Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anika L. Hines, Michelle A. Albert, Jessica P. Blair, Deidra C. Crews, Lisa A. Cooper, D. Leann Long, April P. Carson
Summary: This study examined whether neighborhood- and individual-level stressors mediate the racial disparities in ideal cardiovascular health. The results showed that neighborhood physical environment, neighborhood safety, neighborhood social cohesion, and discrimination attenuated the racial disparities in cardiovascular health.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Timothy B. Plante, D. Leann Long, Boyi Guo, George Howard, April P. Carson, Virginia J. Howard, Suzanne E. Judd, Nancy Swords Jenny, Neil A. Zakai, Mary Cushman
Summary: Inflammation, quantified by higher CRP levels, may partially explain the higher incidence of hypertension among Black US adults.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2021)
Article
Andrology
Zachary Walker, Lindsay Rucker, John Owen, Ashley Wiltshire, Lacey Kendall, Johnathan Edmonds, Deidre Gunn
Summary: This study assessed the relationship between self-reported racial groups and rates of abnormal semen analysis, finding that Black men had the highest rate of abnormal results. It suggests that Black men seeking infertility treatment should be aware of the incidence of abnormal semen analysis and actively seek evaluation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael T. Rizzo, Tobias C. Britton, Marjorie Rhodes
Summary: This study examined how children's exposure to and beliefs about racial inequalities predicted anti-Black biases. The results showed that children who believed that racial inequalities were caused by intrinsic differences between people were more likely to hold racial biases, while those who recognized the extrinsic factors underlying racial inequalities held more egalitarian attitudes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Laura C. Pinheiro, Evgeniya Reshetnyak, Tomi Akinyemiju, Erica Phillips, Monika M. Safford
Summary: The cumulative burden of social determinants of health (SDOHs) increases the risk of cancer mortality, especially in younger age groups. Factors such as low education, low income, zip code poverty, and lack of health insurance are significantly associated with cancer mortality.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Katharine L. Cheung, Deidra C. Crews, Mary Cushman, Ya Yuan, Katherine Wilkinson, D. Leann Long, Suzanne E. Judd, Michael G. Shlipak, Joachim H. Ix, Alexander L. Bullen, David G. Warnock, Orlando M. Gutierrez
Summary: This study investigated the incidence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in different races, genders, and regions in the United States. The results showed that Black individuals had a higher risk of developing CKD compared to White individuals, and living in the US stroke belt region was also identified as a novel risk factor for CKD. Additionally, albuminuria was found to be a stronger risk factor for CKD in Black individuals. These findings have significant implications for the prevention and treatment of CKD.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Jordan A. Munger, Insu Koh, George Howard, Virginia Howard, Timothy B. Plante, Katherine Wilkinson, Mary Cushman, Neil A. Zakai
Summary: In a racially and geographically diverse US cohort, there was no significant association found between television viewing and risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), even after adjusting for factors like physical activity.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Negar Fani, Nathaniel G. Harnett, Bekh Bradley, Yara Mekawi, Abigail Powers, Jennifer S. Stevens, Kerry J. Ressler, Sierra E. Carter
Summary: Experiences of racial discrimination are independently associated with lower white matter microstructure in the brains of Black American women, even after controlling for other factors. This suggests that racial discrimination may have detrimental effects on brain health and increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders and mental health problems.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole D. Armstrong, Marguerite R. Irvin, William E. Haley, Marcela D. Blinka, Debora Kamin Mukaz, Amit Patki, Sue Rutherford Siegel, Idan Shalev, Peter Durda, Rasika A. Mathias, Jeremy D. Walston, David L. Roth
Summary: This study used longitudinal methods to examine the association between the transition to family caregiving and change in telomere length (TL) over time. Contrary to previous cross-sectional studies, this study found no significant relationship between caregiving and TL change. This highlights the need for a more balanced narrative about the impact of caregiving on telomere length and health outcomes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Igor Vidal, Qizhi Zheng, Jessica L. Hicks, Jiayu Chen, Elizabeth A. Platz, Bruce J. Trock, Ibrahim Kulac, Javier A. Baena-Del Valle, Karen S. Sfanos, Sarah Ernst, Tracy Jones, Janielle P. Maynard, Stephanie A. Glavaris, William G. Nelson, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Angelo M. De Marzo
Summary: This study found that GSTP1-positive prostate cancers are more common in Black men compared to White men, with a higher percentage of Black patients showing GSTP1 positivity in their tumors. Additionally, GSTP1 positivity was associated with ERG-positive cancers among Black men, suggesting a potential link between GSTP1 expression and disparate outcomes in prostate cancer among different racial groups. Research on whether GSTP1 positive cases represent a distinct molecular subtype of prostate cancer and its implications on patient outcomes is warranted.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Mattie F. Wolf, Allison T. Rose, Ruchika Goel, Jennifer Canvasser, Barbara J. Stoll, Ravi M. Patel
Summary: This cohort study examines the yearly trends in necrotizing enterocolitis-related infant mortality rates (NEC-IMR) from 1999 to 2020, including the overall trends, racial disparities between Black and White infants, and variations in NEC-IMR across US states.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kimberly D. Martin, Gloria L. Beckles, Chengyi Wu, Leslie A. McClure, April P. Carson, Aleena Bennett, Kai McKeever Bullard, M. Maria Glymour, Fred Unverzagt, Solveig Cunningham, Giuseppina Imperatore, Virginia J. Howard
Summary: This study found that low childhood socioeconomic position was associated with Type 2 diabetes incidence among African Americans but not among white participants. Cumulative socioeconomic position had an impact on T2DM incidence for both racial groups, and social mobility also affected the risk of diabetes.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Andrew C. Cortopassi, Seth C. Kalichman
Summary: Black MSM are disproportionately affected by HIV due to high rates of racial homophily in sexual networks. Structural racism contributes to this homophily, and objectification by non-Black men may reinforce it. These findings have implications for HIV prevention and future research.
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Oncology
James W. Lillard, Kelvin A. Moses, Brandon A. Mahal, Daniel J. George
Summary: Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, with higher mortality rates and less access to treatment compared to White men. Racial disparities in PCa are multifaceted, stemming from institutional racism and cultural factors. Economic factors also play a role. Black men are underrepresented in clinical trials and genomic studies. Proposed solutions include educating healthcare providers, increasing diversity in research teams, and empowering Black men to be involved in their treatment.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Devin E. E. Banks, Stephen Scroggins, Maria E. E. Paschke, Enbal Shacham, Melissa Nance, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, Rachel P. P. Winograd
Summary: The third wave of the opioid overdose crisis has been characterized by the widespread use of illicit fentanyl, resulting in a record number of overdose deaths and significant racial disparities in the impact on Black Americans. This study investigates the changing geographic patterns of opioid overdose deaths by race and time (pre-fentanyl versus fentanyl era) in St. Louis, Missouri. The findings reveal that overdose deaths in the fentanyl era are more densely clustered, particularly among Black individuals, and that there is an overlap of overdose hotspots in predominantly Black neighborhoods, indicating a geographic shift in the opioid crisis towards Black communities.
JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Debora Kamin Mukaz, Erica Dawson, Virginia J. Howard, Mary Cushman, John C. Higginbotham, Suzanne E. Judd, Brett M. Kissela, Monika M. Safford, Elsayed Z. Soliman, George Howard
Summary: This study found that hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas, with higher odds in the most rural regions. Adjustment for neighborhood socioeconomic status partially attenuated the odds for hypertension and heart disease in rural areas, completely attenuated the odds for diabetes, and revealed an association with current smoking.
JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Jordan B. King, Laura C. Pinheiro, Joanna Bryan Ringel, Adam P. Bress, Daichi Shimbo, Paul Muntner, Kristi Reynolds, Mary Cushman, George Howard, Jennifer J. Manly, Monika M. Safford
Summary: The increase in social vulnerabilities is associated with a higher risk of developing hypertension and dying. The association between social vulnerability count and risk varies by race. The more social vulnerabilities an individual has, the higher the risk of developing hypertension and dying.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kaitlyn M. Peper, Boyi Guo, D. Leann Long, George Howard, April P. Carson, Virginia J. Howard, Suzanne E. Judd, Neil A. Zakai, Andrea Cherrington, Mary Cushman, Timothy B. Plante
Summary: Black adults have a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and inflammatory markers, but the impact of inflammation on racial differences in diabetes is unclear. This study found that lower CRP levels are the main driver of excess burden of diabetes in Black adults.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Samuel Ap Short, Katherine Wilkinson, D. Leann Long, Suzanne Judd, Janin Schulte, Brett M. Kissela, George Howard, Mary Cushman
Summary: This study examined the association of the opioid neuropeptide pro-enkephalin A (PENK-A) with ischemic stroke. The results showed that higher baseline plasma PENK-A levels were independently associated with future stroke risk, particularly in White men. This association had minimal confounding by established stroke risk factors, suggesting a possible causal role in stroke etiology.
JOURNAL OF STROKE & CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Meghan Reading Turchioe, Elsayed Z. Soliman, Parag Goyal, Alexander E. Merkler, Hooman Kamel, Mary Cushman, Orysya Soroka, Ruth Masterson Creber, Monika M. Safford
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke symptoms among adults without a clinical history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The results showed that stroke symptoms in the absence of a stroke diagnosis may represent subclinical cardioembolic phenomena, implying the need for further research on stroke symptom screening.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mary Cushman
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
George Howard, Maciej Banach, Brett Kissela, Mary Cushman, Paul Muntner, Suzanne E. Judd, Virginia J. Howard
Summary: This study assessed the association between stroke risk factors and incident stroke, and evaluated whether the magnitude of this association is uniform across different age groups. The results showed that the associations of hypertension and diabetes with stroke significantly decreased in older age groups, while the associations of smoking, atrial fibrillation, and left ventricular hypertrophy with stroke did not vary with age.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Naruchorn Kijpaisalratana, Zsuzsanna Ament, Amit Patki, Varun M. Bhave, Ana-Lucia Garcia-Guarniz, Suzanne E. Judd, Mary Cushman, D. Leann Long, M. Ryan Irvin, W. Taylor Kimberly
Summary: This study aimed to identify metabolites that explain the higher prevalence of hypertension and incident ischemic stroke among Black adults. The researchers found that gluconic acid is associated with prevalent hypertension and incident ischemic stroke in Black adults, and it is also influenced by social determinants of health such as diet, education level, and physical activity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary A. Cushman, Peter D. Callas, Kristine W. Alexander, Virginia E. Wadley, Neil D. Zakai, Steven D. Lidofsky, Frederick D. Unverzagt, Suzanne D. Judd
Summary: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, especially in middle-aged individuals, according to a study. Liver biomarkers, except AST/ALT >2, were not found to be associated with cognitive impairment. The findings suggest that NAFLD may be a significant reversible determinant of cognitive health.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Thomas G. Brott, James F. Meschia, Brajesh K. Lal, Angel Chamorro, Virginia J. Howard, George Howard
Summary: The SPACE-2 trial compared three treatments for preventing stroke in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. The findings were inconclusive due to low enrollment. The CREST-2 trial is expected to provide much-needed evidence for guiding treatment in asymptomatic patients.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Robert. S. S. Rosenson, Mary Cushman, Emily. C. C. McKinley, Paul Muntner, Zhixin Wang, Tomas Vaisar, Jay Heinecke, Christy Tangney, Suzanne Judd, Lisandro. D. D. Colantonio
Summary: A recent study found that elevated nonfasting triglycerides were associated with non-Alzheimer dementia. However, this study did not evaluate the association between fasting triglycerides and incident cognitive impairment (ICI), nor did it adjust for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or hs-CRP, known risk markers for ICI and dementia.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Samuel A. P. Short, Katherine Wilkinson, Janin Schulte, Miguel Arce Renteria, Katharine L. Cheung, Charles D. Nicoli, Virginia J. Howard, Mary Cushman
Summary: This study examined the association between plasma opioid pro-enkephalin A (PENK-A) and cognitive impairment. The results showed that both high and low levels of PENK-A were associated with decreased odds of future cognitive impairment in specific subgroups. Further research is needed to understand the underlying biology and the observed differences by sex.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Oluwasegun P. P. Akinyelure, Byron C. C. Jaeger, Suzanne Oparil, April P. P. Carson, Monika M. M. Safford, George Howard, Paul Muntner, Shakia T. T. Hardy
Summary: This study analyzed data to determine the impact of social determinants of health on the higher proportion of Black adults with uncontrolled blood pressure. Factors such as low education, low income, living in a health professional shortage area, disadvantaged neighborhood, and high-poverty zip code contribute to this disparity.
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Debora Kamin Mukaz, Mary Cushman
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Russell P. Sawyer, Bradford B. Worrall, Virginia J. Howard, Michael G. Crowe, George Howard, Hyacinth I. Hyacinth
Summary: This study aims to examine the racial disparity in the prevalence and trajectory of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia in non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black participants. It will focus on the role of cerebral small vessel disease and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)