December 2023 Member Publications

  1. Bhatnagar A, Keith R, Yeager R, Riggs D, Sears C, Bucknum B, Smith T, Fleischer D, Chandler C, Walker KL, Hart JL, Srivastava S, Turner J, Rai S. The Green Heart Project: Objectives, Design, and Methods. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Dec 5:2023.12.05.23299461. doi: 10.1101/2023.12.05.23299461. PMID: 38105951; PMCID: PMC10723507.
    Impact Statement: The Green Heart Project, initiated in 2018 in a low-to-middle-income mixed-race residential area of Louisville, KY, conducted a comprehensive study assessing the impact of increased urban greenery on environmental and community health. Through meticulous data collection, including sociodemographic factors, pollutant exposure, and cardiovascular function assessments, the project aims to provide valuable insights into the long-term effects of planting over 8,000 trees and shrubs in designated clusters, contributing to ongoing research on the benefits of urban green spaces.
  2. Chaudhari M, Zelko I, Lorkiewicz P, Hoetker D, Doelling B, Brittian K, Bhatnagar A, Srivastava S, Baba SP. Metabolic Pathways for Removing Reactive Aldehydes are Diminished in Atrophic Muscle During Heart Failure. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Nov 21:rs.3.rs-3621159. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3621159/v1. PMID: 38045249; PMCID: PMC10690332.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals a critical link between heart failure-induced muscle wasting and diminished metabolic pathways responsible for removing lipid peroxidation products and synthesizing histidyl dipeptides in skeletal muscle. The findings underscore the potential contribution of oxidative stress, specifically the reduced capacity to remove toxic aldehydes and decreased synthesis of histidyl dipeptides, to the pathogenesis of muscle atrophy in heart failure patients, highlighting novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
  3. Conklin DJ, Haberzettl P, MacKinlay KG, Murphy D, Jin L, Yuan F, Srivastava S, Bhatnagar A. Aldose Reductase (AR) Mediates and Perivascular Adipose Tissue (PVAT) Modulates Endothelial Dysfunction of Short-Term High-Fat Diet Feeding in Mice. Metabolites. 2023 Nov 24;13(12):1172. doi: 10.3390/metabo13121172. PMID: 38132854; PMCID: PMC10744918.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the significant role of aldose reductase (AR) in mediating endothelial dysfunction (ED) associated with short-term high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, particularly in the context of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). The findings suggest that vascular-localized AR could serve as a potential target for temporally selective intervention to mitigate ED and its associated complications in the context of increased adiposity, providing insights into the complex interplay between PVAT, AR, and vascular health.
  4. Xie Z, Sutaria SR, Chen JY, Gao H, Conklin DJ, Keith RJ, Srivastava S, Lorkiewicz P, Bhatnagar A. Evaluation of urinary limonene metabolites as biomarkers of exposure to greenness. Environ Res. 2023 Dec 22;245:117991. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117991. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38141921.
    Impact Statement: This study explores the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships between greenspaces and human health by incorporating quantitative measures of greenness exposure at the individual level. The identification and validation of urinary metabolites of limonene, such as uroterpenol glucuronide and dihydroperillic acid glucuronide, as potential biomarkers, offer a promising avenue for personalized assessment of exposure to green environments, providing valuable insights into the physical and mental health benefits associated with living in areas rich in vegetation.
  5. Barnard ME, DuPré NC, Heine JJ, Fowler EE, Murthy DJ, Nelleke RL, Chan A, Warner ET, Tamimi RM. Reproductive risk factors for breast cancer and association with novel breast density measurements among Hispanic, Black, and White women. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Dec 14. doi: 10.1007/s10549-023-07174-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38095811.
    Impact Statement: This study elucidates the racial and ethnic variations in breast density, a factor strongly associated with breast cancer risk. The findings highlight the influence of reproductive factors, specifically age at menarche, parity, and oral contraceptive use, on breast density, and provide insights into potential contributors to differences in breast cancer incidence across diverse populations.
  6. Kerr J, Smith A, Nzama N, Bullock NAA, Chandler C, Osezua V, Johnson K, Rozema I, Metzger IW, Harris LM, Bond K, LaPreze D, Rice BM. Systematic Review of Neighborhood Factors Impacting HIV Care Continuum Participation in the United States. J Urban Health. 2023 Dec 13. doi: 10.1007/s11524-023-00801-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38093034.
    Impact Statement: Social determinants, including neighborhood factors, play an important role in undermining HIV prevention. Social and economic disenfranchisement of neighborhoods negatively impacts HIV care continuum participation among persons living with HIV. This systematic review found that five key neighborhood factors (socioeconomic status, segregation, social disorder, stigma, and care access) were associated with challenged HIV care continuum participation. Structural interventions addressing neighborhood social and economic challenges may have favorable downstream effects for improving HIV care continuum participation.
  7. Qin X, Chen X, Zhao X, Yao L, Li B, Pan G, Xu J, Jiang R, Zhao Z, Liang Z, Guo X, Huang J, Li X. Evaluation of brain function in adult patent ductus arteriosus surgery: A multimodal monitoring approach. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2023 Dec 23;49(2):102334. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102334. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38142948.
    Impact Statement: Moderate hypothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass in adult PDA repair with combined rSO2 and BIS monitoring can reduce neurological complications post-surgery.
  8. Bradley J, Huang J, Kalra A, Reicher J. External validation of Fibresolve, a machine-learning algorithm, to non-invasively diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Med Sci. 2023 Dec 24:S0002-9629(23)01475-1. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2023.12.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38147938.
    Impact Statement: In patients with suspected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with non-definite usual interstitial pneumonia on high resolution CT, Fibresolve can positively identify cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with high sensitivity. machine learning
  9. Sun J, Duncan S, Pal S, Kong M. Directed Acyclic Graph Assisted Method For Estimating Average Treatment Effect. J Biopharm Stat. 2023 Dec 27:1-20. doi: 10.1080/10543406.2023.2296047. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38151852.
    Impact Statement: This method establishes a framework for estimating the causal exposure (or treatment) effect by collaboratively constructing a directed acyclic graph and controlling a minimal set of confounding variables. It is particularly valuable for investigating the causal impact of environmental exposure on outcomes.
  10. Watson CT, Rodriguez OL, Engelbrecht E, Safonova Y, Marasco WA, Smith ML. Looking to the future of antibody genetics: resolving the roles of immunoglobulin diversity in gene regulation, function, and immunity. Genes Immun. 2023 Dec 14. doi: 10.1038/s41435-023-00238-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38097744.
    Impact Statement: This publication presents a commentary on the study published by Watson, Marasco, and Smith in Nature Communications in July 2023. That study defined complete genotypes and genomic variation within the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGH) and demonstrated that IGH genomic variation directly impacts which antibody chains are available for expression, which differs widely person-to-person. This article highlights the paradigm-shifting nature of this discovery, and outlines a research-based plan for implementing this knowledge into enhancing the design and efficacy of vaccines and immunotherapies.
  11. Sokoloski KJ, Holm RH, Smith M, Ford EE, Rouchka EC, Smith T. What is the functional reach of wastewater surveillance for respiratory viruses, pathogenic viruses of concern, and bacterial antibiotic resistance genes of interest? Hum Genomics. 2023 Dec 18;17(1):114. doi: 10.1186/s40246-023-00563-8. PMID: 38105239; PMCID: PMC10726489.
    Impact Statement:This publication emphasizes the significance of high-throughput sequencing in wastewater-based epidemiology for the broad and unbiased detection of human pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and other health-relevant entities. The call for collaborative networks among public health agencies, researchers, and community stakeholders highlights the need for a more inclusive public health infrastructure, positioning high-throughput sequencing of wastewater samples as a gold standard for comprehensively understanding and addressing community health, especially in the context of potential public health emergencies or pandemics.
  12. Holm RH, Nyirenda R, Smith T, Chigwechokha P. Addressing the challenges of establishing quality wastewater or non-sewered sanitation-based surveillance, including laboratory and epidemiological considerations, in Malawi. BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Nov;8(11):e013307. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013307. PMID: 37918872; PMCID: PMC10626866.
    Impact Statement: . This publication emphasizes the significance of high-throughput sequencing in wastewater-based epidemiology for the broad and unbiased detection of human pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and other health-relevant entities. The call for collaborative networks among public health agencies, researchers, and community stakeholders highlights the need for a more inclusive public health infrastructure, positioning high-throughput sequencing of wastewater samples as a gold standard for comprehensively understanding and addressing community health, especially in the context of potential public health emergencies or pandemics
  13. States JC, Barchowsky A. Invited Perspective: Humanized Mice for Arsenic Metabolism-A Better Model for Investigating Arsenic-Induced Diseases? Environ Health Perspect. 2023 Dec;131(12):121308. doi: 10.1289/EHP13932. Epub 2023 Dec 27. PMID: 38150314; PMCID: PMC10752413.
    Impact Statement: This invited commentary discusses an accompanying research article (https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13932) that reports on use of a new mouse model for arsenic toxicology. The model has great potential for better understanding how arsenic exposure may impact human health. The commentary also discusses potential shortcomings and unanswered questions.