Medical Specialties Commons^™

Impact Of Antiparasitic Therapy On Cardiovascular Outcomes In Chronic Chagas Disease A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anis Rassi, Alyssa Grimshaw, Ashwin Sarwal, Ranjit Sah, Sangam Shah, Nelson I Agudelo Higuita, Fabio Mahamed Rassi, Michaele Francesco Corbisiero, Hannah M Kyllo, Jordan Stellern, Samantha Kaplan, Luis A Marcos, Edgar A Ramírez-García, Martin Casapia, Peter Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Shital Patel, Carlos Franco-Paredes, José Antonio Marin-Neto, Andrés F Henao-Martínez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Endemic in more than 20 countries, Chagas disease affects 6.3 million people worldwide, leading to 28,000 new infections and 7700 deaths each year. Previous meta-analyses on antiparasitic treatment need updates to encompass recent studies and to assess key clinically meaningful endpoints. This study aims to evaluate the impact of antitrypanosomal therapy in preventing or reducing disease progression and mortality in chronic Chagas disease.

METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the cardiovascular outcomes of antitrypanosomal therapy in patients with chronic Chagas disease. We searched Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science …

Use Of A Mouse Model For The Isolation Of Borrelia Puertoricensis From Soft Ticks, Edwin Vázquez-Guerrero, Alexander R Kneubehl, Guadalupe C Reyes-Solís, Carlos Machain-Williams, Aparna Krishnavajhala, Paulina Estrada-De Los Santos, Job E Lopez, José Antonio Ibarra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The isolation of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes has proven to be a useful tool to understand their distribution in geographic areas where the tick vectors inhabit. However, their isolation and culture are not easy and in general an animal model is needed to achieve this task. Here, argasid ticks were collected from a neighborhood in Ciudad Caucel, and they were identified as Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) puertoricensis. To determine whether these were infected with TBRF bacteria they were fed with healthy mice but only a low burden of spirochetes was observed. An immunosuppressed mouse model was used to feed the ticks …

Diagnosis And Management Of Cardiometabolic Disease After Spinal Cord Injury: Identifying Gaps In Physician Training And Practices, Chinenye Christa Nnoromele, Du Pham, Felicia Skelton, Ryan Solinsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

CONTEXT: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) frequently occurs in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), with growing awareness surrounding the expansive scope of this problem. As CMD has significant morbidity and mortality, early guidelines-based screening and management have been established. However, the extent to which these guidelines have been adopted are unclear.

OBJECTIVE: Describe physicians' screening and management pattern for CMD in patients with SCI, as compared to SCI-specific CMD screening guidelines, and elucidate variables linked to screening and management patterns.

METHODS: SCI medicine-boarded physicians were surveyed on screening timing for CMD following acute SCI, along with their practice pattern and comfort …

Gut Microbial Community Structure Of The Adult Citrus Root Weevil Diaprepes Abbreviatus, Imilce A Rodriguez-Fernandez, Tasha M Santiago-Rodriguez, Paola G Figueroa-Pratts, Keislamarí Cintrón-Berríos, Nichole D Rodriguez-Cornier, Gary A Toranzos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Diaprepes abbreviatus is an agricultural pest known to affect around 270 plant species across the Caribbean and the United States, posing significant challenges to pest management. Chemical control dominates management, but environmental and health concerns motivate microbiome-informed alternatives. However, limited information exists on the gut anatomy, physicochemical environment, and microbial composition of D. abbreviatus. In this study, we provide the first comprehensive characterization of the gut morphology, pH, and microbiota of adult D. abbreviatus in both females and males collected in Puerto Rico. Using dye-based gut tracing, we identified foregut, midgut, and hindgut or posterior gut compartments, and confirmed the …

Transposable Element Activity Captures Human Pluripotent Cell States, Florencia Levin-Ferreyra, Srikanth Kodali, Yingzhi Cui, Alison R S Pashos, Patrizia Pessina, Justin Brumbaugh, Bruno Di Stefano

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) exist in multiple, transcriptionally distinct states and serve as powerful models for studying human development. Despite their significance, the molecular determinants and pathways governing these pluripotent states remain incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that transposable elements act as sensitive indicators of distinct pluripotent cell states. We engineered hPSCs with fluorescent reporters to capture the temporal expression dynamics of two state-specific transposable elements, LTR5_Hs, and MER51B. This dual reporter system enables real-time monitoring and isolation of stem cells transitioning from naïve to primed pluripotency and further towards differentiation, serving as a more accurate readout of pluripotency …

Age-Related Variations In Hba1c Improvemecnts: Insights From A Telehealth-Supported Community-Based Intervention, Laura Porterfield, Xiaoying Yu, Amber B Amspoker, Craig A Johnston, Aanand D Naik, Salim S Virani, Christie M Ballantyne, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Elizabeth M Vaughan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: We previously demonstrated that a telehealth-supported community health worker (CHW) intervention significantly improved clinical outcomes in diabetes care. However, the extent to which these benefits vary across different age groups remains unclear. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a CHW-led multidimensional diabetes intervention in reducing HbA1c across age groups.

Research design and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 10 studies (n = 301) that focused on low-income Hispanic adults with or at risk for type 2 diabetes. The intervention included CHW-participant coaching via mobile Health (mHealth), monthly CHW-led group education, and bidirectional mHealth feedback among …

Reliable Rna-Seq Analysis From Ffpe Specimens As A Means To Accelerate Cancer-Related Health Disparities Research, Mitchell J Frederick, Dannelys Perez-Bello, Pedram Yadollahi, Patricia Castro, Alan Frederick, Andrew Frederick, Rashid A Osman, Fonma Essien, Imelda Yebra, Ashley Hamlin, Thomas J Ow, Heath D Skinner, Vlad C Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS/ RNA-Seq) is a ubiquitous tool for investigating cancer biology. RNA isolated from frozen sources limits possible studies for analysis of associations with phenotypes or clinical variables requiring long-term follow-up. Although good correlations are reported in RNA-Seq data from paired frozen and formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples, uncertainties regarding RNA quality, methods of extraction, and data reliability are hurdles to utilization of archival samples. We compared three different platforms for performing RNA-seq using archival FFPE oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma (OPSCC) specimens stored up to 20 years, as part of an investigation of transcriptional profiles related to health …

Inhibition Of Ribosome Biogenesis In Vivo Causes P53-Dependent Death And P53-Independent Dysfunction, Charles J Cho, Thanh Nguyen, Amala K Rougeau, Yang-Zhe Huang, Sarah To, Xiaobo Lin, Supuni Thalalla Gamage, Jordan L Meier, Jason C Mills

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background & aims: Although it is well-known that ribosomes are critical for cell function, and their synthesis (known as ribosome biogenesis [RiBi]) is energy-intensive, surprisingly little is known about RiBi in vivo in adult tissue.

Methods: Using a mouse model with conditional deletion of Nat10, an essential gene for RiBi and subsequent translation of mRNA, we investigated the effects of RiBi blockade in vivo, with a focus on pancreatic acinar cells during homeostasis and tumorigenesis.

Results: We observed an unexpected latency of several weeks between Nat10 deletion and onset of structural and functional abnormalities and p53-dependent acinar cell death. Although …

Relationships Of Personality Traits With The Taxonomic Composition Of The Gut Microbiome Among Psychiatric Inpatients, William Orme, Sandra L Grimm, Divya S N Vella, J Christopher Fowler, B Christopher Frueh, Benjamin L Weinstein, Joseph Petrosino, Cristian Coarfa, Alok Madan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Through the brain-gut-microbiome axis, myriad psychological functions that affect behavior share a dynamic, bidirectional relationship with the intestinal microbiome. Little is known about the relationship between personality-a stable construct that influences social- and health-related behaviors-and the bacterial ecosystem. The authors of this exploratory study examined the relationship between general and maladaptive personality traits and the composition of the gut microbiome.

Methods: In total, 105 psychiatric inpatients provided clinical data and fecal samples. Personality traits were measured with the five-factor model of personality, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders, and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5; 16S …

Experiences From Dual Genome Next-Generation Sequencing Panel Testing For Mitochondrial Disorders: A Comprehensive Molecular Diagnosis, Elizabeth Gorman, Hongzheng Dai, Yanming Feng, William James Craigen, David C Y Chen, Fan Xia, Linyan Meng, Pengfei Liu, Robert Rigobello, Arpita Neogi, Christine M Eng, Yue Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: The molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders is complicated by phenotypic variability, genetic heterogeneity, and the complexity of mitochondrial heteroplasmy. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the mitochondrial genome in combination with a targeted panel of nuclear genes associated with mitochondrial disease provides the highest likelihood of obtaining a comprehensive molecular diagnosis. To assess the clinical utility of this approach, we describe the results from a retrospective review of patients having dual genome panel testing for mitochondrial disease.

Methods: Dual genome panel testing by NGS was performed on a cohort of 1,509 unrelated affected individuals with suspected mitochondrial disorders. This test included …

Paternal Upd (15) With Disease-Causing Mutation And Small Supernumerary Ring Chromosome 15: A Case Report, David Lee Curtis, Nasim Bekheirnia, Lorraine Potocki, Ludmila Matyakhina, Mir Reza Bekheirnia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Uniparental disomy (UPD) constitutes an unconventional mode of inheritance that disrupts the typical biparental genetic contribution and may result in phenotypic abnormalities. This report centers on a patient diagnosed with Bartter syndrome Type 1, attributed to a homozygous pathogenic variant in SLC12A1 unmasked by mosaic paternal UPD of chromosome 15. We hypothesize that this pattern (or constellation) emerged from a trisomy rescue event, resulting in two distinct cell lines. Concurrently, the unmasking of a pathogenic paternal SLC12A1 variant by trisomy rescue resulted in the manifestation of Bartter syndrome Type 1. The maternally derived ring chromosome 15 and its impact on …

How Gps Communicate The Urgent Suspected Cancer Referral Pathway To Patients: A Qualitative Study Of Gp-Patient Consultations, Jessica Russell, Laura Boswell, Athena Ip, Jenny Harris, Hardeep Singh, Ashley Nd Meyer, Traber D Giardina, Afsana Bhuiya, Katriina L Whitaker, Georgia B Black

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The UK National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) recommends that GPs inform patients referred onto the urgent suspected cancer (USC) pathway about what to expect from the service. However, there is a lack of evidence on patient experience and information needs at the point of referral. It is a challenge for GPs to communicate the reasons for referral and provide reassurance.

Aim: To examine how GPs communicate a potential cancer diagnosis and USC referral in practice.

Design & setting: This is a secondary analysis of a dataset of 23 audio-recorded GP-patient consultations, selected from a larger dataset of …

Application Of A Digital Quality Measure For Cancer Diagnosis In Epic Cosmos, Andrew J Zimolzak, Sundas P Khan, Hardeep Singh, Jessica A Davila

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Missed and delayed cancer diagnoses are common, harmful, and often preventable. We previously validated a digital quality measure (dQM) of emergency presentation (EP) of lung cancer in 2 US health systems. This study aimed to apply the dQM to a new national electronic health record (EHR) database and examine demographic associations.

Materials and methods: We applied the dQM (emergency encounter followed by new lung cancer diagnosis within 30 days) to Epic Cosmos, a deidentified database covering 184 million US patients. We examined dQM associations with sociodemographic factors.

Results: The overall EP rate was 19.6%. EP rate was higher in …

Comparative Analysis Of Imaging Modalities For Surveillance On Outcomes In Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Ahmed El Sabagh, Islam Mohamed, Mazen Elsheikh, Megha Bhongade, Eunji Jo, Susan G Hilsenbeck, Fasiha Kanwal, Prasun K Jalal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and aims: The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends regular surveillance with ultrasonography (US) and alpha-feto protein every 6 months for patients at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, US is considered to be less effective than cross-sectional imaging modalities like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for detecting early HCC. Limited data exist on the overall survival and receipt of curative treatment for patients undergoing surveillance with different imaging modalities.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients (n = 1954) diagnosed with HCC between January 2011 and June 2021. Patients who developed HCC while on strict …

Cervical Cancer Prevention Behaviors In Young Black Women, Angela J Johnson, Monica J Johnson, Juinell B Williams, Emma Muscari, Laura Palmo, Michelle Ruiz, Brianna Bush, Lisa C Campbell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: In the United States, Black women have the second highest incidence of cervical cancer (CC) due to high incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV), slow HPV clearance rates, and low receipt of preventive pap smears and vaccines.

Objective: A Black Feminist Thought framework was used to examine how the media portrayal of Black women, racial identity, and familial factors impact CC prevention behaviors among young Black women.

Design: Black women enrolled at a large southeastern university consented and participated in an online mixed-methods survey examining facilitators and barriers to CC prevention behaviors. Quantitative items were analyzed via descriptive statistics, and …

Association Between Hemoglobin A1c And Pediatric Asthma Control, Hewlett Pham, Rachelle Koehl, Han Woo, Tianshi David Wu, Anna Yue Qiu, Emily P Brigham, Nadia N Hansel, Meredith C Mccormack

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To examine the relationship between Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and asthma outcomes in an urban cohort of children with asthma.

Methods: The AIRWEIGHS Study was a randomized controlled clinical trial of an air cleaner intervention testing the hypothesis that overweight/obese children would experience greater improvement in asthma control compared to normal weight children. The study enrolled 164 children with asthma from Baltimore, MD and assessed HbA1c levels and asthma outcomes during clinic visits at baseline and three months. HbA1c levels were analyzed as a continuous measure and categorized as either normal (< 5.7%) or consistent with pre-diabetes (≥5.7%). Asthma outcomes included standardized questionnaires, spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) regression models were used to analyze the association between the HbA1c and asthma outcomes.

Results: Participants included 164 children with an average …

Autosomal Dominant Hk1-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder With Visual Defects And Brain Anomalies (Nedviba): An Emerging Mitochondrial Disorder, Bobby G Ng, Erik A Eklund, Jill A Rosenfeld, Abdallah F Elias, Aya Abu-El-Haija, Celine Bris, Magalie Barth, Jong-Hee Chae, Murim Choi, Holly A Dubbs, Carl Fratter, Nicola Foulds, Candace Gamble, Ralitza H Gavrilova, Jaclyn Haven, Trevor L Hoffman, Jill V Hunter, Austin Larson, Timothy Edward Lotze, Pilar Magoulas, Emily C Magness, Debra M Bootin, Eric D Marsh, Victoria Nesbitt, Matthew T Pastore, Joanna Poulton, Shamima Rahman, Fernando Scaglia, Chaya Murali, Jennifer Posey, Joshua Rotenberg, Betsy Schmalz, Deepali N Shinde, Zöe Powis, Rivka Sukenik-Halevy, Kristen V Truxal, Tami Uster, Matheus Vernet Machado Bressan Wilke, Erik Klee, Hyewon Woo, Donald Younkin, Jianhua Zhao, Jorge Granadillo, Seema Lalani, David Chitayat, Wendy K Chung, Hudson H Freeze, Volkan Okur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Hexokinase 1 (HK1) encodes a ubiquitously expressed hexokinase, which is responsible for the first step of glycolysis, phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Both autosomal recessive and dominant variants in this gene have previously been shown to cause human disease, and presently, there are clinical data available for 27 individuals with the monoallelic neurodevelopmental disorder with visual defects and brain anomalies. Delineation of the entire phenotypic spectrum and genotype-phenotype relations will aid in management and counseling decisions.

Methods: We present molecular and clinical data on 22 additional individuals with heterozygous, mostly de novo, variants in HK1. We …

Monoallelic Expression Can Govern Penetrance Of Inborn Errors Of Immunity, O'Jay Stewart, Conor Gruber, Haley E Randolph, Roosheel Patel, Meredith Ramba, Enrica Calzoni, Lei Haley Huang, Jay Levy, Sofija Buta, Angelica Lee, Christos Sazeides, Zoe Prue, David P Hoytema Van Konijnenburg, Ivan K Chinn, Luis A Pedroza, James R Lupski, Erica G Schmitt, Megan A Cooper, Anne Puel, Xiao Peng, Stéphanie Boisson-Dupuis, Jacinta Bustamante, Satoshi Okada, Marta Martin-Fernandez, Jordan S Orange, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Joshua D Milner, Dusan Bogunovic

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are genetic disorders that underlie susceptibility to infection, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, allergy and/or malignancy1. Incomplete penetrance is common among IEIs despite their monogenic basis2. Here we investigate the contribution of autosomal random monoallelic expression (aRMAE), a somatic commitment to the expression of one allele3,4, to phenotypic variability observed in families with IEIs. Using a clonal primary T cell system to assess aRMAE status of genes in healthy individuals, we find that 4.30% of IEI genes and 5.20% of all genes undergo aRMAE. Perturbing H3K27me3 and DNA methylation alters …

Correction: Genetic Landscape Of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy In Hong Kong Chinese Population, Derek P H Lee, Ye Cao, Lilei Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1583838.].

Examining Parents’ Perceptions Of Their Children’S Autism And Completion Of Genetic Testing, Georgina J Sakyi, Sarah S Mire, Robin P Goin-Kochel, Chaya N Murali, Susan X Day

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Though genetic testing is recommended for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), both internal (e.g. parents’ and providers’ valuation of genetic testing) and external (e.g. insurance coverage) barriers exist, and exploration of these factors is required to close the gap between provider recommendations and parent follow-through. In a sample of 290 parents, we explored (a) how parents’ ASD-related etiological beliefs and symptom attributions, as well as income, affected genetic testing completion; and (b) whether these factors influence parents’ hopes or concerns about genetic testing. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the factor structure of the ASD attribution …

Whole Exome Sequencing As A Screening Tool In Dogs: A Pilot Study, Fréderique Boeykens, Evelien Bogaerts, Liesbeth Vossaert, Luc Peelman, Filip Van Nieuwerburgh, Jimmy H Saunders, Bart J G Broeckx

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is used to selectively sequence all exons of protein-coding genes. WES is considered as a cost-effective and direct approach for identifying phenotype-associated variants in protein-coding regions and is as such situated between the traditional Sanger sequencing and whole genome sequencing (WGS). While WES is already widely used as a clinical tool in human and medical genetics, its use in veterinary medicine is currently restricted to research purposes. In this article, we aimed to provide baseline performance characteristics of a WES design to assess its suitability with future applications in veterinary clinical genetics in mind.

Methods: To …

Mixed-Methods Evaluation And Behavior Change Interventions To Improve Hand Hygiene Resources And Practices Among Healthcare Workers In Polyclinics And Health Centers In Belize, 2023, Anh N Ly, Kelsey Mcdavid, Christina Craig, Rosalva Blanco, Vickie Romero, Melissa Diaz-Musa, Francis Morey, Russell Manzanero, Gerhaldine Morazan, Makenzie Towery, Anna Impellitteri, Matthew Lozier, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is an effective public health measure to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. A previous study in Belize showed gaps in HH practices in hospitals and large polyclinics; however, there are limited national data assessing access to and use of HH resources in smaller outpatient primary care facilities, especially in rural areas.

Methods: In February 2023, facility assessments were conducted at 26 health centers and polyclinics in Belize to assess the availability of HH resources. Of these, 12 pilot healthcare facilities (HCF) were selected for additional evaluation, which included observation of HH practices, hand …

Causes Of Death Across Different Locations In The United States, 2015 To 2022, Taha Mansoor, Daniyal Shahid, Kartik Gupta, Dmitry Abramov, Salim S Virani, Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the leading underlying causes of death across different locations in the USA from 2015 to 2022.

Methods: Data on the leading underlying causes of death in each location of death-including medical outpatient facility or emergency room, medical inpatient facility, medical facility/dead on arrival, decedent's home, hospice facility, and nursing home/long-term care-within the USA in individuals ≥18 years were extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database.

Results: There were 22,236,700 deaths in our studied locations during the study period. Most deaths …

Strategies For The Secondary Prevention Of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Madelyn Hurwitz, Olayinka J Agboola, Abhishek Gami, Marlene S Williams, Salim S Virani, Garima V Sharma, Jaideep Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), such as those with a history of MI or stroke, are at high risk for morbidity and mortality associated with future cardiovascular events. Ideal management of these patients requires a multifactorial strategy for risk factor mitigation and prevention of additional cardiovascular events. Traditional management of secondary prevention patients involves lipid-lowering with statins, blood pressure control, and anti-platelet treatment. Several additional targets have been identified to optimize the secondary prevention of ASCVD, such as further lipid control, inflammation management, lifestyle and weight optimization, strict diabetes control, use of β-blockers, use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, vaccinations, …

Syndromic Forms Of Inherited Retinal Dystrophies: A Comprehensive Molecular Diagnosis Of Consanguineous Pakistani Families Using Capture Panel Sequencing, Aleesha Asghar, Sumbal Wazir, Shehzeen Fatima, Hussan Bilal, Muhammad Shoaib, Saqib Ur Rehman, Sumaira Altaf, Yumei Li, Kiran Afshan, Rui Chen, Sabika Firasat

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) represent a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that involve photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium degeneration. IRDs may occur as an isolated condition or may represent an ocular manifestation of a multisystemic disorder referred as syndromic IRD. To increase the understanding of the molecular determinants of syndromic IRD-related genes in the Pakistani population, we revealed the genetic profile of 13 consanguineous Pakistani families using capture panel sequencing.

Methods: We performed comprehensive molecular testing on 72 IRD segregating Pakistani families using targeted capture panel sequencing of 344 known genes. The pathogenicity of candidate variants …

Global Consensus On Optimal Exercise Recommendations For Enhancing Healthy Longevity In Older Adults (Icsfr), Mikel Izquierdo, Philipe De Souto Barreto, Hidenori Arai, Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari, Eduardo L Cadore, Matteo Cesari, Liang-Kung Chen, Paul M Coen, Kerry S Courneya, Gustavo Duque, Luigi Ferrucci, Roger A Fielding, Antonio García-Hermoso, Luis Miguel Gutiérrez-Robledo, Stephen D R Harridge, Ben Kirk, Stephen Kritchevsky, Francesco Landi, Norman Lazarus, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Emanuele Marzetti, Reshma A Merchant, John E Morley, Kaisu H Pitkälä, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, Leocadio Rodriguez-Mañas, Yves Rolland, Jorge G Ruiz, Mikel L Sáez De Asteasu, Dennis T Villareal, Debra L Waters, Chang Won Won, Bruno Vellas, Maria A Fiatarone Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging, a universal and inevitable process, is characterized by a progressive accumulation of physiological alterations and functional decline over time, leading to increased vulnerability to diseases and ultimately mortality as age advances. Lifestyle factors, notably physical activity (PA) and exercise, significantly modulate aging phenotypes. Physical activity and exercise can prevent or ameliorate lifestyle-related diseases, extend health span, enhance physical function, and reduce the burden of non-communicable chronic diseases including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and chronic respiratory diseases as well as premature mortality. Physical activity influences the cellular and molecular drivers of biological aging, slowing aging rates-a foundational …

Circulating Tumor Hpv Dna, Antibodies To Hpv16 Early Proteins, And Oral Hpv16 Dna As Biomarkers For Hpv-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Screening, Kristina R Dahlstrom, Andrew T Day, Victor M Alvarez, Samantha R Chirinos, Giselle Santillana, Ming Guo, Karen S Anderson, Erich M Sturgis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer rates continue to rise with no effective screening method. Persistent oral oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), antibodies to HPV16 early (E) oncoproteins, and circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) are biomarkers that show promise for use in HPV-related cancer screening.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of biomarkers for HPV-related cancer and their agreement in middle-aged men.

Methods: Men aged 50–64 years from the general population provided oral rinse and blood samples as well as information about demographics, tobacco/alcohol exposure, sexual behavior, and HPV-related disease history. Oral rinse was tested for HPV16 DNA and plasma was tested for HPV16 E …

Tailor Swiftly: Lessons Learned From A Nationwide Implementation Of An Antimicrobial Stewardship Program For Asymptomatic Bacteriuria, Trenton M Haltom, Sophia Braund, Rogelio Hernandez, Larissa Grigoryan, Barbara W Trautner, Eva Amenta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Overtreatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a major cause of antibiotic overuse. We facilitated a nationwide implementation of an ASB antimicrobial stewardship intervention in 41 Veterans Affairs facilities. Twenty-one sites participated in a Virtual Learning Collaborative (VLC) with monthly webinars. We assess what VLC teams learned from one another in these webinars.

Methods: The bi-monthly VLC webinars featured expert presentations and spotlighted 1-2 site teams, asking them to discuss their barriers and facilitators for the intervention. Data come from analyses of descriptive field notes from the webinars and chat transcripts. Field notes were analyzed using the "sort and sift, …

Evaluation Of Real-World Evidence To Assess Effectiveness Outcomes Of Janus Kinase Inhibitors For Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review Of Us Studies, Chandler Gandy, Shadi Bazzazzadehgan, Sebastian Bruera, Yinan Huang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: This review summarized the real-world effectiveness outcomes of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on observational studies.

Methods: A systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, with searches conducted in PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL from each database's inception to June 2, 2023. Studies were included if they evaluated real-world effectiveness outcomes of JAKi for US RA patients. Search terms included "RA", "JAKi", and "real-world". All citations were imported into COVIDENCE platform. Two reviewers independently performed title/abstract screening and full-text eligibility. For each article, study characteristics and effectiveness measures focusing on treatment pattern, clinical response, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) …

Utility Of Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing In The Diagnosis Of Mycobacterial Infections In A Quaternary Care Center, Fernando H Centeno, Todd Lasco, Ahmed M Hamdi, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We examine the performance of microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing on patients admitted to a quaternary care hospital in Houston, Texas. The test was 75.0% sensitive and 97.8% specific for all mycobacterial infections. mcfDNA NGS results led to adjustments in antimicrobial therapy for seven of nine patients with positive results.