Medical Specialties Commons^™

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Amidoximes As Potential Pharmaceuticals Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria, Prudence Mange

Honors Theses

The rise of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the healthcare industry has led to devastating effects in recent years, ranging from increased risks associated with hospital treatment to longer illness duration, which may eventually lead to increased death rates (Naghavi, Mohsen et al, 2024). To combat this ongoing challenge, this project aims to synthesize amidoximes, which are organic derivatives of carboxylic acids with an oxime and an amino acid group. Amidoximes have been utilized in various clinical applications, including antituberculosis medication, hypotensives, antiarrhythmics, antibacterials, and antifungals (J. Chil et al., 2011). -- The focus of this project was to test their antibacterial …

Twinkle Lights & Tiny Hazards: Your Holiday Safety Guide, Michael Smith, Beth Markley, Laura Kemerling

Parent-ish Podcast

The holidays are full of sparkle, warmth, and... let’s be real, a few sneaky safety risks. In this episode, we chat with safety experts about how to keep your home festive and kid-friendly. From fire-safe tree tips to light-string sanity and candle caution, we’ve got the hacks you need to celebrate without worry. Because nothing says “holiday magic” like peace of mind.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Editorial: Advancing Understanding Of Neonatal Bacterial Infections., Susana Chavez-Bueno, Shelley M. Lawrence

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement (Qi) Project Aimed At Reducing 30-Day Hospital Readmissions For Patients With Congestive Heart Failure (Chf) Through Checklist Implementation, Gary Gutierrez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) remains a leading cause of preventable 30-day hospital readmissions,

especially in outpatient and transitional care settings. This quality improvement (QI) initiative was

launched within a private internal medicine practice in Essex County, New Jersey, to address this issue

by implementing a standardized CHF management checklist. The checklist focused on four key

components: (a) comprehensive medication reconciliation, (b) tailored patient education, (c) timely

follow-up appointments, and (d) improved interdisciplinary communication. By integrating evidence-

based practices into a structured workflow, the QI project aimed to improve care coordination,

empower patients to manage their condition, and reduce preventable …

Structural Birth Defects And Leukemia Risk In Children With Down Syndrome, Ching-Ju Hsu, Jeremy M Schraw, Sonja A Rasmussen, Tiffany M Chambers, Tania A Desrosiers, Chad D Huff, Amanda E Janitz, Russell S Kirby, Eirini Nestoridi, Wendy N Nembhard, Jason L Salemi, Charles Shumate, Jean Paul Tanner, Mahsa M Yazdy, Michael E Scheurer, Karen R Rabin, Philip J Lupo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Birth defects are associated with increased cancer risk in the general pediatric population, yet their impact on leukemia risk in children with Down syndrome (DS) remains uncertain. We assessed this using data from 26,660 children with DS in the Genetic Overlap Between Anomalies and Cancer in Kids Registry Linkage Study. Among them, 71.9% had at least one major birth defect, predominantly involving the cardiac (64.2%), musculoskeletal (21%), and gastrointestinal systems (6.8%). The cumulative incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was comparable in children with and without co-occurring defects. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for ALL and …

Delayed Delivery Of Antibiotics By Ultrasound-Mediated Rupture Of Polylactic Acid Pockets: In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Selin Isguven Billmyer, Priscilla Machado, Ryan Tomlinson, Lauren J. Delaney, Ji-Bin Liu, Alexander H Harris, Eric Mclaughlin, Noreen J. Hickok, Flemming Forsberg

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Surgical site infections are a devastating complication of instrumented orthopaedic surgery, particularly in the spine. Bacterial biofilms, once formed on the implant surfaces, exhibit antibiotic tolerance and immune escape, which lead to treatment challenges. Up to 9% of instrumented spine surgeries result in infection, despite the use of systemic antibiotics and local, powdered antibiotics for prophylaxis. The bacteria that survive the initial prophylaxis may be susceptible to a second, high dose of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to establishing at the site. Hence, we designed a local drug delivery system consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) film pockets that can be noninvasively triggered …

Role Of Cellular Stress Responses In Innate Immune Defense Against Acute Respiratory Infections, Amit Sharma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is an important regulator of innate immune cells. However, its role in pulmonary innate host defenses remains poorly understood. This dissertation elucidates the dual, context-dependent role of IRE1α in host defense against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. We demonstrate IRE1α’s function as both a detrimental mediator of acute pathology and an essential facilitator of innate immune memory. Our work revealed that acute IRE1α activation during primary MRSA infection is detrimental. In lungs and alveolar macrophages (AMs), IRE1α is activated in response to MRSA infection. Consequently, IRE1α activation triggers a hyperinflammatory …

A Nationwide Registry Study Of Surgical And Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Part 2 - Cage With Versus Without Local Bone Graft, Daniel De Wilde, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Patrick Vigren, Victor E. Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Local bone grafts are commonly used as filling material in cages during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Alternatively, cages without filling materials can be used. The literature comparing these approaches is limited, and their respective effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROM) have been scarcely studied. This study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and PROMs between local bone graft-packed cages and empty cages in ACDF surgery.

METHODS: This observational study utilized data from the Swedish nationwide registry, Swespine. All adults who underwent ACDF between 2006 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included missing baseline or outcome data. …

Longitudinal Quality Improvement Project To Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening For An Underserved Population In A Resident Physician-Led Primary Care Clinic., Vivek Vardhan Jasti, Sarah N Grebennikov, Mariah Barlow, David Y Lo, Shail M Govani, Miram Chan, Aimee E Willett, Christopher Barlow

Medical Education Articles

BACKGROUND: The overall rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the US population have been declining steadily over the past 30 years, in large part due to timely cancer screenings. Despite the emergence of new screening modalities, a large portion of the population has not completed CRC screening in accordance with guidelines. Adequate and timely screening can prevent or detect CRC in earlier stages. Various factors have been identified that influence screening completion. Lower screening rates have been associated with the underserved population, especially in the immigrant community and patients with inadequate access to healthcare. In the USA, primary care clinics …

Patient Preferences When Selecting Their Total Joint Arthroplasty Surgeon: A Multicenter Survey Study, Jake Laverdiere, Danielle Lonati, Swaroopa Vaidya, Gregory Panza, Antonia Chen, Mary Morcos, Yale Fillingham, Jessica Leipman, Molly Hartzler, Jenna Bernstein

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgeon selection can influence patient satisfaction, outcomes, and access in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Awareness of patient preferences enables practices to enhance trust, optimize communication, and improve adherence. While referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations often outweigh online marketing, prospective multicenter research exploring how patients choose their TJA surgeon is limited. The aim of this study was to identify key decision-making factors and how they vary by demographics.

METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cross-sectional survey study included patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty at 4 high-volume institutions from January 2024 to 2025. Participants completed a survey on surgeon selection, including how they …

A Canadian Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner Shared-Care Model In Pediatric Rheumatology Offers Safe And Quality Care In The Management Of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Comparing Key Performance Indicators With The Pr-Coin Registry., Julie Herrington, Patrick Clarkin, Jade Singleton, Karen Beattie, Sheetal S. Vora, Katelyn Banschbach, Catherine A. Bingham, Tania Cellucci, Danielle Fair, Mileka Gilbert, Beth Gottlieb, Julia G. Harris, Liane Heale, Tzielan Lee, Melissa L. Mannion, Edward J. Oberle, Nancy Pan, Jonathan Park, Mary Toth, Jennifer E. Weiss, Michelle Batthish, Pediatric Rheumatology Care And Outcomes Improvement Network

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background/Objectives: Canadian Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner (APP) roles have existed for over 25 years in pediatric rheumatology. The APP can manage many common pediatric rheumatic conditions most often in Shared-Care Models (SCMs) with pediatric rheumatologists (PRs). The quality of care children receive in an APP SCM compared to traditional care is unknown. The Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) tracks quality measures as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) care. This study aimed to analyze the frequency of KPIs documented in a pediatric rheumatology APP SCM from a single center and compare to PR-COIN's performance …

Retrospective Review Of Metastatic Hormone Receptor-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients Reveals Poor Responses To Cyclin Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibition, Azadeh Nasrazadani, Rebecca S Tidwell, Megumi Kai, Bora Lim, Vicente Valero, Debu Tripathy, Sadia Saleem, Bisrat G Debeb, Anthony Lucci, Wendy A Woodward, Rachel M Layman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) have aggressive biology and relatively inferior responses to standard-of-care (SOC) therapies. Understanding the efficacy of SOC therapies in IBC is critical to optimize outcomes. Our objective was to assess the progression-free survival (PFS) of metastatic hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative/low (HR+HER2-) IBC patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDKIs) and hormonal therapy (HT).

Methods: Data from 58 IBC patients with metastatic HR + /HER2- IBC from a single institution were reviewed. The medians (95% confidence intervals) of overall survival (OS), PFS, and time on treatment (ToT) from the time of CDKI initiation were reported via the …

Seed Amplification Of Msa Alpha-Synuclein Aggregates Preserves The Biological And Structural Properties Of Brain-Derived Aggregates, Fei Wang, Victor Banerjee, Carla Barria, Santiago Ramirez, Tyler Allison, Damian Gorski, Haley Evans, Quynh Nguyen, Danielle Harrison, Rabab Al-Lahham, Nicole De Gregorio Carbonell, Michelle Pinho, Sanne Kaalund, Jonas Folke, Susana Aznar, Luis Concha-Marambio, Mohd Ishtikhar, Venkata Kps Mallampalli, Sandra Pritzkow, Mohammad Shahnawaz, Matthew L Baker, Irina Serysheva, Claudio Soto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), are characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn). Compelling evidence showed that αSyn aggregates exist as distinct conformational strains in different synucleinopathies. Recently, we reported that the αSyn Seed Amplification Assay (αSyn-SAA) can amplify and distinguish αSyn strains from PD and MSA. In this study, we investigate whether MSA-seeded, SAA-amplified αSyn fibrils retain the biological and structural properties of the αSyn seeds present in MSA brains. We study the biological activities of both brain-derived and SAA-amplified αSyn aggregates using an αSyn "biosensor" cell model and …

Elevated Lactate In Aml Bone Marrow Contributes To Macrophage Polarization Via Gpr81 Signaling., Celia A Soto, Maggie L Lesch, Jennifer L Becker, Azmeer Sharipol, Amal Khan, Xenia L Schafer, Zhewen Li, Amanda R Streeter, Michael W Becker, Joshua C Munger, Benjamin J Frisch

Oncology Articles

Interactions between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) are critical to leukemia progression and chemoresistance. In the solid tumor microenvironment, altered metabolite levels contribute to cancer progression. We performed a metabolomic analysis of AML patient bone marrow serum, revealing increased metabolites compared to age- and sex-matched controls. The most highly elevated metabolite in the AML BMME was lactate. Lactate signaling in solid tumors induces immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and correlates with poor prognosis. This has not yet been studied in the leukemic BMME. Herein, we describe the role of lactate in the polarization of leukemia-associated macrophages (LAMs). …

The Breakdown Of Neurovascular Barriers: Molecular Mechanisms Of Tight Junction Dysfunction, Sowmya Shree Gopal, Mandeep Kaur, Sophie Lanzkron, Amit K. Srivastava

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The central nervous system (CNS) relies on tightly regulated barriers to maintain homeostasis and protect neural tissue from blood-borne toxins, pathogens, and inflammatory mediators. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), forming selective paracellular seals that regulate molecular trafficking. These structures comprise transmembrane proteins and cytoplasmic scaffolding proteins, which anchor TJs to the actin cytoskeleton. The spatial organization and function of TJs are dynamically regulated by calcium-dependent signaling, phosphorylation events, and G-protein-mediated pathways, which govern their assembly, disassembly, and response to physiological and pathological stimuli. The integrity of TJ complexes is …

Explainable Machine Learning Using Emg And Accelerometer Sensor Data Quantifies Surgical Skill And Identifies Biomarkers Of Expertise, Rahul Soangra, Areef Hossain, Jay Sonagra, Vennila Krishnan

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Traditional evaluations of surgical skill rely heavily on subjective assessments, limiting precision and scalability in modern surgical education. With the emergence of robotic platforms and simulation-based training, there is a pressing need for objective, interpretable, and scalable tools to assess technical proficiency in surgery. This study introduces an explainable machine learning (XAI) framework using surface electromyography (sEMG) and accelerometer data to classify surgeon skill levels and uncover actionable neuromuscular biomarkers of expertise. Twenty-six participants, including novices, residents, and expert urologists, performed standardized robotic tasks (suturing, knot tying, and peg transfers) while sEMG and motion data were recorded from 12 upper-extremity …

Tgfbr2 Coordinates The Endometrial Response To Estrogen, Regulating Endometrial Hyperplasia And Fertility, Sydney E Parks, Suni Tang, Anna Catherine Unser, Ananya L Bhonsley, Eunbi M Chung, Peixin Jiang, Audrey Savolainen, Vanessa J Joseph, Dominique I Cope, Ramya P Masand, Renata Prunskaite-Hyyryläinen, Diana Monsivais

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proper endometrial function is critical for establishing and maintaining healthy pregnancies, as well as preventing the pathogenesis of conditions such as endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. The TGFβ signaling pathway regulates key aspects of endometrial biology, although the direct effects of many individual receptors remain unstudied. In this study, we characterize the role of TGFβR2 within the endometrium using a progesterone receptor-cre conditional knock-out mouse model (Tgfbr2flox/flox;Pgrcre/+; “Tgfbr2 cKO”). We found that conditional deletion of TGFβR2 resulted in female infertility, endometrial hyperplasia, altered estrogen and progesterone response, and, only in bred females, reproductive tract …

International Consensus Guidelines For The Conduct And Reporting Of Car T-Cell Clinical Trials In Aml, Swati Naik, Richard Aplenc, Susanne H C Baumeister, Marco Becilli, Anand S Bhagwat, Challice L Bonifant, Lihua E Budde, Christopher D Chien, Kevin J Curran, Anthony F Daniyan, Alexandra Dreyzin, Rebecca A Gardner, Sara Ghorashian, Stephen Gottschalk, Laquisa C Hill, M Eric Kohler, Adam Lamble, Franco Locatelli, Maksim Mamonkin, Bilal Omer, Jae H Park, Concetta Quintarelli, Benedetta Rambaldi, Rebecca M Richards, David A Sallman, Tim Sauer, Nirali N Shah, Marion Subklewe, Corinne Summers, Sarah K Tasian, Naomi Taylor, Sarah Tettamanti, Michael R Verneris, M Paulina Velasquez, Saar I Gill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Early clinical experience with the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been beset by high rates of toxicities and low rates of response. We convened an international workshop with the goal of bringing investigators in the field of AML-directed CAR T-cell therapy together to facilitate discussion of challenges and to brainstorm potential solutions. Based on discussions at the workshop, it was evident that (1) treating and targeting AML with CAR T cells is associated with unique clinical challenges, and (2) variability in clinical trial design, definitions of toxicities, correlative data …

To Jump Or Not To Jump: Comparing Effects Of Phenotypic Plasticity On The Visual Responses And Escape Behavior Of Locusts And Grasshoppers, Soumi Mitra, Saina Namazifard, David Mario Bellini, Alexis Leigh Sarne, Bidisha Halder, Margaret Ruth Eisenbrandt, Aliya Macknojia, Jiayi Luo, Samme Xie, Hojun Song, Chenghang Zong, Fabrizio Gabbiani, Richard Burkett Dewell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Locusts exhibit remarkable phenotypic plasticity changing their appearance and behavior from solitary to gregarious when population density increases. These changes include morphological differences in the size and shape of brain regions, but little is known about plasticity within individual neurons and alterations in behavior not directly related to aggregation or swarming. We investigated looming escape behavior and the properties of a well-studied collision-detection neuron in gregarious and solitarious animals of three closely related species, the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), the Central American locust (S. piceifrons) and the American bird grasshopper (S. americana). For this neuron, the lobula giant movement detector …

Implementing The Nyu Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (Epva), Janet H Van Cleave, Abraham A Brody, Dena Schulman-Green, Kenneth S Hu, Zujun Li, Stephen B Johnson, Vincent J Major, Christopher E Lominska, Jessica R Bauman, Alexander N Hanania, Ghia V Tatlonghari, Marcely Tsikis, Brian L Egleston

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Aggressive treatment with multimodal therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy has improved survival in head and neck cancer (HNC) but at a human cost of a substantial symptom burden and impact on quality of life. We developed the NYU Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA)© for HNC as a digital patient-reported symptom monitoring system that enables early symptom detection and real-time interventions at the point of care. With this study protocol, we aim to test the effectiveness of the ePVA in improving HNC outcomes in real-world settings and to identify implementation strategies optimizing its effectiveness.

Methods: We will …

Rare Epigenetic Alterations Are Conserved Across Hematopoietic Differentiation Stages After Mycobacterial Infection, Brandon T Tran, Pamela N Luna, Ruoqiong Cao, Duy T Le, Apoorva Thatavarty, Laure Maneix, Bailee N Kain, Scott Koh, Andre Catic, Katherine Y King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Infection leads to durable cell-autonomous changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), resulting in production of innate immune cells with heightened immunity. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, termed central trained immunity, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that infection induces histone modifications leading to changes in chromatin accessibility that are conserved during differentiation from HSPCs to myeloid progenitors and monocytes. We conducted genome-wide surveillance of histone marks H3K27ac and H3K4me3 and chromatin accessibility in hematopoietic stem cells, multipotent progenitor 3, granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, monocytes and macrophages of naïve and Mycobacterium avium infected mice. Interferon signaling pathways and related transcription factor binding …

Circulating Tumor Dna Refines Risk Stratification Of Neoadjuvant Therapy-Resistant Breast Tumors, Mark Jesus M Magbanua, Nayelis A Manon, Denise M Wolf, Samuel Rivero-Hinojosa, Ziad Ahmed, Rosalyn W Sayaman, Antony Tin, Derrick Renner, Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Lamorna Brown-Swigart, Gillian L Hirst, Christina Yau, Wen Li, Claudine Isaacs, Rebecca A Shatsky, Amy S Clark, Alexandra Zimmer, Amy L Delson, Angel Rodriguez, Minetta C Liu, Paula R Pohlmann, Laura J Esserman, Hope S Rugo, Angela Demichele, Laura Van 'T Veer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Early-stage breast cancers resistant to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), characterized by high residual cancer burden (RCB) after treatment, have an increased risk of metastatic recurrence. Here, we show that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detected using a tumor-informed test (1) can improve risk stratification of patients with NAT-resistant tumors (RCB-II/RCB-III) and (2) predict response to NAT. Stratification using ctDNA status at pretreatment or post-NAT and ctDNA dynamics identified NAT-resistant tumors with a significantly decreased risk of metastatic recurrence. ctDNA clearance as early as week 3 across receptor subtypes predicted favorable responses to NAT, including immunotherapies. Interestingly, less than a fifth of patients …

Single Cell Spatial Profiling Of The Matrisome Identifies Region-Specific Adhesion And Signaling Networks In Glioblastoma, Arpan De, Santiago A Forero, Ali Pirani, John E Morales, Marisol De La Fuente-Granada, Sumod Sebastian, Jason T Huse, Leomar Y Ballester, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Frederick F Lang, Kadir C Akdemir, Joseph H Mccarty

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The human brain contains a milieu of extracellular matrix (ECM) components that promote normal development and physiology. ECM signaling pathways are often dysregulated in brain pathologies including the malignant cancer glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we used single-cell spatial transcriptomic platforms to map the expression of nearly 400 ECM genes in matching non-cancerous brain and GBM samples. At least four different GBM cell populations have been identified that show unique ECM expression profiles and spatial enrichment in distinct intratumor regions. Spatial mapping demonstrates largely non-overlapping expression signatures of ECM components in GBM stromal cell types, particularly in vascular endothelial cells and microglia/macrophages. …

Standardizing Sepsis Care Across A Lifespan: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Reduce Variation, Vijayakrishnan Poondi Srinivasan, Jillian Gregory, Sarah Chang

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition affecting patients of all ages and remains a leading cause of mortality, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs worldwide. In pediatrics, severe sepsis accounts for millions of deaths annually, with approximately 176,000 hospitalizations and an 8% mortality rate each year in the U.S. In adults, it contributes to 35% of in-hospital deaths and is the leading cause of readmissions. These data underscore the urgent need for timely recognition, standardized interventions, and consistent, evidence-based care across populations.

Imaging Reactive Oxygen Species With L-012 Reveals Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Angisha Basnet, Kaitlyn M Landreth, Michael Sestito, Kristen Ranson, Seth T Gammon, David Piwnica-Worms, Brian A Boone, Tracy W Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neutrophils, key effector cells of the innate immune system, combat pathogens through mechanisms including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). While these responses are critical for host defense, prolonged elevation of ROS and dysregulated NETosis mediated by neutrophils have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and cancer. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly aggressive and inflammatory malignancy, an increase in neutrophils infiltrating the tumor microenvironment promotes cancer progression and metastasis through increased ROS production and NET release. Using bioluminescence imaging with the reporter L-012 and NET assays, we assessed …

Precise Diagnosis Of Small Invasive Pulmonary Nodules Driven By Single-Cell Immune Signatures In Peripheral Blood, Yang Xia, Yin Zhu, Sai Zhang, Mo Zhou, Jiaqi Zhou, Guanxin Xu, Baiqin Zhao, Guofei Zhang, Qiyuan Wang, Bin Wang, Zexin Chen, Hongyu Shi, Xiuning Le, Tony Mok, Wei Chen, Junqiang Fan, Weiwei Yin, Wen Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Early detection of lung cancer is crucial for improving patient outcomes. However, accurately diagnosing invasive pulmonary nodules and predicting tumor invasiveness remain major clinical challenges. Given the established role of immune dysfunction in cancer development, we hypothesize that peripheral immune profiling could provide a strategy for managing pulmonary nodules. In this multi-center, prospective study, we combine peripheral immune profiling via mass cytometry with machine learning algorithms to develop an integrated pulmonary nodule management platform. This platform accurately distinguishes invasive from non-invasive pulmonary nodules (AUC = 0.952), outperforming established clinical and radiomics-based models. Furthermore, it effectively predicts tumor invasiveness, differentiating minimally …

Epidemiology, Presentation, And Diagnosis Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Children And Adolescents, Bisher Alsabbagh, Whard Alsabbagh

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents has increased substantially over recent decades, paralleling rising rates of pediatric obesity and metabolic risk. Youth-onset T2DM is characterized by significant insulin resistance accompanied by an inadequate compensatory insulin response, resulting in progressive hyperglycemia and early beta-cell dysfunction. Incidence varies widely among racial and ethnic groups, with the highest rates observed in non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander youth. Risk factors include obesity, family history, high-risk ethnicity, pubertal insulin resistance, prenatal metabolic exposures, and comorbid conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical presentation ranges …

Endothelial-Derived Extracellular Vesicles During Exercise In Copd Patients, Samuel C Okpechi, Dorota Wyczechowska, Bennett Deboisblanc, Jessica L Johnson, Mohamed A Ghonim, Natalie Bauer, Hamid A Boulares, Matthew R Lammi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: There are no treatments directly targeting the pulmonary vasculature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and further characterization of the underlying endothelial cell (EC) abnormalities could be helpful in drug development. Methods: We investigated the influence of exercise and the prostacyclin analog iloprost on extracellular vesicles derived from ECs (eEVs) in 15 moderate–severe COPD patients who were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of iloprost. Results: Active smokers had a profile consistent with inflammatory-derived EVs, while exacerbation-prone COPD subjects had a profile consistent with apoptosis-derived eEVs. There were no significant effects of iloprost on eEV levels. However, there …

Bayesian Learning To Reduce Cardiac Risk Of Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based On Personalized Radiation Therapy Prescription, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Tianlin Xu, Ting Xu, Rachel C Maguire, Kelsey L Corrigan, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Joe Y Chang, Steven H Lin, Aileen B Chen, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Saumil J Gandhi, Matthew S Ning, Julianna Bronk, Stephen Chun, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Jinzhong Yang, Xinru Chen, Tinsu Pan, Qing H Meng, Anne S Tsao, Anita Deswal, Radhe Mohan, Zhongxing Liao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Radiation-induced heart damage is a significant concern in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can have debilitating or life-threatening consequences. Current strategies focus on minimizing heart exposure, but individual susceptibility varies. Existing evidence also suggests that a uniform "one-size-fits-all" dosimetric constraint for the heart may not be optimal for all patients.

Methods and materials: We developed a prospective study using Bayesian continuous learning and adaptation to develop a framework for personalized adaptive radiation treatment (PART) to reduce cardiovascular adverse events among patients with locally advanced NSCLC. The trial includes a Bayesian personalized risk prediction model to …

Health-Related Quality Of Life In The Era Of Immune Checkpoint Blockade: What Do Patient-Reported Outcomes Reveal?, Alexandra M Dunker, Neha Malik, Kathryn J Krause, Emily Z Keung, Jason B Liu, Elise F Nassif Haddad, Neeta Somaiah, Heather G Lyu, Christina L Roland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment by providing durable survival gains, but understanding their effects on patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) is critical.

Methods: We performed a narrative review of cross-sectional surveys, early-phase trials, and large-scale phase II and III randomized controlled clinical trials assessing FDA-approved ICIs, including programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, with emphasis on patient-reported HRQL. Validated HRQL instruments were summarized, and for pivotal trials, the positioning of HRQL outcomes as primary, secondary, or exploratory endpoints was taken …