Women's Health Commons^™

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

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

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

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Inflammatory Cytokines In Lipopolysaccharide Exposed Preterm And Term Human Pregnant Myometrial Cells, Arunmani Mani, John Hotra, Sean C Blackwell, Laura Goetzl, Jerrie S Refuerzo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective  The objective of this study was to determine the cytokine response in human pregnant preterm and term myometrial cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cocultured with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Study Design  Myometrium was obtained at cesarean delivery in term and preterm patients. Human myometrial cells were exposed to 5 μg/mL LPS for 4 hours followed by 1 μg/mL LPS for 24 hours and were cocultured with MSCs for 24 hours. Culture supernatants were collected at 24 hours and expression of cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and IL-10, was quantified …

Rural Racial Disparities And Barriers In Mammography Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries In Texas: A Longitudinal Study, Zhaoli Liu, Yong Shan, Yong-Fang Kuo, Sharon H Giordano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study examined rural racial/ethnic disparities in long-term mammography screening practices among Medicare beneficiaries. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using 100% Texas Medicare data for women aged 65-74 who enrolled in Medicare between 2010-2013. Of the 114,939 eligible women, 21.2% of Hispanics, 33.3% of non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), and 38.4% non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) in rural areas were regular users of mammography, compared to 33.5%, 44.9%, and 45.3% of their counterparts in urban areas, respectively. Stratification analyses showed rural Hispanics and NHB were 33% (95% CI, 25% - 40%) and 22% (95% CI, 6% - 36%) less likely to be regular …

Fitness Consequences Of Depressive Symptoms Vary Between Generations: Evidence From A Large Cohort Of Women Across The 20th Century, Christopher I Gurguis, Renée A Duckworth, Nicole M Bucaro, Consuelo Walss-Bass

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Depression has strong negative impacts on how individuals function, leading to the assumption that there is strong negative selection on this trait that should deplete genetic variation and decrease its prevalence in human populations. Yet, depressive symptoms remain common. While there has been a large body of work trying to resolve this paradox by mapping genetic variation of this complex trait, there have been few direct empirical tests of the core assumption that there is consistent negative selection on depression in human populations. Here, we use a unique long-term dataset from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that spans …

A Comprehensive Program To Improve Treatment Of Precancerous Cervical Lesions In The Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Melissa Varon, Mila Pontremoli Salcedo, Bryan Fellman, Catherine Troisi, Rose Gowen, Maria Daheri, Ana M Rodriguez, Paul Toscano, Laura Guerra, Monica Gasca, Blanca Cavazos, Elena Marin, Susan Fisher-Hoch, Maria E Fernandez, Belinda Reininger, Li Ruosha, Ellen Baker, Kathleen Schmeler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of a multicomponent intervention in women with cervical dysplasia who were treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), as well as the time between colposcopy and treatment.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

INTERVENTION: Clinic participation in a multicomponent cervical cancer prevention program that included community outreach, patient in-reach, and navigation, as well as provider capacity building with in-person training and ongoing telementoring through Project ECHO.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Medical records were reviewed to evaluate women with cervical dysplasia undergoing treatment with LEEP within 90 days of colposcopy, as well as time between colposcopy and treatment. Baseline …

Genetic Loss Of Mir-205 Causes Increased Mammary Gland Development, Alessandra Cataldo, Douglas G Cheung, John P Hagan, Matteo Fassan, Sukhinder Sandhu-Deol, Carlo M Croce, Gianpiero Di Leva, Marilena V Iorio

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

MiRNAs play crucial roles in a broad spectrum of biological processes, both physiological and pathological. Different reports implicate miR-205 in the control of breast stem cell properties. Differential miR-205 expression has been observed in different stages of mammary gland development and maturation. However, a functional role in this process has not been clearly demonstrated. We generated an miR-205 knockout in the FVB/N mouse strain, which is viable and characterized by enhanced mammary gland development. Indeed, mammary glands of miR-205

Biomarkers Of Affective Dysregulation Associated With In Utero Exposure To Etoh, Nune Darbinian, Nana Merabova, Gabriel Tatevosian, Mary Morrison, Armine Darbinyan, Huaqing Zhao, Laura Goetzl, Michael Edgar Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) exhibit behavioral and affective dysregulation, including hyperactivity and depression. The mechanisms are not known, but they could conceivably be due to postnatal social or environmental factors. However, we postulate that, more likely, the affective dysregulation is associated with the effects of EtOH exposure on the development of fetal serotonergic (5-HT) and/or dopaminergic (DA) pathways, i.e., pathways that in postnatal life are believed to regulate mood. Many women who use alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) during pregnancy suffer from depression and take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which might influence these monoaminergic pathways in the …

Capacity Assessment And Spatial Analysis Of Cervical Cancer Services In The Gambia, Meghan E Mali, Ousman Sanyang, Katherine L Harris, Justin Sorensen, Mustapha Bittaye, Jonathan Nellermoe, Raymond R Price, Edward K Sutherland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death in Gambian women. The Gambian Ministry of Health is striving to improve access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for cervical cancer, but comprehensive data on currently available services is limited making it challenging to appropriately prioritize the ideal next steps for expanding care. This study aims to describe the current services available for the prevention, screening, and treatment of cervical cancer in The Gambia and provide suggestions for expanding geographic access to care.

Methods

A survey aimed at assessing the availability of key cervical …

Physical Activity, Anthropometric Measurements, Quality Of Life And Menopausal Symptoms Among South-Indian Women, Lavanya N, Sathyaprabha B

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is the period when the reproductive capacity ceases in women's life. A wide range of symptoms occur as a consequence of estrogen decrease during menopause. Evidence suggests that physically active women have a better quality of life (QoL) and fewer menopausal symptoms. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between physical activity (PA), anthropometric measurements, QoL and menopausal symptoms.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted online through WhatsApp and Facebook and via email among menopausal women (April 2021 - June 2021). In total 168 responses were received; 153 responses were included in the …

Posterior-Scleritis: Case Report Of An Uncommon Immune-Related Adverse Event In The Treatment Of Advanced Endometrial Cancer, Brandon I Ing, Derek Kuhl, Deanna Glassman, Cynae A Johnson, Shrina Patel, Amir A Jazaeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As Immune checkpoint inhibitors are being expanded for use in gynecologic malignancies, rare immune-related adverse events are more frequently being reported. Here we describe a 63-year-old with Stage IIIB mismatch repair deficient uterine adenocarcinoma who underwent six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel with partial response but persistent disease. She was then started on single agent pembrolizumab. After six cycles of pembrolizumab, she developed bilateral vision changes and was diagnosed with posterior scleritis. Pembrolizumab was held and she was treated with oral prednisone, with rapid resolution of symptoms. One month after completion of prednisone, vision changes were again reported and she …

Outcomes Of Cardiothoracic Surgery In Women With Turner Syndrome, Lucas Ribé, Ferial D Shihadeh, Rana O Afifi, Anthony L Estrera, Siddharth K Prakash

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: To describe short- and mid-term surgical outcomes of patients with Turner syndrome (TS) after cardiovascular interventions.

METHODS: All individuals >12 years of age at the time of surgical repair for cardiovascular disease (valve or coarctation repairs, aortic disease, aortic dissection) from 2002 to 2022 were eligible. The primary endpoint was complications or death within 30 days of intervention. Secondary outcomes included late complications and reinterventions within six months. Combined data from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: We identified 22 patients …

Transforming Ovarian Cancer Care By Targeting Minimal Residual Disease, Amir A Jazaeri, Rachel Grisham, Anne Knisely, Stefani Spranger, Dmitriy Zamarin, R Tyler Hillman, Barrett C Lawson, Kathleen H Burns, Sanghoon Lee, Shannon N Westin, Enrico Moiso, Marc J Williams, Neelkanth M Bardhan, Thomas Pisanic, Ursula Matulonis, Britta Weigelt, Ieming Shih, Panagiotis A Konstantinopoulos, Stephanie Gaillard, Linghua Wang, Carol Aghajanian, Alan D D'Andrea, Paula Hammond, Sohrab Shah, Kai W Wucherpfennig, Karen H Lu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Frontline treatment and resultant cure rates in patients with advanced ovarian cancer have changed little over the past several decades. Here, we outline a multidisciplinary approach aimed at gaining novel therapeutic insights by focusing on the poorly understood minimal residual disease phase of ovarian cancer that leads to eventual incurable recurrences.

Aptamers As Potential Therapeutic Tools For Ovarian Cancer: Advancements And Challenges, Wojciech Szymanowski, Anna Szymanowska, Anna Bielawska, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo, Paola Amero

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common lethal gynecologic cause of death in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate and increasing incidence. Despite advancements in the treatment, most OC patients still die from their disease due to late-stage diagnosis, the lack of effective diagnostic methods, and relapses. Aptamers, synthetic, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, have emerged as promising anticancer therapeutics. Their ability to selectively bind to target molecules, including cancer-related proteins and receptors, has revolutionized drug discovery and biomarker identification. Aptamers offer unique insights into the molecular pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Moreover, they show immense potential as drug …

Ischemic Bowel Associated With Newly Diagnosed Patent Foramen Ovale, Hannah Hong, Deanna Glassman, Shannon Neville Westin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Epidural Catheters For Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections To Target Higher Cervical Pathology: Clinical Images In Practice, Peter D Vu, Christopher L Robinson, Grant H Chen, Jamal J Hasoon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cervical radicular pain is commonly treated with cervical epidural steroid injections. The transforaminal approach allows for direct treatment of the steroid at a particular nerve root or level. Still, it carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality with thromboembolism or injury to cervical vasculature. The interlaminar approach is commonly utilized as it avoids vascular structures. However, the epidural space becomes narrower at higher levels, limiting the ability to perform this approach at higher cervical levels. Cervical epidural catheters can be used and advanced to target higher cervical pathology through the interlaminar approach. We present clinical images demonstrating the utility …

Surface Charge Effects For The Hydrogen Evolution Reaction On Pt(111) Using A Modified Grand-Canonical Potential Kinetics Method, Mihir Patel, Matthias Franzen, Camille D Hawkins, Matthew Brown, Samir Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is the most common tachyarrhythmia of pregnancy. Catecholamine surges, the use of vasoactive agents during delivery, and increased cardiac output during pregnancy are the most common contributing factors to developing SVT. SVT is usually benign in presentation but can lead to more serious arrhythmias in patients with a history of mitral stenosis secondary to rheumatic heart disease. When an SVT is detected, organic heart causes should be ruled out first. Symptoms of SVT include shortness of breath, palpitations, syncope, sweating, chest pain, and dizziness. In patients who are refractory to pharmacologic management and hemodynamically unstable, electrical cardioversion …

Project Inclusive Genetics: Protecting Reproductive Autonomy From Bias Via Prenatal Patient-Centered Counseling, Apolline Jungels, Lindsay Demers, Eric Ford, Blair K Stevens, Maya Sabatello, Shoumita Dasgupta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clinician bias negatively impacts the healthcare received by marginalized communities. In this study, we explored factors that influence clinician and trainee bias against individuals with intellectual disabilities and its impact on clinical judgment in prenatal genetic testing settings. Specifically, we examined bias toward a fetus with a higher chance of developing a disability. We compared genetics specialists with their non-expert counterparts. This web-based study included clinical vignettes, implicit association tests (IATs), and an educational module. 595 participants were recruited via their institution or professional society. We conducted statistical analyses, including regression models controlling for key demographic characteristics, to analyze recommendation …

Influence Of Macrophages On Vascular Invasion Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Emboli Measured Using An In Vitro Microfluidic Multi-Cellular Platform, Manasa Gadde, Melika Mehrabi-Dehdezi, Bisrat G Debeb, Wendy A Woodward, Marissa Nichole Rylander

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and a lack of effective treatments. It is widely established that understanding the interactions between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the tumor microenvironment is essential for identifying distinct targeting markers that help with prognosis and subsequent development of effective treatments. In this study, we present a 3D in vitro microfluidic IBC platform consisting of THP1 M0, M1, or M2 macrophages, IBC cells, and endothelial cells. The platform comprises a collagen matrix that includes an endothelialized vessel, creating a physiologically relevant environment for cellular interactions. Through the utilization of this …

New Insights Into The Neuraminidase-Mediated Hemagglutination Activity Of Influenza A(H3n2) Viruses, Rongyuan Gao, Philippe Noriel Q Pascua, Ha T Nguyen, Anton Chesnokov, Chloe Champion, Vasiliy P Mishin, Dave E Wentworth, Larisa V Gubareva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) can act as a receptor-binding protein, a role commonly attributed to hemagglutinin (HA). In influenza A(H3N2) viruses, three NA amino acid residues have previously been associated with NA-mediated hemagglutination: T148, D151, and more recently, H150. These residues are part of the 150-loop of the NA monomer. Substitutions at 148 and 151 arise from virus propagation in laboratory cell cultures, whereas changes at 150 occurred during virus evolution in the human host. In this study, we examined the effect of natural amino acid polymorphism at position 150 on NA-mediated hemagglutination. Using the A/Puerto Rico/8/34 backbone, we generated …

Effects Of In Utero Etoh Exposure On 18s Ribosomal Rna Processing: Contribution To Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Nune Darbinian, Gary L Gallia, Armine Darbinyan, Ekaterina Vadachkoria, Nana Merabova, Amos Moore, Laura Goetzl, Shohreh Amini, Michael E Selzer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are leading causes of neurodevelopmental disability. The mechanisms by which alcohol (EtOH) disrupts fetal brain development are incompletely understood, as are the genetic factors that modify individual vulnerability. Because the phenotype abnormalities of FASD are so varied and widespread, we investigated whether fetal exposure to EtOH disrupts ribosome biogenesis and the processing of pre-ribosomal RNAs and ribosome assembly, by determining the effect of exposure to EtOH on the developmental expression of 18S rRNA and its cleaved forms, members of a novel class of short non-coding RNAs (srRNAs). In vitro neuronal cultures and fetal brains (11–22 …

Antiviral Susceptibility Of Clade 2344b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5n1) Viruses Isolated From Birds And Mammals In The United States, 2022, Ha T Nguyen, Anton Chesnokov, Juan De La Cruz, Philippe Noriel Q Pascua, Vasiliy P Mishin, Yunho Jang, Joyce Jones, Han Di, Andrei A Ivashchenko, Mary Lea Killian, Mia K Torchetti, Kristina Lantz, David E Wentworth, Charles T Davis, Alexandre V Ivachtchenko, Larisa V Gubareva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses that are responsible for devastating outbreaks in birds and mammals pose a potential threat to public health. Here, we evaluated their susceptibility to influenza antivirals. Of 1,015 sequences of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses collected in the United States during 2022, eight viruses (∼0.8%) had a molecular marker of drug resistance to an FDA-approved antiviral: three adamantane-resistant (M2-V27A), four oseltamivir-resistant (NA-H275Y), and one baloxavir-resistant (PA-I38T). Additionally, 31 viruses contained mutations that may reduce susceptibility to inhibitors of neuraminidase (NA) (n = 20) or cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) (n = 11). A panel of 22 …

Feasibility And Clinical Acceptability Of Automation-Assisted 3d Conformal Radiotherapy Planning For Patients With Cervical Cancer In A Resource-Constrained Setting, Sikudhani Muya, Jerry Ndumbalo, Sarah Kutika Nyagabona, Shaid Yusuf, Dong Joo Rhee, Beatrice Paul Mushi, Benjamin Li, Li Zhang, Surbhi Grover, Mary Feng, I-Chow Hsu, Elia Mmbaga, Katherine Van Loon, Laurence Court, Melody Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Tanzania began offering 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in 2018. Steep learning curves, high patient volume, and a limited workforce resulted in long radiation therapy (RT) planning workflows. We aimed to establish the feasibility of implementing an automation-assisted cervical cancer 3DCRT planning system.

Materials and methods: We performed chart abstractions on 30 patients with cervical cancer treated with 3DCRT at ORCI. The Radiation Planning Assistant (RPA) generated a new automated set of contours and plans on the basis of anonymized computed tomography images. Each were assessed for edit time requirements, dose-volume safety …

Recent Trends In Term Trial Of Labor After Cesarean By Number Of Prior Cesarean Deliveries, Beth L Pineles, Cara M Buskmiller, Emma J Qureshey, Angela J Stephens, Baha M Sibai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Cesarean delivery is a major source of maternal morbidity, and repeat cesarean delivery accounts for 40% of cesarean delivery, but recent data on the trial of labor after cesarean and vaginal birth after cesarean are limited.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to report the national rates of trial of labor after cesarean and vaginal birth after cesarean by number of previous cesarean deliveries and examine the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on these rates.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study using the US natality data files. The study sample was restricted to 4,135,247 nonanomalous singleton, cephalic deliveries …

Outcomes Of Induction Vs Prelabor Cesarean Delivery At <33 Weeks For Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy, Elisa T Bushman, William A Grobman, Jennifer L Bailit, Uma M Reddy, Ronald J Wapner, Michael W Varner, John M Thorp, Steve N Caritis, Mona Prasad, George R Saade, Yoram Sorokin, Dwight J Rouse, Sean C Blackwell, Jorge E Tolosa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading cause of indicated preterm birth; however, the optimal delivery approach for pregnancies complicated by preterm hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal morbidity in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy who either went induction of labor or prelabor cesarean delivery at <33 >weeks' gestation. In addition, we aimed to quantify the length of induction of labor and rate of vaginal delivery in those who underwent induction of labor.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of an observational study which included 115,502 patients in 25 …

Targeting Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells Potentiates A Therapeutic Response And Overcomes Resistance To Parp Inhibitors In Ovarian Cancer, Xudong Zhang, Jun Yao, Xiaoran Li, Na Niu, Yan Liu, Richard A Hajek, Guang Peng, Shannon Westin, Anil K Sood, Jinsong Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To understand the mechanism of acquired resistance to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) olaparib, we induced the formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) in ovarian and breast cancer cell lines, high-grade serous cancer (HGSC)-derived organoids, and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Time-lapse tracking of ovarian cancer cells revealed that PGCCs primarily developed from endoreplication after exposure to sublethal concentrations of olaparib. PGCCs exhibited features of senescent cells but, after olaparib withdrawal, can escape senescence via restitutional multipolar endomitosis and other noncanonical modes of cell division to generate mitotically competent resistant daughter cells. The contraceptive drug mifepristone blocked PGCC formation and daughter cell …

Psychosocial Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Women With Spinal Cord Injury, Heather B Taylor, Rosemary B Hughes, Diana Gonzalez, Muna Bhattarai, Susan Robinson-Whelen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study represents the first known research addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States. Women in this population face unique barriers that put them at elevated risk for compromised quality of life, risk that was magnified by physical and social restrictions imposed during the pandemic. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of women with SCI and the effect of the pandemic on their lives. The predominantly White and relatively well-educated sample of 105 women with traumatic SCI was diverse in age, injury characteristics, and geographic representation. Recruited across the …

The Effects Of Obesity And Metabolic Abnormalities On Severe Covid-19-Related Outcomes After Vaccination: A Population-Based Study, Rebeca Kelly, Diego Aviles, Catriona Krisulevicz, Krystal Hunter, Lauren Krill, David Warshal, Olga Ostrovsky

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

High mortality rates in ovarian cancer have been linked to recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistant disease, which are known to involve not only genetic changes but also epigenetic aberrations. In ovarian cancer, adipose-derived stem cells from the omentum (O-ASCs) play a crucial role in supporting the tumor and its tumorigenic microenvironment, further propagating epigenetic abnormalities and dissemination of the disease. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor derived from green tea, and Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a histone deacetylase inhibitor from cruciferous vegetables, carry promising effects in reprograming aberrant epigenetic modifications in cancer. Therefore, we demonstrate the action of these diet-derived compounds in …

Stimulatory Effects Of Lycium Shawii On Human Melanocyte Proliferation, Migration, And Melanogenesis: In Vitro And In Silico Studies, Karen E Gerlach, Kanchan Ashok Phalak, Ethan O Cohen, Kiran N Chang, Roland Bassett, Gary J Whitman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rationale and objectives: Information evaluating the efficacy of 2D synthesized mammography (2Ds) reconstructions in microcalcification detection is limited. This study used stereotactic biopsy data for microcalcifications to evaluate the stepwise implementation of 2Ds in screening mammography. The study aim was to identify whether 2Ds + digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is non-inferior to 2D digital mammography (2DM) + 2Ds + DBT, 2DM + DBT, and 2DM in identifying microcalcifications undergoing further diagnostic imaging and stereotactic biopsy.

Materials and methods: Retrospective stereotactic biopsy data were extracted following 151,736 screening mammograms of healthy women (average age, 56.3 years; range, 30-89 years), performed between …

Persistent Increase In Serum Ferritin Levels Despite Converting To Permanent Vascular Access In Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients: Pediatric Nephrology Research Consortium Study, Ali Mirza Onder, Md Abu Yusuf Ansari, Fang Deng, Matthew M Grinsell, Larry Patterson, Jennifer Jetton, Sahar Fathallah-Shaykh, Daniel Ranch, Diego Aviles, Lawrence Copelovitch, Eileen Ellis, Vimal Chadha, Ayah Elmaghrabi, Jen-Jar Lin, Lavjay Butani, Maha Haddad, Olivera Marsenic, Paul Brakeman, Raymond Quigley, H Stella Shin, Rouba Garro, Rupesh Raina, Craig B Langman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Our objective was to examine serum ferritin trends after conversion to permanent vascular access (PVA) among children who started hemodialysis (HD) using tunneled cuffed catheters (TCC). Retrospective chart reviews were completed on 98 subjects from 20 pediatric HD centers. Serum ferritin levels were collected at the creation of PVA and for two years thereafter. There were 11 (11%) arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and 87 (89%) arteriovenous fistulae (AVF). Their mean TCC use was 10.4 ± 17.3 months. Serum ferritin at PVA creation was elevated at 562.64 ± 492.34 ng/mL, increased to 753.84 ± 561.54 ng/mL (p = < 0.001) in the first year and remained at 759.60 ± 528.11 ng/mL in the second year (p = 0.004). …