Publications by authors named "MASSEY B"

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a generalist predator that inhabits wide-ranging territories that are relatively stable throughout the year. These owls are also involved in a variety of human-owl conflicts, including killing of domestic poultry, predating colonially nesting seabirds and shorebirds, and pose a hazard to safe aircraft operations. Managing these conflict situations presents unique challenges as great horned owls are nocturnally active and occupy a wide range of habitats.

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Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) presents significant treatment challenges, particularly in cases unrelated to human papillomavirus (HPV). The chemokine receptor CXCR4, interacting with its ligand CXCL12, plays a crucial role in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and treatment resistance. This study explores the therapeutic potential of engineered monomeric and dimerized CXCL12 variants (CXCL12 and CXCL12, respectively) in HNSCC and evaluates potential additive effects when combined with radiation therapy.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk clients' and caregivers' access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited especially in many remote areas of Appalachia. A multidisciplinary team of community and university partners explored how to coordinate the use of community health workers (CHWs) and drone technologies to increase access to PPE in rural and remote Appalachian regions. CHWs recruited 10 Homeplace clients in an exploratory study of drone-based package delivery of PPE to assess importance and effectiveness of PPE self-efficacy related to PPE use, use of PPE, and ease and acceptability of drone delivery (following delivery only).

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Telehealth is a great tool that makes accessing healthcare easier for those incarcerated and can help with reentry into the the community. Justice impacted individuals face many hardships including adverse health outcomes which can be mitigated through access to telehealth services and providers. During the federally recognized COVID-19 pandemic the need for accessible healthcare was exacerbated and telehealth use surged.

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Despite the promise of concurrent radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC), multiple randomized trials of this combination have had disappointing results. To evaluate potential immunologic mechanisms of RT resistance, we compared pre-treatment HNCs that developed RT resistance to a matched cohort that achieved curative status. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that a pre-treatment pro-immunogenic tumor microenvironment (TME), including type II interferon [interferon gamma (IFNγ)] and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) signaling, predicted cure while type I interferon [interferon alpha (IFNα)] enrichment was associated with an immunosuppressive TME found in tumors that went on to recur.

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Typical takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a reversible form of myocardial injury that presents with a characteristic ballooning abnormality of the left ventricular apex. Typical TCM has been associated with myocardial bridging; however, mid-ventricular variant TCM has not. We describe a rare case of mid-ventricular variant TCM with a coexisting left anterior descending artery myocardial bridge and discuss management strategies.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is resistant to treatment and has limited immunotherapy responses.
  • Researchers extracted tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from 31 HNSCC patients and analyzed their function and cancer-targeting ability.
  • Results revealed that TILs can still function effectively despite expressing exhaustion markers, indicating the potential for developing personalized T cell therapies for HNSCC patients.
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Review Purpose: Addressing dysphagia is vital due to its prevalence and impact on healthcare expenditure. While high resolution manometry (HRM) effectively evaluates esophageal dysphagia, its role in oropharyngeal dysphagia and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction remains debated. The fourth iteration of the Chicago classification (CC) offers an algorithmic approach for diagnosing abnormal motor patterns via HRM.

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The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among young people has been on the rise for the past four decades and its underlying causes are only just starting to be uncovered. Recent studies suggest that consuming ultra-processed foods and pro-inflammatory diets may be contributing factors. The increase in the use of synthetic food colors in such foods over the past 40 years, including the common synthetic food dye Allura Red AC (Red 40), coincides with the rise of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC).

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Background: Exercise is an effective intervention for knee osteoarthritis (OA), and unsupervised exercise programs should be a common adjunct to most treatments. However, it is unknown if current clinical trials are capturing information regarding adherence.

Objective: To summarize the extent and quality of reporting of unsupervised exercise adherence in clinical trials for knee OA.

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Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is a disorder of abnormal keratinization for which there is no standard treatment. Treatment modalities that have traditionally been utilized with varying success include ablative therapies, topical pharmacologic treatments, surgical excision, and retinoids. The underlying pathophysiology of DSAP is secondary to genetic mutations in the mevalonate biosynthesis pathway, and thus topical lovastatin/cholesterol presents a promising treatment modality for this condition.

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Objectives: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck cancer (HNC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. To improve outcomes, we developed a novel liposomal targeting system embedded with 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH), a chlorin-based photosensitizer. Upon exposure to 660 nm light, HPPH phototriggering generates reactive oxygen species.

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This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and early adverse events of using the hyaluronic acid filler VYC-20L for the treatment of infraorbital hollowing. A total of 21 participants underwent injection of VYC-20L. FACE-Q satisfaction surveys before and after treatment along with early adverse events surveys were conducted.

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Background: Evidence supports direct referral for imaging by physical therapists. Accuracy and self-efficacy for imaging decisions have not been investigated in entry-level doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between entry-level DPT instruction and accuracy and self-efficacy for imaging referral due to acute knee trauma.

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Background: Question prompt lists (QPLs) are structured sets of disease-specific questions, intended to encourage question-asking by patients and enhance patient-physician communication. To date, a dysphagia-specific QPL has not been developed for patients with esophageal dysphagia symptoms. We aim to develop a dysphagia-specific QPL incorporating both esophageal expert and patient perspectives, applying rigorous methodology.

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The rate of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) has risen in recent years. AH can cause as much as 40-50% mortality in severe cases. Successful abstinence has been the only therapy associated with long-term survival in patients with AH.

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LCIA (low CO2-inducible protein A) is a chloroplast envelope protein associated with the CO2-concentrating mechanism of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. LCIA is postulated to be a HCO3- channel, but previous studies were unable to show that LCIA was actively transporting bicarbonate in planta. Therefore, LCIA activity was investigated more directly in two heterologous systems: an Escherichia coli mutant (DCAKO) lacking both native carbonic anhydrases and an Arabidopsis mutant (βca5) missing the plastid carbonic anhydrase βCA5.

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Legumes are generally considered to be more responsive to elevated CO (eCO) conditions due to the benefits provided by symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In response to high carbohydrate demand from nodules, legumes display autoregulation of nodulation (AON) to restrict nodules to the minimum number necessary to sustain nitrogen supply under current photosynthetic levels. AON mutants super-nodulate and typically grow smaller than wild-type plants under ambient CO.

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We are presenting a case of a 74-year-old female with a parotid gland mass. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the mass demonstrated cohesive groups of epithelial cells with overall bland-appearing nuclei and abundant vacuolated cytoplasm, consistent with sebaceous cells, in a background of polymorphous lymphocytes, scattered histiocytes, and adipose tissue. Immunostains showed that the epithelial cells stain positive for p63, but negative for CD117 and DOG-1.

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ATP, produced by the light reactions of photosynthesis, acts as the universal cellular energy cofactor fuelling all life processes. Chloroplast ATP synthase produces ATP using the proton motive force created by solar energy-driven thylakoid electron transport reactions. Here we investigate how increasing abundance of ATP synthase affects leaf photosynthesis and growth of rice, Oryza sativa variety Kitaake.

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Autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility (AGID) is a rare form of limited autoimmune dysautonomia caused by autoantibodies against the enteric nervous system. Our patient was a 53-year-old man with 1 year of bloating, intolerance of oral intake, and recurrent ileus. Esophageal manometry showed aperistalsis and hypotensive lower sphincter, consistent with scleroderma esophagus.

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Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery remains an important component of management but is associated with a high rate of surgical site infection (SSI). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a topical mucosal antiseptic bundle in preventing SSI and evaluate microbial predictors of infection through a genomic sequencing approach.

Methods: This study was an open-label, single-arm, single-center, phase 2 trial of a topical mucosal antiseptic bundle in patients with HNC undergoing aerodigestive tract resection and reconstruction.

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Importance: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after vascularized reconstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) are associated with considerable morbidity. The association between perioperative prophylaxis practices, particularly topical antisepsis, and SSIs remains uncertain.

Objective: To assess the association between perioperative topical antisepsis and SSIs in patients undergoing vascularized reconstruction of the UADT.

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