Medical Specialties Commons^™

Cervical Laminectomy For Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Is There A Role In The Modern Day? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Christopher S. Lozano, Armaan K. Malhotra, Husain Shakil, Vishwathsen Karthikeyan, Neevya Balasubramaniam, Uzondu Agochukwu, Ankit I. Mehta, Aditya Vedantam, C. Rory Goodwin, Nathan Evaniew, Aminul I. Ahmed, Ricardo Rodrigues-Pinto, Michael Fehlings, James S. Harrop, Shekar N. Kurpad, Jefferson R. Wilson

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study DesignSystematic Review and Meta-Analysis.ObjectivesTo compare clinical outcomes in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients treated with laminectomy alone (LA) vs laminectomy with fusion (LF) and determine post-laminectomy kyphosis incidence.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE from inception-September 2024 for studies comparing LA and LF for DCM. Outcomes assessed included post-laminectomy kyphosis, neurological recovery outcomes, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and complication rates. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models.ResultsTwenty-seven studies including 3286 patients (2272 LA and 1014 LF), met the inclusion criteria. The pooled incidence of post-laminectomy kyphosis in the LA patients was 2.02 events per 100 person-years (95% CI: …

Colorectal Cancer Screening In Carceral Settings: Barriers And Opportunities To Improve Early Detection Among Incarcerated Individuals, Daven K. Sarikonda Ba, Elijah Marquez Bs, Alexander Seidel Ba, Christine Larrea Bs, Jack S. Gurwin Bs, Maria Karla Bermúdez Piñero Ba, Suraj Suresh M.D., Laura Benjamins Md, Mph, Faap, Aahivs

Population, Patient, Physician and Professionalism Projects

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with screening shown to significantly reduce mortality. However, incarcerated individuals experience substantially lower CRC screening rates and often present with more advanced disease than non-incarcerated individuals. Our project’s objective was to review the state of CRC screening in U.S. carceral settings, along with exploring possible alternatives to address the substantial disparity in CRC screening rates experienced by the incarcerated population.

A Case Of Median Raphe Cysts In 8-Year-Old Male, Christina Guo, Marshall Hall, Garrett Furth, Henry Lim, Olivia Gruver, Dustin Wilkes, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: The median raphe cyst is a rare, benign, congenital condition characterized by small, fluid-filled cysts that develop along the ventral midline of male external genitalia. These cysts are usually asymptomatic during infancy and childhood but tend to grow in size as the patient grows. These can become cosmetically concerning or symptomatic due to swelling, irritation, and discomfort. They may also present social and psychological stress to patients and families. We present a case of median raphe cysts in an 8-year-old male.

Case Presentation: An 8-year-old male without a prior medical history who presented to dermatology for penile lesions. He …

Evaluating The Alt-70 Model For Cellulitis Management In The Emergency Department, Marshall Hall, Paige Loux, Henry Lim, Jeffrey Durbin, Garrett Furth, Olivia Gruver, Christina Guo, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Cellulitis is a common skin infection that classically presents with unilateral lower extremity erythema, swelling, and pain. The diagnosis is made clinically. Many conditions may mimic cellulitis that are collectively referred to as “pseudocellulitis.” These include stasis dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and gout. The Alt-70 model is a validated clinical prediction tool for differentiating cellulitis from pseudocellulitis. It is unclear if it is utilized or if it has changed clinical practice in the emergency department setting.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study utilizing the HCA Healthcare Data Warehouse. The Alt-70 model was applied using …

Excision Followed By Standing Cone Deformity Repair Is Tissue Conservative, Henry Lim, Christian Scheufele, Marshall Hall, Stephen Weis, Dustin Wilkes

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction Elliptical excisions are the most common method to treat benign and malignant tumors in dermatologic surgery. This standardized design is traditionally 3 to 4.5 times longer than the excisional width to prevent unsightly protrusions of skin after primary closure, known as “standing cone,” “Burow’s triangles” or “dog ear” deformities. This results in a scar significantly longer than the original tumor that may be less easily concealed.

Objective To compare the final repair length of a tissue conservative method to remove skin tumors and close resultant defects against predicted repair length of traditional elliptical excision.

Methods Eighteen cases are presented …

Inpatient Dermatology: Dermatology Consults At Medical City Fort Worth, Olivia Gruver, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Christina Guo, Garrett Furth, Stephen E. Weis, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Inpatient dermatology is an important yet evolving field. There has been a linear decrease in the number of dermatologists providing inpatient care and in the number of medical centers with an inpatient dermatology service. Medical centers with inpatient dermatology services are unevenly distributed geographically, with most in larger metropolitan areas. There is still a great need for dermatologic expertise in the inpatient setting. We aim to examine the utility of the dermatologic consult service, including the most common chief complaints and conditions that prompted consultation over four months at Medical City Fort Worth.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart …

Updates In The Management Of Peanut Allergy, S Shahzad Mustafa, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Matthew Greenhawt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Peanut allergy is a significant rising public health problem affecting both children and adults. Early peanut introduction has been adopted in multiple westernized nations as a preventative strategic measure to reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy, although implementation faces barriers. Multiple therapies to treat peanut allergy have been developed, including oral immunotherapy and omalizumab as approved treatments to provide protection against reactions from accidental exposure and reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, offering options beyond strict avoidance. Strategies in the developmental pipeline include epicutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy. The future is bright for individuals with peanut allergy, as these breakthroughs …

A Review Of Current Research And Barriers To Access: Exploring Disparities In Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery, Nikita Das, Ali A Mohamed, Akshat Katyayan, Meena Vessell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) impacts at least 30% of pediatric epilepsy patients, adversely affecting neurodevelopment and quality of life, as well as risk of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). While surgical intervention has proven to be an effective treatment for DRE, disparities in access to surgical care persist. Compared to adults, pediatric patients face unique challenges, including delayed recognition of surgical candidacy, limited access to specialized epilepsy centers, complex care coordination, and socioeconomic barriers.

Summary: This review explores the current state of pediatric epilepsy surgery, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving seizure freedom, improving neurocognitive outcomes, and reducing long-term healthcare …

Injuries In Children Undergoing Subspecialty Abuse Evaluations Because Of Intimate Partner Violence, M Katherine Henry, Gunjan Tiyyagura, Joanne N Wood, Jan Leonard, Kristine A Campbell, Daniel M Lindberg, Angela N Bachim, Farah W Brink, Lori D Frasier, Nancy S Harper, Claire Hickey, Natalie Laub, John D Melville, Hannah Sahud, Philip V Scribano

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and child physical abuse often co-occur, but the frequency and risk factors for abusive injuries in IPV-exposed children remain unknown. Our objectives were to (1) determine frequency of skeletal surveys (SSs) and neuroimaging use because of IPV and their diagnostic value in children aged less than 24 months evaluated by a child abuse pediatrics specialist (CAP) and (2) identify factors associated with performance of and findings on SS and neuroimaging.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of children aged less than 24 months undergoing CAP consultations because of IPV exposure from February 2021 …

Tracheobronchial Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma In Four Pediatric Patients, Kalen Hendra, Muhammad Ijlal Khan, Mitali Thanawala, Manuel Silva-Carmona, Eric D Zee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pediatric tracheobronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), also called pulmonary MEC, is a rare malignant primary lung neoplasm that is typically found in the large airways. Patients may present with symptoms such as cough, pneumonia, fever, hemoptysis, dyspnea, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, and fatigue. These nonspecific symptoms (or lack of symptoms in some cases) often result in a delayed diagnosis. Chest CT typically demonstrates findings consistent with bronchial obstruction and diagnosis is made via histopathology. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment and children often have favorable outcomes. Here we present four cases of tracheobronchial MEC in children treated at three …

Association Of Alcohol Use With Helmet Use In Cyclists: Analysis Of The National Trauma Data Bank, Daniel C Brock, Gaibo Yan, Chad T Wilson, Emanuel Narcis Husu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Helmet use significantly reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury among cyclists; however, the influence of alcohol use on helmet-wearing adherence remains understudied in large national data sets. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between alcohol use and helmet use in injured cyclists.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 155 766 cyclists with traumatic injuries from the National Trauma Data Bank spanning 8 years (2017-2023). Cyclists were categorized by blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as follows: not screened, sober (BAC < 0.02), impaired (BAC 0.02-0.08), intoxicated (BAC ≥0.08), and multidrug intoxicated (BAC ≥0.08 plus ≥1 positive drug screen). The primary outcome was helmet usage. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, Injury Severity Score, and adverse events. Comorbid substance use disorders were considered as covariates.

Results: Alcohol use was associated with a dose-response decrease in helmet use. Helmet …

Reframing Trauma-Informed Care For Refugee And (Im)Migrant Health Systems: From Interpersonal Practice To Structurally Embedded Care, Hyojin Im, Sophia Banu, Aisha Koroma, Sarmaya Mustafayeva

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Substance Use In Northwest Syria: A Cross-Sectional Study, Isabel Draper, Dania Albaba, Heba Mesbah, Huda Taktak, Nidhal Saadoun, Mohammad Alhusein, Elharit Alissa, Anas Barbour, Zaher Sahloul, Nidal Moukaddam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Syria has undergone significant socio-political turmoil since 2011 as internal conflict displaced portions of the population, destroyed infrastructure, and destabilized the economy. In the context of multilevel healthcare system disruptions, there have been increasing reports of substance use. This study seeks to evaluate patterns of substance use in Northwestern Syria.

Methods: Trained staff administered questionnaires to community members in Azaz, Syria. Questions focused on the substance use prevalence, societal and public health impacts, and perspectives on treatment availability.

Results: 480 individuals were surveyed (80·88% male, 19·12 % female; 43·39% were 18-25 yrs, 11·5% reported personal substance use). H-booz (amphetamines), …

Variability In Documentation Of Neurological And Psychiatric Examinations Among Emergency Department Patients With Behavioral Health-Related Presentations: A Retrospective Study, Heba Mesbah, Payton Kim, Jide Oluwadare, Abdulelah Almanie, Inaara Malick, Nidal Moukaddam

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) serve as a critical safety net for individuals experiencing acute behavioral health crises, a population that faces substantial medical morbidity and well-documented disparities in healthcare delivery. Thorough physical and neuropsychiatric assessment is essential in this setting to identify medical conditions that may mimic or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms. Incomplete documentation of these assessments may reflect gaps in care processes and represent a potential marker of inequity.

Objective: To characterize the completeness of documented neurological and psychiatric examinations among adult ED patients presenting with primary behavioral health-related chief complaints and to assess whether documentation patterns suggest persistent gaps …

Chemoradiation After Chemotherapy For Metastatic Cervical Cancer Can Provide Chemo-Free Time, Spoorthi Kamepalli, Ashley Chavana, Michelle Ludwig, Madeline Flanagan, Shelly Sharma, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Jan Sunde, Claire Hoppenot

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Stage IVB cervical cancer is treated with a life-prolonging and palliative intent with systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of these patients who had an adequate response to chemotherapy to be eligible for consolidative radiosensitizing chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) and subsequent outcomes.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective review of metastatic cervical cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and evaluated for treatment with consolidative pelvic chemoradiation at a single safety-net hospital system from 2016 to 2024. Demographic data and clinical information were collected from electronic medical records. Stata was used for …

Gender-Specific Behavior Reductions In Spontaneous Locomotive And Rearing In A Rat Model Of Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Study, Serena Jiyeon Kim, Kevin Cao, Patrick M Dougherty, Kathleen E Mcdonough, Saba Javed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) from agents like paclitaxel causes sensory loss and functional impairment, with limited treatment options. To better model patient-relevant outcomes, we used open field video tracking in rodents to assess gait, anxiety, and exploratory behavior. This approach provides a more comprehensive assessment of CIPN-related deficits beyond pain responses.

Methods and materials: Adult male and female Sprague Dawley rats were given paclitaxel (Taxol; 24 mg/kg cumulative dose) or a vehicle over 8 days. Their distance traveled, time spent in the center and outer zones of the OF test, and rearing behaviors were recorded using a PhenoTyper 4500 …

Phase I Study Of Niraparib With Radiotherapy For Treatment Of Metastatic And Locally Advanced Invasive Carcinoma Of The Cervix (Nivix), Piyush Pathak, Eunji Jo, Susan Hilsenbeck, Matthew L Anderson, Alfredo Echeverria, Shelly Sharma, Jan Sunde, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Claire Hoppenot, Michelle Ludwig

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: This Phase I study evaluated the safety and tolerability of concurrent niraparib, an oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1/2 inhibitor, with definitive radiotherapy in women with locally advanced or platinum-sensitive metastatic cervical cancer. Dose escalation followed a Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design with a target dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) rate of 30%.

Methods: Women ≥18 years with FIGO stage IIIC2 (bulky nodes >1 cm) or stage IV cervical cancer demonstrating response to platinum-based induction chemotherapy were eligible. Niraparib 100 mg was administered daily concurrent with pelvic radiotherapy (45-57.5 Gy via IMRT with nodal boosts) and brachytherapy, continuing 28 days post-radiation. Per …

Phase 1 Trial Of Withania Somnifera Leaf Extract (Rh324) In Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Including [18f]Fdg Pet/Ct As A Short-Term Metabolic Biomarker To Assess Efficacy: A Novel Model For Assessment Of Complimentary Therapies In Early Phase Human Clinical Trials, Jin Uk Heo, Santosh Rao, Herbert B Newton, Afshin Dowlati, Raymond F Muzic, Arash Kardan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Withania somnifera (WS), commonly known as ashwagandha, has been used in the traditional medical system of India. It has shown significant activity against numerous solid tumor varieties in pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo studies. This study focuses on RH324 (ReHeva Biosciences, Columbus, OH), a pharmaceutical-grade formulation derived from WS, which has received FDA allowance for clinical development as a botanical drug in the treatment of cancer.

Methods: A phase 1 open label dose ranging study of oral RH324 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was conducted. The primary endpoint of the study was assessment of short-term safety …

Beyond Drugs And Surgery: Superselective Adrenal Artery Embolization Redefines Primary Aldosteronism Management-A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kimia Darmiani, Mehrad Zare, Alisa Mohebbi, Mohammad Mirza-Aghazadeh-Attari, Mohammad Ghasemi Rad, Afshin Mohammadi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a leading cause of secondary hypertension associated with increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk. Superselective adrenal artery embolization (SAAE) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to adrenalectomy and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of SAAE in PA management.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library through June 2026 for studies enrolling patients with PA treated by SAAE. Outcomes of interest were changes in blood pressure (BP), biochemical markers (serum potassium, aldosterone, renin activity, and aldosterone-to-renin ratio), clinical and biochemical response rates, daily …

Updates In Mycobacterial Keratitis Diagnosis And Treatment, Uma L Balakrishnan, Ryan T Wallace, Patricia Chévez-Barrios, Alejandro Arboleda, Masih U Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mycobacterial keratitis is an uncommon but challenging form of infectious keratitis, often associated with postsurgical eyes. Clinical presentation is variable and may be difficult to recognize, resulting in delays in diagnosis and challenges in management. Traditional diagnostic techniques from corneal scrapings are limited by slow organism growth and may yield negative results. Treatment is challenging due to antimicrobial resistance and typically requires prolonged multidrug therapy. Advances in diagnostic modalities, antimicrobial therapies, surgical approaches, and adjunctive treatments such as corneal crosslinking have improved clinicians' ability to mitigate or avoid severe visual consequences. Despite these developments, optimal management strategies remain incompletely defined, …

Combination Therapy With 308-Nm Excimer Laser, Compound Glycyrrhizin, And Tacrolimus For Pediatric Facial And Cervical Vitiligo, Yingying Qian, Yafen Wu, Wei Li, Qian Chen, Siyuan Song, Ting Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Vitiligo is a common acquired depigmenting disorder in pediatric dermatology. Facial and cervical involvement is particularly distressing due to cosmetic disfigurement, leading to psychosocial impairment in children and significant psychological burden for parents. Safe and effective treatment strategies to halt disease progression and promote repigmentation are urgently needed.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, onset of repigmentation, safety, and repigmentation patterns of 308-nm excimer laser combined with oral compound glycyrrhizin and topical 0.03% tacrolimus in children with facial and cervical vitiligo.

Methods: A total of 112 pediatric patients were randomized into two groups: treatment group (n=56, 86 lesions) received …

Common And Recurrent Dysregulated Molecular Network Of Placental Hypoxia And Associated Vasculogenesis And Angiogenesis In Fetal Growth Restriction, Wei Li, Xiaoyi Bai, Oi Ka Chan, Maran Bo Wah Leung, So Ling Lau, Chi Chiu Wang, Tak Yeung Leung

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and selective FGR (sFGR) face elevated health risks both before and after birth. Although the underlying pathomechanisms remain unclear, placental dysfunction is recognized as a major contributing factor. By integrating untargeted transcriptomic data from FGR/sFGR placentae, this study identified 69 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRs) and eight differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs). Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in the angiogenesis and vasculogenesis pathways, with the hypoxia-related genes

A Comparative Analysis Of The Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool (Smhat-1) Between Paediatric And Adult Olympic And Paralympic Athletes, Ashley N Triplett, Travis Anderson, Eric G Post, Jessica Bartley, Jeffrey S Shilt, Eric L Dugan, Amber Donaldson, Jonathan Finnoff, William M Adams

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To determine if paediatric athletes exhibit differences in positive screenings on the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT-1) compared with adults.

Methods: Team USA Olympic and Paralympic paediatric athletes ≤21 years (n=589; 58.8% female; age=19.5±1.7 years) completed the SMHAT-1 between January 2021 and September 2024. A comparative sample of Team USA adult athletes (n=493, 54.2% female; age=27.3±4.9 years) matched for sex and sport was randomly sampled, and the percentage of athletes with a positive screening on each questionnaire was calculated. χ2 analysis compared the proportion of positive screenings between paediatric and adult samples. Piecewise linear regression assessed the association …

A Strategy To Identify Biliary Atresia Efficiently: A Perspective From A Texas Center, Sanjiv Harpavat, Tebyan A Rabbani, Ashley M Upton, Sridevi Devaraj, Jose A Hernandez, Benjamin L Shneider

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Infants with biliary atresia are often diagnosed after 60 days of life because the disease is difficult to detect in its early stages. However, infants treated before 30-45 days of life have the best long-term outcomes. To help accelerate the biliary atresia diagnosis, we have developed a streamlined strategy that involves two sequential tests: (1) direct or conjugated bilirubin measurements and (2) a feeding abdominal ultrasound exam. In this review, the strategy is shared to encourage others to provide feedback as well as to consider incorporating portions into their own clinical workflows.

Developing And Evaluating A Young Adult Peer Mentor Training Program, Beth H Garland, Demonica L Jones, Cassandra J Enzler, Jean L Raphael, Albert C Hergenroeder, Rachel S Wolfe, Sarah C Graham, Constance M Wiemann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Improving self-management skills for adolescents and emerging adults (AEA) with chronic health conditions is critical for successful transition to adult-based care. Peer-mentoring has been effective in improving the self-management skills of AEA. However, the components of training a successful young adult peer mentors (YAPM), especially interpersonal aspects of the role, such as communication skills and navigating mentee ambivalence are not well understood. This descriptive study created and pilot-tested a training curriculum for YAPM as part of a larger study to build self-management skills in the context of healthcare transition from pediatric to adult care. Five YAPM completed the training curriculum. …

The Lived Experience Of Pediatric Pain Management: Insights From Families And Providers, Samrithaa Balakrishnan, Annesha Dey, Aarti Bavare, Paul Checchia, Katherine Shwetz, Natasha Afonso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pain represents a subjective experience that manifests with emotional and physical discomfort. In pediatric care, pain management is especially complex due to communicative limitations, which creates a unique point of entry for parents to contribute to their child's treatment process. In this study, we explored whether families' perceptions of their child's pain and preferences for treatment were aligned with healthcare providers' pain management decisions. Using narrative-informed techniques in interviews with families and healthcare providers in pediatric care settings, we analyzed areas of concordance and discordance in pain assessment and treatment priorities. Our findings show that trust is built over time …

Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Foundations In Physics And Image Acquisition: An Innovative Hands-On Active Learning Workshop, Cherie Tator, Saul Flores, Alan Riley, Kiyetta Alade

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: We developed an innovative, active learning workshop to introduce foundations of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) physics and instrumentation. The workshop design aimed to reduce cognitive load and encourage learner-centered engagement through hands-on exploration that reinforces key principles and connects theory to practice.

Methods: First-year medical students participated in small-group, student-driven exercises to explore POCUS machine controls, transducers, and image acquisition skills. Each group was supported by a faculty member to guide activities and ensure accuracy. Students scanned pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and olives with pits; these items were selected for their low cost, sonographic characteristics, and recognizability. Later in the semester, …

Host- And Pathogen-Related Determinants Of Pulmonary Versus Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis, Begna Tulu, Thomas Theo Brehm, Reinout Van Crevel, Tobias Dallenga, Andrew R Dinardo, Keertan Dheda, Johanna Eggeling, Wendemagegn Enbiale, Matthias I Gröschel, Jialun Hao, Vinod Kumar, Arjan Van Laarhoven, Rolanda Londt, Gareth Prosser, Philippa Randall, Norbert Reiling, Jan Rybniker, Ulrich E Schaible, Erwin Schurr, Isabelle Suarez, Sebastian J Theobald, Robert J Wilkinson, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) primarily manifests as pulmonary TB (PTB), but extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) remains a major clinical challenge. Distinct diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties arise from differences in immune responses, pathogen behaviour and host susceptibility. However, the factors driving disease localisation are still incompletely understood. We conducted a comprehensive narrative review of studies examining differences between PTB and EPTB in terms of epidemiology, mycobacterial factors, genetic and epigenetic determinants, host immune responses, transcriptomic profiles, cytokine and chemokine patterns, and immunophenotypes. EPTB is more common among females, children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals with deficient granuloma formation. This review is intended to provide …

Mir-302 Regulates Pancreatic Progenitor Pool And Pancreatic Size, Ziyue Z Yang, Caroline G Snider, Ronald J Parchem

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Disruptions in pancreatic development can lead to health issues such as pancreatic agenesis and congenital diabetes mellitus. Understanding pancreatic organogenesis is critical for elucidating disease mechanisms and developing regenerative therapies. The pancreas consists of endocrine and exocrine cells, both of which are derived from multipotent progenitor cells (MPCs). MPC proliferation and differentiation are tightly controlled by multiple mechanisms, including post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs. However, these regulatory factors are not fully understood. Here, we profiled miRNA expression in MPCs and identified that mir-302 was highly enriched during the earliest stages of pancreatic development. Loss of mir-302 resulted in reduced pancreatic size …

Multi-Omics To Study Chronic Respiratory Diseases And Viral Infections, Sobia Idrees, Hao Chen, Tayyaba Sadaf, Saima Firdous Rehman, Matt D Johansen, Keshav Raj Paudel, Gang Liu, Yuting Wang, Malte D Luecken, Elinor Hortle, Ashleigh S Philp, Kurtis F Budden, Matthew O'Rourke, Gerard E Kaiko, Sionne E M Lucas, Joanne L Dickinson, Peter C Allen, Joseph E Powell, Lai-Ying Zhang, Daniel C Chambers, Tamera Corte, Gaetano Caramori, Maor Sauler, Peter A Wark, Janine Gote-Schniering, Mareike Lehmann, Thomas M Conlon, Theodore S Kapellos, Ali Önder Yildirim, Rosa Faner, Shyamali C Dharmage, Craig E Wheelock, Maarten Van Den Berge, Martijn C Nawijn, Francesca Polverino, Gabrielle T Belz, Sanjay H Chotirmall, Leopoldo N Segal, Alen Faiz, Philip M Hansbro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Integrating omics layers reveals complex biological systems, unveiling vital insights into chronic respiratory diseases and COVID-19. This holistic approach is crucial for developing more effective treatments and understanding intricate relationships. https://bit.ly/3VKFzJH