Publications by authors named "Amber Lewis"

Article Synopsis
  • - The circadian clock plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system and is important for both disease defense and cancer detection.
  • - Research using single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that certain immune cells, particularly PD-L1-expressing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), oscillate in numbers based on the time of day and suppress the activity of CD8 T cells.
  • - Timing the administration of anti-PD-L1 treatment to coincide with the peak levels of MDSCs enhances its effectiveness, highlighting the importance of circadian rhythms in cancer immunotherapy.
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The molecular events of protein misfolding and self-aggregation of tau and amylin are associated with the progression of Alzheimer's and diabetes, respectively. Recent studies suggest that tau and amylin can form hetero-tau-amylin oligomers. Those hetero-oligomers are more neurotoxic than homo-tau oligomers.

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Background: Treatment of some blood cancers with T cells that express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against CD19 have shown remarkable results. In contrast, CAR-T cell efficacy against solid tumors has been difficult to achieve.

Methods: To examine the potential of CAR-T cell treatments against ovarian cancers, we used the mouse ovarian cancer cell line ID8 in an intraperitoneal model that exhibits disseminated solid tumors in female C57BL/6J mice.

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The aggregation of human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) on cell membranes is linked to amyloid diseases. However, the physio-chemical mechanisms of how these hIAPP aggregates trigger membrane damage are unclear. Using coarse-grained and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the role of lipid nanodomains in the presence or absence of anionic lipids, phosphatidylserine (PS), and a ganglioside (GM1), in the membrane disruption and protein folding behaviors of hIAPP aggregates on phase-separated raft membranes.

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Anti-Black racism (ABR) contributes to racial trauma and to the disproportionate negative mental, physical, and social outcomes faced by Black populations (Hargons et al., 2017; Wun, 2016a). The previous literature demonstrates that storytelling and other narrative interventions are often used to promote collective healing among Black people (Banks-Wallace, 2002; Moors, 2019).

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The misfolding and self-aggregation of human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) are linked to the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanism of how the disordered hIAPP aggregates trigger membrane damage leading to the loss of Islet cells in T2D is unknown. Using coarse-grained (CG) and all-atom (AA) molecular dynamics simulations, we have investigated the membrane-disruption behaviors of hIAPP oligomers on the phase-separated lipid nanodomains that mimic the highly heterogeneous lipid raft structures of cell membranes.

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The self-aggregation of tau, a microtubule-binding protein, has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. Recent studies indicate that the disordered tau aggregates, or oligomers, are more toxic than the ordered fibrils found in the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of tau. At present, details of tau oligomer interactions with lipid rafts, a model of neuronal membranes, are not known.

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This phase 2 study evaluated the therapeutic potential of netarsudil to reduce corneal edema and to improve vision in patients with Fuchs corneal dystrophy (FCD). Patients ( = 40) with baseline central corneal thickness (CCT) of ≥600 μm and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 70-20 letters (20/40-20/400 Snellen equivalent) were randomized 1:1 to receive netarsudil once a day (QD) or twice a day (BID) for 8 weeks. Primary endpoint was mean CCT change from baseline at week 4.

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Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) symptoms can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). AR-15512, a transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) agonist, was evaluated as a potential therapy for DED.

Methods: In a Phase 2b study, patients with DED were randomized 1:1:1 to 0.

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Rare diseases affect an estimated 6-10% of the Australian population, a prevalence similar to that seen in other regions worldwide. These multi-system conditions are often severely debilitating and affect multiple domains of a person's life. A salient necessity for effective care provision thus, is holistic care, achieved by appropriate and continual multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration.

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Background: Second victims (SVs) are health care workers traumatized by unanticipated, adverse patient events. These experiences can have personal and professional effects on SVs. Research indicates that SVs experience inadequate support following adverse events.

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