Biomedical subjects

Amy Webb

Publications and source records attributed to Amy Webb.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

The Clinical Application of Refined Risk Estimates Study in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Pathogenic Variant Carriers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

UNLABELLED: Individuals with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variants (PV) may struggle with risk management decision-making. Advancements in technology could provide more specific risk information to patients, but the impact of this information is unknown. The Clinical Application of Refined Risk Estimates Study is a two-arm randomized controlled trial in women with a BRCA1/BRCA2 PV. The primary objective was to determine whether genotype-informed personalized cancer risk estimates (GRE) compared with standard lifetime cancer risk estimates (SRE) decreased decisional conflict related to cancer risk management decision-making. Women were recruited following the disclosure of their PV results. Participants completed a baseline survey and were randomized 1:1 to receive a GRE or SRE. After receiving their results, participants completed a follow-up survey. Likert and continuous data measures were analyzed using linear regression. There were no differences in decisional conflict between study arms at follow-up. However, individuals in the SRE arm showed an increased need for personal structure compared with those in the GRE arm (P = 0.02). Compared with baseline, individuals within the SRE arm showed decreased decisional conflict (P = 0.003) and increased perceived stress (P = 0.02) at follow-up. A more personalized cancer risk estimate did not decrease decisional conflict in women with BRCA1/BRCA2 PVs. Future studies will determine whether a GRE affects actual decision-making behaviors. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: Women with a germline PV in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have significantly elevated risks of developing breast and ovarian cancers. This randomized controlled trial evaluates the impact of polygenic risk scores on decisional conflict related to breast and ovarian cancer prevention and risk management in those with BRCA1/BRCA2 PVs.

Humans↗

PubMed2022

Genomic Study on Blood Culture Isolates From Patients With Staphylococcus Infection-associated Glomerulonephritis.

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus infection-associated glomerulonephritis (SAGN), is an autoimmune sequela of infection affecting a subset of infected patients without specific predictive factors, frequently presenting with acute nephritic syndrome and propensity for chronic kidney disease. We performed a comparative genotypic and phenotypic analysis of S. aureus isolates from patients that did and those that did not develop SAGN. METHODS: We had 22 culture-proven cases of SAGN from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) from 2004 to 2016, 9 of 22 being blood cultures, with archived isolates. These, along with blood culture isolates from 12 patients with no clinical evidence of SAGN (between ages 40 to 80 years) over the same period were used for genotyping. For host demographic comparison, we used all available SAGN cases (n = 85, including those with positive cultures other than blood; and patients with kidney biopsies received from referring hospitals) and all OSUWMC patients with positive Staphylococcus cultures without glomerulonephritis (GN) (n = 23,496). RESULTS: Multiple sequence types (STs) suggesting strain diversity was seen in the GN isolates with mainly clonal complexes (CC) 5 and 59. Mutations in the agr operon were identified in significantly higher number of the GN isolates (83%) than non-GN isolates (16%). Significant differences in β-hemolysis and biofilm formation was also observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The functionality of these agr mutants remains to be seen, but the presently known effects of reduced agr function, namely increased surface adhesins, biofilm formation, and persistent bacteremia could be important microbial factors predisposing to SAGN and testing for them early during infection could help to predict its development.

MRSA↗