Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Population-Scale Sequencing Resolves Determinants Of Persistent Ebv Dna, Sherry S Nyeo, Erin M Cumming, Oliver S Burren, Meghana S Pagadala, Jacob C Gutierrez, Thahmina A Ali, Laura C Kida, Yifan Chen, Hoyin Chu, Fengyuan Hu, Xueqing Zoe Zou, Benjamin Hollis, Margarete A Fabre, Stewart Macarthur, Quanli Wang, Leif S Ludwig, Kushal K Dey, Slavé Petrovski, Ryan S Dhindsa, Caleb A Lareau

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an endemic herpesvirus implicated in autoimmunity, cancer and neurological disorders. Although primary infection is often subclinical, persistent EBV infection can drive immune dysregulation and long-term complications. Despite the ubiquity of infection, the determinants of EBV persistence following primary exposure remain poorly understood, although human genetic variation partially contributes to this phenotypic spectrum1–3. Here we demonstrate that existing whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of human populations can be used to quantify persistent EBV DNA. Using WGS and health record data from the UK Biobank (n = 490,560) and All of Us ( …

Design And Implementation Of An Aapm Volunteer Database For Advancing Global Medical Physics Initiatives., Teh Lin, Minsun Kim, Courtney Morrison, Jiahan Zhang, Kevin Little, Yan-Hong Xin, Michael Woodward, Peter Sandwall, Eun Young Han

Oncology Articles

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) members' availability to volunteer, share their expertise, and promote global collaboration in medical physics by partnering with international colleagues who seek support in strengthening their medical physics practice.

METHODS: The questionnaire was administered to AAPM members to assess their willingness to volunteer, preferred engagement modalities, and availability for different types of volunteer activities. The questionnaire was integrated into the AAPM member profile and covered therapy, diagnostic, and nuclear medicine disciplines, capturing participants' visiting preferences and expertise in teaching and training. Respondents were categorized based …

Mastering The First Year Of Ownership, Amrita Patel Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This column provides a reflective look at the first year of dental practice ownership, describing it as a mix of exhilaration and pressure. It highlights the importance of transitioning from a clinical mindset to one focused on financial clarity, cash flow variability, and team dynamics. The author discusses the necessity of developing efficient systems to resolve bottlenecks and understanding the patient base on a deeper level. The piece emphasizes that leadership confidence grows through action and adjustment.

J Mich Dent Assoc February 2026

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Each month, the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association delivers news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. It remains the main publication reaching Michigan dentists and is available worldwide through ADA Commons.

The February 2026 (Volume 108, No. 2) issue of the Journal is published in a digital format to provide updates and insights for Michigan's oral health community and MDA members. Print editions occur every other month beginning with January.

This issue includes feature articles on Risk Management and 2025 Servant Leadership as well as a clinical reprint …

Prediction Of First And Multiple Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions In People Living With Hiv: Comparative Survival Analysis Using Cox And Explainable Machine Learning Models, Donald Salami, Emily Koech, Janet Turan, Kristen Stafford, Lilly Nyagah, Stephen Ohakanu, Anthony Ngugi, Manhattan Charurat

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: The Cox proportional hazards (CPH) model is a common choice for analyzing time-to-treatment interruptions in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), valued for its straightforward interpretability and flexibility in handling time-dependent covariates. Machine learning (ML) models have increasingly been adapted for handling temporal data, with added advantages of handling complex, nonlinear relationships and large datasets, and providing clear practical interpretations.

Objective: This study aims to compare the predictive performance of the traditional CPH model and ML models in predicting treatment interruptions among patients on ART, while also providing both global and individual-level explanations to support personalized, data-driven interventions …

Performance Of The Grace Acs Risk Score In Predicting In-Hospital And Six-Month Mortality In Patients With Acs: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study, Albert Nyanga, Jeilan Mohamed, Miriam Msunza, James Orwa, Mzee Ngunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is rising globally. Despite the high burden of CHD in Africa, little is known about appropriate risk stratification systems that can be used to predict outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in this region.

Methodology: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at the Aga Khan University hospital. Data was explored descriptively by summarizing categorical variables using frequencies/percentages and continuous variables using medians and interquartile ranges. Risk groups and mortality were compared using Fisher’s exact test or the chi-square test. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), …

Wellness Connection Newsletter February 2026, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Himmelfarb Liaison Letter - February 2026, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Ubiquitination Of Oncogenic Mutant P53 Via Attenuation Of Ribosome Biogenesis Machinery Effectively Inhibits Pancreatic Tumor Growth, Mudassier Ahmad, Sahir Sultan Alvi, Haider Ahsan, Carlos Perez, Vivek Kashyap, Neeraj Chauhan, Dae Joon Kim, Nirakar Sahoo, Tamer Oraby, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chuahan, Bilal Hafeez

School of Medicine Publications

Dysregulated ribosome biogenesis and p53 mutations are known to play oncogenic roles in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. In this study, we demonstrated the therapeutic potential of BMH-21, a pharmacologic inhibitor of RNA polymerase I, against pancreatic cancer by uncovering a novel molecular mechanism involving RPA194-mediated ubiquitination of mutant p53 without affecting the ubiquitination of wild-type p53. Our key findings are that (i) BMH-21 selectively induces apoptosis and cell growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells with no effect on normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells; (ii) BMH-21 degrades RPA194; (iii) BMH-21 inhibits recruitment of both RPA194 and RPA135 on rDNA …

Artificial Intelligence In Neurosurgical Decision-Making: Promise And Peril In The United States Practice, Tirath Patel, Hamza Yousuf Ibrahim, Sana Sohrab, Muhammad Taha Altaf, Bhumi Patel, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into neurosurgical practices in the United States is transforming how diagnoses are interpreted, how surgical plans are developed, and how guidance is provided during operations as clinical needs continue to grow. Models based on radiomics and the Food and Drug Administration approved tools for tumor segmentation, aneurysm identification, and spinal navigation are showing enhanced accuracy and decreased variability among observers, highlighting AI’s potential for significant change. Nevertheless, there are major concerns about the opacity of black-box models, inaccurate outputs, and the increasing legal uncertainties arising from AI-related errors. Ethical challenges, such as the …

A Narrative Review On The Neurobiology Of Lucid Dreaming: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Tirath Patel, Ashfaq Ahmed, Kinza Irshad, Rahat Ullah, Anaya Noor, Eiman Anwar, Rai Muhammad Umar Khan, Moazzam Akhtar, Fathimathul Henna, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Lucid dreaming (LD), which involves being aware of and controlling one's dreams, is of particular interest in the study of consciousness and has potential therapeutic applications. In this narrative review, we highlight the neurobiological aspects of LD, specifically its mechanisms associated with the activation of prefrontal and parietal areas, increased gamma oscillations, and the influence of cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling, primarily during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Objective: To evaluate human data on brain mechanisms and clinical effects, synthesizing the neurobiological foundations and therapeutic possibilities of LD, including remarkably controlled lucid dreams.

Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed research …

Cellstaar: Incorporating Single-Cell-Sequencing-Based Functional Data To Boost Power In Rare Variant Association Testing Of Noncoding Regions, Eric Van Buren, Yi Zhang, Xihao Li, Margaret Sunitha Selvaraj, Zilin Li, Nicholette D. Palmer, Donna K. Arnett, John Blangero, Eric Boerwinkle, Joanne E. Curran, Ravi Duggirala

School of Medicine Publications

Understanding how rare genetic variants influence complex traits remains a major challenge, particularly when these variants lie in noncoding regions of the genome. The effects of variants within candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) often depend on the cell type, making interpretation difficult. Here we introduce cellSTAAR, which integrates whole-genome sequencing data with single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing data to capture variability in chromatin accessibility across cell types via the construction of cell-type-specific functional annotations and regulatory elements. To reflect the uncertainty in cCRE–gene linking, cellSTAAR uses a comprehensive strategy to link cCREs to their target genes. We applied …

Epidemiology And Outcomes Of Sporotrichosis: A Descriptive Real-World Analysis From A Global Cohort, Samantha Schapiro, Nicholas Pulciano, Julian Galindo-Ramirez, Nicholas Rau, Jose Tuells, Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita, George R. Thompson Iii, Daniel B. Chastain, Andrés F. Henao-Martínez

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Sporotrichosis is a dimorphic fungal infection of increasing global relevance. Although usually cutaneous or lymphocutaneous, disseminated disease occurs in immunocompromised hosts. Large-scale data on its epidemiology, treatment and outcomes remain limited.

Objectives: To characterise the clinical features, comorbidities, antifungal prescribing patterns and one-year mortality associated with sporotrichosis, with emphasis on patients with HIV and other forms of immunosuppression.

Patients/methods: We performed a retrospective global cohort study using the TriNetX Research Network. Adults (≥ 18 years) diagnosed with sporotrichosis were identified using ICD-9/10 codes (1995-2024). Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory parameters and antifungal prescriptions were analysed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality …

Artificial Intelligence In Cardiology: An Updated Systematic Review With Ethical Considerations And Challenges In Implementing Artificial Intelligence Models, Dev Patel, Reshmitha Kantamneni, Jabez David John, Tirath Patel, Arnesh Shukla, Ayesha Salma, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiovascular medicine presents a transformative opportunity to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the impact of AI on cardiovascular diagnostics with a focus on its ability to surpass traditional methods in accuracy, efficiency, and predictive capabilities. Machine learning and deep learning have demonstrated significant advancements in areas such as echocardiography, electrocardiography, computed tomography angiography, and predictive analytics.

AI algorithms have demonstrated superior performance in identifying subtle patterns and anomalies. Additionally, AI has shown promise in predictive analytics, forecasting disease progression and tailoring treatment plans, thereby improving patient outcomes. …

Overcoming Barriers To Hpv Vaccination In Pakistan: A Critical Need For A Proactive And Culturally-Sensitive Strategy, Syed Ahtisham Halim, Tirath Patel, Syeda Ramish Zehra Kazmi, Momina Khabir, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Cervical cancer continues to be one of the major causes of cancer-related mortalities among women worldwide, with a considerable share of this burden affecting developing countries like Pakistan. The addition of the HPV vaccine to the national immunization program of Pakistan had been a crucial leap toward the prevention of cervical cancer. Nevertheless, challenges that threaten the success of such a program are conspicuous. The most important ones are discussed in the letter, including the widespread dissemination of misinformation via social media on unfounded grounds, such as infertility resulting from the vaccine; deep-seated cultural taboos relating to sexual health; and …

Age And Sex Impact The Role Of Thrombospondin-2 And Thrombospondin-5 In Response To Hindlimb Ischemia, Irene Helenowski, Ashley Peters, Melissa Rangel, Corinne Bunn Md, Xuerong Wang, Kristopher Maier, Vivian Gahtan

Biostatistics Collaborative Core: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Peripheral arterial disease progression to critical limb ischemia remains a significant burden in the aged, necessitating revascularization. Therapies to enhance neovascularization, such as angiogenesis or arteriogenesis, may provide an option for patients not suitable for surgery. The thrombospondins (TSPs) are secreted matricellular glycoproteins, with TSP-1, TSP-2, and TSP-5 implicated in neovascularization. Currently, there is little data regarding the effects of TSP-2, TSP-5, sex, and aging on angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. In vitro, the effect of TSP-2 or TSP-5 on early or late passage endothelial cell (EC) tubule formation or disruption was assessed. In vivo, angiogenesis, and arteriogenesis in male and female, …

Early Neonatal Admissions With Feeding Difficulties To Acute Paediatric Services At A Tertiary Paediatric Hospital In England: Sequential Audits Pre-Covid-19 And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kalvin Lee, Thomas Frederick Dunne, Mary Masoud, Hayley Gleig, Heidi Stott, Helen Nabwera, Halina Kamarova

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction: Our objective was to describe the population of infants < 7 days of age admitted to the acute general paediatric services at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and ascertain the proportion with feeding difficulties amenable to community-based support.

Methods: Sequential retrospective audits of all infants < 7 days of age admitted to acute paediatrics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, England, from March to September 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and March to September 2020 (during COVID-19). All the infants were born and discharged from maternity units in Merseyside, Northwest England. Anonymised data were extracted from the electronic clinical records by three members of the clinical team.

Results: Pre-COVID-19, 38.6% (93) of the 241 admissions to acute general paediatric services had feeding difficulties. 31.2% (29) presented solely with feeding difficulties and 31.2% (29) were exclusively breastfed. However, during COVID-19, although there were fewer admissions (104), more than half (51%, 54) had feeding difficulties and for 54% (29), this was the only reason for admission. Over half (53.7%, 29) were exclusively breastfed.

Conclusion: Our audits showed that at least a third of infants < 7 days of age admitted with feeding difficulties did not have any other features of severe illness. These admissions unnecessarily expose infants to hospital-acquired infections while disrupting the opportunity for families to build close and loving relationships that enhance the establishment of breastfeeding. Co-designing infant feeding strategies with the mothers and stakeholders will be a crucial next step to enhance infant feeding support, particularly in impoverished communities in the region.

Recurrent Miller Fisher Syndrome: A Case Report, Larry Vernier, Griffin B. Gilmore, Kelsey Van Housen, Xiao C. Zhang

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barré syndrome can manifest with progressive paralysis, requiring careful monitoring and treatment with steroids or intravenous (IV) immunoglobin. While this disease can be devastating and require intensive care unit level of care, there are few incidences of relapses.

CASE REPORT: A 67-year-old man with a past medical history of Miller Fisher syndrome variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, with complete recovery, presented to the emergency department (ED) with ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, dysphonia, and ambulatory dysfunction. The patient noticed his neurologic symptoms after waking up, and he presented to the ED with physical examination positive for difficulty with upward gaze, mild right lower …

Ischemic Stroke As The Initial Presentation Of Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Of Marantic Endocarditis., Micah Harris

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), formerly known as marantic endocarditis, is a rare condition characterized by sterile vegetations on cardiac valves and is often associated with hypercoagulable states such as adenocarcinoma. We describe a patient who presented with multiple embolic cerebrovascular accidents, ultimately found to be secondary to NBTE, which served as the initial manifestation of previously undiagnosed advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This case underscores the importance of considering NBTE in patients with multifocal embolic infarcts, particularly when blood cultures are negative, echocardiography reveals valvular abnormalities without evidence of infection, and clinical suspicion for an underlying malignancy is present.

Quantitative Echocardiography Markers To Denote Severity Of Tricuspid Regurgitation Compared To Cardiac Mri In Single Right Ventricle Variants, Tony Zunica, Daniel Forsha, Janelle Noel-Macdonnell, Anmol Goyal

Posters

Background: Single right ventricle and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) are congenital heart diseases that require multiple palliative surgeries to create a single right ventricular system. 25-30% of these patients develop significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR), which is associated with worse outcomes among all stages of palliation. Echocardiography remains the cornerstone imaging modality for serial evaluation in these patients. However, estimating tricuspid regurgitation is highly subjective in the pediatric population, necessitating need for reliable and reproducible quantitative echocardiography markers. Currently, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is considered the gold standard for quantification of tricuspid regurgitation with good accuracy and reproducibility. Objectives/Goal: Our …

Adapt Vr In Dental Education: Boosting Preclinical Skill And Self-Confidence, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr.

Dentistry

Introduction: Preclinical dental training requires extensive feedback and repetition, which traditional manikin exercises often lack. Adapt VR is a cost-effective, immersive system that delivers interactive, adaptive training with real-time feedback. Methods: This comparative study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Adapt VR system in preclinical training. A total of 126 third-year dental students were randomly assigned to an Adapt VR Group 1 (n = 63), acquiring VR learning experience before practicing on laboratory simulators, or a control group (n = 63) who started their training on simulators directly. After practising Class I and II cavity preparations, laboratory performance was …

Transcriptomics And Metabolomics Analysis Reveal Cell Subpopulations Of Trophoblast Cells Associated With Preeclampsia, Xiaojun Zhu, Ying Jiang, Lilin Wang, Peiyue Jiang, Zixing Zhong, Hetong Li, Caihong Zheng, Lujiao Chen, Juan Wei, Xishi Lin, Peng Ding, Zehua Dong, Xiaosheng Wang, Qiong Luo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Placental abnormalities are central to preeclampsia (PE), yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain unclear. We applied a multi-layered, integrative approach to investigate placental tissue from patients with PE and matched controls. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq; GSE173193) and bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq; GSE203507) datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The scRNA-seq dataset included two PE and two control samples, whereas the bulk RNA-seq dataset focused on eight early-onset PE and five uncomplicated term births. Trophoblast subpopulations were identified via scRNA-seq, and pseudotime analysis was used to trace differentiation trajectories. Differential expression and pathway enrichment …

Risk Factors For Complication And Reoperation In The Treatment Of Discoid Lateral Meniscus In Children And Adolescents: A Multicenter Study, Suzanna Ohlsen, Jeffrey J Nepple, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is a common congenital abnormality of the meniscus. Tears are common, and initial treatment is often not definitive, leading to a spectrum of complications, including persistent symptoms, meniscal insufficiency, osteochondral defects, and recurrent tears potentially requiring reoperation.

PURPOSE: To determine demographic, injury, and perioperative risk factors that increase the likelihood of complications and reoperation after treatment in patients with DLM.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Patients surgically treated for DLM from 9 institutions between 2000 and 2020 were reviewed. Data on demographics, presenting symptoms and signs, surgical findings and treatments, …

A Systemic Selective Modified Mrna Delivery Platform For Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity, Jimeen Yoo, Mengcheng Shen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a widely employed chemotherapeutic agent, but its use is clinically limited by dose-accumulative cardiotoxicity. More specifically, Dox induces oxidative stress and causes pro-apoptotic ceramide accumulation in cardiomyocytes (CMs). Acid ceramidase (AC) modified mRNA (modRNA) has been shown to reduce ceramide levels and protect the heart following ischemic injury; however, therapeutic modRNA applications have been hindered by the need for invasive delivery. Here, we present a platform for minimally intrusive transmission of modRNA to the heart. This CM-selective modRNA translational system (cmSMRTs) is encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles for intravenous (IV) delivery to enable systemic administration with high cardiac …

Falling For You: A Look At Fall Risk Assessment In The Cvicu, Kirsten Sutherland, Noelle Mason, Maggie Shepherd

2025

No abstract provided.

Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduce Bone Resorption In Postmenopausal Women With An Intact Uterus?, Ashley Harding

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not hormone replacement therapy reduces bone resorption in postmenopausal women with an intact uterus.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three double blind randomized control trials (RCTs) published from 2016 to 2022.

DATA SOURCES: All RCTs were published in peer reviewed journals in English and were found on PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles were chosen based on relevance to the clinical question.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Level of bone resorption was measured via assessment of bone turnover markers at baseline and after use of hormone replacement therapy in all …

In Adults With Elevated Or Borderline-High Ldl Cholesterol Levels, Does Daily Consumption Of Oat-Derived Products Providing Approximately 3 G Of Β-Glucan Reduce Ldl Cholesterol?, Marilyn K. Enderson

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence-based medicine review is to determine whether daily consumption of approximately 3 g of oat-derived β-glucan reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with elevated or borderline-high LDL-C when compared with a β-glucan–free control.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2020 to 2021.

DATA SOURCES: All RCTs were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and identified using PubMed. Articles were selected based on relevance to the clinical question, inclusion of adult populations with elevated LDL-C, and evaluation of oat-derived β-glucan as an intervention.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcome …

Are Berberine-Based Treatments Effective In Reducing Hemoglobin A1c (Hba1c%) In Adults With Type Ii Diabetes?, Queenie Douangpraseuth

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Are berberine-based treatments effective in reducing Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c%) in adults with type 2 diabetes?”

STUDY DESIGN: A review of 3 randomized control trials (RCTs) published between 2015 to 2020 DATA SOURCES: Articles were found on PubMed and Google scholar. Selected articles were published in peer-reviewed journals in English and were chosen based on applicability to clinical questions posed in the objective and meeting inclusion criteria.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All three RCTs measured the mean HbA1c% over time. A blood sample is taken and laboratory tests are …

Does A Single Dose Of Intravenous Ketamine Reduce Suicidal Ideation In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder?, Rylee Schieman

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not a “single dose of intravenous (IV) ketamine can decrease suicidal ideation in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD)?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of 3 double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2018 to 2024.

DATA SOURCES: All RCTs were found using PubMed and Google Scholar. The articles were published in peer-reviewed journals and in English. The articles were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question posed in the objective.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All 3 studies focused on reducing suicidal ideation. The outcome was measured …

Associations Between County-Level Vape-Free Air Law Coverage And E-Cigarette Use Behaviors Among U.S. Adolescents In Monitoring The Future, James H. Buszkiewicz, Yanmei Xie, Catherine A. Vander Woude, Steven Cook, Bukola Usidame, Megan E. Patrick, Michael R. Elliott, James F. Thrasher, Nancy L. Fleischer

Department of Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Purpose

We examined whether workplace and hospitality vape-free air law (VAL) population coverage was associated with adolescent e-cigarette use and related disparities in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed associations between county-level workplace and hospitality VAL coverage (100% vs. < 100%) and current e-cigarette use (2014–2022) and first e-cigarette initiation (2015–2022) among US 8th, 10th, and 12th graders using nationally representative, cross-sectional Monitoring the Future data. We implemented weighted, grade-stratified, modified Poisson regression models, adjusted for individual-, county-, and state-level confounding factors, examining disparities by sex, race and ethnicity, parental education, and college educational expectations through two-way interactions.

Results

Workplace and hospitality VAL coverage was not associated with adolescent e-cigarette use or initiation overall. However, we did find that VAL coverage was associated with lower current e-cigarette use in some sociodemographic subgroups. Full (100%) hospitality VAL coverage was linked to lower e-cigarette use among male 8th and 12th graders, 12th graders with parents without a bachelor's degree, Hispanic 8th …