Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Meaningful goal setting for communication disorders in acute hospital care: expanding the FOURC model

Background The FOURC model was developed to guide collaborative goal setting between speech-language pathologists and their adult clients (Haley et al. 2019). It was first implemented in outpatient clinics for clients recovering with poststroke aphasia. Here, we present an extens...

Shaving Versus Resection on Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Cancer Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

BACKGROUND: Management of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion by thyroid cancer remains controversial between shaving the tumor and resecting it. We compared oncological and functional outcomes of the two techniques. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, three reviewers sear...

Active transcriptome remodeling underlies antimony-induced drug tolerance in persister-like Leishmania parasites

Persistence - characterized by the transient ability of subpopulations of Leishmania parasites to survive exposure to drugs - is a major driver of treatment failure and clinical relapses in leishmaniasis. Persisters are characterized by non-dividing or slow-growing state and incr...

Timing and trajectory of acute kidney injury predict mortality in alcohol-associated hepatitis: A multinational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) and associated with poor outcomes, yet the prognostic implications of AKI timing and early renal trajectory remain unclear. METHODS: In this prospective multicenter cohort from the Global AlcHep...

Effectiveness of Lactobacillus-supplemented eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies supplemented with Lactobacillus spp. may improve eradication rates and reduce adverse events by modulating gut microbiota and immune responses. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus-supplem...

Global Paid and Unpaid Productivity Losses Due to Gastrointestinal Cancer Mortality

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers contribute substantially to premature mortality, yet their full economic burden, including unpaid work, remains underquantified. We aimed to estimate global productivity losses attributable to GI cancer mortality, considering paid and unp...

Severe burn disrupts tissue-specific clock gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and skeletal muscle in a rodent model

INTRODUCTION: Severe burns cause systemic inflammation and a hypermetabolic response, yet their impact on biorhythms remains unclear. Clock gene-regulated circadian rhythms maintain physiologic homeostasis and are altered in disease. We posit that severe burn disrupts tissue-spec...

Evaluating menopausal symptom burden and treatment engagement in a predominantly Hispanic population on the United States‐Mexico border

Objective: To evaluate menopausal symptom burden, health care engagement, and treatment disparities among postmenopausal women at the United States‐Mexico border. Methods: A cross-sectional bilingual survey was administered to postmenopausal women receiving care from 2021 to 2024...

Labral Repair and Reconstruction Yield Comparable Patient‐Reported Outcomes at Short‐ to Mid‐Term Follow‐Up During Primary Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: To systematically review and compare clinical outcomes and survivorship of labral repair versus labral reconstruction during primary hip arthroscopy. METHODS: A search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items...

Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Suppress Hepatic Fatty Acid Uptake and Fatty Acid β-Oxidation in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Mice

Abstract Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists show high efficacy in treating obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated liver diseases, conditions that collectively represent one of the most challeng...

Comparative effects of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized head-to-head trials

Abstract Background Inflammation contributes significantly to cardiovascular disease progression. While both atorvastatin and rosuvastatin have anti-inflammatory effects, evidence directly comparing their effects on inflammatory biomarkers is limited and inconsistent. This study...

The Modern Urology Pipeline: Career Trajectories of Recent Residency Graduates

INTRODUCTION: Urology residency graduates face a pivotal transition when deciding on fellowship training and eventual practice setting. While traditionally a fellowship was a gateway to academia, recent trends reveal increasing pursuit due to job market concerns and perceived gap...

Select large language models outperform hip preservation experts on consensus‐based hip preservation questionnaire

Abstract Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly utilized in medical education and clinical contexts, yet few studies compare the performance of large language models (LLMs) to subspecialized experts in providing guideline‐based medical information on hip preservatio...

The PIVOT model for strategic academic transformation in AI-powered higher education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping higher education. It challenges assumptions about knowledge, expertise, and the role of academic institutions. While AI expands learning opportunities and access, it raises important questions about academic identity, educational values,...

Intravascular ultrasound–guided versus angiography-guided endovascular interventions for peripheral artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Endovascular revascularization is a cornerstone therapy for peripheral artery disease (PAD), typically guided by angiography, which may underestimate vessel size and lesion complexity. The clinical benefit of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance remains un...

The Myelin Sheath as a Multilamellar Electromechanical System: Bilayer Stack Analogs, Energy Buffering, and Biological Memory

The myelin sheath has traditionally been viewed as a passive electrical insulator that accelerates nerve impulse propagation. Recent experimental studies, however, indicate that myelin is a dynamic biological material whose structure and hydration state adapt to neuronal activity...

Time-dependent divergence in infection risks among patients with multiple sclerosis treated with fumarates versus anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies have an elevated infection risk, yet long-term comparative data with oral fumarates are limited. Objective: To compare infection incidence, healthcare resource utilization, and relapse...

Antibody–Drug Conjugates in Contemporary Oncology: A Clinical Perspective on Dose Optimization, Sequencing, and Combination Strategies

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have matured from a technically challenging concept into an established therapeutic platform across hematologic and solid malignancies. By linking a monoclonal antibody to a potent cytotoxic payload, ADCs seek to increase tumor-directed drug delive...

Novel Lipoprotein (a) Therapies: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract Purpose of Review Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a genetically determined, independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve stenosis. Plasma Lp(a) levels are 70–90% heritable, largely unresponsive to lifestyle changes, and poorly co...

Evaluation of the Relative Citation Ratio Versus the H-Index as Measures of Citation-Based Scholarly Influence in Academic Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluating citation-based scholarly influence among academic faculty is foundational to academic medicine, as retention, promotion, and tenure to govern career advancement at every level. The h-index has been the standard metric across fields, including...