Gastroenterology Commons^™

Intestinal Iga-Coated Bacteria In Healthy- And Altered-Microbiomes (Dysbiosis) And Predictive Value In Successful Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Herbert L Dupont, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Ashley S Alexander, Andrew W Dupont, Eric L Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IgA-coated bacteria in the gut (IgA-biome) provide a homeostatic function in healthy people through inhibition of microbial invaders and by protecting the epithelial monolayer of the gut. The laboratory methods used to detect this group of bacteria require flow cytometry and DNA sequencing (IgA-Seq). With dysbiosis (reduced diversity of the microbiome), the IgA-biome also is impaired. In the presence of enteric infection, oral vaccines, or an intestinal inflammatory disorder, the IgA-biome focuses on the pathogenic bacteria or foreign antigens, while in other chronic diseases associated with dysbiosis, the IgA-biome is reduced in capacity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the use of …

Period 2 Regulates Low-Dose Radioprotection Via Per2/Pgsk3Β/Β-Catenin/Per2 Loop, Aris T Alexandrou, Yixin Duan, Shanxiu Xu, Clifford Tepper, Ming Fan, Jason Tang, Jonathan Berg, Wassim Basheer, Tyler Valicenti, Paul F Wilson, Matthew A Coleman, Andrew T Vaughan, Loning Fu, David J Grdina, Jefferey Murley, Aijun Wang, Gayle Woloschak, Jian Jian Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

During evolution, humans are acclimatized to the stresses of natural radiation and circadian rhythmicity. Radiosensitivity of mammalian cells varies in the circadian period and adaptive radioprotection can be induced by pre-exposure to low-level radiation (LDR). It is unclear, however, if clock proteins participate in signaling LDR radioprotection. Herein, we demonstrate that radiosensitivity is increased in mice with the deficient Period 2 gene (Per2def) due to impaired DNA repair and mitochondrial function in progenitor bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and monocytes. Per2 induction and radioprotection are also identified in LDR-treated Per2wt mouse cells and in human skin (HK18) and breast (MCF-10A) …

An Invading Stent: Conservative Management Of A Penetrating Splenic Injury By A Migrated Pancreatic Duct Stent, Jay Bapaye, Ahmed Shehadah, Chengu Niu, Anas Hashem, Rutwik Pradeep Sharma, Patrick Okolo

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Pancreatic duct (PD) stenting is a common treatment modality for PD calculi or strictures, which are common complications of chronic pancreatitis. PD stent migration is a described complication of the procedure. Penetrating splenic injury may result in life-threatening hemorrhage, often requiring splenic artery embolization or splenectomy. Herein, we describe a unique case of a 49- year-old female with chronic pancreatitis and PD stent who presented with abdominal pain. A computed tomography of her abdomen revealed the distal end of her PD stent to have migrated internally through her spleen with an associated perisplenic fluid collection. After initial clinical stabilization she …

The Link Between Fat Soluble Vitamin Deficiencies, Decreased Microbiota Diversity And Severity In Children With Sickle Cell Disease Followed In A Clinic In Omaha Nebraska, Chinenye R. Dike

Theses & Dissertations

Fat soluble vitamin (FSV) deficiencies are associated with worse pain in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). Data on the dietary and pancreatic function influence on fat soluble vitamin levels are limited. Additionally, individuals with SCD have gut dysbiosis but there are gaps in knowledge on the impact of this on severity. This thesis attempted to evaluate FSV prevalence and gut microbial profile in our cohort of children with SCD and compare this with matched healthy children and to ascertain if diet or pancreatic function affects these levels and see if these affects sickle cell severity.

Landscape Of Tb Infection And Prevention Among People Living With Hiv, Anca Vasiliu, Rebecca Abelman, Yousra Kherabi, Antonia Morita Iswari Saktiawati, Alexander Kay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of mortality in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and contributes to up to a third of deaths in this population. The World Health Organization guidelines aim to target early detection and treatment of TB among PLHIV, particularly in high-prevalence and low-resource settings. Prevention plays a key role in the fight against TB among PLHIV. This review explores TB screening tools available for PLHIV, including symptom-based screening, chest radiography, tuberculin skin tests, interferon gamma release assays, and serum biomarkers. We then review TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), shown to reduce the progression to active …

Trends In Esophageal Adenocarcinoma And Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Incidence In The United States From 1992 To 2019, Kyle S Liu, Syed Ahsan Raza, Hashem B El-Serag, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Simple Summary

The incidence of esophageal cancer overall has increased in the United States, driven by increasing rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, whether rates of EAC are still rising is unclear. We examined trends in esophageal cancer overall and within important sub-groups of the population. We found that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) rates have been steadily declining, while EAC rates rose rapidly before stabilizing in 2000. The trend of decreasing incidence of ESCC was observed almost uniformly by age group, sex, and race/ethnicity, while trends in EAC rates varied across these sub-groups. A cohort effect for EAC was …

Alternative Precautionary Measures Yielding Lower C. Diff Infection Rates In Healthcare Facilities, Matthew Kramer

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: An international healthcare concern is the persistent spread of Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive spore forming bacterium that is responsible for the most common hospital-acquired infection, amongst patients.

Objective: A systematic review was performed to summarize evidence that the interventions utilized in healthcare facilities which indicate a patient’s precautionary status are insufficient, outdated, and commonly lead to infection in neighboring patient rooms. Databases such as PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, and APHA’s Medical Care were searched, covering the period from 2017-2022. Studies were included if their focus concentrated on C. diff and the precautionary measures taken by employees at healthcare …

Prevalence And Effect Of Cannabis Use In Acute Pancreatitis Of Unknown Etiology, Hanna Tran

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Simons-Linares CR, Barkin JA, Wang Y, et al. Is There an Effect of Cannabis Consumption on Acute Pancreatitis?. Dig Dis Sci. 2018;63(10):2786-2791. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-018-5169-2

for a patient with cannabis-associated acute pancreatitis.

How I Approach Leishmaniasis: Diagnosis And Treatment In The United States, Tara E Ness, Rachel Martin-Blais, Jill E Weatherhead

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by over 20 species of obligate intracellular protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. Leishmaniasis has a global distribution, including in the United States, and can cause a spectrum of clinical syndromes, including cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral diseases depending on host factors and the infecting Leishmania spp. Accurate diagnosis, including Leishmania species identification, is an important step to guide the most appropriate therapeutic intervention. Antileishmanial therapy is dependent on the Leishmania spp. identified, the clinical syndrome, and the child's immune system. However, many treatment regimens for children have been extrapolated from adult clinical trials, which …

Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries In New-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Benjamin B. Claxton, George Sun, Ritu Nahar, Christopher Henry

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Facilitators And Inhibitors To First Adult Care Visits In The Transition From Paediatric To Adult Orientated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Healthcare, Joanna Rea

Theses

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be a very debilitating disease and it is found to be more extensive in children with rapid early progression (Van Limbergen et al., 2008). As adolescents, these children transition from paediatric to adult oriented care. The first adult care visits are a pivotal phase of a successful transition process, where adolescents potentially begin to actively take control of their disease. The aim of this study is to explore the inhibitors and facilitators to first adult care visits in the transition process from paediatric to adult oriented IBD healthcare.

Methods: An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative approach …

A New Chapter In An Evolving Pandemic: Successful Pediatric Liver Transplantation With Sars-Cov-2+ Donors, Matthew Benjamin Goss, Daniel Hao Bin Leung, Stephanie Marie Pouch, Flor M Munoz, Elizabeth Andrea Moulton, Tyler Malcolm Mccann Lambing, Sarah Koohmaraie, Nicolas Fernando Moreno, Christine A O'Mahony, John A Goss, Nhu Thao Nguyen Galván

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Amid a viral pandemic with poorly understood transmissibility and pathogenicity in the pediatric patient, we report the first pediatric liver transplants utilizing allografts from SARS-CoV-2+ donors.

METHODS: We describe the outcomes of two pediatric liver transplant recipients who received organs from SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test-positive (NAT+) donors. Data were obtained through the respective electronic medical record system and UNet DonorNet platform.

RESULTS: The first donor was a 3-year-old boy succumbing to head trauma. One of four nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and 1 of 3 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) NAT tests demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 infection before organ procurement. The second donor was a …

Implementing Molecular Tuberculosis Diagnostic Methods In Limited-Resource And High-Burden Countries, Anca Vasiliu, Antonia Morita Iswari Saktiawati, Raquel Duarte, Christoph Lange, Daniela Maria Cirillo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world with more than a million people dying of TB each year. Accurate and timely TB diagnosis has the potential to alleviate the global TB burden; therefore, one of the pillars of the End TB Strategy developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) is the early diagnosis of TB, including universal drug-susceptibility testing (DST). The WHO emphasises the importance of DST before treatment initiation, using molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests (mWRDs). Currently available mWRDs are nucleic acid amplification tests, line probe assays, whole genome sequencing, and targeted next-generation sequencing. …

Risk Factors And Prognostic Significance Of Anemia In Children With Hiv Infection On Antiretroviral Therapy, Joseph Lubega, Amanda Grimes, Gladstone Airewele, Shaun Bulsara, Taylor Olmsted Kim, Heather Haq, Erin Peckham-Gregory, Sebastian R Wanless, Peter Elyanu, Philippa Musoke, Mwita Lumumba, Adeodata Kekitiinwa, Mogomotsi Matshaba, Jenny Despotovic, Michael Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To establish the incidence, risk factors and prognostic effect of anemia in children living with HIV (CLWH).

DESIGN: Retrospective nested case-control study of patients 0-18 years in five centers in sub-Saharan Africa, 2004-2014.

METHODS: Incident cases of anemia were identified from electronic records and matched with CLWH without anemia. We calculated the incidence density of anemia and used conditional logistic regression to evaluate its association with risk factors, stratified by severity and type of anemia. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the impact of anemia on survival.

RESULTS: Two thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven children were …

Early Phase Trial Of Intracystic Injection Of Large Surface Area Microparticle Paclitaxel For Treatment Of Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts, Mohamed Othman, Kalpesh Patel, Somashekar G Krishna, Antonio Mendoza-Ladd, Shelagh Verco, Wasif Abidi, James Verco, Alison Wendt, Gere Dizerega

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and study aims  Mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) have the potential for malignant transformation, for which the only accepted curative modality is surgery. A novel intracystic therapy with large surface area microparticle paclitaxel (LSAM-PTX) may treat PCLs without local or systemic toxicities. Safety and preliminary efficacy of LSAM-PTX for the treatment of PCLs administered by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle injection (EUS-FNI) was evaluated.

Patients and methods  Ten subjects with confirmed PCLs (size > 1.5 cm) received intracystic LSAM-PTX via EUS-FNI at volumes equal to those aspirated from the cyst in sequential cohorts at 6, 10, and 15 mg/mL in a standard …

Simultaneous Use Of Endobronchial And Endoscopic Ultrasound Guidance As Primary Tools In The Diagnosis Of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, Babith Mankidy, Jordan Sparkman, Shreyes Boddu, Quillann Huang, Munish Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is related to exposure to asbestos. It is insidious in nature and is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage. MPM is aggressive and portends a poor prognosis. Definitive diagnosis is usually established by obtaining pathological samples of the pleura by medical or surgical thoracoscopy. However, these procedures are invasive and carry a risk of seeding of biopsy sites with tumors. We herein report an infrequently encountered case of simultaneous use of endobronchial ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of malignant pleural mesothelioma in a 48-year-old female patient.

Comparative Effectiveness Of Surveillance Colonoscopy Intervals On Colorectal Cancer Outcomes In A National Cohort Of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hyun-Seok Kim, Ruben Hernaez, Shubhada Sansgiry, Akbar K Waljee, Frank I Scott, James D Lewis, Hashem B El-Serag, Jason K Hou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC)-related morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The comparative effectiveness of varying colonoscopy intervals on CRC outcomes among patients with IBD is unknown.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with confirmed CRC within a cohort of 77,824 patients with IBD during 2000 to 2015 in the National Veterans Health Administration. We examined the association between colonoscopy surveillance intervals on CRC stage, treatment, or all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. The interval of colonoscopy prior to CRC diagnosis was categorized as those performed within <1 >year, …

Progress In Gastroparesis - A Narrative Review Of The Work Of The Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium, Pankaj J Pasricha, Madhusudan Grover, Katherine P Yates, Thomas L Abell, Kenneth L Koch, Richard W Mccallum, Irene Sarosiek, Cheryl E Bernard, Braden Kuo, Robert Bulat, Robert J Shulman, Bruno P Chumpitazi, James Tonascia, Laura A Miriel, Laura A Wilson, Mark L Van Natta, Emily Mitchell, Frank Hamilton, Gianrico Farrugia, Henry P Parkman, Niddk/Nih Gpcrc Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium is a multicenter coalition created and funded by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, with a mission to advance understanding of the pathophysiology of gastroparesis and develop an effective treatment for patients with symptomatic gastroparesis. In this review, we summarize the results of the published Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium studies as a ready and convenient resource for gastroenterologists and others to provide a clear understanding of the consortium's experience and perspective on gastroparesis and related disorders.

Seeing The Big Picture: System Architecture Trends In Endoscopy And Led-Based Hyperspectral Subsystem Intergration, Craig M. Browning

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Early-stage colorectal lesions remain difficult to detect. Early development of neoplasia tends to be small (less than 10 mm) and flat and difficult to distinguish from surrounding mucosa. Additionally, optical diagnosis of neoplasia as benign or malignant is problematic. Low rates of detection of these lesions allow for continued growth in the colorectum and increased risk of cancer formation. Therefore, it is crucial to detect neoplasia and other non-neoplastic lesions to determine risk and guide future treatment. Technology for detection needs to enhance contrast of subtle tissue differences in the colorectum and track multiple biomarkers simultaneously. This work implements one …

Consensus Subtypes Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Associated With Clinical Outcomes And Genomic Phenotypes, Sung Hwan Lee, Sun Young Yim, Yun Seong Jeong, Qi-Xiang Li, Sang-Hee Kang, Bo Hwa Sohn, Shwetha V Kumar, Ji-Hyun Shin, You Rhee Choi, Jae-Jun Shim, Hayeon Kim, Ji Hoon Kim, Shin Kim, Sheng Guo, Randy L Johnson, Ahmed Kaseb, Koo Jeong Kang, Yun Shin Chun, Hee Jin Jang, Byoung Gill Lee, Hyun Goo Woo, Min Jin Ha, Rehan Akbani, Lewis R Roberts, David A Wheeler, Ju-Seog Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although many studies revealed transcriptomic subtypes of HCC, concordance of the subtypes are not fully examined. We aim to examine a consensus of transcriptomic subtypes and correlate them with clinical outcomes.

APPROACH AND RESULTS: By integrating 16 previously established genomic signatures for HCC subtypes, we identified five clinically and molecularly distinct consensus subtypes. STM (STeM) is characterized by high stem cell features, vascular invasion, and poor prognosis. CIN (Chromosomal INstability) has moderate stem cell features, but high genomic instability and low immune activity. IMH (IMmune High) is characterized by high immune activity. BCM (Beta-Catenin with high Male …

Evaluation Of Murine Host Sex As A Biological Variable In Transplanted Human Intestinal Organoid Development, Eoin P Mcneill, Vikas S Gupta, David J Sequeira, Noah F Shroyer, Allison L Speer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Human intestinal organoids (HIOs), when transplanted into immunocompromised mice (tHIOs), demonstrate significant growth and maturation. While both male and female mice are reported to be viable hosts for these experiments, a direct comparison of sex-related differences in tHIO structure and development has not been performed.

Aims: We sought to identify host sex-related differences in tHIO engraftment, morphology, and epithelial and mesenchymal development.

Methods: HIOs were generated in vitro and transplanted beneath the kidney capsule of NSG male and female mice. tHIOs were harvested at 8-9 weeks. Anthropometric measurements were captured. tHIOs were divided in half and histology or RT-qPCR …

A Phase Ii Randomized Double Blinded Trial Evaluating The Efficacy Of Curcumin With Pre-Operative Chemoradiation For Rectal Cancer, Jillian R Gunther, Awalpreet S Chadha, Sushovan Guha, Gottumukkala S Raju, Dipen M Maru, Mark F Munsell, Yan Jiang, Peiying Yang, Edd Felix, Marilyn Clemons, Geena George Mathew, Pankaj K Singh, John M Skibber, Miguel A Rodriguez-Bigas, George J Chang, Cathy Eng, Marc E Delclos, Christopher H Crane, Prajnan Das, Sunil Krishnan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

In vivo studies demonstrate that curcumin increases radioresponse of colorectal cancers. To demonstrate efficacy in humans, we performed a randomized double-blind study of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients receiving pre-operative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) ± curcumin. We used pathologic complete response (pCR) rate as a surrogate for clinical outcome.

Methods

From 2008–2010, LARC patients were randomized to placebo/curcumin in a 1:2 ratio. Patients received CRT [50.4 gray in 28 fractions; capecitabine (825 mg/m² twice daily)] followed by surgery. Curcumin (4 grams orally, twice daily) or placebo was given throughout CRT and 6 weeks afterward. Toxicity was monitored weekly. …

Clinically Significant Metachronous Colorectal Pathology Detected Among Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Implications For Post-Resection Surveillance Guidelines, Oliver Peacock, Eduardo Vilar, Montserrat Guraieb-Trueba, Selvi Thirumurthi, George J Chang, Y Nancy You

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

A Phase Ii Randomized Double Blinded Trial Evaluating The Efficacy Of Curcumin With Pre-Operative Chemoradiation For Rectal Cancer, Jillian R Gunther, Awalpreet S Chadha, Sushovan Guha, Gottumukkala S Raju, Dipen M Maru, Mark F Munsell, Yan Jiang, Peiying Yang, Edd Felix, Marilyn Clemons, Geena George Mathew, Pankaj K Singh, John M Skibber, Miguel A Rodriguez-Bigas, George J Chang, Cathy Eng, Marc E Delclos, Christopher H Crane, Prajnan Das, Sunil Krishnan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In vivo studies demonstrate that curcumin increases radioresponse of colorectal cancers. To demonstrate efficacy in humans, we performed a randomized double-blind study of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients receiving pre-operative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) ± curcumin. We used pathologic complete response (pCR) rate as a surrogate for clinical outcome.

Methods: From 2008-2010, LARC patients were randomized to placebo/curcumin in a 1:2 ratio. Patients received CRT [50.4 gray in 28 fractions; capecitabine (825 mg/m2 twice daily)] followed by surgery. Curcumin (4 grams orally, twice daily) or placebo was given throughout CRT and 6 weeks afterward. Toxicity was monitored weekly. Blood …

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Is Associated With Altered Immune Cell Infiltration And An Anti-Tumorigenic Microenvironment In Resected Pancreatic Cancer, Andressa Dias Costa, Sara A Väyrynen, Akhil Chawla, Jinming Zhang, Juha P Väyrynen, Mai Chan Lau, Hannah L Williams, Chen Yuan, Vicente Morales-Oyarvide, Dalia Elganainy, Harshabad Singh, James M Cleary, Kimberly Perez, Kimmie Ng, William Freed-Pastor, Joseph D Mancias, Stephanie K Dougan, Jiping Wang, Douglas A Rubinson, Richard F Dunne, Margaret M Kozak, Lauren Brais, Emma Reilly, Thomas Clancy, David C Linehan, Daniel T Chang, Aram F Hezel, Albert C Koong, Andrew J Aguirre, Brian M Wolpin, Jonathan A Nowak

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly administered to patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), yet its impact on the tumor immune microenvironment is incompletely understood.

DESIGN: We employed quantitative, spatially resolved multiplex immunofluorescence and digital image analysis to identify T-cell subpopulations, macrophage polarization states, and myeloid cell subpopulations in a multi-institution cohort of up-front resected primary tumors (n = 299) and in a comparative set of resected tumors after FOLFIRINOX-based neoadjuvant therapy (n = 36) or up-front surgery (n = 30). Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations between the immune microenvironment and patient …

Metabolic Targeting Of Nrf2 Potentiates The Efficacy Of The Trap1 Inhibitor G-Tpp Through Reduction Of Ros Detoxification In Colorectal Cancer, Hong-Yuan Tsai, Mary P Bronner, Jordon K March, John F Valentine, Noah F Shroyer, Lisa A Lai, Teresa A Brentnall, Sheng Pan, Ru Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a mitochondrial homolog of HSP90 chaperones. It plays an important role in protection against oxidative stress and apoptosis by regulating reactive oxidative species (ROS). To further elucidate the mechanistic role of TRAP1 in regulating tumor cell survival, we used gamitrinib-triphenylphosphonium (G-TPP) to inhibit TRAP1 signaling pathways in colon cancer. Inhibition of TRAP1 by G-TPP disrupted redox homeostasis and induced cell death. However, colon cancers show a wide range of responses to G-TPP treatment through the induction of variable ER stress responses and ROS accumulation. Interestingly, a strong inverse correlation was observed between …

Genetic And Small-Molecule Modulation Of Stat3 In A Mouse Model Of Crohn's Disease, Prema Robinson, Emily Magness, Kelsey Montoya, Nikita Engineer, Thomas K Eckols, Emma Rodriguez, David J Tweardy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Crohn's disease (CD), is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastro-intestinal tract (GI) and is associated with an increased risk of gastro-intestinal cancer. In the current study, we determined the role of genetic and small-molecule modulation of STAT3 in a mouse model of CD. STAT3 has 2 isoforms (α, β) which are expressed in most cells in a 4:1 ratio (α: β). STAT3α has pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic functions, while STAT3β has contrasting roles. We used an animal model of CD consisting of intrarectal administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and examined the severity of CD in …

Tuberculous Salpingitis - Possible Cause Of Salpingo-Enteric Fistula, Shayan Sirat Maheen Anwar, Anam Khan, Fahd Haroon, Frawa Mohsin

Department of Radiology

Salpingo-enteric fistula is a rare disease causing infertility. It occurs when there is a connection between fallopian tube and the intestine. It can be accurately diagnosed with hysterosalpingography. Fistulas mostly occur as a consequence of obstetric complications, however, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic malignancy, pelvic radiation therapy, iatrogenic causes, and trauma are other potential causes. The possibility of tuberculous salpingitis as a possible cause of salpingo-enteric fistula should always be considered in the developing countries where tuberculosis is endemic.

Coating Formulation Change Leads To Inferior Performance Of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets In Papua New Guinea, Nakei Bubun, Evodia Anetul, Melanie Koinari, Timothy W Freeman, Stephan Karl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) play a key role in reducing malaria transmission in endemic countries. In a previous study, the authors demonstrated a substantial decrease in the bioefficacy of LLINs for malaria prevention delivered to Papua New Guinea (PNG) between 2013 and 2019. This coincided with a rise in malaria cases in the country. The present study was aimed at determining the underlying cause of the reduced bioefficacy observed in these LLINs. The main hypothesis was that a change in the coating formulation of the respective LLIN product was responsible, and had led to significantly altered product properties and …

Acafinder: Genome Mining For Anti-Crispr-Associated Genes, Bowen Yang, Jinfang Zheng, Yanbin Yin

Food for Health: Publications

Anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins are encoded by (pro)viruses to inhibit their host’s CRISPR-Cas systems. Genes encoding Acr and Aca (Acr associated) proteins often colocalize to form acr-aca operons. Here, we present AcaFinder as the first Aca genome mining tool. AcaFinder can (i) predict Acas and their associated acr-aca operons using guilt-by-association (GBA); (ii) identify homologs of known Acas using an HMM (Hidden Markov model) database; (iii) take input genomes for potential prophages, CRISPR-Cas systems, and self-targeting spacers (STSs); and (iv) provide a standalone program (https://github.com/boweny920/AcaFinder) and a web server (http://aca .unl.edu/Aca). AcaFinder was applied to mining over …