- Browse by Author
Browsing by Author "Afrazi, Amin"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Can Fecal Continence be Predicted in Patients Born with Anorectal Malformations?(Elsevier, 2019) Minneci, Peter C.; Kabre, Rashmi S.; Mak, Grace Z.; Halleran, Devin R.; Cooper, Jennifer N.; Afrazi, Amin; Calkins, Casey M.; Corkum, Kristine; Downard, Cynthia D.; Ehrlich, Peter; Fraser, Jason D.; Gadepalli, Samir K.; Helmrath, Michael A.; Kohler, Jonathan E.; Landisch, Rachel; Landman, Matthew P.; Lee, Constance; Leys, Charles M.; Lodwick, Daniel L.; McLeod, Jennifer; Mon, Rodrigo; McClure, Beth; Rymeski, Beth; Saito, Jacqueline M.; Sato, Thomas T.; St. Peter, Shawn D.; Wood, Richard; Levitt, Marc A.; Deans, Katherine J.; Surgery, School of MedicinePurpose The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with attaining fecal continence in children with anorectal malformations (ARM). Methods We performed a multi-institutional cohort study of children born with ARM in 2007–2011 who had spinal and sacral imaging. Questions from the Baylor Social Continence Scale were used to assess fecal continence at the age of ≥ 4 years. Factors present at birth that predicted continence were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results Among 144 ARM patients with a median age of 7 years (IQR 6–8), 58 (40%) were continent. The rate of fecal continence varied by ARM subtype (p = 0.002) with the highest rate of continence in patients with perineal fistula (60%). Spinal anomalies and the lateral sacral ratio were not associated with continence. On multivariable analysis, patients with less severe ARM subtypes (perineal fistula, recto-bulbar fistula, recto-vestibular fistula, no fistula, rectal stenosis) were more likely to be continent (OR = 7.4, p = 0.001). Conclusion Type of ARM was the only factor that predicted fecal continence in children with ARM. The high degree of incontinence, even in the least severe subtypes, highlights that predicting fecal continence is difficult at birth and supports the need for long-term follow-up and bowel management programs for children with ARM.Item Modeling the interactions of bacteria and Toll-like receptor-mediated inflammation in necrotizing enterocolitis(Elsevier, 2013-03-21) Arciero, Julia; Bard Ermentrout, G.; Siggers, Richard; Afrazi, Amin; Hackam, David; Vodovotz, Yoram; Rubin, Jonathan; Department of Mathematical Sciences, School of ScienceNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe disease of the gastrointestinal tract in premature infants, characterized by a disrupted intestinal epithelium and an exaggerated pro-inflammatory response. Since the activation of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) blocks cell migration and proliferation and contributes to an uncontrolled inflammatory response within the intestine, this receptor has been identified as a key contributor to the development of NEC. Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) has been shown to sense bacterial genome components (CpG DNA) and to play an anti-inflammatory role in NEC. We present in vitro results demonstrating direct inhibition of TLR4 activation by CpG DNA, and we develop a mathematical model of bacteria-immune interactions within the intestine to investigate how such inhibition of TLR4 signaling might alter inflammation, associated bacterial invasion of tissue, and resulting outcomes. The model predicts that TLR9 can inhibit both the beneficial and detrimental effects of TLR4, and thus a proper balance of action by these two receptors is needed to promote intestinal health. The model results are also used to explore three interventions that could potentially prevent the development of NEC: reducing bacteria in the mucus layer, administering probiotic treatment, and blocking TLR4 activation. While the model shows that these interventions would be successful in most cases, the model is also used to identify situations in which the proposed treatments might be harmful.Item Understanding the Value of Tumor Markers in Pediatric Ovarian Neoplasms(Elsevier, 2019) Lawrence, Amy E.; Fallat, Mary E.; Hewitt, Geri; Hertweck, Paige; Onwuka, Amanda; Afrazi, Amin; Bence, Christina; Burns, Robert C.; Corkum, Kristine S.; Dillon, Patrick A.; Ehrlich, Peter F.; Fraser, Jason D.; Gonzalez, Dani O.; Grabowski, Julia E.; Kabre, Rashmi; Lal, Dave R.; Landman, Matthew P.; Leys, Charles M.; Mak, Grace Z.; Overman, R. Elliott; Rademacher, Brooks L.; Raiji, Manish T.; Sato, Thomas T.; Scannell, Madeline; Sujka, Joseph A.; Wright, Tiffany; Minneci, Peter C.; Deans, Katherine J.; Aldrink, Jennifer H.; Surgery, School of MedicinePurpose The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of tumor markers for malignancy in girls with ovarian neoplasms. Methods A retrospective review of girls 2–21 years who presented for surgical management of an ovarian neoplasm across 10 children's hospitals between 2010 and 2016 was performed. Patients who had at least one concerning feature on imaging and had tumor marker testing were included in the study. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values (PPV) of tumor markers were calculated. Results Our cohort included 401 patients; 22.4% had a malignancy. Testing for tumor markers was inconsistent. AFP had high specificity (98%) and low sensitivity (42%) with a PPV of 86%. The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV of beta-hCG was 44%, 76%, and 32%, respectively. LDH had high sensitivity (95%) and Inhibin A and Inhibin B had high specificity (97% and 92%, respectively). Conclusions Tumor marker testing is helpful in preoperative risk stratification of ovarian neoplasms for malignancy. Given the variety of potential tumor types, no single marker provides enough reliability, and therefore a panel of tumor marker testing is recommended if there is concern for malignancy. Prospective studies may help further elucidate the predictive value of tumor markers in a pediatric ovarian neoplasm population.