Recent uci_pph_ghbs_oapdeposits items

Complete genome of Bacillus anthracis strain ter21 from an infected zoo pony in Ternopil, Ukraine, 2021.

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Using rapid nanopore whole-genome sequencing, we assembled the genome of Bacillus anthracis strain ter21 (5,229,480 bp), a Tsiankovskii-I group isolate cultured from a fatal case in 2021 of a pony from a zoo in Ternopil, Ukraine, identifying virulence plasmid pXO1 that encodes anthrax toxin, and pXO2.

Nighttime lights as a proxy for conflict intensity and infrastructure recovery in Yemen and Ukraine

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Quantifying the impacts of armed conflict on civilians and infrastructure remains a major challenge, particularly where reporting is limited. Most conflict measurement tools require affected populations to report events and are limited by short time series, under-reporting, and varying methods. These tools do not capture infrastructural rebuilding, which has important health implications. Given this, we demonstrate the utility of nighttime lights (NTL) as a complementary tool for measuring conflict dynamics and infrastructure recovery with an epidemiological application. Methods: We used monthly NASA Black Marble data to analyze NTL patterns in Yemen (2012–2022) and Ukraine (2019–2024) before and after the onset of large-scale military operations. We calculated month-specific NTL ratios relative to pre-event baselines and assessed the alignment of structural breakpoints, identified using BFAST methods, with aerial attack onset. Generalized additive models were used...

Structural disadvantage and HIV risk – comparing risk factors between trans women’s partnerships with cis men and trans women sexual partners

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

IntroductionLittle is known about differences in HIV risk for trans women by partner gender, particularly with respect to social determinants of health and partner-level factors that affect behavior. We examined differences in demographic, social determinants, and HIV-related risk behaviors for trans women with cisgender men and trans women sexual partners.Materials and methodsData are from a cross-sectional survey of trans women and their sexual partners conducted between April 2020 and January 2021. Interviews were held remotely via videoconference during shelter-in-place ordinances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This analysis characterized associations between HIV risk and preventive behaviors comparing trans women with cisgender men partners to trans women with trans women partners.ResultsA total of 336 sexual partners were identified from 156 trans women. Trans women with cisgender men partners were significantly more likely to be from racial/ethnic minority populations and...

The Associations of Social Engagement with Cognitive and Physical Health in American Indian and Alaska Native Adults

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground

Research on social engagement, community connectedness, and health outcomes in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults is limited. This study examined associations of social engagement and community overlap with cognitive function, distress, and mental and physical health in middle‐aged and older AI/AN adults.

Method

Data were collected from a cross‐sectional survey conducted from 2019‐2023 among urban and rural AI/AN volunteers aged 45+ years residing in the Rocky Mountain area. Social engagement was measured using a five‐item social frequency instrument, and community overlap was assessed using the Inclusion of Community in Self scale. Health outcomes included the number of “Yes” responses to culturally tailored Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Questionnaire (i.e., AD8 scores), distress measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and self‐reported mental and physical health. Mental and physical health assessments were based on a four‐point...

Changes in Type 2 Diabetes Medications Among Primary Care Patients After California's 2022 Medicaid Expansion.

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: In May 2022, California expanded full-scope Medicaid (Medi-Cal) to low-income undocumented immigrants aged 50 years or older, which provided access to newer type 2 diabetes (T2D) medications. This study examined whether the expansion led to more prescriptions of newer therapies like glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors among older undocumented immigrants. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used patient records between January 2019 to June 2023 from two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Los Angeles County. We compared prescriptions among 1) older undocumented immigrants newly eligible for Medi-Cal, 2) younger undocumented immigrants not eligible for Medi-Cal, and 3) documented patients (n = 20,420 encounters and 4,601 patients). We used generalized linear mixed models with patient-level random intercepts to examine whether the patient groups differed in their likelihood of being prescribed newer medications...

Young‐Onset Dementia in Medicare Beneficiaries: Prevalence and Comorbidities by Race and Ethnicity

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground

Young‐onset dementia (YOD), which develops before age 65, can bring additional challenges to patients and their caregivers. The prevalence of YOD and its associated comorbidities across U.S. racial/ethnic populations remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of YOD and examine associations between past and current comorbidities (called comorbidities hereafter) and YOD among Medicare beneficiaries in various racial/ethnic groups.

Method

This cross‐sectional study included Medicare beneficiaries aged 45‐64 years with almost‐continuous fee‐for‐service coverage in 2022. Data were extracted from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2022 Medicare Beneficiary Summary File (MBSF). MBSF race/ethnicity data were used to identify non‐Hispanic White (White), non‐Hispanic Black (Black), Hispanic, non‐Hispanic Asian (Asian), and non‐Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Comorbidities examined include diabetes,...

Cognitive Impairment and Its Associated Comorbidities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground

Relationships between comorbidities and cognitive impairment among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults remain unclear. This study explored the proportion of cognitive impairment and its association with various comorbidities in AI/AN communities across different age groups.

Method

In 2019, a cross‐sectional survey was conducted among AI/AN volunteers aged 45+ residing in urban and rural areas across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Northern Plains. Data on demographics, responses to culturally tailored Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Questionnaire (AD8), and self‐reported medical history of comorbidities were collected. Comorbidities included distress, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, head injury, alcohol use disorder, and obesity. Cognitive impairment was defined as answering “Yes” to 2 or more AD8 questions, with the total number of “Yes” responses counted as the AD8 score. Higher AD8 scores indicate poorer cognitive...

Limbic‐predominant age‐related TDP‐43 encephalopathy, but Not Alzheimer's Disease, neuropathological changes are associated with Physical Performance Decline in the Oldest Old: Insights from The 90+ Study

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground

To examine physical performance longitudinal trajectories in relation to Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathological Changes (ADNC) and Limbic‐predominant age‐related TDP‐43 encephalopathy neuropathological changes (LATE‐NC) at autopsy. ADNC and LATE‐NC have similar cognitive presentations, but it is unclear whether physical presentation is similar as well.

Method

Participants were from The 90+ Study, a longitudinal study of aging among individuals 90 years and older with evaluations every 6 months. We used 4 physical performance measures including gait speed, the Five Times Sit to Stand test (5XSST), grip strength, balance, and a composite summing the 4 measures. Each measure was scored from 0 (unable to perform) to 4 (best performance), the composite from 0 to 16. Neuropathological changes from brain autopsies were dichotomized: ADNC as intermediate/high versus none/low and LATE‐NC as present versus absent. To examine the longitudinal association of ADNC...

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia and Related Health Conditions Among American Indian and Alaska Native Medicare Beneficiaries

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples face a rising burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). The 2024 Lancet Commission identified modifiable risk factors for dementia for the general population; however, a comprehensive understanding of risk factors associated with ADRD among AI/AN peoples is missing. This study utilizes a national database to estimate the prevalence of health conditions associated with ADRD and examine disparities between older AI/AN and White populations.

Method

We analyzed 2019 Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File data for Medicare beneficiaries aged 68 and older, including all AI/AN beneficiaries and a 5% random sample of White beneficiaries. Two types of health conditions were examined: Lancet risk factors available in the Medicare data and other conditions that have been associated with ADRD (Table 1). Prevalence of ADRD and each condition was reported. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions...

We Need Granular Sharing of De-Identified Data—But Will Patients Engage? Investigating Health System Leaders' and Patients' Perspectives on A Patient-Controlled Data-Sharing Platform

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Patient-controlled data-sharing systems are increasingly promoted as a way to empower patients with greater autonomy over their health data. Yet it remains unclear how different stakeholders, especially patients and health system leaders, perceive the benefits and challenges of enabling granular control over the sharing of de-identified medical data for research. To address this gap, we developed a high-fidelity prototype of a patient-controlled, web-based consent platform and conducted a two-phase mixed-methods study: semi-structured interviews with 16 health system leaders and a survey with 523 patient participants. While both groups appreciated the potential of such a platform to enhance transparency and autonomy, their views diverged in meaningful ways. Leaders viewed transparency and granular control through the lens of informed consent and institutional ethics, whereas patients interpreted these factors as safeguards against potential risks and uncertainties. Our findings...

Wildfire and Smoke Risk Communication: A Systematic Literature Review from a Health Equity Focus

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Effective wildfire smoke risk and evacuation communication is urgently needed to avert unnecessary deaths as wildfires increase in frequency and intensity. Human exposure to wildfires has doubled in the last two decades. Low-income, marginalized communities are the most disadvantaged in their ability to respond. A systematic literature review of wildfire and wildfire smoke risk communication research between 2014 and 2024 was conducted. Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched using the keywords "wildfire", "communication", "wildfire smoke", "risk", and "public health", resulting in 23 studies. The findings revealed marginalized communities were ill-prepared to respond to wildfires and take protective action against wildfire smoke. The findings were summarized across eight areas: the needs of marginalized communities to respond to wildfires, the role of trusted messengers to disseminate wildfire and smoke risk messaging, using diverse channels, timing and frequency considerations...

COVID-19 and HPV Vaccine Knowledge Attitudes, and Behaviour among Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: This study examined HPV and COVID-19 vaccination uptake, attitudes, risk perceptions, and exposure to vaccine misinformation among young adults enrolled at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Methods: Surveys and focus groups were conducted at three southeastern HBCUs. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Wilcoxon rank and ANOVA for group comparisons. Qualitative data were examined through content analysis. Results: Most participants identified as religious and female. A majority (86.2%) reported receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 56.3% reporting a COVID-19 booster. For HPV vaccination, only 56.3% reported having received at least one dose. Vaccinated students reported higher perceived risk, stronger social support, greater peer motivation, lower endorsement of misinformation, and more positive vaccine attitudes than unvaccinated peers. Unvaccinated participants reported low vaccine confidence and...

Correction: The social amplification and attenuation of COVID-19 risk perception shaping mask wearing behavior: A longitudinal twitter analysis

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257428.].

Reducing Supply Chain Dependencies for Viral Genomic Surveillance: Get by with a Little HELP from Commercial Enzymes already in your Lab Freezer.

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global laboratory supply chains, disrupting the availability of key reagents and jeopardising the continuity of genomic surveillance essential for epidemic response. Sustaining sequencing capacity during supply shortages requires practical, locally accessible alternatives to commercial kits.

Methods

We developed ARTIC HELP (Homebrew Enzymes for Library Preparation), an open-source adaptation of the ARTIC nanopore sequencing protocol for viral genomic surveillance. We described cost-effective, generic replacements for all enzyme mixes used in tiling multiplex RT-PCR and the nanopore native barcoding workflow, including end-prep (EP), barcode ligation (BL), and adapter ligation (AL). Through systematic evaluation, we tested wild-type M-MLV reverse transcriptase and two types of proofreading DNA polymerases, (i) B-family Pfu-based polymerases fused to an Sso7d DNA-binding domain, and (ii) blends of...

Peer influence decay and behavioral diffusion in adolescent networks: A simulation approach.

Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

How far does peer influence spread through social networks before dissipating? This study investigates the diffusion of smoking behavior in adolescent friendship networks using longitudinal data from two schools (n = 3154 students) in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Using Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models, we simulate interventions targeting heavy smokers using various strategies (random, in-degree, eigenvector centrality) and coverage (10 to 100%). A new exponential decay model quantifies influence attenuation, revealing indirect peer influences, or spillover effects, up to three steps from targets. Targeting 10 to 30% of central individuals maximizes smoking reductions, but gains plateau beyond 40 to 50% owing to network saturation. In our analyses, the denser network exhibits broader diffusion and slower decay than the larger, sparser network. This decay metric optimizes intervention design across diverse network structures.

Reducing Supply Chain Dependencies for Viral Genomic Surveillance: Get by with a Little HELP from Commercial Enzymes already in your Lab Freezer

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global laboratory supply chains, disrupting the availability of key reagents and jeopardising the continuity of genomic surveillance for epidemic response. Sustaining sequencing capacity during shortages requires locally accessible alternatives to commercial kits. Methods We developed ARTIC HELP (Homebrew Enzymes for Library Preparation), an open-source adaptation of the ARTIC nanopore sequencing protocol for viral genomic surveillance. We described cost-effective, generic replacements for enzyme mixes used in tiling multiplex RT-PCR and the nanopore native barcoding workflow, including end-prep (EP), barcode ligation (BL), and adapter ligation (AL). Through systematic evaluation, we tested wild-type M-MLV reverse transcriptase and two types of proofreading DNA polymerases, (i) B-family Pfu-based polymerases fused to an Sso7d DNA-binding domain, and (ii) blends of A-family (Taq-based) and B-family (Pfu-based)...

Molecular epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance and vaccine targets in high-transmission settings in Africa

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The spread of antimalarial drug resistance and the potential emergence of vaccine-escape variants in Plasmodium falciparum threaten progress toward malaria elimination in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we applied a scalable, Oxford Nanopore-based amplicon sequencing platform to profile five resistance genes (crt, dhfr, dhps, mdr1, k13) and the vaccine target csp in clinical isolates from northern Nigeria. We identified high frequencies of dhfr-IRNI (90%) and dhps-SGKAA (45%) haplotypes, consistent with molecular markers of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance. However, no dhfr/dhps quintuple or sextuple mutation combinations associated with SP-IPTp failure were detected, supporting its continued preventive use in pregnancy. The chloroquine-resistant Pfcrt-76T allele persisted at ~ 25% frequency, suggesting both sustained resistant lineages and a potential re-expansion of chloroquine-susceptible parasites. No WHO-validated Pfk13 mutations linked to artemisinin partial resistance...

Application of FreezeTB, a targeted nanopore sequencing assay, for identification of drug resistance and lineages among pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Alaska

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alaska has the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States, with 8% mortality while undergoing TB treatment. With a quarter of TB cases lacking sputum culture to enable drug resistance testing, FreezeTB aimed to develop tools tailored to meet the challenges in Alaska while being translatable to other settings. We designed a rapid and cost-effective laboratory workflow and software to identify drug-resistant mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). FreezeTB, a Fast, Reliable, Economical Evaluation tool to Zap Endemic Tuberculosis, amplifies 22 gene loci associated with resistance to 16 anti-tuberculosis drugs. M. tuberculosis isolates from Alaska (2011-2024) were blinded and underwent analysis with FreezeTB, then compared with phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Compared with WGS (n = 79), FreezeTB provided the same mutations in 96% (n = 76/79)...

Genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 carriage in a cohort of schoolchildren in Côte d’ivoire during COVID-19 pandemics: insights from pre-delta emergence

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundAfter the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Côte d’Ivoire in March 2020, the virus spread significantly, with several epidemic waves. During a carriage study conducted from November 2020 to April 2021 to examine the oropharyngeal microbiome of school children, the presence of several other pathogens was investigated. This study characterised the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 detected in a cohort of school children in Côte d’Ivoire.MethodsOropharyngeal swabs from participants in Korhogo (n = 37) and Abidjan (n = 39) were analysed. RNA was extracted from the samples, followed by RT-qPCR detection of Coronaviruses. Sequencing was done on an Oxford Nanopore platform and data analysed in GISAID.ResultsOut of 445 samples collected, 15 (3.37%; 5 in Abidjan and 10 in Korhogo) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were sequenced. Genomic coverage of over 70% was obtained for 12 genome sequences (80%). There was a significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 carriage over season per sampling...

Alzheimers disease and related dementias and related health conditions among American Indian and Alaska Native Medicare beneficiaries.

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD) and its associated factors are not well understood in the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population.

Methods

We analyzed Medicare 2019 data for 112,280 AI/AN and 1,010,862 White beneficiaries aged 68+, examining the prevalence of ADRD-related health conditions and their associations with ADRD through logistic regressions.

Results

AI/AN beneficiaries had higher age-adjusted ADRD prevalence (15.6% vs. 13.3%), and a higher prevalence of 5 of 9 Lancet risk factors: diabetes, alcohol use disorder (AUD), tobacco use disorder, visual and hearing impairments. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), AUD, and visual and hearing impairments had stronger associations with ADRD among AI/AN beneficiaries, while depression, diabetes, and hypertension had stronger associations among White beneficiaries.

Discussion

Our findings highlight disparities in ADRD and related health conditions between AI/AN...

Food pantry organizational features, nutrition environments, and partnerships: a community-engaged study in Southern California

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundCharitable food organizations are critical community hubs for promoting food security and nutrition. Few studies have examined whether food pantry organizational features (e.g., setting and size) are associated with the use of health promotion strategies.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a validated survey instrument (Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool+, NEFPAT+) in partnership with a southern California regional food bank to examine pantry consumer nutrition environments, including client choice models, marketing, and partnership/referral practices. Eligible pantries were: food bank partners, open at least 1/week for public distribution, and in high-poverty cities. We collected surveys from 27 of 35 eligible sites in 2024. We used descriptive statistics to summarize NEFPAT+ objective outcomes and conducted exploratory analyses to assess differences for specific objective results. Mann‒Whitney U tests and Kruskal‒Wallis tests were used to compare...

When AI Writes Back: Ethical Considerations by Physicians on AI-Drafted Patient Message Replies.

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The increasing burden of responding to large volumes of patient messages has become a key factor contributing to physician burnout. Generative AI (GenAI) shows great promise to alleviate this burden by automatically drafting patient message replies. The ethical implications of this use have however not been fully explored. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a qualitative interview study with 21 physicians who participated in a GenAI pilot program. We found that notable ethical considerations expressed by the physician participants included oversight as ethical safeguard, transparency and patient consent of AI use, patient misunderstanding of AI's role, and patient privacy and data security as prerequisites. Additionally, our findings suggest that the physicians believe the ethical responsibility of using GenAI in this context primarily lies with users, not with the technology. These findings may provide useful insights into guiding the future implementation of GenAI in...

Assessing Social Vulnerability and FDA Tobacco Retailer Compliance Inspections and Violations in Los Angeles County, CA (2021–2023)

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco control policies aim to limit access, reduce initiation, and mitigate tobacco-related harms, particularly among youth. However, the effectiveness of these policies relies on consistent enforcement to ensure widespread compliance and achieve their intended public health impacts. Socioeconomic vulnerability and neighborhood characteristics have been shown to influence retailer compliance, although existing studies often primarily focus on compliance violations instead of inspections. This study uses Los Angeles (LA) County, California to explore the associations between compliance inspections, violations, and neighborhood social vulnerability. METHODS: We identified inspection and violation data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tobacco Compliance Check Outcomes database for Los Angeles County, CA (January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023) and linked these data to census tract level data from the 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social...

Low-Income and Legally Vulnerable: Immigration-Impacted Latino Students’ Perceived Barriers to Accessing Essential Needs Resources at a Hispanic Serving Institution

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Immigration-impacted college students, including undocumented students and U.S. citizens with undocumented parents, struggle with food and essential needs insecurity. Drawing on focus groups with 38 immigration-impacted undergraduates, we examine barriers to campus essential needs resource use and investigate the extent to which self or parental immigration status influences use. Findings reveal structural, psychological, and operational barriers and highlight how institutional trust, peer networks, and culturally responsive practices can facilitate more equitable access to resources.

Multi-level Factors Influencing College Campus Basic Needs Service Utilization: A Focus on Latino Immigration-Impacted Students in California

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundImmigration-impacted college students face unique challenges that increase their risk of experiencing basic needs insecurity. This study examined multi-level factors influencing the use of campus basic needs centers among Latino immigration-impacted students attending the University of California (UC).MethodsWe analyzed three Latino undergraduate student populations: (1) undocumented immigrants, (2) U.S. citizens with undocumented immigrant parents, and (3) U.S. citizens with lawfully present parents. Survey data was collected by the UC Collaborative to Promote Immigrant and Student Equity (UC PromISE) from March-June 2020 at nine University of California campuses. Variables related to the Health Equity Framework were examined in relation to Basic Needs Center (BNC) use through descriptive and logistic regression analyses.ResultsAmong 1,875 students who identify as Latina/o/x (mean age 20.6 ± 2.4 years; 77% female; 93% first-generation college students), 59% experienced...

A systematic review investigating policy design and implementation of US state and local policy to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: State and local jurisdictions in the United States (U.S.) are increasingly adopting flavored tobacco sales restrictions (FTSRs) to mitigate tobacco initiation and use. Policy implementation is highly understudied yet can impact policy effectiveness. This review examines existing literature on state and local FTSR policy design and implementation in the U.S. METHODS: We systematically searched for PubMed articles published by 12/31/2024 which were: original research articles in English focused on a U.S. state or local FTSR that reported at least one policy implementation outcome measure. We excluded articles that were systematic reviews or reported on federal or non-FTSR policy. Guided by policy and implementation science frameworks, we developed a data extraction template to report: policy design elements, study characteristics, and implementation measures (i.e., inputs, activities, outcomes). RESULTS: Of 1,595 articles identified, 30 were retained for review. Most...

Irradiation with a mixed heavy ion beam induces ovarian follicle loss and dose-dependent mixed ovarian tumor development

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Over 25% of active NASA astronauts are women who will be exposed to low daily doses and dose rates of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) in space. We hypothesized that exposing mice to a preliminary simulated GCR mixed heavy ion beam composed of iron, silicon, and titanium ions induces follicle depletion and dose-dependent ovarian tumors. Female mice were exposed to 10, or 20 cGy each of Fe, Si, and Ti ions or sham-irradiation in quick succession within 15 min for total doses of 0, 30, or 60 cGy of the three beams. 16 months later, their ovaries were removed. Hyperplasia of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) was noted in 13%, 59%, and 22% of the 0, 30, and 60 cGy irradiated mice, respectively. The prevalence of mixed ovarian tumors was 0, 6, and 89%, respectively, in the 0, 30, and 60 cGy groups. Low numbers of Ki67 positive OSE and tumor cells supported a benign tumor phenotype. In a separate study, Si ion irradiation alone at 32 cGy did not induce...

Unseen Burdens: How ACEs and Citizenship Status Shape Health in Aging Latinx Populations

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AbstractBackground and Objectives

Citizenship (or the lack thereof) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are both independent predictors of poor self-rated health (SRH), but we know little about their cumulative effects among older Latinx adults. Using a life course perspective, we examine 1) the relationship between ACEs, citizenship status, and poor SRH and 2) whether race-ethnicity-citizenship status combinations modify the association between ACEs and SRH.

Research Design and Methods

Latinx and White adult respondents age 50+ were selected from the 2021 and 2022 California Health Interview Survey (n = 20,491). Generalized linear models (logit link, binomial family) estimated the relationship between ethnicity-citizenship status, ACEs, and SRH. We use an interaction between ethnicity-citizenship and ACEs to test for a moderating effect on SRH.

Results

High ACE exposure and noncitizen status were each significant predictors of poor SRH, adjusting for covariates....

Genetic variation in olfactory pathways associated with host-seeking behavior in natural populations of Anopheles minimus, a primary malaria vector in western Thailand

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundMalaria transmission hinges on infected Anopheles mosquitoes biting humans, with carbon dioxide (CO2), host odor, and body heat acting as key attractants. Along the Thai–Myanmar border, Anopheles minimus (the Funestus Group), a primary malaria vector, exhibits a stronger preference for human hosts than species of the Maculatus Group. Elucidating the genetic basis of this feeding behavior is essential for improving malaria control strategies.MethodsWild Anopheles mosquitoes were collected in Tha Song Yang district, Tak province, Thailand, from July 2019 to November 2020, using cow-baited traps, human landing catches, and Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps. Specimens were identified morphologically and confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. We then performed whole-genome sequencing on An. minimus females categorized by host-seeking behavior: cow-baited collection (COW), human landing indoor (HLI), and human landing outdoor...

Comparative molecular surveillance of polymorphisms in chloroquine resistance transporter, multidrug resistance 1, and Kelch 13 genes associated with antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Western Kenya

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundMalaria treatment interventions play a central role in the prevention and control of Plasmodium falciparum infections worldwide. However, the emergence and spread of resistant P. falciparum parasites pose a serious public health challenge, as they reduce the effectiveness of antimalarial drugs and contribute to an increased global malaria burden. This study conducted a comparative molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in P. falciparum isolates from the Lake endemic and highland epidemic-prone regions of western Kenya.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was employed to screen patients presenting with malaria-associated symptoms among residents of the lake-endemic region of Nyando sub-County in Kisumu County and the highland epidemic-prone region of Marani sub-County in Kisii County. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt), multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1), and Kelch 13 (Pfk13) genes to identify...

VANTAGE: van-based real-time HIV sequencing for transmission mapping and drug resistance profiling in war-affected Ukraine

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We deployed the VANTAGE (VAN for Transmissible Agent Genomic Epidemiology) mobile system in Lviv, Ukraine, demonstrating end-to-end sequencing of dried blood spot samples within a clinic van usually serving de-occupied and frontline regions. HIV-1 pol sequences were obtained from 50% of samples, all subtype A6. Median time to 100× coverage was 38 min. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a local transmission cluster including a displaced person and the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance mutation E138A, supporting real-time HIV genomic surveillance in humanitarian crises.

Nutrition Environment Gaps and Distribution Challenges in Rural Food Pantries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

Fri, 2 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity disproportionately affects low-income, racially marginalized, and rural communities. The COVID-19 pandemic led to higher demand for emergency food distribution, potentially impacting food pantry operations and services. Limited research exists assessing consumer nutrition environments of pantries in rural regions. OBJECTIVES: To assess the consumer nutrition environment of rural food pantries and report challenges and adaptations encountered during the pandemic. DESIGN: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Nineteen food pantry representatives from California's San Joaquin Valley were surveyed between August 2020 and June 2021. Representatives were eligible if their pantry served the general population and was open at least once a week. Nine were church-based pantries, and 10 were from other settings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Nutrition Environment Food Pantry Assessment Tool (NEFPAT) measured the nutrition food environment...

Structural Barriers Influencing Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and Health Among Latinas During and After COVID-19: Considerations and Recommendations

Fri, 2 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Structural Barriers Influencing Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and Health Among Latinas During and After COVID-19: Considerations and Recommendations

Patterns of Change in Parental Health Literacy in Relation to Children's Oral Health

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Although health literacy (HL) skills may change over time, most research treats HL as a constant, using baseline HL to predict other health-related constructs. Few studies have explored change in HL over time. OBJECTIVE: We examined person-level differences in HL trajectories. We identified subgroups (latent classes) based on longitudinal assessments of HL and examined the association of class membership with demographic and oral health variables. METHODS: We used four measurement waves of parental HL data, reflecting the risk of limited HL, collected as part of an intervention to reduce dental decay in American Indian children (N = 579 parent-child dyads at baseline). Repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) models were estimated to identify subgroups of HL trajectories over time. We examined class membership in association with baseline demographics and with 36-month assessments of parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors as well as pediatric...

Impact of social determinants of health on obesity among American Indian and Alaska Native young adults

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We examined the prevalence of obesity among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) young adults and to investigate the association between key social determinants of health (SDOH) and higher body mass index (BMI). We used the Indian Health Service Improving Delivery Data Project from fiscal year 2013. It includes data for 20,698 AIAN young adults aged 18-24 years. We added county-level measures of SDOH from the USDA Food Environment Atlas and the Census as contextual variables. We conducted stratified logistic regressions to understand the relationship between these SDOH indicators and odds of obesity. Thirty-seven percent of our sample was identified as obese (i.e., BMI ≥30). Individuals who lived in counties with lower levels of educational attainment and higher levels of poverty had higher odds of obesity than those who lived in counties with higher education and lower poverty (p < 0.0001). Counties with higher poverty rates had less access to social and environmental...

Subjective memory complaints at age 90 + in relation to cognition and risk of incident dementia: The 90 + Study

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Associations of Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) with cognition and future dementia are poorly understood in the oldest old (age 90 +), who have high incidence and prevalence of cognitive impairment. This study aims to (1) report SMC frequency, (2) assess cross-sectional associations between SMC and cognitive test scores, and (3) compare the abilities of SMC, Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and cognitive diagnosis to predict dementia in the oldest old. METHOD: The 90 + Study participants without baseline dementia and with baseline SMC, MMSE, at least one other cognitive test, and cognitive diagnosis were included in cross-sectional analysis. A subset of this group with follow-up cognitive diagnosis was included in longitudinal analysis. Cross-sectional association between SMC and cognitive test scores was explored using linear regression. Risk of incident dementia in relation to baseline SMC, MMSE, and cognitive diagnosis was explored...

Falls in the Oldest Old: Role of Gender, Living Situation, and Assistive Devices

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: Falls can have serious health consequences, especially in the oldest old (individuals 90+ years), for whom falls often result in injury or even death. Few studies have examined falls in the oldest old. We aim to assess fall prevalence, fall rate, and rate change over time according to gender, living situation, and assistive device use. METHODS: Participants are from the 90+ Study, a longitudinal study of individuals 90 years and older with evaluations every 6 months. Participants, or their informants, were asked how many times they have fallen in the past year (first visit) or since their last visit (follow-up visits). We calculated unadjusted baseline fall prevalence. Using generalized linear mixed regression models, we estimated adjusted baseline fall rate and adjusted change in rate over time by gender, living situation, and assistive device. RESULTS: In 1,672 participants (mean age 93 years, range 90-110 years), unadjusted baseline prevalence of 1+ falls was...

Depressive disorders, bad mental health days, and diabetes management behaviors among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native adults: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between diagnosis of depressive disorder, the number of bad mental health days per month, and diabetes management behaviors among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2018-2021), including 2,272 self-identified non-Hispanic AI/AN adults diagnosed with non-gestational diabetes. Key variables included a self-reported prior diagnosis of depressive disorder and the number of bad mental health days in the past month. Outcome variables were seven diabetes management behaviors, such as taking a diabetes management class and performing daily foot checks. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among the participants, 24.8% were diagnosed with depressive disorder, and 19.5% reported at least 14 bad mental health days in the past month. Logistic...

Bionomics of Anopheles stephensi across the urban–rural landscapes of Eastern Ethiopia

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundInvasion and spread of Anopheles stephensi in sub-Saharan Africa poses a threat to malaria control and elimination efforts in the continent. This study aimed to determine the distribution and bionomics of An. stephensi across the urban–rural landscapes of eastern Ethiopia.MethodsEntomological surveillance was conducted in urban, peri-urban and rural settings of Dire Dawa and Awash Sebat Kilo from June to November 2022. Anopheles immature stages were collected using standard dippers. Adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps, Prokopack aspirator and BG-pro traps. Mosquitoes were identified to species using morphological identification keys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine mosquito blood meal sources and Plasmodium sporozoite infection. The WHO tube bioassays were used to assess susceptibility of An. stephensi to pyrethroids, carbamates and organophosphates. Knockdown resistance (kdr) and acetyl cholinesterase...

Assessing Dietary Consumption of Toxicant-Laden Foods and Beverages by Age and Ethnicity in California: Implications for Proposition 65

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Investigating human exposure to toxic contaminants through dietary consumption is critical to identify disease risk factors and health guidelines. METHODS: In this study, we developed a cross-sectional online survey to collect information about dietary patterns and related food consumption habits among adults (age ≥ 18) and adolescents (ages 13-17) in Southern California, focusing on popular staple foods and/or those targeted most commonly under California's Proposition 65 law for lead and acrylamide exposure. RESULTS: Results identified root vegetables, rice, leafy greens, pasta/noodles, tea, juice, and seafood to be among the most heavily consumed foods by mass, while the daily intake of many foods such as stuffed grape leaves, tamarind/chili candy and herbs/spices varied by age and race/ethnicity, suggesting that many of Proposition 65's pollution allowances may be exacerbating issues of health inequity and environmental injustice. Moreover, findings from this study...

Mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance in Culicidae mosquitoes from Hainan Island, China

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases represent critical global public health threats. Insecticide-based prevention and interventions remain essential for disease and vector management. However, insecticide resistance in mosquitoes threatens the effectiveness of these management measures. This study investigated the susceptibility to pyrethroid insecticides and associated resistance mechanisms in five dominant mosquito populations on Hainan Island, China.MethodsWorld Health Organization (WHO) tube bioassays were conducted to evaluate insecticide resistance profiles in Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Armigeres subalbatus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. We assessed the synergistic effects of pre-exposure to 4% piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on deltamethrin mortality rates in Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus populations. We genotyped kdr alleles at codon 1534 of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene in Ae. albopictus and at codon 1014 in Cx. quinquefasciatus.ResultsAll...

Assessing Microsatellite Variations in Plasmodium falciparum Following a Decade‐Long Antimalaria Campaign in Kenya

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Anti-malaria interventions typically reduce the intensity of Plasmodium transmission, but the effects of reduced transmission on P. falciparum population biology remain unclear. Highly polymorphic microsatellite markers in P. falciparum were used to investigate genetic diversity, polyclonality and genetic structure among populations in areas of varying malaria transmission intensity across Kenya. We also assessed relationships between metrics derived from genetic data, transmission intensity estimates and bioclimatic variables. Despite an overall reduction in transmission intensity across Kenya from 2005 to 2014, we found that parasite populations maintained high genetic diversity and that genetic diversity correlated more closely with past transmission intensity estimates in the year 2000 as compared to contemporary estimates in 2014. In contrast, we found genetic structuring to be significant, consistent with our observation of shifting parasite migration patterns in western...

Net ownership, utilization and malaria burden in the context of Piperonyl butoxide-LLINs intervention in western Kenya

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Pyrethroid-treated nets have reduced malaria in endemic areas, but insecticide resistance has hindered progress, prompting WHO to recommend piperonyl butoxide (PBO) based long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Kenya adopted PBO nets, but their usage is not well documented. This study aims to assess the uptake and effect of PBO nets versus pyrethroid-only LLINs (pyrethroid-LLINs) on malaria transmission in Western Kenya. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County, one year after net distribution between November and December 2023. Twelve villages were randomly selected, comprising 380 households and divided into two intervention arms of six villages. Group 1, with 181 households, received pyrethroid-LLIN, while Group 2, with 199 households, received PBO-LLINs. Data on net ownership and usage was collected using a standardized semi-structured questionnaire. Finger prick blood smears were collected on slides for microscopic examination,...

Physical integrity and residual bio-efficacy of PBO-pyrethroid synergist-treated and pyrethroid-only LLINs after 1.5 years of field use in Western Kenya

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are vital for malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa, but their durability is challenged by fabric decay and pyrethroid resistance. This study assessed the physical integrity and bioefficacy of piperonyl butoxide-LLINs (PBO-LLINs) and pyrethroid-only LLINs (pyrethroid-LLINs) after 1.5 years of use in western Kenya, where resistance is widespread. METHODS: A survey on net integrity and insecticide efficacy was conducted in randomly selected households (101-107 per group per visit) from three villages per net type group in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County. Physical integrity surveys were done after every six months while residual bio-efficacy was after every three months for 18 months. Physical integrity and residual bio-efficacy studies were conducted following WHO guidelines. RESULTS: PBO-LLINs exhibited higher physical integrity than pyrethroid-LLINs over time. At 18 months, 45.2% (61/135) of pyrethroid-LLINs and 21.8% (31/142)...

Elevated Plasmodium Sporozoite Infection Rates in Primary and Secondary Malaria Vectors in Anopheles stephensi-Infested Areas of Ethiopia

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Assessing bloodmeal sources and sporozoite infection rates in mosquito vectors is essential for understanding their role in malaria transmission. This study investigated these factors in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia-an area recently invaded by Anopheles stephensi-through adult mosquito collections conducted between January and April 2023 using BG-Pro traps, CDC Light Traps, and Prokopack Aspirators. A total of 738 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected, including An. arabiensis (72.9%), An. pharoensis (13.4%), An. stephensi (7.5%), and An. coustani (6.2%). Human Blood Index (HBI) values were 23.3% for An. arabiensis, 43.8% for An. pharoensis, 8.3% for An. stephensi, and 25.0% for An. coustani. Plasmodium infection was detected in 8% of An. arabiensis and 4.7% of An. pharoensis, while An. stephensi and An. coustani were uninfected. The findings highlight the presence of multiple...

Effect of low-dose primaquine treatment on Plasmodium vivax recurrence and transmission-blocking activity in southwest Ethiopia: a longitudinal cohort study

Wed, 5 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundExisting malaria control strategies for Plasmodium vivax are challenging due to its dormant and relapsing liver stages, as well as the early onset of gametocytogenesis. Primaquine (PQ) effectively eliminates dormant stages and can kill gametocytes; however, it necessitates repeated dosing. In this study, the effectiveness of chloroquine (CQ) plus low-dose of PQ on recurrence and its transmission-blocking activity was evaluated.MethodsBetween September 2019 and July 2022, a prospective cohort study was conducted in the Jimma-Arjo and Dabo-Hanna districts of the Oromia region in Ethiopia. A total of 214 uncomplicated cases of P. vivax malaria were enrolled in the study. Participants were treated with either CQ alone (106) or CQ + PQ (108), based on whether their district was targeted for P. vivax elimination by the national malaria programme or not. After enrolment, participants were followed for clinical illness and parasitaemia on days 28, 42, and monthly for one year....

Abstract A104: How neighborhood social and sociocultural contexts are associated with mortality in Asian American breast cancer patients

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: PURPOSE:: Asian American (AA) women with breast cancer on average have more favorable survival compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the US. Identifying how neighborhood factors are associated with mortality can inform interventions to optimize survival after breast cancer diagnosis. We examined associations between neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES), living in ethnic enclaves, and presence of sociocultural institutions (SCIs) with survival in AA women with breast cancer. METHODS:: We analyzed data from a pooled cohort of studies with AA women with breast cancer in California including the Pathways Study, Multiethnic Cohort Study, Northern California Breast Cancer Family Registry, and Asian American Breast Cancer Study. Participant addresses at diagnosis were geocoded to determine their census tract of residence, then linked to...

Reflecting on the Backstage and Frontstage of Community-Based Participatory Research: Ethics and Collaboration in the CATALYST Study

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is critical for promoting health equity through the incorporation of equitable decision-making and participatory processes into health equity research. Yet, research processes often fail to align with community realities. Drawing on Goffman’s frontstage–backstage framework, this paper examines how a community–academic partnership navigated and negotiated processes to support ethical inclusion of community researchers and participants in a CBPR qualitative study conducted in Orange County, California, focused on the roles of Community Health Workers (CHWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We share how backstage processes of trust-building and negotiation directly informed frontstage strategies to strengthen ethical research practices with community participants. We explore considerations for key components of qualitative research processes that have consequences for participatory research approaches: (a) partnership formation (b) inclusive...

Regional variation in sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance genotypes and haplotypes of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase and dihydropteroate synthase genes in Western Kenya

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundSurveillance of molecular markers associated with antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is critical for tracking the emergence, evolution, and spread of resistant malaria parasites in the population for timely and effective interventions. As shifting use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in Kenya constitutes a differential selection pressure, this study compared resistance genotypes and haplotypes in P. falciparum isolates from endemic and epidemic regions of western Kenya.MethodsA cross-sectional design was employed to collect blood samples from febrile patients residing in Ahero in Kisumu County, an endemic region, and Marani in Kisii County, an epidemic region. Molecular markers for antifolate resistance, dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) and dihydrofolate synthetase (Pfdhps), were genotyped for selected samples (N = 112) from Kisumu (n = 60) and Kisii (n = 52). Subsequent analysis was conducted for sequence polymorphisms, mutation frequency and haplotype...

The effect of single low-dose primaquine treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria on hemoglobin levels in Ethiopia: a longitudinal cohort study

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: To interrupt residual malaria transmission and achieve successful elimination of P. falciparum in low-transmission settings, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the administration of a single dose of 0.25 mg/kg (or 15 mg/kg for adults) primaquine (PQ) combined with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing. However, due to the risk of hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency (G6PDd), PQ use is not as common. Thus, this study aimed to assess the safety of a single low dose of PQ administered to patients with G6PD deficiency. Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted with patients treated for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria with either single-dose PQ (0.25 mg/kg) (SLD PQ) + ACT or ACT alone. Microscopy-confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria patients visiting public health facilities in Arjo Didessa, Southwest Ethiopia, were enrolled in the study from September...

First report of Anopheles stephensi in Southern Ethiopia

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Anopheles stephensi is an emerging exotic invasive urban vector of malaria in East Africa. The World Health Organization recently announced an initiative to take concerted actions to limit this vector's expansion by strengthening surveillance and control in invaded and potentially receptive territories in Africa. This study sought to determine the geographic distribution of An. stephensi in southern Ethiopia. Methods: A targeted entomological survey, both larvae and adult, was conducted in Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia between November 2022 and February 2023. Anopheles Larvae were reared to adults for species identification. CDC light traps and BG Pro traps were used overnight both indoor and outdoor at selected houses to collect adult mosquitoes in the study area. Prokopack Aspirator was employed to sample indoor resting mosquitoes in the morning. Adults of An. stephensi was identified using morphological keys, and then confirmed by PCR. Results:...

Early Release - Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica in Stranded Beluga Whales, Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA - Volume 31, Number 6—June 2025 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We report fatal tularemia in stranded beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA. Francisella tularensis was detected by nanopore metagenomics, confirmed by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, and characterized as F. tularensis subspecies holarctica by multilocus sequence typing. Our findings should be considered when assessing biosecurity and marine mammal health in the North Pacific.

LGBTQ+ persons, queer bioethics, and inclusivity in stem cell research and regenerative medicine

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the increasing visibility of the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other expansive genders or sexual orientations) community, LGBTQ+ persons continue to face significant barriers, discrimination, and stigmatization in the health care space. The unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ persons in healthcare led bioethicists to develop queer bioethics. This approach to ethical reflection suggests that we should develop understanding of biomedical and biological topics related to LGBTQ+ persons and that we should examine topics not traditionally associated with LGBTQ+ persons through a queer lens. Here, we argue that queer bioethics provides valuable new perspectives for improving stem cell science. We examine specific issues that should be examined using a queer bioethical framework for the benefit of all persons and the overall advancement of stem cell science. We specifically address strategies for stem cell donation recruitment, creation of more comprehensive...

Reducing Supply Chain Dependencies for Viral Genomic Surveillance: Get by with a Little HELP from Commercial Enzymes already in your Lab Freezer

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global laboratory supply chains, disrupting the availability of key reagents and jeopardising the continuity of genomic surveillance essential for epidemic response. Sustaining sequencing capacity during supply shortages requires practical, locally accessible alternatives to commercial kits. Methods We developed ARTIC HELP (Homebrew Enzymes for Library Preparation), an open-source adaptation of the ARTIC nanopore sequencing protocol for viral genomic surveillance. We described cost-effective, generic replacements for all enzyme mixes used in tiling multiplex RT-PCR and the nanopore native barcoding workflow, including end-prep (EP), barcode ligation (BL), and adapter ligation (AL). Through systematic evaluation, we tested wild-type M-MLV reverse transcriptase and two types of proofreading DNA polymerases, (i) B-family Pfu-based polymerases fused to an Sso7d DNA-binding domain, and (ii) blends of A-family (Taq-based)...

Emergency Department Utilization and Patient Acuity in the Setting of Care-Seeking Hesitancy: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly altered emergency department (ED) utilization patterns. This study quantifies the statistics at a Level I trauma center in Southern California from 14 months before to nine months after the start of the pandemic (January 2019–December 2020). We hypothesized that during the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in ED use patterns impacted patient acuity, as measured by admission rate, mortality rate, ED volume, Emergency Severity Index (ESI), and female:male ratio, even when controlling for COVID-19 cases.

Methods: In this study we examined 97,793 ED visits from January 2019–December 2020 at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center in Orange, CA, via an administrative database comprised of anonymized datapoints from the electronic health record. We included all months from January 2019–December 2020 to account for potential secular trends by calendar month. Primary...

Policy stakeholders' perspectives and use of data, research evidence, and misinformation in three counties in California, USA during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020–2022

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: This study investigates how local policy stakeholders viewed and used research evidence, data, and (mis)information in county policy discussions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We employed document and exploratory content analysis methods to examine Board of Supervisor materials (N = 534 policy documents) from general and special/emergency meetings (March 2020 - December 2022). We purposefully selected three jurisdictions from California, USA with varying socio-demographic, political, and health care characteristics as case studies. Results: Many residents who commented during local policy discussions contested the: 1) validity of health data provided (i.e., mortality rates), and 2) efficacy of proposed preventive measures like mask wearing and vaccine receipt. While government officials and healthcare personnel referenced research evidence and data as justification for these measures, several stakeholders expressed skepticism about the information...

Challenging Reward Structures and Organizational Cultures that Propagate Stem Cell Hyperbole

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How science is communicated shapes public understanding of science and informs decision-making by patients, research participants, policymakers, public funding agencies, private philanthropic organizations, and corporations. Responsible science communication is a collective responsibility of scientists. Accurate reporting is also a crucial feature of news media coverage of scientific research. Unfortunately, scientists, journalists, and other parties sometimes make hyperbolic claims that go beyond available evidence and exaggerate the significance of particular research findings. This phenomenon is evident in the rapidly evolving and highly competitive fields of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, though hyperbolic representations have also been documented in such fields as artificial intelligence, genomics, precision medicine, and synthetic biology. Stem cell hyperbole is shaped and promoted by systemic factors. We highlight the continued significance of responsible...

Screening emergency department patients for opioid drug use: A qualitative systematic review

Tue, 2 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

INTRODUCTION: The opioid drug epidemic is a major public health concern and an economic burden in the United States. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the reliability and validity of screening instruments used in emergency medicine settings to detect opioid use in patients and to assess psychometric data for each screening instrument. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for articles published up to May 2018. The extracted articles were independently screened for eligibility by two reviewers. We extracted 1555 articles for initial screening and 95 articles were assessed for full-text eligibility. Six articles were extracted from the full-text assessment. RESULTS: Six instruments were identified from the final article list: Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients...

A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Vaccine Uptake and Attitudes Among Parents Compared to Other Adults.

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Encouraging vaccine uptake among U.S. residents is an increasingly important public health issue that was magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine hesitancy, an important correlate of vaccine uptake, has been studied extensively in parents with respect to parental attitudes and decision-making toward vaccinating their children. Less work has examined parent attitudes and behaviors regarding personal vaccine uptake and how COVID-19-related vaccine attitudes and behaviors may differ from other types of vaccine attitudes and behaviors (e.g., influenza vaccination). We surveyed a probability-based sample of 585 United States adults in November 2021. Parents (i.e., primary caregiver of at least one child aged 18 years or younger, living in the home) compared to other adults, demographics (age, sex, income, education, ethnicity, urbanicity), and political affiliation were examined as correlates of COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake. Multivariate...

Food Is Medicine: Prioritizing Equitable Implementation.

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Food Is Medicine: Prioritizing Equitable Implementation.

Practical Qualitative Data Analysis for Public Health Research: A Guide to a Team-Based Approach With Flexible Coding

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Qualitative research is important to advance health equity as it offers nuanced insights into structural determinants of health inequities, amplifies the voices of communities directly affected by health inequities, and informs community-based interventions. The scale and frequency of public health crises have accelerated in recent years (e.g., pandemic, environmental disasters, climate change). The field of public health research and practice would benefit from timely and time-sensitive qualitative inquiries for which a practical approach to qualitative data analysis (QDA) is needed. One useful QDA approach stemming from sociology is flexible coding. We discuss our practical experience with a team-based approach using flexible coding for qualitative data analysis in public health, illustrating how this process can be applied to multiple research questions simultaneously or asynchronously. We share lessons from this case study, while acknowledging that flexible coding has broader...

Community Activation to TrAnsform Local sYSTems (CATALYST): A Qualitative Study Protocol

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Community Health Workers, promotores, and navigators (henceforth, CHWs) emerged as critical members of the public health workforce addressing social, economic, and health inequities worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is increasing appreciation for and utilization of CHW models, and recognition of the importance of tailoring and innovating these models during the pandemic, few studies have examined the processes of change by which CHW models operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and factors that facilitated or constrained CHW health equity efforts. This protocol paper describes and reflects on the research methodology used in our qualitative study focused on CHWs. The CATALYST study aims to examine the roles that CHWs served during the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitators and barriers related to CHW health equity strategies. This qualitative study incorporates the lived experiences of CHWs, low-income communities of color whom CHWs engaged, and institutional representatives...

Structural supports and challenges for community health worker models: Lessons from the COVID-19 response in Orange County, California

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Public health relied on community health workers (CHWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic to connect with the most vulnerable communities, which saved lives and addressed inequities. Understanding the structural factors that supported and hindered the success of CHWs is essential for building a stronger public health infrastructure in the future. We analyzed semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 15 institutional representatives and policymakers who engaged in COVID-19 response involving CHWs in Orange County, California. Findings indicated that while participants realized during the COVID-19 pandemic how essential CHWs were in addressing health and social inequities, CHWs were often undervalued by systems that were not established to support them. Participants highlighted needs for government and healthcare systems to equally partner with CHWs, reimburse CHWs for their work, decrease administrative barriers, and fund CHW-hiring organizations sustainably. We discuss recommendations...

Reimagining Refugee Camps: Toward Ethical, Sustainable and Integrated Health Systems

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The existing model for health provision in refugee camps is not fit for purpose, especially for protracted displacement. As individuals are increasingly displaced beyond the temporary period for which camps are designed, it is critical that we reimagine care provision in such settings and give increased attention to individuals' dynamic and complex needs throughout their displacement. This Commentary reflects ongoing discussions from an interdisciplinary group that began at a 2024 workshop in Cairo, Egypt. As numerous challenges, including defunding and division between refugee and host communities, continue to worsen in the current political climate, it is imperative that we critically examine how our current systems for health provision in displacement settings can be made more ethical, sustainable and integrated.

Psychological distress across 2 years of the COVID‐19 pandemic differs by age and by race/ethnicity

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted mental health, with psychological distress varying across age and racial/ethnic groups. This study examined trajectories of five distress measures-symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS), anxiety, depression, anger, and somatization-over the first 2 years of the pandemic, adjusting for prepandemic mental health. Participants in a nationally representative, probability-based U.S. sample (N = 4,298, age range: 18-97 years) completed four online surveys from March 2020 to June 2022. Multilevel models revealed that symptom levels and changes over time varied by age group across outcomes. Across time, PTS and anxiety symptoms declined for most age groups at different rates, F(6, 85,660) = 6.21, p < .001. Younger adults initially reported higher PTS symptom levels at Wave 1, Bs = 0.10-0.14, p < .001, but levels converged across age groups by Wave 4. Rates of anxiety symptoms were similar across age groups at Wave 4 except for...

Beyond the Surface: Mapping DDE's Metabolic Footprint on Adolescent Obesity.

Wed, 2 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is an intervention for severe obesity, leading to significant weight loss and metabolic improvements. However, the release of lipophilic chemicals accumulated in adipose tissue during weight loss presents a unique clinical challenge and research opportunity. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is a persistent organic pollutant increasingly recognized as obesogen, while the biological mechanisms through which DDE influences body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference remain underexplored. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify metabolic signatures mediating the association between DDE exposure and weight loss by plasma and adipose tissue metabolomics. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study involving 60 adolescents with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. We quantified p,p'-DDE concentrations in visceral adipose tissue collected during surgery and analyzed metabolic profiles from both adipose tissues collected at surgery and plasma...

Refugee Health Inclusion: Legal, Geopolitical, and Economic Barriers

Wed, 2 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This commentary examines how structural constraints shape health access in refugee camps. It stems from a recent workshop on refugee health and reflects an interdisciplinary, policy-focused dialogue. We argue that humanitarian aid alone is insufficient. Instead, long-term, rights-based approaches are needed. Donor dependency, legal exclusion and geopolitical dynamics undermine access to care. These challenges create artificial divides between camp and non-camp settings. Our analysis complements a companion piece on health system design (see Tarnas et al. this issue). Together, the two pieces call for ethical, inclusive models that recognise refugee health as a global responsibility not a temporary emergency.

The Proposed 48-Month Emergency Medicine Residency Requirement Demands Immediate Scrutiny

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Proposed 48-Month Emergency Medicine Residency Requirement Demands Immediate Scrutiny

Understanding climate change anxiety and anticipatory climate disaster stress: A survey of residents in a high-risk California county during wildfire season

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: With the increasing prevalence of climate-related disasters, psychological responses, including climate change anxiety and anticipatory climate disaster stress, have received heightened attention. OBJECTIVE: We investigate the correlates of climate change anxiety and anticipatory climate disaster stress, as well as the nature of these psychological responses. METHODS: At the start of the annual fire season (June to August 2023), we recruited a county-representative sample of n=813 residents of Lake County, in Northern California, to complete an anonymous online survey. Multiple regression analyses identified correlates of climate change anxiety and anticipatory climate disaster stress and explored how anxiety and stress were associated with disaster preparedness. FINDINGS: Climate change anxiety, assessed via its cognitive-emotional impairment (odds ratio (OR)_loss/injury=1.68; OR_media=2.37) and functional impairment (OR_loss/injury=1.68;...

Investigating the effects of housing instability on depression, anxiety, and mental health treatment in childhood and adolescence.

Fri, 6 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Housing instability is a widespread phenomenon in the United States. In combination with other social determinants of health, housing instability affects children's overall health and development. Drawing on data from the 2022 National Survey of Children's Health, we employed multiple logistic regression models to understand how sociodemographic factors, especially housing instability, affect mental health outcomes and treatment access for youth aged 6-17 years. Our results show that youth facing housing instability have a higher likelihood of experiencing anxiety (OR: 1.42, p<0.001) and depression (OR: 1.57, p<0.001). Furthermore, youth experiencing both mental health conditions and housing instability are significantly less likely to receive mental health services in the past year, indicating the substantial barriers they face in accessing mental health care. Based on our findings, we highlight opportunities for digital mental health interventions to provide children experiencing...

Association of fertility-related attitudes and norms among adolescent wives, husbands, and mothers-in-law with wives’ fertility desires in rural Niger

Fri, 6 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Niger has the world's highest fertility rate, with about seven children per woman, significantly impacting maternal and child health. This study examines how fertility-related attitudes and social norms affect adolescent wives' (AWs) fertility desires in rural Niger. Using data from 768 AWs (ages 15-19), their husbands, and mothers-in-law, the study employed multilevel linear regression models to analyse associations between birth spacing attitudes, social norms, and AWs' fertility desires. Results show a significant link between social norms and wives' fertility desires. Wives with pro-natalist descriptive and injunctive norms and those whose husband has pro-natalist injunctive norms have higher fertility desire. Interestingly, individual attitudes weren't directly correlated with fertility desires, suggesting social norms predominate over personal attitudes. The study further highlights that village-level descriptive norms are significantly associated with fertility desires....

“Each one of us did the best we could for the community, while also supporting each other”: community residents’ perspectives on community health worker (CHW) response during the COVID-19 pandemic - a community science worker-led qualitative study

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the health and social wellbeing of the United States population, disproportionately affecting low-income, immigrant communities of color. In Orange County, California, community health workers (CHWs) were essential to addressing multilevel community needs among impacted communities. However, little is known about how communities and CHWs responded to meet their needs amid pressing challenges.MethodsCHWs completed a popular education qualitative methods program under a Community Science Worker (CSW) model to design and facilitate four semi-structured focus groups and three interviews with 32 residents in Orange County, California, to understand their pandemic experiences and interactions with CHWs. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an adapted flexible coding approach to derive data-driven themes.ResultsResidents described how they supported one another, advocated for their communities, and fostered livelihood...

Racialization processes and depressive symptoms among pregnant Mexican‐origin immigrant women

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines how racialization processes (conceptualized as multilevel and dynamic processes) shape prenatal mental health by testing the association of discrimination and the John Henryism hypothesis on depressive symptoms for pregnant Mexican-origin immigrant women. We analyzed baseline data (n = 218) from a healthy lifestyle intervention for pregnant Latinas in Detroit, Michigan. Using separate multiple linear regression models, we examined the independent and joint associations of discrimination and John Henryism with depressive symptoms and effect modification by socioeconomic position. Discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = 2.84; p < .001) when adjusting for covariates. This association did not vary by socioeconomic position. Women primarily attributed discrimination to language use, racial background, and nativity. We did not find support for the John Henryism hypothesis, meaning that the hypothesized association between John Henryism...

Data Missingness and Equity Implications in the Nation's Largest Student Fitness Surveillance System: The New York City School Based Physical Fitness Testing Programs, 2006–2020

Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Data missingness can bias interpretation and outcomes resulting from data use. We describe data missingness in the longest-standing US-based youth fitness surveillance system (2006/07-2019/20). METHODS: This observational study uses the New York City FITNESSGRAM (NYCFG) database from 1,983,629 unique 4th-12th grade students (9,147,873 student-year observations) from 1756 schools. NYCFG tests for aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance were administered annually. Mixed effects models determined the prevalence of missingness by demographics, and associations between demographics and missingness. RESULTS: Across years, 20.1% of students were missing data from all three tests (11.7% for elementary students, 15.6% middle, and 36.3% high). Missingness did not differ by sex, but differed significantly by race/ethnicity and student home neighborhood socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: The nation's largest youth fitness surveillance system demonstrates the highest...

Increased vulnerability to psychological distress and suicidal ideation among transgender women with self-reported disabilities in San Francisco, California

Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: Research among transgender women has found health, but especially mental health, to be shaped by social inequities and multiple, intersectional, structural vulnerabilities. While some studies have shown that transgender adults are also more likely to have a disability than cisgender adults, few studies have explored this intersection. We assess possible associations between disability status and psychological stress and suicidal ideation among transgender women. METHODS: We analyzed data from the San Francisco site of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Transgender (NHBS-Trans) Study (2019-2020) to explore how disability status among transgender women influences mental health. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests to assess associations between disability status and psychological distress. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the magnitude of these associations adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: 71.14 % of the sample (N = 201)...

Does Early Life Adversity Limit Delivery of High‐Quality Health Care Among Children?

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with poor health and underuse of preventive health services. However, less is known about how ACEs are associated with quality of care that children receive, like care that involves shared decision-making. METHODS: Using data from the 2021-2022 National Survey of Children's Health (n = 47 179) the association between ACEs, both individual and cumulative and (1) needing medical decisions made in the past 12 months and (2) three different measures of always receiving care that involved shared decision-making. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds of each outcome. Each of the 11 ACEs and the cumulative number of ACEs served as independent variables each in separate models. RESULTS: After accounting for confounders, the number of ACEs experienced, and most individual ACE items were associated with higher odds of needing medical decisions made, and lower odds of receiving health care that involved...

FWin Transformer for Dengue Prediction Under Climate and Ocean Influence

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dengue fever is one of the most deadly mosquito-born tropical infectious diseases. Detailed long range forecast model is vital in controlling the spread of disease and making mitigation efforts. In this study, we examine methods used to forecast dengue cases for long range predictions. The dataset consists of local climate/weather in addition to global climate indicators of Singapore from 2000 to 2019. We utilize newly developed deep neural networks to learn the intricate relationship between the features. The baseline models in this study are in the class of recent transformers for long sequence forecasting tasks. We found that a Fourier mixed window attention (FWin) based transformer performed the best in terms of both the mean square error and the maximum absolute error on the long range dengue forecast up to 60 weeks.

Bionomics and distribution of malaria vectors in Kisumu city, Western Kenya: implications for urban malaria transmission

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundIncreasing unplanned urbanization in tropical Africa may create new niches for malaria vectors, raising transmission risk, yet control efforts focus on rural ecosystems. Understanding mosquito diversity, ecology and biting behaviour in urban areas is crucial for effective control. This study assessed Anopheles diversity, abundance, behaviour, and Plasmodium infection rates in Kisumu city, Kenya.MethodsIndoor and outdoor host-seeking and resting adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC miniature light traps (CDC-LT) and Prokopack aspirators along an urban–rural transect. Anophelines were identified morphologically, with Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and Anopheles funestus group further distinguished to siblings using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporozoite infection rates were determined using a multiplexed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay.ResultsA total of 3,394 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected: An. gambiae s.l. (68%), An. funestus s.l....

Health equity in the era of large language models.

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This commentary presents a summary of 8 major regulations and guidelines that have direct implications for the equitable design, implementation, and maintenance of health care-focused large language models (LLMs) deployed in the US. We grouped key equity issues for LLMs into 3 domains: (1) linguistic and cultural bias, (2) accessibility and trust, and (3) oversight and quality control. Solutions shared by these regulations and guidelines are to (1) ensure diverse representation in training data and in teams that develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools, (2) develop techniques to evaluate AI-enabled health care tool performance against real-world data, (3) ensure that AI used in health care is free of discrimination and integrates equity principles, (4) take meaningful steps to ensure access for patients with limited English proficiency, (5) apply AI tools to make workplaces more efficient and reduce administrative burdens, (6) require human oversight of AI tools used in...

Building Bridges Toward Common Goals – A Call for Greater Collaboration Between Public Health and Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Providers

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This commentary makes the case for greater collaboration between public health professionals and integrative, complementary and traditional health practitioners (ICTHP). Previous partnerships have been successful, and more such collaborative work is needed to help overcome division, enhance the health workforce, and move all involved toward shared goals. ICTHP providers may be uniquely able to work across ideological differences and engage individuals and communities who are less trusting of public health, including those who are vaccine hesitant. Diverse partnerships can be difficult to maintain, but the application of equitable processes may aid their success. In the face of highly complex public health challenges, partnerships with ICTHP are critical.

They Saw a Hearing: Democrats’ and Republicans’ Perceptions of and Responses to the Ford-Kavanaugh Hearings

Sat, 5 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In several highly publicized hearings, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh presented two opposing accounts of an alleged sexual assault. In the wake of these proceedings, partisans appeared similarly divided in how they regarded this political event. Using a U.S. national sample (N = 2,474) and a mixed-methods design, we investigated partisans' perceptions of, and responses to, the Ford-Kavanaugh hearings. Respondents reported their views of the hearings soon after they occurred. We used topic modeling to analyze these open-ended responses and found uniquely partisan topics emerged, including judicial impartiality and due process. Acute stress (AS) responses to the hearings were also related to partisan identities and perceptions; both Republicans (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.78, 0.84]) and individuals who wrote more about Republican topics (IRR = 0.72, 95% CI = [0.56, 0.92]) reported lower AS than their Democratic...

Association between residence at birth and addiction service utilization: a spatial analysis of the Massachusetts birth record cohort

Fri, 4 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Substance use disorders impact a significant portion of the US population. Exposure to neighborhood environment early in life may contribute to disparities in policing, health outcomes and access to treatment for substance use disorders. Although many studies have examined the relationship between neighborhood context and substance use, few studies have accounted for the spatial distribution of substance use and social environment. The current study examined the association between birth address and substance addiction service utilization of individuals born in communities around the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in southeast Massachusetts that face potential racial, socioeconomic, and environmental stressors. Methods: The analysis utilized birth record data between January 1992 and December 1998 (N = 12,151) from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics with follow-up for substance addiction service utilization through June 2022 by the Bureau of Substances...

Massive expansion and differential evolution of small heat shock proteins with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) polyploidization