Digestive System Diseases Commons^™

Silencing Faf2 Mitigates Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis By Modulating Lipolysis And Pcsk9 Pathway, Nazmul Huda, Praveen Kusumanchi, Yanchao Jiang, Hui Gao, Themis Thoudam, Ge Zeng, Nicholas J. Skill, Zhaoli Sun, Suthat Liangpunsakul, Jing Ma, Zhihong Yang

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic alcohol consumption leads to lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, cellular damage, and inflammation in the liver, collectively referred to as alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). FAF2/UBXD8/ETEA (Fas-associated factor 2) is a ubiquitin ligase adaptor protein that plays a crucial role in the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. A recent genome-wide association study indicated an association between FAF2 and ALD; however, the exact contribution of FAF2 to ALD pathogenesis remains unclear. METHODS: FAF2 was knocked down using AAV-delivered shRNA in C57/BL6 mice. Mice were subjected to a chronic-plus-single binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA) model. Nine hours after gavage, …

The First International Experience With Histotripsy: A Safety Analysis Of 230 Cases, Chase J. Wehrle, Kevin Burns, Evan Ong, Allison Couillard, Neehar D. Parikh, Elaine Caoili, Jaekeun Kim, Federico Aucejo, Andrea Schlegel, Emily Knott, Paul Laeseke, J Philip Boudreaux, Philipp Von Breitenbuch, Mikhail Silk, Mohamed Alassas, Andrew Guzowski, Brian Fuller, Erica Knavel Koepsel, Brock Hewitt, Mishal Mendiratta-Lala, David C. Kwon

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Histotripsy is a novel, noninvasive, nonionizing, and nonthermal approach that uses focused ultrasound waves to treat liver tumors. This technology received a de novo Food and Drug Administration grant in late 2023. This study aimed to provide the first report on post-trial real-world clinical safety data. METHODS: Safety outcomes within 30 days of histotripsy were collected after obtaining Food and Drug Administration clearance (December 22, 2023 to July 26, 2024). All centers that performed histotripsy were invited to participate in this study. Complications requiring treatment were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). RESULTS: A total …

The Oral-Gut Microbiome Axis: Implications For Systemic And Oral Health, Sana Shariff, Manas Mandal

Annual Research Symposium

The bidirectional relationship between the oral and gut microbiomes has gained attention for its role in systemic and oral diseases. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, disrupts these ecosystems, leading to inflammatory conditions. This research investigates the connection between these microbiomes, focusing on microbial translocation, disease correlation, and targeted interventions such as probiotics or dietary modifications to restore microbial homeostasis and reduce disease incidence.

Navigating Epstein-Barr Virus (Ebv) And Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (Ptld) In Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Current Knowledge And Strategies For Treatment And Surveillance, Erin Y Chen, Natasha Dilwali, Krupa R Mysore, Sara Hassan, Sara Kathryn Smith, Wikrom Karnsakul

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in pediatric liver transplant recipients. PTLD is one of the most common malignancies following liver transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Factors such as EBV-serostatus mismatch and prolonged or high levels of immunosuppression impact a patient's risk of developing PTLD. While pre-transplant EBV serological screening and post-transplant monitoring of EBV-DNA levels are strongly recommended, universal guidelines for its prevention and management are lacking. Due to a lack of robust prospective studies, current clinical practices vary widely. The treatment of PTLD typically involves reducing …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Improve Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Outcomes, Brandon Havranek, Rebecca Loh, Beatriz Torre, Rachel Redfield, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate the association of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists with major cardiovascular events, clinically significant portal hypertension events, and all-cause mortality in patients with MASLD. A large, population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX platform, which provided real-time access to electronic health records of 634,265 adult patients with MASLD/MASH. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to create two cohorts: A GLP-1 agonists group and a control group without GLP-1 agonists usage. Hazard …

Dairy Consumption And The Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota In Humans-A Preliminary Investigation, Ellie Chen, Nadim J Ajami, Donna L White, Yanhong Liu, Shawn Gurwara, Kristi Hoffman, David Y Graham, Hashem B El-Serag, Joseph F Petrosino, Li Jiao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Dairy consumption has been associated with various health outcomes that may be mediated by changes in gut microbiota.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiota and the self-reported intake of total dairy, milk, cheese, and yogurt. A total of 97 colonic mucosal biopsies collected from 34 polyp-free individuals were analyzed. Dairy consumption in the past year was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The 16S rRNA gene V4 region was amplified and sequenced. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) classification was performed using the UPARSE and SILVA databases. OTU diversity and relative abundance were compared …

Aortoduodenal Syndrome: A Rare Case Of Duodenal Obstruction Due To Endovascular Aneurysm Endoleak., Raksha Adhikari, Parth Patel, Christopher Tait

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Aortoduodenal syndrome results from expansion of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, leading to symptoms of upper gastrointestinal obstruction. Endovascular aneurysm repair of large or symptomatic aortic aneurysms has become an important treatment modality for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, a large proportion of these grafts are complicated by endoleaks that can lead to a spectrum of significant symptoms. We present a case of rapidly worsening gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms in a patient with an already repaired aortic stent graft and a solitary kidney, found to be due to a type III endoleak that improved after emergent repeat endovascular aneurysm repair.

Hes V20 Outperforms Galad For Detection Of Hcc: A Phase 3 Biomarker Study In The United States, Hashem B El-Serag, Qingchun Jin, Nabihah Tayob, Emad Salem, Michelle Luster, Abeer Alsarraj, Saira Khaderi, Amit G Singal, Jorge A Marrero, Sumeet K Asrani, Fasiha Kanwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The original hepatocellular carcinoma early detection screening (HES) score, which combines alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with age, alanine aminotransferase, and platelets, has better performance than AFP alone for early HCC detection. We have developed HES V2.0 by adding AFP-L3 and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin to the score and compared its performance to GALAD and ASAP scores among patients with cirrhosis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS: We conducted a prospective-specimen collection, retrospective-blinded-evaluation phase 3 biomarker cohort study in patients with cirrhosis enrolled in imaging and AFP surveillance. True-positive rate (TPR)/sensitivity and false-positive rate for any or early HCC were calculated for GALAD, ASAP, and …

Dna Methylation Profile In Buffy Coat Identifies Methylation Differences Between Cirrhosis With And Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hyeyeun Lim, Hashem B El-Serag, Michelle Luster, Megan L Grove, Jinyoung Byun, Yuri Jung, Younghun Han, Eric Boerwinkle, Christopher I Amos, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Cirrhosis is the precursor to most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Understanding the mechanisms leading to the transition from cirrhosis to HCC and identifying key biomarkers is crucial to developing effective screening strategies and reducing HCC-related mortality. DNA methylation is associated with gene inactivation and plays an important role in physiological and pathological processes; however, its role in cirrhosis progression to HCC is unknown.

Methods: We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPI BeadChip in pre-diagnostic samples from 22 cirrhosis patients who subsequently developed HCC and 22 cirrhosis patients who remained HCC-free during an average 4-year follow-up. …

Microrna 133a Regulates Squalene Epoxidase Expression In Colorectal Cancer Cells To Control Cell Proliferation And Cholesterol Production, Ji Su Mo, Santosh Lamichhane, Grinsun Sharma, Soo Cheon Chae

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with high incidence and mortality rates. MicroRNAs are endogenous and non-coding RNAs that play a pivotal role in the development and progression of various cancers by targeting specific genes. Previously, we identified MIR133A to be significantly decreased in human CRC tissues. This study aims to identify the relationship with SQLE, one of the candidate target genes of MIR133A, and study their interaction in CRC cells. Methods: Through the luciferase reporter assay, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and Western blot analysis. Results: We identified SQLE as a direct target gene of …

Diabetes, Edwin Espinosa Vazquez

CSU Tower Day

1.2 million Americans are affected with diabetes each year.

○ Increase in hospitalizations, emergency room visits

● Diabetes has a higher rate of prevalence among the middle aged, older aged and non- Americans in the US.

● Diabetes presents a high risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Kidney failure, blindness, etc.

● Exercise, dietary changes, and medication can prevent or delay from the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Appendicular Band Syndrome As A Cause Of Infantile Small Bowel Obstruction, Brandon M. Epps, Alexis Smith

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Spontaneous Choledochoduodenal Fistula Post-Cholecystectomy: Successful Endoscopic Management Of A Rare Complication Using Cholangioscopy And Lithotripsy, Fernando Lugo-Hernandez, Omar Jureyda, Viraj Modi, Bhavtosh Dedania

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Dual Diagnosis Of Acute Appendicitis And Chronic Calculous Cholecystitis: Unraveling A Rare Clinical Conundrum, Wilfredo Jhoel Javier-Rojas, Carlos Montero, Yizhi Lin

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Hearts Hidden Message: Right Ventricular Thrombus Reveals Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Devika Adusumilli, Seline Haci, Jafri Imran, Arman Vaghefi, Mehdi Khalafi, Ikponmwosa Iyamu, Sarvanan Balamuthusamy

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction Right ventricular thrombi are uncommon, usually found with concurrent pulmonary emboli and associated with significant mortality. They often originate from deep vein thrombi but may also be due to primary intracardiac processes . A right ventricular thrombus can be an unexpected marker for underlying malignancies, including esophageal cancer. This occurs due to the hypercoagulable state often induced by malignancy. Here we report a presentation where the identification of a right ventricular thrombus led to the diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Case Presentation Our patient is a 57-year old male with no past medical history who experienced an episode of dizziness …

Atypical Hemorrhoid Or Hidden Malignancy? Anal Melanoma And Palliative Strategies, Osamuyi Asemota, Kayla Brown, Megan Turley

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Vonoprazan Vs. Lansoprazole In The Healing & Maintenance Phase Of Erosive Esophagitis, Sushil Rayamajhi, Syed Hasham Ali, Hareesha Bharadwaj, Ali Tariq

North Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Pseudomyxoma Peritonei As Initial Presentation Of Mucinous Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma, Rajiv Shah, Iren Shabanova, Radhika Mohan, Sirin Khajaviyan, David Ortega, Pooja Paunikar, Dennis Besong, Mitul Patel, Valerie Sinkler

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis In The Setting Of Adalimumab Therapy For Treatment Of Crohn's Disease, Ferris Ghosh, Kinsey Lano, Dina Zamil

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Gut Feeling: Diagnosing The Unexpected Ogilvie’S Syndrome, Sakina Haider, Jenny Cherenfant, Supritha Chintamaneni, Rama Laxman

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.