Medical Specialties Commons^™

Implementing The Methodology To Generate Diagnostic And Therapeutic Antibodies, Andrea Mariana Carlin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research aimed to establish the methodology for developing monoclonal antibodies at The University of Texas at El Paso. Monoclonal antibodies are indispensable across multiple fields, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology, yet there is a shortage of commercially available antibodies targeting specific proteins or possessing specialized characteristics. To address this gap, three models were selected: a peptide derived from the intracellular protein Schlafen 8 and two cell surface protein receptors: mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and human melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R). These proteins present unique challenges in antibody generation, including issues of accessibility, expression, and specificity.

Throughout …

Comprehensive Community Medicine, Alexander Walther

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Comprehensive Community Medicine (CCM) is a theoretical framework designed to address the complex needs of individuals with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance use disorders (SUDs). Dual diagnosis is highly prevalent, particularly among populations experiencing homelessness, and is associated with poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare service utilization. Structural inequities, including a fractured healthcare system, exacerbate the challenges faced by this vulnerable group. Research indicates that effective care for dually diagnosed individuals requires a layered approach addressing clinical, systemic, legal, and housing barriers.

The development of CCM has been informed by interviews with local stakeholders, including County EMS board …

Chatgpt Vs Expert-Guided Care Pathways For Postesophagectomy Symptom Management, Mohamad K Abou Chaar, Giovanna Grigsby-Rocca, Ming Huang, Shanda H Blackmon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare generative artificial intelligence-initiated care pathways, using ChatGPT, with expert-guided consensus-initiated care pathways from AskMayoExpert (AME) for symptom management of esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy.

METHODS: A formal protocol for development of 9 AME care pathways was followed for specific patient-identified domains after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Domain scores were measured and assessed through the Upper Digestive Disease tool. These care pathways were developed by experts validated by a consensus-driven methodology. ChatGPT was used to answer specific questions similar to the AME care pathway on April 9, 2023, and March 28, 2024. …

Targeting The Glutamine-Arginine-Proline Metabolism Axis In Cancer, Di Wang, Jiang-Jie Duan, Yu-Feng Guo, Jun-Jie Chen, Tian-Qing Chen, Jun Wang, Shi-Cang Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Metabolic abnormalities are an important feature of tumours. The glutamine-arginine-proline axis is an important node of cancer metabolism and plays a major role in amino acid metabolism. This axis also acts as a scaffold for the synthesis of other nonessential amino acids and essential metabolites. In this paper, we briefly review (1) the glutamine addiction exhibited by tumour cells with accelerated glutamine transport and metabolism; (2) the methods regulating extracellular glutamine entry, intracellular glutamine synthesis and the fate of intracellular glutamine; (3) the glutamine, proline and arginine metabolic pathways and their interaction; and (4) the research progress in tumour therapy …

Genetic Ablation Of The Isoform Γ Of Pi3k Decreases Antidepressant Efficacy Of Ketamine In Male Mice, Gabriela N Vaz, Flávia C Turcato, Isabel A V Lima, Franciele F Scarante, Melissa R Araújo, Tamires A V Brigante, Livia C M Rodrigues, Francisco S Guimarães, Jaime E C Hallak, Jose A Crippa, Antonio L Teixeira, Antonio C P De Oliveira, Alline Cristina Campos

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

About one-third of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients demonstrate unresponsiveness to classic antidepressants, and even the clinical efficacy of fast-acting drugs such as ketamine varies significantly among patients with treatment-resistant depression. Nevertheless, the lack of suitable animal models that mimic a possible ketamine-resistant phenotype challenges the understanding of resistance to drug treatment. In this study, we showed that PI3Kγ knock-out (KO) mice do not respond to classical doses of ketamine and classical antidepressants. PI3Kγ KO mice were unresponsive to both the rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects of a single dose of ketamine in the forced swimming test. Additionally, they were …

Biological Validation Of Peak-Width Of Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity As A Vcid Biomarker: The Markvcid Consortium, Alison M Luckey, Saptaparni Ghosh, Chen-Pin Wang, Alexa Beiser, Rebecca Bernal, Zhiguang Li, Djass Mbangdadji, Elyas Fadaee, Haykel Snoussi, Angel Gabriel Velarde Dediós, Hector A Trevino, Monica Goss, Laura J Hillmer, Christopher E Bauer, Adam M Staffaroni, Lara Stables, Marilyn Albert, Jayandra J Himali, Thomas H Mosley, Lars Forsberg, Vilmundur Guðnason, Baljeet Singh, Herpreet Singh, Kristin Schwab, Joel H Kramer, Gary A Rosenberg, Karl G Helmer, Steven M Greenberg, Mohamad Habes, Danny J J Wang, Brian T Gold, Hanzhang Lu, Arvind Caprihan, Myriam Fornage, Lenore J Launer, Konstantinos Arfanakis, Sudha Seshadri, Charles Decarli, Pauline Maillard, Claudia L Satizabal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Peak-width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD), a neuroimaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), has shown excellent instrumental properties. Here, we extend our work to perform a biological validation of PSMD.

METHODS: We included 396 participants from the Biomarkers for Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (MarkVCID-1) Consortium and three replication samples (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology = 6172, Rush University Medical Center = 287, University of California Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Center = 567). PSMD was derived from diffusion tensor imaging using an automated algorithm. We related PSMD to a composite measure …

Physicochemical Property Effects On Immune Modulating Polymeric Nanoparticles: Potential Applications In Spinal Cord Injury, Daniel J. Kolpek, Jaechang Kim, Hisham Mohammed, John C. Gensel, Jonghyuck Park

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer promising potential as therapeutic agents for inflammation-related diseases, owing to their capabilities in drug delivery and immune modulation. In preclinical studies focusing on spinal cord injury (SCI), polymeric NPs have demonstrated the ability to reprogram innate immune cells. This reprogramming results in redirecting immune cells away from the injury site, downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling, and promoting a regenerative environment post-injury. However, to fully understand the mechanisms driving these effects and maximize therapeutic efficacy, it is crucial to assess NP interactions with innate immune cells. This review examines how the physicochemical properties of polymeric NPs influence their modulation of …

Independent Evolution Of Oleate Hydratase Clades In Bacillales Reflects Molecular Convergence, Robert J. Neff, Priscilla C. Lages, Shannon K. Donworth, James D. Brien, Christopher D. Radka

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Oleate hydratase (OhyA), a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of unsaturated fatty acids, has been identified in various Bacillales organisms, including those in the Listeria, Lysinibacillus, Paenibacillus, and Staphylococcus genera. In this study, we combine structural biology with molecular and phylogenetic analyses to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of the OhyA protein family within the Bacillales order. Our evolutionary analysis reveals two distinct OhyA clades (clade I and clade II) within Bacillales that, while sharing catalytic function, exhibit significant genomic and structural differences. Our findings suggest that these OhyA clades originated from independent evolutionary processes through convergent evolution rather than gene …

Forty-Eight-Month Clinical Outcomes Of Patients Over 60 Years Old In A Prospective, Controlled, Multicenter Study Evaluating Two-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty With A Peek-On-Ceramic Artificial Disc, Andrew Park, Richard Guyer, Pierce Nunley, Ashvin Patel, Jad Khalil, James Yue, Arman Khachatryan, K Brandon Strenge, Hyun Bae, Christopher Good, Rick Sasso

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Cervical total disc replacement (cTDR) has gained acceptance as a treatment for symptomatic disc degeneration with symptoms of radiculopathy with/without myelopathy. While clinical outcomes of cTDR have consistently been reported to be similar or superior to those of cervical discectomy and fusion, there are limited reports addressing differences related to patient age. The purpose of this study was to compare the 4-year results of two-level PEEKon-ceramic cervical TDR for patients ≥60 years old to those < 60. Materials and Methods: Data were from the prospective Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) trial for the Simplify cervical disc. The study included 145 patients who completed 4-year follow-up, of which 124 were < 60 years old at the time of surgery and 21 were ≥60 years. All patients were treated for two-level cervical disc degeneration with radiculopathy and/or myelopathy. Clinical outcome was based on the Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck pain and arm pain intensity scores (10-point scale), and neurologic status. Radiographic measures included flexion/extension (F/E) range of motion (ROM), disc space height, heterotopic ossification, and adjacent-level degeneration based on Kellgren-Lawrence grading. Mean 48-month outcomes for patients ≥60 years old were compared to those of patients < 60. Radiographs were evaluated by an independent lab specializing in image assessment. Results: Of the outcomes reviewed, only one statistically significant difference was detected based on age group. The mean change in F/E ROM from baseline to 48 months at the inferior index level was 3.33° (< 60) and -0.19° (≥60) (p=0.01). At the superior index level, the difference was not significant (1.80° (< 60) vs. 0.12° (≥60); p=0.20). The difference in change in global ROM was also not significant (5.67° (< 60) vs. 0.77° (≥60); p=0.07). Statistically significant differences were not seen for the other outcomes assessed: mean change in NDI, mean change in neck pain, mean change in arm pain. Neurologic status was normal in 93.6% of the < 60 age group and 100.0% of the ≥60 group (p=0.24). The mean change in average disc height from baseline to 48 months was similar in both groups. The distribution of Kellgren-Lawrence grades (none, doubtful, minimal, moderate, and severe) was also similar for each age group for the level above and below the surgical levels (p=0.88 above, p=0.49 below) and the rate of radiographically relevant HO (grade 3 or 4) was comparable between age groups (superior level (p=0.49); inferior level (p=0.20)). Through latest follow-up, there were zero secondary surgical interventions in the ≥60 cohort and 9 in the < 60 cohort. Conclusion: This study found that patients ≥60 years of age who were treated with PEEK-on-ceramic TDR at two levels had comparable clinical and radiographic outcomes to patients < 60 years of age through 4-year follow-up. These results affirm that cervical TDR performs similarly in patients ≥60 versus those < 60, although the small sample size of patients ≥60 years of age is a limitation.

What Is The Difference Of A Decade Of Experience? Comparing Two Multi-Center, Prospective, Randomized Clinical Investigational Device Exemption Trials Of An Approved Tdr At Two Contiguous Levels Of The Cervical Spine, Ashvin Patel, Jad Khalil, Brian Perri, Celeste Abjornson, Feheem Sandhu, Armen Khachatryan, Pierce Nunley

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: In 2013, the first Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial for the treatment of Symptomatic Cervical Disc Disease (SCDD) at two contiguous levels was approved for an unconstrained Total Disc Replacement (cTDR). A decade later, this same device was the control arm of a new IDE trial at 2 levels. Although different investigators, the objective of this analysis was to explore if a decade of knowledge demonstrated a significant improvement in patient outcomes compared to the original trial. Materials and Methods: Both studies were prospective, randomized, multi-center, controlled IDE clinical trials with similar inclusion/exclusion criteria and study designs. The …

Exercise Therapy Rescues Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction And Exercise Intolerance In Cardiometabolic Hfpef, Heather Quiriarte, Robert C. Noland, James E. Stampley, Gregory Davis, Zhen Li, Eunhan Cho, Youyoung Kim, Jake Doiron, Guillaume Spielmann, Sujoy Ghosh, Sanjiv J. Shah, Brian A. Irving, David J. Lefer, Timothy D. Allerton

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Exercise intolerance, a hallmark of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) exacerbated by obesity, involves unclear mechanisms related to skeletal muscle metabolism. In a “2-hit” model of HFpEF, we investigated the ability of exercise therapy (voluntary wheel running) to reverse skeletal muscle dysfunction and exercise intolerance. Using state-of-the-art metabolic cages and a multiomic approach, we demonstrate exercise can rescue dysfunctional skeletal muscle lipid and branched-chain amino acid oxidation and restore exercise capacity in mice with cardiometabolic HFpEF. These results underscore the importance of skeletal muscle metabolism to improve exercise intolerance in HFpEF.

Lack Of Association Of First And Second-Line Medication Dosing And Progression To Refractory Status Epilepticus In Children, Cristina Barcia Aguilar, Marta Amengual-Gual, J Nicholas Brenton, Kevin E Chapman, Justice Clark, William D Gaillard, Joshua L Goldstein, Howard P Goodkin, Robert Kahoud, Yi-Chen Lai, Mohamad A Mikati, Lindsey A Morgan, Eric T Payne, Craig A Press, Latania Reece, Tristan T Sands, Kumar Sannagowdara, Theodore Sheehan, Renée A Shellhaas, Robert C Tasker, Mark S Wainwright, Bo Zhang, Tobias Loddenkemper

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Evaluate the relationship between first and second-line medication dosing and progression to refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in children.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from September 2014 to February 2020 of children with status epilepticus (SE) who received at least two antiseizure medications (ASMs). We evaluated the risk of developing RSE after receiving a low total benzodiazepine dose (lower than 100 % of the minimum recommended dose for each benzodiazepine dose administered within 10 min) and a low first non-benzodiazepine ASM dose (lower than 100 % of the minimum recommended dose of non-benzodiazepine ASM given …

Corrigendum To “The Systemic Availability Of Indispensable Amino Acids From Orally Ingested Algal And Legume Protein In Young Children At Risk Of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction” [Am J Clin Nutr 188 (2024) 96–102], Nirupama Shivakumar, Sindhu Kashyap, Farook Jahoor, Sarita Devi, Thomas Preston, Tinku Thomas, Anura V Kurpad

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The authors would like to add a second affiliation for Dr Nirupama Shivakumar. It is as follows: Center for Doctoral Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.

Parental Report Of Indoor Air Pollution Is Associated With Respiratory Morbidities In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Jessica L Rice, Joseph M Collaco, Michael C Tracy, Catherine A Sheils, Lawrence M Rhein, Antonia P Popova, Paul E Moore, Audrey N Miller, Winston M Manimtim, Khanh Lai, Jacob A Kaslow, Lystra P Hayden, Julie L Fierro, Manvi Bansal, Eric D Austin, Brianna Aoyama, Stamatia Alexiou, Gangaram Akangire, Amit Agarwal, Natalie Villafranco, Roopa Siddaiah, Joanne M Lagatta, Mehtap Haktanir Abul, A Ioana Cristea, Christopher D Baker, Steven H Abman, Sharon A Mcgrath-Morrow

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To determine the association between indoor air pollution and respiratory morbidities in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) recruited from the multicenter BPD Collaborative.

Study design: A cross-sectional study was performed among participants < 3 years old in the BPD Collaborative Outpatient Registry. Indoor air pollution was defined as any reported exposure to tobacco or marijuana smoke, electronic cigarette emissions, gas stoves, and/or wood stoves. Clinical data included acute care use and chronic respiratory symptoms in the past 4 weeks.

Results: A total of 1011 participants born at a mean gestational age of 26.4 ± 2.2 weeks were included. Most (66.6%) had severe BPD. More than 40% of participants were exposed to ≥1 source of indoor air pollution. The odds of reporting an emergency department visit (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.18-2.45), antibiotic use (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.12-3.21), or a systemic steroid course (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, …

"Faith, Family, And Friends": Pandemic-Related Coping In Parents Of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Marissa N Baudino, Samantha Garcia Perez, Maeve B O'Donnell, Brenda Duran, Daniel J Desalvo, Faisal Malik, Catherine Pihoker, Katherine Gallagher, Ashley M Butler, Joyce P Yi-Frazier, Abby R Rosenberg, Marisa E Hilliard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique stressors for parents of youth with chronic health conditions including type 1 diabetes (T1D), such as managing youths' diabetes self-management demands without usual routines, changes in interactions with health care system, and concerns about increased health risks related to COVID-19 exposure. While data have been published on how adolescents with T1D coped with pandemic-related stress, little is known about their parents' perspectives. To fill this gap, we explored parents' coping strategies.

Method: At the baseline of a multisite trial of a psychosocial intervention for adolescents with T1D, parents answered an open-ended question, "What is …

Understanding Health-Related Quality Of Life After Hypospadias Repair: A Qualitative Study With Pre-Adolescent Males And Parents, Vinaya Bhatia, Shannon Cannon, Anjali N Patel, Heidi W Brown, Walid A Farhat, Marisa E Hilliard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Hypospadias is a common disease that affects approximately 1 in every 200 live male births in the United States, and long-term studies of individuals who have undergone repair demonstrate complication rates of 15%-70%. The Hypospadias-Specific Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) Conceptual Framework for youth and adults suggests that additional morbidity may be incurred from poor psychological, social, and sexual health. The current study sought to clarify hypospadias-specific HRQOL and care priorities in a pre-pubertal population.

Material and methods: This IRB-approved, semi-structured interview study used rigorous qualitative research methods. Eligible patients were English-speaking 8-12-year-old males with hypospadias and their parents. …

Modification Of A Parent-Report Sleep Scale For Individuals With Cdkl5 Deficiency Disorder: A Psychometric Study, Jacinta M Saldaris, Scott Demarest, Peter Jacoby, Heather E Olson, Kiran Maski, Elia Pestana-Knight, Dana Price, Rajsekar Rajaraman, Bernhard Suter, Judith Weisenberg, Helen Leonard, Eric D Marsh, Tim A Benke, Jenny Downs

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Study objectives: Sleep difficulties are common in CDKL5 deficiency disorder, a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. This study evaluated the factor structure of the Disorders of Initiating and Maintaining Sleep (DIMS), Disorders of Excessive Somnolence (DOES), and Sleep Breathing Disorders domains of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children for CDKL5 deficiency disorder.

Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric study design was used. Data were collected for 125 individuals aged 3 years or older who attended a United States Centers of Excellence clinic or registered with the International CDKL5 Disorder Database.

Results: The median age was 10.3 years (range 3.2-40.7 years) and 105 (84%) …

Performance Of Formulas Included In The Escrs Intraocular Lens Power Calculator, Janusz Skrzypecki, Douglas D Koch, Li Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To compare the refractive prediction errors (PEs) of formulas included in the ESCRS intraocular lens (IOL) power calculator to aid in informed decisions on IOL power selection based on the output of this tool.

Setting: Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Design: Retrospective case-series.

Methods: 748 eyes of 748 patients after implantation of 1 of 3 lenses were included, single-piece: the SN60WF, PCB00/ZCB00 and 3-piece: MA60MA. IOL constants recommended by the calculator were used for the study. We performed analysis for the whole dataset, short (< 22 mm) and long eyes (>25 mm) as well as in subgroups based on the …

International Classification System For Ocular Complications Of Anti-Vegf Agents In Clinical Trials, Marko M Popovic, Michael Balas, Srinivas R Sadda, David Sarraf, Ryan Huang, Sophie J Bakri, Audina Berrocal, Andrew Chang, Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung, Sunir Garg, Roxane J Hillier, Frank G Holz, Mark W Johnson, Peter K Kaiser, Peter J Kertes, Timothy Y Y Lai, Jason Noble, Susanna S Park, Yannis M Paulus, Giuseppe Querques, Aleksandra Rachitskaya, Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, Shohista Saidkasimova, Maria Teresa Sandinha, David H Steel, Hiroko Terasaki, Christina Y Weng, Basil K Williams, Lihteh Wu, Rajeev H Muni

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Complications associated with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapies are reported inconsistently in the literature, thus limiting an accurate evaluation and comparison of safety between studies. This study aimed to develop a standardized classification system for anti-VEGF ocular complications using the Delphi consensus process.

Design: Systematic review and Delphi consensus process.

Participants: Twenty-five international retinal specialists participated in the Delphi consensus survey.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify complications of intravitreal anti-VEGF agent administration based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of anti-VEGF therapy. A comprehensive list of complications was derived from these studies, and this list was subjected to …

The Long Road Of Drug Development For Endometriosis – Pains, Gains, And Hopes, Zian Liao, Diana Monsivais, Martin M Matzuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis, defined by the growth of endometrial tissues outside of the uterine cavity, is a global health burden for ∼200 million women. Patients with endometriosis usually present with chronic pain and are often diagnosed with infertility. The pathogenesis of endometriosis is still an open question; however, tissue stemness and immunological and genetic factors have been extensively discussed in the establishment of endometriotic lesions. Current treatments for endometriosis can be categorized into pharmacological management of hormone levels and surgical removal of the lesions. Both approaches have limited efficacy, with recurrences often encountered; thus, there is no complete cure for the disease …

Late Gadolinium Enhancement And Anomalous Coronary Aortic Origin In A Large Paediatric Cohort, Shagun Sachdeva, Lauren Ferrino, Tam T Doan, Dana Reaves-O'Neal, Stephen Dolgner, Alberto Cipriani, Cristina Basso, Massimo A Padalino, Domenico Corrado, Prakash Masand, Silvana Molossi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Letermovir For Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis Following Alemtuzumab T-Cell Depleted Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant, Ibrahim N Muhsen, Kristen E Shaver, Tao Wang, Mengfen Wu, Premal Lulla, Carlos A Ramos, Rammurti T Kamble, Helen E Heslop, George Carrum, Laquisa C Hill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In vivo T-cell depletion (TCD) using alemtuzumab decreases the risk of Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT). However, this approach increases the risk of infections post-allo-HSCT, including Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Letermovir is approved for the use in CMV prophylaxis post-allo-HSCT. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of letermovir in patients receiving alemtuzumab. This is a single-center retrospective study describing our institutional experience using letermovir in recipients of alemtuzumab TCD allo-HSCT from unrelated donors (URD). The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of significant CMV infection (defined as viremia leading to preemptive antiviral therapy …

Reading Tea Leaves: Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate For Targeting Atrial Fibrosis, Adeniyi Gbenga Adeleye, Mihail G Chelu, Na Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Testosterone Acts Through The Membrane Protein Gprc6a To Cause Cardiac Edema In Zebrafish Embryos, Vahid Zadmajid, Shayan Shahriar, Daniel A Gorelick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Androgens are classically thought to act through intracellular androgen receptors (AR/NR3C4), but they can also trigger non-genomic effects via membrane proteins. Although several membrane androgen receptors have been characterized in vitro, their functions in vivo remain unclear. Using a chemical-genetic screen in zebrafish, we found that GPRC6A, a G-protein-coupled receptor, mediates non-genomic androgen actions during embryonic development. Exposure to androgens (androstanedione, DHT and testosterone) caused cardiac edema or tail curvature in wild-type embryos, as well as in ar mutants, suggesting AR-independent pathways. We then mutated putative membrane androgen receptors [gprc6a, hcar1-4 and zip9 (slc39a9)] and found that only gprc6a mutants …

Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index And Charlson Comorbidity Index Predict Mortality, Intensive Care Unit Admission, And Length Of Hospital Stay In Patients With Fournier's Gangrene: An Analysis Of 264 Consecutive Patients, Nicholas Hauser, Chenlin Huang, Girija Vaidya, Timothy Chrusciel, Krithika Narayana Kumarasan, John Culhane, Sameer Siddiqui

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis. The Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI), in conjunction with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), has been used as a mortality predictor during hospitalization. Patients with diabetes have also been shown to be at an increased risk for the development of FG. This study explores the potential of using FGSI, CCI, and patient diabetes status in predicting more extensive patient outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission and length of hospital stay.

Methods: From 2013 to 2023, inpatient admissions with the diagnosis of FG were selected from the EPIC Clarity database …

Letter To The Editor Regarding ‘Unique Pharmacodynamic Properties And Low Abuse Liability Of The Μ-Opioid Receptor Ligand (S)-Methadone’, Marco Pappagallo, Thomas R Kosten, Charles W Gorodetzky, Frank J Vocci, Frank L Sapienza, Sara De Martin, Stefano Comai, Andrea Mattarei, Charles E Inturrisi, Paolo L Manfredi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Trauma Exposure And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder On Perceived Social Support In Youth: A Longitudinal Investigation, Erin Logue, John Leri, Jeffrey D Shahidullah, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Paul J Rathouz, Josh M Cisler, D Jeffrey Newport, Karen Dineen Wagner, Charles B Nemeroff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The aim of this study was to examine relationships among trauma burden, post-traumatic stress disorder, and perceived social support in a large, diverse group of trauma-exposed children and adolescents followed longitudinally. Specifically, we tested the social erosion hypothesis (i.e., mental health challenges negatively affect the quality of social relationships and contribute to reduced social support over time) using a sample of 1,829 trauma-exposed youth (aged 8-21) recruited through the multi-site Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network. Youth who reported more trauma burden (i.e., a greater number of traumas) perceived significantly lower levels of social support from family and peers, and those …

Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis In Psychiatry: Focus On Depressive Disorders, I-Ching Wang, Shelly A Buffington, Ramiro Salas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose of review: Gut microbiota contribute to several physiological processes in the host. The composition of the gut microbiome is associated with different neurological and neurodevelopmental diseases. In psychiatric disease, stress may be a major factor leading to gut microbiota alterations. Depressive disorders are the most prevalent mental health issues worldwide and patients often report gastrointestinal symptoms. Accordingly, evidence of gut microbial alterations in depressive disorders has been growing. Here we review current literature revealing links between the gut microbiome and brain function in the context of depression.

Recent findings: The gut-brain axis could impact the behavioral manifestation of depression …

Global And Risk-Group Stratified Well-Being And Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Adults: Results From The International Coh-Fit Study, Marco Solmi, Trevor Thompson, Andrés Estradé, Agorastos Agorastos, Joaquim Radua, Samuele Cortese, Elena Dragioti, Davy Vancampfort, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Harald Aschauer, Monika Schlögelhofer, Elena Aschauer, Andres Schneeberger, Christian G Huber, Gregor Hasler, Philippe Conus, Kim Q Do Cuénod, Roland Von Känel, Gonzalo Arrondo, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Philip Gorwood, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Marie-Odile Krebs, Elisabetta Scanferla, Taishiro Kishimoto, Golam Rabbani, Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka, Paolo Brambilla, Angela Favaro, Akihiro Takamiya, Leonardo Zoccante, Marco Colizzi, Julie Bourgin, Karol Kamiński, Maryam Moghadasin, Soraya Seedat, Evan Matthews, John Wells, Emilia Vassilopoulou, Ary Gadelha, Kuan-Pin Su, Jun Soo Kwon, Minah Kim, Tae Young Lee, Oleg Papsuev, Denisa Manková, Andrea Boscutti, Cristiano Gerunda, Diego Saccon, Elena Righi, Francesco Monaco, Giovanni Croatto, Guido Cereda, Jacopo Demurtas, Natascia Brondino, Nicola Veronese, Paolo Enrico, Pierluigi Politi, Valentina Ciappolino, Andrea Pfennig, Andreas Bechdolf, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Kai G Kahl, Katharina Domschke, Michael Bauer, Nikolaos Koutsouleris, Sibylle Winter, Stefan Borgwardt, Istvan Bitter, Judit Balazs, Pál Czobor, Zsolt Unoka, Dimitris Mavridis, Konstantinos Tsamakis, Vasilios P Bozikas, Chavit Tunvirachaisakul, Michael Maes, Teerayuth Rungnirundorn, Thitiporn Supasitthumrong, Ariful Haque, Andre R Brunoni, Carlos Gustavo Costardi, Felipe Barreto Schuch, Guilherme Polanczyk, Jhoanne Merlyn Luiz, Lais Fonseca, Luana V Aparicio, Samira S Valvassori, Merete Nordentoft, Per Vendsborg, Sofie Have Hoffmann, Jihed Sehli, Norman Sartorius, Sabina Heuss, Daniel Guinart, Jane Hamilton, John Kane, Jose Rubio, Michael Sand, Ai Koyanagi, Aleix Solanes, Alvaro Andreu-Bernabeu, Antonia San José Cáceres, Celso Arango, Covadonga M Díaz-Caneja, Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei, Eduard Vieta, Javier Gonzalez-Peñas, Lydia Fortea, Mara Parellada, Miquel A Fullana, Norma Verdolini, Eva Andrlíková, Karolina Janků, Mark J Millan, Mihaela Honciuc, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Igor Łoniewski, Jerzy Samochowiec, Łukasz Kiszkiel, Maria Marlicz, Paweł Sowa, Wojciech Marlicz, Georgina Spies, Brendon Stubbs, Joseph Firth, Sarah Sullivan, Asli Enez Darcin, Hatice Aksu, Nesrin Dilbaz, Onur Noyan, Momoko Kitazawa, Shunya Kurokawa, Yuki Tazawa, Alejandro Anselmi, Cecilia Cracco, Ana Inés Machado, Natalia Estrade, Diego De Leo, Jackie Curtis, Michael Berk, Andre F Carvalho, Philip Ward, Scott Teasdale, Simon Rosenbaum, Wolfgang Marx, Adrian Vasile Horodnic, Liviu Oprea, Ovidiu Alexinschi, Petru Ifteni, Serban Turliuc, Tudor Ciuhodaru, Alexandra Bolos, Valentin Matei, Dorien H Nieman, Iris Sommer, Jim Van Os, Therese Van Amelsvoort, Ching-Fang Sun, Ta-Wei Guu, Can Jiao, Jieting Zhang, Jialin Fan, Liye Zou, Xin Yu, Xinli Chi, Philippe De Timary, Ruud Van Winkel, Bernardo Ng, Edilberto Peña De León, Ramon Arellano, Raquel Roman, Thelma Sanchez, Larisa Movina, Pedro Morgado, Sofia Brissos, Oleg Aizberg, Anna Mosina, Damir Krinitski, James Mugisha, Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani, Farshad Sheybani, Masoud Sadeghi, Samira Hadi, Serge Brand, Antonia Errazuriz, Nicolas Crossley, Dragana Ignjatovic Ristic, Carlos López-Jaramillo, Dimitris Efthymiou, Praveenlal Kuttichira, Roy Abraham Kallivayalil, Afzal Javed, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Bawo James, Omonefe Joy Seb-Akahomen, Jess Fiedorowicz, Jeff Daskalakis, Lakshmi N Yatham, Lin Yang, Tarek Okasha, Aïcha Dahdouh, Jari Tiihonen, Jae Il Shin, Jinhee Lee, Ahmed Mhalla, Lotfi Gaha, Takoua Brahim, Kuanysh Altynbekov, Nikolay Negay, Saltanat Nurmagambetova, Yasser Abu Jamei, Mark Weiser, Christoph U Correll

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

International studies measuring wellbeing/multidimensional mental health before/ during the COVID-19 pandemic, including representative samples for >2 years, identifying risk groups and coping strategies are lacking. COH-FIT is an online, international, anonymous survey measuring changes in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-score, and their associations with COVID-19 deaths/restrictions, 12 a-priori defined risk individual/cumulative factors, and coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic (26/04/2020-26/06/2022) in 30 languages (representative, weighted non-representative, adults). T-test, χ2, penalized cubic splines, linear regression, correlation analyses were conducted. Analyzing 121,066/142,364 initiated surveys, WHO-5/P-score worsened intra-pandemic by 11.1±21.1/13.2±17.9 points (effect size d=0.50/0.60) (comparable results in representative/weighted non-probability samples). Persons with …

Make A Wish - Wellness Initiative Supporting Health Mini-Grants In An Academic Medical Department, Joslyn W Fisher, John C Berens, Sandra B Haudek

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: With rising burnout among health professionals, academic medical centers are faced with the challenge of sustaining well-being.

Activity: An academic medical department established the Wellness Initiative Supporting Health (WISH) small grant program to support locally developed wellness-related activities. This assessment describes the feasibility and early outcomes of implementing the WISH projects.

Results: Between 2018 and 2022, 36 of 69 (52%) proposals received funding. Projects focused on individual wellness strategies, team-building activities, and networking events. Grant recipients reported enhanced wellness for activity participants and strong agreement that the program should continue.

Discussion: Implementing low-cost, sustainable wellness initiatives at a "local" …