Medical Specialties Commons^™

Factors And Behaviors Related To Successful Transition Of Care After Hospitalization For Ischemic Stroke, Chuanhui Dong, Hannah Gardener, Tatjana Rundek, Erika Marulanda, Carolina M Gutierrez, Iszet Campo-Bustillo, Gillian Gordon Perue, Karlon H Johnson, Ralph L Sacco, Jose G Romano, Transitions Of Care Stroke Disparities Study (Tcsd-S) Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Our objective is to describe adoption of the posthospitalization behaviors associated with successful transition of care and related baseline characteristics.

METHODS: This study includes 550 participants in the Transition of Care Stroke Disparities Study, a prospective observational cohort derived from the Florida Stroke Registry. Participants had an ischemic stroke (2018-2021), discharged home or to rehabilitation, with modified Rankin Scale score=0-3 (44% women, 24% Black, 48% White, 26% Hispanic, 35% foreign-born). We collected baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. A structured telephone interview at 30-day postdischarge evaluated outcomes including medication adherence, medical appointment attendance, outpatient therapy, exercise, diet modification, toxic habit …

Hetrombopag Plus Porcine Atg And Cyclosporine For The Treatment Of Aplastic Anaemia: Early Outcomes Of A Prospective Pilot Study, Wenrui Yang, Xin Zhao, Xu Liu, Youzhen Xiong, Huihui Fan, Li Zhang, Jianping Li, Lei Ye, Kang Zhou, Yuan Li, Yang Yang, Guangxin Peng, Liping Jing, Fengkui Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hetrombopag, a small molecular thrombopoietin-receptor agonist, has shown encouraging efficiency in immunosuppressive therapy refractory or relapsed severe aplastic anaemia. To investigate the response rate of hetrombopag combined with IST as first-line treatment, we designed a prospective pilot study including 32 patients with SAA treated with anti-human T lymphocyte porcine immunoglobulin (p-ATG), cyclosporine, and hetrombopag. In addition, 96 patients with SAA treated with p-ATG and cyclosporine alone were matched as controls. In total, 21.9% of patients treated with hetrombopag achieved complete response (CR) at 3 months, while 5.2% of patients achieved CR in the control group (P = 0.005). At …

Vip152 Is A Selective Cdk9 Inhibitor With Pre-Clinical In Vitro And In Vivo Efficacy In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Steven Sher, Ethan Whipp, Janek Walker, Pu Zhang, Larry Beaver, Katie Williams, Shelley Orwick, Janani Ravikrishnan, Brandi Walker, Elizabeth Perry, Charles Gregory, Matthew Purcell, Alexander Pan, Pearlly Yan, Lapo Alinari, Amy J Johnson, Melanie M Frigault, Joy M Greer, Ahmed Hamdy, Raquel Izumi, Xiaokui Mo, Deepa Sampath, Jennifer Woyach, James Blachly, John C Byrd, Rosa Lapalombella

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is effectively treated with targeted therapies including Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors and BCL2 antagonists. When these become ineffective, treatment options are limited. Positive transcription elongation factor complex (P-TEFb), a heterodimeric protein complex composed of cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and cyclin T1, functions to regulate short half-life transcripts by phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II (POLII). These transcripts are frequently dysregulated in hematologic malignancies; however, therapies targeting inhibition of P-TEFb have not yet achieved approval for cancer treatment. VIP152 kinome profiling revealed CDK9 as the main enzyme inhibited at 100 nM, with over a 10-fold increase in …

Association Of Lifestyle Behaviors With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease And Advanced Fibrosis Detected By Transient Elastography Among Hispanic/Latinos Adults In The Us, Natalia I Heredia, Xiaotao Zhang, Maya Balakrishnan, Jessica P Hwang, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent liver disease, with the highest prevalence observed in the U.S. among Hispanic/Latino adults. While physical activity and dietary behaviors have established protective associations with NAFLD and its severity, these associations have not been well-characterized in Hispanic/Latino adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of lifestyle behaviors with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis in US Hispanic/Latino adults.

DESIGN: We selected all Hispanic/Latino adults from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NAFLD was defined as CAP ≥285 dB/m, and advanced fibrosis as liver stiffness measurements ≥8.6 …

Remote Care Adoption In Underserved Congenital Heart Disease Patients During The Covid-19 Era, Ruth M Vaughan, Judson A Moore, Jasmine S Moreno, Karla J Dyer, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Keila N Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted in-person appointments and prompted an increase in remote healthcare delivery. Our goal was to assess access to remote care for complex pediatric cardiology patients. We performed a retrospective chart review of Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) pediatric cardiology outpatient appointments from March 2020 to December 2020 for established congenital heart disease (CHD) patients 1 to 17 yo. Primary outcome variables were remote care use of telemedicine and patient portal activation. Primary predictor variables were age, sex, insurance, race/ethnicity, language, and location. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patient demographics. Multivariate logistic regression determined associations with remote care …

Relief Of Malignant Gastric Outlet Obstruction With Lumen-Apposing Metallic Stent-Assisted Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube After Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass, Scott N Berger, Juan D Gomez Cifuentes, Tara Keihanian, Wasif M Abidi, Kalpesh K Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Automated In Vivo High-Resolution Imaging To Detect Human Papillomavirus-Associated Anal Precancer In Persons Living With Hiv, David Brenes, Alex Kortum, Jennifer Carns, Tinaye Mutetwa, Richard Schwarz, Yuxin Liu, Keith Sigel, Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Sharmila Anandasabapathy, Michael Gaisa, Elizabeth Chiao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: In the United States, the effectiveness of anal cancer screening programs has been limited by a lack of trained professionals proficient in high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) and a high patient lost-to-follow-up rate between diagnosis and treatment. Simplifying anal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe (AIN 2+) detection could radically improve the access and efficiency of anal cancer prevention. Novel optical imaging providing point-of-care diagnoses could substantially improve existing HRA and histology-based diagnosis. This work aims to demonstrate the potential of high-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) coupled with a novel machine learning algorithm for the automated, in vivo diagnosis of anal precancer. …

Rates Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Helicobacter Pylori Isolates From Clinical Trial Patients Across The Us And Europe, Francis Mégraud, David Y Graham, Colin W Howden, Ernest Trevino, Alice Weissfeld, Barbara Hunt, Neila Smith, Eckhard Leifke, William D Chey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines recommend that proton pump inhibitor-based triple regimens with clarithromycin not be used for Helicobacter pylori infection in areas where clarithromycin resistance is ≥15%, or in patients with prior macrolide use. Up-to-date information on local resistance patterns is limited, especially in the US. Here, we report resistance rates to antibiotics commonly used to treat H. pylori from a large study conducted in the US and Europe (pHalcon-HP).

METHODS: Gastric mucosal biopsies were collected from adult participants with H. pylori infection during screening. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined via agar dilution for clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole, with breakpoints ≥1 μg/mL, …

The Performance Of Afp, Afp-3, Dcp As Biomarkers For Detection Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hcc): A Phase 3 Biomarker Study In The United States, Nabihah Tayob, Fasiha Kanwal, Abeer Alsarraj, Ruben Hernaez, Hashem B El-Serag

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: α-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in combination or in GALAD (Gender, Age, AFP-L3, AFP, and DCP) were tested for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in retrospective cohort and case-control studies. However, there is a paucity of prospective data and no phase III biomarker studies from North American populations.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective specimen collection, retrospective blinded evaluation (PRoBE) cohort study in patients with cirrhosis enrolled in a 6-monthly surveillance with liver imaging and AFP. Blood samples were prospectively collected every 6 months and analyzed in a retrospective blinded …

Circadian Clock And Temporal Meal Pattern, Xin Li, Zheng Sun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The central circadian clock in the brain controls the time-of-the-day variations in acute meal responses, with a low glycemic response but a high satiety/thermogenic response to meals consumed at waking compared to other time points. Consistently, studies show that consuming a significant proportion of calories, particularly carbohydrates, in breakfast is beneficial for the chronic management of obesity and its associated metabolic syndrome, compared to consuming identical meals at dinner. Conversely, breakfast skipping or/and late dinner can have unfavorable metabolic outcomes. It remains controversial how meal frequency affects metabolic health. In contrast, irregular meals, especially irregular breakfasts, show consistent adverse metabolic …

Pd-L1 Translocation To The Plasma Membrane Enables Tumor Immune Evasion Through Mib2 Ubiquitination, Xinfang Yu, Wei Li, Haidan Liu, Xu Wang, Cristian Coarfa, Chao Cheng, Xinlian Yu, Zhaoyang Zeng, Ya Cao, Ken H Young, Yong Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a critical immune checkpoint ligand, is a transmembrane protein synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum of tumor cells and transported to the plasma membrane to interact with programmed death 1 (PD-1) expressed on T cell surface. This interaction delivers coinhibitory signals to T cells, thereby suppressing their function and allowing evasion of antitumor immunity. Most companion or complementary diagnostic devices for assessing PD-L1 expression levels in tumor cells used in the clinic or in clinical trials require membranous staining. However, the mechanism driving PD-L1 translocation to the plasma membrane after de novo synthesis is poorly understood. Herein, …

Factors Affecting Adherence To Intranasal Treatment For Allergic Rhinitis: A Qualitative Study, Meha G Fox, Lauren M Cass, Kevin J Sykes, Emily L Cummings, Scott N Fassas, Rohit Nallani, Josh B Smith, Alexander G Chiu, Jennifer A Villwock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine the facilitators of and barriers to adherence to use of intranasal pharmacotherapy (daily intranasal corticosteroids and/or antihistamine, and nasal saline irrigation [NSI]), for allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS: Patients were recruited from an academic tertiary care rhinology and allergy clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the initial visit and/or 4-6 weeks following treatment. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory, inductive approach to elucidate themes regarding patient adherence to AR treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (12 male, 20 female; age 22-78) participated (seven at initial visit, seven at follow-up visit, and 18 at both). Memory …

Expert Consensus Statement: Management Of Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Adenotonsillectomy, Stacey L Ishman, Stephen Maturo, Seth Schwartz, Margo Mckenna, Cristina M Baldassari, Mathieu Bergeron, Boris Chernobilsky, Zarmina Ehsan, Lisa Gagnon, Yi-Chun Carol Liu, David F Smith, Jeffrey Stanley, Habib Zalzal, Nui Dhepyasuwan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To develop an expert consensus statement regarding persistent pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) focused on quality improvement and clarification of controversies. Persistent OSA was defined as OSA after adenotonsillectomy or OSA after tonsillectomy when adenoids are not enlarged.

METHODS: An expert panel of clinicians, nominated by stakeholder organizations, used the published consensus statement methodology from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery to develop statements for a target population of children aged 2-18 years. A medical librarian systematically searched the literature used as a basis for the clinical statements. A modified Delphi method was used to distill expert …

A Retrospective Study Of The Relationship Between Hypertension And Vestibular Disorders In Middle-Aged Women With And Without Hiv, Helen S Cohen, Michael W Plankey, Deanna Ware

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients often conflate the problem of lightheadedness from hypertension (HTN) and vertigo from a vestibular impairment, describing both problems as dizziness. The goal of the study was to learn if there is a relationship between measures of vestibular function and blood pressure.

METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of women who participated in a longitudinal study of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a control cohort of age-matched women without HIV. We used data from the point in time when participants were tested for vestibular functions with bi-thermal caloric tests and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials; the data also included …

Risk Stratification By Percent Liver Herniation In Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Oluyinka O Olutoye, Steven C Mehl, Anoosha Moturu, Rowland W Pettit, Ryan D Coleman, Adam M Vogel, Timothy C Lee, Sundeep G Keswani, Alice King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and significant neonatal morbidity. Although intrathoracic liver herniation (LH) >20% is associated with adverse outcomes, the relationship between LH

METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed from 2011 to 2020 of 80 fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia that were delivered and repaired at our institution. Perinatal, perioperative, and postoperative data were collected. We evaluated the association of %LH with outcomes as a stratified ordinal variable (0%-10% LH, 10%-19% LH, and >20% LH) and as a continuous variable. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance with Bonferroni post …

Effect Of Liquid And Solid Test Meals On Symptoms And Gastric Myoelectrical Activity In Patients With Gastroparesis And Functional Dyspepsia, Kenneth L Koch, Mark Van Natta, Henry P Parkman, Madhusudan Grover, Thomas L Abell, Richard W Mccallum, Hossam A Shaltout, Irene Sarosiek, Gianrico Farrugia, Robert J Shulman, James Tonascia, Laura Miriel, Frank Hamilton, Pankaj J Pasricha, Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients with gastroparesis (GP) and functional dyspepsia (FD) have similar symptoms, but the pathophysiology of postprandial symptoms remains uncertain.

AIMS: To compare symptoms and gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) after liquid and solid test meals in patients with GP and FD.

METHODS: Patients enrolled in the Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium Registry were studied. Clinical characteristics were measured with standard questionnaires. GP was determined by 4-h solid-phase gastric scintigraphy. GMA was measured using electrogastrography before and after ingestion of a water load or nutrient bar on separate days. Symptoms were measured on visual analog scales. GMA responses to the water load …

Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis In The Preterm Pig By Intermittent Leucine Pulses During Continuous Parenteral Feeding, Marko Rudar, Agus Suryawan, Hanh V Nguyen, Shaji K Chacko, Caitlin Vonderohe, Barbara Stoll, Douglas G Burrin, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Extrauterine growth restriction is a common complication of preterm birth. Leucine (Leu) is an agonist for the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway that regulates translation initiation and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. Previously, we showed that intermittent intravenous pulses of Leu to neonatal pigs born at term receiving continuous enteral nutrition increases muscle protein synthesis and lean mass accretion. Our objective was to determine the impact of intermittent intravenous pulses of Leu on muscle protein anabolism in preterm neonatal pigs administered continuous parenteral nutrition.

METHODS: Following preterm delivery (on day 105 of 115 gestation), …

Sars-Cov-2 Seroprevalence In Children Worldwide: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Reza Naeimi, Mahdi Sepidarkish, Abolfazl Mollalo, Hamid Parsa, Sanaz Mahjour, Fatemeh Safarpour, Mustafa Almukhtar, Amal Mechaal, Hiam Chemaitelly, Behnam Sartip, Elika Marhoommirzabak, Ali Ardekani, Peter J Hotez, Robin B Gasser, Ali Rostami

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The higher hospitalisation rates of those aged 0-19 years (referred to herein as 'children') observed since the emergence of the immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and subvariants, along with the persisting vaccination disparities highlighted a need for in-depth knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology in children. Here, we conducted this systematic review to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determinants in children worldwide.

METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we searched international and preprinted scientific databases from December 1, 2019 to July 10, 2022. Pooled seroprevalences were estimated according to World Health Organization (WHO) regions (at 95% confidence intervals, CIs) using random-effects …

Challenges And Opportunities In Academic Physiatry: An Environmental Scan, David C Morgenroth, Tiffany Knowlton, Susan Apkon, Cheri A Blauwet, Anthony S Burns, Cecilia Córdova Vallejos, Walter Frontera, Sandra L Hearn, Prakash Jayabalan, Peter A Lim, Alex Moroz, Danielle Perret, Danielle Powell, Matt Puderbaugh, W Evan Rivers, Gwendolyn Sowa, Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Pablo A Celnik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Environmental scans determine trends in an organization's or field's internal and external environment. The results can help shape goals, inform strategic decision making, and direct future actions. The Association of Academic Physiatrists convened a strategic planning group in 2020, composed of physiatrists representing a diversity of professional roles, career stages, race and ethnicity, gender, disability status, and geographic areas of practice. This strategic planning group performed an environmental scan to assess the forces, trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting both the Association of Academic Physiatrists and the entire field of academic physiatry (also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical and …

Characterizing Mechanism-Based Pain Phenotypes In Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Prospective Evaluation Of Chronic Pancreatitis For Epidemiologic And Translational Studies, Jami L Saloman, Darwin L Conwell, Evan Fogel, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Liang Li, Shuang Li, Dana K Andersen, William E Fisher, Christopher E Forsmark, Phil A Hart, Stephen J Pandol, Walter G Park, Anna Evans Phillips, Mark Topazian, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Jose Serrano, Dhiraj Yadav

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pain is common in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and profoundly reduces quality of life (QoL). Multiple underlying mechanisms contribute to a heterogenous pain experience and reduce efficacy of pain management. This study was designed to characterize the distribution of mechanism-based pain phenotypes in painful CP. The data analyzed were collected as part of the PROspective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and Translational StuDies, an NCI/NIDDK-funded longitudinal study of the natural history of CP. The PROspective Evaluation of Chronic pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and translational stuDies includes patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of pain, medication use, global health, and QoL. Of subjects (N …

Ancillary Documents For Nih Grant Applications: The Pages Beyond The Scienceancillary Documents For Nih Grant Applications: The Pages Beyond The Science, Monica Fahrenholz, Lily S Cheng, Oluyinka Olutoye, Anjali A Degala, Sonya S Keswani, Taylor Lee, Allan M Goldstein, Sundeep G Keswani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Preparing a grant proposal is no small feat, especially for research (R-series) grants from the National Institutes of Health. The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, and as such, procuring a research grant from the National Institutes of Health is one of the ultimate benchmarks of success for a surgeon-scientist. Most investigators are familiar with the page limits for most R-series grants (12 pages for an R01 and 6 pages for an R21), with the addition of a single page allotted for the specific aims. Interestingly, despite the usual focus on …

Preschool-Aged Household Contacts As A Risk Factor For Viral Respiratory Infections In Healthcare Personnel, Zachary M Most, Ann-Christine Nyquist, Lewis J Radonovich, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Connie Savor Price, Michael S Simberkoff, Mary T Bessesen, Derek A T Cummings, Susan M Rattigan, Charlotte Warren-Gash, Charlotte A Gaydos, Cynthia L Gibert, Geoffrey J Gorse, Trish M Perl

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory infections (VRIs) are common and are occupational risks for healthcare personnel (HCP). VRIs can also be acquired at home and other settings among HCPs. We sought to determine if preschool-aged household contacts are a risk factor for VRIs among HCPs working in outpatient settings.

METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a cluster randomized trial at 7 medical centers in the United States over 4 influenza seasons from 2011-2012 to 2014-2015. Adult HCPs who routinely came within 6 feet of patients with respiratory infections were included. Participants were tested for respiratory viruses whenever symptomatic and …

Associations Of Serum And Dialysate Potassium Concentrations With Incident Atrial Fibrillation In A Cohort Study Of Older Us Persons Initiating Hemodialysis For Kidney Failure, Austin Hu, Sai Liu, Maria E Montez-Rath, Pascale Khairallah, Jingbo Niu, Mintu P Turakhia, Tara I Chang, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) disproportionally affects persons on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Associations of serum and dialysate potassium concentrations [K+] with AF incidence are poorly understood.

METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using Medicare claims merged with clinical data from a dialysis provider to determine whether serum-[K+] and/or dialysate-[K+] independently associated with AF incidence. Persons insured by fee-for-service Medicare aged ≥67 years at dialysis initiation and free from diagnosed AF prior to day 120 of dialysis were eligible. Serum-[K+] and dialysate-[K+] were assessed in 30-day intervals and patients were followed-up with for AF incidence in subsequent 30-day intervals.

RESULTS: During 2006 …

Magel2 Truncation Alters Select Behavioral And Physiological Outcomes In A Rat Model Of Schaaf-Yang Syndrome, Derek L Reznik, Mingxiao V Yang, Pedro Albelda De La Haza, Antrix Jain, Melanie Spanjaard, Susanne Theiss, Christian P Schaaf, Anna Malovannaya, Theresa V Strong, Surabi Veeraragavan, Rodney C Samaco

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Previous studies in mice have utilized Magel2 gene deletion models to examine the consequences of its absence. We report the generation, molecular validation and phenotypic characterization of a novel rat model with a truncating Magel2 mutation modeling variants associated with Schaaf-Yang syndrome-causing mutations. Within the hypothalamus, a brain region in which human MAGEL2 is paternally expressed, we demonstrated, at the level of transcript and peptide detection, that rat Magel2 exhibits a paternal, parent-of-origin effect. In evaluations of behavioral features across several domains, juvenile Magel2 mutant rats displayed alterations in anxiety-like behavior and sociability measures. Moreover, the analysis of peripheral organ …

A Delicate Balance Between Antibody Evasion And Ace2 Affinity For Omicron Ba275, Jiandong Huo, Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc, Chang Liu, Daming Zhou, Helen M Ginn, Raksha Das, Piyada Supasa, Muneeswaran Selvaraj, Rungtiwa Nutalai, Aekkachai Tuekprakhon, Helen M E Duyvesteyn, Alexander J Mentzer, Donal Skelly, Thomas G Ritter, Ali Amini, Sagida Bibi, Sandra Adele, Sile Ann Johnson, Neil G Paterson, Mark A Williams, David R Hall, Megan Plowright, Thomas A H Newman, Hailey Hornsby, Thushan I De Silva, Nigel Temperton, Paul Klenerman, Eleanor Barnes, Susanna J Dunachie, Andrew J Pollard, Teresa Lambe, Philip Goulder, Optic Consortium, Isaric4c Consortium, Elizabeth E Fry, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya, Jingshan Ren, David I Stuart, Gavin R Screaton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have caused successive global waves of infection. These variants, with multiple mutations in the spike protein, are thought to facilitate escape from natural and vaccine-induced immunity and often increase in affinity for ACE2. The latest variant to cause concern is BA.2.75, identified in India where it is now the dominant strain, with evidence of wider dissemination. BA.2.75 is derived from BA.2 and contains four additional mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we perform an antigenic and biophysical characterization of BA.2.75, revealing an interesting balance between humoral evasion and ACE2 receptor …

Lnc-Uc147 Is Associated With Disease Stage Of Liver, Gastric, And Renal Cancer, Ana Carolina Rodrigues, Erika Pereira Zambalde, Daniel De Lima Bellan, Edvaldo Da Silva Trindade, Enilze Maria De Souza Fonseca Ribeiro, George Calin, Daniela Fiori Gradia, Jaqueline Carvalho De Oliveira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lnc-uc.147, a long non-coding RNA derived from a transcribed ultraconserved region (T-UCR), was previously evidenced in breast cancer. However, the role of this region in other tumor types was not previously investigated. The present study aimed to investigate lnc-uc.147 in different types of cancer, as well as to suggest lnc-uc.147 functional and regulation aspects. From solid tumor datasets analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), deregulated lnc-uc.147 expression was associated with the histologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma, and with the tumor stage of clear cell renal and gastric adenocarcinoma. Considering the epidemiologic relevance of liver cancer, silencing lnc-uc.147 reduced the …

The Potential Of Brain Stimulation Techniques For Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Antonio F Corno, Taylor S Koerner, Jorge D Salazar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Mutations In The Transcriptional Regulator Mecp2 Severely Impact Key Cellular And Molecular Signatures Of Human Astrocytes During Maturation, Jialin Sun, Sivan Osenberg, Austin Irwin, Li-Hua Ma, Nigel Lee, Yangfei Xiang, Feng Li, Ying-Wooi Wan, In-Hyun Park, Mirjana Maletic-Savatic, Nurit Ballas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mutations in the MECP2 gene underlie a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, most commonly Rett syndrome (RTT). We ask whether MECP2 mutations interfere with human astrocyte developmental maturation, thereby affecting their ability to support neurons. Using human-based models, we show that RTT-causing MECP2 mutations greatly impact the key role of astrocytes in regulating overall brain bioenergetics and that these metabolic aberrations are likely mediated by dysfunctional mitochondria. During post-natal maturation, astrocytes rely on neurons to induce their complex stellate morphology and transcriptional changes. While MECP2 mutations cause cell-intrinsic aberrations in the astrocyte transcriptional landscape, surprisingly, they do not affect the neuron-induced …

Monoclonal Antibodies, Gene Silencing And Gene Editing (Crispr) Therapies For The Treatment Of Hyperlipidemia-The Future Is Here, Melody Hermel, Madison Lieberman, Leandro Slipczuk, Jamal S. Rana, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Undertreatment of elevated lipids persists despite existing therapies. Here, we provide an update on monoclonal antibodies, gene silencing therapies, and gene editing techniques for the management of hyperlipidemia. The current era of cutting-edge pharmaceuticals targeting low density lipoprotein cholesterol, PCSK9, lipoprotein (a), angiopoietin-like 3, and apolipoprotein C3 are reviewed. We outline what is known, studies in progress, and futuristic goals. This review of available and upcoming biotechnological lipid therapies is presented for clinicians managing patients with familial hyperlipidemia, statin intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, or elevated lipoprotein (a) levels.

Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus After Mrna-Based Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination, Sarah Rimmer, Long Ly, Erin Boh

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.