Allergy and Immunology Commons^™

Impact Of Dietician Counseling On Outcomes In Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease, Andreas Mozny B.A., Alyusuf Elnaggar B.A., James Mo M.D., Suraj Suresh M.D.

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Impact of Dietician Counseling on Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Celiac Disease

Background: Dietician counseling is routinely recommended for newly diagnosed celiac disease (CD), yet its measurable impact is not well defined. This study examined whether early dietician involvement improves clinical symptoms or serologic outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adults with biopsy-confirmed CD at a single center from 2020–2024. Demographics, symptoms, and laboratory data were collected by chart review with ≥6 months of follow-up. Patients who met with a dietician formed the dietician group; all others were assigned to the non-dietician group. Fisher's Exact tests evaluated abdominal …

Detection And Quantification Of Allergen Cross-Contact In Shared Frying Oil Using Targeted Mass Spectrometry, Francisca Asigri

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cow’s milk and egg allergies are prevalent IgE-mediated food allergies that pose significant public health concerns worldwide. Although strict avoidance remains the primary management strategy, unintended exposure can still occur through allergen cross-contact, particularly in commercial and industrial food operations that utilize shared frying oils. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify allergen transfer in shared frying oil and assess the robustness of existing targeted mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS/MS) for detecting milk and egg proteins in heated oil matrices.

Heated oil spikes were developed by incorporating non-fat dry milk (NFDM) and whole egg powder (WEP) into oil …

Zika Virus Ns1 Drives Tunneling Nanotube Formation For Mitochondrial Transfer And Stealth Transmission In Trophoblasts, Rafael T Michita, Long B Tran, Steven J Bark, Deepak Kumar, Shay A Toner, Joyce Jose, Indira U Mysorekar, Anoop Narayanan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is unique among orthoflaviviruses in its vertical transmission capacity in humans, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that ZIKV induces tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in placental trophoblasts which facilitate transfer of viral particles, proteins, mitochondria, and RNA to neighboring uninfected cells. TNT formation is driven exclusively via ZIKV non-structural protein 1 (NS1). Specifically, the N-terminal 1-50 amino acids of membrane-bound ZIKV NS1 are necessary for triggering TNT formation in host cells. Trophoblasts infected with TNT-deficient ZIKV

A Galleria Mellonella Study: Protective Effects Of Sulforaphane On Immune Function In Binge Alcohol Exposure, Robert Kento Darby, Braydon Black, Vincent Tran, Dallen James, Scott Quimby

Annual Research Symposium

Alcohol is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Pulmonary infections with opportunistic pathogens can occur in healthy humans; however, hazardous alcohol exposure like binge alcohol intoxication (≥ 0.08% BAC) is a major risk factor. We’ve previously investigated the efficacy of Sulforaphane (SFN) prophylaxis in protecting human and murine alveolar macrophage function against opportunistic infections when exposed to binge alcohol conditions in vitro. However, an in vivo model investigating SFN and hazardous alcohol exposure in the context of infection is not well understood. The aim of this study is to 1) establish a G. mellonella larvae model by determining the LD50 …

Use Of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy In Clinical Practice: A Review, Jibran Ahmed, Yeonjoo Choi, Taeyeong Ko, Joann Lim, Joud Hajjar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are produced by B lymphocytes and play a key role in humoral immunity. Igs are classified into five isotypes (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD). Their primary function is to recognize and bind to foreign antigens. When Igs bind to antigens, they facilitate phagocytosis and promote clearance mediated by other immune cells. It is an essential component in protecting the host from outside pathogens. Hypogammaglobulinemia predisposes an individual to severe and recurrent infections. Therefore, replacement therapy is recommended to maintain optimal Ig level. In addition, Igs can modulate immune responses by to neutralizing proteins such as endotoxins or …

Sinusitis And Rhinitis Among Us Veterans Deployed To Southwest Asia And Afghanistan After September 11, 2001, Jennifer Maccarone, Carrie A Redlich, Andrew Timmons, Anna M Korpak, Nicholas L Smith, Karen S Nakayama, Coleen P Baird, Paul Ciminera, Farrah Kheradmand, Vincent S Fan, Jaime E Hart, Petros Koutrakis, Ware G Kuschner, Octavian C Ioachimescu, Michael Jerrett, Philippe R Montgrain, Susan P Proctor, Christine H Wendt, Cherry Wongtrakool, Emily S Wan, Paul D Blanc, Eric Garshick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Post-9/11 veterans were exposed to environmental and occupational pollutants during deployment.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine associations between deployment-related exposures and sinusitis and rhinitis.

METHODS: Between April 2018 and March 2020, veterans with land-based deployment after 9/11 who were living within 25 miles of 6 Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers were randomly chosen by using a Defense Manpower Data Center roster. Participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires, which included a 32-item deployment exposure battery and self-report of rhinitis and health professional-diagnosed sinusitis. Exposure categories included burn pit smoke, combustion engine exhaust/ground dust, other open combustion sources, toxicants, and military …

Prevalence Of Autoimmune Diseases In Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: An Epidemiological Study Using A Global Network Of Health Care Organizations, Pushti Khandwala, Devashish Desai, Arthur Lau

Einstein Health Papers

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate prevalence of new onset autoimmune conditions (ACs) after commencement of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

METHODS: This retrospective observational study was done using TriNetX. Patients with neoplasm for which ICIs were approved were stratified into two groups based on ICI use. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan Meier method were used to assess risk of developing ACs among the groups. Subgroup analysis was done to evaluate risk of ACs in patients receiving cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor (CTLA4i) versus program cell death protein 1 inhibitor (PD1i) and program death ligand 1 inhibitor (PDL1i) inhibitors and combination treatment (CT) …

Gout Flare Burden In The United States: A Multiyear Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Jasvinder A Singh, Amy Morlock, Robert Morlock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the burden of gout flares and examine associated patient characteristics and outcomes in a sample of US adults.

METHODS: Data were collected via an online survey of US adults ≥18 years using a random stratified sampling framework. Participants with gout completed questions about treatments, serum urate (SU) levels, severity, satisfaction with control, and gout flares. All participants completed the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item Scale. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses examined factors predictive of …

Experiences Of Midwestern Obstetric Clinicians During The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic, Drishti D Sinha, Megan Foeller, Abigail S Bell, Anthony J Nixon, Darrell Hudson, Aimee S James, Amy R Scheffer, Ana A Baumann, Emily Diveley, Ebony B Carter, Nandini Raghuraman, Indira U Mysorekar, Jeannie C Kelly

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to healthcare system changes aimed at minimizing disease transmission that impacted experiences with obstetric healthcare.

OBJECTIVE: To explore experiences of clinicians providing obstetric care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurse practitioners and 16 obstetrical physicians providing a mix of outpatient and inpatient obstetric care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a mid-sized, Midwestern city in the United States. Interviews elucidated challenges and facilitators of obstetric care provision and vaccination of pregnant patients against COVID-19 during the pandemic. Transcripts were coded inductively then deductively using …

Tfeb Safeguards Trophoblast Syncytialization In Humans And Mice, Wanshan Zheng, Yue Zhang, Peiqun Xu, Zexin Wang, Xuan Shao, Chunyan Chen, Han Cai, Yinan Wang, Ming-An Sun, Wenbo Deng, Fan Liu, Jinhua Lu, Xueqin Zhang, Dunjin Cheng, Indira U Mysorekar, Haibin Wang, Yan-Ling Wang, Xiaoqian Hu, Bin Cao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The formation of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast (STB) through cell fusion of cytotrophoblast, also termed syncytialization, ensures the proper placental structure and functions. Nutrient insufficiency and inactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in trophoblasts have been shown to enhance STB formation; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we showed that the deficiency of a mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor, TFEB, significantly impaired STB formation in human trophoblasts and knock-out mice. TFEB conferred direct transcriptional activation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 and thereby promoted trophoblast syncytialization. Additionally, TFEB expression positively correlated with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth …

Mv140 Mucosal Vaccine Induces Targeted Immune Response For Enhanced Clearance Of Uropathogenic E Coli In Experimental Urinary Tract Infection, Paula Saz-Leal, Marianne Morris Ligon, Carmen María Diez-Rivero, Diego García-Ayuso, Soumitra Mohanty, Marcos Viñuela, Irene Real-Arévalo, Laura Conejero, Annelie Brauner, José Luis Subiza, Indira Uppugunduri Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

MV140 is an inactivated whole-cell bacterial mucosal vaccine with proven clinical efficacy against recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). These infections are primarily caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains, which are unique in their virulence factors and remarkably diverse. MV140 contains a non-UPEC strain, suggesting that it may induce an immune response against different UPEC-induced UTIs in patients. To verify this, we experimentally evaluated the cellular and humoral responses to UTI89, a prototypical UPEC strain, in mice vaccinated with MV140, as well as the degree of protection achieved in a UPEC UTI89 model of acute cystitis. The results show that …

Downregulation Of Mirlet7 Mirna Family Promotes Tc17 Differentiation And Emphysema Via De-Repression Of Rorγt, Phillip A Erice, Xinyan Huang, Matthew J Seasock, Matthew J Robertson, Hui-Ying Tung, Melissa A Perez-Negron, Shivani L Lotlikar, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand, Antony Rodriguez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Environmental air irritants including nanosized carbon black (nCB) can drive systemic inflammation, promoting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema development. The let-7 microRNA (Mirlet7 miRNA) family is associated with IL-17-driven T cell inflammation, a canonical signature of lung inflammation. Recent evidence suggests the Mirlet7 family is downregulated in patients with COPD, however, whether this repression conveys a functional consequence on emphysema pathology has not been elucidated. Here, we show that overall expression of the Mirlet7 clusters, Mirlet7b/Mirlet7c2 and Mirlet7a1/Mirlet7f1/Mirlet7d, are reduced in the lungs and T cells of smokers with emphysema as well as in mice with …

Clinical Outcomes After Acute Coronary Syndromes Or Revascularization Among People Living With Hiv: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammed Haji, Michael Capilupi, Michael Kwok, Nouran Ibrahim, Gerald S Bloomfield, Christopher T Longenecker, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Chester N Ashong, Eric Jutkowitz, Tracey H Taveira, Michelle Richard, Jennifer L Sullivan, James L Rudolph, Wen-Chih Wu, Sebhat Erqou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Clinical outcomes after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in people living with HIV have not been characterized in sufficient detail, and extant data have not been synthesized adequately.

OBJECTIVE: To better characterize clinical outcomes and postdischarge treatment of patients living with HIV after ACS or PCIs compared with patients in an HIV-negative control group.

DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for all available longitudinal studies of patients living with HIV after ACS or PCIs from inception until August 2023.

STUDY SELECTION: Included studies met the following criteria: patients living with …

D-Mannose Reduces Cellular Senescence And Nlrp3/Gasdermind/Il-1Β-Driven Pyroptotic Uroepithelial Cell Shedding In The Murine Bladder, Chetanchandra S Joshi, Arnold M Salazar, Caihong Wang, Marianne M Ligon, Rayvanth R Chappidi, Bisiayo E Fashemi, Paul A Felder, Amy Mora, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Indira U Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging is a risk factor for disease via increased susceptibility to infection, decreased ability to maintain homeostasis, inefficiency in combating stress, and decreased regenerative capacity. Multiple diseases, including urinary tract infection (UTI), are more prevalent with age; however, the mechanisms underlying the impact of aging on the urinary tract mucosa and the correlation between aging and disease remain poorly understood. Here, we show that, relative to young (8-12 weeks) mice, the urothelium of aged (18-24 months) female mice accumulates large lysosomes with reduced acid phosphatase activity and decreased overall autophagic flux in the aged urothelium, indicative of compromised cellular homeostasis. …

Features Of Acute Covid-19 Associated With Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Phenotypes: Results From The Impacc Study, Al Ozonoff, Naresh Doni Jayavelu, Shanshan Liu, Esther Melamed, Carly E Milliren, Jingjing Qi, Linda N Geng, Grace A Mccomsey, Charles B Cairns, Lindsey R Baden, Joanna Schaenman, Albert C Shaw, Hady Samaha, Vicki Seyfert-Margolis, Florian Krammer, Lindsey B Rosen, Hanno Steen, Caitlin Syphurs, Ravi Dandekar, Casey P Shannon, Rafick P Sekaly, Lauren I R Ehrlich, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand, Mark A Atkinson, Scott C Brakenridge, Nelson I Agudelo Higuita, Jordan P Metcalf, Catherine L Hough, William B Messer, Bali Pulendran, Kari C Nadeau, Mark M Davis, Ana Fernandez Sesma, Viviana Simon, Harm Van Bakel, Seunghee Kim-Schulze, David A Hafler, Ofer Levy, Monica Kraft, Chris Bime, Elias K Haddad, Carolyn S Calfee, David J Erle, Charles R Langelier, Walter Eckalbar, Steven E Bosinger, Bjoern Peters, Steven H Kleinstein, Elaine F Reed, Alison D Augustine, Joann Diray-Arce, Holden T Maecker, Matthew C Altman, Ruth R Montgomery, Patrice M Becker, Nadine Rouphael

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is a significant public health concern. We describe Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) on 590 participants prospectively assessed from hospital admission for COVID-19 through one year after discharge. Modeling identified 4 PRO clusters based on reported deficits (minimal, physical, mental/cognitive, and multidomain), supporting heterogenous clinical presentations in PASC, with sub-phenotypes associated with female sex and distinctive comorbidities. During the acute phase of disease, a higher respiratory SARS-CoV-2 viral burden and lower Receptor Binding Domain and Spike antibody titers were associated with both the physical predominant and the multidomain deficit clusters. A lower frequency of circulating B …

A Case Report Navigating Cvid And Sarcoidosis Overlaps In Pediatric Nephritis, Amanda Salih, Amanda Brown, Amanda Grimes, Sana Hasan, Manuel Silva-Carmona, Leyat Tal, Joud Hajjar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) can be complicated by granulomatous disease, often granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD). Granulomatous interstitial nephritis represents an atypical presentation in pediatrics. Our patient is a previously healthy 13-year-old white male with a recent diagnosis of CVID. He presented with a rash and laboratory findings included pancytopenia (white blood cells 2.6 cells × 103/μl, hemoglobin 11.8 g/dl, platelets 60 × 103/μl), hypercalcemia (14.9 mg/dl), elevated Vit D 1,25 OH level (>200 pg/ml), hyperuricemia (8.8 mg/dl), and acute kidney injury (AKI) (serum creatinine 1.1 mg/dl; baseline 0.64 mg/dl). A broad infectious workup was unremarkable. The rash …

The Dna Glycosylase Neil2 Is Protective During Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Nisha Tapryal, Anirban Chakraborty, Kaushik Saha, Azharul Islam, Lang Pan, Koa Hosoki, Ibrahim M Sayed, Jason M Duran, Joshua Alcantara, Vanessa Castillo, Courtney Tindle, Altaf H Sarker, Maki Wakamiya, Victor J Cardenas, Gulshan Sharma, Laura E Crotty Alexander, Sanjiv Sur, Debashis Sahoo, Gourisankar Ghosh, Soumita Das, Pradipta Ghosh, Istvan Boldogh, Tapas K Hazra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced aggravation of host innate immune response not only causes tissue damage and multiorgan failure in COVID-19 patients but also induces host genome damage and activates DNA damage response pathways. To test whether the compromised DNA repair capacity of individuals modulates the severity of COVID-19 infection, we analyze DNA repair gene expression in publicly available patient datasets and observe a lower level of the DNA glycosylase NEIL2 in the lungs of severely infected COVID-19 patients. This observation of lower NEIL2 levels is further validated in infected patients, hamsters and ACE2 receptor-expressing human A549 (A549-ACE2) cells. Furthermore, delivery of recombinant …

Establishment Of A Consensus Protocol To Explore The Brain Pathobiome In Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment And Alzheimer’S Disease: Research Outline And Call For Collaboration, Richard Lathe, Nikki M Schultek, Brian J Balin, Garth D Ehrlich, Lavinia Alberi Auber, George Perry, Edward B Breitschwerdt, David B Corry, Richard L Doty, Robert A Rissman, Peter L Nara, Ruth Itzhaki, William A Eimer, Rudolph E Tanzi, Intracell Research Group Consortium Collaborators

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Microbial infections of the brain can lead to dementia, and for many decades microbial infections have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. However, a causal role for infection in AD remains contentious, and the lack of standardized detection methodologies has led to inconsistent detection/identification of microbes in AD brains. There is a need for a consensus methodology; the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative aims to perform comparative molecular analyses of microbes in post mortem brains versus cerebrospinal fluid, blood, olfactory neuroepithelium, oral/nasopharyngeal tissue, bronchoalveolar, urinary, and gut/stool samples. Diverse extraction methodologies, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing techniques, and bioinformatic tools will …

Toll-Like Receptor 4 And Cd11b Expressed On Microglia Coordinate Eradication Of Candida Albicans Cerebral Mycosis, Yifan Wu, Shuqi Du, Lynn H Bimler, Kelsey E Mauk, Léa Lortal, Nessim Kichik, James S Griffiths, Radim Osicka, Lizhen Song, Katherine Polsky, Lydia Kasper, Peter Sebo, Jill Weatherhead, J Morgan Knight, Farrah Kheradmand, Hui Zheng, Jonathan P Richardson, Bernhard Hube, Julian R Naglik, David B Corry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is linked to chronic brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the molecular basis of brain anti-Candida immunity remains unknown. We show that C. albicans enters the mouse brain from the blood and induces two neuroimmune sensing mechanisms involving secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps) and candidalysin. Saps disrupt tight junction proteins of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to permit fungal brain invasion. Saps also hydrolyze amyloid precursor protein (APP) into amyloid β (Aβ)-like peptides that bind to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and promote fungal killing in vitro while candidalysin engages the integrin CD11b (Mac-1) on microglia. …

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (Mis-C): Is There A Relationship To Typhus?, Sravani Mannuru, Juliana Hager, Jacob Smith

Research Colloquium

The United Kingdom first reported in April 2020 a group of eight previously healthy children with a link to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that presented with systemic inflammation and multi-organ involvement, now named multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported over 1000 cases since the primary discovery as of October 2020 with 20 total deaths. [1] The clinical features of MIS-C have been previously compared to inflammatory syndromes including Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). We describe the clinical presentation and management for 3 pediatric cases with …

Loss Of Stearoyl-Coa Desaturase 2 Disrupts Inflammatory Response In Macrophages, Joseph B Lin, Amy Mora, Tzu Jui Wang, Andrea Santeford, Darksha Usmani, Marianne M Ligon, Indira U Mysorekar, Rajendra S Apte

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Macrophages are innate immune cells that patrol tissues and are the first responders to detect infection. They orchestrate the host immune response in eliminating invading pathogens and the subsequent transition from inflammation to tissue repair. Macrophage dysfunction contributes to age-related pathologies, including low-grade inflammation in advanced age that is termed "inflammaging." Our laboratory has previously identified that macrophage expression of a fatty acid desaturase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 (SCD2), declines with age. Herein, we delineate the precise cellular effects of SCD2 deficiency in murine macrophages. We found that deletion of

Performance Of A Modified Fracture Risk Assessment Tool For Fragility Fracture Prediction Among Older Veterans Living With Hiv, Julie A Womack, Terrence E Murphy, Linda Leo-Summers, Farah Kidwai-Khan, Melissa Skanderson, Thomas M Gill, Barbara Gulanski, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Phyllis C Tien, Michael T Yin, Evelyn Hsieh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Fragility fractures (fractures) are a critical outcome for persons aging with HIV (PAH). Research suggests that the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) only modestly estimates fracture risk among PAH. We provide an updated evaluation of how well a 'modified FRAX' identifies PAH at risk for fractures in a contemporary HIV cohort.

DESIGN: Cohort study.

METHODS: We used data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study to evaluate veterans living with HIV, aged 50+ years, for the occurrence of fractures from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2019. Data from 2009 were used to evaluate the eight FRAX predictors available to …

Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis: A Systematic Review Of Hla-Dr In Pigeon Breeder’S Disease, Dylan Thibaut, Ryan A. Witcher, Anitha Kunnath, James Toldi

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Introduction: Pigeon Breeder’s Pneumonitis (PBP) results due to a complex pathophysiology that includes exposure to avian antigens. Susceptibility has been linked to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, though consensus has not been reached. The goal of this systematic review is to further elucidate the association between PBP and HLA-DR subtypes.

Methods: Databases utilized included PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Inclusion required a minimum of three studies in English presenting HLA-DR alleles of PBP and control subgroups. Exclusion was due to insufficient data or non-feasible control groups. Forest plots were created for HLA-DR subtypes’ association …

A Case Of Dock8 Deficiency Treated With Dupilumab, Melissa Anderson, Brandon D. Newell, Hugo Escobar, Erin Stahl, Nikita Raje

Research Days

Background: Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 gene (DOCK8) deficiency is an immune disorder associated with autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome, characterized by elevated IgE levels, atopic dermatitis, and predisposition to recurrent skin and lung infections.

Objectives/Goal: A 12-year-old male presented to Immunology clinic for DOCK8 deficiency. He was diagnosed in infancy due to diffuse papulopustular eruption positive for candidiasis and known family history. Past medical history included severe eczematous dermatitis, asthma, interstitial lung disease, food allergies, and poor growth, with cutaneous HSV and fungal infections, HSV keratitis, and MRSA bacteremia. Family history was notable for two siblings with DOCK8 deficiency, both deceased. …

Food Insecurity And Dietary Restrictions, Courtney Williams, Savana Rodriguez, Tiffany Guerrero, Stephen Acheampong, Vanesa Pizutelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

According to the USDA Food Insecurity affects around 10.2 percent of the US population as of 2021. For families that have members with certain dietary restriction such as, but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, and food allergies, the challenge of securing food becomes an even greater burden with having to navigate food banks or discount stores that may not offer food items that meet their dietary requirements. Families with dietary restrictions often face greater food insecurity and less access to food. More research is needed to understand the challenges families with dietary restrictions face regarding food …

Case Report: Anaphylactic Reaction To Magnesium Sulfate, Nicholas Coan, Kelly Schiers, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 65-year-old female who prior to being discharged from the hospital developed an anaphylactic reaction after receiving an intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion. After extensive literature review, there are few documented hypersensitivity reactions documented. This case report is to highlight a known human response, anaphylaxis, but in response to the repletion of an essential electrolyte to human life, magnesium.

Bladder Mucosal Cystitis Cystica Lesions Are Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues That Correlate With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Frequency In Postmenopausal Women, Marianne M Ligon, Brooke Liang, Stacy M Lenger, Priyanka Parameswaran, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Jerry L Lowder, Indira U Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: We identify correlates and clinical outcomes of cystitis cystica, a poorly understood chronic inflammatory bladder change, in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational cohort of women with recurrent urinary tract infections who underwent cystoscopy (n=138) from 2015 to 2018 were identified using electronic medical records. Cystitis cystica status was abstracted from cystoscopy reports and correlations were identified by logistic regression. Urinary tract infection-free survival time associated with cystitis cystica was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Exact logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with changes to cystitis cystica lesions on repeat …

Contribution Of Adaptive Immunity To Human Copd And Experimental Models Of Emphysema, Farrah Kheradmand, Yun Zhang, David B Corry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the undisputed role of innate immune cells in this condition have dominated the field in the basic research arena for many years. Recently, however, compelling data suggesting that adaptive immune cells may also contribute to the progressive nature of lung destruction associated with COPD in smokers have gained considerable attention. The histopathological changes in the lungs of smokers can be limited to the large or small airways, but alveolar loss leading to emphysema, which occurs in some individuals, remains its most significant and irreversible outcome. Critically, however, the question of why …

Role Of Biomarkers (Sflt-1/Plgf) In Cases Of Covid-19 For Distinguishing Preeclampsia And Guiding Clinical Management, Guilherme M Nobrega, Jose P Guida, Juliana M Novaes, Larissa M Solda, Luciana Pietro, Adriana G Luz, Giuliane J Lajos, Carolina C Ribeiro-Do-Valle, Renato T Souza, Jose G Cecatti, Indira U Mysorekar, Tabata Z Dias, Maria Laura Costa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To analyze soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factors (PlGF) concentrations and their ratio in pregnant and postpartum women with suspected COVID-19, and further investigate conditions associated with an increased ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF > 38), including preeclampsia (PE) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

STUDY DESIGN: The present study is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort. Blood samples were collected at time of COVID-19 investigation and the serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF were performed. Clinical background, SARS-CoV-2 infection characteristics, maternal and perinatal outcomes were further analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum measurements of sFlt-1 and PlGF; obstetrics …

Covid-19 And Pregnancy: Clinical Outcomes; Mechanisms, And Vaccine Efficacy, Deepak Kumar, Sonam Verma, Indira U Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into its third year, emerging data indicates increased risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, stillbirth, and risk of developmental defects in neonates. Here, we review clinical reports to date that address different COVID-19 pregnancy complications. We also document placental pathologies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, entry mechanisms in placental cells, and immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface. Since new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are emerging with characteristics of higher transmissibility and more effective immune escape strategies, we also briefly highlight the genomic and proteomic features of SARS-CoV-2 investigated to …