Digital Commons Network^™

Ethical Issues Involved In Solid Organ Xenotransplantation., Daniel J Hurst, Chris Bobier, Luz A Padilla

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Xenotransplantation (specifically, genetically modified pig-to-human transplant of organs, tissues, or cells) clinical trials are set to begin in the United States after decades of pre-clinical studies and recent decedent and compassionate use investigations. This article provides a primer on the key ethical issues attendant with this emerging therapy. We explore four central areas of concern: (i) the use of animals to meet human transplant needs, as well as their welfare since they are housed in non-natural conditions, (ii) the risk of infectious disease transfer from the porcine graft to the human recipient, known as xenozoonosis, (iii) patient selection criteria for …

Differential Effects Of Macrophage Subtype-Specific Cytokines On Fibroblast Proliferation And Endothelial Cell Function In Co-Culture System, Phillip Mcclellan, Thomas R. Wong, Sara Hijaz, David R. Fletcher, Ozan Akkus, Tracey L. Bonfield, James M. Anderson, Adonis Hijaz

Faculty Scholarship

Macrophages are involved in several critical activities associated with tissue repair and regeneration. Current approaches in regenerative medicine are focusing on leveraging the innate immune response to accelerate tissue regeneration and improve long-term healing outcomes. Of particular interest in this regard are the currently known, four main M2 macrophage subtypes: M2interleukin (IL)-4,IL-13, M2IC, M2IL-10, M2non-selective adenosine receptor agonists (NECA) (M2IL-4,IL-13 → M2(NECA). In this study, rat bone marrow-derived macrophages (M₀) were polarized to each of the four subtypes M2IL-4,IL-13 → M2NECA and cultured for 72 h in vitro. Luminex assay results highlighted increased production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) …

Abnormal Invasive Hemodynamics In Heart Transplant Recipients, Navin Rajagopalan, Donna R. Dennis, Julia Akhtarekhavari, Kenneth Campbell

Physiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND Few studies have quantified invasive hemodynamic parameters in post heart transplant recipients. AIM To report the incidence of abnormal hemodynamics in heart transplant recipients at 1-year and 3-year post-transplant and determine if there was any correlation with recipient and donor characteristics. METHODS Data from 279 consecutive heart transplant recipients from 2007 through 2020 were analyzed. Clinical variables regarding both recipients and donors as well as hemodynamic variables obtained via right heart catheterization during 1-year and 3-year annual testing were recorded. Simple and multiple linear regression tests were used to determine how recipient and donor variables influenced hemodynamic parameters at …

Perceived Knowledge And Confidence Of Beta-Lactam Allergy Management Among Pharmacy Students On Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences., Jamie L Wagner, David R Oliver, Bruce M Jones, Kayla R Stover, Misha T Watts, Wesley D Kufel, Lena Mcdowell, Edo-Abasi U. Mcgee, T Lynn Stevenson, Christopher M Bland

PCOM Scholarly Works

Pharmacist engagement in allergy clarification has demonstrated increased appropriate antibiotic use. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and confidence of pharmacy students in their final professional year regarding beta-lactam (BL) allergies. Students from 5 schools of pharmacy participated in a 22-question survey pertaining to experience with drug allergies, knowledge of BL allergies, and confidence regarding BL allergy management. Data were summarized among all respondents and further analyzed by infectious disease (ID) interest. A total of 160/521 students responded to the survey (31%). Most students (73%) had no course dedicated to drug allergies; however, 84% indicated the …

Validity Of Cephalosporin Skin Prick Testing In Children With Self-Reported Cephalosporin Allergy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Bashar Talib Huweidy, Bashar I. Mohammed, Jessar Saleem Hasan, Ghaith Wadhah Hamdoon

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

Background: A comprehensive study evaluated the risk of nonunion per fracture in a population of over four million adults and determined that rates vary depending on patients' risk factors, nonunion rates can reach in excess of 10%. This study aims to address the issue by scrutinizing the demographic characteristics of patients, pinpointing the biological risk factors for long bone nonunion and evaluating the nonunion management effectiveness. Methods: This analytical, observational retrospective cohort study used medical record data from a regional hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia (2020–2023), involving 147 eligible patients. Data were analyzed using logistic regression with a significance level of …

Refractory Neutropenic Fevers In Aml: Unmasking Voriconazole-Resistant Invasive Aspergillosis, Abdel Martinez Borrego, Sahir Bhatti, Cesar Gutierrez

Research Colloquium

Background: Persistent fever in neutropenic patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often raises concern for invasive fungal infections (IFIs), especially when unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics and first-line antifungal agents like voriconazole. Invasive aspergillosis (IA), primarily caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population, with mortality rates exceeding 50% in refractory cases. The emergence of azole-resistant Aspergillus, now reported in up to 10–15% of isolates in some regions, has complicated management. Patients may present with nonspecific symptoms such as persistent fevers, as well as concerning findings like cutaneous lesions—a clue to hematogenous spread—and …

Development And Validation Of An Analytical Method For Determination Of Bongkrekic Acid In Biofluids For Toxin Monitoring, Ying-Tzu Shieh, Te-I Weng, Ju-Yu Chen, I-Ting Wang, Kevin Shu-Leung Lai, Chia-Mo Lin, Chu-Yun Teng, Guan-Yuan Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Bongkrekic acid (BKA) poisoning is a severe foodborne illness with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to identifyBKA in postmortem tissues from poisoning victims in Taiwan and to develop a reliable analytical method for detectingBKA in biofluids to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment. BKA was identified in postmortem samples using high-reso-lution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and confirmed with an independent ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatographycoupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method. To meet clinical needs, a UHPLC-MS/MS methodwas developed and validated for BKA detection in plasma and urine. Method optimization included adjustments to ionsource conditions for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions and …

The Economic Burden Of Covid-19 In A Region With Stringent Response Measures: A Case Study Of Taiwan, Elise Chia-Hui Tan, Fei-Yuan Hsiao, Ming-Chin Yang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a significant economic burden globally, particularly in regions with stringentresponse measures. This study aimed to assess the economic impact of COVID-19 in Taiwan, focusing on both directand indirect costs. A cost-of-illness analysis was conducted, utilizing data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control(CDC), national databases, epidemiological studies, and economic surveys. The analysis included both direct costs (e.g.,hospital admissions, outpatient care) and indirect costs (e.g., productivity losses due to long COVID, absenteeism, caregiving duties). The study encompassed Taiwan's population of 23.2 million, with particular attention to age-specific impacts on economic outcomes. The total economic burden of …

Commonwealth Times 2025-09-17

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Disinformation As Ground-Shifting In Great-Power Competition, Sorin Adam Matei

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Disinformation, distinct from misinformation, replaces accepted principles of objectivity and verifiability with novelty, framing, authority, self-reference, and conformity to create a new “truth paradigm.” This article introduces a novel definition and framework for understanding disinformation as a strategic tool in great-power competition. It includes a review of case studies, such as Russian disinformation campaigns during the Russia-Ukraine War and analyzes cognitive biases and social behaviors that facilitate the spread of disinformation. Policy and military practitioners will find actionable insights into countering disinformation, including its sociopsychological mechanisms and proposed targeted counterstrategies to protect the integrity of information flows in defense and …

A Single-Dose Long-Lasting Live-Attenuated Chimeric Vaccine Candidate Against The Emerging Tick-Borne Kyasanur Forest Disease, Young-Min Lee

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Design, Synthesis And Antibacterial Evaluation Of Some New Pyrrolidine Derivatives Based Pyrazole Moiety Via Vilsmeier-Haack Reaction, Sabah Salim Al-Dulaimi, Muna Sameer Al-Rawi

Baghdad Science Journal

The following work involved synthesizing a new series of substituted Pyrrolidine/4H-Pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde derivatives [IV]_a-e derived from captopril known as an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor drug, using the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction. There were some steps involved for synthesizing new hydrazone compounds [III]_a-e via refluxing equal mole of captopril hydrazide [II] with different substituted aromatic ketone (acetophenone, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, 4-aminoacetophenone, 4-nitroacetophenone, and 4-bromoacetophenone) in benzene via condensation reaction. The newly substituted 4H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde derivatives [IV]_a-e are obtained via a cyclization reaction of substitute hydrazones [III]_a-e heating with POCl₃/DMF, under Vilsmeier–Haack reaction. The prepared pyrrolidine derivatives-based pyrazole …

Sorting Nexin 3 Promotes Ischemic Retinopathy Through Rip1- And Rip3-Mediated Myeloid Cell Necroptosis And Mitochondrial Fission, Jiaojiao Wang, Chunhong Zhou, Kai Zhuang, Jiami Zou, Wanlu Qiu, Mei Jin, Weile Ye, Pinglian Yang, Zhihua Zheng, Qing Zhou, Zunnan Huang, Yuanxiang Wang, Peiqing Liu, Jing Lu, Yuqing Huo, Zhiping Liu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proliferative retinopathy is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in humans; however, the molecular mechanisms behind the immune cell–mediated retinal angiogenesis remain poorly elucidated. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing in an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model, we identified an enrichment of sorting nexin (SNX)-related pathways, with SNX3, a member of the SNX family that is involved in endosomal sorting and trafficking, being significantly upregulated in the myeloid cell subpopulations of OIR retinas. Immunostaining showed that SNX3 expression is markedly increased in the retinal microglia/macrophages of mice with OIR, which is mainly located within and around the neovascular tufts. Myeloid cell-specific deficiency …

Clinical Applications Of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review Of Benefits And Challenges, Riyam Wissam Hassan

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that help balance microbes in intestines and promote growth beneficial bacteria, they vary between bacteria, yeasts, and fungi and they are helpful to human health when taken in adequate and suitable amounts. In addition to maintaining intestinal health and help with digestion and absorption, also inhibiting development and preventing spread of harmful microorganisms. It exists in different forms, in the intestines and in the foods, products fermented, and in the pharmaceutical supplements. Because human health depends largely on the interaction between humans and these microorganisms known as probiotics, it has found that these organisms have vital …

Fostering Cultural Competence Through Development Of An Innovative Global Health Course, Anita G. Fennessey, Amy Szajna

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This abstract outlines the development and implementation of a global health course for undergraduate nursing students. The course aims to introduce foundational global health concepts and explore the role of nurses in addressing health disparities, promoting equity, and leading health initiatives on a global scale.

Introduction: Global health issues are growing in complexity and impact, necessitating that nursing students develop competencies in cultural understanding, ethics, and leadership. This course aims to bridge global health and nursing practice, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to address health challenges among diverse populations worldwide.

Methodology/Implementation: The course is …

The Us Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices (Acip): Trustworthy Travel Vaccine Guidance And Politics, Lin H. Chen, Elizabeth D. Barnett, Jeff Goad, Steven Schofield, David R. Shlim, Mary E. Wilson

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The rigorous process of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has guided vaccine policy in the US and has been adopted broadly. Given recent disruptions to ACIP leading to distrust in the new committee, possible strategies are discussed for guiding travel medicine providers that have relied on ACIP recommendations.

Antiviral Use Among Children Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Illness: A Prospective, Multicenter Surveillance Study., James W. Antoon, Justin Z. Amarin, Olla Hamdan, Tess Stopczynski, Laura S. Stewart, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Eileen J. Klein, Janet A. Englund, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Jennifer E. Schuster, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Flor M. Muñoz, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, James D. Chappell, Benjamin R. Clopper, Heidi L. Moline, Angela P. Campbell, Andrew J. Spieker, Samantha M. Olson, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Guidelines state that all hospitalized children with suspected or confirmed influenza receive prompt treatment with influenza-specific antivirals. We sought to determine the frequency of, and factors associated with, antiviral receipt among hospitalized children.

METHODS: We conducted active surveillance of children presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms from 1 December 2016 to 31 March 2020 at 7 pediatric medical centers in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network. The cohort consisted of children hospitalized with influenza A or B confirmed by clinical or research testing. The primary outcome was frequency of antiviral receipt during hospitalization. We used logistic regression to obtain adjusted …

Book Review Of The Art And Science Of Connection By Kasley Killam, Harit Agroia

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The Art and Science of Social Connection by Kasley Killam presents a case for better understanding individual health by ensuring that the social aspect is considered as a significant component of health in addition to the physical and mental aspects. Killam states that social health consists of an individual’s sense of belonging, the strength of relationships, and meaningful connections. By drawing from years of evidence building, Killam argues that social health is fundamental for one to truly flourish and prosper in their life as people who have stronger social health are shown to have higher quality of life, emotional resilience, …

Digital Healthcare Interventions To Support Parents With Acutely Ill Children At Home: A Systematic Review., Matt Carey, Jane Peters, Anna Chick, Bernie Carter, Lucy Bray, Damian Roland, Sarah Neill

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background Short lived acute illness in children is common, yet their parents often feel uncertain about recognising signs symptoms of acute illness and knowing when to seek medical intervention. This has led to seeking unscheduled or delayed support. Digital and mobile technologies are being used to support individuals with healthcare needs, known as digital health interventions. Parents have access to digital health interventions that provide information regarding children’s health, yet there is limited exploration of how these are used to support decision-making when caring for acutely ill children. This systematic review was undertaken to explore digital interventions to support parents …

Modern Zombies As Subaltern In Max Brooks’S World War Z: An Oral History Of The Zombie War (2006), Hamza Alwan Jaber, Azhar Noori Fejer

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Max Brooks’s World War Z (2006) has made many contributions to the zombie genre, particularly in making it an international plague. With key situations occurring in the Middle East, which in the Christian tradition will be the location of the “End of Days,” the Apocalypse, the Armageddon at the Megiddo. While Brooks was not the first to assign infectious disease/plague/epidemiology as the cause of zombies, he emphasized that explanation for the 21st-century culture that has been rife with fears of disease and pandemics, from Ebola, Bird flu, etc. This study aims to show the image of the modern zombie as …

Coumarin/Nitrogen-Bearing Heterocyclic Hybridloaded Electrospun Pmma/Pvp Nanofibrous Scaffolds For Accelerating Topical Wound Healing Rates: Synthesis And In Vitro Bio-Evaluation, Samar A. Salim, Mohamed Ali, Tasneem Abed, El Badawy Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Coumarin-nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (e.g. quinoline, acridine, and phthalazine) were synthesized by facile reactions and elucidated by FTIR, 1H, and 13C-NMR analyses, which showed consistency with the expected structures. Coumarin-quinoline (drug A)- and coumarin-acridine (drug B)-loaded electrospun PMMA/PVP nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning techniques. Results showed a successful PMMA/PVP blend, which formed the matrix that was used as the main scaffold for drug loading/release. The drugs (A and B) were encapsulated within the matrix as verified by IR and SEM results. Bio-evaluation through cytotoxicity and anticancer screening was conducted using the MTT assay against lung fibroblast (Wi-38), colon carcinoma (Caco-2), …

Addressing Lgbtq+ Health In Ireland: A Scoping Review To Identify The Current Landscape, John P. Gilmore, Tonda Hughes, Laurie Drabble, Chris Noone, Siobhan Thomas, Sean Kearns, Diarmuid Stokes, Lauren Bochicchio

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) health research in Ireland remains limited, with substantial gaps in knowledge concerning health disparities among diverse LGBTQ+ populations. This scoping review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current evidence, offering a foundational understanding of the existing research landscape and pinpointing areas for future exploration.

Aims & Objectives: The review aims to map the scope of SGM health research in Ireland, identifying primary areas of focus and critical gaps in representation to guide future research priorities and policy development.

Methods: A systematic search was performed across PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Embase, utilising search terms created …

Vancomycin-Induced Immune Hemolytic Anemia – A Case Report And Literature Review, Yilin Song, Meher Ali, Rukhsar Shaikh, Ashley Bersma, Harsh Y Patel

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is a rare complication of drug treatment. The clinical presentation involves rapid dropping of hemoglobin secondary to hemolysis leading to potentially fatal consequences. Over 100 drugs have been reported to cause DIIHA, most commonly cephalosporins. Here, we present a case of vancomycin-induced immune hemolytic anemia. The diagnosis was challenging due to the limited reports of hemolytic anemia induced by vancomycin in the setting of multiple antibiotic administration history. Hemolysis improved after vancomycin cessation and diagnosis was made with positive serological confirmation. Literature review was performed with four reported cases of vancomycin-induced immune hemolytic anemia identified …

Loss Of Ptdss1 In Tumor Cells Improves Immunogenicity And Response To Anti-Pd-1 Therapy, Jielin Liu, Shelley Herbrich, Sreyashi Basu, Yulong Chen, Ashwat Nagarajan, Swetha Anandhan, Sangeeta Goswami, Liangwen Xiong, Baoxiang Guan, Padmanee Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PTDSS1 (phosphatidylserine synthase 1) encodes an enzyme that facilitates production of phosphatidylserine (PS), which mediates a global immunosuppressive signal. Here, based on in vivo CRISPR screen, we identified PTDSS1 as a target to improve anti-PD-1 therapy. Depletion of Ptdss1 in tumor cells increased expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-regulated genes, including B2m, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, and Stat1, even in the absence of IFN-γ stimulation in vitro. Loss of Ptdss1 in tumor cells also led to increased expression of MHC-I, enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and increased frequency of an iNOS+ myeloid subset. A gene signature derived from the …

In Vivo Efficacy Of A Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Combination Against Yellow Fever In A Hamster Model, Abbie E. Weight, Hunter Stanger, Robert J. Geraghty, Laurent F. Bonnac, Justin G. Julander

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Yellow fever virus (YFV) recurrently causes severe outbreaks in tropical regions of South America and Africa and an average of 30 to 40 thousand deaths worldwide each year. An effective vaccine is available but the coverage of the population in countries at risk is not optimal. No antivirals are currently approved for YFV treatment. Herein, we describe the evaluation of 6-MMPr, a de-novo-purine-nucleotide biosynthesis inhibitor, as a potentiator for enhanced activity of the broad-spectrum antiviral drug favipiravir in a hamster model of yellow fever. Administration of 6-MMPr was well-tolerated and a combination of favipiravir and 6-MMPr did not cause …

The Hidden Link Between Hiv And Cardiomyopathy: Unraveling Hiv's Impact On The Heart, Toluwalase Awoyemi, Oluwaremilekun Zeth Tolu-Akinnawo, Andrew Greek, Oluwakemi Adenuga, Chukwuebuka Asogwa, Isaac Ekundayo, Olamide Odusola, Oyinlola Fasehun, Mercy Ajayi, Onyinye Ugoala, Luther-King Fasehun, Adeleke Oluwaseun Dorcas, Michael Angarone

Student Publications

This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cardiomyopathy, focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies. It highlights the significant global health burden posed by HIV and its potential to cause long-term cardiovascular complications. The review investigates the pathogenesis of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy. It elucidates the intricate cellular and molecular pathways involved, including the actions of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes in cardiac inflammation. Key signaling pathways such as TNF-NF-κB and the caspase-1 inflammasome are detailed, as they contribute to cardiac infection and injury. The clinical manifestations of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy …

Identification And Characterization Of A Metal Binding-Independent Rift Valley Fever Virus Endonuclease Inhibitor, Cara D Kirby, Gai Liu, Farheen Fatma, Maris R Pedlow, Narendran G-Dayanandan, Nitin Sharma, Zachary D Frey, Rachael E Rush, Steven C Cardinale, Andrzej M Krezel, Amy L Hartman, Terry L Bowlin, Daisy W Leung, Gaya K Amarasinghe

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The viral cap-snatching mechanism, facilitated by the endonuclease (EndoN) domain of viral polymerases, is critical for viral gene transcription and translation and is therefore an attractive target for antiviral development. The successful development of EndoN inhibitor XOFLUZA (Baloxavir marboxil) has opened the possibility that the EndoN domain of negative-sense RNA viruses (NSVs) can be targeted in a similar fashion. Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) belongs to the

Rural Providers' Attitudes Toward Integrating Harm Reduction Strategies And Prep Prescribing Into Rural Primary Care Settings In The Us. Southeast And Midwest, Phillip L Marotta, Miryam Biaid, Virginia Mckay, Hilary Reno, Lindsey Filiatreau, Kaileigh Backes, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: People with opioid use disorders (OUD) living in the South and Midwest are under-prescribed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) despite an increasing number of providers writing PrEP prescriptions in other regions of the United States. Greater research is needed into attitudes toward integrating harm reduction strategies into primary care and PrEP prescribing among prescribers working in rural primary care settings. The objective of this paper was to examine relationships between providers' attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone, comprehensive harm reduction (e.g., fentanyl test strips) and self-reported PrEP prescribing in the past year.

METHODS: Relationships were examined between attitudes toward buprenorphine and harm …

Increasing Hpv Education And Vaccination Uptake In Women Aged 27-45: A Clinic Based Approach, Michelle Wakefield

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

BACKGROUND: Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection, is linked to cervical, anal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers. Despite its impact, only 16% of women aged 27-45 have received an HPV vaccine dose, partly due to recent vaccine recommendation changes. This project aimed to improve HPV knowledge and vaccination rates among women in this age group at a private obstetrics and gynecology practice in Southwestern Indiana.

METHODS: Targeting unvaccinated women aged 27-45, this quality improvement initiative (January–April 2024) provided verbal education on HPV and assessed patient knowledge via a Likert scale survey. Staff received training on vaccine …

Health On The Rocks: Geohealth In Kentucky, Rachel L. Washburn

Special Publication--KGS

Geohealth bridges the earth and life sciences, revealing how Kentucky’s unique geology directly shapes public health risks, clinical outcomes, and opportunities for innovation. This factsheet highlights the critical intersections between geologic processes and human health across the Commonwealth—from landslides, floods, and tornadoes to radon, mine drainage, and microbial contamination. It outlines how natural and anthropogenic forces influence respiratory illness, cancer, trauma, and infectious disease, and how bedrock and weather extremes define local exposure pathways. Beyond risk, it also showcases Kentucky’s leadership in developing geoscience-informed health solutions: bioremediation, microbial drug discovery, and geologic-health monitoring networks that strengthen preparedness and resilience. Understanding …