May 2024 Member Publications

  1. Shrader SH, Mellen N, Cai J, Barnes GN, Song ZH. Cannabidiol is a behavioral modulator in BTBR mouse model of idiopathic autism. Front Neurosci. 2024 May 9;18:1359810. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1359810. PMID: 38784096; PMCID: PMC11112039.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that cannabidiol (CBD) treatment effectively reduces repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity, and improves social deficits in an established mouse model of idiopathic autism. These findings highlight CBD's potential as a therapeutic option for addressing core and comorbid symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 
  2. Vemuri V, Kratholm N, Nagarajan D, Cathey D, Abdelbaset-Ismail A, Tan Y, Straughn A, Cai L, Huang J, Kakar SS. Withaferin A as a Potential Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Cachexia. Cells. 2024 May 3;13(9):783. doi: 10.3390/cells13090783. PMID: 38727319; PMCID: PMC11083229.
    Impact Statement: Withaferin A ameliorates the cardiac dysfunction induced by Angiotensin II, suggesting that it could be an anticachectic agent that induces direct effects on cardiac muscles. 
  3. Thakurdesai A, Rivera-Matos L, Nagra N, Busch B, Mais DD, Cave MC. Severe Drug-Induced Liver Injury Due to Self-administration of the Veterinary Anthelmintic Medication, Fenbendazole. ACG Case Rep J. 2024 May 2;11(5):e01354. doi: 10.14309/crj.0000000000001354. PMID: 38706451; PMCID: PMC11068125.
    Impact Statement: The increasing off-label use of fenbendazole in humans, driven by social media claims of anticancer benefits, presents significant safety concerns, as evidenced by a case of severe drug-induced liver injury in a 67-year-old woman. This case highlights the urgent need for awareness and regulation to prevent potentially harmful self-medication practices. 
  4. Liu H, Su P, Li Y, Hoover A, Hu S, King SA, Zhao J, Guan JL, Chen SY, Zhao Y, Tan M, Wu X. VAMP2 controls murine epidermal differentiation and carcinogenesis by regulation of nucleophagy. Dev Cell. 2024 May 22:S1534-5807(24)00321-6. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.05.004. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38810653.
    Impact Statement: This paper elucidates key molecular mechanisms involved in epidermal differentiation and identifies critical factors that mediate skin diseases and cancers, providing potential new targets for therapeutic interventions for skin disorders and skin cancer. /
  5. Jin A, DuPré N, Holm R, Smith T, Kavalukas S. Environmental Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, Race, and Socioeconomic Markers Correlate with Areas of High Colorectal Cancer Incidence. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2024 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02030-z. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38755478.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights a significant correlation between elevated ambient VOC levels and increased colorectal cancer rates, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. The findings emphasize the need to address environmental and socioeconomic factors in public health strategies to reduce health disparities and colorectal cancer incidence. 
  6. Adhihetty PK, Halder S, Abu UO, Fu XA, Nantz MH. Cesium ion-guided detection of trichloroethylene in air. Talanta. 2024 May 1;276:126197. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126197. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38728800.
    Impact Statement: This study introduces a novel approach using cesium-functionalized gold clusters to develop a highly selective sensor for trichloroethylene (TCE) and related volatile organic compounds (VOCs), showcasing unprecedented sensitivity down to 0.1 ppm. The sensor's efficacy hinges on the unique bidentate coordination of 1,2-dichloro groups with cesium cations, underscoring its potential for precise environmental monitoring applications. 
  7. Long GA, Xu Q, Sunkara J, Woodbury R, Brown K, Huang JJ, Xie Z, Chen X, Fu XA, Huang J. A comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review of breath analysis in detection of COVID-19 through Volatile organic compounds. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2024 Jul;109(3):116309. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116309. Epub 2024 Apr 27. PMID: 38692202.
    Impact Statement: Breath analysis is a promising detection tool for COVID-19 infection.
  8. Ward J, Hardin-Fanning F, LaJoie AS, Harris L,, Simpson A. Outdoor workers' perceptions of skin cancer prevention: a qualitative study. Ann Work Expo Health. 2024 May 14:wxae039. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxae039. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38742833.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the crucial role of trusted local healthcare providers and community testimonials in promoting primary and secondary skin cancer prevention among outdoor workers. Emphasizing secondary prevention strategies and fostering self-efficacy in conducting skin self-examinations are essential to effectively reduce skin cancer incidence in this high-risk population. 
  9. Fulghum KL, Collins HE, Lorkiewicz PK, Cassel TA, Fan TWM, Hill BG. Exercise-induced changes in myocardial glucose utilization during periods of active cardiac growth. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2024 Jun;191:50-62. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2024.04.014. Epub 2024 May 3. PMID: 38703412; PMCID: PMC11135805.
    Impact Statement: This paper addresses how metabolism contributes to adaptation of the heart to exercise and shows in mice that metabolic remodeling precedes development of “athlete’s heart”. 
  10. Antimisiaris D, Folz RJ, Huntington-Moskos L, Polivka BJ. Specific Medication Literacy in Older Adults with Asthma. J Nurse Pract. 2024 May;20(5):104979. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2024.104979. Epub 2024 Mar 27. PMID: 38706630; PMCID: PMC11064973.
    Impact Statement: The study highlights significant gaps in specific medication literacy (SML) among older adults, particularly in understanding side effects and drug interactions, which can impact their ability to self-monitor effectively. Findings suggest that targeted educational interventions are needed, especially for those diagnosed with asthma at a younger age and those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. 
  11. Roser LP, Samanapally H, Ali T, Xu Q, Han Y, Salunkhe V, Deepti F, McGuffin T, Huang EC, Furmanek S, Glynn A, Ramirez J, Jones CM, Mariyappa R, Hogue RJ, Williams AM, Huang JJ, Arnold FW, Clifford SP, Pahwa S, Kong M, Huang J. Different clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients complicated by cardiovascular events during the first, delta and omicron waves of COVID-19. Front Epidemiol. 2024 Apr 18;4:1342917. doi: 10.3389/fepid.2024.1342917. PMID: 38699405; PMCID: PMC11064795.
    Impact Statement: Omicron patients with cardiovascular events showed lower heart injuries, lower mortality and longer time to mortality for non-survivors when compared to the first and delta waves. 
  12. Ghooray DT, Xu M, Shi H, McClain CJ, Song M. Hepatocyte-Specific Fads1 Overexpression Attenuates Western Diet-Induced Metabolic Phenotypes in a Rat Model. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Apr 29;25(9):4836. doi: 10.3390/ijms25094836. PMID: 38732052; PMCID: PMC11084797.
    Impact Statement: The study demonstrates that adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-mediated hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Fads1 significantly improves glucose tolerance and insulin signaling in rats on a low-fat high-fructose diet, and reduces plasma triglycerides and hepatic cholesterol levels in rats on a high-fat high-fructose diet. These findings highlight FADS1 as a promising therapeutic target for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in a diet-dependent manner. 
  13. Navarro-Corcuera A, Zhu Y, Ma F, Gupta N, Asplund H, Yuan F, Friedman S, Sansbury BE, Huang X, Cai B. Therapeutic Activity of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) in Murine MASH. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Apr 26:2024.04.22.590633. doi: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590633. PMID: 38712196; PMCID: PMC11071427.
    Impact Statement: Administering resolvin D1 (RvD1) demonstrates significant therapeutic potential by reducing inflammation, preventing hepatocyte death, and promoting fibrosis regression in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These effects are mediated through suppression of the Stat1-Cxcl10 signaling pathway, alleviation of ER stress-induced apoptosis, and modulation of MMP expression, underscoring RvD1's multifaceted role in ameliorating MASH progression. 
  14. Steichen JM, Phung I, Salcedo E, Ozorowski G, Willis JR, Baboo S, Liguori A, Cottrell CA, Torres JL, Madden PJ, Ma KM, Sutton HJ, Lee JH, Kalyuzhniy O, Allen JD, Rodriguez OL, Adachi Y, Mullen TM, Georgeson E, Kubitz M, Burns A, Barman S, Mopuri R, Metz A, Altheide TK, Diedrich JK, Saha S, Shields K, Schultze SE, Smith ML, Schiffner T, Burton DR, Watson CT, Bosinger SE, Crispin M, Yates JR 3rd, Paulson JC, Ward AB, Sok D, Crotty S, Schief WR. Vaccine priming of rare HIV broadly neutralizing antibody precursors in nonhuman primates. Science. 2024 May 17;384(6697):eadj8321. doi: 10.1126/science.adj8321. Epub 2024 May 17. PMID: 38753769.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates the successful priming of broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursor B cells using the germline-targeting immunogen N332-GT5 in rhesus macaques, marking a significant advance in HIV vaccine development. The findings highlight the potential of N332-GT5 to induce bnAb-precursor responses in humans, offering a promising avenue for future immunogen design and vaccine strategies. 
  15. Schiffner T, Phung I, Ray R, Irimia A, Tian M, Swanson O, Lee JH, Lee CD, Marina-Zárate E, Cho SY, Huang J, Ozorowski G, Skog PD, Serra AM, Rantalainen K, Allen JD, Baboo S, Rodriguez OL, Himansu S, Zhou J, Hurtado J, Flynn CT, McKenney K, Havenar-Daughton C, Saha S, Shields K, Schulze S, Smith ML, Liang CH, Toy L, Pecetta S, Lin YC, Willis JR, Sesterhenn F, Kulp DW, Hu X, Cottrell CA, Zhou X, Ruiz J, Wang X, Nair U, Kirsch KH, Cheng HL, Davis J, Kalyuzhniy O, Liguori A, Diedrich JK, Ngo JT, Lewis V, Phelps N, Tingle RD, Spencer S, Georgeson E, Adachi Y, Kubitz M, Eskandarzadeh S, Elsliger MA, Amara RR, Landais E, Briney B, Burton DR, Carnathan DG, Silvestri G, Watson CT, Yates JR 3rd, Paulson JC, Crispin M, Grigoryan G, Ward AB, Sok D, Alt FW, Wilson IA, Batista FD, Crotty S, Schief WR. Vaccination induces broadly neutralizing antibody precursors to HIV gp41. Nat Immunol. 2024 Jun;25(6):1073-1082. doi: 10.1038/s41590-024-01833-w. Epub 2024 May 30. PMID: 38816615; PMCID: PMC11147780.
    Impact Statement: The development of germline-targeting epitope scaffold nanoparticles has overcome a significant barrier in vaccine design by successfully inducing rare broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb)-precursor B cells with specific binding motifs in both stringent animal models and ex vivo human screens. This advancement paves the way for creating effective vaccines against HIV and other viruses with high antigenic diversity, targeting the elusive 10E8-class bnAbs.