Medical Specialties Commons^™

Obesity Is Associated With Improved Progression-Free Survival In Microsatellite-Instability-High Endometrial Cancer Treated With Pembrolizumab, Laurence Bernard, Jeffrey A How, Shrina Patel, Melinda S Yates, Amir Jazaeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To determine the clinical predictors of response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) to pembrolizumab in advanced or recurrent, mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) or Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) endometrial adenocarcinomas.

Methods: A retrospective, single institution study was conducted among women with recurrent or advanced MMRd or MSI-H endometrial adenocarcinomas treated with single-agent pembrolizumab at our institution from 2017 to 2021. Logistic regression was used for univariable and multivariable analyses. PFS and OS were estimated using the methods of Kaplan and Meier and modeled via Cox proportional hazards regression. Log-rank test was used for intergroup comparisons based on body …

Research Hot Spots And Trends In Endocrine-Related Adverse Events Caused By Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Bibliometric Analysis And Visualization Research, Jun Zhao, Guangwei Liu, Xue Yang, Chuanzhou Zhang, Bing Han, Man Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In recent years, with the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer treatment, the toxicity associated with immunotherapy of ICIs has attracted more attention from scholars. Endocrine toxicity is the most likely immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and is often irreversible, posing a significant clinical treatment challenge.

Methods: In this study, bibliometric methods were used to analyze relevant literature in screening endocrine-related adverse events caused by ICIs in the Web of Science core collection database (WoSCC) and to summarize the status, research hot spots, and future trends in this field.

Results: 321 countries, 297 institutions, 365 authors, and …

Rapid Detection Of Mutations In Csf-Cftna With The Genexus Integrated Sequencer, Srividya Arjuna, Mauli Shah, Antonio Dono, Luis Nunez-Rubiano, Pavel S Pichardo-Rojas, Jay-Jiguang Zhu, Roy F Riascos, Rajyalakshmi Luthra, Sinchita Roy-Chowdhuri, Dzifa Duose, Daniel H Wang, Frederick F Lang, Yoshua Esquenazi, Leomar Y Ballester

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Genomic alterations are fundamental for molecular-guided therapy in patients with breast and lung cancer. However, the turn-around time of standard next-generation sequencing assays is a limiting factor in the timely delivery of genomic information for clinical decision-making.

METHODS: In this study, we evaluated genomic alterations in 54 cerebrospinal fluid samples from 33 patients with metastatic lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer to the brain using the Oncomine Precision Assay on the Genexus sequencer. There were nine patients with samples collected at multiple time points.

RESULTS: Cell-free total nucleic acids (cfTNA) were extracted from CSF (0.1-11.2 ng/μl). Median base coverage …

Gut Microbiome And Hepatic Transcriptomic Determinants Of Hcc Development In Mice With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, Lillian I Dolapchiev, Kristyn A Gonzales, Lorenzo R Cruz, Mihai Gagea, Heather L Stevenson, Suet-Ying Kwan, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is often diagnosed at a late stage, and its incidence is increasing. Predictive biomarkers are therefore needed to identify individuals at high risk of HCC. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiome and hepatic transcriptome associated with HCC development in female mice with hepatocyte-deletion of Pten (HepPten -). These mice present with large variations in HCC development, making them a powerful model for biomarker discovery.

Methods & results: Sequencing of stool 16S and hepatic RNA was performed on a first set of mice. Among all liver histology …

Usp22 Overexpression Fails To Augment Tumor Formation In Mmtv-Erbb2 Mice But Loss Of Function Impacts Mmtv Promoter Activity, Xianghong Kuang, Andrew Salinger, Fernando Benavides, William J Muller, Sharon Y R Dent, Evangelia Koutelou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 22 (USP22), a component of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) histone modifying complex, is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, but how USP22 impacts tumorigenesis is not clear. We reported previously that Usp22 loss in mice impacts execution of several signaling pathways driven by growth factor receptors such as erythroblastic oncogene B b2 (ERBB2). To determine whether changes in USP22 expression affects ERBB2-driven tumorigenesis, we introduced conditional overexpression or deletion alleles of Usp22 into mice bearing the Mouse mammary tumor virus-Neu-Ires-Cre (MMTV-NIC) transgene, which drives both rat ERBB2/NEU expression and Cre recombinase activity from the MMTV promoter resulting …

Protection Against Fibrosis By A Bacterial Consortium In Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis And The Role Of Amino Acid Metabolism, Suet-Ying Kwan, Kristyn A Gonzales, Mohamed A Jamal, Heather L Stevenson, Lin Tan, Philip L Lorenzi, P Andrew Futreal, Ernest T Hawk, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Robert R Jenq, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The gut microbiota drives progression to liver fibrosis, the main determinant of mortality in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). In this study, we aimed to identify bacterial species associated with protection against liver fibrosis in a high-risk population, and test their potential to protect against liver fibrosis in vivo. Based on stool shotgun metagenomic sequencing of 340 subjects from a population cohort disproportionally affected by MASH, we identified bacterial species from the Bacteroidales and Clostridiales orders associated with reduced risk of liver fibrosis. A bacterial consortium was subsequently tested in a mouse model of MASH, which demonstrated protective effects against …

Usp22 Overexpression Fails To Augment Tumor Formation In Mmtv-Erbb2 Mice But Loss Of Function Impacts Mmtv Promoter Activity, Xianghong Kuang, Andrew Salinger, Fernando Benavides, William J Muller, Sharon Y R Dent, Evangelia Koutelou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 22 (USP22), a component of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) histone modifying complex, is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, but how USP22 impacts tumorigenesis is not clear. We reported previously that Usp22 loss in mice impacts execution of several signaling pathways driven by growth factor receptors such as erythroblastic oncogene B b2 (ERBB2). To determine whether changes in USP22 expression affects ERBB2-driven tumorigenesis, we introduced conditional overexpression or deletion alleles of Usp22 into mice bearing the Mouse mammary tumor virus-Neu-Ires-Cre (MMTV-NIC) transgene, which drives both rat ERBB2/NEU expression and Cre recombinase activity from the MMTV promoter resulting …

Early And Rapid Development Of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Jacqueline S Dickey, Burton F Dickey, Amin M Alousi, Richard E Champlin, Ajay Sheshadri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a form of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the lung and manifests as moderate to severe airflow obstruction after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). New-onset airflow obstruction on spirometry is considered diagnostic of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). BOS affects about 5% of all HCT recipients. In general, BO is thought of as a late complication of HCT, usually occurring after day 100 post-transplantation. However, the onset of airflow obstruction can be rapid and is most often irreversible even with treatment. We describe a patient who rapidly developed severe airflow obstruction less than one month after transplantation following …

Survivalcontour: Visualizing Predicted Survival Via Colored Contour Plots, Yushu Shi, Liangliang Zhang, Kim-Anh Do, Robert R Jenq, Christine B Peterson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advances in survival analysis have facilitated unprecedented flexibility in data modeling, yet there remains a lack of tools for illustrating the influence of continuous covariates on predicted survival outcomes. We propose the utilization of a colored contour plot to depict the predicted survival probabilities over time. Our approach is capable of supporting conventional models, including the Cox and Fine–Gray models. However, its capability shines when coupled with cutting-edge machine learning models such as random survival forests and deep neural networks.

Availability and implementation

We provide a Shiny app at https://biostatistics.mdanderson.org/shinyapps/survivalContour/ and an R package available at https://github.com/YushuShi/survivalContour as implementations of …

Interleukin-1beta And Inflammasome Expression In Spinal Cord Following Chronic Constriction Injury In Male And Female Rats, Suzanne M Green-Fulgham, Jayson B Ball, Andrew J Kwilasz, Michael E Harland, Matthew G Frank, Joseph M Dragavon, Peter M Grace, Linda R Watkins

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Females represent a majority of chronic pain patients and show greater inflammatory immune responses in human chronic pain patient populations as well as in animal models of neuropathic pain. Recent discoveries in chronic pain research have revealed sex differences in inflammatory signaling, a key component of sensory pathology in chronic neuropathic pain, inviting more research into the nuances of these sex differences. Here we use the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model to explore similarities and differences in expression and production of Inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in the lumbar spinal cord, as well as its role in chronic pain. We have discovered …

The Contribution Of Dna Ligase 4 Polymorphisms To Colorectal Cancer, Yang Deng, Tao-Wei Ke, Te-Cheng Yueh, Yu-Ting Chin, Yun-Chi Wang, Yi-Chih Hung, Mei-Chin Mong, Ya-Chen Yang, Wen-Tzu Wu, Wen-Shin Chang, Jian Gu, Da-Tian Bau, Chia-Wen Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/aim: While numerous biomarkers associated with genetic susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC) have been identified and validated through epidemiological studies, the specific influence of DNA ligase 4 (Lig4) genotypes remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the hitherto unexamined relationship between Lig4 genotypes and CRC risk.

Materials and methods: The genotypes of Lig4 rs1805388 were determined applying the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. The potential association between these genotypes and CRC risk was assessed in a Taiwanese population comprising 362 CRC cases and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls.

Results: In the genotypic analysis, the distribution …

Non-Homologous End-Joining Genotype, Mrna Expression, And Dna Repair Capacity In Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chao-Chun Chen, Wen-Shin Chang, Jen-Sheng Pei, Chien-Chung Kuo, Chung-Hsing Wang, Yun-Chi Wang, Pei-Chen Hsu, Jie-Long He, Jian Gu, Da-Tian Bau, Chia-Wen Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/aim: The capacity for non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair plays a pivotal role in maintaining genome stability and in carcinogenesis. However, there is little literature on the involvement of NHEJ-related genes in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Our study aimed to elucidate the impact of polymorphisms of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 4 (XRCC4) (rs6869366, rs2075685, rs2075686, rs28360071, rs3734091, rs28360317, rs1805377), XRCC5 (rs828907, rs11685387, rs9288518), XRCC6 (rs5751129, rs2267437, rs132770, rs132774), XRCC7 rs7003908, and DNA ligase IV (LIG4) rs1805388, on the odds of childhood ALL.

Materials and methods: Genotypes NHEJ-related genes of 266 cases and 266 controls were determined, and the genotype-phenotype correlation …

Differing Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Farmers And Intermediaries: Insights Into The Ecuadorian Cocoa Value Chain, Guillermo Zambrano, Lina M Tennhardt, Moritz Egger, Karen Ramírez, Adriana Santos, Byron Moyano, Michael Curran

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic generated diverse impacts and responses in agricultural value chains worldwide. Cocoa is a key crop for Ecuadorian exports, and the analysis of effects the pandemic had on value chain actors contributes to the understanding of their individual capacities to coping with a major shock. The purpose of this study was to assess the number and severity of impacts and responses implemented by two links in the cocoa value chain to the pandemic, based on a survey of 158 cocoa farmers and 52 cocoa intermediaries from the main cocoa-producing provinces of the northern coast of Ecuador in 2021. …

Metarnn: Differentiating Rare Pathogenic And Rare Benign Missense Snvs And Indels Using Deep Learning, Fang Li, Zenan Sun, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Tiehang Duan, Laila Rasmy, Xinyue Hu, Jianping He, Yifang Dang, Jingna Feng, Jianfu Li, Yichen Wang, Tianchen Lyu, Naomi Braun, Si Pham, Michael Gharacholou, Delisa Fairweather, Degui Zhi, Jiang Bian, Cui Tao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Effective management of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is crucial for preventing adverse events. Traditional prognostic tools, such as rule-based methods or Cox regression, despite their widespread use and ease, tend to yield moderate predictive accuracy within predetermined timeframes. This study introduces a new contrastive learning-based approach to enhance prediction efficacy over multiple time intervals.

METHODS: We utilized retrospective, real-world data from the OneFlorida + Clinical Research Consortium. Our study focused on two primary endpoints: ischemic and bleeding events, with prediction windows of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months post-DES implantation. Our approach first …

Polaris: A Phase 2 Trial Of Encorafenib Plus Binimetinib Evaluating High-Dose And Standard-Dose Regimens In Patients With Braf V600-Mutant Melanoma With Brain Metastasis, Alexander M Menzies, Georgina V Long, Amiee Kohn, Hussein Tawbi, Jeffrey Weber, Keith Flaherty, Grant A Mcarthur, Paolo A Ascierto, Yanina Pfluger, Karl Lewis, Katy K Tsai, Omid Hamid, Hans Prenen, Luis Fein, Erjian Wang, Carolin Guenzel, Fan Zhang, Joseph F Kleha, Alessandra Di Pietro, Michael A Davies

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: POLARIS (phase 2 [ph2]; NCT03911869) evaluated encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor) in combination with binimetinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor) in BRAF/MEK inhibitor-naïve patients with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma with asymptomatic brain metastases.

Methods: The safety lead-in (SLI) assessed tolerability for high-dose encorafenib 300 mg twice daily (BID) plus binimetinib 45 mg BID. If the high dose was tolerable in ph2, patients would be randomized to receive high or standard dose (encorafenib 450 mg once daily [QD] plus binimetinib 45 mg BID). Otherwise, standard dose was evaluated as the recommended ph2 dose (RP2D). Patients who tolerated standard dosing during Cycle 1 could be dose …

Association Of Preoperative Lung Function With Complications After Lobectomy Using Race-Neutral And Race-Specific Normative Equations, Ajay Sheshadri, Ravi Rajaram, Aaron Baugh, Mario Castro, Arlene M Correa, Felipe Soto, Carrie R Daniel, Liang Li, Scott E Evans, Burton F Dickey, Ara A Vaporciyan, David E Ost

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rationale: Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is performed to aid patient selection before surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The interpretation of PFT data relies on normative equations, which vary by race, but the relative strength of association of lung function using race-specific or race-neutral normative equations with postoperative pulmonary complications is unknown. Objectives: To compare the strength of association of lung function, using race-neutral or race-specific equations, with surgical complications after lobectomy for NSCLC.

Methods: We studied 3,311 patients who underwent lobectomy for NSCLC and underwent preoperative PFT from 2001 to 2021. We used Global Lung Function Initiative …

Belzutifan, Hif-2Α Inhibitor, And Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With Somatic Von-Hippel-Lindau Loss-Of-Function Mutation, Kok Hoe Chan, Ningjing Li, Ran Lador, Mark Amsbaugh, Anneliese Gonzalez, Putao Cen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, acting as a tumor suppressor, plays a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Approximately 90% of individuals with advanced ccRCC exhibit somatic mutations in the VHL gene. Belzutifan, orally administered small-molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-induced factor-2α, has demonstrated promising efficacy in solid tumors associated with germline loss-of-function mutations in VHL, including ccRCC. However, its impact on cases with somatic or sporadic VHL mutations remains unclear. Here, we present 2 cases where belzutifan monotherapy was employed in patients with advanced ccRCC and somatic loss-of-function mutations in VHL. Both patients exhibited a swift …

Editorial: Emerging Anti-Cancer Compounds And Immunomodulators For Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, Kathleen E Delgiorno, Stephen Safe, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Examining Predictors Of Cocaine Withdrawal Syndrome At The End Of Detoxification Treatment In Women With Cocaine Use Disorder, Bernardo Aguzzoli Heberle, Bruno Kluwe-Schiavon, Carla Bicca, Leonardo Melo Rothmann, Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira, Thiago Wendt Viola

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Detoxification is frequently recommended as a treatment for moderate to severe Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD). However, the response to detoxification varies among patients, and previous studies have focused mostly on patterns of drug use behavior to test associations with treatment outcomes, overlooking the potential impact of psychosocial factors, other clinical variables, and individual life experiences. In this study we comprehensively examined several variables aiming to find the most relevant predictors to classify patients with severe versus non-severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms at the end of detoxification.

METHODS: Data from 284 women with CUD who enrolled in a 3-week detoxification program …

Carbimazole-Associated Pancreatitis: Report From Western India, Vyankatesh Shivane, Nihar Mehta, Ajay Jhaveri, Saba Samad Memon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatitis is a very rare complication of methimazole and carbimazole therapy. We describe a case of possible carbimazole-associated pancreatitis. A 41-year-old Asian man (with no comorbidities) reported to the hospital with atrial fibrillation and a fast ventricular rate. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism due to Graves disease. His rhythm was reverted with amiodarone, and carbimazole was initiated at 15 mg daily for the medical management of Graves disease. Fifteen days later, he presented with acute severe abdominal pain and vomiting with elevated serum amylase 387 U/L (reference range, 28-100 U/L) and lipase levels 206 U/L (reference range, 13-60 U/L). Magnetic …

The Lawnmower And The Pediatric Lower Extremity: A Catastrophic Combination, Sairandri Sathyanarayanan, Chioma G Obinero, Jackson C Green, Kasra N Fallah, Matthew R Greives, Wendy Chen, Phuong D Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity (LE) trauma within the pediatric population may be debilitating and have different implications and etiologies than in adults. Specifically, lawnmower injuries can cause catastrophic sequelae to the lower extremities, often requiring complex reconstruction or resulting in amputation. This study aims to present our experience with pediatric LE lawnmower injuries at one of the busiest level 1 trauma centers in the United States.

METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective analysis was performed studying pediatric patients (age < 18 >years) who experienced LE trauma due to a lawnmower injury over a 5-year period (2012-2017). Patient demographics, perioperative data, and types of reconstruction were …

Trajectory Clustering Of Immune Cells And Its Association With Clinical Outcomes After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, So Young Won, Museong Kim, Han-Gil Jeong, Bosco Seong Kyu Yang, Huimahn Alex Choi, Dong-Wan Kang, Yong Soo Kim, Young Deok Kim, Si Un Lee, Seung Pil Ban, Jae Seung Bang, Moon-Ku Han, O-Ki Kwon, Chang Wan Oh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: The immune response following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) can exacerbate secondary brain injury and impact clinical outcomes. As the immune response after aSAH is a dynamic process, we aim to track and characterize immune cell trajectories over time to identify patterns associated with various clinical outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study of patients with aSAH, we analyzed immune cell count trajectories, including neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts, collected from day 1 to day 14. These trajectories were classified into four distinct clusters utilizing the k-means longitudinal clustering method. A comprehensive multivariable analysis was performed to explore …

Personalization Of Sudep Risk: A Survey Of Transient Subclinical Comorbid Changes, Kristina A Simeone, Dawn M Martenz, Shruthi H Iyer, Cameron P Booth, Shelby E Herr, Stephanie A Matthews, Samantha B Draves, Laura L Heinemann, Pierce L Greenberg, Samden D Lhatoo, Elizabeth Donner, Timothy A Simeone

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Preclinical data report within subject modifiable ailments emerge weeks prior to SUDEP, including sleep disorders and cardiorespiratory changes; findings which support anecdotal clinical data. Here, we bridge preclinical findings with future clinical/preclinical studies, and survey whether caretakers or family members of victims noticed transient changes prior to SUDEP. The aim of this pilot study is to identify potential modifiable changes that may synergistically increase SUDEP risk for future research.

Methods: A mobile electronic survey was posted on SUDEP community websites. The survey queried whether changes in seizures, sleep, physical well-being, emotional well-being, cognition, breathing, or heart rate were noticed …

20-Year Inflation-Adjusted Medicare Reimbursements (Years: 2000-2020) For Common Lumbar And Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Procedures, Pedram Honarpisheh, Samantha L Parker, Christopher R Conner, Sami Anjum, Jessica R Stark, John C Quinn, John M Caridi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Reimbursement trends for common procedures have persistently declined over the past 2 decades. Spinal instrumentational and fusion procedures are increasingly utilized and have increased in clinical complexity, yet longitudinal inflation-adjusted data for Medicare reimbursements of these procedures have not been evaluated.

METHODS: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was used to extract Medicare reimbursements for the 5 most common spinal procedures and associated instrumentations from 2000-2020. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes include 22551, 22600, 22633, 63030, and 63047 as well as instrumentation CPT codes 22840 and 22842-6. The nominal values were adjusted …

Does An Early, Balanced Resuscitation Strategy Reduce The Incidence Of Hypofibrinogenemia In Hemorrhagic Shock?, David T Lubkin, Krislynn M Mueck, Gabrielle E Hatton, Jason B Brill, Mariela Sandoval, Jessica C Cardenas, Charles E Wade, Bryan A Cotton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Some centers have recommended including concentrated fibrinogen replacement in massive transfusion protocols (MTPs). Given our center's policy of aggressive early balanced resuscitation (1:1:1), beginning prehospital, we hypothesized that our rates of hypofibrinogenemia may be lower than those previously reported.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients presenting to our trauma center November 2017 to April 2021 were reviewed. Patients were defined as hypofibrinogenemic (HYPOFIB) if admission fibrinogen

RESULTS: Of 29 782 patients, 6618 level 1 activations, and 1948 patients receiving emergency release blood,

CONCLUSIONS: Low rates of hypofibrinogenemia were found in our center which treats hemorrhage with early, balanced …

Scoping Review: The Effects Of Interrupted Onabotulinumtoxin A Treatment For Chronic Migraine Prevention During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Qing Zhao Ruan, Daniel J Pak, Amitabh Gulati, Moises Dominguez, Sudhir Diwan, Jamal Hasoon, Timothy R Deer, R Jason Yong, Abdulrazaq Albilali, Amanda Macone, Sait Ashina, Christopher L Robinson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To systematically examine the literature on the clinical consequences of inadvertent delays in scheduled onabotulinumtoxin A (OTA) therapy for chronic migraine during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess recommendations when access to OTA is limited.

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was unprecedented in its impact on the global medical community. Most healthcare institutions in the United States (US) and the world had begun significantly limiting elective procedures, undermining management of many debilitating chronic conditions. OTA injections, were similarly involuntarily postponed, leading to significant setbacks in symptom control.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on databases of Medline and Embase …

Preparation Of Uniformly Oriented Inverted Inner (Cytoplasmic) Membrane Vesicles From Gram-Negative Bacterial Cells, Mikhail Bogdanov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The complex double-membrane organization of the envelope in Gram-negative bacteria places unique biosynthetic and topological constraints that can affect translocation of lipids and proteins synthesized on cytoplasm facing leaflet of cytoplasmic (inner) membrane (IM), across IM and between IM and outer membrane (OM). Uniformly oriented inside-out (ISO) vesicles became functional requisite for many biochemical reconstitution functional assays, vectorial proteomics, and vectorial lipidomics. Due to these demands, it is necessary to develop simple and reliable approaches for preparation of uniformly oriented IM membrane vesicles and validation of their sidedness. The uniformly ISO oriented membrane vesicles which have the cytoplasmic face of …

Exploring Uniform, Dual, And Dynamic Topologies Of Membrane Proteins By Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method (Scam™), Mikhail Bogdanov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A described simple and advanced protocol for Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method as applied to transmembrane (TM) orientation (SCAM™) permits a topology analysis of proteins in their native state and can be universally adapted to any membrane system to either systematically map an uniform or identify and quantify the degree of mixed topology or establish transmembrane assembly dynamics from relatively static experimental data such as endpoint topologies of membrane proteins. In this approach, noncritical individual amino acids that are thought to reside in the putative extracellular or intracellular loops of a membrane protein are replaced one at the time by cysteine …

Association Between Emergency Medical Service Agency Volume And Mortality In Trauma Patients, David S Silver, Jason L Sperry, Jamison Beiriger, Liling Lu, Francis X Guyette, Stephen Wisniewski, Ernest E Moore, Martin Schreiber, Bellal Joseph, Chad T Wilson, Bryan Cotton, Daniel Ostermayer, Erin E Fox, Brian G Harbrecht, Mayur Patel, Joshua B Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of annual trauma patient volume on outcomes for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.

Background: Regionalization of trauma care saves lives. The underlying concept driving this is a volume-outcome relationship. EMS are the entry point to the trauma system, yet it is unknown if a volume-outcome relationship exists for EMS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospective cohort including 8 trauma centers and 20 EMS air medical and metropolitan ground transport agencies. Patients 18 to 90 years old with injury severity scores ≥9 transported from the scene were included. Patient and …

Benign Disorders Of The Mediastinum: A Narrative Review, Saad Farooq, Sabiha Armin, Daniel Ocazionez, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objective: There are several benign processes that affect the mediastinum with considerable morbidity that may range from reactive entities to neoplastic disorders. This review article will focus on non-neoplastic benign mediastinal diseases which include large vessel vasculitis such as Takayasu and giant cell arteritis, mediastinal granulomas, fibrosing mediastinitis and mediastinal infections. These diseases can cause significant morbidity and mortality; therefore, we aim to familiarize readers with the pathophysiology, epidemiology and diagnosis of these mediastinal diseases and provide an update on the treatment options available.

Methods: We searched various databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar from August 2023 …