Howard University Hospital Research Articles

496 Urinary Exosomal MicroRNA as Early Markers of Diabetic Kidney Disease in African American Adults

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This study aimed to characterize urinary exosomal miRNA content in African American adults with diabetic kidney disease. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 65 were recruited from the Diabetes Treatment Center and the Nephrology Clinic at the Howard University Hospital. Exosomes were isolated from cleared urine of healthy controls (n=3), type 2 diabetics (n=3), and participants with chronic kidney disease (n=3). The purity and size of isolated microparticles was evaluated using NanoSight technology (30nm to 120nm size range) and western blot analysis for exosome-specific markers (TSG101 and CD81) RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Expression of 5 selected microRNAs, miR-4534, miR-320c, miR-451, miR-362-3p and miR-877-3p were evaluated by qRT-PCR. miR-4534 and miR-451 was increased between healthy controls and the type diabetic group. MiR-320c was increased in the CKD group, in comparison to healthy controls. Conversely, there was no difference in miR-877-5p between the three groups. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings will provide insight into the use of circulating miRNAs as early markers of DKD, ultimately creating more effective treatments and preventive measures.

Abstract 7462: Interventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity inInterventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity in high risk colorectal cancer IBD Patients, A Multisite Clinical Trial Study

Abstract Background: Inflammatory polyps in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) pose a significant risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). Dietary interventions targeting anti-tumor immunity are crucial in mitigating this risk. Aim: We investigated saffron's anti-inflammatory effects in IBD patients due to the high prevalence of polyps, aiming to prevent CRC. Methods: The study retrospectively evaluated 485 colitis patients (70 IBD, 415 NIC) from Howard University Hospital, through colonoscopy, pathology, and clinical reports evaluations. At Howard University, three UC patients received 50mg of saffron twice daily for 8 weeks, with two cycles. Inflammatory markers, stool calprotectin, and cytokines were assessed. Similar saffron trials were conducted at Yazd University (30 UC patients) and Egypt University (11 UC patients). Results: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were found to have a 15.7% prevalence of polyps compared to 8.2% in Non-inflammatory colitis patients. Among IBD patients, those with ulcerative colitis had more polyps (27%) than those with Crohn's disease (5%). In a multisite clinical trial, Saffron treatment improved various health indicators, including Partial MayoScore and quality of life. In the study (HU site), pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased, anti-inflammatory markers increased, and fecal calprotectin levels dropped significantly after saffron treatment. Saffron also led to changes in gut bacteria composition. Importantly, no adverse events were reported in the study participants. In one group of patients (Yazd study), saffron treatment led to significant improvements in depression scores, disease severity, and inflammation markers. In another site (Egypt study), 50% of saffron-treated patients showed improvement in markers related to disease severity, inflammation, and quality of life. Conclusion: Saffron supplementation, alongside standard treatments, shows promise in reducing local and systemic inflammation in IBD patients and may reduce the risk of developing inflammatory polyps and hence CRC. This safe and feasible intervention warrants further exploration as an inflammation-driven CRC preventive strategy. Citation Format: Hassan Ashktorab, Roham Salmanroghani, Hassan Salmanroghani, Reza Oskrochi, Mudasir Rashid, Adeyinka Laiyemo, Suryanarayana Reddy Challa, Philip Oppong-Twene, Nasrin Farjana, Angesom Kibreab, Holden Maeker, Amr Amin, Amal Ahmed Mohamed, Amr Elsayed, Zaki Mohamed Zaki, Omima Mohamed, Alshymaa Hassnine, Salma Saed, Soha Hassanin, Farshad Aduli, Lakshmi Gayathri Chirumamilla, Hassan Brim. Interventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity inInterventional dietary saffron drives antitumor immunity in high risk colorectal cancer IBD Patients, A Multisite Clinical Trial Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7462.

Abstract 1011: A comprehensive comparative analysis of African Americans’ early onset and late onset colorectal cancer: A 60 year study in underserved population serving hospital

Abstract Background: The incident of early onset of colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing in adults including in African Americans (AA). Aim: To investigate differences between EOCRC compared to late onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) in AA patients. Methods: We reviewed demography, pathology and colonoscopy records of patients seen at Howard University Hospital from 1959 to 2023. This retrospective cohort consists of 175 EOCRC cases (<45 years) and 2025 LOCRC cases (>45 years). The age-adjusted rates for EOCRC and LOCRC were calculated for the age categories <45 and above 45. Results: The cohort comprised predominantly AA individuals (>85%). Gender distribution showed slightly more females (1074, 53%) than males, with no significant difference observed between EOCRC and LOCRC groups (p=0.94). Initial symptoms at presentation were prevalent in both EOCRC (93.8%) and LOCRC (92.6%). Notably, EOCRC exhibited a higher incidence of abdominal pain (23.3% vs. 17.2%, p=0.05) and changes in bowel habits (24.4% vs. 14%, p=0.05) compared to LOCRC. However, other symptoms such as melena, hematochezia, weight loss, and anemia were less prevalent in EOCRC than in LOCRC. Additionally, comorbidities like hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were less frequent in EOCRC compared to LOCRC. Family history of colon cancer in first-degree relatives was notably higher in EOCRC (15.5%) compared to LOCRC (3.2%, p=0.01). Pathology reports indicated a higher occurrence of neuroendocrine tumors in EOCRC (2.8%) than in LOCRC (1.4%). Complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal CT abnormalities were more frequent in EOCRC. Location-wise, EOCRC was primarily observed in the left sigmoid and rectosigmoid regions (p=0.01). Metastasis to other organs was more prevalent in EOCRC than in LOCRC (p=0.04) suggesting more aggressive and advanced lesions. Surgical interventions were slightly more common in EOCRC (80.4%) than in LOCRC (79.1%). Type of polyps and stage distribution showed some variations between the two groups. Interestingly, the incidence of colorectal cancer showed fluctuations over the years, peaking between 1980 and 1989 before declining in recent years, probably as a result of colonoscopy popularization. Conclusion: CRC incidence is increasing among young AA who display highly advanced and more metastatic tumors in comparison with LOCRC. While current screening programs seems to have decreased CRC prevalence in individuals older than 45, special attention needs to be addressed to young AA adults as well, to counter the observed trend, as they have the highest incidence of CRC among young population groups by race/ethnicity. Detailed analysis of the molecular landscape of EOCRC AA tumors is needed to understand the differential pathways and mechanisms defining these early onset cancers. Citation Format: Suryanarayana Reddy Challa, Mrinalini Deverapalli, Nasrin Farjana, Lakshmi Gayathri Chirumamilla, Reza Oskrouchi, Swetha Mynedi, Mudasir Rashid, Karthikeyan Senthilvelan, Babak Shokrani, Rabia Zafar, Angesom Kibreab, Farshad Aduli, Adeyinka Laiyemo, Zaki Sharif, Hassan Brim, Hassan Ashktorab. A comprehensive comparative analysis of African Americans’ early onset and late onset colorectal cancer: A 60 year study in underserved population serving hospital [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1011.

Predictors of mortality in hospitalized African American COVID-19 patients with cancer.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifest differently depending on patients' background and pre-existing conditions. It remains unclear how African Americans with cancer have been affected in comparison to those without. In this study, we aim to identify demographic, clinical, and laboratory markers associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients with cancer. We reviewed all COVID-19 hospitalized patients' records from Dec. 2019 to Oct. 2021 at Howard University Hospital. Patients having a history of, or active, cancer were reviewed. Clinical, treatment, lab test values, and pathological data were extracted. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted on the entire cohort as well as on cases and controls separately, using SPSS software. Out of 512 COVID-19 infected patients, 49 had cancer, either active or history of cancer (cases) and 463 COVID-19 were cancer-free (controls), allowing for comparison. African American race was predominant in both cases and controls, 83.7% and 66.7% respectively. Cancer patients were older than non-cancer patients (mean age: 70.6 vs. 56.3 years) and had an increased length of hospital stay (mean 13.9 vs. 9.4 days). Mortality is significantly higher among cancer patients (n=10, 20.4%, P=0.03) compared to non-cancer COVID-19 patients (n=41, 8.9%). Among cancer patients, breast cancer was more prevalent in females and prostate cancer in males (54% and 52%, respectively). A comparison of patients with active vs. previous cancer showed no significant difference in the clinical outcome, death vs. discharge (P=0.34). A higher reduction in albumin level in cancer cases, from the time of admission to day 5, was significantly associated with death during the hospital stay compared to those discharged (n=24, 49.0%, P<0.001). In controls, lymphopenia (n=436, 94.2%, P=0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (n=59, 12.7%, P=0.008) and albumin (n=40, 8.6%, P=0.02) have shown an association with increased mortality. Albumin level has an inverse relationship with clinical outcomes among all COVID-19 infected cancer patients. Reduction in albumin level during the hospital stay, particularly in COVID-19 cancer patients should be considered as a predictor of mortality. Further research with a large cohort size is needed to verify and identify other predictors of outcomes in COVID-19 patients with cancer.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations and Their Association with Neurologic and Sleep Problems in Long COVID-19 Minority Patients: A Prospective Follow-Up Study.

Long-COVID is a condition post SARS-CoV-2 infection with persistent or recurring symptoms affecting multiple organs, and may involve viral persistence, changes to the microbiome, coagulopathies, and alterations to neuro-immune interactions. These factors can disrupt the Gut-Brain Axis, which is a complex system involving bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal (GI) system. As a result of these disruptions, individuals with long-COVID may develop post-infectious functional GI disorders, which can cause a range of symptoms affecting the digestive system. To understand frequency of GI manifestations of Long-COVID and to determine association with sleep or neurological symptoms in a predominantly minority population. We included patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR (n = 747) who were hospitalized from Feb. 2020 to May 2021 at Howard University Hospital and followed between 6 and 12months from discharge. GI, sleep, and neurological symptoms (via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scoring system) were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Linear regression analysis, χ2 and Fisher's exact test were utilized to determine the statistical significance of correlations of GI/Neuro/COVID. The mean age of patients was 58, with 51.6% females and a predominant African American ethnicity (73.6%, n = 550). A total of 108 patients died during their initial hospital stay, with the remaining 639 patients followed-up. Three hundred fifty (350) patients responded to the questionnaire (57 patients died during the follow-up period). Overall, 39 (13.3%) patients reported GI-related symptoms, out of which 19 (6.4%) had persistent symptoms and 20 (6.8%) developed new onset GI symptoms. Nausea and vomiting were the most common 24/39 (61.5%), followed by abdominal pain 7/39 (18%), diarrhea 5/39 (12.8%), and others 3/39 (7.6%). Patients who presented with vomiting during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have Long-COVID GI manifestations (P = 0.023). Use of ACE inhibitors, abnormal lymphocyte count and elevated ferritin are other variables that showed significant associations with Long-COVID GI manifestations (P = 0.03, 0.006 and 0.03, respectively). During follow-up, a total of 28 (9.5%) patients reported difficulty with sleep and 79 (27%) patients had abnormal MoCA assessment. With further analysis, there was a trend between presentation of GI symptoms on admission with abnormal MoCA assessment, and an association between abnormal LFTs and history of liver disease during hospitalization with subsequent sleep problems. Baseline characteristics, clinical comorbidities, other laboratory values, hospital length of stay, mechanical ventilation, medications during hospitalization, re-admission and Flu or COVID-19 vaccination have not shown any association with Long-COVID GI symptoms in our cohort. Dyspeptic symptoms were common GI manifestations in the acute and post COVID periods. GI symptoms, abnormal LFTs and a history of liver disease during the acute infectious phase associates with abnormal MoCA and sleep problems during follow-up. Further large population studies are needed to determine if COVID-19 leads to a GI symptoms-associated Long-COVID phenotypes and other symptoms through the Gut-Brain-Axis.

History of neurosurgery at Howard University: the nation's only historically black academic institution that practices neurological surgery.

Howard University Hospital has been a pillar for healthcare delivery in the Black community, an underserved sector of Washington, DC, since its founding in 1862. Neurological surgery, one of the many areas of service provided, was established by trailblazer Dr. Clarence Greene Sr., who was appointed the division's first chief in 1949. Because of the color of his skin, Dr. Greene had to complete his neurosurgical training at the Montreal Neurological Institute, as he was refused the opportunity to train in the United States. He went on to become the first African American to be board certified in neurological surgery in 1953. Drs. Jesse Barber, Gary Dennis, and Damirez Fossett, the subsequent division chiefs, have all continued Dr. Greene's legacy of providing academic enrichment and subserving a disparate population. Many patients who may not have received treatment otherwise have been able to receive exemplary neurosurgical care from them. Under their tutelage, numerous African American medical students have gone on to train in neurological surgery. Future directions include developing a residency program, collaborating with other neurosurgery programs in continental Africa and the Caribbean, and establishing a fellowship for training international students.

Exploring the Incidence and Associated Risk Factors of Barrett's Esophagus in African Americans: A Retrospective Study.

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in African Americans (AA) is uncertain. However, several potential risk factors, includes family history, male sex, ethnicity, chronic heartburn and acid reflux, age over 60, current or past smoking, and obesity are associated with BE. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of BE in AA patients who underwent Esophageal Gastro Endoscopy (EGD). Medical and demographic data of 1,253 AA patients with various symptoms, including BE, Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), esophageal squamous adenocarcinoma (SCC), hiatal hernia, H. pylori infection, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastritis, and esophagitis, were collected from January 2004 to December 2014 at Howard University Hospital. Among the 1,253 patients, the median age was 61 and 49% were male out of the total. The frequencies of EAC (p= 0.05), and SCC (p= 0.002) were significantly high in males, along with SCC frequency significantly increased with older age (p<0.001). Furthermore, esophageal polyps with hiatal hernia (p=0.008) and H. pylori (p=<0.001) were found to be associated with esophagitis, and its presence may contribute to the development of BE. The findings highlighted the high prevalence of GERD symptoms and pathologic gastritis along with EAC was less common than SCC and both types of esophageal cancer were associated with male gender and older age whereas, H. pylori infection was identified as a risk factor for pathologic gastritis in AA. Overall data emphasize the need for extensive research, increased awareness, diagnosis, and management of GERD, gastritis, and related conditions to uncover the underlying mechanisms and factors contributing to these conditions in the AA population.

High Prevalence of Diabetes Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Minority Patients: Data from a Single Tertiary Hospital.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common comorbidity in the minority population and is associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We hypothesized that COVID-19 patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus are prone to fatal outcomes compared to non-diabetic patients. We aimed to illustrate the characteristics and outcomes and identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients with DM. In this single-center retrospective study, electronic medical records of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis at Howard University Hospital (HUH) from March 2020 to Dec 2021 were analyzed. Clinical, demographic, and serological information, as well as outcomes, were recorded and analyzed. Among 463 COVID-19 patients, 66.3% (n = 307) were African Americans (AA) and 35.9% (n = 166) had diabetes, with a mean age of 64years. The majority of the diabetic patients were AA (n = 123, 74.1%) and had a higher mortality rate (n = 26, 74.3%) compared to others. Length of stay in the hospital is significantly more for the diabetic than for the non-diabetic patients (11.3 vs. 8.3days, p = 0.03). A higher proportion of ICU admission (32.3% vs. 17.9%, p = < 0.001), intubation (17% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.04), and increased mortality (21.1% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.01) were identified in COVID-19 patients with DM than in those with no DM. Among DM patients, non-survivors were older (69.9 vs. 62.9years). DM patients were more likely to have underlying hypertension (72.3% vs. 43.3%, p = < 0.001), obesity (44.8% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.007), chronic kidney disease (23.6 vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001), and cardiovascular disease (29.5% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.001) than the non-DM patients. HbA1C above 9%, indicating poorly controlled hyperglycemia, was associated with poor outcome among the DM subjects. AST (23.5% vs. 31.3%) and creatinine (61.4% vs. 37.9%) were significantly more elevated in DM COVID-19 patients (all p-values < 0.05). The levels of serum troponin (42.5% vs. 30.9%, p = 0.03), interleukin-6 (67.2 vs. 50%, p = 0.04), ferritin (65.6% vs. 44.6%, p = 0.03), procalcitonin (58.1% vs. 46.1, p = 0.03), and D-dimers (92.8% vs. 86.5%, p = 0.04) were significantly higher in DM patients as compared to those in non-DM COVID-19 patients, indicating more susceptibility of diabetic COVID-19 patients to coagulation dysfunction and inflammatory storm. The prevalence of DM is high among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in our cohort. While DM patients have a higher mortality rate and ICU admission than non-DM patients, other factors such as underlying comorbidities, old age, elevated creatinine, AST, serum inflammatory markers, and D-dimer are more significant predictors of fatal outcomes. DM patients had higher metabolic derangements, hypercoagulability, and severe inflammatory response. No significant difference of outcome was noted between DM patients of different races in our cohort. In the diabetic group, it appears that race may not significantly contribute to the observed mortality disparity. This could be attributed to the significant influence of diabetes, which acts as a major effector, potentially overshadowing the significance of race in this context.

Howard University Hospital, Cancer Center, DC

Howard University Hospital, Cancer Center, DC

0300 A prospective follow-up study of Covid’s effects on Sleep and Cognition in post-acute period in a primarily minority population

Abstract Introduction Long Covid, the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, has evolved in recent months into a recognized spectrum of manifestations that persist after acute Covid-19 illness. Despite over 2 years of information since the start of the pandemic, data remains limited on the effect Long Covid may have on sleep and cognition. This study aims to assess the association between COVID-19 infection and sleep impairment in the post-acute period. Methods A total of 747 patients were identified from hospitalized COVID-19 patient records at Howard University Hospital between Feb 2020 and May 2021. 285 of these patients were interviewed by the research team 6-12 months after their initial infection. Sleep symptoms were collected via a questionnaire from 125 patients (64% African American, 34% Hispanic) to include the following four data points: difficulty falling asleep, worsened sleep quality, daytime somnolence (since COVID-19 occurrence) and the number of hours of sleep in 24 hours. In addition, a cognitive assessment was also conducted via a Mini-MOCA questionnaire(n=103 patients, 59% African American, 35% Hispanic). Of note, all sleep questionnaire participants did not report pre-COVID-19 sleep issues concerns. We looked for any associations between multiple clinical variables, sleep disturbance, and abnormal MOCA scores using proper statistical methods such as t-tests, chi-square tests, univariate and multivariable logistic regression. Results Out of the 285 respondents to the interview, 28 of 125 completing sleep assessments declared sleep disturbance symptoms, and 79 of 103 completing Mini-Moca assessments had an abnormal Mini-MOCA score. Patients with sleep disturbance symptoms were further analyzed and a significant association was identified between sleep disturbance and the following variables: increase in age (p=0.046), Diabetes Miletus diagnosis (p=0.009), elevated troponin level on admission (p&amp;lt; 0.05), ARB use during hospitalization (p=0.006), ICU admission during hospitalization (p&amp;lt; 0.05), and exposure to ECMO (p=0.011). Not surprisingly, sleep disturbance had a significant association with reduced total sleeping hours in 24 hr period (p&amp;lt; 0.0001). Conclusion Preliminary findings indicate the presence of sleep disturbance on longitudinal follow-up of patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, we found a significant association between sleep disturbance in COVID-19 patients with many variables. Larger studies are required to further analyze these associations. Support (if any)

The Effect of Prenatal Care on Preterm Birth in a Low-Income Minority Population in DC [ID: 1378551

INTRODUCTION: Structural and social barriers to health care affect prenatal care (PNC) utilization among underrepresented minorities in the District of Columbia (DC) and contribute to preterm birth (PTB) disparities. The PTB rate among Black people in DC was 13.1% (2018–2020), higher than the overall DC (9.8%, 2020) and United States (10.1%, 2020) rates. We evaluated the association between prenatal care utilization and preterm birth in a low-income minority population in DC. METHODS: As part of a collaborative effort with DC Health to reduce PTB, we designed a REDCap database to collect pregnancy and delivery data on all inpatient and outpatient patients at Howard University Hospital (HUH), between January 2020 and September 2022. Our primary exposure variable was PNC (yes or no). Our outcome was PTB (gestational age &lt; or ≥37 weeks). Crude and adjusted logistic regression models analyzed the relationship between prenatal care and preterm birth. RESULTS: A total of 1,382 patient charts were evaluated, of which 11.6% had PTB and 95.1% had any PNC. Majority were Black (55.6%) or Hispanic (42.8%), and had Medicaid (92.2%). Any PNC was associated with a 54% reduced odds of PTB (adjusted odds ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.22–0.97). Additionally, history of preeclampsia (3.75, 2.51–5.62) or spontaneous PTB (2.51, 1.50–4.18) were significantly associated with PTB. CONCLUSION: Prenatal care usage was associated with reduced odds of preterm birth in our population. Identifying and addressing barriers to prenatal care utilization may improve preterm birth rates among risk-entrenched patients at HUH.

Maternal Stress and Pregnancy Outcomes in a Prenatal Clinic Population

A two-fold decrease in the incidence of infant low birth weight, from 20.6% to 8.3%, occurred in Africa American women enrolled from 1985 to 1988 in this interdisciplinary research project conducted in an urban prenatal clinic. Nutritional, biochemical, medical, psychosocial, lifestyle, and environmental data were collected by trained Africa American interviewers. Several instruments were administered to the mother to specify the stress construct and assess body image, the social support network, and other psychosocial variables. The reduction in the incidence of low birth weight in an urban Africa American low income population admitted to the Howard University Hospital is attributed to the mediation of maternal stress by project personnel, in effect, providing an additional support system through the caring, sensitive environment provided by the project clinical staff, who met the women at each of their clinic-scheduled appointments. Women with a positive self attitude and higher self esteem were more likely to be delivered infants at term; the number of persons in the mother's social support network was directly correlated with her infant's gestational age. Maternal serum concentrations of the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin E and ascorbic acid, and the free radical scavenger, uric acid, were significantly correlated with serum folate and blood urea nitrogen. An hypothesis of low birth weight is presented.

Demographic Profile, Methodology, and Biochemical Correlates During the Course of Pregnancy

This five-year prospective, observational study of urban women during their pregnancies was initiated in 1985 with the recruitment of women between the ages of 18 and 35 years in the prenatal clinics of Howard University Hospital and the District of Columbia Department of Human Services. The objective of the investigation was to characterize African American women by nutritional, biochemical, medical, sociocultural, psychological, lifestyle, and environmental parameters which could be used to formulate interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes. The women were all nulliparous, free of diabetes and abnormal hemoglobins, such as sickle cell disease, and no more than 28 weeks pregnant. During the early course of the study, it was apparent that 96% of the low income clinic patients had delivered infants of normal birth weight (> or = 2500 g), P = 0.001. Recruitment was then initiated at the District of Columbia General Hospital; women 16 and 17 years of age and at any gestational stage were included. This paper is the first in the series on African American women and their pregnancies. It will present the demographic characteristics of this regular cohort of 443 women who delivered live infants, the methodology used for biochemical, dietary, and psychosocial data sets, the mean values for infant gestational age, head circumference, body length, and birth weight from singleton births, and correlates of the mean values of biochemical variables for three trimesters of pregnancy with other biochemical parameters and those pregnancy outcomes.

Deformity correction in the setting of acute cervical spine trauma in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: A case report

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune spondyloarthropathy marked by symptomatic alterations in skeletal anatomy and biomechanics. Ankylosis from the ossification of ligamentous structures and adjacent joints transforms the spine from flexible to rigid and brittle, easily susceptible to fracture. The pathophysiology of the condition is also notable for a progressive debilitating cervical kyphosis known as “chin-on-chest.” Ultimately, the combination of a brittle, rigid, spine can permit trivial trauma to cause catastrophic injury, and in some instances, mortality. We discuss the multi-disciplinary approach, management concerns, and deformity correction in the setting of traumatic cervical spine fracture in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis. Case Report: A 71-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis presented to Howard University Hospital in a delayed fashion after a ground level fall at home. Neurological examination revealed loss of all motor and sensory function below the C4 level and an absence of rectal tone. Advanced imaging discovered a fracture-dislocation at the C4-5 level producing a severe hyper-lordotic angulation deformity. The profound fracture characteristics and displacement caused spinal cord compression posteriorly and tracheoesophageal stenosis anteriorly. The patient was treated operatively in a staged dual approach fashion correcting his pathologic deformity in consideration of long-term care needs. Postoperatively, upon completion of his final neurosurgical procedure, his sensory exam notable for return of sensation from C5-T1 and he was also able to appreciate and interact with the environment around him as his viewpoint was no longer rigidly caudally oriented. The patient was discharged from the hospital to a long-term care facility in stable condition. Conclusion: Cervical fractures sustained after minor trauma in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis are not uncommon. However, surgical intervention with concomitant deformity correction in the traumatic setting is substantial undertaking with a paucity of literature on such surgical techniques. Surgical deformity correction in the acute trauma setting allowed for optimization of anticipated medical care initiatives and successfully provided newfound visual awareness of his environment, improving upon his ability to interact with the world.

Functional recovery in Brown-Séquard plus syndrome: A case report

Introduction: Brown-Séquard syndrome (BSS) is a rare neurological condition characterized by hemiplegia and hemianesthesia. It occurs as the sequelae to a hemi-transection of the spinal cord, and constitutes an incomplete spinal cord injury. We report a case of presumed BSS that resulted from a stab wound to the thoracic spine. Case Report: A 64-year-old male presented to Howard University Hospital with complaints of back pain and loss of left lower extremity motor function. Neurological examination revealed weakness in the L2 through S1 nerve root distributions in the left lower extremity and hypoesthesia along the L2 through S1 dermatomal distributions in the right lower extremity. Imaging disclosed a foreign body extending from the muscle layer through the T6–T7 disc space. The patient was treated operatively with removal of a knife blade; the handle of which had been broken off at the surface of the skin. Post-operatively, prior to his discharge to an acute rehabilitation center, the patient’s motor symptoms improved while his sensory symptoms worsened. He was lost to follow-up for approximately six months and returned with a debilitating spastic paraparesis. Conclusion: The presenting symptoms of BSS are not always uniform, and thus may constitute a Brown-Séquard plus syndrome (BSPS). Surgical intervention is rare; however, it may occasionally be necessary in the setting of penetrating trauma. Long-term functional recovery for BSS as documented in the literature is variable. With aggressive physical therapy and rehabilitation, a good outcome is attainable. The functional outcome of BSPS, however, may not be as favorable.

John D. Robinson (1946-2021).

Memorializes John D. Robinson (1946-2021). John was the first African American psychologist to serve in both the United States Air Force (1973-1975) and Navy (1975-1983). He was also the first African American administrator at the University of Texas at Austin (1968-1969). His roles throughout his career included professor of Surgery and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Howard University until his retirement (1992-2016). At Howard University Hospital, John pioneered the field of transplant psychology, working hand in hand with surgeons and patients to both prepare patients-behaviorally and emotionally-for upcoming surgeries and ensure that patients were able to follow through with aftercare activities to ensure a successful transplant. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

An Analysis of Preliminary General Surgery Residents’ Matriculation into Categorical Positions

To analyze the effects of a pipeline program for preliminary general surgery (GS) residents to optimize their future enrollment into categorical positions. Retrospective review of non-designated preliminary (NDP) GS residents between 2014 and 2020 was conducted. Preliminary conversion rates (CRs) were analyzed for residents who matriculated to categorical GS residency or non-GS residency positions. Howard University Hospital, Department of Surgery; tertiary academic hospital. PGY-1 (n = 14) and PGY-2 (n = 26) NDP GS residents RESULTS: Forty NDP GS residents studied (14 PGY-1 and 26 PGY-2). CR for the total cohort was 67.5% (n = 27), with 59.3% (n = 16) acquiring categorical GS positions and 40.7% (n = 13) obtaining categorical positions in other specialties. CR for PGY-1 residents into categorical GS position was 50% (n = 7), while PGY-2 residents had a CR of 34.6% (n = 9). No significant difference was observed between residents successfully matriculating into GS residency as a preliminary PGY-1 or PGY-2 (p = 0.34). Twelve preliminary residents secured categorical GS positions at this institution with 58.3% (n = 7) obtaining a PGY-1 position, 16.7% (n = 2) obtaining a PGY-2, and 25.0% (n = 3) obtaining a PGY-3 position. 7.1% (n = 1) of preliminary PGY-1 and 46.2% (n = 12) of preliminary PGY-2 residents went unmatched as of 2021. 67.5% of preliminary residents enrolled in categorical positions. Success rates were highest during the PGY-1 year. A residency program committed to uniform clinical curriculum, and standardized, metric-based decisions may have increased CR for preliminary GS residents. Public sharing of preliminary CRs to applicants may influence residency selection decisions, both for applicants and programs.

Abstract 443: Predictors of mortality in hospitalized African American COVID19 cancer patients

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated outcomes manifest differently depending on patients’ background and pre-existing conditions. It remains unclear how African Americans with and without cancer have been affected. Aim: To determine epidemiological, clinical comorbidities, and laboratory test results to identify markers associated with mortality in COVID-19 cancer patients. Methods: We reviewed all COVID-19 hospitalized patient records from Dec. 2019 to Nov. 2021 at Howard University Hospital. Patients having a history of, or active cancer status were reviewed. All the clinical, treatment, lab values, and pathological data were extracted. Statistical analysis of the COVID-19 cancer patients and comparison with non-cancer COVID-19 patients were performed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Out of 800 COVID-19 infected patients, a total of 49 patients were identified with different types of cancer, with both active and previous history. Females consisted of 26 cancer patients (53%). Cancer patients were older than non-cancer patients (mean age-70.6 vs. 56.3 years) and had an increased length of hospital stay (mean 13.9 vs 9.4 days). Among cancer patients, breast cancer was more prevalent in females and prostate cancer in males, (54% and 52% respectively). In both cases and controls, univariate and multivariate analyses did not show any correlation between individual symptoms or clinical comorbidities and death. Higher reduction in albumin level in cancer cases, from the time of admission to day five, was significantly associated with death during the same hospital stay compared to those who were discharged (p&amp;lt;0.001). In controls, lymphocytes count, AST, and Albumin have shown an association with increased mortality. Comparison of patients with active vs. previous cancer showed no significant difference in the clinical outcome, death vs discharge (P=0.34). Conclusion: Albumin level has shown to have an inverse relationship with clinical outcomes among all COVID infected African American patients. Reduction in Albumin level during the hospital stay, particularly in COVID-19 cancer patients should be considered as a predictor of mortality. No significant difference was noticed in the clinical outcome in patients with previous versus active cancer. Further research with a large cohort size is needed to verify and identify other predictors of outcome in COVID-19 cancer patients and develop appropriate treatment modalities. Citation Format: Suryanarayana reddy challa, Lakshmi Gayathri Chirumamilla, Nader Shayegh, Josie Z Fazzino, Adeyinka O. Laiyemo, philip Oppong-Twene, Zaki A. Sherif, Oluwabusola Olamide Lawal, Daniel Larbi, Gholamreza Oskrochi, Hassan Brim, Hassan Ashktorab. Predictors of mortality in hospitalized African American COVID19 cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 443.

Contraband Hospital, Freedmen's Hospital, and Alexander Augusta.

The tens of thousands of enslaved Blacks liberated by union forces during the American Civil War were considered seized property and thus were referred to as contraband. As wartime refugees they sought protection in federal military installations, popularly known as contraband camps, located throughout the occupied South. One of the largest was Camp Baker in the rural northwestern sector of Washington, DC, where about 40,000 persons were sheltered. To provide basic medical care, the military outfitted, in 1863, an infirmary called the Contraband Hospital, later renamed Freedmen's Hospital. From its founding in 1867 the medical department of Howard University was attached to Freemen's Hospital, which in 1975 was renamed the Howard University Hospital, the two institutions establishing a long partnership of medical education and hospital care that continues to the present day.