Medical Specialties Commons^™

Adaptation Of The Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire For Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol For A User-Centered Design Approach, Claudia Gambrah-Lyles, Aaron W Abrams, Sara Loud, Hollie Schmidt, Emily Blosberg, Melissa Wright, Kelsey E Poisson, Kristen S Fisher, Kimberly A O'Neill, Akash Virupakshaiah, John W Rose

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a chronic, progressive neurologic condition requiring lifelong management and coordinated transition from pediatric to adult care. Evidence-based guidelines identify transition readiness assessment as a core component of successful transition; however, most POMS clinics do not formally assess readiness, and existing tools do not address POMS-specific challenges, such as fluctuating disability, complex treatment regimens, and cognitive impairment. This gap underscores the need for a transition readiness measure tailored to POMS.

Objective: This paper aims to describe a stakeholder-engaged, implementation science-guided protocol for adapting the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) version 6.0 to reflect the unique …

Evaluating The Reproducibility And Verifiability Of Nutrition Research: A Case Study Of Studies Assessing The Relationship Between Potatoes And Colorectal Cancer, Yasaman Jamshidi-Naeini, Colby J Vorland, Pranav Kapoor, Bailey Ortyl, Jocelyn Mineo, Luke Still, Korlu Sorsor, Shelby Rodney, Xander Tooze, Brent Flickinger, Beate Henschel, Stephanie L Dickinson, David B Allison

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The credibility of nutritional research is dependent on the rigor with which studies are conducted and the ability for independent assessment to be performed. Despite the importance of these, more work is needed in the field of nutrition to buttress the trustworthiness of nutrition research. To develop and apply a process for evaluating the rigor, reproducibility, and verifiability of nutritional research, using the relationship between potato consumption and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) as a case study. We updated existing systematic reviews to include studies on potatoes and CRC, assessing their design, execution, and reporting quality. We attempted to reproduce and verify …

A Multilevel Analysis Of Hiv Care Outcomes Across Age, Race, And Housing Among United States Women Veterans, Giselle Day, Amber B Amspoker, Alan Z Sheinfil, Liang Chen, Emmanuel Guajardo, Maria E Fernandez, Cici Bauer, Irene Tamí-Maury, Jan Lindsay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Women veterans with HIV represent a growing, diverse population within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This study examined HIV care continuum outcomes among women veterans using a multilevel intersectional approach.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1154 women veterans with HIV in VHA care in fiscal year 2022, with outcomes assessed in fiscal year 2023. We applied Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA) to evaluate how combinations of social positions (age, race/ethnicity, housing status) were associated with HIV outcomes.

Results: MAIHDA models showed that younger age (< 45 years) and being unhoused were consistently associated with lower odds of care engagement and viral suppression than midlife (45-64) and older (65+) housed women veterans. Additionally, predicted probability analyses revealed distinct clustering patterns. Younger non-Hispanic White women consistently ranked among the lowest performing strata across all outcomes, while midlife and older Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black women veterans clustered among the highest. Variance Partition Coefficients from null models were modest (1.8-3.0%). Fully adjusted models showed no remaining between-stratum variance, suggesting that the included social positions explained the observed differences in our dataset.

Conclusions: These findings highlight disparities in HIV care …

Targeted Inhibition Of Atr Kinase Promotes Antitumor Immunity In Hnscc Through Enhanced Sting Activation And T Cell Function, Fabio Hb Da Costa, Mutsuki Kawabe, Tsung-You Tsai, Kento Okamoto, Mason D Bartels, Sofia Cortes, Ratna Veeramachaneni, Roberto Rangel, Mitchell J Frederick, Vlad C Sandulache, Andrew G Sikora, Jeffrey N Myers, Abdullah A Osman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Oral cavity head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a major global health burden, with over 40,000 new cases annually in the United States and >500,000 worldwide. Despite advances in surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, overall survival rates have remained largely stagnant over the past three decades, and over half of patients ultimately die from the disease. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes for a subset of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC, the majority gain limited benefit. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies that enhance responses to immunotherapy are urgently needed. The ATR-CHK1 signaling pathway has …

Management Algorithm For Vasoplegic Shock After Cardiac Surgery: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Subhasis Chatterjee, Jamel Ortoleva, Rakesh C Arora, Kelci R Dalton, Daniel T Engelman, Natalia Ivascu Girardi, Michael C Grant, Travis J Miles, Marc R Moon, Orlando R Suero, Erica Wittwer, Patrick M Wieruszewski

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Vasoplegic shock is distributive shock that follows cardiopulmonary bypass, characterized by hypotension, low systemic vascular resistance, and catecholamine resistance despite preserved or elevated cardiac output. Reported incidence ranges from 5% to 50%. Associated adverse outcomes include acute kidney injury, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and mortality. A single, universally accepted consensus definition is lacking, and few evidence-based best-practice management strategies exist.

Methods: A panel of 12 clinicians-cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensivists, and pharmacists-from 6 institutions conducted a structured expert review. PubMed and Embase were searched for research studies, including clinical trials, retrospective analyses, and mechanistic studies covering epidemiology, risk factors, …

Placenta Accreta Spectrum Risk In Endometriosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study With Art Subanalysis, Madeline West, Amir Alsaidi, Michael A Belfort, Hendrik A Lombaard, Yamely H Mendez, Christina C Reed, Amir A Shamshirsaz, Jessian L Munoz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Pancreatitis Risk Genes Play A Major Role In Pediatric Pancreatitis: Insights From The International Study Group Of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In Search For A Cure, Maisam Abu-El-Haija, Wenying Zhang, Fuchenchu Wang, Gretchen Cress, Brian Dawson, Xiaoping Su, Tyler Thompson, Nicole Kotha, Ankur Chugh, Reuven Zev Cohen, Elissa M Downs, Douglas S Fishman, A Jay Freeman, Cheryl E Gariepy, Matthew J Giefer, Tanja Y Gonska, Phil Greer, Amit S Grover, Andrew Y J Liman, Douglas Lindblad, Quin Y Liu, Asim Maqbool, Jacob A Mark, Brian A Mcferron, Megha S Mehta, Veronique D Morinville, Kenneth Ng, Robert A Noel, Chee Y Ooi, Emily R Perito, Michael Wilschanski, Yuhua Zheng, Ying Yuan, David C Whitcomb, Aliye Uc, Mark Lowe, Consortium For The Study Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, And Pancreatic Cancer (Cpdpc)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background & aims: Clinical data show that genetic variants are significant risk factors for acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. To expand the understanding of the role of genetics in acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis, high-throughput next-generation sequencing of 14 genes was completed in a multicenter pediatric cohort.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 944 pediatric patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis was conducted. CASR, CEL, CFTR, CLDN2, CPA1, CTRC, GGT1, PRSS1, PRSS2, PRSS3, SBDS, SLC26A9, SPINK1, and UBR1 were sequenced. The frequencies of identified variants were compared with frequencies in the genome aggregation database. Group differences were …

Hp1bp3 Loss Links Chromatin Reorganization To Metabolic Vulnerability In Glioma, Brittney Lozzi, Taylor A Gatesman, Pushan Dasgupta, Debosmita Sardar, Yeunjung Ko, Chenyu Mao, Hsiao-Chi Chen, Rachel N Curry, Dongjoo Choi, Carrie A Mohila, Melissa L Bondy, Ganesh Rao, Marco Gallo, Sameer Agnihotri, Benjamin Deneen

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are aggressive brain tumors with poor prognosis, driven in part by metabolic and epigenetic adaptations. Methionine metabolism supports HGG growth by supplying S-adenosylmethionine for methylation reactions, yet how nutrient availability influences chromatin organization in HGG remains incompletely understood. Using an immunocompetent mouse model of HGG, we found that dietary methionine restriction reduced tumor proliferation, extended survival, and induced partial nuclear inversion. We identified Hp1bp3 as a key regulator of tumor growth that functions by interacting with nuclear tethering proteins to mediate chromatin reorganization. Loss of Hp1bp3 results in the upregulation of histone demethylases leading to selective depletion …

Guideline On Stress Echocardiography - 2026, Ana Cristina Camarozano, Salvador Vicente Spina, José Roberto Matos Souza, Marcelo Dantas Tavares De Melo, Daniela Do Carmo Rassi Frota, Silvio Henrique Barberato, Fabio Villaça Guimarães Filho, Harry Acquatella, Vera Márcia Lopes Gimenes, Jorge Alfredo Lowenstein, Ricardo H Pignatelli, José Maria Del Castillo, Joselina Luiza Menezes Oliveira, José Sebastião De Abreu, José Luis De Castro E Silva Pretto, Issam Shehadeh, Alex Dos Santos Felix, Mercedes Maldonado Andrade, Antônio Carlos Sobral Sousa, Maria Estefânia Bosco Otto, Andrea De Andrade Vilela, Pedro Gutierrez Fajardo, Liz Andréa Villela Baroncini, Cristiano Vieira Machado, Fábio Cañellas Moreira, José María Hernández Hernández, Marco Stephan Lofrano Alves, Samira Saady Morhy, Márcio Silva Miguel Lima, Miguel Osman Dias Aguiar, Wilson Mathias Junior, Letícia Dos Santos De Oliveira Rocha, João César Nunes Sbano, Barbara Athayde Linhares Martins Vrandecic, Fabio Roston, Arnaldo Rabischoffsky, Juliana Paixão Etto Rolim, Raphael Aparecido Barreto Da Silva, Guilherme De Rossi, Kamila Fernanda Staszko, Jolie Britt, Marcelo Luiz Campos Vieira

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Ultrasound-Enabled Refreshable Electrochemical Sensors For Cardiac Biomarker Monitoring, Mayank Garg, Heng Guo, Myeong Namkoong, Elizabeth Zhanov, Connor Malone, Md Saifur Rahman, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Limei Tian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is the gold-standard biomarker for acute myocardial infarction, yet current laboratory-based high-sensitivity assays require centralized infrastructure, trained personnel, and serial testing, limiting their suitability for real-time or continuous monitoring in resource-limited settings. Point-of-care electrochemical sensors have shown promise for rapid cTnI detection, but their reliance on antibodies as biorecognition elements and redox mediator solutions, and single-use operation restricts practical translation. Here, we report an ultrasound-enabled refreshable electrochemical biosensor for sensitive, stable, and repeatable cTnI monitoring. The device employs a cTnI-specific peptide as the biorecognition element, providing enhanced stability during storage, transport, and operation. Label-free electrochemical impedance …

Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Implementation In Eswatini Identifies Rifampicin And Bedaquiline Resistance Undetected By Routine Diagnostic Testing, Debrah Vambe, Alexander Kay, Mangaliso Ziyane, Mdigo Thunzini, Sein Sein Thi, Leonardo De Araujo, Viola Dreyer, Tanja Niemann, Busizwe Sibandze, Sijabu Masina, Andrea Maurizio Cabibbe, Jennifer Furin, Tafadzwa Mazuruse, Lindokuhle Dlamini, Thulani Jele, Bheki Mamba, Gugu Maphalala, Makhosazana Dlamini, Mbongeni Dube, Nomthandazo Lukhele, Daniela Maria Cirillo, Anna Mandalakas, Christoph Lange, Sphiwe Ngwenya, Christian Utpatel, Sindisiwe Dlamini, Stefan Niemann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In Eswatini, multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains harbouring the rifampicin-resistance (RR) rpoB I491F mutation are missed by routine diagnostics, including GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra), line probe assays (LPA), and mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST). To address this diagnostic gap, Eswatini introduced targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) in 2019. We analysed 234 patient samples enrolled from June 2021 to December 2024 with isoniazid and/or rifampicin resistance detected by routine diagnostics, or suspected treatment failure, and obtained detailed clinical and outcome data from 59 patients. tNGS detected RR in 159 strains, of which 101 (64%) carried …

Rare Pediatric Venolymphatic Malformations: Pericardial Cyst Mimickers, Shelby E Walcott, Joseph Burns, Juan Pablo Sandoval Jones, Neil Cambronero, David Brennen, Thomas M Glenn, Betul Yilmaz Furtun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pericardial cystic masses are rare, and exceedingly so in pediatrics. The clinical course of such masses in children is poorly described.

Case summary: We report 2 cases in 3- and 7-year-old children. Both were initially thought to represent pericardial cysts on imaging, but surgical excision and histopathology confirmed diagnoses of a venolymphatic malformation and an epicardial cyst, respectively. The first patient presented with abdominal pain, and the second patient was asymptomatic. Both recovered well after an uncomplicated surgical intervention.

Discussion: A small number of patients with pericardial masses will have symptoms thought to be related to compression of adjacent …

Rare Pediatric Venolymphatic Malformations: Pericardial Cyst Mimickers, Shelby E Walcott, Joseph Burns, Juan Pablo Sandoval Jones, Neil Cambronero, David Brennen, Thomas M Glenn, Betul Yilmaz Furtun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pericardial cystic masses are rare, and exceedingly so in pediatrics. The clinical course of such masses in children is poorly described.

Case summary: We report 2 cases in 3- and 7-year-old children. Both were initially thought to represent pericardial cysts on imaging, but surgical excision and histopathology confirmed diagnoses of a venolymphatic malformation and an epicardial cyst, respectively. The first patient presented with abdominal pain, and the second patient was asymptomatic. Both recovered well after an uncomplicated surgical intervention.

Discussion: A small number of patients with pericardial masses will have symptoms thought to be related to compression of adjacent …

Notch1 Acts As A Tumor Suppressor That Induces Early Differentiation In Head And Neck Cancer, Chenfei Huang, Shhyam Moorthy, Qiuli Li, Kazi M Ahmed, Kalil Saab, Defeng Deng, Jiping Wang, Xiayu Rao, Jiexin Zhang, Yuanxin Xi, Jing Wang, Zhiyi Liu, Noriaki Tanaka, David A Wheeler, Eve Shinbrot, Rami Saade, Curtis R Pickering, Tong-Xin Xie, Adel K El-Naggar, Abdullah A Osman, Kunal Rai, Patrick A Zweidler-Mckay, John V Heymach, Lauren A Byers, Faye M Johnson, Vlad C Sandulache, Jeffrey N Myers, Pedram Yadollahi, Mitchell J Frederick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Inactivating NOTCH1 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were described over a decade ago, suggesting a tumor suppressor function - unlike its oncogenic role in other tumors. Today, much debate persists regarding a putative oncogenic role in HNSCC as well, with reports that NOTCH1 signaling drives tumor growth and a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. In this work, comprehensive experiments unequivocally demonstrate that NOTCH1 is a tumor suppressor in HNSCC regardless of mutation or activation status and that it reduces CSC frequency. We developed a signature of NOTCH1 activation showing the pathway is associated with very early …

Safety And Synergy Of Finerenone And Empagliflozin In Lowering Blood Pressure, Rajiv Agarwal, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, Sankar D Navaneethan, Hiddo J L Heerspink, Matthew R Weir, Janet B Mcgill, Amy K Mottl, Masaomi Nangaku, Julio Rosenstock, Peter Rossing, Muthiah Vaduganathan, Charlie Scott, Li Li, Meike Brinker, Csaba P Kovesdy, Jennifer B Green, Johannes F E Mann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: This secondary analysis of the CONFIDENCE (combination effect of fInerenone and empagliflozin in participants with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes using a UACR endpoint) trial (REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05254002) assessed systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes with empagliflozin/finerenone combination therapy versus monotherapy in people with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes across baseline SBP categories. We assessed SBP response predictors and whether early (day 30) SBP changes mediate urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio reductions.

Methods: Participants (n=800) were stratified by baseline SBP (< 130 mm Hg; ≥130 mm Hg). Outcomes included SBP response (≥10 mm Hg reduction from baseline at day 180) and longitudinal SBP changes, analyzed by linear mixed-effects models and logistic regression. Causal mediation analysis, a secondary exploratory analysis, evaluated the effect of day 30 SBP change on day 180 urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio reduction.

Results: At baseline, 532 (66%) participants had SBP ≥130 mm Hg; 268 (34%) …

The Aggregated Latent Profile Index: Measuring Person Profile Differentiation Within A Bootstrap-Validated Latent Profile Space, Se-Kang Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Multivariate assessment profiles contain two conceptually distinct sources of variation: overall level and profile shape. Existing approaches recover some aspects of this structure, but none jointly establishes the replicability of latent pattern dimensions and provides a principled, population-referenced summary of person profile differentiation independent of overall level. We introduce the Aggregated Latent Profile Index (ALPI), a variance-weighted Euclidean distance that quantifies the degree to which an individual’s profile departs from a flat population reference within a bootstrap-validated latent profile space. ALPI is derived from the Aggregated Latent Profile Space (ALPS), a framework that combines parallel analysis with bootstrap stability diagnostics …

Global Burden Of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis In Children: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study, Xuhui Liu, Peierdun Mijiti, Lu Xia, Sylvia M Lacourse, Wulan Talafuhan, Alexander W Kay, Yang Yang, Huarui Liu, Dan Ye, Leonardo Martinez, Shuihua Lu, Adong Shen, Anna M Mandalakas, Feng Li, Christoph Lange, Zhen Huang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Paediatric tuberculosis (TB), particularly drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), is associated with significant mortality. However, the global burden of childhood TB remains poorly understood.

Methods: We analysed incident cases, deaths, and age-standardised incidence and mortality rates among children (0-14 years) with multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Data were stratified by age, sex, region, country, and HIV/AIDS status. Annual and average annual percentage changes were assessed using joinpoint regression analysis. Secondary analyses compared adult and paediatric TB trends in the End TB era and evaluated the potential impact of the …

Impact Of Lumen Origin And Gap Distance On Target Vessel Outcomes Following Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair Of Postdissection Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Armin Tabiei, Jesse Chait, Andrea Vacirca, Randall R Demartino, Emanuel R Tenorio, Fahad Shuja, Dora Babocs, Guilherme B B Lima, Naveed Saqib, Gustavo S Oderich, Bernardo C Mendes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: This study evaluated the role of target vessel (TV) lumen origin and fenestration gap (FG) distance between the endograft and the aortic wall on TV outcomes following fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) for postdissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (PD-TAAAs).

Methods: A multicenter review of prospectively and retrospectively collected data of patients undergoing FB-EVAR for PD-TAAAs between 2013 and 2023 was performed. Lumen origin was retrospectively analyzed on preoperative imaging studies and classified as true lumen (TL) only, false lumen (FL) only, or both TL and FL. The FG distance was retrospectively measured on postoperative imaging studies and included as a …

A Novel Qa Method For Adaptive Aperture Position Verification Of Proton Therapy System, Shuxin Fan, Tiezhi Zhang, Xiandong Zhao, Winter Green, Baozhou Sun, Tianyu Zhao, Yao Hao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Accurate Adaptive Aperture (AA) leaf positioning is essential for some proton therapy systems to ensure precise dose delivery and patient safety. However, conventional quality assurance (QA) methods can be suboptimal or inefficient for routinely assessing the dynamic nature of AA in the Mevion S250i HYPERSCAN system. This study introduces a novel automated QA method to verify AA positions utilizing a scintillation detector. A specialized QA plan consisting of 7 rectangular fields was generated in the RayStation treatment planning system (TPS) and delivered using the Mevion S250i HYPERSCAN proton therapy system. Dose distributions were measured with an IBA Lynx PT scintillation …

Impact (Immune Monitoring And Phenotype Assessment Of Clinical Trajectory) For Patients With Inborn Errors Of Immunity From The Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (Pidtc), Danielle E Arnold, Hesham Eissa, Elizabeth Dunn, Geoffrey D E Cuvelier, Nicola A M Wright, Rebecca A Marsh, Suhag Parikh, Blachy Davila Saldana, Mark T Vander Lugt, Rosa Bacchetta, Lisa Forbes Satter, Shanmuganathan Chandrakasan, Erinn Kellner, Eric J Allenspach, Erica G Schmitt, Brent Logan, Lauri Burroughs, Morton J Cowan, Linda M Griffith, Luigi Notarangelo, Sung-Yun Pai, Michael A Pulsipher, Christopher C Dvorak, Elie Haddad, Jennifer M Puck, Troy R Torgerson, Jennifer W Leiding, Jennifer Heimall, Alice Y Chan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Evaluating natural history and outcomes of rare inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) has been challenging due to the diverse disease manifestations and lack of standardized data.

Objective: To develop a set of standardized, quantitative, generalizable data collection modules to measure organ dysfunction in IEIs, modeled on the previously validated Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event system for grading treatment toxicity.

Methods: Disease conditions were organized by organ system. Experts from the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium identified essential features of severe combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and primary immune regulatory disorders and compared these to Common Terminology …

Complement Activation In Maternal And Placental Pathology Of Preeclampsia, Manu T Banadakoppa, Madhulatha S Chauhan, Moises J Tacam, Allyson W Nevins, Antonio H Ruano, Simone H Ruano, Jon A Fuson, Chandra Yallampalli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Preeclampsia is a multifactorial, pregnancy-related disorder characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria, with distinct early- and late-onset forms. Although complement dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, its causal role remains unclear. In mice, Crry (complement receptor 1-related protein Y) functions as a critical complement regulator at the fetal-maternal interface. Because complete Crry deficiency is embryonically lethal, direct in vivo investigation of complement activation in pregnancy has been challenging.

Methods: We generated a placenta-specific, doxycycline-inducible short hairpin RNA mouse model in which Crry expression can be downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. This system employs Cyp19-driven Cre recombinase …

The Relationship Between Psychological Stress And Sars-Cov-2 Nucleocapsid-Antibody Response Following Natural Infection: Longitudinal Findings From The Aegis Study, Erika T Beidelman, Ashley Judge, David B Allison, Stephanie Dickinson, Lilian Golzarri Arroyo, Anna L M Macagno, Michael J Ricciardi, Jon Macy, Stanley Perlman, Christina Ludema, Kevin C Maki, Molly Rosenberg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Psychological stress can cause diminished immune response to infectious challenges. The extent this holds true during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the modifying effect of vaccination status is untested. We explored these relationships in a non-random sample standardized to the US adult population. Across 2178 participants in the Aegis study (2021-2022), we identified 507 eligible laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections. We estimated the natural log of nucleocapsid-binding antibody absorbance (N-antibody) at study visits up to 225 days following a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Linear mixed effects models were fit to estimate the association of baseline perceived stress and, separately, …

A Multi-Country Community Of Practice To Strengthen Quality Improvement In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Quality Improvement Program Description, Samhita Bhargava, Heather A Haq, Brodus A Franklin, Elizabeth Davis, Florence Anabwani-Richter, Thobile Bhembe, Lindokuhle P Dlamini, Makhosazana Dlamini, Andy Chapola, Nomsa Kafumba, Chisomo Mzandu Zinyemba, Menard Bvumbwe, Kyakuwa Richard Jjuuko, Jacqueline Balungi Kanywa, Dithan Kiragga, Andreas Boy Isaac, Esther Makhalanyane, Lwamba Nyembo, Retselisitoe Mahlaha, John T Farirai, Eunice W Ketang'enyi, Andrea E M Imsen, Iuliana Costas, Susan B Torrey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/objectives: Quality improvement (QI) is widely used in global health to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen service delivery. The Texas Children's Global Health Network (TCGHN) includes nine independent non-governmental organizations supporting healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with pediatric HIV clinical centers of excellence in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), supported technically by Baylor College of Medicine. We describe the development of a virtual QI Community of Practice (QICoP) to connect geographically dispersed teams and strengthen local QI capacity.

Methods: In 2022, QI and global health experts convened to design the QICoP and assess site readiness. …

Nmda Receptor Subunit Nmr-2 Regulates Pathogen-Induced Immune Responses Via The Nervous System In C. Elegans, Benson Otarigho, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Alejandro Aballay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neural control of innate immunity must balance restraint of basal immune activity with rapid activation upon pathogen encounter. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, has been implicated in several neurological disorders associated with inflammation, suggesting a potential link to immune regulation. However, how glutamatergic signaling contributes to immune balance remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit NMR-2, a component of the NMDA receptor complex, acts in the

Corrigendum To Diagnosis Of Post-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome In Children: Time For A Rethink? Transplantation And Cellular Therapy. 2024 Aug; 30(8):760–769, Shivanthan Shanthikumar, William A Gower, Kenneth R Cooke, Anne Bergeron, Kirk R Schultz, Amisha Barochia, Maximiliano Tamae-Kakazu, Edward Charbek, Erin E Reardon, Charlotte Calvo, Alicia Casey, Pi Chun Cheng, Theresa S Cole, Stella M Davies, Shailendra Das, Aliva De, Robin R Deterding, Deborah R Liptzin, Francoise Mechinaud, Jonathan H Rayment, Paul D Robinson, Roopa Siddiah, Anne Stone, Saumini Srinivasin, Christopher T Towe, Gregory A Yanik, Narayan P Iyer, Samuel B Goldfarb

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Outcomes After Elective Total Aortic Arch Replacement: Does Obesity Matter?, Vicente Orozco-Sevilla, Michael Tyler Guinn, Ivan Murrieta-Alvarez, Veronica A Glover, Susan Y Green, Subhasis Chatterjee, Scott A Lemaire, Marc R Moon, Joseph S Coselli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Obesity is a chronic disease linked to high mortality and morbidity after cardiac procedures, but its relationship to outcomes after total aortic arch replacement (TAR) remains unclear. We examined TAR data to determine whether obesity is associated with greater perioperative risk.

Methods: Among 787 TARs performed from 1990 to 2023, we excluded patients who lacked body mass index (BMI) data, had nonelective or nonstandard repairs, or were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). The remaining 521 patients did not have obesity (18.5 ≤BMI < 30; n = 389) or did (BMI ≥30; n = 132). Patients with obesity were class 1 (30 ≤ BMI < 35), class 2 (35 ≤ BMI < 40), or class 3 (BMI ≥40). We compared preoperative and perioperative variables for BMI ≥30 (obesity) versus BMI < 30. Adverse events were operative mortality, persistent stroke, spinal cord deficit, and renal failure. We performed multivariable logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results: Patients with obesity had greater rates of obstructive sleep apnea, transient spinal cord deficit, and acute renal dysfunction than patients with normal weight. During repair, the use of antegrade …

The American Association For Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Opportunity Scholarship In Its Fifth Year: Are We Making Progress?, Marc R Moon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Safety Of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum In Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jake A Miller, Muhammed A Moukhtar Hammad, Lucas G C R De Amorim, Laura Angulo-Llanos, Helen L Bernie, Jeremiah R Dallmer, Grace M Garrett, Gal S Grunhaus, Beatriz S Hernandez, Tung-Chin Hsieh, Bruce R Kava, Mohit Khera, Thomas A Masterson, Vi Nguyen, Thairo A Pereira, Daniela O Rendon, Max D Sandler, Dan V Tran, Faysal A Yafi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: While prior studies have demonstrated that men who have sex with men (MSM) may disproportionately experience distress due to Peyronie's disease (PD), limited evidence exists regarding the outcomes of these men when treated with collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) injections.

Aim: To investigate the outcomes of MSM undergoing CCH injections for PD.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 790 patients undergoing CCH injections for PD at 5 academic centers within the United States, including data pertaining to demographic information, sexual orientation, penile curvature characteristics, treatment characteristics, and treatment-related outcomes.

Outcomes: The impact of sexual orientation on treatment-related satisfaction, efficacy, …

Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison Of Acoltremon Ophthalmic Solution 0.003% And Cyclosporine 0.05% Ophthalmic Emulsion For Increased Tear Production In Patients With Dry Eye Disease, Stephen Pflugfelder, Tony Okoro, Margaret Ainslie-Garcia, Anja Haltner, Emily K Prentiss, Elizabeth M Salvo-Halloran, Nikethana Srikanth, Michelle Senchyna, Esen K Akpek

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Thrive: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study Of Veligrotug For Active Thyroid Eye Disease, Michael T Yen, Kimberly Cockerham, Peerooz Saeed, Steven Leibowitz, Raghu C Mudumbai, Michael P Schittkowski, Vickie Lee, Jody Abrams, Roger E Turbin, Julián Bermúdez Pío-Rendón, Eckart Bertelmann, Edwina Eade, Navdeep Nijhawan, Marta Pérez-López, Marco Sales-Sanz, Sandy Zhang-Nunes, Andrea L Kossler, Ashley Pajak, Abhijit Narvekar, Radhika Tripuraneni, Antonio Manuel Garrido-Hermosilla

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a debilitating autoimmune disease with significant unmet needs. This study's objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of veligrotug, a full antagonist monoclonal antibody to the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, in patients with active TED.

Design: Veligrotug was assessed in THRIVE, a global, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Participants: Adult patients with moderate-to-severe active TED (onset ≤ 15 months, proptosis ≥ 3 mm above normal, and clinical activity score [CAS] ≥ 3) received either veligrotug or placebo.

Methods: Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 10 mg/kg veligrotug or placebo administered every …