Public Health Commons^™

Sexual Health And Relationship Education Needs Of People In Recovery For An Opioid Use Disorder, J Michael Wilkerson, Kathryn R Gallardo, I Niles Zoschke, Hannah L N Stewart, Serena A Rodriguez, Michael U Anosike, Jason Pullin, Sheryl A Mccurdy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

People in recovery with histories of sex and drug-linked behavior (SDB) have an increased risk of substance use recurrence. However, sexual health concerns remain largely unaddressed by recovery support services researchers and practitioners. The purpose of this analysis was to describe the sex and relationship concerns of people in recovery for an opioid use disorder living in level II and level III recovery homes. Recovery homes are sober living homes that the National Association for Recovery Residences classifies into four levels based on staffing and service provision. We interviewed 93 residents and thematically analyzed 92 of the resulting transcripts; one …

Robo2 Variants Associated With Atrial Septal Defect Define A Novel Regulatory Element, Seong Won Kim, Michael Parfenov, Laura Rodriguez-Murillo, David A Conner, Arun Sharma, Inga Peter, Feng Xiao, Olivia Layton, Angela Tai, Tarsha Ward, Lauren K Wasson, Joshua M Gorham, Erica Mazaika, Valentina N Lagomarsino, Tracy L Young-Pearse, Elizabeth Goldmuntz, Hiroko Wakimoto, A J Agopian, David M Mckean, Steven R Depalma, William T Pu, Christine E Seidman, Bruce D Gelb, Jonathan G Seidman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are a prevalent type of congenital heart disease. Previous GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Studies) have identified common variants associated with ASDs, though their mechanisms remain unknown. We aimed to expand insights into the architecture of common variants associated with ASD risk and elucidate functional mechanisms.

Methods: We conducted a GWAS using isolated ASD cases and healthy controls and replicated findings in an independent cohort. We examined epigenetic marks within this ASD locus in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and fetal human hearts. We characterized the consequences of deletions introduced by CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis of human induced …

Developing Scenario-Based Strategies For Health, Climate, And Environmental Preparedness: The One Health, One Earth Approach, Azar M Abadi, Kyle D Brumfield, Moiz Usmani, Gemma Jiang, T C Chakraborty, Yuzhou Wang, Zhijie Zhou, Cenlin He, Minghao Qiu, Jennifer D Stowell, Douglas Fritz, Sunil Kumar, Qiang Guo, Ying Xiong, Georgia Destouni, Qian Xiao, Xindi C Hu, Kelvin C Fong, Yun Hang, John Nielsen-Gammon, Rima Habre, Jennifer R Bratburd, Christopher W Tessum, Antarpreet Jutla, Rita R Colwell, Gabriel M Filippelli, Thanh H Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Climate change amplifies many threats to human health. Despite advances in understanding climate change dynamics and impacts, there remains a critical gap in translating scientific knowledge into equitable, and community‐driven health interventions. The inaugural One Earth, One Health workshop sought to explore this gap through human‐centered design exercises involving interdisciplinary researchers from climate and Earth sciences, engineering, epidemiology, microbiology, and environmental health. Although participants did not co‐develop solutions with affected communities, they used stakeholder role‐playing to guide ideation and lay groundwork for actionable plans. Through these methods, participants identified community needs and proposed prototype solutions to alleviate health threats …

The All-Payer Claims Database After The Gobeille Supreme Court Decision: Assessing The Impact On Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose Research, Jack Cordes, Cici Bauer, Dana Bernson, Marc R Larochelle, Wenjun Li, Jiahao Cao, Olaf Dammann, Thomas J Stopka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To determine the consequences of the Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Supreme Court decision on the representativeness of the Massachusetts all-payer claims database (APCD). The loss of individuals captured in the APCD may vary demographically, geographically, and in the capture of fatal opioid-related overdose (OOD).

Data sources and study setting: We used 2013-2021 data from the Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse (PHD), which links person-level APCD records to other datasets. The APCD includes commercially-insured health claims mandatorily reported pre-Gobeille. Post-Gobeille, reporting from self-insured plans, a subset of commercially-insured plans, became voluntary.

Study design: In a repeated cross-sectional design, we compared …

Traumatic Brain Injury And Risk Of Early-Onset Dementia: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Aishwarya Saravanan, Katherine Giorgio, Natalia Lakomski, Andrea L C Schneider, Barbara A Olson-Bullis, Behnam Sabayan, James S Pankow, Paul S De Vries, Kristine Yaffe, Alexa Beiser, Abbas Dehghan, Elizabeth A Peterson, Rachel Zmora, John J Stephen, Denise Scholtens, Maxwell Mansolf, Lenore J Launer, Richard F Maclehose, Pamela L Lutsey, Norrina B Allen, Sanaz Sedaghat

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: We investigated the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and incidence of early-onset dementia (EOD) versus late-onset dementia (LOD).

Methods: We included 501,710 UK Biobank participants (average age 56.5). Over a median 13.6 years of follow-up, 836 developed EOD (before 65) and 8947 developed LOD (after 65). We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for TBI's association with EOD and LOD using Cox proportional hazard models with TBI as a time-varying exposure and coefficient.

Results: TBI was associated with higher risk of both EOD (HR: 4.06 [95% confidence interval: 3.13, 5.26]) and LOD (HR: 2.51 [2.31, 2.72]. Among participants included in …

Double-Crispr Knockout Simulation (Dkosim): A Monte-Carlo Randomization System To Model Cell Growth Behavior And Infer The Optimal Library Design For Growth-Based Double Knockout Screens, Yue Gu, Traver Hart, Luis Leon-Novelo, John Paul Shen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advances in functional genomic technology, notably CRISPR using Cas9 or Cas12, now allow for large-scale double perturbation screens in which pairs of genes are inactivated, allowing for the experimental detection of genetic interactions (GIs). However, as it is not possible to validate GIs in high-throughput, there is no gold standard dataset where true interactions are known. Hence, we constructed a Double-CRISPR Knockout Simulation (DKOsim), which allows users to reproducibly generate synthetic simulation data where the single gene fitness effect of each gene and the interaction of each gene pair can be specified by the investigator. We adapted Monte-Carlo randomization methods …

Continuous Versus Bolus Norepinephrine Administration To Treat Hypotension After Induction Of General Anaesthesia In Low-To-Moderate Risk Noncardiac Surgery Patients: A Randomised Trial, Kristen K Thomsen, Finn Külls, Christina Vokuhl, Linda Krause, Dominik Müller, Max Bossemeyer, Mirja Wegge, Alina Kröker, Alina Bergholz, Christian Zöllner, Daniel I Sessler, Bernd Saugel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Hypotension after induction of general anaesthesia (postinduction hypotension) is common in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery and frequently requires treatment with vasopressors such as norepinephrine. We tested the hypothesis that giving norepinephrine continuously using a syringe infusion pump, compared with giving it as repeated manual boluses, reduces postinduction hypotension within 15 min after starting induction of general anaesthesia in low-to-moderate risk noncardiac surgery patients.

Methods: Patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery were randomised to either continuous norepinephrine infusion or manual bolus norepinephrine administration intravenously during induction of general anaesthesia. In both groups, norepinephrine was administered through a peripheral venous catheter. Blood …

Associations Between Caregiver-Provider Communication Quality And Unmet Care Needs Among Older Adults, Jiaming Liang, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Brian Downer, Zhigang Xie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Unmet care needs (lack of assistance with daily activities) among older adults are common and linked to adverse health outcomes, greater healthcare utilization, and caregiver burden. While effective patient-provider communication is known to improve care quality, less is understood about the role of caregiver-provider communication, particularly across sociodemographic, health, and caregiving contexts. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of pooled 2021–2023 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) data, restricted to community-dwelling older adults (65 + years) who received assistance from caregivers due to difficulty with daily activities, and had at least …

Mist: A Hierarchical Bayesian Framework For Detecting Differential Dna Methylation Dynamics In Single-Cell Data, Daoyu Duan, Wenjing Ma, Wen Tang, Hao Wu, Liangliang Zhang, Hao Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent advancements in single-cell DNA methylation (scDNAm) sequencing technologies have enabled the profiling of epigenetic landscapes at unprecedented resolution, offering insights into cellular heterogeneity, differentiation and evolution. Trajectory inference, which orders cells along pseudotime, allows researchers to track genomics changes across continuous cell states and identify key loci exhibiting differential methylation. However, no methods currently exist to model methylation changes along pseudotime in scDNAm data. Here, we present a hierarchical Bayesian framework for scDNAm data analysis. Our method, named mist (methylation inference for single-cell along trajectory), models stage-specific biological variations, identifies genomic features with significant methylation changes along pseudotime, and …

Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Of Pain In Older Adults Undergoing Auricular Point Acupressure For Chronic Low Back Pain: Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Nada Lukkahatai, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Xinran Huang, Hulin Wu, Jennifer Kawi, Jingyu Zhang, Claudia M Campbell, Constance M Johnson, Paul J Christo, Johannes Thrul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a prevalent and disabling condition in older adults. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a nonpharmacologic intervention, has shown promise in managing cLBP. However, its impact on daily symptom fluctuations remains unclear. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA), which collects real-time data, offers a method to capture these fluctuations.

Objective: This secondary analysis evaluated the effects of APA on EMA-reported pain intensity and pain interference among older adults with cLBP and examined associations among APA practice patterns, recall-based assessments, and EMA engagement.

Methods: Data were drawn from a published 3-arm randomized controlled trial of 272 adults aged …

Shifts In Antipsychotic Prescribing By Clinician Type For Medicare Part D Beneficiaries, 2013-2023, Youngran Kim, Xuan Zhou, Shilei Du, Trudy M Krause, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Antonio L Teixeira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Despite safety warnings, antipsychotics remain commonly prescribed to older adults, particularly those with dementia, and for off-label indications. However, little is known about how prescribing patterns vary by clinician type over time.

Objective: To examine trends in antipsychotic prescribing by clinician type among Medicare beneficiaries from 2013 to 2023.

Design, setting, and participants: This repeated cross-sectional study used the Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug dataset from 2013 to 2023. Participants included Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D. Analyses were performed between November 2024 and June 2025.

Exposure: Prescribing clinician type, categorized as psychiatrist, primary care …

Apoe And Plasma Ad Biomarkers: The Role Of Genetic Ancestry In Hispanics/Latinos, Caitlin Cheung, Natasha Z Anita, Paola Filigrana, Myriam Fornage, Kevin A Gonzalez, Linda C Gallo, Carmen R Isasi, Robert C Kaplan, Xihao Li, Freddie Márquez, Humberto Parada, Krista M Perreira, Alberto R Ramos, Tatjana Rundek, Wassim Tarraf, Fernando D Testai, Charles Decarli, Hector M González, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles are well-established genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but their effects on AD biomarkers (amyloid beta [Aβ]42/40, phosphorylated tau [p-tau]181, neurofilament light chain [NfL], and glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]) may vary across populations due to ancestry-, age-, and sex-related differences. We hypothesized that these effects vary across Hispanic/Latino background groups with distinct ancestral admixture.

Methods: We analyzed ε2 and ε4 allele associations with AD biomarkers using survey-weighted linear regression models, adjusting for demographic covariates. Secondary analyses examined genetic analysis group- and ancestry-specific effects.

Results: ε4 was associated with lower Aβ42/40 and higher p-tau181and …

Brief Report: Long-Acting Injectable Prep Can Substantially Reduce Hiv Incidence In Los Angeles County: A Simulation Study, Aditya Khanna, Francis Lee, Katrina Schrode, Daniel Sheeler, Anna Hotton, John Schneider, Kayo Fujimoto, Siri Chirumamilla, Ekow Kwa Sey, Nina T Harawa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Although oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been instrumental in decreasing HIV incidence, its daily dosing regimen poses adherence challenges. Using an agent-based network model informed by empirical data, we simulate the impact of introducing long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in Los Angeles County, a group disproportionately affected by HIV.

Setting: Computer simulations using an agent-based network model.

Methods: We modeled HIV transmission among YBMSM over 10 years under scenarios varying the proportion of PrEP users opting for LAI instead of oral medications and adherence levels to LAI retention. The model …

Preferences For Game-Based Elements To Increase Preexposure Prophylaxis And Hiv Prevention Engagement Among Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men: South Florida, 2022, Lacey Despres, Edda Rodriguez, Ross Shegog, Stephanie Diez, Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, Kayo Fujimoto, Suzanne Randolph Cunningham, Mariano Kanamori

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We explored gaming elements as a tool to promote engagement in HIV prevention services among Latino men who have sex with men. We conducted thematic content analysis of semistructured interview data that we collected from 12 Latino men who have sex with men (April-August 2022) in South Florida. Themes emerged related to intervention delivery, components, and perceptions. Our findings will guide the development of a game-based intervention to improve preexposure prophylaxis and HIV prevention engagement among Latino men who have sex with men.

Associations Of Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity Timing With Type 2 Diabetes Incidence In Uk Biobank And Prevalent Glycemic Measures In Nhanes, Qiuyu Feng, Gali Albalak, Linjun Ao, Qian Xiao, Heming Wang, Jeroen H P M Van Der Velde, Jessica C Kiefte-De Jong, Martin K Rutter, Charles E Matthews, Joshua R Freeman, Ko Willems Van Dijk, Diana Van Heemst, Raymond Noordam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: We assessed the association between timing of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic measures.

Research design and methods: Regression models were used to assess associations between accelerometer-derived MVPA timing and incident T2D in UK Biobank (UKB) (n = 84,528, prospective), prevalent diabetes, and glycemic measures in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 6,998, cross-sectional).

Results: In UKB, with early morning (0500-0959) MVPA as reference and before adjustment for total MVPA, "variable-timing" MVPA was associated with the lowest incident T2D risk; while after adjustment, afternoon-evening MVPA (1500-2400) showed the lowest …

Hyperpolypharmacy And Readmission Risk Among Medicare Beneficiaries: The Role Of Postdischarge Care, Maria Ukhanova, Linda D Highfield, Trudy M Krause, Gayla M Ferguson, Robert O Morgan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Medication reconciliation post discharge may reduce readmission risk in populations with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. We aimed to evaluate the association between hyperpolypharmacy and 30-day readmissions; determine the impact of postdischarge care on 30-day readmissions; and identify interactions among hyperpolypharmacy, postdischarge care, and 30-day readmissions in 2 Medicare populations: individuals 65 years and older and individuals of any age with a qualifying disability.

Study design: Retrospective observational study using the 5% national sample Medicare fee-for-service claims data from 2016 to 2019.

Methods: We used descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equation models adjusted for covariates to assess the relationships among hyperpolypharmacy, …

Intraoperative Blood Pressure Management In Noncardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review Based On Current Evidence, Alexandre Joosten, Michelle S Chew, Emmanuel Futier, Anatole Harrois, Matthias Jacquet-Lagreze, Matthieu Legrand, Antonio Messina, Paul S Myles, Bernd Saugel, Daniel I Sessler, Denise P Veelo, Jean-Luc Fellahi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Blood pressure is closely monitored during anaesthesia, yet the optimal intraoperative target remains uncertain. This narrative review synthesizes contemporary observational and randomized evidence and explores emerging strategies for individualized haemodynamic management.

Methods: We reviewed major observational cohort studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), consensus statements, and recent technological developments addressing intraoperative hypotension, MAP thresholds, and strategies to prevent perioperative organ injury in adult noncardiac surgery.

Results: Large observational datasets consistently demonstrate graded, duration-dependent associations between intraoperative MAP 60-70 mmHg and postoperative myocardial injury, acute kidney injury, and mortality . These findings have informed international recommendations to avoid MAP below 60-65 …

Early Behavioral And Cognitive Changes In Patients With Pathologically Confirmed Alzheimer Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, And Mixed Dementia, Ming Wang, Hongke Wu, Aaron Bonner-Jackson, Yiming Chen, Wen Tang, Hao Feng, Lijun Zhang, Chixiang Chen, James B Leverenz, Jagan A Pillai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Alzheimer's disease pathology (ADP) and Lewy body pathology (LBP) are traditionally associated with distinct cognitive profiles. However, growing evidence highlights the role of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in shaping clinical presentations. The combined influence of cognitive and behavioral symptoms across neuropathologically confirmed ADP, LBP, and mixed AD-LBP has not been systematically examined. This study aimed to identify clinically meaningful subtypes by jointly analyzing cognitive performance and BPSD profiles in individuals with autopsy-confirmed dementia pathology.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study used data from the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center (NACC), collected across multiple U.S. Alzheimer's …

Risk Factors For Early-Onset And Late-Onset Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study, Katherine Giorgio, John J Stephen, Maxwell Mansolf, Elizabeth A Peterson, Alden L Gross, Emily M Briceño, Deborah A Levine, Catherine Helmer, Stéphanie Debette, Aïcha Soumaré, M Arfan Ikram, Frank J Wolters, Sudha Seshadri, Claudia L Satizabal, Jayandra Jung Himali, Lenore J Launer, David Li, Djass Mbangdadji, Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Farzaneh A Sorond, Lihui Zhao, Oscar L Lopez, Suzanne E Judd, Timothy M Hughes, Vilmundur Guðnason, Allison E Aiello, Alison Fohner, Archana Singh-Manoux, Behnam Sabayan, James S Pankow, Paul S De Vries, Kristine Yaffe, Alexa Beiser, Abbas Dehghan, Rachel Zmora, Denise Scholtens, Pamela L Lutsey, Norrina B Allen, Richard Maclehose, Sanaz Sedaghat

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Early-onset dementia (onset before age 65 years) is an important health concern, but much of our understanding of its risk factors is inferred from studies of late-onset dementia (onset after age 65 years). We investigated associations between several demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors with early-onset dementia and compared those estimates against their associations with late-onset dementia.

Methods: Data from five community-based longitudinal cohort studies from the UK and USA were pooled and rigorously harmonised: UK Biobank, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Framingham Heart Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Whitehall II Study. Dementia was ascertained via hospitalisation and death …

Marginal Dispositions And Shared Decision-Making Among Older Adults In The Ed: A Prospective Cohort Study, Adrian D Haimovich, Anita Chary, Laura Burke, Alexander T Janke, Adam Rodman, Bruce Landon, Nathan I Shapiro, Aanand D Naik, Elizabeth Schoenfeld, Kei Ouchi, Mara A Schonberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: ED disposition decisions for older adults are complex and often uncertain, yet studies rarely capture emergency physicians' real-time perspectives.

Objective: To assess patient outcomes based on emergency physician-perceived need for admission.

Design: Single-site prospective cohort study conducted between July and November 2024.

Setting: A Boston-area academic tertiary care ED.

Participants: Patients aged 65 and older dispositioned by attending physicians, excluding patients who were handed off, left without being seen, or eloped.

Measurements: Physicians rated admission need using a 5-point Likert scale (2-4 considered marginal). Primary outcome was ED disposition stratified by rating. Secondary outcomes were hospital length-of-stay (LOS), 7-day …

Evaluating The Health Economic Impacts Of Baloxavir Marboxil And Oseltamivir For The Treatment Of Influenza In Adult Outpatients In Hong Kong: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Ruohan Chen, Zengyang Shao, Kaiming Bi, Benjamin John Cowling, Zhanwei Du

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Baloxavir marboxil, an antiviral used only in private hospitals in Hong Kong since February 2019 for treating influenza, is recognized for its efficacy against strains resistant to standard antiviral agents, providing an alternative to neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir.

Methods: This study compares the cost-effectiveness of baloxavir and oseltamivir for influenza treatment in otherwise healthy (OwH) and high-risk (HR) adult outpatients in Hong Kong from the healthcare-payer's perspective. A decision tree was utilized to study the progression of influenza and estimate associated costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) over 14 days for each antiviral.

Findings: In the general population, the …

Cardiac Output-Guided Vs. Mean Arterial Pressure-Guided Hemodynamic Management In Craniotomy Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Trial, Na Chen, Minjing Yang, Renhua Li, Chunyan Ye, Lu Wang, Xingyang Liu, Jinghan Wu, Daniel I Sessler, E Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We tested the primary hypothesis that cardiac output (CO)-guided versus mean arterial pressure (MAP)-guided hemodynamic management reduces the fraction of patients with 90-day Glasgow Outcome scores ≤ 4 (on a 1–5 scale, 5 better) after supratentorial brain tumor resections in adults with cardiovascular disease. 202 adults were randomized to intraoperative hemodynamic management guided by either CO or MAP. In patients assigned to CO guidance, clinicians targeted CO > 4 L/min and > 90% of baseline values using a combination of fluids and vasoactive agents. In patients assigned to MAP guidance, clinicians targeted MAP within ± 20% of baseline and ≥ 65 mmHg. …

Neurophysiological Connectomic Signatures Of Consciousness During Propofol-Induced General Anesthesia, Yuqin Li, Xiaoxiao Chen, Hui Zheng, Senqi Li, Qingyu Teng, Chengyu Wang, Fali Li, Zhongcong Xie, Daniel Sessler, Zhe Zhang, Peng Xu, Ti-Fei Yuan, Tao Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

General anesthesia induces reversible changes in consciousness through cortical activity and connectivity alterations, yet the functional connectome dynamics underlying propofol-induced unconsciousness remains unclear. We analyze high-density 128-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) from 31 surgical patients using source localization to identify neurobiological connectome signatures of propofol anesthesia. Propofol anesthesia increases delta and theta functional connectivity and decreases alpha, beta, and gamma connectivity. A classification model and dynamic analysis of consciousness loss reveals that alpha-band connectivity between parietal, occipital, and subcortical regions is critical for sustaining consciousness, with its disruption marking a key transition to unconsciousness. EEG from 46 additional patients under mild sedation …

“My Heart Was In My Stomach”: Texas-Based Obstetricians’ And Gynecologists’ Experiences Post Anti-Abortion Legislation, Chelsey Kanipe, Precious Chiamaka Anunobi, Anupria D Davenport, Sheryl A Mccurdy, Marie A Brault

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

The purpose of this study is to investigate the downstream effects of anti-abortion legislation on the practice of obstetrics and gynecology in urban Texas.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews until saturation with eleven obstetricians/gynecologists (OBGYNs) to explore the effects of Texas’s abortion laws. Analysis consisted of inductive and deductive approaches.

Results

We identified three main themes regarding the downstream effects of Texas abortion laws: the conflicting role of colleagues as a support system and a source of frustration and distrust for OBGYNs, the lowered standard of care for those with a desired pregnancy, and concerns that anti-abortion legislation will …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A Darwish, Patricia J Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H Aboul-Enein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

Methods: A scoping review …

Multiparent Recombinant Inbred Lines Crossed To A Tester Provide Novel Insights Into Sources Of Cis And Trans Regulation Of Gene Expression, Fabio Marroni, Alison M Morse, Adalena V Nanni, Nadja Nolte, Patricka Williams-Simon, Luis G León-Novelo, Rita M Graze, Paul Schmidt, Elizabeth King, Lauren M Mcintyre

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To understand the relative importance of cis and trans effects on regulation, we crossed multi-parent recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) to a common tester and measured allele-specific gene expression in the offspring. Testing the difference of allelic imbalance between two RIL × Tester crosses is a test of cis or trans, depending on the RIL alleles compared. The study design also enables to separation of two sources of trans variation, genetic and environmental, detected via interactions with cis effects. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in a long-read RNA-seq experiment in female abdominal tissue at two time points in Drosophila melanogaster. …

Anxiety Or Depression Trends By Disability Status And Demographic Intersections In Us Adults, 2019-2023, David Adzrago, Kayo Fujimoto, J Michael Wilkerson, Typhanye V Dyer, Faustine Williams

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression, remain among the leading causes of disease burden in the US. However, trends in anxiety and depression across disability status and demographics remain understudied.

Objective: To examine trends in anxiety and depression prevalence among US adults from 2019 to 2023 by disability status and demographic characteristics.

Design, setting, and participants: This cross-sectional study used national population-based data from the National Health Interview Surveys from 2019 to 2023. Data were collected from household probability samples of noninstitutionalized US civilian adults aged at least 18 years. Data analyses were performed from December 6, 2024, …

Genetic Architecture Of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide In A Multiancestry Study Population, Naman S Shetty, Akhil Pampana, Mokshad Gaonkar, Amrita Nayak, Harshvir S Bal, Nirav Patel, Nehal Vekariya, J Gustav Smith, Alanna C Morrison, Bing Yu, Bruce M Psaty, Eric Boerwinkle, James S Floyd, Jerome I Rotter, Kent D Taylor, Leslie A Lange, Marguerite R Irvin, Mary Cushman, Stephen S Rich, Ramachandran S Vasan, Thomas J Wang, Xiuqing Guo, Peng Li, Garima Arora, Pankaj Arora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: NPs (natriuretic peptides) are bioactive hormones crucial for regulating blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism. Despite the high heritability of circulating NP levels, the genetic determinants of NP regulation, particularly across ancestries and sexes, remain poorly understood. The objective of the current study was to identify genetic variants associated with NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type NP) levels in a multiancestry study population.

Methods: Whole genome sequencing and array-based data from 81 213 individuals without heart failure were analyzed from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine cohorts, UK Biobank, All of Us Research Program, and REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences …

Bispectral Index-Guided Anesthesia For Older Patients Having Noncardiac Surgery: A Randomized Multicenter Trial, Li Zhou, Lin Ding, Hui Yang, Chengyu Li, Zhangsheng Yu, Wei Ma, Qiuyu Chen, Yanzhuo Zhang, Yong Li, Qingxiang Mao, Minghua Cheng, Gu Gong, Enqin Wang, Cunming Liu, Wei Hao, Hong Li, Changlin Chen, Yaling Fan, Zhenbo Su, Xiaoli Cai, Xiaole Zhang, Zhi Li, Bing Zhang, Yi Li, Chunxiu Jiang, Qinqin Yin, Jiali Jiao, Daniel I Sessler, Qian Li, Jin Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Older surgical patients are at risk because of age-related physiologic decline and comorbidities. Some guidelines recommend Bispectral Index (BIS; Medtronic, USA) monitoring to optimize anesthetic depth, but robust evidence supporting improved outcomes is lacking.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial was conducted across 21 tertiary-care hospitals in China (March 17, 2015, to February 5, 2022). Patients aged 65 yr or older scheduled for elective noncardiac surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] Physical Status I to IV) were randomized 1:1 to BIS-guided or routine anesthetic management. In patients assigned to BIS guidance, hypnotic depth was adjusted to maintain BIS between …

Examination Of Traffic Safety In Neighborhoods Associated With Active Commuting To School In Austin, Texas, Kathryn G Burford, Deborah Salvo, Harold W Kohl, Leigh Ann Ganzar, Cici X Bauer, Eugen Resendiz, Yuzi Zhang, Deanna M Hoelscher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Only 10% of US children participate in active commuting (walking and bicycling) to school (ACS). Parental concerns related to traffic are a primary barrier to ACS, yet no studies have assessed these concerns together with neighborhood traffic safety-related features. This study examined the associations between traffic safety-related features in neighborhoods and ACS among school-age children in Austin, Texas.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis utilized pre-COVID-19 baseline data (2019-2020) of parent-child dyads enrolled in the Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools study. ACS, traffic safety-related features in the neighborhood (sidewalk availability, safe road crossings, traffic safety, traffic speed, and safety …