Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Racial And Ethnic Diversity Trajectories And Diabetes Prevalence In The United States, Jiue-An Yang, Calvin P Tribby, Anna Dmowska, Qian Xiao, Marta M Jankowska

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study investigates whether long-term changes in neighborhood racial and ethnic diversity are associated with adult diabetes prevalence across the contiguous United States. We calculated diversity indexes for US census tracts (n = 72,033) using decennial census data from 1990 to 2020. Five diversity trajectory clusters were identified using K-means clustering. Diabetes prevalence in 2019 was obtained from the CDC's PLACES dataset. Linear mixed models (LMMs) assessed global associations between diversity trajectories and diabetes prevalence, adjusting for age, sex, poverty, marital status, and public insurance. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) examined local variations in these associations. Compared to the reference group …

Prenatal Exposure To Nicotine And Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Reem Sharaf-Alddin, May Salama, Denise Mckinney, George Saade, Qi Zhang

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Purpose: Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the most common mental health complication of childbirth, and has short-term and long-term consequences for mother, child, and the entire family. PPD is a function of several factors. Prenatal exposure to nicotine (PEN) by Active Tobacco Smoking (ATS), Secondhand Smoking (SHS), or Electronic Nicotine Products (ENPs) is a major potential risk factor. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarize and evaluate all evidence regarding the association between PEN and PPD.

Methods: We searched the following databases, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and CINHAL, for studies published between Jan.1st ,2000&Sep.19th ,2024, with the outcome PPD. Studies …

Understanding The Effects Of Real-Time Head Position Feedback On Postural Sway In Terms Of Changes In Underlying Deterministic And Stochastic Dynamical Processes, Steven J. Harrison, Benjamin De Bari, Ryan Poutre, Jeffrey M. Kinsella-Shaw

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

Our perceptual systems detect information about how our body is moving relative to the surrounding environment. Such information is essential to our ability to maintain upright standing balance. Real-time postural feedback systems are technologies that appear to enhance our ability to detect information about the movements of our body, and as a consequence improve our capacity to control the posture of our body. Here we examine a system in which real-time measurements of head position were "felt" as changes in the intensity of vibration of tactors in a headband. Using this system, participants were able to stabilize their body posture, …

Community Firearm Violence And Dental Care Use In Middle Adulthood, Alexander Testa, Luis Mijares, Daniel Semenza, Richard Stansfield, Ian Silver, Dylan B Jackson, Ana Neumann, Jeff R Temple, Rahma Mungia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prior research links violence inside the home to reduced dental care utilization, yet little is known about how community firearm violence affects dental care behaviors. The current study used data from wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), linked to census tract-level fatal and nonfatal shooting data from the American Violence Project for the 100 largest cities in the United States. The analytic sample included 1925 respondents aged 33-42. The primary outcome was self-reported dental care use in the past year. Firearm violence exposure was categorized as 0, 1, or 2 + …

The Impact Of Genetic Ancestry On Survival Outcomes In Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report From The Children’S Oncology Group, Ekene A Onwuka, Christina L Magyar, Bailey A Martin-Giacalone, Michael E Scheurer, Deborah A Marquez-Do, Mark Zobeck, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Erin R Rudzinski, Michael A Arnold, Donald A Barkauskas, David Hall, Javed Khan, Jack F Shern, Paul Scheet, Brian Crompton, Corinne M Linardic, Douglas S Hawkins, Rajkumar Venkatramani, Lisa Mirabello, Chad D Huff, Melissa A Richard, Philip J Lupo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Emerging evidence suggests genetic ancestry may influence childhood cancer outcomes, but its impact on pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is unknown. We explored genetic ancestry's impact on survival among children with RMS. This multi-center observational cohort study is a secondary analysis of previously collected biobanking, genomic, and clinical data. The study included 920 individuals with newly diagnosed RMS under 40 years of age enrolled from 2005 to 2017 under the COG soft tissue sarcoma biobanking protocol D9902. The primary endpoints were (1) event-free survival (EFS), defined as the time from study enrollment to tumor recurrence/progression, secondary malignancy, or death from any cause; …

A Phase 2 Trial Of Short-Term Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine In Biliary Atresia After Kasai Portoenterostomy, Sanjiv Harpavat, Kristin A Borovsky, Michael E Scheurer, Laurel Cavallo, Franca E Erhiawarie, Sanjeev Vasudevan, Adam M Vogel, Dana Cerminara, Elizabeth M Tessier, Kalyani R Patel, Sridevi Devaraj, Benjamin L Shneider

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: For infants with biliary atresia, the only treatment that can establish bile flow and delay need for liver transplant is the Kasai portoenterostomy (KP). Unfortunately, the KP has variable success. In this study, we hypothesized that intravenous N-acetylcysteine (IV NAC) treatment following KP would improve bile flow.

Methods: This was a phase 2 study following the two-stage "minimax" trial design. Participants received IV NAC (150 mg/kg/day) for 7 days after KP, and the primary endpoint was achieving total serum bile acids (TSBA) ≤10 μmol/L within 24 weeks of KP. Secondary endpoints were clinical markers and the occurrence of sentinel …

Assessment Of Contextualized Reinforcement Pathology In A Community Sample Of Young Adult Substance Users, Ángel García-Pérez, Alba González-Roz, Roberto Secades-Villa, Gema Aonso-Diego, Sara Weidberg, Jin H Yoon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are the most commonly used substances among young populations, often leading to polysubstance use, which correlates with problematic consumption and adverse health outcomes. The contextualized reinforcer pathology (CRP) model explains addictive behaviors through several constructs, including the following: drug demand, delay discounting (DD), and substance-free and substance-related reinforcement. Most previous studies have focused on a single CRP construct and the couse of only two substances. This study aimed to characterize three subgroups of young adults reporting past month use of alcohol only, alcohol + tobacco or cannabis, and alcohol + tobacco + cannabis, in terms …

Associations Between Atmospheric Ozone, Pm2.5 And Prevalence Of Diabetes In Georgia, United States, Kingsley A. Kalu, Jingjing Yin, Atin Adhikari

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective:

This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM_2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors.

Methods:

We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data Hub. A negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the county-level dependent variable “adult diabetes” (for adults aged> 18 years diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) and two independent county-level variables: percentage of days ³ NAAQS for ozone and PM_2.5 concentration levels while controlling for confounders.

Results:

At the county …

A Proposed Mhealth Intervention To Address Patient Barriers To Colposcopy Attendance: Qualitative Interview Study Of Clinic Staff And Patient Perspectives, Jennifer Hemler, Rachel Wagner, Brittany Sullivan, Myneka Macenat, Erin Tagai, Jazmarie Vega, Enrique Hernandez, Suzanne Miller, Kuang-Yi Wen, Charletta Ayers, Mark Einstein, Shawna Hudson, Racquel Kohler

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer disparities persist among minoritized women due to infrequent screening and poor follow-up. Structural and psychosocial barriers to following up with colposcopy are problematic for minoritized women. Evidence-based interventions using patient navigation and tailored telephone counseling, including the Tailored Communication for Cervical Cancer Risk (TC3), have modestly improved colposcopy attendance. However, the efficacious TC3 intervention is human resource-intense and could have greater reach if adapted for mobile health, which increases convenience and access to health information.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe feedback from clinic staff members involved in colposcopy processes and patients referred for colposcopy regarding adaptions …

Impact Of Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Disparities On Presentation And Survival Of Hcc: A Multicenter Study, Nicole E Rich, Patricia D Jones, Hong Zhu, Tanushree Prasad, Amy Hughes, Sandi Pruitt, Caitlin C Murphy, Karim Seif-El-Dahan, Darine Daher, Gloria Figueroa, Stephanie Castaneda, Lisa Quirk, Michael Gonzales, Osiris Carranza, Samantha Bourque, Nargis Baset, Adam C Yopp, Amit G Singal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities have been reported for HCC prognosis, although few studies fully account for clinically important factors and social determinants of health, including neighborhood socioeconomic status.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients newly diagnosed with HCC from January 2010 through August 2018 at 4 large health systems in the United States. We used multivariable logistic regression and cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models to identify factors associated with early-stage HCC presentation and overall survival.

RESULTS: Of 2263 patients with HCC (37.6% non-Hispanic White, 23.5% non-Hispanic Black, 32.6% Hispanic, and 6.4% Asian/other), 42.0% of patients …

Trends In Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose In American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, 1999-2021, Cici Bauer, Ghada H Hassan, Ric Bayly, Jack Cordes, Dana Bernson, Cedric Woods, Xiaona Li, Wenjun Li, Leland K Ackerson, Marc R Larochelle, Thomas J Stopka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Opioid-related overdose mortality rates have increased sharply in the U.S. over the past two decades, and inequities across racial and ethnic groups have been documented. Opioid-related overdose trends among American Indian and Alaska Natives require further quantification and assessment.

METHODS: Observational, U.S. population-based registry data on opioid-related overdose mortality between 1999 and 2021 were extracted in 2023 using ICD-10 codes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research multiple cause of death file by race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, and age. Segmented time series analyses were conducted to estimate opioid-related overdose mortality growth …

Emergency Department Communication With Diverse Caregivers And Persons Living With Dementia: A Qualitative Study, Anita N Chary, Norvin Hernandez, Ana Paulina Rivera, Ilianna Santangelo, Christine Ritchie, Kei Ouchi, Shan W Liu, Aanand D Naik, Maura Kennedy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Research to date has detailed numerous challenges in emergency department (ED) communication with persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers. However, little is known about communication experiences of individuals belonging to minoritized racial and ethnic groups, who are disproportionately impacted by dementia and less likely to be included in dementia research.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 caregivers of PLWD from two urban academic hospital EDs with distinct patient populations. The first site is an ED in the Northeast serving a majority White, English-speaking, and insured population. The second site is an ED in the South serving …

Proportion Of Cancer Cases And Deaths Attributable To Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors In Peru, Jhony A De La Cruz-Vargas, Willy Ramos, Willer Chanduví, Lucy E Correa-López, Nadia Guerrero, Joan Loayza-Castro, Irene Tami-Maury, Diego Venegas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists on the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer cases and deaths in Latin America. In Peru several studies have been published regarding the PAF of various risk factors and their associated diseases. The objective of this study was to estimate the fraction of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in Peru in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of 15 years old and older.

METHODS: An ecological study was conducted using the prevalence of exposure of the Peruvian population to modifiable risk factors for cancer, the relative risk associated with …

Dental Surgical Activity In Hospitals During Covid-19: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study, J Booth, A J Fowler, R Pearse, P Dias, Y I Wan, R Witton, T E F Abbott

Peninsula Dental School

INTRODUCTION: The number of surgical extractions performed in hospitals in England remains unclear. This study reports the volume of surgical extractions conducted in hospitals and change in activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: We conducted a nationwide observational cohort study using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England for patients undergoing surgical removal of a tooth (defined using OPSC-4 code F09) between April 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. Procedures were stratified by age, gender, and urgency (elective or nonelective), reported using descriptive statistics, number, and percentage. We conducted post hoc modeling to predict surgical activity to December 2023. In addition, …

Circadian Disruption And Colorectal Cancer Incidence In Black Women, Lauren E Barber, Trang Vopham, Laura F White, Hemant K Roy, Julie R Palmer, Kimberly A Bertrand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Animal and experimental studies suggest circadian disruption increases colorectal cancer risk, but evidence in humans is limited. We examined night shift work, chronotype, and residential position within a time zone, proxies for circadian disruption, in relation to colorectal cancer risk.

METHODS: Participants in the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort of 59,000 Black American women established in 1995, reported history of night shift work and chronotype on follow-up questionnaires. Residential position within a time zone was estimated using participant addresses at each questionnaire cycle. Number of colorectal cancer cases and follow-up duration varied by analysis depending on timing …

Trends And Seasonality Of Emergency Department Visits And Hospitalizations For Suicidality Among Children And Adolescents In The Us From 2016 To 2021, Youngran Kim, Trudy Millard Krause, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: The detection of seasonal patterns in suicidality should be of interest to clinicians and US public health officials, as intervention efforts can benefit by targeting periods of heightened risk.

OBJECTIVES: to examine recent trends in suicidality rates, quantify the seasonality in suicidality, and demonstrate the disrupted seasonality patterns during the spring 2020 COVID-19-related school closures among US children and adolescents.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based, descriptive cross-sectional study used administrative claims data from Optum's deidentifed Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Participants included children aged 10 to 12 years and adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who were commercially insured …

Association Between Historical Neighborhood Redlining And Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Us Veterans With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases, Salil V Deo, Issam Motairek, Khurram Nasir, Amgad Mentias, Yakov Elgudin, Salim S Virani, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Sadeer Al-Kindi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: In the 1930s, the government-sponsored Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) established maps of US neighborhoods that identified mortgage risk (grade A [green] characterizing lowest-risk neighborhoods in the US through mechanisms that transcend traditional risk factors to grade D [red] characterizing highest risk). This practice led to disinvestments and segregation in neighborhoods considered redlined. Very few studies have targeted whether there is an association between redlining and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To evaluate whether redlining is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in US veterans.

Design, setting, and participants: In this longitudinal cohort study, US veterans were followed up (January 1, 2016, …

Evaluation Of Birth By Cesarean Delivery And Development Of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer, Yin Cao, Long H Nguyen, Stefani Tica, Ebunoluwa Otegbeye, Xiaoyu Zong, Bjorn Roelstraete, Andrew T Chan, Barbara B Warner, Olof Stephansson, Jonas F Ludvigsson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC), diagnosed younger than 50 years of age, has increased worldwide. Gut dysbiosis throughout the life course is hypothesized as a leading mechanism, yet epidemiologic data are limited.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the association between birth by cesarean delivery and early-onset CRC among offspring.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this population-based, nationwide case-control study in Sweden, adults diagnosed with CRC between 18 and 49 years of age from 1991 to 2017 were identified through the Epidemiology Strengthened by Histopathology Reports in Sweden (ESPRESSO) cohort. Up to 5 general population control individuals without CRC …

Extreme Temperatures And Sickness Absence In The Mediterranean Province Of Barcelona: An Occupational Health Issue, Mireia Utzet, Amaya Ayala-Garcia, Fernando G Benavides, Xavier Basagaña

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the association between daily temperature and sickness absence episodes in the Mediterranean province of Barcelona between 2012 and 2015, according to sociodemographic and occupational characteristics.

METHODS: Ecological study of a sample of salaried workers affiliated to the Spanish social security, resident in Barcelona province between 2012 and 2015. The association between daily mean temperature and risk of new sickness absence episodes was estimated with distributed lag non-linear models. The lag effect up to 1 week was considered. Analyses were repeated separately by sex, age groups, occupational category, economic sector and medical diagnosis groups of …

Factors Associated With Nonsyndromic Anotia And Microtia, Texas, 1999–2014, Jeremy M Schraw, J P Woodhouse, Renata H Benjamin, Charles J Shumate, Joanne Nguyen, Mark A Canfield, A J Agopian, Philip J Lupo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Few risk factors have been identified for nonsyndromic anotia/microtia (A/M).

METHODS: We obtained data on cases and a reference population of all livebirths in Texas for 1999-2014 from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) and Texas vital records. We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for A/M (any, isolated, nonisolated, unilateral, and bilateral) using Poisson regression. We evaluated trends in prevalence rates using Joinpoint regression.

RESULTS: We identified 1,322 cases, of whom 982 (74.3%) had isolated and 1,175 (88.9%) had unilateral A/M. Prevalence was increased among males (PR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2-1.4), offspring of women with …

Characterization Of Preantral Follicle Clustering And Neighborhood Patterns In The Equine Ovary., Kendall A Hyde, Francisco L N Aguiar, Paula B Alvarenga, Amanda L Rezende, Benner G Alves, Kele A Alves, Gustavo D A Gastal, Melba O Gastal, Eduardo L Gastal

Peer-reviewed Articles

Understanding the transition from quiescent primordial follicles to activated primary follicles is vital for characterizing ovarian folliculogenesis and improving assisted reproductive techniques. To date, no study has investigated preantral follicle crowding in the ovaries of livestock or characterized these crowds according to follicular morphology and ovarian location (portions and regions) in any species. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the crowding (clustering and neighborhood) patterns of preantral follicles in the equine ovary according to mare age, follicular morphology and developmental stage, and spatial location in the ovary. Ovaries from mares (n = 8) were collected at an abattoir and …

County-Level Social Vulnerability And Breast, Cervical, And Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates In The Us, 2018, Cici Bauer, Kehe Zhang, Qian Xiao, Jiachen Lu, Young-Rock Hong, Ryan Suk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: Area-level factors have been identified as important social determinants of health (SDoH) that impact many health-related outcomes. Less is known about how the social vulnerability index (SVI), as a scalable composite score, can multidimensionally explain the population-based cancer screening program uptake at a county level.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the geographic variation of US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)-recommended breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates and the association between county-level SVI and the 3 screening rates.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based cross-sectional study used county-level information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PLACES and SVI data …

Global Variation In Studies Of Articular Cartilage Procedures Of The Knee: A Systematic Review, R. Garrett Steinmetz, J. Jared Guth, Matthew J Matava, Matthew V Smith, Robert H Brophy

Open Access Publications

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether there are significant differences in terms of indications, techniques, patient variables, and objective and subjective outcome scores as a function of the geographic locale of published studies of knee articular cartilage surgery.

METHODS: An electronic database search was performed of clinical studies evaluating knee articular cartilage procedures from 2000 to 2021. Studies were separated into global regions (Europe, Asia, North America, and South America) based on the study country. All cartilage-based treatments in each region were recorded. Patient age and sex, mechanism of injury, cartilage lesion size and location, follow-up …

Surveillance Systems For Monitoring Cervical Cancer Elimination Efforts: Focus On Hpv Infection, Cervical Dysplasia, Cervical Screening And Treatment., Julia M L Brotherton, Cosette Wheeler, Gary M. Clifford, Miriam Elfström, Marion Saville, John Kaldor, Dorothy A. Machalek

Pathology Research and Scholarship

In order to achieve the global elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, close surveillance of progress in public health and clinical activities and outcomes across the three pillars of vaccination, screening and treatment will be required. Surveillance should ideally occur within an integrated system that is planned, funded, and regularly evaluated to ensure it is providing timely, accurate and relevant feedback for action. In this paper, we conceptualise the main public health surveillance objectives as process and outcome measures in each of the three pillars. Process measures include coverage/participation measures for vaccination, screening and treatment alongside the …

Clinical Outcomes Of A Cohort Of Migrants And Citizens Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus In Botswana: Implications For Joint United Nation Program On Hiv And Aids 90-90-90 Targets., Tafireyi Marukutira, Dwight Yin, Laura Cressman, Ruth Kariuki, Brighid Malone, Tim Spelman, Shreshth Mawandia, Jenny H. Ledikwe, Bazghina-Werq Semo, Suzanne Crowe, Mark Stoove, Margaret Hellard, Diana Dickinson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The aim of the study was to evaluate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment cascade and mortality in migrants and citizens living with HIV in Botswana.Retrospective 2002 to 2016 cohort study using electronic medical records from a single center managing a high migrant case load.Records for 768 migrants and 3274 citizens living with HIV were included. Maipelo Trust, a nongovernmental organization, funded care for most migrants (70%); most citizens (85%) had personal health insurance. Seventy percent of migrants and 93% of citizens had received antiretroviral therapy (ART). At study end, 44% and 27% of migrants and citizens, respectively were retained …

A Prospective Study Of Maternal, Fetal And Neonatal Outcomes In The Setting Of Cesarean Section In Low- And Middle-Income Countries., Margo S. Harrison, Omrana Pasha, Sarah Saleem, Sumera Ali, Elwyn Chomba, Waldemar A. Carlo, Ana L. Garces, Nancy F. Krebs, K. Michael Hambidge, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Bhala Kodkany, Sangappa Dhaded, Richard J. Derman, Archana Patel, Patricia L. Hibberd, Fabian Esamai, Edward A. Liechty, Janet L. Moore, Dennis Wallace, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Menachem Miodovnik, Marion Koso-Thomas, Jose Belizan, Antoinette K. Tshefu, Melissa Bauserman, Robert L. Goldenberg

Global Health Articles

INTRODUCTION: Cesarean section (CS) rates are increasing globally with an unclear effect on pregnancy outcomes. The study objective was to quantify maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with CS compared with vaginal delivery (VD) both within and across sites in low- and middle-income countries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective population-based study including home and facility births in 337 153 women with a VD and 47 308 women with a CS from 2010 to 2015 was performed in Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. Women were enrolled during pregnancy; delivery and 6-week follow-up data were collected. …

Arsenic In Drinking Water And Lung Cancer Mortality In The United States: An Analysis Based On Us Counties And 30 Years Of Observation (1950-1979)., Hamid Ferdosi, Elisabeth K Dissen, Nana Ama Afari-Dwamena, Ji Li, Rusan Chen, Manning Feinleib, Steven H Lamm

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background. To examine whether the US EPA (2010) lung cancer risk estimate derived from the high arsenic exposures (10-934 µg/L) in southwest Taiwan accurately predicts the US experience from low arsenic exposures (3-59 µg/L). Methods. Analyses have been limited to US counties solely dependent on underground sources for their drinking water supply with median arsenic levels of ≥3 µg/L. Results. Cancer risks (slopes) were found to be indistinguishable from zero for males and females. The addition of arsenic level did not significantly increase the explanatory power of the models. Stratified, or categorical, analysis yielded relative risks that hover about 1.00. …

Social Disparities In Exposure To Point-Of-Sale Cigarette Marketing, Mohammad Siahpush, Evi A. Farazi, Jungyoon Kim, Tzeyu L. Michaud, Aaron Yoder, Ghada Soliman, Melissa Tibbits, Minh N. Nguyen, Raees A. Shaikh

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

While most ecological studies have shown that higher levels of point-of-sale (POS) cigarette marketing are associated with larger proportions of residents from lower socioeconomic and minority backgrounds in neighborhoods, there are no studies that examine individual-level social disparities in exposure to POS cigarette marketing among smokers in the United States. Our aim was to examine these disparities in a Midwestern metropolitan area in the United States. We conducted a telephone survey to collect data on 999 smokers. Cigarette marketing was measured by asking respondents three questions about noticing advertisements, promotions, and displays of cigarettes within their respective neighborhoods. The questions …

Evidence For Finely-Regulated Asynchronous Growth Of Toxoplasma Gondii Cysts Based On Data-Driven Model Selection, Adam M. Sullivan, Xiaopeng Zhao, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Eri Ochiai, Stephen Crutcher, Michael A. Gilchrist

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii establishes a chronic infection by forming cysts preferentially in the brain. This chronic infection is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans and can be reactivated to develop life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Host-pathogen interactions during the chronic infection include growth of the cysts and their removal by both natural rupture and elimination by the immune system. Analyzing these interactions is important for understanding the pathogenesis of this common infection. We developed a differential equation framework of cyst growth and employed Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) to determine the growth and removal functions that best describe …

A Population-Based Case–Control Study Of Urinary Arsenic Species And Squamous Cell Carcinoma In New Hampshire, Usa, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Zhigang Li, Ann E. Perry, Steven K. Spencer, A Jay Gandolfi, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Chronic high arsenic exposure is associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, and inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolites may play an important role in this association. However, little is known about the carcinogenicity of arsenic at levels commonly observed in the United States.

Objective: We estimated associations between total urinary arsenic and arsenic species and SCC in a U.S. population.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case–control SCC study (470 cases, 447 controls) in a U.S. region with moderate arsenic exposure through private well water and diet. We measured urinary iAs, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and …