Medical Specialties Commons^™

Characterizing The Progression From Mild Cognitive Impairment To Dementia: A Network Analysis Of Longitudinal Clinical Visits, Muskan Garg, Sara Hejazi, Sunyang Fu, Maria Vassilaki, Ronald C Petersen, Jennifer St Sauver, Sunghwan Sohn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: With the recent surge in the utilization of electronic health records for cognitive decline, the research community has turned its attention to conducting fine-grained analyses of dementia onset using advanced techniques. Previous works have mostly focused on machine learning-based prediction of dementia, lacking the analysis of dementia progression and its associations with risk factors over time. The black box nature of machine learning models has also raised concerns regarding their uncertainty and safety in decision making, particularly in sensitive domains like healthcare.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the progression of health conditions, such as chronic diseases and neuropsychiatric symptoms, …

Iodine Contrast Should Be Avoided In Patients With Or At Risk For Thyroid Eye Disease, Jane Spadaro, Brittany Simmons, Alon Kahana

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Anatomy Of Lower Eyelid Fat Pad Vasculature As Found In Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasties, Irene Lee, Nishita Sheth, Evan Black, Christopher Delmarkarian, Julie Woodward

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Ki-67 Expression And Large Cell Content As Prognostic Markers In Mzl: A Multicenter Cohort Study, Natalie S. Grover, Kaitlin Annunzio, Marcus Watkins, Pallawi Torka, Reem Karmali, Andrea Anampa-Guzmán, Timothy S. Oh, Heather Reves, Montreh Tavakkoli, Emily Hansinger, Beth Christian, Colin Thomas, Stefan K. Barta, Praveen Ramakrishnan Geethakumari, Nancy L. Bartlett, Geoffrey Shouse, Adam J. Olszewski, Narendranath Epperla

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) can have varied presentations and pathologic features, including high Ki-67 expression ( > 20%) as well as increased numbers of large B cells (LC). However, there are limited data available demonstrating the prognostic significance of these variables in patients with MZL. In this multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of patients with MZL treated at 10 centers, we evaluated the association between the presence of Ki-67 expression and increased LCs on survival and risk of histologic transformation (HT). A total of 785 patients were included (60% with extranodal MZL, 20% with nodal MZL, and 20% with splenic MZL). Among …

Orbital Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasm (Pecoma): A Case Report And Systematic Review, Jane Spadaro, Christopher Hysell, Robert Folberg, Alon Kahana

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Association Between Mri Findings Of Facet Arthropathy And Synovitis With Health-Related Outcome And Pain Scores Following Therapeutic Lumbar Facet Injections, Michael Stuart Green, Michele Van Hal, Matthew Onimus, Christopher R. Hoffman, Dhruv K. C. Goyal, Valeria Potigailo, Khuram S. Kazmi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Low back pain is a common complaint among adults. The facet joint is a major source of lumbar pain, and therapeutic facet injections have gained popularity as a minimally invasive treatment option. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilization for diagnosing low back pain has increased significantly over the past few decades. Facet synovitis is an entity characterized by edema and inflammatory changes affecting the facet joints, adjacent bone marrow, and surrounding soft tissues. Although its underlying etiology remains poorly understood, recent reports suggest a high incidence in patients with arthropathy and arthritis. It is essential to explore potential correlations …

The Telehealth Shared Decision-Making Coaching And Navigation In Primary Care (Telescope) Intervention: A Study Protocol For Delivering Shared Decision-Making For Lung Cancer Screening By Patient Navigators, Naomi Q P Tan, Lisa M Lowenstein, Elisa E Douglas, Jeanne Silva, Joshua M Bershad, Jinghua An, Sanjay S Shete, Michael B Steinberg, Jeanne M Ferrante, Elizabeth C Clark, Ana Natale-Pereira, Novneet N Sahu, Shirin E Hastings, Richard M Hoffman, Robert J Volk, Anita Y Kinney

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer screening (LCS) can reduce lung cancer mortality but has potential harms for patients. A shared decision-making (SDM) conversation about LCS is required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for LCS reimbursement. To overcome barriers to SDM in primary care, this protocol describes a telehealth decision coaching and navigation intervention for LCS in primary care clinics delivered by patient navigators. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention and its implementation potential, compared with an enhanced usual care (EUC) arm.

METHODS: Patients (n = 420) of primary care clinicians (n …

What Makes An Effective Chief Of Pediatric Cardiology: Insights From Chiefs Of North American Pediatric Programs, Michael E. Kim, Wayne Franklin, Anne M. Dubin, Jeffrey J. Kim, Shubhayan Sanatani, R. Krishna Kumar, Shubhika Srivastava, Thomas R. Kimball, Mark Lewin, Joseph Rossano, Colin J. Mcmahon

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Although the position of a pediatric cardiology chief is often seen as the apex of one's academic career, its roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are not well defined in the literature. This study was done to gain further insight of the role and attributes of a pediatric cardiology chief by surveying those who are currently serving the position across North American centers. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a mixed-methods study with a survey given to North American pediatric cardiology chiefs at programs with fellowship training programs. The survey was a semistructured questionnaire that was independently reviewed by 3 cardiologists. Smaller …

Mitral Valve Prolapse With Syncope: Don’T Judge The Book By Its Cover! - Case Report, Ghadah A. Alarify, Lama A. Alrumaih, Sameer Qetab, Wael Alqarawi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

A 33-year-old female with recurrent syncope episodes showed normal ECG and Holter results, but had mitral valve prolapse (MVP) with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) on an echocardiogram. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) revealed mitral annulus disjunction (MAD) with fibrosis. She received an implantable loop recorder (ILR). Months later, she had a syncope correlating with self-terminating polymorphic VT (PMVT) preceded by narrow complex tachycardia, which was proven to be atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) in an electrophysiology study. Post-ablation, she had no recurrences of syncope. This case highlights the importance of ILR in avoiding unnecessary ICDs in MVP patients with syncope. .

A Saudi Heart Association Position Statement On Obesity And Cardiovascular Disease, Waleed Alhabeeb, Abdulhalim J. Kinsara, Abeer Bakhsh, Adel Tash, Afaf Alshammary, Ali Almasood, Kamal Alghalayini, Mohammed Arafah, Osama Hamdy, Saud Alsifri, Suleiman M Kharabsheh, Wail Alkattan

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: The obesity pandemic is a major public health concern in Saudi Arabia, with significant impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD). This position statement aims to provide an overview of available evidence as well as the recommendations of the Saudi Heart Association on the management of obesity associated with CVD.

Methods: Under the auspices of the Saudi Heart Association, a multidisciplinary expert panel comprised of cardiologists and endocrinologists discussed available evidence and provided recommendations on the management of obesity in CVD. The expert panel discussions occurred between September of 2023 and May of 2024 and also took into consideration …

Enhance Resident Physician Well-Being: How And Why To Implement Opt-Out Wellness Check-Ins, Emily Lisco, Md, Alexandra Pierlott, Lcsw, Meghan O’Meara, Lpc

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Posters

Abstract

• The stress of transitioning to residency can lead to new or worsening depression, anxiety, and burnout among house staff.¹
• Lowering barriers to accessing mental health services and emphasizing preventative mental health care can improve the mental well-being of residents.
• Opt-out programs have been used to target resident physicians and medical students, to increase help-seeking and provide low-barrier access to mental health care and other supports.^2-5
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) is a multi-state not-for profit academic medical system that trains approximately 2,100 house staff/year.
• Opt-out visits began at TJUH as a pilot in 2021 with 2 residency …

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Ocular Oncology, Retinoblastoma (Armor): Experience With A Multiracial Cohort, Vijitha S. Vempuluru, Rajiv Viriyala, Virinchi Ayyagari, Komal Bakal, Patanjali Bhamidipati, Krishna Krishore Dhara, Sandor R. Ferenczy, Carol L. Shields, Swathi Kaliki

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Background: The color variation in fundus images from differences in melanin concentrations across races can affect the accuracy of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) models. Hence, we studied the performance of our AI model (with proven efficacy in an Asian-Indian cohort) in a multiracial cohort for detecting and classifying intraocular RB (iRB). Methods: Retrospective observational study. Results: Of 210 eyes, 153 (73%) belonged to White, 37 (18%) to African American, 9 (4%) to Asian, 6 (3%) to Hispanic races, based on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Policy Directive No.15 and 5 (2%) had no reported race. …

A Student-Community Partnership To Enhance Cancer Research Training, Rebecca J. Melillo, Christiane El Khoury, Amy L. Shaver, Moriah L. Cunningham, Nathalia Benavides, Quezia Lacerda, Felix J. Kim, Amy E. Leader

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of community involvement in research, little formal training in community outreach and engagement (COE) is offered to cancer research trainees. A collaboration between the Office of COE and the Office of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination (CRTEC) at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson led to the COE-CRTEC Trainee Working Group, a unique program in which trainees in cancer research each created a novel COE initiative.

METHODS: Four cancer research trainees were selected to serve as COE Program Liaisons (CPLs), each aligned with one of the four cancer center research programs. Each CPL …

Corneal Neurotization For Neurotrophic Keratitis In Congenital Trigeminal Aplasia: A Case Series, Jane Spadaro, Nahrain Schumaier, Alon Kahana

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis And Management Of Shrimp Allergy, Brenda Bin Su, Warren Blackmon, Chun Xu, Christopher Holt, Nathaniel Boateng, Darren Wang, Vibha Szafron, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Sara Anvari, Carla M. Davis

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Shrimp allergy, the most common food allergy in the United States, affects up to 2% of the population. Its etiology is multi-factorial with the combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. This review summarizes the latest diagnosis and management strategies for shrimp allergy. Currently, the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge is the gold standard for diagnosis. Moreover, mainstream and experimental management strategies include food allergen avoidance, the FDA-approved omalizumab, and oral immunotherapy. Herein, we emphasize the urgent need to develop more effective diagnostic tools and therapies for shrimp allergy.

Neighborhood Effects On Acute Pediatric Asthma: Race, Greenspace, And Pm2.5, Elizabeth Wesley, Nathaniel A. Brunsell, David R. Rahn, Jarron M. Saint Onge, Natalie J. Kane, Kevin F. Kennedy

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Urbanization produces spatially variable landscapes where climatic, environmental, and social systems interact in complex ways that affect public health. Environmental exposure along with the associated health risks are unevenly distributed and communities of color are often disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes. Acute pediatric asthma is the most common chronic condition of childhood in developed nations and is especially prevalent in minority and low-income children. In this study, we analyze the spatial variability of neighborhood-level acute pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits across the Kansas City Metro Area. Using Bayesian negative binomial regression, we describe the relationships and interactions between …

Influence Of Tp53 Gene Mutations And Their Allelic Status In Myelodysplastic Syndromes With Isolated 5q Deletion, Maria Julia Montoro, Laura Palomo, Claudia Haferlach, Pamela Acha, Onyee Chan, Víctor Navarro, Yasuo Kubota, Felicitas Isabel Schulz, Manja Meggendorfer, Robert Briski, Najla Al Ali, Blanca Xicoy, Félix López-Cadenas, Francesc Bosch, Teresa González, Lea Naomi Eder, Andrés Jerez, Yu-Hung Wang, Alessia Campagna, Valeria Santini, Teresa Bernal Del Castillo, Esperanza Such, Hwei-Fang Tien, Nicolás Diaz Varela, Uwe Platzbecker, Detlef Haase, María Díez-Campelo, Matteo Della Porta, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Daniel H Wiseman, Ulrich Germing, Jaroslaw P Maciejewski, Rami S Komrokji, Francesc Sole, Torsten Haferlach, David Valcárcel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutations in the TP53 gene, particularly multihit alterations, have been associated with unfavorable clinical features and prognosis in patients diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Despite this, the role of TP53 gene aberrations in MDS with isolated deletion of chromosome 5 [MDS-del(5q)] remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of TP53 gene mutations and their allelic state in patients with MDS-del(5q). To that end, a comprehensive analysis of TP53 abnormalities, examining both TP53 mutations and allelic imbalances, in 682 patients diagnosed with MDS-del(5q) was conducted. Twenty-four percent of TP53-mutated patients exhibited multihit alterations, whereas the remaining patients displayed monoallelic …

Structural Basis Of The Human Transcriptional Mediator Regulated By Its Dissociable Kinase Module, Ti-Chun Chao, Shin-Fu Chen, Hee Jong Kim, Hui-Chi Tang, Hsiang-Ching Tseng, An Xu, Leon Palao, Subash Khadka, Tao Li, Mo-Fan Huang, Dung-Fang Lee, Kenji Murakami, Thomas G Boyer, Kuang-Lei Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The eukaryotic transcriptional Mediator comprises a large core (cMED) and a dissociable CDK8 kinase module (CKM). cMED recruits RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) and promotes pre-initiation complex formation in a manner repressed by the CKM through mechanisms presently unknown. Herein, we report cryoelectron microscopy structures of the complete human Mediator and its CKM. The CKM binds to multiple regions on cMED through both MED12 and MED13, including a large intrinsically disordered region (IDR) in the latter. MED12 and MED13 together anchor the CKM to the cMED hook, positioning CDK8 downstream and proximal to the transcription start site. Notably, the …

Safety Of Kidney Transplantation From Donors With Hiv, Christine M Durand, Allan Massie, Sander Florman, Tao Liang, Meenakshi M Rana, Rachel Friedman-Moraco, Alexander Gilbert, Peter Stock, Sapna A Mehta, Shikha Mehta, Valentina Stosor, Marcus R Pereira, Michele I Morris, Jonathan Hand, Saima Aslam, Maricar Malinis, Ghady Haidar, Catherine B Small, Carlos A Q Santos, Joanna Schaenman, John Baddley, David Wojciechowski, Emily A Blumberg, Karthik Ranganna, Oluwafisayo Adebiyi, Nahel Elias, Jose A Castillo-Lugo, Emmanouil Giorgakis, Senu Apewokin, Diane Brown, Darin Ostrander, Yolanda Eby, Niraj Desai, Fizza Naqvi, Serena Bagnasco, Natasha Watson, Erica Brittain, Jonah Odim, Andrew D Redd, Aaron A R Tobian, Dorry L Segev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Kidney transplantation from donors with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to recipients with HIV is an emerging practice. It has been performed since 2016 under the U.S. congressional HIV Organ Policy Equity Act and is currently approved for research only. The Department of Health and Human Services is considering expanding the procedure to clinical practice, but data are limited to small case series that did not include donors without HIV as controls.

Methods: In an observational study conducted at 26 U.S. centers, we compared transplantation of kidneys from deceased donors with HIV and donors without HIV to recipients with HIV. …

Case 32-2024: A 72-Year-Old Woman With Dyspnea, Dysphagia, And Dysarthria, Stephanie V Sherman, Lucas X Marinacci, Sandra P Rincon, Elizabeth M Raynor

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Pediatric Cardiac Xenotransplantation And Expanded Access: Ethical Considerations, Daniel J Hurst, Christopher Bobier, Anthony Merlocco, Luz A Padilla, Daniel Rodger, David Cleveland, John D Cleveland

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Due to the current organ shortage waitlist, alternatives to allotransplantation are necessary. Xenotransplantation is currently being pursued as one such alternative in adults in need of kidney or heart transplantation. Cardiac xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig hearts has been conducted twice in adults under the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded access criteria. Because of the shortage of transplantable hearts for children as well as the lack of mechanical circulatory support in this population, pediatric researchers are exploring FDA expanded access in high-risk neonates and infants who lack alternative options for survival. The adult cardiac xenotransplantation experience with …

Bridging Big Data In The Enigma Consortium To Combine Non-Equivalent Cognitive Measures, Eamonn Kennedy, Shashank Vadlamani, Hannah M Lindsey, Pui-Wa Lei, Mary Jo-Pugh, Paul M Thompson, David F Tate, Frank G Hillary, Emily L Dennis, Elisabeth A Wilde, Enigma Clinical Endpoints Working Group Collaborators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Investigators in neuroscience have turned to Big Data to address replication and reliability issues by increasing sample size. These efforts unveil new questions about how to integrate data across distinct sources and instruments. The goal of this study was to link scores across common auditory verbal learning tasks (AVLTs). This international secondary analysis aggregated multisite raw data for AVLTs across 53 studies totaling 10,505 individuals. Using the ComBat-GAM algorithm, we isolated and removed the component of memory scores associated with site effects while preserving instrumental effects. After adjustment, a continuous item response theory model used multiple memory items of varying …

Hidden: A Baker's Dozen Ways In Which Research Reporting Is Less Transparent Than It Could Be And Suggestions For Implementing Einstein's Dictum, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Brian Shaw, Johanna Dwyer, David A Fields, Kevin Fontaine, David Hand, Randy Schekman, Jeffrey Alberts, Julie Locher, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The tutelage of our mentors as scientists included the analogy that writing a good scientific paper was an exercise in storytelling that omitted unessential details that did not move the story forward or that detracted from the overall message. However, the advice to not get lost in the details had an important flaw. In science, it is the many details of the data themselves and the methods used to generate and analyze them that give conclusions their probative meaning. Facts may sometimes slow or distract from the clarity, tidiness, intrigue, or flow of the narrative, but nevertheless they are important …

Immuneapp For Hla-I Epitope Prediction And Immunopeptidome Analysis, Haodong Xu, Ruifeng Hu, Xianjun Dong, Lan Kuang, Wenchao Zhang, Chao Tu, Zhihong Li, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advances in mass spectrometry accelerates the characterization of HLA ligandome, necessitating the development of efficient methods for immunopeptidomics analysis and (neo)antigen prediction. We develop ImmuneApp, an interpretable deep learning framework trained on extensive HLA ligand datasets, which improves the prediction of HLA-I epitopes, prioritizes neoepitopes, and enhances immunopeptidomics deconvolution. ImmuneApp extracts informative embeddings and identifies key residues for pHLA binding. We also present a more accurate model-based deconvolution approach and systematically analyzed 216 multi-allelic immunopeptidomics samples, identifying 835,551 ligands restricted to over 100 HLA-I alleles. Our investigation reveals the effectiveness of the composite model, denoted as ImmuneApp-MA, which integrates mono- …

Acute On Chronic Rheumatic Valvulitis, Natalie K Craik, Joseph Burns, Nirica Borges, Tam T Doan, Amy E Sanyahumbi, Edward J Hickey, Debra L Kearney, Ryan H Rochat, Eyal Muscal, Thomas Glenn

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

An 11-year-old boy presented in distress with tachypnea, holosystolic murmur, and a gallop. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve thickening and severe regurgitation. He required valve replacement with pathology consistent with acute on chronic valvulitis. This case underscores the importance of considering rheumatic heart disease, despite no preceding suspicious history.

Molecular Mechanisms Of Biofilm Formation In Helicobacter Pylori, Kartika Afrida Fauzia, Wiwin Is Effendi, Ricky Indra Alfaray, Hoda M Malaty, Yoshio Yamaoka, Muhammad Mifthussurur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Biofilm formation in

METHODS: We conducted a literature review analysis of the published articles on the

RESULTS: The results showed that biofilm formation starts as adhesion and progresses through micro-colonies, maturation, and dispersion in a planktonic form. Moreover, specific genes modulate each phase of biofilm formation. Few studies have shown that mechanisms, such as quorum sensing and diffusible signal factors, enhance coordination among bacteria when switching from biofilm to planktonic states. Different protein expressions were also observed between planktonic and biofilm strains, and the biofilm architecture was supported by exopolysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and outer membrane vesicles.

CONCLUSIONS: This infrastructure …

Trends In Gaps Of Care For Patients With Congenital Heart Disease: Implications For Social Determinants Of Health And Child Opportunity Index, Abbas H. Zaidi, Adam Alberts, Devyani Chowdhury, Claude Beaty, Benjamin Brewer, Ming Hui Chen, Sarah D. De Ferranti

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lifelong continuity of care is essential for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) to maximize health outcomes; unfortunately, gaps in care (GIC) are common. Trends in GIC and of social determinants of health factors contributing to GIC are poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with CHD, aged 0 to 34 years, who underwent surgery between January 2003 and May 2020, followed up at a pediatric subspeciality hospital. Patients were categorized as having simple, moderate, and complex CHD based on 2018 American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines. Social determinants of health, such …

“It Is What It Is” – The Lived Experience Of Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Axillary Lymph Node Dissection, Eva Vikhe Patil, Anna Forsberg, Carina Wennerholm, Jenny Drott

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The lived experience of women undergoing axillary procedures as part of their breast cancer (BC) treatment remains unexplored. This lack of in-depth understanding could hamper implementation of person-centred care, which is concerning because BC is the most common form of cancer in women. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the lived experiences of women undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) due to BC.

Methods: Twelve women with a mean age of 59 years were interviewed about their lived experiences of axillary procedures as part of their BC treatment. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed …

Institutional Experience Of Lymphoproliferative Disorders With Initial Diagnosis Made Via Fine Needle Aspiration At Otolaryngology Clinic, Alaa S. Hrizat, Jerald Gong, Stacey M. Gargano

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: This study characterizes lymphomas presenting as palpable head and neck masses and evaluates the role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and flow cytometry (FC) in diagnosis.

DESIGN: A 5-year retrospective review of FNAs performed by pathologists in an ENT clinic identified cases with a predominant lymphoid population that lacked an epithelial component. Cytology, FC, and subsequent surgical pathology diagnoses were correlated.

RESULTS: Of 821 FNAs, 154 (19%) met selection criteria. Reactive lymph nodes accounted for 43% (67/154), with most diagnosed as 'negative for malignancy,' except one 'atypical' (ATY) case. Lymphoma was confirmed in 57% (87/154) of cases, categorized as …

Reproduction Has Immediate Effects On Female Mortality, But No Discernible Lasting Physiological Impacts: A Test Of The Disposable Soma Theory, Sharon E Mitchell, Megan Simpson, Lena Coulet, Solenn Gouedard, Catherine Hambly, Juliano Morimoto, David B Allison, John R Speakman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The disposable soma theory (DST) posits that organisms age and die because of a direct trade-off in resource allocation between reproduction and somatic maintenance. DST predicts that investments in reproduction accentuate somatic damage which increase senescence and shortens lifespan. Here, we directly tested DST predictions in breeding and nonbreeding female C57BL/6J mice. We measured reproductive outputs, body composition, daily energy expenditure, and oxidative stress at peak lactation and over lifetime. We found that reproduction had an immediate and negative effect on survival due to problems encountered during parturition for some females. However, there was no statistically significant residual effect on …