Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Feasibility Of A Multimodal Liquid Biopsy For The Diagnosis Of Hpv-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma., James S. Lewis, Saskia Naegele, Vasileios Efthymiou, Mitra Mehrad, Kim A. Ely, Tim Waterboer, Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, Seth J. Davis, Kelsey Richard, Dipon Das, Daniel L. Faden

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: In this feasibility study, we explored the combined use of circulating tumor human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA (ctHPVDNA) and HPV serology as diagnostic tests for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

METHODS: Among patients with research-banked serum or plasma at diagnosis, IgG antibodies to oncoproteins from HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 were detected with multiplex serology. Positivity for HPV 16 was defined based on detection of combinations of anti-E6, E1, E2, and E7 and for other high-risk types on detection of anti-E6 and anti-E7. Circulating tumor HPV DNA was detected by custom digital droplet …

Insights Into The Influence Of Income Variability On Cardiovascular Risk In Non-Elderly Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Ketrell Mcwhorter

UK CARES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Small Island Risks: Research Reflections For Disaster Anthropologists And Climate Ethnographers, Crystal A. Felima

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Disasters and climate-related events, including tropical storms, droughts, coastal erosion, and ocean acidification, threaten small island nations. Given the urgency of reducing disaster risks and the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, this reflection essay pursues three objectives. First, it highlights the role of anthropology, ethnography, and multi-sited research in exploring disaster impacts, climate crises, and public policy in island communities. It then highlights national planning and inter-regional activities to build awareness of various risk reduction efforts by island nations and multi-governmental organizations. This article concludes with discussion prompts to engage researchers, scholars, students, and practitioners studying and working …

Wastewater Surveillance For Xylazine In Kentucky, Chris Delcher, Dana Quesinberry, Soroosh Torabi, Scott Berry, James W. Keck, Abhya Rani, Bikram Subedi

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Introduction: In the U.S., xylazine, the veterinary non-opioid sedative, has emerged as a major threat to people who use illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other drugs. The aim of this study was to compare wastewater detection of xylazine with other public health and safety surveillance data from 2019 to 2023 in Kentucky.

Methods: Wastewater samples from 5 rest areas, 2 truck weigh stations, and 4 wastewater treat- ment plants were tested for xylazine. Wastewater xylazine positivity rates were compared with xyla- zine-positive submission rates from the National Forensic Laboratory Information System and Kentucky’s fatal overdoses in 6-month periods (Period 1=January−June; Period …

Neural Mechanisms Of Respiratory Interoception, Pei-Ying Sarah Chan, Lu-Yuan Lee, Paul W. Davenport

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Respiratory interoception is one of the internal bodily systems that is comprised of different types of somatic and visceral sensations elicited by different patterns of afferent input and respiratory motor drive mediating multiple respiratory modalities. Respiratory interoception is a complex system, having multiple afferents grouped into afferent clusters and projecting into both discriminative and affective centers that are directly related to the behavioral assessment of breathing. The multi-afferent system provides a spectrum of input that result in the ability to interpret the different types of respiratory interceptive sensations. This can result in a response, commonly reported as breathlessness or dyspnea. …

A Guide To Successful Management Of Collaborative Partnerships In Quantitative Research: An Illustration Of The Science Of Team Science., Alyssa Platt, Tracy Truong, Mary Boulos, Nichole E Carlson, Manisha Desai, Monica M Elam, Emily Slade, Alexandra L Hanlon, Jillian H Hurst, Maren K Olsen, Laila M Poisson, Lacey Rende, Gina-Maria Pomann

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Data-intensive research continues to expand with the goal of improving healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes. Quantitative scientists, such as biostatisticians, epidemiologists, and informaticists, are tasked with turning data into health knowledge. In academic health centres, quantitative scientists are critical to the missions of biomedical discovery and improvement of health. Many academic health centres have developed centralized Quantitative Science Units which foster dual goals of professional development of quantitative scientists and producing high quality, reproducible domain research. Such units then develop teams of quantitative scientists who can collaborate with researchers. However, existing literature does not provide guidance on how …

Limbic-Predominant Age-Related Tdp-43 Encephalopathy (Late-Nc): Co-Pathologies And Genetic Risk Factors Provide Clues About Pathogenesis, Peter T. Nelson, David Fardo, Xian Wu, Khine Zin Aung, Matthew D. Cykowski, Yuriko Katsumata

Neurology Faculty Publications

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is detectable at autopsy in more than one- third of people beyond age 85 years and is robustly associated with dementia independent of other pathologies. Although LATE-NC has a large impact on public health, there remain uncertainties about the underlying biologic mechanisms. Here, we review the literature from human studies that may shed light on pathogenetic mechanisms. It is increasingly clear that certain combinations of pathologic changes tend to coexist in aging brains. Although “pure” LATE-NC is not rare, LATE-NC often coexists in the same brains with Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change, brain arteriolosclerosis, …

Comprehensive Assessment Of Tdp‑43 Neuropathology Data In The National Alzheimer’S Coordinating Center Database, Davis C. Woodworth, Katelynn M. Nguyen, Lorena Sordo, Kiana A. Scambray, Elizabeth Head, Claudia H. Kawas, María M. Corrada, Peter T. Nelson, S. Ahmad Sajjadi

Neurology Faculty Publications

TDP-43 proteinopathy is a salient neuropathologic feature in a subset of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP), in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS-TDP), and in limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), and is associated with hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-A). We examined TDP-43-related pathology data in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) in two parts: (I) availability of assessments, and (II) associations with clinical diagnoses and other neuropathologies in those with all TDP-43 measures available. Part I: Of 4326 participants with neuropathology data collected using forms that included TDP-43 assessments, data availability was highest for HS-A (97%) and ALS (94%), followed by …

Development Of A Sms Rollout Plan And Evaluation, Gabriel Dadi, Hala Nassereddine, Farshid Taherpour, Salena Pham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Many state transportation agencies have introduced safety management systems (SMSs) to improve employee safety and health programs. These systems let employees quickly access safety and health policies, procedures, training, responsibilities, resources, and incident reporting tools, often electronically. Instituting a SMS is a critical step in adopting a proactive, data-driven approach to organizational safety. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary’s Office of Safety (SOS) worked with Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) to acquire, adapt, and rollout the Boosting Occupational Outcomes in Transportation Safety (BOOTS) system, a new SMS. Researchers assisted KYTC by conducting pre-rollout focus groups, helping to bring the system online, providing …

Using Knowledge Of Human Factors To Strengthen Highway Design, Chris Van Dyke, Jeff Jasper, Jill Asher, Steve Waddle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Transportation practitioners recognize that leveraging knowledge of human factors in road design is critical for delivering safe mobility to the full spectrum of multimodal road users (motorists, pedestrians, micromobility users, transit users). Understanding how psychology, cognition, and behavioral tendencies shape the ways in which different road users interact with one another and the road environment itself is critical for creating design solutions that promote safe and efficient movement. NCHRP Report 600 (Human Factors Guidelines for Road Systems) provides guidance on integrating knowledge of human factors into design practice. While the report is a valuable resource, it appears to …

Voices Of Experience: Lay Perspectives On Severe Maternal Morbidity In Appalachia, Anna Hansen, Cassidy Carter, Nancy Schoenberg, Carrie B. Oser

UK CARES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Association Of Circulating Markers Of Microbial Translocation And Hepatic Inflammation With Liver Injury In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Leila Gobejishvili, Vatsalya Vatsalya, Diana V. Avila, Yana B. Feygin, Craig J. Mcclain, Sriprakash Mokshagundam, Shirish Barve

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Virtually the entire spectrum of liver disease is observed in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); indeed, T2DM is now the most common cause of liver disease in the U.S. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the relevance of increased microbial translocation and systemic inflammation in the development of liver injury in patients with T2DM. Methods: Patients with T2DM (n = 17) and non-diabetic controls (NDC; n = 11) aged 25–80 yrs. participated in this study. Serum levels of endotoxin, calprotectin, soluble CD14 and CD163, and several inflammatory cytokines were measured. In addition to standard liver injury …

The Value Of Flexible Funding For Collaborative Biostatistics Units In Universities And Academic Medical Centres, Emily Slade, Sarah Jane K. Robbins, Kristen J. Mcquerry, Anthony A. Mangino

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Collaborative biostatistics units within universities and academic medical centres operate under a wide range of different funding models; common to many of these models is the challenge of allocating time to activities that are not linked to a specific research project, such as professional development, mentorship and administrative tasks. The purpose of this paper is to describe a proposed model for ‘flexible funding’, that is, funding that is not linked to a specific research project, within a collaborative biostatistics unit and to detail the benefits and challenges associated with the proposed model. We present results from a qualitative study representing …

Working Well With Statisticians, Ryan A. Peterson, Emily Slade, Gina Maria Pomann, Walter T. Ambrosius

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Statistical collaboration requires statisticians to work and communicate effectively with nonstatisticians, which can be challenging for many reasons. To identify common themes and lessons for working smoothly with nonstatistician collaborators, two focus groups of primarily academic collaborative statisticians were held. We identified qualities of collaborations that tend to yield fruitful relationships and those that tend to yield nothing (or worse, with one or both parties being dissatisfied). The initial goal was to share helpful knowledge and individual experiences that can facilitate more successful collaborative relationships for statisticians who work within academic statistical collaboration units. These findings were used to design …

Evaluation Of Ten Alternative Treatments For The Management Of Harlequin Bug (Murgantia Histrionica) On Brassica Crops, Sarah Clark, Ricardo Bessin, David J. Gonthier, Jonathan L. Larson

Entomology Faculty Publications

Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) poses a significant threat to cruciferous vegetable crops, leading to economic losses and challenges in sustainable agriculture. This 2-year field study evaluated the efficacy of exclusion netting and selected biopesticides in controlling harlequin bug populations in a field-grown broccoli crop. Treatments included an untreated control, industry standards Azera and Entrust, and ProtekNet mesh netting. Additionally, three commercial essential oil treatments including Essentria IC-3, Nature-Cide, and Zero Tolerance were tested along with two bokashi fermented composting products BrewKashi and Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN). During both the first and second year of the study, none of the commercially …

Snpaimer: R Package For Evaluating Ancestry Informative Marker Contributions In Non-Model Population Diagnostics, Kim L. Vertacnik, Oksana V. Vernygora, Julian R. Dupuis

Entomology Faculty Publications

Motivation: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are increasingly popular for population genomics and inferring ancestry for individuals of unknown origin. Because large SNP datasets are impractical for rapid and routine analysis, diagnostics rely on panels of highly informative markers. Strategies exist for selecting these markers, however, resources for efficiently evaluating their performance are limited for non-model systems.

Results: snpAIMeR is a user-friendly R package that evaluates the efficacy of genomic markers for the cluster assignment of unknown individuals. It is intended to help minimize panel size and genotyping effort by determining the informativeness of candidate diagnostic markers. Provided genotype data …

Single-Cell Analysis Identifies Plk1 As A Driver Of Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment In Luad, Yifan Kong, Chaohao Li, Jinpeng Liu, Sai Wu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

PLK1 (Polo-like kinase 1) plays a critical role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Recent studies have unveiled that targeting PLK1 improves the efficacy of immuno- therapy, highlighting its important role in the regulation of tumor immunity. Nevertheless, our understanding of the intricate interplay between PLK1 and the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains incomplete. Here, using genetically engineered mouse model and single- cell RNA-seq analysis, we report that PLK1 promotes an immunosuppressive TME in LUAD, characterized with enhanced M2 polarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAM) and dampened antigen presentation process. Mechanistically, elevated PLK1 coin- cides with increased secretion of CXCL2 …

Androgen Aggravates Aortic Aneurysms Via Suppression Of Pd-1 In Mice, Xufang Mu, Shu Liu, Zhuoran Wang, Kai Jiang, Timothy S. Mcclintock, Arnold Stromberg, Alejandro V. Tezanos, Eugene S. Lee, John A. Curci, Ming C. Gong, Zhenheng Guo

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Androgen has long been recognized for its pivotal role in the sexual dimorphism of cardiovascular diseases, including aortic aneurysms (AAs), a devastating vascular disease with a higher prevalence and fatality rate in men than in women. However, the mechanism by which androgen mediates AAs is largely unknown. Here, we found that male, not female, mice developed AAs when exposed to aldosterone and high salt (Aldo-salt). We revealed that androgen and androgen receptors (ARs) were crucial for this sexually dimorphic response to Aldo-salt. We identified programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), an immune checkpoint, as a key link between androgen and …

Smoking Cessation By Cancer Treatment Status Among Cervical Cancer Survivors, Cherell Cottrell-Daniels, Charles E. Hoogland, Bethany Shorey Fennell, Vani N. Simmons, Damon J. Vidrine, Jennifer I. Vidrine

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Introduction: Continued smoking following a cancer diagnosis is associated with poorer cancer treatment outcomes and survival times. Little is known about how cancer treatment status at the time of tobacco treatment enrollment impacts long-term smoking cessation outcomes. Using data from a smoking cessation RCT, this study compared long-term cessation outcomes of women undergoing active treatment for cervical cancer at trial enrollment (n=40) to outcomes of women with a history of cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) who were not undergo- ing active cancer treatment at enrollment (n=154)

Methods: Participants (n=194) were randomized to Standard Treatment (ST) or ST plus …

Heart Failure In Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review Of Educational Interventions For Optimising Care Provision, James Mcmahon, David R. Thompson, Jan Cameron, Christine Brown Wilson, Loreena Hill, Paul Tierney, Doris Yu, Debra K. Moser, Karen Spilsbury, Nittaya Srisuk, Jos M. G. A. Schols, Mariëlle Van Der Velden, Gary Mitchell

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Heart failure has an estimated global prevalence of 64.3 million cases, with an average age of a person living with heart failure at 75.2 years. Approximately 20% of residents living in nursing homes (a long-term residential care environment for some individuals) report living with heart failure. Residents living with heart failure in nursing home environments are often frail, have reduced quality of life, higher rates of rehospitalisation and mortality, and greater complications in heart failure management. Further, nursing home staff often lack the knowledge and skills required to provide the necessary care for those living with heart failure. Interventions …

A Framework And Process For Community‑Engaged, Mixed‑Methods Cancer Needs Assessments, Todd Burus, Jessica R. Thompson, Caree R. Mcafee, Lovoria B. Williams, Jennifer R. Knight, Bin Huang, Sarojini Kanotra, Natalie P. Wilhite, Elaine Russell, Melinda Rogers, Connie L. Sorrell, Christine Stroebel, Rachael King, Pamela C. Hull

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose

Community health needs assessments are required for most state and local public health agencies and non-profit hospitals. Typically based on community health improvement planning models, these assessments encompass overall com- munity health and multiple diseases to inform program planning. National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Centers and community-based cancer-focused programs share the goal of reducing cancer burden in the catchment areas they serve. However, to date, no published models exist to guide cancer-specific needs assessments for a determined geographic area that can inform both public health and research initiatives. The purpose of this article is to outline a cancer needs …

Social/Emotional Health, Mental Health And Quality Of Life Among Adults With Comorbid Diabetes And Hypertension: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ranjita Misra, Sara Nayeem

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: West Virginia has a disproportionately large population of rural adults with diabetes and hypertension, two common chronic, comorbid conditions that represent a national economic, social, and public health burden. Anxiety, depression, and severe mental illness are associated with poor motivation to engage in coping/self-care behaviors and related increased morbidity/mortality.

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between self-reported mental health, selected social and emotional health factors, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and clinical outcomes among adults with comorbid diabetes and hypertension.

Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 75 participants who participated in a diabetes and hypertension self-management program (DHSMP) in …

Disasters And Impacts In Appalachian Kentucky: A Behavioral Health Analysis, Walter David Mathews Phd, Joseph M. Clark, Amy S. Potts

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Major disasters continue to occur in Appalachian Kentucky with devastating consequences. A major disaster, defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an event too large for a community to manage without outside help, involves emergency responders from the local, state, and federal disaster agencies, plus national volunteers.

Purpose: This paper reports on recent disasters in eight southeast Kentucky counties, the changing nature of these disasters, and the behavioral health impact on the people affected.

Methods: In this large-scale disaster survey in the Appalachian counties in Southeast Kentucky, over 3,500 people were asked about their recent disaster experiences …

Community Needs Assessment Collaboration Following The July 2022 Flooding In Eastern Kentucky, Melissa Slone Dsw, Frances Feltner Dnp, William M. Baker Rn, Anthony S. Lockard Msw, Csw, Angela Raleigh Rd

Journal of Appalachian Health

Rapidly rising waters due to flash floods and thunderstorms on the night of July 27, 2022, resulted in hundreds of water rescues throughout 14 rural Appalachian Kentucky counties. Lives were lost, thousands were injured, homes and property were damaged or destroyed, and many roadways were unpassable. Community partners serving these counties collaborated to design and conduct an assessment to gain a better understanding of the needs of individuals residing in certain remote sections within the communities. The assessment, conducted three months after the flood, collected information regarding flooding impact on housing, physical and behavioral health, transportation, work, and finances.

Clinical And Genomic Features Of Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma And Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: Analysis Of A Multi-Institutional Database., Corbin J. Eule, Junxiao Hu, Dale Hedges, Alkesh Jani, Thomas Pshak, Brandon J. Manley, Alejandro Sanchez, Robert Dreicer, Zin W. Myint, Yousef Zakharia, Elaine T. Lam

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) are at an increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but molecular alterations in RCC specimens arising from ACKD and overall survival (OS) in affected patients are not well defined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) Total Cancer Care

RESULTS: Of 296 patients with RCC, 61 met the criteria for ACKD. The most common somatic mutations in the overall cohort were in

CONCLUSIONS: Using the clinicogenomic ORIEN database, our study found lower rates of

Travel-Time Disparities In Access To Proton Beam Therapy For Cancer Treatment, Todd Burus, Alexander D. Vanhelene, Michael K. Rooney, Krystle A. Lang Kuhs, W. Jay Christian, Christopher Mcnair, Sanjay Mishra, Arnold C. Paulino, Grace L. Smith, Steven J. Frank, Jeremy L. Warner

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Proton beam therapy is an emerging radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer that may produce similar outcomes as traditional photon-based therapy for many cancers while delivering lower amounts of toxic radiation to surrounding tissue. Geographic proximity to a proton facility is a critical component of ensuring equitable access both for indicated diagnoses and ongoing clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the distribution of proton facilities in the US, quantify drive-time access for the population, and investigate the likelihood of long commutes for certain population subgroups.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based cross-sectional study analyzed travel times to proton facilities in …

Epa’S Updated Toxicity Criteria For Arsenic-Implications On Coal Ash Sites, Todd Bernhardt, Jay Peters

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

EPA’s Updated Toxicity Criteria for Arsenic: Implications on Coal Ash Sites Authors Mr. Todd Bernhardt - United States - Haley & Aldrich Inc. Mr. Jay Peters - United States - Haley & Aldrich Inc. Abstract In October 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Toxicological Review of Inorganic Arsenic in which updated toxicity criteria were proposed that are significantly more conservative than the current values. Adoption of the proposed toxicity criteria could have significant implications on risk-based levels for arsenic. Although the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Rule relies on EPA Maximum …

Paper_From Farm To Ash- Deploying An Existing Economical Boron Solution To Ccr Groundwater, Ben Amos, Hariprasad Parthasarathy, Paul Wegner, Peter Schratz

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

From Farm to Ash: Deploying an Existing Economical Boron Solution to CCR Groundwater Authors Dr. Ben Amos - United States - Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. Dr. Hariprasad Parthasarathy - United States - Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. Mr. Paul Wegner - United States - Calcon Mr. Peter Schratz - United States - Calcon Abstract Boron is detected frequently at relatively high concentrations at CCR sites. Boron is currently regulated at CCR sites in several states, with the potential for regulation by USEPA at levels that would trigger corrective action. Due to its (geo)chemical properties, boron is not readily amenable to natural attenuation or …

Harvesting And Beneficial Use- Voluntary, Consensus Standard Developed By Astm E50.03, Benjamin Gallagher, Abigail Calmes, William Petruzzi

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Harvesting and Beneficial Use: Voluntary, Consensus Standard Developed by ASTM E50.03 Authors Mr. Benjamin Gallagher - United States - EPRI Ms. Abigail Calmes - United States - Verdantas Mr. William Petruzzi - United States - Verdantas Abstract ASTM is non-profit organization that develops voluntary, consensus-based standards. ASTM E50.03 subcommittee publishes standards related to beneficial use. The subcommittee’s eight active standards address harvesting of CCPs from landfills and impoundments, beneficial use of CCPs in mine reclamation and structural fills, and beneficial use of impacted lands. This session will provide an overview of active beneficial use standards. The recently published ASTM E3355-23 …

Approaches For Low-Impact Groundwater Remediation, Tim Grant, Kathy Webb, Tammy Jett, Bill Miller

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Approaches for Low-Impact Groundwater Remediation Authors Mr. Tim Grant - United States - SynTerra Corporation Mrs. Kathy Webb - United States - SynTerra Corporation Mrs. Tammy Jett - United States - SynTerra Corporation Mr. Bill Miller - United States - SynTerra Corporation Mr. Bruce Hensel - United States - Electric Power Research Institute Abstract Large-scale groundwater remediation systems can have unintended, negative impacts on the local ecosystem and broader environment. Those impacts could result from greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem disturbance, and groundwater depletion during remediation system implementation and operation, among others. Low-impact groundwater remediation approaches may provide equivalent or superior …