Publications by authors named "Wendy Qiu"

Background: Repetitive head impacts (RHI) from contact sports can lead to long-term white matter injury visualized on FLAIR scans as white matter hyperintensities (WMH). The goal of this study was to preliminarily characterize the unique pattern and features of WMH in middle aged- to older adults with remote history of exposure to RHI from contact sports.

Method: 76 participants (38 with substantial RHI, 38 with minimal or no RHI) from the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center had a FLAIR MRI during their annual study visit.

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Background And Objectives: CSF biomarkers of Aβ42 and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181) are used clinically for the detection of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology during life. CSF biomarker validation studies have largely used clinical diagnoses and/or amyloid PET imaging as the reference standard. The few existing CSF-to-autopsy studies have been restricted to late-stage AD.

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Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) can be an early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the associations among NPS, cognition, and AD biomarkers across the disease spectrum are unclear.

Objective: We analyzed cross-sectional mediation pathways between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD (Aβ1-42, p-tau181), cognitive function, and NPS.

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Introduction: The precise apolipoprotein E () ε4-specific molecular pathway(s) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk are unclear.

Methods: Plasma protein modules/cascades were analyzed using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the associations among protein modules, AD diagnoses, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and brain glucose metabolism, stratified by genotype.

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Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States and is a challenging disease to treat. The treatment options for various cancers include but are not limited to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The mechanism behind chemotherapy is intended to promote cellular damage to cells that are proliferating uncontrollably.

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Breast cancer is the most common carcinoma plaguing women in the United States. Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most prevalent type of breast carcinoma with an incidence rate of 5% and 15% with high propensity for multifocal manifestation of disease. Multifocal disease is defined by two or more malignant foci within a single quadrant.

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We examined baseline and longitudinal associations between plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and total tau (t-tau), and the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A total of 579 participants (238, normal cognition [NC]; 185, mild cognitive impairment [MCI]; 156, AD dementia) had baseline blood draws; 82% had follow-up evaluations. Plasma samples were analyzed for NfL and t-tau using Simoa technology.

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Meiosis produces haploid gametes through a succession of chromosomal events, including pairing, synapsis, and recombination. Mechanisms that orchestrate these events remain poorly understood. We found that the SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier)-modification and ubiquitin-proteasome systems regulate the major events of meiotic prophase in mouse.

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Objective: The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on Alzheimer disease (AD) remains unclear, with conflicting results reported. We studied the interaction of the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and ACE inhibitors on AD.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of homebound elderly with an AD diagnosis and documentation of medications taken.

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High levels of homocysteine are associated with cerebrovascular disease, monoamine neurotransmitters, and depression of mood. A plausible hypothesis for these associations is that high homocysteine levels cause cerebral vascular disease and neurotransmitter deficiency, which cause depression of mood. The homocysteine depression hypothesis, if true, would mandate inclusions of imaging studies for cerebrovascular disease and measures of homocysteine, folate, and B12 and B6 vitamins in the clinical evaluation of older depressed patients.

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