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Articles 241 - 270 of 752

Full-Text Articles in Allergy and Immunology

Fluoxetine And Sertraline Inhibit Height Growth And Growth Hormone Signaling During Puberty, Chadi Calarge, Chima Amushie, Stephanie Dinh, James A Mills, Sridevi Devaraj, Griselda Barba-Villalobos, Jacqueline Nguyen, Jose M Garcia, Stephanie Sisley, Fida Bacha, Babette Zemel Jan 2024

Fluoxetine And Sertraline Inhibit Height Growth And Growth Hormone Signaling During Puberty, Chadi Calarge, Chima Amushie, Stephanie Dinh, James A Mills, Sridevi Devaraj, Griselda Barba-Villalobos, Jacqueline Nguyen, Jose M Garcia, Stephanie Sisley, Fida Bacha, Babette Zemel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of fluoxetine and sertraline on height growth and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) during puberty.

Methods: In this 6-month cohort study, electronic medical records were used to identify 8- to 15-year-old participants, within 1 month of starting fluoxetine (n = 39) or sertraline (n = 27), and sexual maturation stages 2 to 4 were confirmed. Conditions that interfere with height growth led to exclusion. Participants underwent anthropometric assessments and phlebotomy. Healthy, unmedicated children (n = 36) also provided anthropometric data.

Results: After the baseline height Z-score, sex, Tanner stage, daily …


Molecular Profiling Of A Hepatocellular Neoplasm Not Otherwise Specified (Hcn-Nos) Demonstrates Distinct Molecular Features In Hepatoblastoma And Hcc-Like Components, Yan Chen Wongworawat, Stephen F Sarabia, Martin Urbicain, Paola Francalanci, Pavel Sumazin, Rita Alaggio, Dolores H López-Terrada Jan 2024

Molecular Profiling Of A Hepatocellular Neoplasm Not Otherwise Specified (Hcn-Nos) Demonstrates Distinct Molecular Features In Hepatoblastoma And Hcc-Like Components, Yan Chen Wongworawat, Stephen F Sarabia, Martin Urbicain, Paola Francalanci, Pavel Sumazin, Rita Alaggio, Dolores H López-Terrada

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hepatoblastomas (HB) are embryonal tumors with quiet genomes diagnosed mostly in children under 3 years of age and often cured by surgical resection and chemotherapy. However, a subset of HBs behave aggressively, displaying characteristic histologic features and higher genomic instability. Hepatocellular neoplasm-not otherwise specified (HCN-NOS) is a provisional diagnostic category for tumors exhibiting either intermediate or a combination of both HB and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) histological features. In this study, we characterized an HCN-NOS diagnosed in a 3-year-old patient presenting with a liver mass, in which both HB and HCC histological components were amendable to macro-dissection and molecular profiling. The …


Bivalirudin Stability In Citrated Plasma And Citrated Whole Blood, Karen Bruzdoski, Vadim Kostousov, Jun Teruya Jan 2024

Bivalirudin Stability In Citrated Plasma And Citrated Whole Blood, Karen Bruzdoski, Vadim Kostousov, Jun Teruya

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.


The Mars Complex: A Critical Mediator Of Immune Regulation And Homeostasis, Sharon Bright Amanya, Damilola Oyewole-Said, Keenan J Ernste, Nalini Bisht, Arnav Murthy, Jonathan Vazquez-Perez, Vanaja Konduri, William K Decker Jan 2024

The Mars Complex: A Critical Mediator Of Immune Regulation And Homeostasis, Sharon Bright Amanya, Damilola Oyewole-Said, Keenan J Ernste, Nalini Bisht, Arnav Murthy, Jonathan Vazquez-Perez, Vanaja Konduri, William K Decker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the course of evolution, many proteins have undergone adaptive structural changes to meet the increasing homeostatic regulatory demands of multicellularity. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRS), enzymes that catalyze the attachment of each amino acid to its cognate tRNA, are such proteins that have acquired new domains and motifs that enable non-canonical functions. Through these new domains and motifs, aaRS can assemble into large, multi-subunit complexes that enhance the efficiency of many biological functions. Moreover, because the complexity of multi-aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (mARS) complexes increases with the corresponding complexity of higher eukaryotes, a contribution to regulation of homeostatic functions in multicellular …


High-Fat Diets Promote Peritoneal Inflammation And Augment Endometriosis-Associated Abdominal Hyperalgesia, Tristin Herup-Wheeler, Mingxin Shi, Madeleine E Harvey, Chandni Talwar, Ramakrishna Kommagani, James A Maclean, Kanako Hayashi Jan 2024

High-Fat Diets Promote Peritoneal Inflammation And Augment Endometriosis-Associated Abdominal Hyperalgesia, Tristin Herup-Wheeler, Mingxin Shi, Madeleine E Harvey, Chandni Talwar, Ramakrishna Kommagani, James A Maclean, Kanako Hayashi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Immune dysfunction is one of the central components in the development and progression of endometriosis by establishing a chronic inflammatory environment. Western-style high-fat diets (HFD) have been linked to greater systemic inflammation to cause metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases, and are also considered an environmental risk factor for gynecologic diseases. Here, we aimed to examine how HFD cause an inflammatory environment in endometriosis and discern their contribution to endometriotic-associated hyperalgesia. Our results showed that HFD-induced obesity enhanced abdominal hyperalgesia that was induced by endometriotic lesions. Peritoneal inflammatory macrophages and cytokine levels increased by lesion induction were elevated by chronic exposure …


Pharmacological Inhibition Of The Map2k7 Kinase In Human Disease, H Daniel Lacorazza Jan 2024

Pharmacological Inhibition Of The Map2k7 Kinase In Human Disease, H Daniel Lacorazza

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The MAP2K7 signaling pathway activates the c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in response to stress signals, such as inflammatory cytokines, osmotic stress, or genomic damage. While there has been interest in inhibiting JNK due to its involvement in inflammatory processes and cancer, there is increasing focus on developing MAP2K7 inhibitors to enhance specificity when MAP2K7 activation is associated with disease progression. Despite some progress, further research is needed to fully comprehend the role of MAP2K7 in cancer and assess the potential use of kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy. This review examines the role of MAP2K7 in cancer and the development …


Rapid Gene Fusion Testing Using The Nanostring Ncounter Platform To Improve Pediatric Leukemia Diagnoses In Sub-Saharan Africa, Julie M Gastier-Foster, Fredrick Lutwama, Olive Mbabazi, Steven Mlenga, Kennedy Ulaya, Ruth Namazzi, E Faith Hollingsworth, Dolores Lopez-Terrada, Kevin E Fisher, Angshumoy Roy, Carl E Allen, David G Poplack, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nmazuo Ozuah, Peter Wasswa Jan 2024

Rapid Gene Fusion Testing Using The Nanostring Ncounter Platform To Improve Pediatric Leukemia Diagnoses In Sub-Saharan Africa, Julie M Gastier-Foster, Fredrick Lutwama, Olive Mbabazi, Steven Mlenga, Kennedy Ulaya, Ruth Namazzi, E Faith Hollingsworth, Dolores Lopez-Terrada, Kevin E Fisher, Angshumoy Roy, Carl E Allen, David G Poplack, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nmazuo Ozuah, Peter Wasswa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Risk stratification and molecular targeting have been key to increasing cure rates for pediatric cancers in high-income countries. In contrast, precise diagnosis in low-resource settings is hindered by insufficient pathology infrastructure. The Global HOPE program aims to improve outcomes for pediatric cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by building local clinical care and diagnostic capacity. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing molecular assays to improve leukemia diagnoses in SSA. Custom NanoString nCounter gene fusion assays, previously validated in the US, were used to test samples from suspected leukemia patients. The NanoString platform was chosen due to relatively low …


Genetic Variation Between Small Bowel And Colon-Predominant Crohn's Disease, Halee Patel, R Alan Harris, Justin H Qian, Numan Oezguen, Ashleigh Watson, Reka G Szigeti, Stanley Cho, Wenly Ruan, Savini Britto, Antone Opekun, Geoffrey Preidis, Richard Kellermayer Jan 2024

Genetic Variation Between Small Bowel And Colon-Predominant Crohn's Disease, Halee Patel, R Alan Harris, Justin H Qian, Numan Oezguen, Ashleigh Watson, Reka G Szigeti, Stanley Cho, Wenly Ruan, Savini Britto, Antone Opekun, Geoffrey Preidis, Richard Kellermayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.


Early Administration Of Steroids In The Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial (Easi-As-Odt), Jennifer N Fishe, Gerard Garvan, Andrew Bertrand, Shannon Burcham, Phyllis Hendry, Manish Shah, Kathryn Kothari, David W Ashby, Daniel Ostermeyer, Lauren Riney, Olga Semenova, Benjamin Abo, Benjamin Abes, Nichole Shimko, Emily Myers, Marshall Frank, Tim Turner, Mac Kemp, Kim Landry, Greg Roland, Kathryn V Blake Jan 2024

Early Administration Of Steroids In The Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial (Easi-As-Odt), Jennifer N Fishe, Gerard Garvan, Andrew Bertrand, Shannon Burcham, Phyllis Hendry, Manish Shah, Kathryn Kothari, David W Ashby, Daniel Ostermeyer, Lauren Riney, Olga Semenova, Benjamin Abo, Benjamin Abes, Nichole Shimko, Emily Myers, Marshall Frank, Tim Turner, Mac Kemp, Kim Landry, Greg Roland, Kathryn V Blake

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: In the emergency department (ED), prompt administration of systemic corticosteroids for pediatric asthma exacerbations decreases hospital admission rates. However, there is sparse evidence for whether earlier administration of systemic corticosteroids by emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians, prior to ED arrival, further improves pediatric asthma outcomes.

METHODS: Early Administration of Steroids in the Ambulance Setting: An Observational Design Trial is a multicenter, observational, nonrandomized stepped-wedge design study with seven participating EMS agencies who adopted an oral systemic corticosteroid (OCS) into their protocols for pediatric asthma treatment. Using univariate analyses and multivariable mixed-effects models, we compared hospital admission rates for pediatric …


Diagnosis And Management Of Shrimp Allergy, Bin Brenda Su, Warren Blackmon, Chun Xu, Christopher Holt, Nathaniel Boateng, Darren Wang, Vibha Szafron, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Sara Anvari, Carla M Davis Jan 2024

Diagnosis And Management Of Shrimp Allergy, Bin Brenda Su, Warren Blackmon, Chun Xu, Christopher Holt, Nathaniel Boateng, Darren Wang, Vibha Szafron, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Sara Anvari, Carla M Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Shrimp allergy, the most common food allergy in the United States, affects up to 2% of the population. Its etiology is multi-factorial with the combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. This review summarizes the latest diagnosis and management strategies for shrimp allergy. Currently, the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge is the gold standard for diagnosis. Moreover, mainstream and experimental management strategies include food allergen avoidance, the FDA-approved omalizumab, and oral immunotherapy. Herein, we emphasize the urgent need to develop more effective diagnostic tools and therapies for shrimp allergy.


Applying Market Basket Analysis To Determine Complex Coassociations Among Food Allergens In Children With Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (Fpies), Ankona Banerjee, Kenneth Nobleza, Cynthia Haddad, Joshua Eubanks, Ruchit Rana, Nicholas L Rider, Lisa Pompeii, Duc Nguyen, Sara Anvari Jan 2024

Applying Market Basket Analysis To Determine Complex Coassociations Among Food Allergens In Children With Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (Fpies), Ankona Banerjee, Kenneth Nobleza, Cynthia Haddad, Joshua Eubanks, Ruchit Rana, Nicholas L Rider, Lisa Pompeii, Duc Nguyen, Sara Anvari

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy, characterized by delayed onset of repetitive vomiting occurring 1 to 4 h following ingestion of a food allergen. Managing FPIES requires strict avoidance of the food trigger. The concern with FPIES is determining the risk of another FPIES food trigger reaction due to potential coassociations with other foods or food groups. An effective statistical approach for analyzing FPIES-related data is essential to identify common coallergens and their associations.

METHODS: This study employed Market Basket Analysis, a data-mining technique, to examine correlations and patterns among allergens in FPIES patients at …


Development Of A Mini Pig Model Of Peanut Allergy, Akhilesh Kumar Shakya, Brittany Backus, Lazar D Nesovic, Malini Mallick, Olivia Banister, Carla M Davis, Sara Anvari, Harvinder Singh Gill Jan 2024

Development Of A Mini Pig Model Of Peanut Allergy, Akhilesh Kumar Shakya, Brittany Backus, Lazar D Nesovic, Malini Mallick, Olivia Banister, Carla M Davis, Sara Anvari, Harvinder Singh Gill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of peanut allergies is increasing, emphasizing the need for an animal model to enhance our understanding of peanut allergy pathogenesis and to advance diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. While mice are frequently used as model organisms, their allergic responses do not fully mirror those observed in humans, warranting the exploration of a higher animal model. The porcine gastrointestinal system closely resembles that of humans, and exhibits allergy symptoms akin to human responses, making pigs a promising model for peanut allergy research.

METHODS: In this study we compared two allergen sensitization protocols involving either topical allergen application after …


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 Jan 2024

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 …


Clinical Utility Of Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing In Determining Microbiologic Etiology Of Infectious Syndromes In Solid Organ Transplant Recipients, Jesal R Shah, Muhammad Rizwan Sohail, Todd Lasco, John A Goss, Mayar Al Mohajer, Sarwat Khalil Jan 2024

Clinical Utility Of Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing In Determining Microbiologic Etiology Of Infectious Syndromes In Solid Organ Transplant Recipients, Jesal R Shah, Muhammad Rizwan Sohail, Todd Lasco, John A Goss, Mayar Al Mohajer, Sarwat Khalil

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is increasingly being used for microbial detection in various infectious syndromes. However, data regarding the use of mNGS in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) are lacking.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze real-world clinical impact of mNGS using plasma microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in SOTR.Design: Retrospectively reviewed all adult SOTR who underwent mNGS testing using plasma mcfDNA at Baylor St Luke's Medical Center from March 2017 to February 2023.

METHODS: Clinical impact (positive, neutral, and negative) was assessed using standardized objective criteria. Three Infectious Diseases physicians independently performed clinical adjudication to determine the correlation of mcfDNA …


Combining Egfr And Kras G12c Inhibitors For Kras G12c Mutated Advanced Colorectal Cancer, Hirotaka Miyashita, David S Hong Jan 2024

Combining Egfr And Kras G12c Inhibitors For Kras G12c Mutated Advanced Colorectal Cancer, Hirotaka Miyashita, David S Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

KRAS is a commonly mutated gene in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, inhibitors of KRAS G12C were developed and have shown promising efficacy for KRAS G12C mutated non-small cell lung cancer. However, KRAS G12C inhibitor monotherapy has not demonstrated excellent efficacy for KRAS G12C mutated advanced CRC due to multiple resistance mechanisms, especially receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling activation. To overcome this resistance mechanism, various combinations of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRAS G12C inhibitors, including panitumumab plus sotorasib, have been investigated in clinical trials. The combination of EGFR and KRAS G12C inhibitors for KRAS G12C mutated CRC demonstrated …


Hypoxia-Adenosine Axis As Therapeutic Targets For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Katherine Figarella, Jieun Kim, Wei Ruan, Tingting Mills, Holger Klaus Eltzschig, Xiaoyi Yuan Jan 2024

Hypoxia-Adenosine Axis As Therapeutic Targets For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Katherine Figarella, Jieun Kim, Wei Ruan, Tingting Mills, Holger Klaus Eltzschig, Xiaoyi Yuan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The human respiratory and circulatory systems collaborate intricately to ensure oxygen delivery to all cells, which is vital for ATP production and maintaining physiological functions and structures. During limited oxygen availability, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are stabilized and play a fundamental role in maintaining cellular processes for hypoxia adaptation. First discovered during investigations of erythropoietin production regulation, HIFs influence physiological and pathological processes, including development, inflammation, wound healing, and cancer. HIFs promote extracellular adenosine signaling by enhancing adenosine generation and receptor signaling, representing an endogenous feedback mechanism that curbs excessive inflammation, supports injury resolution, and enhances hypoxia tolerance. This is especially …


Survei Kebutuhan Edukasi Pasien Lupus Eritematosus Sistemik, Jennifer Josephine, Alvina Widhani, Rahmat Cahyanur, Teguh Harjono Karjadi Dec 2023

Survei Kebutuhan Edukasi Pasien Lupus Eritematosus Sistemik, Jennifer Josephine, Alvina Widhani, Rahmat Cahyanur, Teguh Harjono Karjadi

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who suffer from chronic illness, need tailored education to better manage their condition. As nowadays education through internet and social media contributes significantly. This study aimed to assess internet usage related to lupus, educational needs, and education sources preferences among patients.

Methods. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on adult SLE patients at Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic, Internal Medicine Department, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, between July-August 2023. Respondents completed a set of questionnaires regarding their internet usage related to lupus, education platform preferences, and educational needs assessment tool (ENAT). …


The Involvement Of Hepatic Cytochrome P450s In The Cytotoxicity Of Lapatinib, Si Chen, Xilin Li, Yuxi Li, Xiaobo He, Matthew Bryant, Xuan Qin, Feng Li, Ji-Eun Seo, Xiaoqing Guo, Nan Mei, Lei Guo Dec 2023

The Involvement Of Hepatic Cytochrome P450s In The Cytotoxicity Of Lapatinib, Si Chen, Xilin Li, Yuxi Li, Xiaobo He, Matthew Bryant, Xuan Qin, Feng Li, Ji-Eun Seo, Xiaoqing Guo, Nan Mei, Lei Guo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Lapatinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor used as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer, has been reported to be associated with hepatotoxicity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we report that lapatinib causes cytotoxicity in multiple types of hepatic cells, including primary human hepatocytes, HepaRG cells, and HepG2 cells. A 24-h treatment with lapatinib induced cell cycle disturbances, apoptosis, and DNA damage, and decreased the protein levels of topoisomerase in HepG2 cells. We investigated the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism in lapatinib-induced cytotoxicity using our previously established HepG2 cell lines, which express each of 14 …


Parasympathetic Activity And Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness In Athletes, Audrey Badza Dec 2023

Parasympathetic Activity And Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness In Athletes, Audrey Badza

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is a term used to describe the bronchial constriction response to environmental stimuli. BHR is increasingly common in endurance athletes due to increased exposure to some stimuli. The purpose of this review is to evaluate Stang et al.'s (2016) article, "Parasympathetic Activity and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness in Athletes" and discuss the significance of their results. The results concluded that BHR is related to the parasympathetic activity of the heart rather than the pupils. The study concluded that there is an association between BHR and parasympathetic activity of the heart, methacholine is associated with BHR and cardiac vagal activity, …


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 Dec 2023

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 …


Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Synthetic Glycovaccines Against Both Murine Acute Chagas Disease And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Colin D. Knight Dec 2023

Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Synthetic Glycovaccines Against Both Murine Acute Chagas Disease And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Colin D. Knight

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chagas disease (CD) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoan trypanosomatids, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp., respectively. There are approximately 6-8 million people infected with T. cruzi worldwide and ~300,000 people in the US. Between 700,000 and 1.2 million new cases of CL occur worldwide yearly. The approved chemotherapies for both diseases are partially effective and may cause serious adverse events, resulting in premature treatment interruption. Moreover, no effective vaccine for either disease is available. Therefore, developing a vaccine that would provide effective cross-protection against both diseases would provide a cost-effective alternative to the existing …


Neural Damage Following Francisella Tularensis Infection, Anahis Tena Dec 2023

Neural Damage Following Francisella Tularensis Infection, Anahis Tena

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the impact of Francisella tularensis infection on the brain, focusing on its anatomical localization, effects on synaptic health, and behavioral and cognitive consequences in mice. Employing a combination of fluorescent tagging, confocal and light sheet microscopy, the study first maps bacterial foci within the brain, anticipating a concentration in the limbic system, particularly the hippocampus. Subsequently, it examines synaptic function post-infection using calcium imaging in various neuronal cultures, expecting a decrease in calcium signaling indicative of synaptic impairment. Finally, behavioral assays like the forced swim test, object recognition test, and Morris Water Maze assess the cognitive and …


A Case Report: Kikuchi Disease Associated With A Positive Auto-Immune Panel Triggered By Covid-19 Infection., Andrew Graef, Aimee Willett, Andrew-Huy Dang, Jayalakshmi Balakrishna, Charles Nicely, Robert Baiocchi Dec 2023

A Case Report: Kikuchi Disease Associated With A Positive Auto-Immune Panel Triggered By Covid-19 Infection., Andrew Graef, Aimee Willett, Andrew-Huy Dang, Jayalakshmi Balakrishna, Charles Nicely, Robert Baiocchi

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Kikuchi disease (KD) is a rare, benign inflammatory condition characterized by fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. While the pathogenesis is largely unknown, Kikuchi disease onset has strong associations with various infections and autoimmune conditions. There are few reported cases of Kikuchi disease triggered by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or vaccination. A 43-year-old Filipina female with a history of anemia and recent uncomplicated COVID-19 infection one month prior presented with a one-month history of progressive weakness, fatigue, anorexia with 30-pound weight loss, fevers, odynophagia, and new-onset hematemesis. Initial laboratory findings were most significant for a markedly elevated ferritin level prompting initial …


Navigating Relapsed Hepatoblastoma: Predictive Factors And Surgical Treatment Strategy, Andres F Espinoza, Kalyani R Patel, Priya B Shetty, Richard S Whitlock, Pavel Sumazin, Xinjian Yu, Stephen F Sarabia, Martin Urbicain, Andras Heczey, Prakash Masand, Sarah E Woodfield, Dolores H López-Terrada, Sanjeev A Vasudevan Dec 2023

Navigating Relapsed Hepatoblastoma: Predictive Factors And Surgical Treatment Strategy, Andres F Espinoza, Kalyani R Patel, Priya B Shetty, Richard S Whitlock, Pavel Sumazin, Xinjian Yu, Stephen F Sarabia, Martin Urbicain, Andras Heczey, Prakash Masand, Sarah E Woodfield, Dolores H López-Terrada, Sanjeev A Vasudevan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in childhood. Relapse occurs in more than 50% of high-risk patients with a high mortality due to ineffective salvage therapies. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for relapsed HB and predictors of survival in a single tertiary referral center.

Methods: A retrospective chart review showed 129 surgically treated HB patients from October 2004 to July 2020. Of the cohort, 22 patients presented with relapsed HB. Relapse was defined as re-appearance of malignancy after 4 weeks of normalized AFP and disappearance of all tumors on imaging.

Results: …


Microbial Products Linked To Steatohepatitis Are Reduced By Deletion Of Nuclear Hormone Receptor Shp In Mice, Ryan Mifflin, Jung Eun Park, Mikang Lee, Prasant Kumar Jena, Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan, Hazel A Barton, Mirjavid Aghayev, Takhar Kasumov, Li Lin, Xinwen Wang, Robert Novak, Feng Li, He Huang, Leah P Shriver, Yoon-Kwang Lee Dec 2023

Microbial Products Linked To Steatohepatitis Are Reduced By Deletion Of Nuclear Hormone Receptor Shp In Mice, Ryan Mifflin, Jung Eun Park, Mikang Lee, Prasant Kumar Jena, Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan, Hazel A Barton, Mirjavid Aghayev, Takhar Kasumov, Li Lin, Xinwen Wang, Robert Novak, Feng Li, He Huang, Leah P Shriver, Yoon-Kwang Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Deletion of the nuclear hormone receptor small heterodimer partner (Shp) ameliorates the development of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice. Liver-specific SHP plays a significant role in this amelioration. The gut microbiota has been associated with these metabolic disorders, and the interplay between bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota contributes to various metabolic disorders. Since hepatic SHP is recognized as a critical regulator in BA synthesis, we assessed the involvement of gut microbiota in the antiobesity and anti-NASH phenotype of Shp−/− mice. Shp deletion significantly altered the levels of a few conjugated BAs. Sequencing the 16S …


Endometrial Tgfβ Signaling Fosters Early Pregnancy Development By Remodeling The Fetomaternal Interface, Sydney E Parks, Ting Geng, Diana Monsivais Dec 2023

Endometrial Tgfβ Signaling Fosters Early Pregnancy Development By Remodeling The Fetomaternal Interface, Sydney E Parks, Ting Geng, Diana Monsivais

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The endometrium is a unique and highly regenerative tissue with crucial roles during the reproductive lifespan of a woman. As the first site of contact between mother and embryo, the endometrium, and its critical processes of decidualization and immune cell recruitment, play a leading role in the establishment of pregnancy, embryonic development, and reproductive capacity. These integral processes are achieved by the concerted actions of steroid hormones and a myriad of growth factor signaling pathways. This review focuses on the roles of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway in the endometrium during the earliest stages of pregnancy through the …


Metabolic Dysfunction, Triglyceride-Glucose Index, And Risk Of Severe Asthma Exacerbation, Kristen A Staggers, Charles Minard, Michelle Byers, Drew A Helmer, Tianshi David Wu Dec 2023

Metabolic Dysfunction, Triglyceride-Glucose Index, And Risk Of Severe Asthma Exacerbation, Kristen A Staggers, Charles Minard, Michelle Byers, Drew A Helmer, Tianshi David Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Metabolic conditions may worsen asthma. There is a need to define a composite biomarker of metabolic dysfunction that has relevance to asthma outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), a biomarker of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, with risk of severe asthma exacerbation.

METHODS: A 5-year retrospective cohort of patients with asthma receiving health care from the US Veterans Health Administration from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, was constructed. Fasting TyG values were extracted. Patients were followed for a severe asthma exacerbation, defined as an asthma-related corticosteroid prescription fill or an emergency encounter …


Kounis Syndrome – Anaphylaxis-Induced Acute Coronary Syndrome, Austin T. Thacker Do, Brachman Herzig Oms, Brendan Robinson Do, Ahad Anjum Do Nov 2023

Kounis Syndrome – Anaphylaxis-Induced Acute Coronary Syndrome, Austin T. Thacker Do, Brachman Herzig Oms, Brendan Robinson Do, Ahad Anjum Do

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Kounis syndrome is an underdiagnosed condition in which anaphylaxis triggers vasospastic acute coronary syndrome, either with or without underlying coronary artery disease. The prevalence of this syndrome among hospitalized patients for allergic/hypersensitivity/anaphylactic reactions in the United States is 1.1%, with a 7% rate of all-cause inpatient mortality. This article presents an anaphylaxis-induced acute coronary syndrome case in a patient with underlying coronary artery disease. The pathophysiological mechanism of anaphylactic-induced acute coronary syndrome involves the inflammatory mediators of type I hypersensitivity reactions.


Quality Of Life Is Lower In Food Allergic Adolescents Compared To Young Children At A Community Educational Symposium, Diem-Tran I Nguyen, Kathleen Pitts, Kristen A Staggers, Carla M Davis Nov 2023

Quality Of Life Is Lower In Food Allergic Adolescents Compared To Young Children At A Community Educational Symposium, Diem-Tran I Nguyen, Kathleen Pitts, Kristen A Staggers, Carla M Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Food allergies (FA) can detrimentally impact physical, emotional, and psychological quality of life (QoL) among pediatric patients. Given the changes from childhood into adolescence, the impact of FA on QoL likely evolves with age. The purpose of this study was to determine whether QoL differed between adolescents and children with FA who participated in a Food Allergy Symposium (FAS).

METHODS: Patients with confirmed FA were recruited at an educational community symposium in September 2018 and September 2019. Patients and/or their parents were invited to complete the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQ). The Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) …


Wire Snare Close Loop: A Novel Technique To Retrieve Embolized Devices, Manish Bansal, Gary E Stapleton, Srinath T Gowda, Athar M Qureshi Nov 2023

Wire Snare Close Loop: A Novel Technique To Retrieve Embolized Devices, Manish Bansal, Gary E Stapleton, Srinath T Gowda, Athar M Qureshi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.