The Laboratory Report
Winter 2020
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Welcome to the Winter Houston Methodist Hospital Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine Newsletter: The Laboratory Report. If you have contributions or feedback for upcoming newsletters, please
email us
.
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In this issue:
- Faculty Accomplishments
- Laboratory News
- Trainee News
- New Faculty
- Faculty Appointments & Promotions
- Conferences and Events
- Office of Academic Development News
- Faculty Publications
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Dr. Powell Honored with Emory University
Residents’ Choice Award
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Suzanne Z. Powell, MD,
has been selected as the 2021 Emory University Residents’ Choice Award winner. This prestigious award is given annually to an outstanding pathologist with national recognition from outside of the Emory community who has made significant contributions to the field of pathology. Dr. Powell will receive the award at Emory in early 2021, at which time she will present at their Grand Rounds and take part in an Unknowns Conference with Emory staff and trainees. Dr. Powell has been the director of our Department’s Anatomic and Clinical Residency and Neuropathology Fellowship since the residency program’s inception in 2005, and she has held numerous leadership roles at the national level, including serving as Chair of the Association of Pathology Chairs Residency Program Directors Council and Chair of the Residency Review Committee for Pathology of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Dr. Powell is a long-time advocate for pathology trainees, and she states: “It is always an honor to be recognized by residents around the country, and it is especially wonderful when an entire group of residents acknowledge you with such an honor.” In addition to the Emory Residents’ Choice Award, Dr. Powell has previously been the recipient of resident recognition awards from the University of Pennsylvania and the College of American Pathologists’ Resident Forum.
Congratulations, Dr. Powell!
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Dr. Long Featured in Local Flu and Novel Cornavirus Coverage
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S. Wesley Long, MD, PhD,
was included in a December 24
TMC News article
entitled "Flu season’s odd start punctuated by Harris County child’s death." He expressed concern that this year's flu season may be worse than in previous years because of the early start of flu activity and the unusual prevalence of Influenza B at the start of the season. Dr. Long reiterated the importance of receiving the annual flu vaccine and credited the vaccine with his own speedy recovery from Influenza A this year.
Dr. Long was also featured in an
educational video
produced by Houston Methodist Hospital that was created to inform the public about novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 and allay common fears and misconceptions regarding this pathogen.
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Department Members Hit Their Stride at the Houston Marathon
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After more than a few miles, Page Slocum is still all smiles.
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Congratulations to all of our Department members, including
Devin Blunck
,
Dr. Michael Greenwood
,
Dr. Randy Olsen
,
Dr. Thu Ngo
,
Dr. Andreana Rivera
, and
Page Slocum
, who took part in the Chevron Houston Marathon or the Aramco Half Marathon this year! The race, held on the brisk yet beautiful morning of January 19, included more than 35,000 participants from Houston and around the world. Of Microbiology Tech Page Slocum’s first-ever Houston Marathon, she said: “The Marathon was an amazing experience. I especially loved running by the Medical Center and seeing my co-workers cheer for me. It was a grueling kind of fun, but I will be running it next year!” Dr. Michael Greenwood echoed this sentiment, saying: “I really enjoy the support Houston shows for the participants. It really helps to keep me going.”
Three cheers to all of our runners and supporters from the Department!
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Dr. Jacobi Elected to Texas Society of Pathologists’ Leadership Role
Elizabeth Jacobi, MD,
was elected to serve as Secretary of the Young Pathologists Section of the Texas Society of Pathologists (TSP) at the TSP’s January 2020 annual meeting. Dr. Jacobi is an early-career faculty member who joined our Department in July 2019 after completing her surgical pathology fellowship here. She currently holds faculty appointments at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College as an Assistant Professor.
Congratulations, Dr. Jacobi!
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HMH Laboratory Management Adopts Family for the Holidays
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Members of the HMH Laboratory Management team participated in the annual holiday Adopt-a-Family event for disadvantaged families that is sponsored by Houston Methodist Hospital. Through their generosity, adopted family members received not only the items on their wish lists, but also extra gifts to bring added joy to the holidays.
Many thanks to the Lab Management Team for embodying our ICARE values for your adopted holiday family!
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Baskets of gifts ready for delivery.
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Johndrea Slay, Ashley Siverly, Annie Sun, Monisha Dey, and Grace Dam (
left to right).
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Eric Luna, Lian Francis, Donna Armylagos, and
Adopt-a-Family Champion Leesharon Bonds (
left to right).
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Manuel Hinojosa (
left) and 2019 Pathologist of the Year Dr. Eric Salazar (
right).
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Brenda Hernandez, Pat Cernoch, Beth Trahan, and BJ Scott (
left to right) at the 2019 Lab Week luncheon.
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Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2020 Draws Near
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Mark your calendars for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2020, to be observed
April 20-24
. The week is an annual celebration of the laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in providing unparalleled care to our patients. Events scheduled for this year’s celebration include a luncheon on April 22 and an ice cream social on April 23. Please plan on joining in the festivities; more details forthcoming!
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2019 Lab Coat Decorating Contest winners Cattareya Farrar, MaiAnh Nguyen, Kristy Nguyen, Julie Pham, Konnie Le, and Phuong Truong (
left to right).
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Residents and Fellows Run the Table at TSP!
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Dr. David Joseph, Dr. Ziad El-Zaatari, Dr. Paloma Monroig-Bosque,
Dr. Shima Mousavi, and Dr. Michelle Lin (
left to right)
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We are extraordinarily proud of the trainees who represented Houston Methodist Hospital at this year’s annual meeting of the Texas Society of Pathologists (TSP) in Plano, Texas. As featured in the
Houston Methodist Academic Institute’s newsletter
, our residents and fellows swept the awards for best posters and presentations throughout the weekend.
Our prize-winners were:
HMH
, Institutional Award for Best Overall Posters and Presentations
Michelle Lin, MD,
1
st
place for a case report poster:
Vulvar carcinosarcoma with adenocarcinomatous and leiomyosarcomatous elements: A rare entity with unusual malignant components
David Joseph, MD,
2
nd
place for a case report poster:
A case of acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis
Paloma Monroig-Bosque, MD, PhD,
1
st
place for an investigative poster:
FOXL2
mutation status in ovarian adult granulosa cell tumors with an extensive fibrothecomatous component
Shima Mousavi, MD,
(presented by Michelle Lin), 2
nd
place for a platform presentation:
Evaluation of histologic size of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) with preceding abnormal cytology versus HSIL with preceding negative cytology
Ziad El-Zaatari, MD,
3
rd
place for a platform presentation:
Percent of Gleason pattern 4 in small biopsy foci of prostatic adenocarcinoma: An interobserver reproducibility study among pathologists at different levels of expertise
Our trainees’ award-winning research was supported by faculty members
Dr. Michael Deavers
and
Dr. Ekene Okoye.
Congratulations all, and keep up the amazing work!
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TSP President, Dr. Greg Hosler, and Dr. Michelle Lin.
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Dr. Greg Hosler and Dr. Ziad El-Zaatari.
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Recruiting Update: Resident Candidate Interviews Complete
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The interview process for our Department’s class of 2020 residents has concluded. From a pool of 552 applicants, 66 highly-qualified candidates were interviewed between October 2019 and January of this year. This year’s total pool of applicants was the largest that our Department has received. According to AP/CP residency director
Suzanne Z. Powell, MD,
the incredibly strong group of candidates is evidence of the concerted work that has been done to increase the visibility of pathology as a specialty in this country. With only five PGY1 residency spots to fill, less than 1% of the total pool of applicants will ultimately match to our program. From this group of stellar candidates, Dr. Powell is confident that we will once again have “a fabulous class of residents for 2020!”
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In December 2019, our Department welcomed
Ewa Filipowicz, MD,
as a staff pathologist at HM Sugar Land Hospital. Dr. Filipowicz earned her MD from the Academy of Medicine in Warsaw, Poland, and she completed her AP/CP residency at UTMB. During her time at UTMB, Dr. Filipowicz was the recipient of both a CAP Foundation Fellowship and a UTMB-sponsored research fellowship to study the molecular pathogenesis of hepatitis C-induced bile duct injury. Dr. Filipowicz then completed fellowships in Surgical Pathology and Breast Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), where she served on the faculty from 2008 until joining our Department.
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In December 2019, our Department welcomed
Amanda Gorena, MD,
as a staff pathologist at HM Baytown Hospital. Dr. Gorena earned her MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, and went on to complete her AP/CP residency and surgical pathology fellowship at UTMB. Dr. Gorena then completed a fellowship in cytopathology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Gorena spent the past four years in private practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her interests include cytopathology, breast, and GU pathology, and she is a member of many professional pathology societies, including the College of American Pathologists, the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and the American Society of Cytopathology.
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In January 2020, our Department welcomed
Sawsan Faroussi, MD,
as a staff pathologist at HM Sugar Land Hospital. Dr. Faroussi earned her MD from the University of Tishreen Faculty of Medicine in Latakia, Syria. Dr. Faroussi completed a residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Aleppo Medical School in Aleppo, Syria, before then completing an AP/CP residency and Cytopathology fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Dr. Faroussi was an Assistant Professor of Pathology from 2011-2012 at UMMC and an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine from 2014 until joining our Department.
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Welcome to all of our newest faculty members!
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Faculty Appointments & Promotions
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Congratulations to our newest Weill Cornell faculty members!
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Yimin Ge, BBM, MS
Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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Brian Castillo, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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Michael Greenwood, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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Elizabeth Jacobi, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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Steve Zhou, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
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2020 Meetings and Conferences
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USCAP, February 29-March 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Learn more
here.
55th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS) May 28–30, 2020 at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Learn more
here.
American Association of Clinical Chemistry Annual Scientific Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo, July 26-30 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more
here.
2020 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), September 9–11, 2020 in Austin, Texas. Learn more
here.
2020 Annual Meeting of the College of American Pathologists (CAP20), October 10–13 in Las Vegas. Nevada. Learn more
here
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Schedule for 2020 Grand Rounds
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April 7
Robert Folberg, MD
Michigan State University
Ophthalmic Pathology
May 5
Andrew L. Feldman, MD
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Hematopathology
June 2
Daniel J. Brat, MD, PhD
Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine
Neuropathology
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September 1
Paul Wakely, MD
The Ohio State University
Cytopathology
October 6
William E. Winter, MD
University of Florida
Clinical Chemistry
November 3
Anil Parwani, MD, PhD
The Ohio State University Wexner
Medical Center
GU Pathology
December 1
Zejuan Li, MD, PhD
Houston Methodist Hospital
Molecular Diagnostic Pathology
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Office of Academic Development News
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The Office of Academic Development (OAD) within the pathology department is available to assist department members with editing manuscripts, grants, posters, and presentations. Please contact Heather McConnell at
hmcconnell@houstonmethodist.org
or 346.238.4346, Sasha Pejerrey at
spejerrey@houstonmethodist.org
If you need help reducing percent overlap within a document for a specific journal requirement, please let us know! We have access to iThenticate and expertise in reducing overlap to whatever percent a particular journal may require.
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Meet our Newest Team Member!
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The OAD is pleased to welcome Scientific Writer
Heather McConnell, PhD,
to HMH. Dr. McConnell relocated from Portland, Oregon, where she recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. McConnell has researched the contribution of reactive astrocytes to neurovascular uncoupling after stroke and how viral-sized iron-based contrast agents can improve diagnostic MRI for brain tumor patients. Dr. McConnell is "very excited to finally be here and to join the team as a scientific writer," and she "truly enjoys helping others bring clarity and accuracy to their scientific and clinical communications."
Welcome, Dr. McConnell!
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Featured Faculty: Dr. Matt Cykowski
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Fast Facts
Hometown:
Houston, Texas
Education:
BS in Zoology and Physiology, with a minor in Russian Language from Louisiana State University; MD from UT Health San Antonio
Current Role:
Staff Pathologist and Director of Autopsy Service
Academic Affiliations:
Assistant Member of HMRI; Assistant Professor at HMAI and Weill Cornell; Adjunct Assistant Professor at BCM
Advice for Trainees:
"Identify good mentors who know you well and want to see you succeed, seek their input on big decisions, and then really consider their advice."
Family/Hobbies:
Married with two children; enjoys running, basketball, guitar, and Russian literature
Dr. Cykowski has been a faculty member in our Department since August 2015. In addition to serving as the Director of HMH's Autopsy Service, Dr. Cykowski is an active surgical neuropathologist and a recipient of a highly-competitive Houston Methodist Academic Institution Clinician Scientist award.
The award permits faculty to commit 50% of their time to clinical activity and 50% to research. Dr. Cykowski believes strongly that anyone with a research interest should devote a small part of each day toward those endeavors, especially when clinical or other activities require more attention on a particular day. This attitude helps to prevent the pitfall of waiting for the “perfect time” to begin carrying out research and related activities and helps to keep projects moving along. Dr. Cykowski's research is highly collaborative. He publishes frequently with members of the HMH Stanley Appel Department of Neurology, his neuropathology colleagues, and collaborates with researchers at other institutions (Mayo Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Kentucky). He values the strengths that each of his collaborators brings to the research. He is grateful for the role that his mentors, including Drs. Appel, Musser, and Powell, have played in his development as a researcher, clinician, and faculty member.
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Perez A
, Roman GC,
Powell SZ
, Fisher R,
Rivera AL,
Masdeu JC,
Cykowski MD.
A 70-year old man with dystonic and choreiform movements. Brain Pathology. 2020 Mar;30(2):415–6.
https://doi.org/10.1111/bpa.12819
Kachroo P,
Eraso JM,
Olsen RJ
,
Zhu L,
Kubiak SL,
Pruitt L,
et al. New Pathogenesis Mechanisms and Translational Leads Identified by Multidimensional Analysis of Necrotizing Myositis in Primates. mBio.2020 Feb 18;11(1). pii: e03363–19.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03363-19
.
Pham C, Kuten SA, Knight R,
Nguyen DT,
Graviss E
, Gaber AO. Assessment of infectious complications in elderly kidney transplant recipients receiving induction with anti-thymocyte globulin versus basiliximab. Transplant Infectious Disease. 2020 Feb 7;e13257.
https://doi.org/10.1111/tid.13257.
Bang H, Park H, Park S, Choi E, Cho MS,
Ro J
, et al. Clinicopathologic study of 60 cases of urothelial neoplasms with inverted growth patterns: Reclassification by international consultation on urologic disease (ICUD) recommendations. Annals of Diagnostic Pathology. 2020 Feb 1;44. 151433.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2019.151433
Lu S, Soeung V,
Nguyen HAT
,
Long SW
,
Musser JM
, Palzkill T. Development and Evaluation of a Novel Protein-Based Assay for Specific Detection of KPC β-Lactamases from
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Clinical Isolates. mSphere. 2020 Jan 8;5(1).
https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00918-19
Musser JM
,
Beres SB
,
Zhu L,
Olsen RJ
, Vuopio J, Hyyryläinen HL, et al. Reduced
in vitro
susceptibility of
Streptococcus pyogenes
to beta-lactam antibiotics associated with mutations in the
pbp2x
gene is geographically widespread. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Jan 2020, JCM.01993-19.
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01993-19
Li X, Wang L,
Cykowski MD
, He T,
Rivera A
,
Powell SZE,
et al. OCIAD1 contributes to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease by inducing mitochondria dysfunction, neuronal vulnerability and synaptic damages. eBioMedicine. 2020 Jan;2020: 51.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.11.030.
Victor, III DW, Monsour HP, Boktour M, Lunsford K, Balogh J,
Graviss EA,
et al. Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond the University of California San Francisco Criteria: A Single-center Experience. Transplantation. 2020 Jan 1;104(1):113-121.
https://doi.org/10.1097/TP.0000000000002835.
Sabek OM, Redondo MJ, Nguyen DT, Beamish CA, Fraga DW,
Graviss EA,
et al. Serum C-peptide and osteocalcin levels in children with recently diagnosed diabetes. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. 2020 Jan;3(1):e00104.
https://doi.org/10.1002/edm2.104.
Nassar GM, Beathard G,
Nguyen DT
,
Graviss EA
. The effect of angioplasty of single arteriovenous fistula-associated stenosis on arteriovenous fistula blood flow rate. The Journal of Vascular Access. 2020 Jan 29;1129729819901223.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1129729819901223.
Khan A
, Bakhru P, Saikolappan S, Das K, Soudani E,
Jagannath C,
et al. An autophagy-inducing and TLR-2 activating BCG vaccine induces a robust protection against tuberculosis in mice. npj Vaccines. 2019 Dec 1;4(1). 34.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-019-0122-8
.
Vakil H, Tran L, Lewis GD,
Cykowski MD
, Butler EB, Teh BS. Biopsy proven metastatic meningioma: A case report and review of the literature. Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy. 2019 Nov 1;24(6):528-532.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpor.2019.08.002
Chan SL,
Yi X
, Wysocki E, Bridgman R, Gutierrez J, Mikrut K, et al. Development of a Nonradioactive Platelet Serotonin Uptake and Release Assay by Micro-Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using Minimal Blood Volume. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2019 Nov 4;152(6):718-724.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqz094.
Orner EP, Zhang P, Jo MC, Bhattacharya S,
Qin L
, Fries BC. High-Throughput Yeast Aging Analysis for Cryptococcus (HYAAC) microfluidic device streamlines aging studies in Cryptococcus neoformans. Communications Biology. 2019 Dec 1;2(1). 256.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0504-5.
Han X, Ma Y, Zhang K, Zhang P, Shao N,
Qin L
. Microfluidic Cell Trap Arrays for Single Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cell Behavior Analysis. Proteomics. 2019 Nov 11;n/a(n/a).
https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201900223.
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Yang EY, Ghosn MG, Khan MA, Gramze NL,
Nguyen DT
,
Graviss EA,
et al. Myocardial Extracellular Volume Fraction Adds Prognostic Information Beyond Myocardial Replacement Fibrosis. Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2019 Dec 16;12(12):e009535.
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.119.009535.
Khan FN,
Truong LD
,
Nguyen DT,
Graviss EA
, Bhatti MI, Frost AE, et al. Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation using Deceased Donors with History of Diabetes. Clinical Transplantation. 2019 Dec 21;e13775.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ctr.13775.
Yang EY, Khan MA,
Graviss EA
,
Nguyen DT,
Bhimaraj A, Nambi V, et al. Relationship of extracellular volume assessed on cardiac magnetic resonance and serum cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides with heart failure outcomes. Scientific Reports. 2019 Dec 27;9(1):20168.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56213-4.
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THE LABORATORY REPORT is a publication of the Houston Methodist Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine
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Editor-in-Chief
April Ewton, MD
Editorial Committee
Hazal Awalt, MD
Andrea Diaz De Vivar, MD
Byron Moore, MD
Seema Mullick, MD
Thu Ngo, MD
Steven Shen, MD, PhD
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Editorial Coordinators
Sasha M. Pejerrey, PhD
Adrienne Winston
Heather McConnell, PhD
Department Chair
James M. Musser, MD, PhD
Houston Methodist Hospital
Mark Vassallo, MSN, RN
Manual Hinojosa, MHA
James Cook, MBA, MT(AS-CP) DLM
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