December 2024 Member Publications

  1. Coleman JJ, Owen J, Wright JH, Eells TD, Antle B, McCoy M, Soma CS. Using Artificial Intelligence to Identify Effective Components of Computer-Assisted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2024 Nov-Dec;31(6):e70023. doi: 10.1002/cpp.70023. PMID: 39625130.
    Impact Statement: This study utilizes artificial intelligence to identify key interventions during clinician-supported computer-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy (CCBT) sessions, revealing that therapist use of open questions and techniques like guided discovery and interpersonal effectiveness were particularly effective in reducing anxiety. The findings provide valuable insights into the specific therapeutic practices that drive CCBT outcomes, highlighting open questions as the most impactful technique for improving anxiety symptoms. 
  2. Banerjee M, Lykoudi A, Hwang JY, Pan J, Rai SN, Park JW, States JC. Dysregulation of mRNA expression by hsa-miR-186 overexpression in arsenic-induced skin carcinogenesis. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 22;495:117209. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.117209. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39719251.
    Impact Statement: This study uncovers the complex interaction between miR-186 overexpression and chronic arsenic exposure in driving the development of arsenic-induced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), revealing key pathways that are consistently dysregulated during transformation. By employing longitudinal RNA-seq analysis, the research highlights the role of stochasticity in cancer development and offers insights into the potential for personalized approaches in understanding carcinogenesis driven by environmental and genetic factors. 
  3. 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. Am J Epidemiol. 2024 Dec 16:kwae458. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwae458. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39691946.
    Impact Statement: The Green Heart Project investigates the impact of increasing greenery on community health in a racially diverse, low-to-middle-income area, measuring environmental pollutants and cardiovascular health outcomes before and after planting over 8,000 trees and shrubs. The study's community-driven design and ongoing health assessments aim to provide valuable insights into how urban greening can improve public health, particularly in underserved populations. 
  4. fan A, Riggs DW, Koromia GA, Gao H, DeFilippis AP, Soliman EZ, Bhatnagar A, Carll AP. Smoking-associated electrocardiographic abnormalities predict cardiovascular mortality. Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 28;14(1):31189. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82503-7. PMID: 39730843; PMCID: PMC11680829.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the significant impact of smoking on cardiac conduction, revealing its association with abnormal ECG intervals that predict arrhythmia and cardiovascular mortality. The findings underscore the role of smoking in altering ventricular repolarization and atrioventricular depolarization, suggesting a potential mechanistic pathway for smoking-induced cardiac risk. 
  5. Tinman JS, Nzama N, Patterson J, Harris LM, Kerr JC. "Don't Tell Nobody Nothing": A Phenomenological Study on Fear of HIV Disclosure Among Older African Americans During Incarceration Living in Kentucky, USA. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000514. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39718385.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the unique challenges faced by older African Americans living with HIV in incarceration, emphasizing their fear of disclosure, stigma, and the critical need for supportive environments. The findings advocate for improved HIV awareness, stronger confidentiality protections, and the establishment of support networks within correctional settings to better address the needs of this vulnerable population. 
  6. Hong KU, Aureliano AP, Walls KM, Hein DW. Investigation on regulation of N-acetyltransferase 2 expression by nuclear receptors in human hepatocytes. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Nov 18;15:1488367. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1488367. PMID: 39624836; PMCID: PMC11608957.
    Impact Statement: This study investigates the potential regulation of NAT2 expression by hepatic nuclear receptors, a key factor in drug metabolism and cardiometabolic disorders, but finds no significant modulation by FXR, PXR, LXR, or PPARα. These results highlight the need for further research to identify other transcriptional regulators of NAT2 and understand its role in metabolic disease. 
  7. Gouwens KR, Nong Y, Chen N, Schulman-Geltzer EB, Collins HE, Hill BG, Nystoriak MA. Myocardial Hyperemia via Cardiomyocyte Catabolism of β-Hydroxybutyrate. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024 Dec 12. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.321848. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39665139.
    Impact Statement: This study shows that ketone body metabolism by cardiomyocytes is required for ketone-mediated increases in myocardial perfusion, underscoring the heart’s dynamic adaptability to metabolic states. 
  8. Jobe T, Stephan J, Wells CK, De Silva M, Lorkiewicz PK, Hill BG, Wysoczynski M. Phase partitioning of the neutrophil oxidative burst is coordinated by accessory pathways of glucose metabolism and mitochondrial activity. J Biol Chem. 2024 Dec 13;301(1):108091. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.108091. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39675714.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals the dynamic relationship between neutrophil metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during the respiratory burst, highlighting the role of various metabolic pathways in regulating the magnitude and duration of ROS production. By identifying key metabolic processes, such as the G3P shuttle, glycogenolysis, and serine biosynthesis, the research provides new insights into how neutrophil metabolism controls immune responses. 
  9. Jing H, Wei M, Lu J, Zhou L, Huang J, Cheng W, Zhang Q, Qiao Z, Zhu J, Ye Y, Hu J, Liang J, Wang S. Outcomes and risk factors for cardiac surgery during pregnancy: a 13-year, two-centre, retrospective cohort study. J Thorac Dis. 2024 Nov 30;16(11):7561-7573. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-787. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39678879; PMCID: PMC11635234.
    Impact Statement: This study underscores the high maternal and fetal risks associated with cardiac surgery during pregnancy, with maternal and fetal mortality rates of 4.3% and 35.7%, respectively. By identifying preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary hypertension, and intraoperative blood loss as key risk factors, the research provides valuable predictive markers for postoperative cardiovascular complications and mortality. 
  10. Chen J, Smith K, Xu Q, Ali T, Cavallazzi R, Ghafghazi S, Clifford SP, Arnold FW, Kong M, Huang J; Center of Excellence for Research in Infectious Diseases (CERID) Post-COVID-19 Research Clinic Study Group. Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on Vascular Parameters-A Prospective Longitudinal Ultrasound Clinical Study. J Vasc Ultrasound. 2024 Jun;48(2):95-102. doi: 10.1177/15443167231210357. Epub 2024 May 10. PMID: 39641110; PMCID: PMC11619815.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the long-term vascular effects of COVID-19, including increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and altered arterial velocities, suggesting potential cardiovascular risks in post-COVID-19 individuals. While no instances of deep vein thrombosis were observed, the increased IMT may indicate early atherosclerotic changes, warranting further research into whether COVID-19-related vascular alterations require distinct treatment approaches. 
  11. Meaza I, Cahill CR, Speer RM, Kouokam JC, Wise JP Sr. Particulate hexavalent chromium inhibits global transcription of genes in DNA repair pathways, particularly targeting homologous recombination repair, base excision repair, mismatch repair and microhomology-mediated end-joining. J Hazard Mater. 2024 Dec 15;485:136892. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136892. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39706010.
    Impact Statement: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional changes induced by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) exposure, revealing its downregulation of key genes involved in DNA repair pathways, including homologous recombination and mismatch repair. The findings offer crucial insights into how Cr(VI)-induced disruption of DNA repair mechanisms contributes to chromosome instability and lung carcinogenesis. 
  12. Lei C, Luo C, Xu Z, Ding S, Sriwastva MK, Dryden G, Wang T, Xu M, Tan Y, Wang Q, Yang X, McClain CJ, Deng Z. Bacterial and host fucosylation maintain IgA homeostasis to limit intestinal inflammation in mice. Nat Microbiol. 2025 Jan;10(1):126-143. doi: 10.1038/s41564-024-01873-w. Epub 2024 Dec 17. PMID: 39690194.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that both host and bacterial fucosylation play a critical role in modulating gut immunity and maintaining immune homeostasis, with alterations in fucosylation contributing to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. The findings highlight the importance of fucosylation in IgA-mediated immune responses, bacterial translocation, and the immune landscape in Peyer's patches, providing new insights into gut inflammation and potential therapeutic strategies. 
  13. Son HG, Ha DT, Xia Y, Li T, Blandin J, Oka T, Azin M, Conrad DN, Zhou C, Zeng Y, Hasegawa T, Strickley JD, Messerschmidt JL, Guennoun R, Erlich TH, Shoemaker GL, Johnson LH, Palmer KE, Fisher DE, Horn TD, Neel VA, Nazarian RM, Joh JJ, Demehri S. Commensal papillomavirus immunity preserves the homeostasis of highly mutated normal skin. Cancer Cell. 2024 Dec 7:S1535-6108(24)00448-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.11.013. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39672169.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals that T cell immunity to cutaneotropic papillomaviruses plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of ultraviolet radiation-damaged skin, specifically by preventing the expansion of mutant p53 clones. The findings underscore the importance of virome-immune system interactions in preserving aging human skin and suggest potential therapeutic strategies for preventing skin dysplasia and malignancy. 
  14. Lu H, Wise SS, Toyoda JH, Speer RM, Croom-Perez TJ, Meaza I, Kouokam JC, Wise JL, Hoyle G, Chen N, Wise JP Jr, Kondo K, Toba H, Takizawa H, Wise JP Sr. Particulate hexavalent chromium exposure induces DNA double-strand breaks and inhibits homologous recombination repair in rat and human lung tissues. Chemosphere. 2024 Dec 24;370:143982. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143982. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39701314.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals that particulate hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) induces DNA double-strand breaks and inhibits homologous recombination repair, contributing to chromosome instability, a key driver of Cr(VI)-induced lung cancer. The findings, observed in both experimental rat lung tissue and human lung tumors, underscore the critical role of Cr(VI)-mediated DNA damage and impaired repair mechanisms in the development of lung cancer. 
  15. Wise RM, Wise JP Jr, Andersen JK, Ascnher M. Editorial: A Toxic Aging Coin perspective to investigate the intersection of toxicology and aging. Front Toxicol. 2024 Dec 12;6:1527706. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1527706. PMID: 39726981; PMCID: PMC11669706.
    Impact Statement: This collection emphasizes the dual impact of toxic substances on aging, addressing both how age modifies the effects of environmental toxicants and how exposure accelerates aging-related processes. It highlights the urgent need for interdisciplinary research to better understand how toxic agents influence aging mechanisms, with implications for public health policies and strategies to protect aging populations. 
  16. Zelko IN, Hussain A, Malovichko MV, Wickramasinghe N, Srivastava S. Benzene metabolites increase vascular permeability by activating heat shock proteins and Rho GTPases. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Dec 7:2024.12.04.626801. doi: 10.1101/2024.12.04.626801. PMID: 39677674; PMCID: PMC11643022.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that benzene metabolites, particularly trans,trans-muconaldehyde (MA) and hydroquinone (HQ), contribute to endothelial dysfunction by promoting vascular permeability and altering key signaling pathways involving heat shock proteins and GTPases. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying benzene-induced cardiovascular disease and highlight potential therapeutic targets for mitigating endothelial damage and vascular permeability. 
  17. Lypova N, Dougherty SM, Clem BF, Feng J, Yin X, Zhang X, Li X, Chesney JA, Imbert-Fernandez Y. PFKFB3-dependent redox homeostasis and DNA repair support cell survival under EGFR-TKIs in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Cancer Metab. 2024 Dec 18;12(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s40170-024-00366-y. PMID: 39696407; PMCID: PMC11658331.
    Impact Statement: This study identifies PFKFB3 inhibition as a key strategy to sensitize lung cancer cells to EGFR TKI therapy by disrupting metabolic rewiring and enhancing oxidative stress, thus preventing the emergence of drug resistance. By targeting PFKFB3, this approach offers a potential therapeutic avenue to overcome therapy persistence and improve treatment outcomes in drug-resistant cancers.