Publications by authors named "D R Head"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how early imaging features related to posterior urethral valves (PUV) in children can predict the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and potential renal failure. !* -
  • Researchers analyzed data from 274 children diagnosed with PUVs to identify factors such as vesicoureteral reflux and nadir creatinine that correlate with CKD progression over an average follow-up of nearly 6 years. !* -
  • Results indicated that the presence of vesicoureteral reflux and a low nadir creatinine level in the first year of life significantly predicted CKD progression, highlighting the usefulness of these early measurements in assessing future renal function. !*
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Purpose: Targeted prostate biopsies are increasingly being performed by urologists in the United States including those in the Pennsylvania Urologic Regional Collaborative, a physician-led data-sharing and quality improvement collaborative. To evaluate the performance of MRI guided fusion needle prostate biopsies in the collaborative, we analyzed the variability by practice in rates of detection of clinically significant prostate cancer and patient characteristics associated with detection of clinically significant prostate cancer.

Methods: We analyzed 857 first-time MRI fusion biopsy procedures performed at five practices (minimum 20 procedures) between 2015 and 2019.

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The structural evolution of hierarchical structures of nanoscale biomolecules is crucial for the construction of functional networks in vivo and in vitro. Despite the ubiquity of these networks, the physical mechanisms behind their formation and self-assembly remains poorly understood. Here, this study uses photochemically cross-linked folded protein hydrogels as a model biopolymer network system, with a combined time-resolved rheology and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) approach to probe both the load-bearing structures and network architectures respectively thereby providing a cross-length scale understanding of the network formation.

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Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) accounts for 5-10% of urothelial cancers and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Increasing incidence of UTUC has been observed since the 1970's, alongside the evolution of advance imaging techniques, precision biopsy equipment, and risk stratification models. The high morbidity of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) which is still the gold-standard treatment for high-risk UTUC, has driven the development of kidney-sparing surgery alternatives for low-risk UTUC.

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Background: Higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been associated with better neurocognitive outcomes. BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue, and some evidence suggests it may benefit cardiovascular function. The current study assessed whether there is a mediating and/or moderating role of cardiovascular health in the relationship between BDNF and brain and cognitive outcomes.

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