Medical Specialties Commons^™

Urology Resident Associate: A Promising Alternative For The Unmatched Urology Applicant, Jayson Kemble, Grace Handleman, Chad A. Lagrange, Christopher M. Deibert

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Demand for urology residency spots frequently outstrips supply, with unmatched urology applicants having limited options while waiting for reapplication. We aim to demonstrate our experience with a year-long Urology Resident Associate (URA) position, which merges the role of junior resident and APP with the mission to reduce resident workload and further the training of an unmatched urology applicant.

Methods. A year-long, non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited URA position was created at our institution in 2023 and filled by an unmatched applicant to our program. The URA was given all the roles and responsibilities of a …

Associations Between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness And Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Alexa E. Nichols, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Jorge Igor Zwir, Andrew Tsin, Lorena Flores-Hernandez, Eron G. Manusov, Gladys E. Maestre, Amin Ibrahim, Tori Sayers, Jesus Melgarejo

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a major vascular contributor to cognitive impairment and dementia. CSVD affects the deep and subcortical cerebral white matter.^1,2 The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and cerebral white matter share a common embryological origin, with RNFL ganglion cell axons structurally analogous to cerebral white matter tracts.^3,4 This connection creates an opportunity to investigate whether structural changes in the RNFL reflect pathological changes in the cerebral white matter.^3,5,6 While most studies examining the relationship between RNFL and CSVD focus on specific comorbidities (e.g., patients with stroke or with cognitive impairment)^2,6,7,8, …

Decreased Risk Of Incident Cancer Among Patients With Vitiligo: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Rahib K. Islam, Ivan D. Nguyen, Kazi N. Islam, Lacey M. Falgout, Jonathan M. Joseph, Collins T. Langley, Christopher J. Haas

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Current States In Understanding Oligodendroglia-Mediated Neurological Issues In Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (Nf1), Benjamin E Aghoghovwia, Cheng-En Shen, Sabiha Bano, Nandini Shyamala, Alesandra Echeandia Marrero, Khushboo Irshad, Samer Sharafaldin, Nicole M Brossier, Yuan Pan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is among the most common neurogenetic disorders and is associated with an increased risk of developing tumors in the nervous system. Additionally, up to 80% of patients with NF1 experience neurological complications, including deficits in attention, memory, and executive function. Significant effort has been dedicated to studying how NF1 mutations autonomously dysregulate neuronal function. Increasing evidence indicates that NF1 mutations also dysregulate the oligodendroglial lineage that contributes to neurological issues in NF1. Here, we summarize our current understanding of how NF1 mutations impact the oligodendroglial lineage homeostasis and plasticity. We also discuss gaps in knowledge, potential …

Functional Outcomes In Pediatric Patients On Renal Replacement Therapy In A Worldwide Registry, Kristin J Dolan, Katja M Gist, Abby Basalely, Gabriella Bottari, Abhishek Chakraborty, Mihaela Damian, Dana Fuhrman, Denise C Hasson, Catherine Joseph, Dave Kwiatkowski, Susan Martin, Jenn Nhan, Nicolas Ollberding, David T Selewski, Danielle Soranno, Michelle C Starr, Amy Strong, Sameer Thadani, Huaiyu Zang, Ayse Akcan Arikan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and hypothesis: Mortality rates of children supported with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) have improved, yet morbidity remains high. We aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of children receiving CRRT using Functional Status Scale (FSS). We hypothesized that children receiving CRRT will have worse FSS compared with their baseline and acquire new morbidity at hospital discharge and 6 and 12 months post-discharge, and that lack of renal recovery will contribute to worsening functional status.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review from The Worldwide Exploration of Renal Replacement Outcomes Collaborate in Kidney Disease (WE-ROCK), an international multi-center registry. Twenty-eight …

Whole-Blood Cellular Responses: A Promising Indicator Of Sars-Cov-2 Immunity Compared To Serology, Lucas M. Zhou, Elizabeth H. Duncan, Rupsa C. Boelig, Margaret Costanzo, Jeffrey R. Currier, Elke S. Bergmann-Leitner

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Background: Currently available immunological tests for SARS-CoV-2 assess only antibody responses. Despite the growing evidence that T cells play a crucial role in protection, especially against emerging viral variants, no routine test is available to determine T cell immunity. The prognostic value of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies for determining whether individuals are immune and protected against disease remains uncertain. This is in part due to the following: (a) specificity and limitations such as the sensitivity of antibody tests, and (b) the lack of correlation between antibody titers (quantity) and the antiviral function of antibodies (quality). Approximately a quarter of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with …

Electromyography Normalization And Assessment Methods For Muscle Activity: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Dariusz Tadeusz Skalski, Magdalena Prończuk, Kinga Łosińska, Ewelina Lulińska, Joanna Motowidło, Justyna Żurowska-Cegielska, Piotr Aschenbrenner, Mieszko Bartosz-Jefferies, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Electromyographic (EMG) normalization is essential for accurately measuring muscle activity across different populations and tasks. Various methods, including Maxi-mum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) and Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA), have been employed to improve measurement reliability. However, discrepancies in results across studies necessitate a comprehensive review of normalization techniques. Objective: This report analyzed 40 research studies to evaluate EMG normalization and assessment methods, focusing on their reliability, applicability, and effectiveness across healthy and clinical populations. Methods: The studies employed a range of normalization techniques, including MVIC, submaximal contractions, task-specific approaches, and advanced methods such as RQA and Pre-Fatigue Maximal Voluntary …

Association Of Estimated Plasma Volume Status With Invasive Hemodynamics And Adverse Clinical Outcomes In Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension And Chronic Kidney Disease, Andrew Geller, Jose Manuel Martinez Manzano, Esteban Kosak Lopez, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, John Malin, Raul Leguizamon, Tara John, Rasha Khan, Ian Mclaren, Alexander Prendergast, Simone Jarrett, Kevin Bryan Lo, Christian Witzke

Einstein Health Papers

Identifying noninvasive measures to assess intravascular volume status and risk stratify patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is needed. We assessed the predictive value of estimated plasma volume status (ePVS) using the Strauss-derived Duarte formula in PH-CKD patients. This single-center retrospective cohort analysis included patients with PH and CKD Stage 3b (CKD3b), Stage 4 (CKD4), or Stage 5 (CKD5) who underwent right heart catheterization from 2018 to 2023. Patients were categorized into low ePVS (< 6.2) and high ePVS (≥ 6.2) using Youden's J statistics. We used the Cox-proportional hazards model, adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, to investigate the association between …

Evaluation Of Image Quality In Mobile Cone-Beam Ct With Dose Modulation Using Automatic Exposure Control: A Phantom Study, Keita Okazaki, Wenchao Cao, Reza Taleei, Firas Mourtada, Jun Li, Karen Mooney, Pramila Rani Anne, Yingxuan Chen

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The integration of mobile cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) into brachytherapy workflows offers clinical advantages such as immediate verification of applicator placement and adaptive treatment planning. These benefits require sufficient image quality to delineate applicators, target volumes, and organs at risk. A systematic evaluation of automatic exposure control (AEC) settings, radiation dose, and image quality is essential to ensure clinically acceptable imaging while minimizing patient exposure.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the characteristics of AEC and its impact on image quality and radiation dose in a mobile CBCT system used for brachytherapy.

METHODS: The Elekta ImagingRing CBCT system was used to …

Buprenorphine/Naloxone Therapy For Opioid Withdrawal, Medication-Assisted Treatment, And Pain Management In An Adolescent Patient, Sindhu H. Manjunath, Michael Spickler, Annas Aljassem

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Opioid addiction is a chronic disorder centered around craving and compulsive use of prescription or non-medical opioids. The last three decades have seen a dramatic increase in opioid use order (OUD) in the United States, with about 87,000 adolescents in the 12–17 age group estimated to have OUD in 2019. Less than 10% receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT). We present a case of a 17-year-old male who received treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) for withdrawal management, MAT and acute pain.

Case Description: A 17-year-old-male with a history of anxiety, depression, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presented to the emergency department (ED) …

Serum Factors In Primary Podocytopathies, Edward J. Filippone, John L. Farber

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

Primary podocytopathies, including minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), are caused by a circulating factor or factors injurious to the podocyte. An immunologic origin seems likely based on responsiveness to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitors targeting T-cells and rituximab targeting B-cells. Potential non-antibody-mediated circulating factors have been identified, including cardiotrophin-like cytokine 1, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and angiopoietin-like 4, among others. More recent research supports a primary antibody pathogenesis, with anti-nephrin antibodies found in a significant percentage of cases. Such antibodies also predict recurrence after transplantation. Other potential antigenic targets besides nephrin include …

Microtia, Peng You, Yi-Chun Liu, Caitlin Symonette

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

The Evaluation Of Variants Within Eight Collagen Genes Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1, Col5a1, Col11a1, Col15a1, Col22a1, And Col27a1 And A Risk Of Non-Contact Knee Ligament Rupture In Elite Handball Players: A Case-Control Study, Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik, Andrzej Mastalerz, Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Monika Johne, Alison V. September, Aleksandra Garbacz, Katarzyna Komar, Ewelina Maculewicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Knee ligament ruptures are common injuries among athletes. While most previous studies examined single collagen gene polymorphisms, few have investigated haplotype-level associations across multiple genes, particularly in elite handball players. Materials and methods: This case-control study analyzed variants in eight collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1) in 103 elite Polish handball players with non-contact knee ligament rupture and 226 matched controls. Results: The COL22A1 rs11784270 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.88, p = 0.01), with the strongest effect in the …

Outcomes Of The Modified Cabrol Technique In Aortic Root Replacement: Early And Midterm Experience, Nayeem Nasher, Joshua R. Chen, Purab Kothari, Colin King, Jacqueline Mcgee, Vishal Shah, Saarah Khairi, Konstadinos A. Plestis

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The modified Cabrol technique has been associated with excellent graft patency. However, prior studies were limited to patients largely on long-term anticoagulation. We sought to analyze outcomes in patients primarily managed without mechanical prostheses.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent aortic root replacement by a single surgeon from 2014 to 2024. Patients who underwent reimplantation of one or both coronary ostia using the modified Cabrol technique with separate interposition grafts were identified. Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were reported. Predictors of mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards, and overall survival was reported using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: …

Acute Care Of Patients With Moderate Respiratory Distress: Recommendations From An American College Of Emergency Physicians Expert Panel., Christopher W Baugh, Jim F Neuenschwander, Jesslyn Lenox, Jennifer Hoh, Kara Ward, Sara Muramoto, John Casey, Antonio Anzueto, Hajirah Ishaq, Jared Mount, Peter M Deblieux

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

INTRODUCTION: Patients with respiratory distress are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Efforts to assess, initiate treatments, and stabilize these patients require a systematic and rapid response. Emergency physicians need a comprehensive and efficient approach for evaluating, treating, and managing patients presenting to the ED with moderate respiratory distress.

METHODS: The American College of Emergency Physicians convened an expert panel of academic and community emergency physicians, critical care specialists, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, and pharmacists to develop and subsequently disseminate consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate respiratory distress presenting to the ED.

RESULTS: A digital …

The Association Between Glp-1 Receptor Agonist Use And Gastroparesis In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Scoping Review, Daniela Lizbeth Avilez, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Poster Category:  Non-sponsored

Level of Evidence:  Level V

Introduction:  GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), widely used for glycemic control and weight management in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), slow gastric motility.

Reports of “gastroparesis” in GLP-1 RA users raise the question whether this reflects reversible pharmacologic effects or true diabetic autonomic neuropathy. This distinction matters for podiatric physicians, as gastroparesis indicates systemic autonomic dysfunction that parallels peripheral neuropathy, impaired wound healing, and heightened foot ulcer risk. Most prior studies rely on symptoms rather than validated gastric emptying (GE) measures.

Aim:  To evaluate the association between GLP-1 RA use and gastroparesis …

When To Tap: Complex Febrile Seizure With Atypical Course As Early Presentation Of Hsv-1 Meningoencephalitis, Isabella Comsa, Sindhu H. Manjunath, Elise Gross, Rawad Obeid, Graham Krasan

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Febrile seizures have a prevalence of 2-5% among children ages 6-60 months. Less than 1% of complex febrile seizures without meningeal signs are associated with bacterial or viral meningitis. Current literature supports limiting routine lumbar puncture in this population. We present a case of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) encephalitis presenting with complex febrile seizure, who progressed to cerebritis requiring decompressive craniectomy, and discuss indications for further diagnostic evaluation.

Case Description: 2-year-old male with a history of simple febrile seizure presenting with a 10 minute tonic-clonic seizure with right-sided gaze deviation. He had tactile fever and low energy at home …

Evolving Management In Pediatric Appendicitis: A 14-Year Review Of Ketorolac, Opioid Use, And Imaging Trends, Sahithi Pemmasani, Ryan T. Davis, Margaret Menoch, Nathan M. Novotny

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common pediatric emergency requiring timely diagnosis and effective pain management. This study evaluates trends in ketorolac use, opioid prescribing, and imaging modalities in pediatric appendicitis cases, addressing concerns about ketorolac’s role in diagnostic accuracy and opioid reduction.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2,294 pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for suspected appendicitis from 2010 to 2023 was conducted. Data included administration of ketorolac, opioids, and non-opioid analgesics, as well as imaging use (ultrasound [US] vs. computed tomography [CT]). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and chi-square tests.

Results: Ketorolac use increased significantly from 1.5% in 2010 to …

Opportunities And Barriers To Engaging Caregivers In Firearm Suicide Prevention: Findings From Focus Groups With Caregivers Of Veterans., Katherine Macwilliams, John Marmion, Dee Blascyk, Sharon Urbina, Rachel Moyers, Gala True

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Firearms are involved in more than 70% of U.S. Veteran suicides. Caregivers, defined as family members or concerned significant others, can play an important role in firearm suicide prevention through initiating conversations about secure firearm storage with Veterans. Our objective was to explore caregivers' experiences with lethal means safety (LMS) conversations and identify perceived barriers to caregivers discussing LMS with healthcare providers and with Veterans. Methods: We conducted focus groups with 32 caregivers with experience caring for a Veteran at risk for suicide. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified three primary themes: 1) caregivers recognize …

Screw Diameter And Healing Outcomes In Jones Fractures: A Scoping Review, Merlin Sajeev, Jessica Sima, Srilalitha Lanka, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: Jones fractures occur at the metaphyseal–diaphyseal junction of the fifth metatarsal and are prone to delayed or nonunion due to limited perfusion and high mechanical stress. Intramedullary (IM) screw fixation is the standard operative treatment, yielding higher union rates than conservative management. There is no clear consensus on the influence of screw size on healing outcomes.

Aim: To examine the impact of IM screw diameter on union rates in Jones fracture fixation.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed with the search term: “"Screw" AND "Diameter" AND "Union" AND "Jones Fractures"”. Articles published between 2015 …

Evaluating Trending Topics Published In The Journal Of Foot And Ankle Surgery, Sarah Weisbrodt, Asad Mustafa, Demian Rodriguez, Naohiro Shibuya

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: As the field of podiatry advances, it is valuable to identify the areas of research that receive the greatest focus. Evaluating popular topics published in podiatric medicine and surgery peer-reviewed journals helps us consider current trends in procedures, surgeon preferences, and current interest in our profession.

Aim: To evaluate current trends in podiatric medicine and surgery through compiling topics published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (JFAS) and their frequency.

Methods: JFAS was selected for our analysis as it has the highest impact factor out of the indexed journals in our profession. We used Scopus to identify …

Dermatology Match Disparities: Analyzing Osteopathic Vs. Allopathic Student Outcomes Post-Acgme/Aoa Single Accreditation System (2020-2024)., Leo Wan, Karandeep Bawa, Aileen Park, Haaris Kadri, Austin Cusick, Shannon C Trotter

Medical Education Articles

CONTEXT: Dermatology remains one of the most competitive medical specialties, with successful candidates often demonstrating outstanding academic performance, extensive research experience, and strong letters of recommendation. The integration of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) into a single accreditation system in 2020 was intended to streamline residency training, but it has raised concerns about how Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) applicants will perform in dermatology residency match.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the differences in DO and MD match rates following the single graduate medical education (GME) accreditation system, focusing on the match …

Kmt2d Temporally Activates Neuronal Transcriptional Factor Genes To Mediate Cerebellar Granule Cell Differentiation, Shilpa S Dhar, Kyung-Pil Ko, Jinho Jang, Calena Brown-Abel, Tao Lin, Sharad Awasthi, Kaifu Chen, Roy V Sillitoe, Jae-Il Park, Min Gyu Lee

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Spatiotemporal gene expression is the fundamental feature of cellular differentiation, including neuron differentiation. The epigenetic mechanism underlying spatiotemporal gene regulation during in vivo neuron differentiation remains largely unknown. Granule cells (GCs) constitute the vast majority of neurons in the cerebellum, which contains most of neurons in the brain. Here, we show that

Association Between Therapeutic Alliance And Clinical Outcomes In Virtual Telepsychiatry: A Retrospective Analysis Of Data From Talkiatry, Cheryl Person, Nathaniel David Phillips, Kartik Venkatachalam, Georgia Gaveras

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Given the increasing demand for accessible mental health services, fully virtual telepsychiatry has become a vital component of modern health care delivery. Therapeutic alliance, the collaborative and affective bond between patients and therapists, is a well-established predictor of clinical outcomes in traditional face-to-face and teletherapy. However, the relationship between therapeutic alliance and clinical outcomes in an outpatient telepsychiatry setting remains less understood.

Objective: Our primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between therapeutic alliance and clinical outcomes for depression and anxiety in an outpatient telepsychiatry practice.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from treatment-seeking adults receiving services from Talkiatry, …

Aging In Mice Alters Regionally Enriched Striatal Astrocytes, Kay E Linker, Violeta Duran-Laforet, Matthias Ollivier, Xinzhu Yu, Dorothy P Schafer, Baljit S Khakh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aging affects multiple organs and within the brain drives distinct molecular changes across different cell types. The striatum encodes motor behaviors that decline with age, but our understanding of how cells within the striatum change remains incomplete. Using single-cell RNA sequencing from young and aged mice we identify molecularly distinct astrocyte subtypes. We show that astrocytes change significantly with age, exhibiting downregulation of genes, reduced diversity, and a shift to more homogenous inflammatory transcriptomic profiles. By exploring where striatal astrocyte subtypes are located with single-cell resolution, we map astrocytes enriched in dorsal, medial, and ventral striatum. Age increases inflammatory marker …

Comparison Of Imaging Based Single-Cell Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics Profiling Platforms Using Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tumor Samples, Nejla Ozirmak Lermi, Max Molina Ayala, Sharia Hernandez, Wei Lu, Khaja Khan, Alejandra Serrano, Idania Lubo, Leticia Hamana, Katarzyna Tomczak, Sean Barnes, Jinzhuang Dou, Qingnan Liang, Rti Team, Maria Gabriela Raso, Ximing Tang, Mei Jiang, Beatriz Sanchez-Espiridion, Annikka Weissferdt, John Heymach, Jianjun Zhang, Boris Sepesi, Tina Cascone, Anne Tsao, Mehmet Altan, Reza Mehran, Don Gibbons, Ignacio Wistuba, Cara Haymaker, Ken Chen, Luisa M Solis Soto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Imaging-based spatial transcriptomics (ST) is evolving as a pivotal technology in studying tumor biology and associated microenvironments. However, the strengths of the commercially available ST platforms in studying spatial biology have not been systematically evaluated using rigorously controlled experiments. We use serial 5 μm sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma and pleural mesothelioma samples in tissue microarrays to compare the performance of the ST platforms (CosMx, MERFISH, and Xenium (uni/multi-modal)) in reference to bulk RNA sequencing, multiplex immunofluorescence, GeoMx, and hematoxylin and eosin staining data. In addition to an objective assessment of automatic cell segmentation and phenotyping, we …

Survival Impact And Sociodemographic Correlates Of Colon Cancer Surgery, Refusal, Paola Berrios Jimenez, Angel Aguayo Merly, Ramin Shekouhi, Berkay Demirors, Jade C. Bowers, Vishal Abhimutt Mahesh, Anjali Yadav, Bansi P. Savaliya, Reed Popp, Syeda Hoorulain Ahmed, Esinam Ekpeh, Guido Chiriboga, Emmanuel Gabriel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background/Aim: Surgical treatment for colon cancer is often curative when diagnosed early. This study evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics and survival outcomes associated with refusal of surgery among patients with colon cancer. The objective was to identify disparities to improve patient outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) data from 2004 to 2019, including 1,048,575 patients with colon cancer. Variables analyzed included demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment facility type, and geographic and socioeconomic factors. Descriptive statistics were assessed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Chi-square tests. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and …

Heart Failure Devices: Treatment Options, Underutilization, And A Proposed Trigger System For Patient Referral And Evaluation, Marat Fudim, Dmitry M Yaranov, Richa Gupta, Laurie Letarte, Samuel F Sears, Brian G Howard, Nir Uriel, Vikram Raje, Kiran Mahmood, Sean P Pinney, Amin Yehya, Amit Alam, Pujan Patel, Albert Hicks, Amarinder Bindra, Steve M Antoine, Jason Feliberti, Allman Rollins, Vishal N Rao, Patrick Mccann, Nirav Raval, Rachel A Garcia, Ahmed Sayed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) has substantially prolonged and improved the lives of patients with heart failure (HF). Nevertheless, adherence rates remain suboptimal. Even when successfully maximized and adhered to, there is a substantial residual risk of recurrent HF hospitalization and death. In light of this, there is a strong need for effective interventions that can decrease the high residual risk seen in patients with HF. Several device options exist that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and that have been shown to decrease morbidity and/or mortality in patients among whom GDMT is maximized. These …

Distinct Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors Differentially Regulate Skeletal Stem Cells In Calvaria Versus Long Bones During Bone Regeneration, Jea Solidum, Kohei Yamasaki, Youngjae Jeong, Laura Ortinau, Francisco Heralde, Dongsu Park

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calvarial suture skeletal stem cells (Su-SSCs) are a distinct stem cell population for craniofacial bone formation by intramembranous ossification, compared to long bone periosteal SSCs (LB-PSSCs) with endochondral (osteochondrogenic) ossification. However, whether SSC intrinsic or extrinsic factors affect their differentiation process has not been well elucidated. Here, using an inducible Prx1-CreER-EGFP+/−;Rosa26-tdTomato mouse model, we observed that endogenous Prx1+ Su-SSCs and their orthotopic transplantation into calvarial injury do not form cartilage intermediates at the injury sites, while the transplantation of Prx1+ LB-PSSCs into LB injury induces osteochondrogenic differentiation, respectively. However, the heterotopic transplantation of Prx1+ Su-SSCs (Su-SSCs …

A Novel Self-Inhaled Nicotine Exposure System In Murine Models Reveals Age-Dependent Metabolic Effects Of Nicotine, Xu Xu, Hailan Liu, Meng Yu, Qingzhuo Liu, Yongxiang Li, Yue Deng, Yuxue Yang, Jingjing Cheng, Yutian Liu, Mengjie Wang, Xing Fang, Longlong Tu, Olivia Z Ginnard, Kristine M Mcdermott, Darah Threat, Fuhui Wang, Meixin Sun, Xinming Liu, Jiamin Qiu, Xi Wu, Jinjing Jian, Tong Zhou, Megan E Burt, Sanika V Jossy, Junying Han, Chunmei Wang, Yongjie Yang, Yong Xu, Yuhan Shi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Nicotine is known to influence metabolism and body weight, yet existing murine models of nicotine exposure often fail to replicate human smoking behaviors accurately. To address this gap, we designed a cost-effective, self-administered nicotine inhalation system that allows mice to voluntarily inhale nicotine vapor generated from e-liquid.

Results: Using this system, we investigated the metabolic effects of nicotine exposure in adult and adolescent mice. Adult mice exposed to nicotine vapor for 10 days exhibited significant weight loss, which was rapidly regained upon cessation, paralleling human smoking patterns. In contrast, adolescent mice did not lose weight during nicotine exposure but …