Public Health Commons^™

Effect Of Perioperative Haemodynamic Management Based On Cerebral Autoregulation Monitored By Cerebral Oximetry Index During Carotid Endarterectomy: Protocol Of A Randomised Trial, Muhan Li, Xueke Yin, Chuanyu Liang, Chenyang Tao, Qixiao Yan, Min Zeng, Shu Li, Daniel I Sessler, Rong Wang, Lei Zhao, Yuming Peng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Impaired cerebral autoregulation is associated with postoperative ischaemic brain injury and often occurs in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Adequate cerebral perfusion should therefore be maintained during carotid endarterectomies. Whether guiding intraoperative blood pressure to the Cerebral Oximetry Index (a measure of cerebral perfusion adequacy) reduces postoperative cerebral ischaemia remains unclear.

Methods and analysis: We plan a dual-centre randomised blinded trial. A total of 560 patients having elective carotid endarterectomy will be randomly assigned to guided versus routine haemodynamic management. In patients randomised to guided management, mean arterial pressure will be titrated to maintain a normal cerebral oximetry index. …

The Case For Compulsory Dna Testing At Birth To Confirm Paternity: Ethical, Legal, And Social Considerations, Michael Mncedisi Willie

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Compulsory paternity testing at birth has sparked significant legal, ethical, and social debate due to its potential impact on family dynamics, child well-being, and parental responsibility. This review explores the ethical, legal, and societal implications of such testing, using Bioecological Systems Theory and Rawls' Theory of Justice to frame the discussion. This review evaluates the benefits and challenges of mandatory DNA testing at birth, particularly in reducing paternity fraud, ensuring fairness in child support allocation, and enhancing socio-economic outcomes, especially in low-income households. This qualitative review draws on multidisciplinary literature from family law, genetic counseling, social policy, and fathers' rights …

When Access Is Not Enough: The Role Of Utilization Barriers In Nutrition Security And Cardiometabolic Risk, Maha Almohamad, Ruosha Li, Natalia I Heredia, Jayna M Dave, Eric E Calloway, Anjail Z Sharrief, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Food and nutrition security are key social determinants of cardiometabolic health. While food security reflects access to sufficient food, nutrition security incorporates the quality, consistency, and usability of food that supports long-term health. However, few studies have examined how household-level barriers to food utilization shape these relationships. Objective: This study assessed whether tangible (e.g., equipment, storage) and intangible (e.g., time, knowledge) food utilization barriers modify the associations between food and nutrition security and cardiometabolic outcomes in low-income adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 486 low-income adults across five U.S. states. Participants reported household food security (USDA …

"You Need To Make The Decision You Can Live With": An Observational Study Of Anti-Abortion Centers In Tampa Bay, Anna Broich

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anti-Abortion Centers (AACs) pose a grave threat to the reproductive health outcomes of Americans. Disguising themselves as licensed health clinics, AACs target vulnerable communities to prevent or delay abortion care through the spread of medical misinformation, contributing to abortion stigmatization. Situated in a state with a near-total abortion ban, this secret-shopper study aimed to understand the ways in which AACs in Tampa, Florida communicate anti-abortion rhetoric to pregnant people seeking abortions. Under the guise of people who suspect they are pregnant searching for abortion care, the main researcher and her assistants conducted the first phase of the study through 25 …

The Social Standing Versus The Mind Standing Of Older Adults In Egypt: Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Relationship Between Social Capital And Cognitive Functions, Shaza H. Shinaishen Dr

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Egypt's population, much like that of other countries, is expected to age considerably over the course of the coming decades. Although biological and socioeconomic predictors of cognitive function have been studied widely, personal level social capital remains unexplored, especially in LMICs.

Purpose: This study primarily investigates the relationship between individual social capital and cognitive functioning among older adults aged 65 years and older in Egypt using the structural and cognitive components of social capital, including group membership, civic engagements, and caregiving roles.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey on 363 older individuals in different geographical and demographic segments of Egypt using …

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory And Antioxidant Potential And Systemic Inflammatory And Oxidative Status With The Risk And Severity Of Coronary Artery Disease, Zahara Namkhah, Elham Alipoor, Manhnaz Salmani, Negar Ebrahimi, Monireh Ahmadpanahi, Ali Vasheghani-Farahani, Mehdi Yaseri, Michael David Wirth, Longgang Zhao, James Hébert Scd, Javad Hosseinzadeh-Attar

Faculty Publications

Background and aims

Unhealthy diets have pro-inflammatory properties that have been shown to contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and the dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) quantify the anti-/pro-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of a diet. This study aims to investigate the association between the energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM), DAQS, oxidant/anti-oxidant biomarkers, and CAD risk and severity.

Methods and results

This cross-sectional study investigated 158 participants for the presence and severity of CAD based on coronary angiography. E-DII and DAQS scores, malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and conventional …

The N-Pact Factor, Replication And Power Associated With Quantitative Research In Physical Activity And Health, Angelina Haidar, Jeffrey J. Martin, Adam J. Martin, Sarah Rogers, Fatemeh Dehghan, Eva Prokesova

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical Activity (PA) and health science researchers often face challenges related to sample size, which can impact the reliability and generalizability of study findings. The purpose of the current paper is to address these issues by discussing key statistical concepts: effect size and Type I and Type II errors, with a specific focus on examining statistical power and sample size using studies from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ). We examined research articles published in DHJ over a 15-year period (2008–2022), covering 62 issues and analyzing a total of 1,177 articles. Our analysis revealed that the median sample sizes …

Cardiovascular Health In Cardiac Rehabilitation: Applying The American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 Framework In A Center-Based Cohort, Audry Chacin-Suarez, Tomoaki Hama, Matthew P. Johnson, Helayna Abraham, Thomas P. Olson, Laprincess C. Brewer

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive secondary cardiovascular disease program with structured lifestyle interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. The American Heart Association cardiovascular health (CVH) framework measures health-promoting behaviors and clinical factors, but it has not been rigorously evaluated in the CR setting.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients attending CR from January 2018 to September 2020. Patients were evaluated at baseline (pre-CR) and completion (post-CR) using 3 clinical factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c) and 4 health behaviors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, and diet). CVH score was computed as a composite of each …

A Community-Based Study To Investigate Persistent Ambient Odors In Childs Park, Fl, Gennaro Saliceto

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For many years, residents in Childs Park, Saint Petersburg, Florida, have reported unpleasant odors. Although there have been prior efforts to address the issue, the odors continue to be a concern for the community, who worry about possible health implications. This research aimed to equip residents with information to address the issue by identifying the presence of airborne pollutants that generate odors, quantifying the concentrations of toxic organic pollutants, and exploring the sources and environmental conditions that contribute to odors and their perception.

To accomplish these aims, the study utilized different methods. First, two walking measurement campaigns were conducted to …

Identification Of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Hif1a As A Therapeutic Target During Sars-Cov-2-Associated Lung Injury, Bentley Bobrow, Samuel D Luber, Paul Potnuru, Katherine Figarella, Jieun Kim, Yanyu Wang, In Hyuk Bang, David Robinson, Paulina B Sergot, Steven K Burke, Tingting Mills, Constanza De Dios, Robert Suchting, George W Williams, Adit A Ginde, Yafen Liang, Hongfang Liu, Charles Green, Marie-Francoise Doursout, Alparslan Turan, Daniel I Sessler, Xiaoyi Yuan, Holger K Eltzschig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) promote lung protection and pathogen eradication during acute lung injury. We therefore tested the theory that pharmacologic stabilization of HIFs dampens lung injury during SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Initial studies in murine SARS-CoV-2 models showed improved outcomes after treatment with the FDA-approved HIF-stabilizer vadadustat. Subsequent studies in genetic models implicated alveolar-expressed Hif1a in mediating lung protection. Therefore, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter phase 2 trial in patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection and concomitant hypoxia (SpO2 ≤ 94%). Patients (n=448) were randomized to oral vadadustat (900 mg/day) or placebo for up to 14 days. Safety events were similar between …

Btp2 Restricts Tulane Virus And Human Norovirus Replication Independent Of Store-Operated Calcium Entry, Francesca J Scribano, J Thomas Gebert, Kristen A Engevik, Nicole M Hayes, Jorge Villanueva, Son Pham, Soni Kaundal, Janam J Dave, B V Venkataram Prasad, Mary K Estes, Sasirekha Ramani, Joseph M Hyser

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis across all age groups. While there is a need for human norovirus antivirals, therapeutic development has been hindered by a lack of cell culture systems and animal models of infection. Surrogate viruses, such as Tulane virus (TV), have provided tractable systems to screen potential antiviral compounds. Our previous work demonstrated that TV encodes a viral ion channel, which dysregulates cytosolic calcium signaling. We set out to investigate whether host pathways triggered by viral ion channel activity, including store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), play a role in virus replication. Using pharmacologic inhibitors and …

Sports And Physical Activity Of Poles In The Context Of Good Health And Well-Being As A Sustainable Development Goal, Elżbieta Biernat, Monika Piątkowska, Robert Podstawski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Investing in physical activity (PA) is vital for achieving sustainable development goals. We examine PA trends in Poland using data from Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 2022, 64.6% of Poles did not participate in sports, and 41.8% did not engage in non-sport PA. There is a concerning trend of increasing inactivity in sports (Chi²_2022/2017 = 34.64; p < 0.001; Chi²_2017/2013 = 56.98; p < 0.001) and non-sports PA (Chi²_2022/2017 = 18.3, p < 0.01 and Chi²_2017/2013 = 16.95, p < 0.01). Participation in sport and PA is influenced by individual, inter-personal, environmental, political, and global factors. Notably, there is an upward trend in interpersonal (e.g., club membership, volunteering), environmental (e.g., PA in parks/nature, at home), and political (e.g., dissatisfaction with local government actions) factors. Government intervention is crucial and requires: (1) establishment of an institution for leadership and advocacy of PA, (2) adoption of a cross-sectoral approach for a coordinated change, and (3) increased in-vestment in monitoring systems to track the impact of interventions. These actions are essential for fostering a more active and healthier population in Poland.

Top Ten Types Of Childhood Cancer In Nineveh Governorate 2018–2022: A Time Series Analysis, Marab Younis Abdullah Al-Fathy, Ahmed Asaad Hussein, Hiba Farooq Mohamed Ameen, Maan Younis Al-Fathi

BioMed Visions Journal

Background: Childhood cancer incidence and deaths reflects the low health status, which can be prevented by setting upstrategies with help of different sectors in community.

Aim: To describe the childhood cancer in Nineveh governorate during 2018–2022.

Methods: A Biometry study used to review 646 a cancer registration form for five years 2018–2022, using Can-Rej 5 inquiryforms adopted by Ministry of Health measuring [sex ratio, sex and cause specific death rate, the incidence rate, the case fatalityrate, the proportion mortality rate and trend of (occurrences and death)].

Results: The total number of participants was 646, the commonest childhood cancer was among …

Respectful Patient-Provider Communication And Patient Portal Usage In Pregnant People Of Color, Amy H. Goh, Christopher Lee, Chisolum Nkenke, Joyce K. Edmonds

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patient-provider communication (PPC) increasingly occurs in online patient portals. Variations in portal usage might worsen communication inequities for pregnant people of color (POC), widening the digital divide. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between respectful PPC, patient portal usage, and digital health literacy (DHL) in pregnant POC.

METHODS: A multimethod cross-sectional survey design was used. Ordered logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between PPC and portal use, controlling for trimester prenatal care was initiated, insurance type, age, gestational age, and parity. The moderating effect of Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) was tested on …

“Are You Worried About Going Into Withdrawal Today?” Retrospective Analysis Of Single-Question, Patient-Centered Screen For Substance Use And Care Linkage, Kory S. London, Beth Hurwitz, Jennifer Davis, Tareva Warrick-Stone, Alan Cherney, Frederick Randolph, Bernice Bradley-O'Toole, Kate Deis, Karen Alexander

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Emergency Department (ED) screening for substance use disorder (SUD) is limited by a lack of standardization and challenging clinical environments. Existing tools may be focused on informing clinicians rather than supporting patients. This study assessed a novel single-question screening tool to identify patients at risk of withdrawal and link those with opioid use disorder (OUD) to standardized treatment.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted at two urban EDs in Philadelphia, PA, using electronic health record data between November 8, 2022, and February 28, 2025. Patients were included in the study if they arrived ambulatory to the emergency department, …

Beyond The Genome: The Racialized Exposome, Flourishing, And Stress Biology In African Americans, A Non-Exhaustive Review, Enye Washington

University Honors Theses

Racial health disparities remain an enduring challenge in the United States, disproportionately impacting African American communities through higher rates of chronic disease and premature mortality. This non-exhaustive literature explores how the racialized exposome - a term denoting the totality of social, environmental, and structural stressors rooted in systemic racism - biologically embeds itself via stress-responsive pathways. Specifically, it examines the interaction between racial stress, flourishing, and key biological markers, including allostatic load and telomere length, considering the gut-brain axis. The review highlights robust evidence that chronic exposure to racial discrimination and structural adversity contributes to multisystem dysregulation and accelerated cellular …

Virtual Versus In-Person Rose Program (La Luz) As Universal Prevention For Perinatal Depression: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial In A Safety Net Hospital, Daphne Y. Liu, Nicholas S. Perry, Catherine H. Demers, Jennifer S. Hyer, Anely Alamo, Paige Vuksanovich, Nandi Dube, Erin R. Flanagan, Robert J. Gallop, Galena K. Rhoades, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Perinatal depression disproportionally affects underserved communities, who need effective and accessible prevention programs. Reach Out, Stay strong, Essentials for new mothers (ROSE) has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing postpartum depression in underserved populations when delivered in person. This ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT) tests the novel virtual implementation of ROSE as universal prevention in a Federally Qualified Health Center setting. We adopted the name, La Luz, for ROSE to be culturally relevant to our population. Pregnant individuals < 30 gestational weeks (target N = 900) are randomized to either the virtual or in-person La Luz program, which consists of four 90-min group sessions. Groups are offered in English and Spanish, based on participants' preference. Participants complete surveys at seven timepoints: before program, 28 gestational weeks, 35 gestational weeks, and 6-weeks, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months postpartum. Primary outcomes are postpartum depression severity measured by the 20-item Symptom Checklist (SCL-20) and 10-item Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). We will perform intent-to-treat analysis to test whether virtual La Luz is non-inferior to in-person La Luz. This study also evaluates implementation process and outcomes of both modalities of La Luz to inform the development of an implementation toolkit. This RCT contributes to our knowledge of perinatal depression prevention and addresses access barriers for underserved populations. If effectiveness of virtual La Luz is demonstrated, the new evidence for a scalable low-cost prevention can be used to reduce perinatal depression and offer accessible treatment options for people who face significant barriers to care.

How Do Montessori-Based Activities Affect Behaviors For Older People With Dementia: A Literature Review, Isabel Quigley

University Honors Theses

Objectives: This literature review is meant to analyze the development on the research on Montessori-based activities for adults with dementia.

Introduction: Baby Boomers are the largest generation to enter senior age (65+) in history due to the advancement in medicine to increase life expectancy. Dementia is a neurocognitive disease that affects parts of the brain related to memory and signs typically surface around 65 years old. Dementia is not considered healthy aging. Montessori-based activities have been recently developed as an intervention to encourage a feeling of accomplishment and success for adults with dementia.

Methods: Two electronic databases …

Development Of Preventive Dental Guidelines In The Primary Healthcare Setting In Egypt: A Delphi Method, Basant Mehriz

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the critical need for standardized preventive dental care guidelines within Egypt's primary healthcare system amid the rising burden of oral diseases. Through a systematic two-phase methodology combining a comprehensive literature review and a Delphi consensus-building process engaging 35 dental professionals, the research established priorities for contextually appropriate preventive measures. The consensus framework revealed strong support for clinical interventions (mean of 83% agreement), particularly fluoride-based prevention; community initiatives (mean of 83%), especially school-based programs; policy measures (mean of 77%) such as workforce and educational development, though with variable support for taxation and social determinants approaches. Statistical analysis demonstrated …

Urban-Rural Divide In Inequality’S Impact On Substance Abuse, Jonathan E. Flores

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis focuses on investigating the relationship between income inequality, measured through the Gini coefficient, and drug addiction, proxied through substance-related mortality. Specifically, this thesis focuses on how these dynamics vary across rural and urban counties in the United States, using population size as a proxy. County-level data from 2016 to 2020 were collected through both the CDC and the Census Bureau and subsequently analyzed using Stata, with crude death rates from drug and alcohol causes serving as a function of the Gini coefficient, labor force participation, racial composition, and other socioeconomic indicators. Through a quadratic version of the model, …

Together We Thrive: A Co-Production Toolkit For People With Ms And Care Providers, E. Chandlee Bryan

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Nearly a million people in the U.S. have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive neurological disease. People with MS (PwMS), are more likely to have a decreased quality of life (QoL) and are at greater risk for unemployment, loneliness, and depression than people without MS. As MS symptoms can include fatigue, balance issues, mobility problems, and changes to bladder and bowel function, managing MS requires patient engagement that includes coordination of care between neurology, primary care, and specialists. This thesis was researched and written by a PwMS who has worked in collaboration with her neurologist, Dr. Andrew D. Smith III, and …

How Different Forms Of Exercise Affect Bone Mineral Density In Postmenopausal Women, Jonathan Mccanless

University Honors Theses

This paper analyzed 20 studies to understand how bone health in postmenopausal women is impacted by different forms of exercise. The primary aspect of bone health examined in this paper is bone mineral density (BMD). Resistance and impact training demonstrated clear signs of maintenance and increases in BMD, particularly in the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Aquatic exercise demonstrated mixed results in positively impacting BMD in a significant way, but it’s worth noting that there were still some signs of increased BMD. Impact exercise on its own can maintain BMD, and these effects can be seen in total hip BMD. …

Predictive Model For Hemoglobin Levels Using Multiple Linear Regression, Dien Gusta Anggraini Nursal, Muhammad Daffa Atthariq Winata, Nohan Arum Romadlona, Noura Rizki, Sabillah Nasitoh, Muhammad Sakhi Baretta

Journal of Health Research

Background: Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin (Hb) levels fall below normal, limiting the ability of blood to transport oxygen effectively. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for Hb levels by identifying significant risk factors.

Method: This observational analytic study was conducted among 103 randomly selected students of Bung Hatta University in Padang, Indonesia. Data were collected with a questionnaire and a hemoglobin test between April to May 2024. Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were performed in this study.

Results: Bivariate analysis showed significant correlations between Hb levels …

Embedding Mental Rehearsal In Surgery: A Comprehensive Review Of The Evidence, Josephine Walshaw, Bright Huo, Paul Barach, Philippa Banks, Adam Mcclean, Florent Lebon, Faisal Mushtaq, David Jayne, Danilo Miskovic, Marina Yiasemidou

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Mental rehearsal (MR), the deliberate practice of skills specific to a procedure, has been successfully used in sports and music training for decades, but has not been adopted in surgery. This narrative review explores MR's role in surgical training and clinical practice, evaluating its effectiveness in motor skill acquisition, technical and non-technical skill development, and real world clinical implementation. Our aim was to assess MR's impact on both surgical education and clinical performance, while identifying the barriers to its routine adoption in surgical training.

METHODS: We searched for relevant studies on the topic and impacts of MR in surgery …

Risk And Protective Factors Associated With Teenage Pregnancy And Intergenerational Interventions: A Scoping Review Protocol, Zamasomi Luvuno, Wilbroda Hlolosile Chiya, Silingene Joyce Ngcobo, Deshini Naidoo, Serwaa Omowale, Tracy Zhandire, Elizabeth Musili Joseph-Shehu, Busisiwe Purity Ncama, Sinegugu E Duma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy remains a critical global health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The intergenerational transmission of teenage pregnancy underscores the need for targeted interventions. Existing research on intergenerational approaches is fragmented, with varying methodologies and outcomes. This scoping review seeks to address this gap by answering the following research questions: What are the available intergenerational interventions for teenage pregnancy, and what are the associated risks and protective factors for early and late teenage pregnancy?

Methods and analysis: This study does not involve primary data collection and therefore does not require ethical approval. The review will be conducted …

Enhancing Mental Health Through Mind-Body Exercises In Sedentary Students: A Systematic Review With An Indonesian Perspective, Izmi Alya Khairunnisa, Aditya Denny Pratama

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

Sedentary Behavior (SB) among students is associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, stress, and weakened immune function. According to the WHO, SB contributes to approximately two million deaths each year. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mind-body exercises in improving mental health outcomes—specifically stress reduction, anxiety management, and emotional regulation—among students with sedentary lifestyles. Using the PRISMA framework, 2,201 articles were identified from databases including Scopus, PubMed, and ProQuest, with six studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The review found that mind-body exercises such as yoga, tai chi, and pilates significantly reduce stress and anxiety, enhance …

Relocation Post-Dobbs Among Clinicians Providing Abortions, Dana Howard, Marta Bornstein Phd, Mph, Jocelyn Wascher, Alison H. Norris, Katherine Rivlin

Faculty Publications

Introduction

Intensifying state-level abortion restrictions following the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) decision could lead clinicians to leave states that ban abortion.¹ While large-scale changes are not yet apparent among obstetrician-gynecologists, the abortion care workforce may be uniquely at risk.² We examined the proportion of abortion-providing clinicians who changed primary state of practice, comparing those who left states that banned abortion with those who left states that did not ban abortion after Dobbs, and the ban status of the states to which they relocated.

Methods

This survey study was approved by The Ohio State University …

Nafld Surveillance In The Alaska Native/American Indian Population, Wileina Saumara Rhodes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, the prevalence of NAFLD is estimated at 24% of the population, and by 2030, the incidence of NAFLD will increase to 100.9 million cases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression in the Alaska Native/ American Indian population (AN/AI) with and without elevated liver function tests. Two research questions guided the study: Do outcomes (abnormal/normal) of LFTs, A1C, lipids, BMI, and inflammatory markers predict or have a relationship with NAFLD progression? Does NAFLD surveillance have a relationship with the patient’s outcome as measured by the NAFLD Fibrosis …

Citrullinated Eno1 Vaccine Enhances Pd-1 Blockade In Mice Implanted With Murine Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Ricardo A León-Letelier, Alejandro M Sevillano-Mantas, Yihui Chen, Soyoung Park, Jody Vykoukal, Johannes F Fahrmann, Edwin J Ostrin, Candace Garrett, Rongzhang Dou, Yining Cai, Fu-Chung Hsiao, Jennifer B Dennison, Eduardo Vilar, Banu K Arun, Samir Hanash, Hiroyuki Katayama

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives:Cancer vaccine targets mostly include mutations and overexpressed proteins. However, cancer-associated post-translational modifications (PTMs) may also induce immune responses. Previously, our group established the enzyme protein arginine deiminase type-2 (PADI2), which catalyzes citrullination modification, is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), promoting antigenicity.

Methods: Here, we show the workflow of designing citrullinated enolase 1 (citENO1) vaccine peptides identified from breast cancer cells by mass spectrometry and demonstrate TNBC vaccine efficacy in the mouse model. Immunized mice with citENO1 peptides or the corresponding unmodified peptides, plus Poly I:C as an adjuvant, were orthotopically implanted with a TNBC murine …

Food Environments And Mental Health: Analyzing The Impact Of Fast-Food Availability On U.S. Adults (2011-2016), Nicole Tenner

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the relationship between the availability of fast food in US territories and mental health outcomes. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the study examines data from the 2011 and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from the CDC, along with data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Environment Atlas. The analysis included a nationally representative sample of 351,823 participants across all 50 US states. Multiple regression models examined the association between fast food availability and two primary mental health outcomes: the number of self-reported poor mental health days and the likelihood of being diagnosed with a depressive …