Medical Specialties Commons^™

Management Of Bilateral Ectopic Pregnancies After Ovulation Induction Using Unilateral Salpingectomy And Methotrexate For The Remaining Ectopic With Subsequent Intrauterine Pregnancy, Quinton Katler, Lindsay Pflugner, Anjali Martinez

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

Bilateral ectopic pregnancy is a rare phenomenon which is found with increased frequency when using assisted reproductive technology (ART). This diagnosis is most often made incidentally and intraoperatively, as ultrasound and serial β-hCG trends have shown poor efficacy for accurate diagnosis. Management of bilateral ectopic pregnancies is most commonly reported using bilateral surgical removal of the ectopic pregnancy (salpingostomy and/or salpingectomy). We present a case of an ART patient with incidentally found bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancies, where multiple management strategies including medical and surgical techniques were used concurrently which resulted in a subsequent spontaneous intrauterine pregnancy. While the standard …

Feasibility Study Of A Family- And School-Based Intervention For Child Behavior Problems In Nepal., Ramesh P Adhikari, Nawaraj Upadhaya, Emily N Satinsky, Matthew D Burkey, Brandon A Kohrt, Mark J D Jordans

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: This study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of a combined school- and family-based intervention, delivered by psychosocial counselors, for children with behavior problems in rural Nepal.

Methods: Forty-one children participated at baseline. Two students moved to another district, meaning 39 children, ages 6-15, participated at both baseline and follow-up. Pre-post evaluation was used to assess behavioral changes over a 4-month follow-up period (n = 39). The primary outcome measure was the Disruptive Behavior International Scale-Nepal version (DBIS-N). The secondary outcome scales included the Child Functional Impairment Scale and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Twelve key informant interviews …

Percutaneous Management Of Ostial Stenosis Of The Left Internal Mammary Artery Graft, Tanuka Datta, Mohammed Gibreal, Ramesh Mazhari, Allen J. Solomon

Medicine Faculty Publications

A 61-year-old man, who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery 10 years earlier, presented with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. He was treated with medical therapy and taken to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. A left heart catheterization demonstrated an ostial stenosis in the left internal mammary artery graft, which was felt to be the culprit lesion. This was successfully repaired with a drug eluting stent. This case is presented as an unusual location for a de novo coronary stenosis. The pathophysiology of these lesions is not well understood.

Pediatric Rheumatology: Addressing The Transition To Adult-Orientated Health Care., Sara Sabbagh, Tova Ronis, Patience H White

Medicine Faculty Publications

The transition from pediatric to adult health care is often a challenging process due to multiple interwoven complexities, especially for children with chronic medical conditions. Health care transition (HCT) is a process of moving from a pediatric to an adult model of health care with or without a transfer to a new clinician. This paper focuses on what is known about HCT for youth and young adults (Y/YA) with rheumatic diseases within a larger context of HCT recommendations. HCT barriers for youth, families, and providers and current evidence for a structured HCT processes are reviewed. Practical advice is offered on …

Gut Microbiota And Cardiovascular Uremic Toxicities, Manuel T. Velasquez, Patricia Centron, Ian Barrows, Rama Dwivedi, Dominic S. Raj

Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Numerous CVD risk factors in CKD patients have been described, but these do not fully explain the high pervasiveness of CVD or increased mortality rates in CKD patients. In CKD the loss of urinary excretory function results in the retention of various substances referred to as “uremic retention solutes”. Many of these molecules have been found to exert toxicity on virtually all organ systems of the human body, leading to the clinical syndrome of uremia. In recent years, an increasing body …

A Case Of Eosinophilic Annular Erythema As A Presenting Sign For Autoimmune Hepatitis, Olabola Awosika, Kristin Totoraitis, Misty Eleryan, Monica Rengifo-Pardo, Alison Ehrlich

Dermatology Faculty Publications

Eosinophilic annular erythema (EAE) is a relatively new entity, clinically presenting as a figurate erythema. The cause of EAE remains obscure, but it has been associated with several chronic conditions and malignancies. We describe an unusual case of EAE developing before the onset of autoimmune hepatitis.

Profile Of Dupilumab And Its Potential In The Treatment Of Inadequately Controlled Moderate-To-Severe Atopic Dermatitis., Olabola Awosika, Lori Kim, Momina Mazhar, Monica Rengifo-Pardo, Alison Ehrlich

Dermatology Faculty Publications

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that manifests as eczematous lesions, often associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Historically, moderate-to-severe disease has been managed with systemic immunosuppression, such as oral corticosteroids, which result in relapse and limiting side effects. Due to recent advancements in the identification of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 as key mediators in AD, new biological agents have been developed for treatment. Dupilumab is a recently approved monoclonal antibody that targets the alpha subunit of the IL-4 receptor and, thus, downregulates activity of IL-4 and IL-13. This review discusses the profile of dupilumab and its …

Association Of Two Foxp3 Polymorphisms With Breast Cancer In Chinese Han Women, Wenge Zhu, +Several Additional Authors

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a key gene in the immune system which also plays a role in tumor development. This study aims to explore the association of two FOXP3 polymorphisms (rs3761548 and rs3761549) with susceptibility to breast cancer (BC).

Method

A case–control study was conducted, involving 560 patients and 583 healthy individuals from the Chinese Han population. The genotypes of FOXP3 polymorphisms were detected using the Sequenom MassARRAY method. The association between FOXP3 polymorphisms and BC risk was evaluated using a χ2 test with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) under six …

Aberrant Brain Functional Connectivity In Newborns With Congenital Heart Disease Before Cardiac Surgery, Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, Mary T. Donofrio, Gilbert Vezina, Catherine Limperopoulos

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) requiring open heart surgery are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. Recent quantitative MRI studies have reported disrupted growth, microstructure, and metabolism in fetuses and newborns with complex CHD. To date, no study has examined whether functional brain connectivity is altered in this high-risk population after birth, before surgery. Our objective was to compare whole-brain functional connectivity of resting state networks in healthy, term newborns (n = 82) and in term neonates with CHD before surgery (n = 30) using graph theory and network-based statistics. We report for the first time intact global network …

Comparison Between Different Strategies Of Rheumatic Heart Disease Echocardiographic Screening In Brazil: Data From The Provar (Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) Study, B Nascimento, Craig A. Sable, M Nunes, A Diamantino, K Oliveira, Andrea Z. Beaton, +Several Additional Authors

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background-—Considering the limited accuracy of clinical examination for early diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), echocardiography has emerged as an important epidemiological tool. The ideal setting for screening is yet to be defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of latent RHD in schoolchildren (aged 5–18 years) and to compare effectiveness of screening between public schools, private schools, and primary care centers in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods and Results-—The PROVAR (Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) study uses nonexperts and portable and handheld devices for RHD echocardiographic screening, with remote interpretation by telemedicine, according to the 2012 World Heart …

Treatment Challenges In An Atypical Presentation Of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis And Uveitis (Tinu), S Caplash, S Gangaputra, S Kodati, Shamir Tuchman, Hemalatha Srinivasalu, H Sen

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Purpose: To describe an atypical presentation of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis (TINU), with challenges in treatment course. Observations: A 12-year-old Hispanic female presented to the National Eye Institute's Uveitis clinic with bilateral blurred vision, red eyes and photophobia, not responsive to topical steroids. On exam, she had bilateral severe panuveitis with areas of subretinal fluid. During her evaluation, she was noted to have elevated serum creatinine. A kidney biopsy confirmed the presence of severe tubulointerstitial nephritis and interstitial fibrosis. She was treated with oral steroids with excellent resolution of symptoms and subretinal fluid. She continued to have anterior segment flares …

The Neurodevelopmental Perspective Of Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis: The Role Of The Gut-Brain Axis., Chariton Moschopoulos, Panagiotis Kratimenos, Ioannis Koutroulis, Bhairav V Shah, Anja Mowes, Vineet Bhandari

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This state-of-the-art review article aims to highlight the most recent evidence about the therapeutic options of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis, focusing on the molecular basis of the gut-brain axis in relevance to the neurodevelopmental outcomes of primary peritoneal drainage and primary laparotomy. Current evidence favors primary laparotomy over primary peritoneal drainage as regards neurodevelopment in the surgical treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis. The added exposure to inhalational anesthesia in infants undergoing primary laparotomy is an additional confounding variable but requires further study. The concept of the gut-brain axis suggests that bowel injury initiates systemic inflammation potentially affecting the developing central nervous system. …

The Pathology Workforce And Clinical Licensure, Robin Lorenz, Donald S. Karcher, Michael Gautreaux, Melvin Limson, Dani Zander

Pathology Faculty Publications

There has been a recent recognition of the need to prepare PhD-trained scientists for increasingly diverse careers in academia, industry, and health care. The PhD Data Task Force was formed to better understand the current state of PhD scientists in the clinical laboratory workforce and collect up-to-date information on the training and certification of these laboratorians. In this report, we summarize the findings of the PhD Data Task Force and discuss the relevance of the data collected to the future supply of and demand for PhD clinical laboratory scientists. It is clear that there are multiple career opportunities for PhD …

Pd-L1 Checkpoint Inhibition And Anti-Ctla-4 Whole Tumor Cell Vaccination Counter Adaptive Immune Resistance: A Mouse Neuroblastoma Model That Mimics Human Disease., Priya Srinivasan, Xiaofang Wu, Mousumi Basu, Christopher Rossi, Anthony D Sandler

Pathology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Adaptive immune resistance induces an immunosuppressive tumor environment that enables immune evasion. This phenomenon results in tumor escape with progression and metastasis. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on tumors is thought to inhibit tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) through programmed cell death 1 (PD1), enabling adaptive immune resistance. This study investigates the role of PD-L1 in both mouse and human neuroblastoma immunity. The consequence of PD-L1 inhibition is characterized in the context of an established whole tumor cell vaccine.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: A mouse model of neuroblastoma was investigated using an Id2 knockdown whole cell vaccine in combination with checkpoint …

Project Anacostia, Lapoldeon Williams, Abenezer Lemma, Janae Thomas, Kafoued Ouedraogo

DC Health and Academic Prep Program (DC HAPP)

Objectives Project Anacostia aims to [1] help meet the Healthy People 2020 goal of reducing the disease burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) and improving the quality of life for all persons who have, or are at risk for, DM as outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [2] To increase community awareness of the social determinants of health related to obesity and diabetes. [3] Increase access to recreational facilities and healthy food options in Wards 7 &8 and [4] promote healthy lifestyle choices among youth in the Anacostia community.

Methods Our intervention is comprised of three progressive …

Epha2/Ephrin-A1 Mediate Corneal Epithelial Cell Compartmentalization Via Adam10 Regulation Of Egfr Signaling., Nihal Kaplan, Rosa Ventrella, Han Peng, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Constadina Arvanitis, Joshua Z Rappoport, Brian J Mitchell, Mary Ann Stepp, Robert M Lavker, Spiro Getsios

Anatomy and Regenerative Biology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Progenitor cells of the limbal epithelium reside in a discrete area peripheral to the more differentiated corneal epithelium and maintain tissue homeostasis. What regulates the limbal-corneal epithelial boundary is a major unanswered question. Ephrin-A1 ligand is enriched in the limbal epithelium, whereas EphA2 receptor is concentrated in the corneal epithelium. This reciprocal pattern led us to assess the role of ephrin-A1 and EphA2 in limbal-corneal epithelial boundary organization.

Methods: EphA2-expressing corneal epithelial cells engineered to express ephrin-A1 were used to study boundary formation in vitro in a manner that mimicked the relative abundance of these juxtamembrane signaling proteins in …

A Checklist For Clinical Trials In Rare Disease: Obstacles And Anticipatory Actions-Lessons Learned From The For-Dmd Trial, R Crow, K Hart, M Mcdermott, R Tawil, W Martens, Mathula Thangarajh, +Several Additional Authors

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background: Trials in rare diseases have many challenges, among which are the need to set up multiple sites in different countries to achieve recruitment targets and the divergent landscape of clinical trial regulations in those countries. Over the past years, there have been initiatives to facilitate the process of international study set-up, but the fruits of these deliberations require time to be operationally in place. FOR-DMD (Finding the Optimum Steroid Regimen for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) is an academic-led clinical trial which aims to find the optimum steroid regimen for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) …

Effects Of Clinical Pathway Implementation On Antibiotic Prescriptions For Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia., Daniele Donà, Silvia Zingarella, Andrea Gastaldi, Rebecca Lundin, Giorgio Perilongo, Anna Chiara Frigo, Rana F Hamdy, Theoklis Zaoutis, Liviana Da Dalt, Carlo Giaquinto

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Italian pediatric antimicrobial prescription rates are among the highest in Europe. As a first step in an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, we implemented a Clinical Pathway (CP) for Community Acquired Pneumonia with the aim of decreasing overall prescription of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CP was implemented on 10/01/2015. We collected antibiotic prescribing and outcomes data from children aged 3 months-15 years diagnosed with CAP from 10/15/2014 to 04/15/2015 (pre-intervention period) and from 10/15/2015 to 04/15/2016 (post-intervention period). We assessed antibiotic prescription differences pre- and post-CP, including rates, breadth of spectrum, and duration of therapy. We also compared …

Protocol For A Feasibility Study Of Group-Based Focused Psychosocial Support To Improve The Psychosocial Well-Being And Functioning Of Adults Affected By Humanitarian Crises In Nepal: Group Problem Management Plus (Pm+), M Sangrawla, E Van Hof, N Luitel, E Turner, K Marahatta, Brandon A. Kohrt

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

The prevalence of common mental disorders increases in humanitarian emergencies while access to services to address them decreases. Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a brief five-session trans-diagnostic psychological WHO intervention employing empirically supported strategies that can be delivered by non-specialist lay-providers under specialist supervision to adults impaired by distress. Two recent randomized controlled trials in Pakistan and Kenya demonstrated the efficacy of individuallydelivered PM+. To make PM+ more scalable and acceptable in different contexts, it is important to develop a group version as well, with 6–8 participants in session. A study is needed to demonstrate the feasibility and …

Spotlight On Once-Monthly Long-Acting Injectable Aripiprazole And Its Potential As Maintenance Treatment For Bipolar I Disorder In Adult Patients., Vanessa Torres-Llenza, Pooja Lakshmin, Daniel Z Lieberman

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

The lack of long-term medication adherence is a challenge in the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly during the maintenance phase when symptoms are less prominent. The rate of nonadherence is ~20%-60% depending on how strict a definition is used. Nonadherence worsens the course of bipolar disorder and can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the lifetime cost of treating the illness. Long-acting injectable (LAI) medication is an attractive alternative to daily dosing of oral medication, especially among patients who are ambivalent about treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence for the safety and efficacy of …

Review Of Risk Assessment Tools To Predict Morbidity And Mortality In Elderly Surgical Patients Brief Title: Review Of Surgical Risk Assessment Tools, Gilgamesh Eamer, Mohamed Al-Amoodi, Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, Darryl Rolfson, Lindsey Warkentin, Rachel Khadaroo

School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Works

Background

Informed surgical consent requires accurate estimation of risks and benefits. Multiple risk assessment tools are available; however, most are not widely used or are specific to certain interventions. Assessing surgical risk is especially challenging in elderly patients because of their range of comorbidities, level of frailty, or severity of illness and a number of available surgical interventions.

Data sources

We searched MEDLINE from January 2014 to July 2017 for studies that used risk assessment tools in studies on elderly surgical patients. We then sought the original articles describing each assessment tool and subsequent validation studies.

Conclusions

We identified risk …

Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions: Impact On Hiv Treatment And Transmission., Gueorgui Dubrocq, Natella Rakhmanina

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Successful management of pediatric and adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease includes lifelong administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The need for the continuous use of antiretroviral drugs throughout the life course poses a challenge to children, adolescents, and adults living with HIV and their caregivers. Historically, treatment interruptions have been viewed as a negative therapeutic strategy. Recently, however, treatment interruptions or treatment reduction strategies have become a focus of investigations as innovative approaches to the long-term management of HIV disease. Current challenges with treatment interruptions include identifying an appropriate timeframe for length of interruptions and identifying HIV patient populations …

Safety And Efficacy Of Apremilast Through 104 Weeks In Patients With Moderate To Severe Psoriasis Who Continued On Apremilast Or Switched From Etanercept Treatment: Findings From The Liberate Study., K Reich, M Gooderham, A Bewley, L Green, J Soung, R Petric, J Marcsisin, J Cirulli, R Chen, V Piguet

Dermatology Faculty Publications

Background

Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Objective

To evaluate long‐term efficacy and safety of apremilast in biologic‐naive patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and safety of switching from etanercept to apremilast in the phase 3b LIBERATE trial.

Methods

Two hundred fifty patients were randomized to placebo, apremilast 30 mg BID or etanercept 50 mg QW through Week 16; thereafter, all patients continued or switched to apremilast through Week 104 (extension phase). Skin, scalp and nail involvement at Weeks 16, 52 and 104 were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and …

Confirmation That Mat1a P.Ala259val Mutation Causes Autosomal Dominant Hypermethioninemia, M J. Muriello, S Viall, T Bottiglieri, K Cusmano-Ozog, C R. Ferreira

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) I/III deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism caused by mutations in MAT1A, encoding the catalytic subunit of MAT responsible for the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, and is characterized by persistent hypermethioninemia. While historically considered a recessive disorder, a milder autosomal dominant form of MAT I/III deficiency occurs, though only the most common mutation p.Arg264His has ample evidence to prove dominant inheritance. We report a case of hypermethioninemia caused by the p.Ala259Val substitution and provide evidence of autosomal dominant inheritance by showing both maternal inheritance of the mutation and concomitant hypermethioninemia. The p.Ala259Val mutation falls in the …