Medical Specialties Commons^™

Thalamic Atrophy And Dysconnectivity Are Associated With Cognitive Impairment In A Multi-Center, Clinical Routine, Real-Word Study Of People With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis., Robert Zivadinov, Niels Bergsland, Dejan Jakimovski, Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Lorena Lorefice, Menno M Schoonheim, Sarah A Morrow, Mary Ann Picone, Gabriel Pardo, Myassar Zarif, Mark Gudesblatt, Jacqueline A Nicholas, Andrew Smith, Samuel Hunter, Stephen Newman, Mahmoud A Abdelrazek, Ina Hoti, Jon Riolo, Diego Silva, Tom A Fuchs, Michael G Dwyer, Ralph Hb Benedict

Neuroscience Articles

BACKGROUND: Prior research has established a link between thalamic pathology and cognitive impairment (CI) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, the translation of these findings to pwMS in everyday clinical settings has been insufficient.

OBJECTIVE: To assess which global and/or thalamic imaging biomarkers can be used to identify pwMS at risk for CI and cognitive worsening (CW) in a real-world setting.

METHODS: This was an international, multi-center (11 centers), longitudinal, retrospective, real-word study of people with relapsing-remitting MS (pwRRMS). Brain MRI exams acquired at baseline and follow-up were collected. Cognitive status was evaluated using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test …

Use Of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Facilitated Large-Bore Catheter Embolectomy In The Treatment Of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Complicated By Shock, Hugh A Glazier, Amir Kaki

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This article reports the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with a saddle pulmonary embolus complicated by normotensive cardiogenic shock. The patient was first stabilized with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Then, while the patient was still on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, thrombectomy with a large-bore catheter device was performed that resulted in a large decrease in pulmonary artery pressures and a clinically significant increase in cardiac index, with rapid clinical improvement. Complete recovery of the patient's cardiopulmonary status has been maintained at intermediate-term follow-up. This treatment strategy should be considered favorably in the treatment of patients presenting with pulmonary embolism …

A Randomized Controlled Study Of Auricular Point Acupressure To Manage Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy: Study Protocol, Nada Lukkahatai, Michael V Nguyen, Jingyu Zhang, Yu-Min Cho, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Heijingzi Monica Jia, Claudia M Campbell, Jennifer Kawi, Hulin Wu, Hongyu Wang, Rupsikha Bora, Johannes Thrul, Constance M Johnson, Thomas J Smith

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) significantly impacts cancer patients, leading to functional disability, diminished quality of life, and increased healthcare costs amid the ongoing opioid crisis. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a non-invasive and non-pharmacological alternative, has shown potential for alleviating the pain, numbness, and tingling associated with CIN. This study aims to assess the efficacy of APA for CIN symptoms and physical function and to examine the mechanisms underlying APA's effects on CIN.

Methods: This is a three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial protocol. Patients aged 18 and older who are experiencing CIN are randomly assigned to one of the three groups: …

Gaze Transition Entropy As A Measure Of Attention Allocation In A Dynamic Workspace Involving Automation, Zixin Cui, Tetsuya Sato, Austin Jackson, Sampath Jayarathna, Makoto Itoh, Yusuke Yamani

Psychology Faculty Publications

Real-world work environments require operators to perform multiple tasks with continual support from an automated system. Eye movement is often used as a surrogate measure of operator attention, yet conventional summary measures such as percent dwell time do not capture dynamic transitions of attention in complex visual workspace. This study analyzed eye movement data collected in a controlled a MATB-II task environment using gaze transition entropy analysis. In the study, human subjects performed a compensatory tracking task, a system monitoring task, and a communication task concurrently. The results indicate that both gaze transition entropy and stationary gaze entropy, measures of …

An Objective Assessment Of Neuromotor Control Using A Smartphone App After Repeated Subconcussive Blast Exposure, Charlend K. Howard, Masahiro Yamada, Marcia Dovel, Rie Leverett, Alexander Hill, Kenneth A. Manlapaz, David O. Keyser, Rene S. Hernandez, Sheilah S. Rowe, Walter S. Carr, Michael S. Roy, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Subconcussive blast exposure has been shown to alter neurological functioning. However, the extent to which neurological dysfunction persists after blast exposure is unknown. This longitudinal study examined the potential short- and long-term effects of repeated subconcussive blast exposure on neuromotor performance from heavy weapons training in military personnel. A total of 214 participants were assessed; 137 were exposed to repeated subconcussive blasts and 77 were not exposed to blasts (controls). Participants completed a short stepping-in-place task while an Android smartphone app placed on their thigh recorded movement kinematics. We showed acute suppression of neuromotor variability 6 h after subconcussive blast …

A Brief But Comprehensive Three-Item Social Connectedness Screener For Use In Social Risk Assessment Tools, Nancy P Gordon, Matthiew C Stiefel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The 2014 IOM report "Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records" described three subdomains of social relationships that affect patient health and well-being. However, most social risk screeners currently assess only one subdomain, frequency of social connections. We are proposing a three-item Brief Social Connectedness (SC) screener that additionally assesses risks in social/emotional support and loneliness/social isolation subdomains.

METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we used data from a 2021 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) social risk survey for 2244 members ages 35-85 years. The survey included three validated questions that covered the SC subdomains (frequencies …

Sudden Unexpected Intrapartum Death And Left Ventricular Noncompaction Involving The Right Ventricle, Giulia Ottaviani, Tobia Tomasello, Francesca Boggio, Letterio Runza, Alessandro Del Gobbo, L Maximilian Buja

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), involving mainly the right ventricle, is a rare form of congenital heart disorder characterized by a developmental arrest in myocardial compaction, resulting in a spongy appearance of the myocardium, mainly of the right ventricle, rarely detected in fetuses. We report the case of a female fetus with a gestational age of 41+4 weeks who came to our attention for intrapartum sudden unexpected death, resulting in stillbirth. The ventricular walls, particularly the right ventricular wall, appeared thick, hypertrabeculated and spongy, leading to the diagnosis of LVNC involving mainly the right ventricle. The atrioventricular node and His bundle …

Association Between Serum Vitamin D Status And Uterine Leiomyomas: A Case-Control Study, Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro, Okechukwu Christian Ikpeze, George Uchenna Eleje, Gerald Okanandu Udigwe, Chukwuemeka Okwudili Ezeama, Joseph Odirichukwu Ugboaja, Chukwunonso Isaiah Enechukwu, Osita Samuel Umeononihu, Chukwudi Anthony Ogabido, Charlotte Blanche Oguejiofor, Tobechi Kingsley Njoku, Richard Obinwanne Egeonu, Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor, Hillary Ikechukwu Obiagwu, Chukwudubem Chinagorom Onyejiaka, Afam Ben Obidike, Christian Ejike Onah, Ifeanyi Uzukwu, Amarachukwu Doris Okoro, Evaristus Chino Ezema, Adaobi Maryann Ibekwe, Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Uterine leiomyoma is a common gynecological condition that negatively affects women's quality of life. Vitamin D plays an important role in tumor development and progression. However, clinical studies comparing serum vitamin D levels between women with and without uterine leiomyomas are limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas.

METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study included 150 women who visited a gynecological clinic. The cases included 75 women with uterine leiomyoma, whereas the controls included 75 age-and parity-matched participants without uterine leiomyoma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in …

Development And Validation Of A Scale To Measure Person-Centered Care In Fetal Care Centers, Abigail Wilpers, Marney White, Mary T Austin, Mert Ozan Bahtiyar, Katie Francis, Stephen P Emery, Diane Wall, Lonnie Somers, Charlotte Wool

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Fetal care centers (FCCs) in the USA lack a standardized instrument to measure person-centered care. This study aimed to develop and validate the Person-Centered Care in Fetal Care Centers (PCC-FCC) Scale.

Methods: Initial items were developed based on literature and input from clinicians and former patients. A Delphi study involving 16 experts was conducted to validate the content and construct. Through three rounds of online questionnaires using open-ended questions and Likert scales, consensus on item clarity and relevancy was established. The resulting items were then piloted with former fetal care center patients via a web-based survey. The instrument's reliability …

Grief On Pain And Quality Of Life In Combat Veterans With Ptsd, Melba A Hernandez-Tejada, Madeleine Desrochers, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) comprises a set of grief symptoms that are often linked to other psychological conditions such as PTSD and depression, may be prevalent in Veterans with combat experience, and may also impact general health.

Objective: This study investigated the association between grief and sleep, pain, PTSD, and depression, among Veterans participating in a clinical trial for PCBD treatment.

Method: Data from 155 Veterans receiving treatments for PCBD were analysed to explore the association between PCBD and symptoms of sleep pain, PTSD, and depression. Veterans experiencing grief reported symptoms related to physical health, emotional problems, energy, …

Association Of Risk Factors And Comorbidities With Chronic Pain In The Elderly Population, Neil Mookerjee, Nicole Schmalbach, Gianna Antinori, Subhadra Thampi, Dylan Windle-Puente, Amy Gilligan, Ha Huy, Megha Andrews, Angela Sun, Roshni Gandhi, William Benedict, Austin Chang, Ben Sanders, Justin Nguyen, Maanika Reddy Keesara, Janet Aliev, Aneri Patel, Isaiah Hughes, Ian Millstein, Krystal Hunter, Satyajeet Roy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain disorders affect about 20% of adults in the United States, and it disproportionately affects individuals living in the neighborhoods of extreme socioeconomic disadvantage. In many instances, chronic pain has been noted to arise from an aggregation of multiple risk factors and events. Therefore, it is of importance to recognize the modifiable risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the comorbid medical conditions and risk factors associated with chronic pain disorders in patients aged 65 years and older.

METHODS: Our team retrospectively reviewed medical records of elderly patients (65 years and older) who were evaluated …

Combining Neuroimaging And Brain Stimulation To Test Alternative Causal Pathways For Nicotine Addiction In Schizophrenia, Xiaoming Du, Fow-Sen Choa, Joshua Chiappelli, Heather Bruce, Mark Kvarta, Ann Summerfelt, Yizhou Ma, William T Regenold, Kevin Walton, George F Wittenberg, Stephanie Hare, Si Gao, Andrew Van Der Vaart, Zhiwei Zhao, Shuo Chen, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The smoking rate is high in patients with schizophrenia. Brain stimulation targeting conventional brain circuits associated with nicotine addiction has also yielded mixed results. We aimed to identify alternative circuitries associated with nicotine addiction in both the general population and schizophrenia, and then test whether modulation of such circuitries may alter nicotine addiction behaviors in schizophrenia. In Study I of 40 schizophrenia smokers and 51 non-psychiatric smokers, cross-sectional neuroimaging analysis identified resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and multiple extended amygdala regions to be most robustly associated with nicotine addiction severity in healthy controls and …

Absolute Concentration Estimation Of Covid-19 Convalescent And Post-Vaccination Igg Antibodies, Melvin E Klegerman, Tao Peng, Ira Seferovich, Mohammad H Rahbar, Manouchehr Hessabi, Amirali Tahanan, Audrey Wanger, Carolyn Z Grimes, Luis Z Ostrosky-Zeichner, Kent Koster, Jeffrey D Cirillo, Dinuka Abeydeera, Steve De Lira, David D Mcpherson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Soon after commencement of the SARS-CoV-2 disease outbreak of 2019 (COVID-19), it became evident that the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein is the target of neutralizing antibodies that comprise a critical element of protective immunity to the virus. This study addresses the relative lack of information regarding actual antibody concentrations and binding affinities in convalescent plasma (CP) samples from COVID-19 patients and extends these analyses to post-vaccination (PV) samples to estimate protective IgG antibody (Ab) levels. A direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IgG anti-spike protein (SP) antibodies (Abs) relative to human chimeric spike S1 …

Perceptions Of The Addictiveness Of Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Versus Typical Cigarettes And Exposure To Tobacco Industry-Sponsored Corrective Campaign, Onyema Greg Chido-Amajuoyi, Dale S Mantey, Efehi Igbinomwanhia, Onyinye Omega-Njemnobi, Henry Onyeaka, Robert K Yu, Israel Agaku, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a regulatory plan to reduce the nicotine content of cigarettes. This study examines the association of exposure to industry-sponsored corrective statements on perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes within the general US population.

Methods: The study comprised 4975 US adult respondents of the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 3). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between exposure to tobacco industry corrective messages and perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes.

Results: In the …

Responsive Neurostimulation For People With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Madeline C Fields, Christina Marsh, Onome Eka, Emily A Johnson, Lara V Marcuse, Churl-Su Kwon, James J Young, Maite Lavega-Talbott, Mohankumar Kurukumbi, Gretchen Von Allmen, John Zempel, Daniel Friedman, Nathalie Jette, Anuradha Singh, Ji Yeoun Yoo, Leah Blank, Fedor Panov, Saadi Ghatan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have comorbid epilepsy at much higher rates than the general population, and about 30% will be refractory to medication. Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) should be referred for surgical evaluation, yet many with ASD and DRE are not resective surgical candidates. The aim of this study was to examine the response of this population to the responsive neurostimulator (RNS) System.

METHODS: This multicenter study evaluated patients with ASD and DRE who underwent RNS System placement. Patients were included if they had the RNS System placed for 1 year or more. Seizure reduction and …

Circulating Tumor Dna (Ctdna) As A Biomarker Of Response To Therapy In Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Nivolumab, Yehia I Mohamed, Sunyoung S Lee, Tarik Demir, Shadi Chamseddine, Zishuo Ian Hu, Lianchun Xiao, Khaled Elsayes, Jeffrey S Morris, Robert A Wolff, Rikita Hiatia, Aliya Qayyum, Asif Rashid, Dan G Duda, James C Yao, Michael Lapelusa, Eugene J Koay, Armeen Mahvash, Ahmed Al Azzam, Ecaterina E Dumbrava, Manal Hassan, Hesham M Amin, Ahmed Omar Kaseb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising non-invasive marker for detection, diagnosis, treatment selection, and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Objective: This study aimed to examine the utility of ctDNA as a prognostic and predictive tool in HCC patients treated with nivolumab.

Methods: We analyzed pre-treatment ctDNA from 44 HCC patients using comprehensive genomic testing on a commercially available platform. We utilized log rank test and univariate Cox models to correlate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with ctDNA expressions.

Results: Of 44 patients, 77.3% were men with median age of 67 years. All but 3 patients had …

Plain Language Summary Of The Foenix-Cca2 Study: Futibatinib For People With Advanced Bile Duct Cancer, Lipika Goyal, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Antoine Hollebecque, Juan W Valle, Chigusa Morizane, Thomas B Karasic, Thomas A Abrams, Junji Furuse, Robin Katie Kelley, Philippe A Cassier, Heinz-Josef Klümpen, Heung-Moon Chang, Li-Tzong Chen, Josep Tabernero, Do-Youn Oh, Amit Mahipal, Markus Moehler, Yoshito Komatsu, Daniel H Ahn, Robert S Epstein, Abdel-Baset Halim, Volker Wacheck, Yaohua He, Mei Liu, Karim A Benhadji, John A Bridgewater, Foenix-Cca2 Study Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

What is this summary about?: This summary describes the results from a phase 2 study called FOENIXCCA2. The study evaluated treatment with futibatinib in people with a rare form of advanced bile duct cancer called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (or iCCA), where the tumors have changes in the structure of a gene called FGFR2. These changes include FGFR2 gene fusions. Bile duct cancer often returns after surgery or cannot be treated by surgery because the tumor has spread, so it requires treatment with chemotherapy. People live for a median of 1 year after their first chemotherapy treatment and 6 months after their …

Canadian French Translation And Validation Of The Neck Dissection Impairment Index: A Quality Of Life Measure For The Surgical Oncology Population, Michel Khoury, William Guertin, Cameo Hao, Mikhail Saltychev, Tareck Ayad, Eric Bissada, Apostolos Christopoulos, Sami Moubayed, Marie-Jo Olivier, Douglas Chepeha, Stephen Y Lai, Anastasios Maniakas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Neck dissections (ND) are a routine procedure in head and neck oncology. Given the postoperative functional impact that some patients experience, it is imperative to identify and track quality of life (QoL) symptomatology to tailor each patient's therapeutic needs. To date, there is no validated French-Canadian questionnaire for this patient-population. We therefore sought to translate and validate the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) in Canadian French.

METHODS: A 3-phased approach was used. Phase 1: The NDII was translated from English to Canadian French using a "forward and backward" translational technique following international guidelines. Phase 2: A cognitive debriefing session …

Breast Multiparametric Mri For Prediction Of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response In Breast Cancer: The Bmmr2 Challenge, Wen Li, Savannah C Partridge, David C Newitt, Jon Steingrimsson, Helga S Marques, Patrick J Bolan, Michael Hirano, Benjamin Aaron Bearce, Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Michael A Boss, Xinzhi Teng, Jiang Zhang, Jing Cai, Despina Kontos, Eric A Cohen, Walter C Mankowski, Michael Liu, Richard Ha, Oscar J Pellicer-Valero, Klaus Maier-Hein, Simona Rabinovici-Cohen, Tal Tlusty, Michal Ozery-Flato, Vishwa S Parekh, Michael A Jacobs, Ran Yan, Kyunghyun Sung, Anum S Kazerouni, Julie C Dicarlo, Thomas E Yankeelov, Thomas L Chenevert, Nola M Hylton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose To describe the design, conduct, and results of the Breast Multiparametric MRI for prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy Response (BMMR2) challenge. Materials and Methods The BMMR2 computational challenge opened on May 28, 2021, and closed on December 21, 2021. The goal of the challenge was to identify image-based markers derived from multiparametric breast MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, along with clinical data for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant treatment. Data included 573 breast MRI studies from 191 women (mean age [±SD], 48.9 years ± 10.56) in the I-SPY 2/American College of Radiology Imaging …

Egfr, Hla-G, Cd70, C-Met, And Ny-Eso1 As Potential Biomarkers In High Grade Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma, Duc Vo, Yan Liu, Anil K Sood, Katy Rezvani, Amir A Jazaeri, Jinsong Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

High grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma is an aggressive tumor. Treatment includes platinum therapy, however it recurs in most patients due to therapy resistance. In this project, we study the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of five potential biomarkers/prognostic markers in high grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma: EGFR, HLA-G, CD70, c-MET, and NY-ESO1. A cohort of 274 patients is used. We compare the IHC expression with age, stage, ascites status, family history of cancer, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). EGFR expression is significantly correlated with family history and worse OS. HLA-G is associated with worse OS. To confirm the results of …

Survivorship, Outcomes, And Risk Factors For Conversion To Total Hip Arthroplasty After Revision Hip Arthroscopic Surgery In Obese Patients: Results At A Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up, Peng Li, Jie Luo, Zilong Zheng, Lu Meng, Anqi Zhang, Wei Cao, Xiaomei Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: A high number of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis who have not had surgery often have a negative outlook. Radiotherapy remains a most common and effective method. Nomograms were developed to forecast the cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC individuals with nonoperative brain metastases who underwent radiotherapy.

METHODS: Information was gathered from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database about patients diagnosed with NSCLC who had brain metastases not suitable for surgery. Nomograms were created and tested using multivariate Cox regression models to forecast CSS and OS at intervals of 1, …

Protection Against Fibrosis By A Bacterial Consortium In Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis And The Role Of Amino Acid Metabolism, Suet-Ying Kwan, Kristyn A Gonzales, Mohamed A Jamal, Heather L Stevenson, Lin Tan, Philip L Lorenzi, P Andrew Futreal, Ernest T Hawk, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Robert R Jenq, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The gut microbiota drives progression to liver fibrosis, the main determinant of mortality in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). In this study, we aimed to identify bacterial species associated with protection against liver fibrosis in a high-risk population, and test their potential to protect against liver fibrosis in vivo. Based on stool shotgun metagenomic sequencing of 340 subjects from a population cohort disproportionally affected by MASH, we identified bacterial species from the Bacteroidales and Clostridiales orders associated with reduced risk of liver fibrosis. A bacterial consortium was subsequently tested in a mouse model of MASH, which demonstrated protective effects against …

Outcomes For Patients With Head And Neck Sarcoma Treated Curatively With Radiation Therapy And Surgery, Alison K Yoder, Ahsan Farooqi, Devarati Mitra, J Andrew Livingston, Dejka M Araujo, Erich M Sturgis, Ryan Goepfert, Andrew J Bishop, B Ashleigh Guadagnolo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the head and neck (H&N) are rare malignancies that are challenging to manage. We sought to describe the outcomes of patients treated with curative intent using combined surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for H&N STS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic STS of the H&N who were treated from 1968 to 2020. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate disease-specific survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Multivariable analyses (MVAs) were conducted using Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients had a median follow-up of 82 …

Development And Initial Validation Of A Hospital Stress Questionnaire, Daniel M Ford, Rebecca Lawton, Elizabeth Travis, Elizabeth A Teale, Daryl B O'Connor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Hospitalisation can be a traumatic experience, where inpatients are exposed to an abundance of physical and psychological stressors. Evidence suggests that these hospital-related stressors negatively impact health: a phenomenon known as post-hospital syndrome. The current study aimed to identify hospital-related stressors, and to develop and provide initial validation for a new measure of in-hospital stress.

METHODS: Measure development occurred in three stages: (i) semi-structured interviews, (ii) item generation, and (iii) pilot testing. Twenty-one patients were interviewed regarding their recent hospital experiences, and a list of hospital-related stressors was produced. These stressors were compiled into a questionnaire and piloted on …

Awareness And Interest In Cannabis Use For Cancer Management Among Cancer Survivors, Ikponmwosa Osaghae, Rajesh Talluri, Onyema Greg Chido-Amajuoyi, Kimberson Tanco, Dimpy P Shah, Mala Pande, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: We examined the awareness, interest, and information sources relating to cannabis use for cancer management (including management of cancer symptoms and treatment-related side effects) and determined factors associated with cancer survivors' awareness and interest in learning about cannabis use for cancer management.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of adult cancer survivors (N = 1886) receiving treatment at a comprehensive cancer center. Weighted prevalence and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Among cancer survivors, 88% were aware and 60% were interested in learning about cannabis use for cancer management. Common sources of information to learn about cannabis use …

Association Between Emergency Medical Service Agency Volume And Mortality In Trauma Patients, David S Silver, Jason L Sperry, Jamison Beiriger, Liling Lu, Francis X Guyette, Stephen Wisniewski, Ernest E Moore, Martin Schreiber, Bellal Joseph, Chad T Wilson, Bryan Cotton, Daniel Ostermayer, Erin E Fox, Brian G Harbrecht, Mayur Patel, Joshua B Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of annual trauma patient volume on outcomes for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.

Background: Regionalization of trauma care saves lives. The underlying concept driving this is a volume-outcome relationship. EMS are the entry point to the trauma system, yet it is unknown if a volume-outcome relationship exists for EMS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospective cohort including 8 trauma centers and 20 EMS air medical and metropolitan ground transport agencies. Patients 18 to 90 years old with injury severity scores ≥9 transported from the scene were included. Patient and …

Post-Covid-19 Cognitive Symptoms In Patients Assisted By A Teleassistance Service: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Lívia Paula Freire Bonfim, Thais Rotsen Correa, Bruno Cabaleiro Cortizo Freire, Thais Marques Pedroso, Daniella Nunes Pereira, Thalita Baptisteli Fernandes, Luciane Kopittke, Clara Rodrigues Alves De Oliveira, Antonio Lucio Teixeira, Milena Soriano Marcolino

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency of long-term post-COVID-19 cognitive symptoms is a matter of concern given the impact it may have on the work and quality of life of affected people.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of post-acute COVID-19 cognitive symptoms, as well as the associated risk factors.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort, including outpatients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and who were assisted by a public telehealth service provided by the Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais (TNMG), during the acute phase of the disease, between December/2020 and March/2022. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, applied …

Healthcare Resource Utilization, Costs And Treatment Associated With Myasthenia Gravis Exacerbations Among Patients With Myasthenia Gravis In The Usa: A Retrospective Analysis Of Claims Data, Julia Pisc, Angela Ting, Michelle Skornicki, Omar Sinno, Edward Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aim: There are limited data on the clinical and economic burden of exacerbations in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). We assessed patient clinical characteristics, treatments and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with MG exacerbation. Patients & methods: This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with MG identified by commercial, Medicare or Medicaid insurance claims from the IBM® MarketScan® database. Eligible patients had two or more MG diagnosis codes, without evidence of exacerbation or crisis in the baseline period (12 months prior to index [first eligible MG diagnosis]). Clinical characteristics were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks before each exacerbation. …

Screening For Food And Nutrition Insecurity In The Healthcare Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Non-Medicaid Insured Adults In An Integrated Healthcare Delivery System, Carmen Byker Shanks, Nancy P Gordon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare screening identifies factors that impact patient health and well-being. Hunger as a Vital Sign (HVS) is widely applied as a screening tool to assess food security. However, there are no common practice screening questions to identify patients who are nutrition insecure or acquire free food from community-based organizations. This study used self-reported survey data from a non-Medicaid insured adult population approximately one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021). The survey examined the extent to which the HVS measure might have under-estimated population-level food insecurity and/or nutrition insecurity, as well as under-identified food and nutrition insecurity …

Multiplex Spatial Analysis Reveals Increased Cd137 Expression And M-Mdsc Neighboring Tumor Cells In Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, José L Solórzano, Victoria Menéndez, Edwin Parra, Luisa Solis, Ruth Salazar, Mónica García-Cosío, Fina Climent, Sara Fernández, Eva Díaz, Alejandro Francisco-Cruz, Joseph Khoury, Mei Jiang, Auriole Tamegnon, Carlos Montalbán, Ignacio Melero, Ignacio Wistuba, Carlos De Andrea, Juan F García

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Hodgkin and Reed - Sternberg (HRS) cells in classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) actively modify the immune tumor microenvironment (TME) attracting immunosuppressive cells and expressing inhibitory molecules. A high frequency of myeloid cells in the TME is correlated with an unfavorable prognosis, but more specific and rare cell populations lack precise markers. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been identified in the peripheral blood of cHL patients, where they appear to be correlated with disease aggressiveness. TNFRSF9 (CD137) is a T cell co-stimulator expressed by monocytic and dendritic cells. Its expression has also been described in HRS cells, where it is …