediatric patients admitted and treated for MIS-C in our institutions. Laboratory data including absolute lymphocyte count, albumin, sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, d-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, interleukin-6 level, and lymphocyte subsets (T, B and NK quantitation, TBNK) were collected. We built a LASSO logistic …

Preliminary In Vivo Evaluation Of Coracoclavicular Ligament Mechanics During Shoulder Elevation After Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction, Jason Konrath, Sydney Wheaton, Alonso Figueroa, James Gregory, Payam Zandiyeh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Persistent instability and altered scapular mechanics after acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) reconstruction may stem from inadequate replication of native coracoclavicular (CC) ligament function. However, in vivo data on postoperative CC ligament behavior during dynamic shoulder motion remain lacking.

Purpose: To assess in vivo functional distance and timing characteristics of the conoid and trapezoid ligaments during active shoulder elevation after ACJ reconstruction, using dynamic stereo x-ray (DSX) imaging and patient-specific 3-dimensional (3D) models.

Study design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Twelve participants (10 men and 2 women, mean age 39 ± 10 years, mean body mass 92 ± 17 …

Stimulated Cytokine Production, Attachment, And Emotional Well-Being In Dementia Spousal Caregivers, Daniel L Argueta, Sarah Roberts, Kelly N Brice, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Vincent D Lai, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Bryan T Denny, Charles Green, Samantha Henry, Luis D Medina, Paul E Schulz, Jennifer Stinson, Cobi Heijnen, Christopher P Fagundes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Proinflammatory cytokine production may be related to poor emotional adjustment in dementia spousal caregivers. People who display attachment insecurity may be at increased risk for adverse caregiving experiences and poor psychosocial outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to understand whether proinflammatory cytokine production was associated with anticipatory grief, caregiver burden, and depressive symptoms and whether those relationships were stronger for caregivers higher on attachment anxiety or avoidance.

Method: A sample of 103 dementia spousal caregivers provided self-report data on demographics, health information, and psychosocial outcomes. We also determined lipopolysaccharide-induced whole-blood interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-10 production and combined …

How To Prevent Acute Kidney Injury Postoperatively?, Alexander Zarbock, Matthieu Legrand

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

The Long-Term Effectiveness Of The Anti-Obesity Medication Phentermine (Leap) Trial: Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics, Caroline Blackwell Young, Emily Rives, Kimberly A Gudzune, Byron C Jaeger, Courtney G Simmons, Brian N White, Stephanie A Hooker, Deborah B Horn, Deborah R Young, Jennifer Vesely, Amanda Velazquez, Catherine Price, Shelly D Cook, Katy Martin-Fernandez, Galina Inzhakova, Nicholas M Pajewski, Jamy D Ard, Kristina H Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current clinical practice guidelines support the long-term use of pharmacotherapy for obesity treatment. Historically, phentermine has been one of the most prescribed obesity medications (OMs), however, its long-term efficacy and safety have never been evaluated in a randomized trial as its market approval predates such requirements. Here we describe the design, rationale, and baseline characteristics for a 24-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy, cardiovascular risk, and safety of phentermine in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: This multicenter trial will compare outcomes among participants randomized to phentermine 24 mg daily versus placebo for 24 months. All participants …

Medical Aid In Dying: A Narrative Review Of The Recent Academic Literature In The United States., Holland Kaplan, Soraira Pacheco, Keziah M Thomas, Christopher L Ulmschneider, Anjiya Sulaiman, Chandni Lotwala, Derek Dawes, Issa A Hanna, Courtney Nguyen, Caroline G Snider, Gabriel M Aisenberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Medical aid in dying (MAiD) is a practice in which a healthcare professional provides assistance to a terminally ill patient seeking to end their life. To assess how academic discourse may shape public opinion and policy in the United States, we conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 2020 and 2024. Articles were categorized as supportive, opposing, or neutral, and patterns were examined across authorship, disciplinary focus, and target populations. Our findings reveal that most recent publications adopt supportive or neutral stances toward MAiD, with a slight increase in opposition beginning in 2022. Authorship discipline strongly influenced position, …

Novel Small-Molecule Analogues Of Iu1 Ameliorate Amyloid-Β Mediated Toxicity In Alzheimer’S Disease Cell And Worm Models, Ajish Ariyath, Fraulein Denise Arigo, Izhar Wallach, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando, Ralph N. Martins, Prashant Bharadwaj

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Dysregulation of the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14 (USP14) is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, and IU1, an allosteric inhibitor, has shown neuroprotective effects by reducing protein aggregate toxicity. This study aimed to develop new IU1 analogues and evaluate their ability to mitigate amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cell and Caenorhabditis elegans worm models. IU1 and 71 newly designed analogues identified using the AtomNet^® virtual screening platform were assessed in an amyloid precursor protein-C terminal fragment/amyloid-β (APP-C99/Aβ)-producing AD cell model using a high-throughput toxicity assay. Lead compounds were further evaluated for their effects on neurodegeneration, …

Plasma Biomarker Progression Across The Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Beta And Tau Positron Emission Tomography Trajectories, Rodrigo Cánovas, Christopher J. Fowler, Azadeh Feizpour, Vincent Dóre, Pierrick Bourgeat, Ziad S. Saad, Gallen Triana-Baltzer, Hartmuth C. Kolb, Manu Vandijck, Gwendlyn Kollmorgen, Clara Quijano-Rubio, Jurgen Fripp, Simon Laws, Anthony W. Bannon, Kaj Blennow, Henrik Zetterberg, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Sulantha Mathotaarachchi, Christopher C. Rowe, Colin L. Masters, James D. Doecke

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: With increased uptake in disease-modifying treatments for amyloid beta (Aβ) removal, it is important to measure performance of highly sensitive plasma biomarkers to detect the presence of Aβ and tau in cognitively impaired populations. Methods: In this study, we investigated a large set of plasma biomarkers for their capability to predict Aβ and tau positron emission tomography (PET) and their association with increasing Aβ and tau burden. RESULTS: From the biomarkers assessed, tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (pTau217) showed the largest increases across the full range of Aβ and tau levels. Furthermore, pTau217/Aβ42 had the smallest proportion of participants …

Regulation Of Autophagy-Mediated Pathways By Diet, Physical Activity, And Sleep In Alzheimer's Disease, Ajish Ariyath, Zoe Mputhia, Christopher Dougherty, Bushra Kaleelur Rahuman, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando, Belinda Brown, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph Martins, Prashant Bharadwaj

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, age-related, neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, memory loss, and accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles. A key feature of AD is impaired protein homeostasis, often driven by autophagy dysfunction. Autophagy, a cellular degradation and recycling process, plays a vital role in maintaining neuronal health and is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic target in AD. Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep can positively influence autophagy and support cognitive function. Intermittent fasting (IF) and calorie restriction (CR) activate autophagy and promote longevity; physical activity enhances cerebral blood flow and …

Markvcid2 Consortium For Clinical Validation Of Biomarkers Of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Validation Framework And Baseline Characteristics, Steven M Greenberg, Marylin S Albert, Hongyu An, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Arnold M Evia, Arvind Caprihan, Andria L Ford, Myriam Fornage, Gregory S Day, Jason D Hinman, Gregory A Jicha, Amir H Kashani, Joel H Kramer, Christian Lachner, Jin-Moo Lee, Peiying Liu, Hanzhang Lu, Pauline Maillard, Ronald C Petersen, Bruce M Psaty, John M Ringman, Gary A Rosenberg, Claudia L Satizabal, Sean I Savitz, Julie A Schneider, Sudha Seshadri, Prashanthi Vemuri, Danny J J Wang, Donna M Wilcock, B Gwen Windham, Rong Zhang, Carissa Tuozzo, Herpreet Singh, Sue Moy, Vilma Okey-Ewurum, Courtney B Page, Hillary Mulder, Pia Kivisäkk, Deborah Blacker, Lidiya Mazina, Karl G Helmer, Kristin Schwab, Lisa M Wruck, Roderick A Corriveau

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To establish a framework for validating candidate biomarkers of cerebral small vessel diseases (SVD) associated with cognitive impairment and characterize individuals enrolled by the MarkVCID2 consortium under this framework.

Methods: Participants age 60 to 90 years were enrolled across 17 MarkVCID2 sites. Recruitment was targeted to enrich in cognitive symptoms (mild dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive decline), defined risk factors (diabetes mellitus, advanced hypertension), and Black/African American, White, and Hispanic/Latino subgroups. Enrolled participants underwent baseline visits that included cognitive testing, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biofluid collection. Provisional risk for SVD-related cognitive decline was estimated primarily by …

Associations Between County-Level Vape-Free Air Law Coverage And E-Cigarette Use Behaviors Among U.S. Adolescents In Monitoring The Future, James H. Buszkiewicz, Yanmei Xie, Catherine A. Vander Woude, Steven Cook, Bukola Usidame, Megan E. Patrick, Michael R. Elliott, James F. Thrasher, Nancy L. Fleischer

Department of Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Purpose

We examined whether workplace and hospitality vape-free air law (VAL) population coverage was associated with adolescent e-cigarette use and related disparities in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed associations between county-level workplace and hospitality VAL coverage (100% vs. < 100%) and current e-cigarette use (2014–2022) and first e-cigarette initiation (2015–2022) among US 8th, 10th, and 12th graders using nationally representative, cross-sectional Monitoring the Future data. We implemented weighted, grade-stratified, modified Poisson regression models, adjusted for individual-, county-, and state-level confounding factors, examining disparities by sex, race and ethnicity, parental education, and college educational expectations through two-way interactions.

Results

Workplace and hospitality VAL coverage was not associated with adolescent e-cigarette use or initiation overall. However, we did find that VAL coverage was associated with lower current e-cigarette use in some sociodemographic subgroups. Full (100%) hospitality VAL coverage was linked to lower e-cigarette use among male 8th and 12th graders, 12th graders with parents without a bachelor's degree, Hispanic 8th …

Outcomes Of Witnessed Versus Unwitnessed Patients With Stroke After Endovascular Therapy In The Extended Time Window, Liisa Tomppo, Nicolas Martinez-Majander, Muhammad M Qureshi, Thanh N Nguyen, Raul G Nogueira, Simon Nagel, Jelle Demeestere, Volker Puetz, Hilde Henon, Marta Olive-Gadea, João Pedro Marto, Anne Dusart, Peter A Ringleb, Osama O Zaidat, Diogo C Haussen, Mahmoud H Mohammaden, Mohamad Abdalkader, Jean Raymond, Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez, Sunil A Sheth, Hiroshi Yamagami, João Nuno Ramos, Francois Caparros, Daniel P O Kaiser, Marc Ribo, Sergio Salazar-Marioni, Kanta Tanaka, Pekka Virtanen, Ajit S Puri, James E Siegler, Syed F Zaidi, Mouhammad Jumaa, Eugene Lin, Jordi Mayol, Rita Ventura, Simon Winzer, Piers Klein, Flavio Bellante, Jorge Cespedes, Anke Wouters, Hesham E Masoud, Liqi Shu, Alicia C Castonguay, Christian Herweh, Monica Cheng, Wei Hu, Daniel Roy, Shadi Yaghi, Robin Lemmens, Charlotte Cordonnier, Markus A Möhlenbruch, Daniel Strbian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: It remains unclear whether outcomes of patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy with large-vessel occlusion and unwitnessed onset of stroke differ from those with witnessed onset in the extended time window.

Methods: We enrolled patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion (internal carotid artery, M1, or M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery) undergoing endovascular thrombectomy within 6 to 24 hours from the time last seen well, from 2014 to 2022, at 66 sites in Europe, North America, and Asia. Patients with a prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of >3 or age < 18 were excluded. We categorized patients by onset mode as witnessed or unwitnessed. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale shift at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were functional independence, a composite of functional independence or return of Rankin to prestroke level, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality, and a composite of severe disability or mortality at 90 days. We applied inverse probability of treatment weighting to compare outcomes between the groups.

Results: Of 5098 patients assessed for eligibility, we included …

Uterine Tachysystole And Associated Outcomes: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Fabrizio Zullo, Benedetta Licitra, Nandini Raghuraman, Alison G Cahill, Aaron W Roberts, Stephanie Roth, Daniele Di Mascio, Antonella Giancotti, Giuseppe Rizzo, Kristen A Cagino, Hector Mendez-Figueroa, Anthony C Sciscione, Suneet P Chauhan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To determine whether uterine tachysystole is associated with adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes.

Data sources: A search strategy for PubMed (National Library of Medicine) was created, and the medical librarian translated the search for every database. The search strategy was peer reviewed by another medical librarian following the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies checklist. The databases included in this search were PubMed, Embase.com, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL Ultimate, and Scopus; a combination of key words and subject headings was used.

Methods of study selection: Trials of nulliparous or multiparous parturients exposed to uterine tachysystole were included. Included studies compared …

Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Newborns After Myelomeningocele Repair, Renée A Shellhaas, Fauziya Hassan, Thornton A Mason, Jagruti Anadkat, Ellen Bendel-Stenzel, Stephanie Eyerly-Webb, Cindy K Jon, Robin M Lloyd, Julie S Moldenhauer, Ramesha Papanna, John E Pascoe, Stefanie Riddle, Regina Reynolds, Brandon G Rocque, Narong Simakajornboon, Marjorie C Treadwell, R Bradley Troxler, Lydia S Youmans, Niko A Kaciroti, Harlan Mccaffery, Hemant A Parmar, Lora Merley, Stephanie Md Rau, Ronald D Chervin, John D E Barks

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background & objective: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may be a remediable contributor to abnormal cognitive outcomes for children with myelomeningocele. We investigated the frequency of SDB among neonates with fetal vs postnatal myelomeningocele repair.

Methods: In this nine-center, prospective, observational study, neonates with myelomeningocele born at more than 30 weeks gestational age underwent a 10-hour bedside polysomnogram at at least 35 weeks postmenstrual age, before hospital discharge. The primary outcome was SDB severity, reflected by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; number of respiratory events per hour of sleep). Decisions regarding surgical timing (fetal vs postnatal), technique (open fetal vs fetoscopic approach), and …

Association Of Intended Mode Of Delivery With Neonatal And Maternal Outcomes At 22-25 Weeks Of Gestation, Jameaka L Hamilton, Paula L Mcgee, Baha M Sibai, Michael W Varner, Alan T N Tita, Monica Longo, Edward F Bell, Barbara J Stoll, John M Thorp, Uma M Reddy, Heather A Frey, Emily S Miller, Dwight J Rouse, Hyagriv N Simhan, Jennifer L Bailit, Lorraine Dugoff, George R Saade

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To compare the risk of neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality among individuals who delivered between 22 and 25 weeks of gestation by intended mode of delivery.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of an observational cohort including participants with a singleton pregnancy delivered by planned cesarean delivery or after a trial of labor from 22 0/7 to 25 6/7 weeks of gestation. This analysis was limited to those who received both antenatal steroids and neonatal resuscitation. The primary outcome was a composite of neonatal death or severe neonatal morbidity. Secondary outcomes included neonatal mortality and measures of neonatal …

Bayesian Posthoc Trial Analysis Of Cerclage Management In Preterm Prelabor Rupture Of The Membranes, Beth L Pineles, Kyung Hyun Lee, Baha M Sibai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is inadequate evidence on whether to retain or remove a cervical cerclage after preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes (PPROM). The PROMCerclage trial was the only study to randomize patients to cerclage retention or immediate cerclage removal after PPROM. The trial was terminated early, and results were not statistically significant but the cerclage retention group had shorter latency and more chorioamnionitis. Bayesian post-hoc trial analysis maximizes available clinical trial data by formally integrating information from preexisting studies or prior beliefs into statistical modeling to estimate the probability of a treatment effect.

Objective: To re-analyze published results of the …

Are Fewer Damage Control Laparotomies Associated With A Decrease In The Rate And Severity Of Surgical Site Infections?, Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, Mokunfayo O Fajemisin, Chelsea J Guy-Frank, William D Rieger, Renee W Green, John A Harvin, Lillian S Kao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) rates have declined and remained low. Given DCL's association with surgical site infections (SSIs), we hypothesize that SSI rates and severity, as per Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification, have decreased concurrently.

Patients and methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients (≥16 y) who underwent trauma laparotomy from January 2011 to December 2020. Patients who survived ≤48 hours were excluded. Data were divided into period 1 (January 2011-December 2015, DCL rates declined) and period 2 (January 2016-December 2020, low DCL rates were sustained). SSIs were defined as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and severity …

Antenatal Prediction Of Early Cord Clamping Among Infants Born Extremely Preterm, Anup C Katheria, Rebecca A Dorner, William A Grobman, Matthew A Rysavy, Jenny Koo, Myra H Wyckoff, Grecio Sandoval, Sara B Demauro, Abhik Das, Henry C Lee, Michael Cotten, Laura Calvo, Shampa Saha

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To identify prenatal risk factors associated with early cord clamping (ECC) in infants born extremely preterm (22-28 weeks) and to use these factors to predict which infants have the highest risk of ECC.

Study design: Stepwise logistic regression and classification and regression tree analysis were performed to identify variables most associated with ECC and to build a parsimonious model to identify infants born preterm who are at the highest risk of ECC.

Results: There were 12 622 infants eligible for analysis (ECC, n = 8465 vs deferred cord clamping [DCC], n = 4157). In the classification and regression tree …

Cultural Influences On Camouflaging And Autistic Burnout: Examining The Experiences Of Latino Autistic Young Adults, Antonio F Pagán, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The present study explored the relationship between camouflaging, autistic burnout, and cultural factors in Latino young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While autistic burnout and camouflaging have been widely studied in general ASD populations, limited research has focused on Latino individuals, who may experience unique pressures due to cultural values such as collectivism, familism, and traditional gender roles. Participants (N = 56) from the ¡Iniciando! la Adultez therapy program completed measures assessing burnout, camouflaging, acculturation, and cultural values. Results indicate that participants reported moderate to high levels of autistic burnout, with the highest levels observed in heightened self-awareness …

Role Of Childhood Trauma In Interoception And Alexithymia In Schizophrenia, Samantha Narvaez, Krista Wisner, Alina Siatka, L Elliot Hong, Joshua Chiappelli

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Childhood trauma (CT) is a notable risk factor for schizophrenia. Separately, CT has been associated with alexithymia, referring to difficulties in identifying and describing one's own feelings, as well as disturbed interoception, referring to difficulties sensing and responding to signals that originate from within the body. Both self-perception impairments have been observed in schizophrenia; however, the role of CT in these observations in schizophrenia is unclear. To address this gap, interoception was assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and CT was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) …

Dopamine Agonist Therapy Induced Fatal Pneumocephalus In Giant Prolactinoma, Archana M H, Anurag Ranjan Lila, Manjiri Karlekar, Saba Samad Memon, Rohit Barnabas, Tushar Bandgar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We report a man in the fifth decade of his life with an invasive giant prolactinoma (size: 7.3 cm; serum prolactin 56820 ng/mL [SI: 2470.4 nmol/L], reference range, 5-25 ng/mL [SI: 0.22-1.09 nmol/L]) who presented with hypogonadism and headache. Dopamine agonist (DA) cabergoline (0.25 mg twice weekly) was initiated, and serum prolactin levels reached 3941 ng/mL (SI: 171.3 nmol/L) after 2 doses. Two weeks later, he developed acute symptoms of headache, vomiting, and drowsiness associated with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. He presented to the casualty after 48 hours of the onset of these acute symptoms in an altered state. Neuroimaging demonstrated …

Striatum Volume And Affective Symptomatology Are Associated With Sleep In Schizophrenia, Alia R Warner, Xiaoming Du, Yizhou Ma, Kyle R Noll, Si Gao, Bhim Adhikari, Bruno Kluwe-Schiavon, Alina Siatka, Anya Savransky, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sleep dysfunction is common among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Sleep duration and other sleep quality metrics are associated with worse patient clinical and social outcomes. We examined if accumulative stress, gray matter structural volume measured with high-resolution structural brain MRI, diffusion tensor imaging measures of white matter microstructure, and psychopathology (for the schizophrenia group) may act as predictors of sleep quality and compared individuals with SSD (N = 101) and healthy controls (N = 86). We created an adjusted Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-A) score to measure sleep quality and account for abnormally long sleep duration as dysfunctional. …

The Concept Of Environmental Injustice In Allergy And Asthma, Ekta Perera, Christopher Codispoti, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: This review examines how environmental injustice contributes to disparities in allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. It focuses on the role of social, geographic, and economic inequities in shaping disease prevalence, severity, and access to care among underrepresented racial and ethnic communities.

Recent findings: Recent studies emphasize the persistent exposure of low-income and racially marginalized populations to environmental hazards such as air pollution, substandard housing, and climate-related changes, factors that are linked to increased prevalence and severity of allergic diseases. While environmental policies have led to overall improvements in air quality, disparities in exposure …

Lessons Learned In A Data Linkage Project On Fatal Drowning, Rohit P Shenoi, Ned Levine, Elizabeth A Camp, Linh Nguyen, Sandra Mckay, Shaila Zaman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Drowning is the leading cause of death in US children 1-4 years old. The epidemiology of drowning at a regional level is understudied because no single data source provides complete information on persons who drown. Probabilistic data linkage is a novel way of studying the epidemiology of drowning. This study aimed to document the lessons learned during the linkage process.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of persons of all ages who died from unintentional drowning in metropolitan Houston from 2016 to 2022. We describe the lessons learned during the project planning and execution phases which pertained to data …

Urinary Biomarkers Of Acute Kidney Injury In Neonates < 25 Weeks’ Gestation: A Pilot Study, Jazmin D Humphreys, Aman Jain, Amir M Khan, Tina O Findley, Mar Romero-Lopez, Sepideh Saroukhani, Rita D Swinford, Matthew A Rysavy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 30% of premature neonates and is associated with adverse outcomes that may be mitigated with early detection. Diagnosis of AKI relies on serum creatinine (SCr) which has several limitations, including lack of sensitivity and specificity. There are limited data on the utility of alternative urine biomarkers to predict AKI in neonates born at < 25 weeks' gestation.

Methods: Urine was collected from neonates born at < 25 weeks' gestation during the first postnatal week. Two urine AKI biomarkers, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were measured. Study participants were prospectively followed to determine development of AKI, defined by the neonatal modified Kidney Disease-Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, during the first postnatal week. The association of NGAL and EGF with AKI was analyzed using mixed-effect linear regression models adjusting for gestational age at birth.

Results: A total of 26 neonates were enrolled in this study. After adjusting for gestational age at birth, the mean difference in log-transformed biomarkers at three time points for urine NGAL and …

Nasal Microbiome And Phageome Profiles Are Associated With Prospective Respiratory Viral Infection Risk In School-Age Children, Michael S Kelly, Ching-Ying Huang, Minsik Kim, Dastan Haghnazari, Aribah Baig, Ye Sun, Bryan R Lenneman, Michael J Tisza, Amparito Cunningham, Diane Gold, Wanda Phipatanakul, Peggy S Lai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Respiratory viral infections are common and can trigger asthma exacerbations in children. The roles of the nasal microbiome and phageome (viruses that infect microbes) are not well understood.

Objective: We sought to characterize the epidemiology of respiratory viral infections and the interplay between the nasal microbiome, phageome, and viral infections in school-age children with asthma.

Methods: We performed metagenomic sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR detection of respiratory viruses on 375 nasal samples from 227 school-age children with asthma collected routinely 3 times over a year. Surveys on parent-reported cold and asthma symptoms were administered routinely every 2 months. We evaluated …

Cressent: A Bioinformatics Toolkit To Explore And Improve Ssdna Virus Annotation, Ricardo R Pavan, Matthew B Sullivan, Michael J Tisza

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

ssDNA viruses are important components of diverse ecosystems; however, it remains challenging to systematically identify and classify them. This is partly due to their broad host range and resulting genomic diversity, structure and rapid evolutionary rates. In addition, distinguishing genuine ssDNA genomes from contaminating sequences in metagenomic datasets (e.g. from commercial kits) has been an unresolved issue for years. Here, we present CRESSENT (CRESS-DNA Extended aNnotation Toolkit), a comprehensive and modular bioinformatic pipeline focused on ssDNA virus 'genome-to-analysis' and annotation. The pipeline integrates multiple functionalities organized into several modules: sequence dereplication, decontamination, phylogenetic analysis, …

Distribution Of Nematophagous Fungi And Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Outdoor Built Environments Across Latin America, Rojelio Mejia, Eva Mereles Aranda, Leticia Ojeda, Sandra Ocampos Benedetti, Janitzio J Guzman, Barton Slatko, Cristina Almazan, Melisa Diaz-Fernandez, Ruben Cimino, Marisa Juarez, Natalia Montellano Duran, Estefania Lorena Mansilla Flores, Paola Andrea Vargas, Amandeep Kaur, Nestor L Uzcategui, Lucia Estela Mejia, Katherine Elizabeth Keegan, Emilio Rey Mejia, Chiara Cássia Oliveira Amorim, Stefan M Geiger, Ricardo T Fujiwara, Luz Marina Llangarí-Arizo, Andrea Lopez, Natalia Romero-Sandoval, Irene Guadalupe, Liliana E Villanueva-Lizama, Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan, Maritza Dalí Camones Rivera, Eddyson Montalvo Sabino, Carlos Pineda, Eric J Wetzel, Philip J Cooper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are among the most common global parasitic infections, represent a significant worldwide public health burden, and remain a source of considerable morbidity in Latin America. Nematophagous fungi (NF), such as Arthrobotrys oligospora, naturally inhabit many soil types and are known for their ability to trap and kill nematodes using specialized hyphal structures or secreted enzymes and metabolites. As they prey on different developmental stages of helminths in soil, they may represent an ecological factor influencing helminth persistence and transmission dynamics.

Methods: Using an in vitro test, Toxocara cati eggs were exposed to A. oligospora. By using …