Public Health Commons^™

Factors Influencing Implementation Of A Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program In Community Health Centers: An Implementation Mapping Approach, Serena A Rodriguez, Fernanda Velasco-Huerta, Mahalia Sampson-Ansah, Ella R Garza, William B Perkison, Patenne D Mathews, Catherine Pulicken, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Uncontrolled hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, particularly among adults aged 45 years and older. Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) is an evidence-based intervention that can help patients manage hypertension outside of the clinical setting. We conducted a needs and assets assessment to identify (1) health center adopters and implementers and (2) barriers and facilitators to SMBP adoption and implementation in six community health centers in Texas.

Methods: Data sources included: (1) needs and assets assessment surveys and semi-structured interviews; (2) site visits with participating health centers; and (3) detailed meeting notes and logs. Leaders and administrators from …

Adaptation Using Im Adapt Of An Evidence-Based Lifestyle Intervention To Support The Management Of Metabolic-Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Among Hispanic/Latino Adults, Natalia I Heredia, Sylvia A Ayieko, Serena A Rodriguez, Jessica P Hwang, Lorna H Mcneill, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The high prevalence of metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), necessitates the availability of an evidence-based intervention to manage the condition among patients to prevent severe chronic liver disease and other cardiometabolic-related illnesses. IM Adapt (Intervention Mapping for Adaptation) is a systematic approach for planning modifications in interventions to improve fit and potential effectiveness. Following this stepped approach, we conducted interviews with the target population, conducted a literature review, solicited expert advice, and created a logic model describing expected program outcomes for the new population and setting. We searched for, selected, and adapted an …

Co-Creation Of Staff Training To Address Health-Related Social Needs In Emergencies, Linda Highfield, Gayla Ferguson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Health-related social needs (HRSN), such as housing and transportation barriers, contribute to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Patient navigators help connect patients to community resources, but workforce training gaps are a challenge. The Strengthening Peer AHC Navigation (SPAN) study aimed to enhance navigation training during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Methods: Using a stakeholder-driven peer planning approach, SPAN co-developed a quality improvement plan for patient navigation training. Training focused on housing and transportation navigation and included didactic sessions, hands-on case studies, and biweekly expert consultations. Self-efficacy surveys measured navigator confidence pre- and post-training, and changes in navigation …

Effects Of High-Intensity Interval Training On Biomarkers And Inflammatory Factors In Patients With Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Wanting Zhang, Jooyeon Hwang, Beibei Lu, Xin Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is still controversy about the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the levels of cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with heart failure compared with moderate-intensity continuous training (MCT) and conventional healthcare activities. This article is to systematically investigate the effects of HIIT on the levels of cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with heart failure compared with MCT and conventional healthcare activities.

Methods: A computerized search of databases was conducted with the search year from the establishment of the database, and the screened results were subjected to quality assessment and data extraction, and the data was …

Application Of Multi-Angle Spaceborne Observations In Characterizing The Long-Term Particulate Organic Carbon Pollution In China, Yun Hang, Qiang Pu, Qiao Zhu, Xia Meng, Zhihao Jin, Fengchao Liang, Hezhong Tian, Tiantian Li, Tijian Wang, Junji Cao, Qingyan Fu, Sagnik Dey, Shenshen Li, Kan Huang, Haidong Kan, Xiaoming Shi, Yang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ambient PM2.5 pollution poses a major risk to public health in China, contributing to significant mortality and morbidity. While overall PM2.5 concentrations have declined in recent years, the changes in PM2.5 chemical constituents remain inadequately understood due to limited ground monitoring networks. We developed a Super Learner model that integrates MISR satellite data, chemistry transport model simulations, and land use information to predict daily OC concentrations across China from 2003 to 2019 at a 10-km spatial resolution. The model achieved high predictive accuracy with a cross-validation R2 of 0.84 and an RMSE of 4.9 μg/m3. Our findings show elevated OC …

Association Between Covid19 Vaccination Uptake And Socio-Demographic Characteristics Among Pregnant Women In Kenya, Sylvia Ayieko, Sarah E Messiah, Kimberly Baker, Christine Markham

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Vaccination is considered more cost-effective in controlling the spread of COVID19 compared to other preventative measures. Pregnant women infected with COVID19 were likely to have severe COVID19 complications compared to uninfected women. This study examined the relationship between COVID19 vaccination uptake and socio-demographic characteristics among pregnant women in Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a pilot study examining COVID19 vaccination uptake among pregnant women in Kenya. We used descriptive analysis to report the proportions and chi 2 to assess if there are any significant differences between groups. Our primary outcome was COVID19 vaccination uptake. We …

A Mixed-Methods Usability Pilot Of A Value-Goal Elicitation Tool In The Inpatient Setting For Older Adults Anticipating Post-Acute Care, Kirstin M Piazza, Caroline Pascal, Syama R Patel, Caroline Sefcik, Marilyn M Schapira, Caroline Madrigal, Katherine C Ritchey, Longyi Yip, Aanand D Naik, Robert E Burke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) emphasize aligning care with "What Matters" most to older adults. Hospitalization represents a critical period where value-based goals could shape key decisions about post-acute care transitions. However, few tools designed for eliciting such goals have been adapted for use in the inpatient setting, where the acute nature of care poses unique challenges. This mixed-methods study evaluates the usability of the Health Priorities Primer Tool (HPPT) in older hospitalized adults who anticipate needing post-acute care, aiming to identify necessary adaptations for the inpatient setting. We conducted interviews, observations, and surveys with older hospitalized patients to understand their …

Long Covid Risk Factors And Outcomes Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Micaela N Sandoval, Linda W Moore, Howard J Huang, Edward A Graviss

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are not only at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to acute COVID-19 but may also experience poor long-term outcomes due to post-acute COVID-19 syndromes, including long COVID.

Methods: This retrospective, registry-based chart review evaluated graft failure and mortality among SOT recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a large, urban transplant center in Houston, Texas, USA. Patient populations were analyzed separately according to their long COVID status at the time of transplant to preserve the temporal relationship between the exposure (long COVID) and the outcome (graft failure or mortality).

Results: In total, 146 (5%, …

Community-Level Factors Influencing The Duration Of Buprenorphine Treatment In Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder: A Cohort Study Using Us Longitudinal Claims Data, Paula A Jaimes-Buitron, Kehe Zhang, Yanmin Gong, Yuanxiong Guo, Cici Bauer, Carolina Vivas-Valencia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Buprenorphine is effective in reducing opioid-related morbidity and mortality; however, many patients discontinue treatment prematurely. While previous research has focused on individual-level predictors of retention, the influence of community context remains underexplored. This study aims to examine how community-level factors, such as social vulnerability, availability of buprenorphine-waivered providers and access to behavioural health services, affect the duration of buprenorphine treatment episodes for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using longitudinal claims data from 2006 to 2022. Adults aged 18 and older who initiated buprenorphine treatment for OUD and maintained continuous enrolment were …

Feasibility Of Conducting A Pilot Randomized Trial Of A Mindfulness-Based Intervention Among Sheltered Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Diane Santa Maria, Paula Cuccaro, Erica Sibinga, Kimberly Bender, Ethel Jacko, Widumini Liyanage, Jennifer Jones, Stanley Cron

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) are an underserved and difficult-to-reach population that experiences a disproportionate burden of trauma and stress compared to their housed peers. Prolonged trauma and stress can impact the development of negative emotions, reactive stress responses, and impulsive decision-making, which can lead to risk-taking behaviors. Growing research shows that Mindfulness-Based interventions (MBIs) can improve coping, impulsivity, emotion regulation, and executive function although no MBIs tailored for YEH have been tested.

Methods: We conducted a pilot attention-control randomized trial to test the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted MBI, .b4me (pronounced dot be for me), for …

Large-Vessel Occlusion Stroke Knowledge And Training For Stroke Severity Assessment Among Emergency Medical Services Personnel In The United States, Kaiz S Asif, Robin Novakovic, Thanh N Nguyen, Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez, Youngran Kim, Amanda Jagolino-Cole, Sushanth Aroor, Alicia Castonguay, Prateek Kumar, Ashutosh P Jhadav, Dileep Yavagal, May Nour, Gabor Toth, Maxim Mokin, Sunil A Sheth, Mouhammad A Jumaa, Alhamza Al-Bayati, Mohamed Teleb, Ossama Y Mansour, Shashvat M Desai, Joshua Hartman, David S Liebeskind, Ameer E Hassan, Brijesh P Mehta, Svin Education And Speed Committees

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Prehospital identification of large-vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke facilitates the development of a regional triage protocol that could lead to an improvement in intrahospital and interhospital workflows. This requires stroke education of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to improve stroke recognition, severity assessment, and prenotification. However, the current state of EMS personnel's knowledge of LVO stroke, their training for stroke severity assessment, and their preferences for educational methods are unknown. We conducted a nationwide EMS survey across the United States to glean insights that can inform and customize future EMS educational efforts.

Methods: The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, …

Community Engagement Studios To Improve Racial Diversity And Health Equity In Parkinson’S, Eunyoung Kang, Dominique Woodhouse, Kandace Davis, Jane Q Yap, Peter S Myers, Meghan C Campbell, Yvonne D Hughes, Joyce E Balls-Berry, Erin R Foster

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Black or African Americans (AA) with Parkinson's disease (PD) are underrepresented in both care and research and experience significant health disparities. The existing literature provides limited guidance on how to enhance the engagement of AA individuals in PD care and research, particularly from the perspectives of AA patients, care partners, and healthcare providers. This project aimed to (1) describe the use of Community Engagement (CE) Studios as a community-engaged research approach to inform culturally appropriate and inclusive research and (2) examine factors influencing AA engagement in PD-related activities.

Methods: We conducted three CE Studios: one with AA with PD …

Community Consultation For Exception From Informed Consent Studies: Are Market Research Surveys Representative Of The Target Community Populations?, Shannon W Stephens, Russell L Griffin, Christy Carroll-Ledbetter, Sarah Duckert, Margaret Nelson, Joel Rodgers, Adam Mcclintock, Sara F Goldkind, Luke Gelinas, Amanda E Higley, Stacia Desantis, Claudia Pedroza, Luis Leon-Novelo, James Stubbs, Marissa B Marques, Henry Wang, John B Holcomb, Jan O Jansen, Troop Trial Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: 'Exception from informed consent' research requires community consultation to ensure that the views of the local population have been considered. Using market research companies to distribute surveys across local populations is attractive because it ensures adequate response rates. It is not known whether individuals who respond to surveys are typical of the targeted communities. The purpose of this study is to compare the demographics of the survey respondents with that of the general population in the same area.

Methods: This is an analysis of data collected as part of the 'Trauma Resuscitation with Group O Whole Blood or Products' …

A Directed Content Analysis For Greatest Problems Among People With And Without Traumatic Brain Injury, Emily Dudek, Michael W Williams, Chung Lin Novelle Kew, Annalyn Demello, Brittany Wright, Alexandra B Holland, Alyssa Day-Gorman, Alexa S Gonzalez, Luis Leon Novelo, Xiangyi Liu, Shannon B Juengst

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To characterize the greatest problem or need among individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as compared with individuals with a history of other neurologic conditions, mental health conditions, and no history of neurologic or mental health conditions.

Design: A directed content analysis of open-text responses to a single online survey question using a framework guided by the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-4.

Setting: Community.

Participants: A total of 2861 community-dwelling adults (n=274 with TBI; n=289 with other neurologic conditions besides TBI; n=454 with mental health conditions but no neurologic conditions; and n=1844 controls).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome …

Risk And Prognosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Mexican Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Rikita I Hatia, Lu-Yu Hwang, Ruosha Li, Catherine Troisi, Prasun K Jalal, Christopher I Amos, Henry F Gomez, Yun Shin Chun, Asif Rashid, Ahmed O Kaseb, Paul A Scheet, Manal M Hassan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) disproportionately affects Hispanic persons with higher age-specific incidence and increased mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These high rates of incidence and mortality may be explained by the variation in risk factors. Given the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among the Hispanic population, we aimed to assess the risk and prognosis of HCC in Mexican Americans with type 2 DM with consideration of treatment for DM.

METHODS: A case-control study of 241 Mexican American HCC patients and 500 healthy controls in Texas was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the …

A Systematic Review And Narrative Synthesis Of Factors Affecting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Willingness Among Black Women For Hiv Prevention, Alexis Sims Haynes, Christine Markham, Vanessa Schick, Robert Suchting, Nivedhitha Parthasarathy, Sumaita Choudhury, Mandy J Hill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can significantly reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among Black women in the United States (U.S.), a group disproportionately affected by HIV. However, PrEP uptake in this HIV-vulnerable population is low. This review analyzes the factors influencing Black women's PrEP willingness using the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations (BMVP). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design (PICOS) framework, we conducted a systematic literature search and selected 24 peer-reviewed studies on PrEP willingness. Narrative synthesis revealed a heterogeneous landscape of the determinants affecting PrEP willingness …

Association Between Trust In The Incumbent President And Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors During The Pandemic In Four Latin American Countries, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz, Javiera Alarcón-Aguilar, Pablo Roa-Urrutia, Sergio Mauricio Moreno-López, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Alexandre Augusto De Paula Da Silva, Fernando López, Deborah Salvo, Rodrigo Siqueira Reis, Guillermo Rosas, Andrea Ramírez-Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed disparities in policy responses in Latin America. We examined the association between trust in the president and COVID-19 preventive behaviors in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. We used data from the Collaborative COVID-19 Response Survey by the McDonnell Academy at Washington University in St. Louis (United States), from September 2020 to March 2021. Nonprobabilistic sampling included adult citizens from the four countries. Multivariate negative binomial regression models were applied. The study included 8,125 participants, with Brazil showing the lowest adherence to preventive behaviors (65.5%). Increased adoption of preventive behaviors was linked with ages 18-26 (aIRR = …

A Comparison Of Floating Catchment Area Parameters With Applications To A Dataset Of Clinics Enrolled In A Statewide Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Consultation Program, Jocelyn Hunyadi, Lara S Savas, Kehe Zhang, Jeanette E Deason, Ryan Ramphul, Melissa F Peskin, Erica L Frost, Cici Bauer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare resources are often crucial but limited, requiring careful consideration and informed allocation based on population needs and potential healthcare access. In resource allocation settings, availability and accessibility of resources should be examined simultaneously. The two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method has been previously used to evaluate spatial accessibility to healthcare resources and services, and to address health-related disparities. The 2SFCA methods have regained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as their application proved crucial in addressing priority public health data analysis, modeling, and accessibility challenges. However, comprehensive comparisons of the 2SFCA method input parameters in the context of …

Untargeted Metabolome Atlas For Sleep-Related Phenotypes In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Ying Zhang, Brian W Spitzer, Yu Zhang, Danielle A Wallace, Bing Yu, Qibin Qi, Maria Argos, M Larissa Avilés-Santa, Eric Boerwinkle, Martha L Daviglus, Robert Kaplan, Jianwen Cai, Susan Redline, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Sleep is essential to maintaining health and wellbeing of individuals, influencing a variety of outcomes from mental health to cardiometabolic disease. This study aims to assess the relationships between various sleep-related phenotypes and blood metabolites.

METHODS: Utilising data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, we performed association analyses between 40 sleep-related phenotypes, grouped in several domains (sleep disordered breathing (SDB), sleep duration, sleep timing, self-reported insomnia symptoms, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and heart rate during sleep), and 768 metabolites measured via untargeted metabolomics profiling. Network analysis was employed to visualise and interpret the associations between sleep phenotypes …

Development, Delivery, And Evaluation Of The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute Pilot Infection Control Lecture Series, Kayla E Ruch, Anabel Rodriguez, Janelle Rios, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Eric L Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) aims to keep Texans healthy and the economy strong by preparing for the next infectious disease outbreak. TEPHI's Small Rural Healthcare Preparedness core developed, delivered, and evaluated a pilot infection prevention and control webinar series called Infection Control for rural-serving health professionals and organizations based on infection prevention and control field best practices.

Methods: Data from the first year of the Infection Control series was collected through attendee registration forms, attendance records, knowledge, and post-lecture evaluation surveys using Qualtrics. The data were analyzed using Qualtrics software. Lectures were free and open to …

Head-To-Head Comparison Of Aptamer- And Antibody-Based Proteomic Platforms In Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples From A Real-World Memory Clinic Cohort, Raquel Puerta, Amanda Cano, Pablo García-González, Fernando García-Gutiérrez, Maria Capdevila, Itziar De Rojas, Clàudia Olivé, Josep Blázquez-Folch, Oscar Sotolongo-Grau, Andrea Miguel, Laura Montrreal, Pamela Martino-Adami, Asif Khan, Adelina Orellana, Yun Ju Sung, Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, Natalie Marchant, Jean Charles Lambert, Maitée Rosende-Roca, Montserrat Alegret, Maria Victoria Fernández, Marta Marquié, Sergi Valero, Lluís Tárraga, Carlos Cruchaga, Alfredo Ramírez, Mercè Boada, Bart Smets, Alfredo Cabrera-Socorro, Agustín Ruiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

High-throughput proteomic platforms are crucial to identify novel Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers and pathways. In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility and reliability of aptamer-based (SomaScan® 7k) and antibody-based (Olink® Explore 3k) proteomic platforms in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona real-world cohort. Intra- and inter-platform reproducibility were evaluated through correlations between two independent SomaScan® assays analyzing the same samples, and between SomaScan® and Olink® results. Association analyses were performed between proteomic measures, CSF biological traits, sample demographics, and AD endophenotypes. Our 12-category metric of reproducibility combining correlation analyses identified 2428 highly reproducible SomaScan CSF measures, …

Dynamic And Concordance-Assisted Learning For Risk Stratification With Application To Alzheimer’S Disease, Wen Li, Ruosha Li, Ziding Feng, Jing Ning

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dynamic prediction models capable of retaining accuracy by evolving over time could play a significant role for monitoring disease progression in clinical practice. In biomedical studies with long-term follow up, participants are often monitored through periodic clinical visits with repeat measurements until an occurrence of the event of interest (e.g. disease onset) or the study end. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of disease risk and clinical information contained in the longitudinal markers, we propose an innovative concordance-assisted learning algorithm to derive a real-time risk stratification score. The proposed approach bypasses the need to fit regression models, such as joint models of …

Double-Blind Randomised Trial Of Saline Solution For Gargling And Nasal Rinsing In Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Sebastian R Espinoza, Lexton Trauffler, Amir Shamshirsaz, Alireza Shamshirsaz, Andres Espinoza, Jimmy Espinoza, Alice O'Brien

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Previous studies have shown that hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling reduced the duration of symptoms in upper respiratory infections caused by coronavirus. This study aims to investigate the effects of two saline regimens on symptoms associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Between 2020 and 2022, individuals aged 18-65 years who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were randomly assigned to either low- or high-saline regimens for 14 days. The low-saline solutions contained 2.13 g of salt dissolved in eight ounces of warm water, while the high-saline solution contained six grams of …

Development And Evaluation Of An Implementation Strategy To Increase Hpv Vaccination Among Underserved Youth Across Texas: A Protocol Paper, Paula M Cuccaro, Jihye Choi, Lara S Savas, Efrat K Gabay, Mayra Aguilar Mcbride, Amy Montelongo Eldridge, Timothy J Walker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: All for Them is a theory-based and evidence-informed multilevel, multicomponent program delivered through schools to increase HPV vaccination among medically underserved youth across Texas. Given the potential logistical challenges of program implementation, understanding how to best support the implementation and sustainment of the program is critical. The overall goals of this study are twofold: 1) develop a multifaceted implementation strategy, Implementing All for Them (IM-AFT); and 2) evaluate the impact of IM-AFT on implementation outcomes for schools and healthcare providers to successfully implement All for Them in their respective settings.

METHODS: This study is underpinned by a comprehensive and …

Impact Of American Thyroid Association's Revised Cancer Management Guidelines On Thyroid Cancer Incidence Trends: A Retrospective Cohort Study, 2000-2020, Pierre Fwelo, Natalia I Heredia, Ruosha Li, Ayrton Bangolo, Vignesh K Nagesh, Simcha Weissman, Xianglin L Du

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The past four decades have seen a steady increase in thyroid cancer in the United States (US). This study investigated the impact of the American Thyroid Association (ATA)'s revised cancer management guidelines on thyroid cancer incidence trends and how the trends varied by socioeconomic, histologic, geographic, and racial and ethnic characteristics from 2000 to 2020.

Methods: We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify thyroid cancer cases diagnosed among US patients between 2000 and 2020. We employed joinpoint regression software to fit, assess, and compare thyroid cancer incidence trends over time stratified by …

Protocol For Culturing Patient-Derived Organoids Of Cervical Cancer, Rui Wang, Timothy Harris, Dalissa Negrón-Figueroa, David Lo, Allison Judge, D'Shaunique Walters, Bo Jiang, Lauren E Colbert

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Herein, we present a protocol for culturing patient-derived organoids (PDOs) of cervical cancer that includes workflows for tumor biopsy/resection tissue and cytobrush-sampled cells. We describe steps for PDO culture initiation, including rinsing, gentle dissociation, Lymphoprep separation, and cell assessment, as well as seeding cells from surgical and cytobrush tissue digestion. We then provide guidance on PDO maintenance and passage and techniques for producing conditioned medium. Overall, this protocol serves as a valuable guide for establishing and maintaining cervical cancer PDOs. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Colbert et al.

Unraveling The Relationship Between Sleep Behaviors And Physical Activity In The United States: Insights From 2015 To 2020 Nhanes Data, Deepali K Ernest, Bipin Singh, Fathimath Shamna, Elizabeth A Onugha, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Physical activity is an important component of metabolic health. However, little is known about the impact of specific types/intensities of physical activity on sleep health, especially among ethnically diverse populations. We examined the association of various sleep behaviors with moderate to vigorous work/recreational activity.

Methods: Self-reported data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2020 were cross-sectionally analyzed for a sample of 11,039 participants in the United States (U.S.). Weighted univariate logistic regressions determined unadjusted associations, while weighted multivariable regression models adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, BMI categories, and socio-economic status assessed the multivariable associations with moderate and …

Utility Of Colposcopy For The Screening And Management Of Cervical Cancer In Africa: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Providers’ Training And Practices, Joël Fokom Domgue, Issimouha Dille, Freddy Gnangnon, Sharon Kapambwe, Celine Bouchard, Nomonde Mbatani, Elodie Gauroy, Nathalie Ledaga Ambounda, Robert Yu, Fatoumata Sidibe, Joseph Kamgno, Bangaly Traore, Pierre-Marie Tebeu, Gregory Halle-Ekane, Mohenou Isidore Diomande, Jean-Marie Dangou, Fabrice Lecuru, Isaac Adewole, Marie Plante, Partha Basu, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a public health issue in Africa with devastating socioeconomic consequences due to the lack of organized screening programs. The success of screening programs depends on the appropriate investigation and management of women who test positive for screening. Colposcopic assessment following positive screening results is a noteworthy issue in Africa. This study aimed to assess the utilization of colposcopy by providers in the region.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022 among healthcare providers involved in cervical cancer prevention activities in Africa. They were invited to report prior colposcopy training, whether they performed colposcopy and the …

Pathways From Socioeconomic Factors To Major Cardiovascular Events Among Postmenopausal Veteran And Nonveteran Women: Findings From The Women's Health Initiative, Hind A Beydoun, May A Beydoun, Rebecca L Kinney, Simin Liu, Rona Yu, Matthew Allison, Robert B Wallace, Qian Xiao, Longjian Liu, Philippe Gradidge, Su Yon Jung, Hilary A Tindle, Shawna Follis, Robert Brunner, Jack Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death for women in the United States, with veterans being at potentially higher risk than their nonveteran counterparts due to accelerated aging and distinct biopsychosocial mechanisms. We examined pathways between selected indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) such as education, occupation, household income, and neighborhood SES and major CVD events through lifestyle and health characteristics among veteran and nonveteran postmenopausal women.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 121 286 study-eligible WHI (Women's Health Initiative) participants (3091 veterans and 118 195 nonveterans) were prospectively followed for an average of 17 years, during which …

Mexican Health And Aging Study Biomarker And Genetic Data Profile, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Jesús Daniel Zazueta-Borboa, Alejandra Michaels-Obregon, Dolly Reyes-Dumeyer, Sandra Barral, Giuseppe Tosto, Rebeca Wong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) is one of the largest ongoing longitudinal studies of aging in Latin America, with six waves over 20 years. MHAS includes sociodemographic, economic, and health data from a nationally representative sample of adults 50 years and older in urban and rural Mexico. MHAS is designed to study the impact of diseases on adults' health, function, and mortality. As Mexico is experiencing rapid population aging, providing adequate information to study this phenomenon is vital for designing and implementing public policies. The availability of biomarker and genetic data and longitudinal survey data elevates opportunities for …