Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Sequencing Of Plasma Cell-Free Dna Identifies Epigenomic Features In Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapies, Qianxia Li, Chiang-Ching Huang, Shane Huang, Yijun Tian, Jinyong Huang, Amirreza Bitaraf, Xiaowei Dong, Marja T. Nevalainen, Manishkumar Patel, Jodie Wong, Jingsong Zhang, Brandon J Manley, Jong Y. Park, Manish Kohli, Elizabeth M. Gore, Deepak Kilari, Liang Wang

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether 5hmC signatures in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) are associated with treatment failure to androgen-deprivation therapies (ADT) among men with hormone-naive prostate cancer.

METHODS: We collected a total of 139 serial plasma samples from 55 prostate cancer patients receiving ADT at 3 time points including baseline (before initiating ADT, n = 55); 3 months (after initiating ADT, n = 55); and disease progression (n = 15) within 24 months or 24 months if no progression was detected (n = 14). We used selective chemical labeling sequencing to quantify 5hmC abundance across the genome and Kaplan-Meier analysis to assess …

The Use Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy In The Setting Of Acute Limb Ischemia, Josue Fonseca, Andrew B. Callan

Research Symposium

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a long-used yet understudied intervention for a wide array of conditions. In the case of our patient with acute limb ischemia secondary to cholesterol emboli, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy after attempted thrombectomy and thrombolysis was utilized to promote tissue oxygenation and wound healing with the goal of preserving the patient’s limb. What makes this case novel is that an understudied treatment method was used to preserve the patient’s limb after the recommended treatment options been exhausted. This case highlights the need for more studies on the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the …

External Validation Of The Phoenix Sepsis Score In Children With Suspected Community-Acquired Sepsis, Elliot Long, Meredith Borland, Shane George, Shefali Jani, Eunicia Tan, Natalie Phillips, Amit Kochar, Simon Craig, Anna Lithgow, Arjun Rao, Stuart Dalziel, Ed Oakley, Stephen Hearps, Ben Gelbart, Sarah Mcnab, Fran Balamuth, Scott Weiss, Nathan Kuppermann, Charlotte Brad, Amanda Williams, Franz Babl

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: The novel Phoenix Sepsis Score and sepsis criteria were derived and validated using a multicountry dataset and proposed as a new definition for sepsis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To externally validate the Phoenix Sepsis Score and sepsis criteria in a cohort of children hospitalized with suspected community-acquired sepsis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This diagnostic study used data from the multicenter, multicountry Sepsis Epidemiology in Australian and New Zealand Emergency Departments (SENTINEL) study, collected from 2021 to 2023 and including 90-day follow-up. Children admitted to the hospital through 11 emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand and treated with parenteral antibiotics …

Comparison Between Maia And Mp-3 In Healthy Subjects And Patients With Diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy, And Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Anna Marmalidou, Haleema Siddiqui, Muhammad Usman Jamil, Kwang Min Woo, Antonio Yaghy, A. Yasin Alibhai, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Stephanie Kaiser, Keith Effert, Peter Zhao, Shilpa Desai, Christopher Robinson, Jay Duker, Nadia Waheed

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the comparability of mean sensitivity (MS) values obtained using the Macular Integrity Assessment (MAIA; CenterVue S.p.A. [iCare], Padova, Italy) and Microperimeter-3 (MP-3; NIDEK CO., Ltd., Gamagori, Japan) microperimetry (MP) devices.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study includes subjects with healthy eyes, eyes with diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy (DM no DR), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Patients underwent testing on both MAIA and MP-3 MP devices, using a 10-2 macular grid with 68 stimuli and identical parameters. A diagnosis-adjusted linear regression model and mixed modeling mapped MP-3 MS to …

Non-Dre Voided Urine Test To Diagnose Prostate Cancer: Updated Results, Patrick T. Gomella, Joon Yau Leong, Leonard G. Gomella, Vivek S. Tomar, Hector Teran, Edouard J. Trabulsi, Mathew L. Thakur

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Background: The standard diagnostic approach for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis consists of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, digital rectal examination (DRE) and image-guided targeted biopsies. Given the invasive nature, potential adverse events and costs associated with these techniques, alternative approaches have been investigated, specifically with serum and urine assays. The work presented here is intended to further validate a novel noninvasive optical technique for PCa detection, targeting the VPAC genomic receptors that are overexpressed on prostate cancer's malignant cells (MC), in non-DRE voided urine. Methods: Patients (N = 62) who had image-guided biopsy and histologically confirmed localized PCa, and …

Emerging Technologies For Forensic Genetic Identification, Lilly Llanos

Senior Honors Theses

There are many new innovations in forensic science that are being developed for the identification of biological evidence. These techniques include next-generation DNA sequencing, DNA phenotyping, and forensic genetic genealogy. This thesis will explore each, as well as newer applications of proteomics. The methodologies, reliability, practicality of cost and training, moral implications, and past research of each will be discussed. Finally, some ideas for future research and steps to drive growth and greater understanding will be suggested. This will encourage further innovations and the increased acceptance of forensic evidence in court. Each method was found to have both advantages and …

Epigenetic Landscapes Of Aging In Breast Cancer Survivors: Unraveling The Impact Of Therapeutic Interventions-A Scoping Review, Nikita Nikita, Zhengyang Sun, Swapnil Sharma, Amy L Shaver, Victoria Seewaldt, Grace Lu-Yao

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Breast cancer therapies have dramatically improved survival rates, but their long-term effects, especially on aging survivors, need careful consideration. This review delves into how breast cancer treatments and aging intersect, focusing on the epigenetic changes triggered by chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal treatments, and targeted therapies. Treatments can speed up biological aging by altering DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling, affecting gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. The review explains the double-edged sword effect of therapy-induced epigenetic modifications, which help fight cancer but also accelerate aging. Chemotherapy and targeted therapies, in particular, impact DNA methylation and histone modifications, promoting …

The Impact Of Testosterone Therapy On The Vaginal Microbiota Of Transgender Men And Non-Binary People: A Prospective Study, Olivia T. Van Gerwen, Kristal J. Aaron, Emma Sophia Kay, Krishmita Siwakoti, Angela Pontius, Saralyn Richter, Z Alex Sherman, Keonte J. Graves, Ashutosh Tamhane, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Meng Luo, Evelyn Toh, David E. Nelson, Nicholas J. Van Wagoner, Christopher M. Taylor, Christina A. Muzny

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Understanding the impact of testosterone on the vaginal microbiota of transgender men (TGM) and non-binary people assigned female sex at birth over time is imperative as vaginal dysbiosis and incident bacterial vaginosis (iBV) may cause bothersome genital symptoms and increase HIV/STI acquisition risk. We investigated shifts in the composition of the vaginal microbiota over time in TGM initiating testosterone for gender-affirming hormone therapy, including development of vaginal dysbiosis and iBV.

METHODS: Participants ages ≥18 years, assigned female sex at birth and reporting TGM or non-binary identity, interested in starting injectable testosterone, demonstrating optimal vaginal microbiota, with no current STI(s) …

Going Green In Dermatology, Rahib K. Islam, Victoria T. Tong, Shari R. Lipner

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Rates Of Minimally Invasive Surgery After Introduction Of Robotic-Assisted Surgery For Common General Surgery Operations, Zhi Ven Fong, Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, Shaneeta Johnson, Richard Culbertson, Brian Mitzman

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Importance: Many patients who would benefit from minimally invasive surgery (MIS) have open surgery; robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) addresses some of the limitations of laparoscopic surgery and could increase rates of MIS across different patient populations. Objective: To determine whether the introduction of RAS increases MIS rates and whether increases are seen across different patient populations undergoing common general surgery procedures. Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed to compare rates of MIS in the year before and after the index date for hospitals that did and did not introduce RAS. Generalized estimating equation regression models were used to compare rates …

Evaluating Dysphagia Duration And Severity After Acdf In Patients With Underlying Dysphagia - A Prospective, Multicenter Study, Aditya Mazmudar, Taylor Paziuk, Khoa Tran, Tyler Henry, Samuel Oh, Caroline Purtill, Daniel Habbal, Goutham Yalla, Quinlin Harrill, Brandon Sherrod, Erica Bisson, Darrel Brodke, Christopher Kepler, Gregory Schroeder, Alex Vaccaro, Alan Hilibrand, Jeffrey Rihn

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of preoperative dysphagia on the postoperative incidence and severity of dysphagia in patients undergoing ACDF at multiple institutions.

METHODS: After IRB approval, patients over 18 years of age who underwent an elective ACDF for degenerative conditions were prospectively enrolled at two academic centers from 2018 to 2021. Preoperative dysphagia was self-reported by patients through a pre-operative questionnaire on a binary basis. Patients completed dysphagia surveys (Bazaz, Dysphagia Short Questionnaire, 10-item Eating Assessment Tool) to assess dysphagia severity during their preoperative visit, and these …

Unified Adaptive Cross-Attention Multimodal Network, Mahesh Sunuwar

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Accurately diagnosing appendicitis remains a significant challenge in emergency medicine due to its varied clinical presentation and overlap with other abdominal conditions. Existing diagnostic models often rely on unimodal data, such as computed tomography (CT) images or clinical notes, limiting their ability to capture the full complexity of patient information. This study proposes a novel multimodal framework, a Unified Adaptive Cross-Attention Multimodal Framework (u-ACM), that integrates CT images and clinical notes using hybrid fusion strategies to improve diagnostic accuracy for appendicitis. The u-ACM leverages adaptive contextual filtering to dynamically remove irrelevant features, crossattention mechanisms to align features between modalities, and …

Antiseizure Medications And Their Differing Effects On Cardiovascular Risk, Aleena Abbasi, Bassil Abbasi, Scott Mintzer, Carla Lopinto-Khoury

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

This review discusses the differing effects of enzyme-inducing and non-inducing antiseizure medications on cardiovascular risk and their implications for the management strategies of epilepsy patients. Traditional risk markers, including low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and triglycerides, can be altered by both enzyme induction and inhibition. Other markers of vascular risk, including c-reactive protein, non-high-density lipoprotein and homocysteine, are affected by antiseizure medications, although adults and children may have different responses. The overall atherosclerotic risk picture is more complex due to indirect effects such as neuroendocrine function and the metabolic syndrome. Large scale data shows an evolving understanding of cardiovascular …

Does Acupuncture At Motor-Related Acupoints Affect Corticospinal Excitability? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Renming Liu, Aung Aung Kywe Moe, Weiting Liu, Maryam Zoghi, Shapour Jaberzadeh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Acupuncture is widely used in modulating brain excitability and motor function, as a form of complementary and alternative medicine. However, there is no existing meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on corticospinal excitability (CSE), and the credibility of the evidence has yet to be quantified. Objective: This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) in enhancing brain excitability, specifically focusing on CSE as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Search strategy: This study followed a systematic approach, searching 9 databases up to August 2024 and examining grey literature, …

Rotating Hinge Vs. Total Condylar “When To Decide”: A Surgical Algorithm, Benjamin Huang, Russell T. Nevins

Annual Research Symposium

Research symposium for general health topics

Single Stage Hinge Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Of A Chronically Infected Knee: A Case Report, Benjamin Huang, Angel Oliver, Russell T. Nevins

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Reducing Medical Waste, George M. Jeha, Stanislav N. Tolkachjov

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Spetzler-Martin Grade I And Ii Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis Of Resection And Stereotactic Radiosurgery In Adult Patients, Salem Tos, Mahmoud Osama, Georgios Mantziaris, Bardia Hajikarimloo, Nimer Adeeb, Sandeep Kandregula, Adam Dmytriw, Hamza Adel Salim, Basel Musmar, Kareem El Naamani, Christopher Ogilvy, Douglas Kondziolka, Ahmed Abdelsalam, Deepak Kumbhare, Sanjeev Gummadi, Cagdas Ataoglu, Ufuk Erginoglu, Muhammed Amir Essibayi, Abdullah Keles, Sandeep Muram, Daniel Sconzo, Howard Riina, Arwin Rezai, Johannes Pöppe, Rajeev Sen, Omar Alwakaa, Christoph Griessenauer, Pascal Jabbour, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Robert Starke, Mustafa Baskaya, Laligam Sekhar, Michael Levitt, David Altschul, Neil Haranhalli, Malia Mcavoy, Assala Aslan, Abdallah Abushehab, Christian Swaid, Adib Abla, Christopher Stapleton, Matthew Koch, Visish M Srinivasan, Peng Chen, Spiros Blackburn, Mark Dannenbaum, Omar Choudhri, Bryan Pukenas, Darren Orbach, Edward Smith, Markus Möhlenbruch, Ali Alaraj, Ali Aziz-Sultan, Aman Patel, Hugo Cuellar, Michael Lawton, Jacques Morcos, Bharat Guthikonda, Jason Sheehan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital vascular anomalies that can lead to severe complications, including hemorrhage and neurological deficits. This study compares the outcomes of microsurgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for SM grade I and II AVMs. Out of a large multicenter registry, we identified 180 matched patients with SM grade I and II AVMs treated with either microsurgical resection or SRS between 2010 and 2023. The primary outcomes were AVM obliteration rates and complications; secondary outcomes included neurological status and functional outcomes measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to ensure comparability …

Echocardiography And Heart Failure: An Echocardiographic Decision Aid For The Diagnosis And Management Of Cardiomyopathies., Ashley Pender, Jessica Lewis-Owona, Abdulmojeed Ekiyoyo, Marcus Stoddard

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to highlight the utility of echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies.

RECENT FINDINGS: Echocardiographic parameters function synergistically to guide decision-making ranging from early detection of disease and screening to risk stratification of complex disease. The collective wealth of information available from 2D/3D assessment, Doppler, diastology and strain makes echocardiography an invaluable decision aid.

The Lungs Of The Finch: Three-Dimensional Pulmonary Anatomy Of The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Castanotis), Aracely Martinez, Raul E. Diaz, Clinton A. Grand Pre, Brandon P. Hedrick, Emma R. Schachner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The avian respiratory system has been an area of biological interest for centuries, with zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis) emerging in recent decades as a primary avian model organism popularized across numerous disciplines. The pulmonary system of birds is unique in that air moves unidirectionally through the gas-exchanging lung, and previous works have suggested anatomical constraints within the bronchial network that may be coupled to the inspiratory valving mechanism in Aves. We used µCT-based segmented models to visualize and describe the morphology of the zebra finch lower respiratory system and to examine intra- and interspecific differences of the bronchial tree with …