Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Siobhan O. Nnorom, Lori L. Wilson
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy affecting women in the United States, with the highest mortality rates observed in Black women. Survival after breast cancer is influenced by factors such as early detection and effective therapy, which are affected by both biological and social factors.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Kirsten A. Nyrop, Emily M. Damone, Allison M. Deal, Lisa A. Carey, Michael Lorentsen, Shlomit S. Shachar, Grant W. Williams, Addison (Tucker) Brenizer, Amy Wheless, Hyman B. Muss
Summary: This study reveals significant disparities between Black and White women with early breast cancer in terms of obesity, overall comorbidities, and obesity-related comorbidities, but no intergroup differences were found in treatment decisions.
Article
Oncology
Shravan Leonard-Murali, S. David Nathanson, Kylie Springer, Patricia Baker, Laura Susick
Summary: Despite advances in screening and treatment, there is a disparity in breast cancer survival between White and Black Americans. This study analyzed long-term outcomes of 3139 early breast cancer patients at a quaternary care center and found that race was not associated with disease-specific survival when patients received equal access to high-quality care.
Article
Oncology
Walter H. Carbajal-Ochoa, Devin Johnson, Alvaro Alvarez, Ana M. Bernal, Jesus D. Anampa
Summary: This study aimed to compare the treatment and outcomes of non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) women with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). After accounting for demographic, clinicopathological, and socioeconomic factors, we found that although both groups had similar odds of receiving chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, NHB women had lower survival rates and a higher risk of death from breast cancer.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2023)
Article
Family Studies
Minhae Cho, Eric Harlin, Jungjoon Ihm, Chi Hyun Lee
Summary: This study examines racial disproportionality and disparities in the adoption process for Black children in the U.S. child welfare system. The findings indicate that Black children have lower chances of adoption and longer adoption times compared to White children. This highlights the need for dedicated outreach programs and resources to improve adoption outcomes for Black children.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Naomi Y. Ko, Tsion G. Fikre, Anne K. Buck, Emily Restrepo, Erica T. Warner
Summary: Black breast cancer survivors have specific needs, challenges, and preferences. Supportive interventions that address their concerns are responsive and can help to ameliorate disparities.
Article
Oncology
Angela R. Omilian, Haiyang Sheng, Chi-Chen Hong, Elisa Bandera, Thaer Khoury, Christine B. Ambrosone, Song Yao
Summary: The NanoString GeoMx digital spatial profiling is a new platform for quantifying tumor- and immune-related proteins in a spatially resolved manner. The results from DSP were highly replicable and showed strong correlations with traditional immunohistochemistry scores. Immune analytes from DSP were inversely associated with ER expression.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Emergency Medicine
Dylan Rose Balter, Amanda Bertram, C. Matthew Stewart, Rosalyn W. Stewart
Summary: This study examines the association between race and the number and type of Emergency Department consultations for patients at a safety-net, academic hospital. Results show disparities in the likelihood of receiving ED consultations, with white pediatric males having a higher incidence. Future work should focus on improving healthcare practices and conducting explanatory and preventive research.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(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
Medicine, General & Internal
Justin M. Luningham, Gaurav Seth, Geetanjali Saini, Shristi Bhattarai, Sofia Awan, Lindsay J. Collin, Monica H. Swahn, Dajun Dai, Keerthi Gogineni, Preeti Subhedar, Pooja Mishra, Ritu Aneja
Summary: There is a disparity in breast cancer outcomes related to low socioeconomic status and residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Neighborhood deprivation is associated with increased mortality for White patients with breast cancer, but not for Black patients.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Maya A. Wright, Kemi M. Doll, Evan Myers, William R. Carpenter, Danielle R. Gartner, Whitney R. Robinson
Summary: This study found that the rates of surgical menopause increased in North Carolina in the early 2010s, especially among non-Hispanic Black women. By 2014, the rates of surgical menopause among non-Hispanic Black women had surpassed that of non-Hispanic White women.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Susan M. Domchek, Song Yao, Fei Chen, Chunling Hu, Steven N. Hart, David E. Goldgar, Katherine L. Nathanson, Christine B. Ambrosone, Christopher A. Haiman, Fergus J. Couch, Eric C. Polley, Julie R. Palmer
Summary: This large population-based study did not find clinically meaningful differences in the prevalence of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in 12 breast cancer susceptibility genes among Black and non-Hispanic White women with breast cancer in the United States. Therefore, there is not sufficient evidence to suggest policy changes related to genetic testing based on race alone.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura B. Zahodne, Neika Sharifian, A. Zarina Kraal, Emily P. Morris, Ketlyne Sol, Afsara B. Zaheed, Lindsey Meister, Richard Mayeux, Nicole Schupf, Jennifer J. Manly, Adam M. Brickman
Summary: Non-Hispanic Black older adults have a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) than non-Hispanic Whites, reflecting racial disparities in brain and cognitive health. Research suggests that racial discrimination may be detrimental to brain aging among non-Hispanic Black older adults, contributing to their disproportionate dementia burden. Further studies that disaggregate discrimination by attribution may provide a clearer understanding of racial inequalities in brain and cognitive aging.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Megan C. Edmonds, Nina A. Bickell, Emily J. Gallagher, Derek LeRoith, Jenny J. Lin
Summary: This study found that Black women with breast cancer were more likely to underestimate their weight compared to White women, especially among those with higher BMI or waist circumference. Lower education and physical inactivity were associated with weight underestimation. Understanding breast cancer patients' perceptions about their weight can help inform lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity.
JOURNAL OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Julie R. Palmer, Gary Zirpoli, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Tracy Battaglia, Leslie Bernstein, Christine B. Ambrosone, Elisa Bandera, Melissa A. Troester, Lynn Rosenberg, Ruth M. Pfeiffer, Ludovic Trinquart
Summary: The study aimed to develop and evaluate a risk prediction model for breast cancer in US Black women, and found that the discriminatory accuracy of the new model was similar to that of the most frequently used models in White women. This new model may be particularly valuable for risk stratification of young Black women below the typical age for breast cancer screening.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Allergy
Howard H. F. Tang, Anna Lang, Shu Mei Teo, Louise M. Judd, Ronald Gangnon, Michael D. Evans, Kristine E. Lee, Rose Vrtis, Patrick G. Holt, Robert F. Lemanske, Daniel J. Jackson, Kathryn E. Holt, Michael Inouye, James E. Gern
Summary: The developmental trajectories of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in early life and the composition of the microbiome during illnesses are associated with the risk of childhood asthma. A Staphylococcus-dominant microbiome in early infancy is linked to an increased risk of recurrent wheezing and persistent asthma, while detection of rhinoviruses and predominance of Moraxella during wheezing illnesses are associated with asthma that persists throughout later childhood.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Junho Lee, Maria E. Kamenetsky, Ronald E. Gangnon, Jun Zhu
Summary: This article proposes a varying coefficient regression method for spatio-temporal data, which can identify clusters of regression coefficients over space and time, extending from spatial-only data. The methodology is validated through a simulation study and applied to a cancer mortality dataset in the Southeast of the U.S.
STATISTICS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Nicolien T. van Ravesteyn, Clyde B. Schechter, John M. Hampton, Oguzhan Alagoz, Jeroen J. van den Broek, Karla Kerlikowske, Jeanne S. Mandelblatt, Diana L. Miglioretti, Brian L. Sprague, Natasha K. Stout, Harry J. de Koning, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Anna N. A. Tosteson
Summary: This study found that for women aged 50-74 with lower-than-average breast cancer risk, screening benefits decrease as risk and breast density decrease, while the risks of false-positives, unnecessary biopsies, and overdiagnosis remain substantial. Therefore, for women at lower risk, triennial screening may be a reasonable strategy.
JNCI-JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jessica Gorzelitz, Erin Costanzo, Ronald Gangnon, Kelli Koltyn, Amy Trentham Dietz, Ryan J. Spencer, Joanne Rash, Lisa Cadmus-Bertram
Summary: The study aimed to determine the feasibility of home-based muscle strengthening activity for endometrial cancer survivors. The results showed that the home-based program was feasible, with high participant satisfaction.
JOURNAL OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Erin D. Zwick, Caitlin S. Pepperell, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: The study developed an agent-based simulation model to investigate the impact of complex contagion on tuberculosis transmission dynamics. Results showed that complex contagion can qualitatively alter the trajectory of a TB epidemic.
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jennifer M. Yeh, Kathryn P. Lowry, Clyde B. Schechter, Lisa R. Diller, Grace O'Brien, Oguzhan Alagoz, Gregory T. Armstrong, John M. Hampton, Melissa M. Hudson, Wendy Leisenring, Qi Liu, Jeanne S. Mandelblatt, Diana L. Miglioretti, Chaya S. Moskowitz, Paul C. Nathan, Joseph P. Neglia, Kevin C. Oeffinger, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Natasha K. Stout
Summary: Early initiation of breast cancer screening in childhood leukemia or sarcoma survivors may reduce breast cancer deaths by half and is cost-effective, providing valuable insights for screening guidelines.
JNCI-JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oguzhan Alagoz, Ajay K. Sethi, Brian W. Patterson, Matthew Churpek, Ghalib Alhanaee, Elizabeth Scaria, Nasia Safdar
Summary: The control of SARS-CoV-2 spread relies not only on the effectiveness and coverage of vaccines, but also on concurrent adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
Article
Management
Ali Hajjar, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: Current clinical practice guidelines lack the ability to address the personalized needs of patients with chronic conditions, resulting in adverse events and increased financial burden on the healthcare system. In order to solve this problem, a stochastic modeling framework is developed to personalize disease screening decisions for patients with or at risk of developing chronic conditions. This framework proves useful when the chronic condition affects the risk of the index disease.
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Natalia Arroyo, Katy J. L. Bell, Vivian Hsiao, Sara Fernandes-Taylor, Oguzhan Alagoz, Yichi Zhang, Louise Davies, David O. Francis
Summary: This meta-analysis explores the prevalence of subclinical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) throughout a person's lifetime. The study finds that the prevalence of subclinical PTC remains stable across all age groups and there is no higher prevalence in middle age, despite higher observed incidence rates in this age group. These findings provide unique insights into the relationship between subclinical PTC and age.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Mehmet A. Ergun, Ali Hajjar, Oguzhan Alagoz, Murtuza Rampurwala
Summary: Each woman has a different risk of developing breast cancer, and existing national clinical guidelines have limited use of personal risk when proposing risk reduction strategies. A study suggests that mastectomy may be the optimal choice for borderline high-risk women aged 22 to 38, contrary to current recommendations. Additionally, exemestane may be a plausible and even the best option for high-risk postmenopausal women, contradicting the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations.
HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Elizabeth S. S. Burnside, Sarina Schrager, Lori DuBenske, Jon Keevil, Terry Little, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Betsy Rolland, Dhavan Shah, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: This study successfully developed a shared decision-making tool for breast cancer screening using interdisciplinary team science methods and quality improvement principles. Two iterative cycles of plan-do-study-act were conducted to develop and improve the tool, and patient and physician feedback and data supported its implementation. This study demonstrates the importance of team science and quality improvement in improving breast cancer screening.
JCO ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Yifan Lu, Ali Hajjar, Vincent L. Cryns, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Ronald E. Gangnon, Brandy M. Heckman-Stoddard, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: This study suggests that women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and this association is strengthened when adjusting for BMI and menopausal status. There was no significant reduction in breast cancer risk among users of metformin.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elizabeth Scaria, Nasia Safdar, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: This study presents an alternate approach to validating hospital agent-based models (ABMs) that focuses on replicating hospital-specific conditions and proposes a new metric for validating the social-environmental network structure of ABMs. The adapted ABM, referred to as H-ABM, successfully replicates Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) trends during 2013-2018 and demonstrates the utility of hospital-specific modeling. The study also reveals the association between high CDI burden in socio-environmental networks and increased risk of C. difficile colonization or infection, as well as the diminished impact of certain infection control interventions in the H-ABM compared to a generic model.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Vahab Vahdat, Oguzhan Alagoz, Jing Voon Chen, Leila Saoud, Bijan J. Borah, Paul J. Limburg
Summary: This study demonstrated the use of a machine learning-based emulator to improve the calibration of decision-analytical models in complex microsimulation models. The deep neural network (DNN) outperformed other tested algorithms and significantly reduced computational burden. Rating: 9/10.
MEDICAL DECISION MAKING
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Oguzhan Alagoz, Kathryn P. Lowry, Allison W. Kurian, Jeanne S. Mandelblatt, Mehmet A. Ergun, Hui Huang, Sandra J. Lee, Clyde B. Schechter, Anna N. A. Tosteson, Diana L. Miglioretti, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Sarah J. Nyante, Karla Kerlikowske, Brian L. Sprague, Natasha K. Stout
Summary: The study projected the long-term impact of initial disruptions in breast cancer care due to COVID-19, estimating a small increase in breast cancer mortality by 2030. However, efforts to promptly return to screening and minimize delays in treatment evaluation can largely mitigate this impact.
JNCI-JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
(2021)