April 2025 Member Publications

  1. Riggs DW, Baumgartner KB, Baumgartner R, Boone S, Judd SE, Bhatnagar A. Association Between Residential Greenness and Risk of Stroke by Ecoregions: The REGARDS Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Apr 15;14(8):e037866. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.037866. Epub 2025 Apr 10. PMID: 40207510.
    Impact Statement: This study found that residential greenness was associated with a lower risk of stroke in certain ecological regions of the U.S., particularly the Eastern Temperate Forests. However, the association varied by region, with increased stroke risk observed in the Great Plains and Mediterranean California, highlighting the importance of ecological context in understanding the health impacts of vegetation.
  2. Hart JL, Walker KL, Stopforth CK, Simpson A, Bhatnagar A, Keith RJ. Perceived Benefits of Nature in Diverse Populations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Apr 4;22(4):563. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22040563. PMID: 40283788; PMCID: PMC12026635.
    Impact Statement: This study found that individuals who identified as male, belonged to a minoritized population, and/or had lower educational attainment were less likely to perceive nature as beneficial. These findings highlight the importance of equitable access to safe, welcoming green spaces and suggest that social and demographic factors may shape how people experience the benefits of nature. 
  3. Stepanov I, Berman M, Brinkman MC, Carll A, Exil V, Hansen EG, El Hellani A, Jabba SV, Kassem NOF, Rezk-Hanna M, Talhout R, Stroup AM. Sugars in Tobacco Products: Toxicity Research and Implications for Tobacco Product Regulation. Chem Res Toxicol. 2025 Apr 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00550. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40233929.
    Impact Statement: This review highlights how sugars and artificial sweeteners in tobacco and nicotine products contribute to product toxicity through harmful chemical transformations during use. The findings support regulatory action, including adding these ingredients to the list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs), to better protect public health. 
  4. Muhammad N, Hussain I, Fu XA, Ali A, Guo D, Noureen L, Subhani Q, Ahmad N, Zhu QF, Cui H, Feng YQ. A Comprehensive Review of Instrumentation and Applications in Post-Column and In-Source Derivatization for LC-MS. Mass Spectrom Rev. 2025 Mar 12. doi: 10.1002/mas.21930. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40078009.
    Impact Statement: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has become an indispensable tool for quantifying diverse compounds and elucidating molecular structures within complex mixtures. This comprehensive review highlights state-of-the-art advancements in LC-MS with a specific focus on various types of chemical and physical post-column derivatization and in-source derivatization. 
  5. Gomes D, Zhao J, Malovichko MV, Haberzettl P, Conklin DJ, O'Toole TE. Inhalation of Concentrated Ambient PM2.5 (CAP) Promotes Inactivation of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase, Telomere Shortening, and Senescence of Multiple Cell Types in Mice. Toxicol Sci. 2025 Apr 2:kfaf045. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf045. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40172909.
    Impact Statement: While exposure to fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) has been associated with cellular aging, the extent of these associations and their underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Using a mouse model, this study shows that such exposures induce telomere (DNA) shortening and cellular senescence not only in the widely studied peripheral blood cells, but also in subsets of bone marrow stem cells. Furthermore, the telomere shortening effects seems to result from impaired function of the enzyme responsible for telomere elongation. These results demonstrate the wide-ranging effects of PM2.5 exposure. 
  6. Harris LM, Skidmore BD, Nzama N, Al Araydeh M, Kerr JC, Hall MT, Reyes-Vega A, Samanapally H, Bkhet A, Ghare S, Barve S. "Taking Charge and Being Responsible": A Qualitative Study of Meaning Making and Motivations for Preexposure Prophylaxis Adherence Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Sexual Minoritized Men Engaged in Alcohol Misuse in Kentucky. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2025 May-Jun 01;36(3):298-314. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000541. Epub 2025 Apr 8. PMID: 40197987.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights how gay, bisexual, and other sexual diverse men who misuse alcohol find meaning and motivation in PrEP use through identity affirmation, self-care, and agency, which support both adherence and mental well-being. Findings inform recommendations to enhance PrEP engagement by integrating motivational strategies into clinical and community-based care for individuals with harmful alcohol use. 
  7. Noonan EJ, Weingartner LA, Combs RM, Decker HR, Cowand A, Williams S, Harris LM. Recognizing and Addressing Health Care Barriers for Transgender and Nonbinary People Living With a Chronic Illness or Disability. Qual Health Res. 2025 Apr 19:10497323251330253. doi: 10.1177/10497323251330253. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40251956.
    Impact Statement: This study highlights the compounded barriers transgender and/or nonbinary individuals with chronic illness or disability face in health care, including diagnostic overshadowing, provider skepticism, and discrimination. Drawing on participants’ lived experiences, the authors propose actionable strategies—such as provider education, structural reforms, and expanded telehealth—to promote more equitable and affirming care. 
  8. Su H, Zhong Y, He L, Geng F, Yin X, Kou Y, Chiang CY, Mo X, Fan Y, Liu Y, Wang Q, Magaki S, Cloughesy TF, Lefai E, Yong WH, Chakravarti A, Zhang X, Guo D. Targeting PGM3 abolishes SREBP-1 activation-hexosamine synthesis feedback regulation to effectively suppress brain tumor growth. Sci Adv. 2025 Apr 18;11(16):eadq0334. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adq0334. Epub 2025 Apr 18. PMID: 40249802; PMCID: PMC12007565.
    Impact Statement: Hexosamine biosynthesis fuels glioblastoma (GBM) growth by facilitating protein and lipid glycosylation. In this study, we found that inhibiting PGM3 effectively inhibited GBM growth through the SREBP-1 activation-hexosamine synthesis positive feedback and is a promising target for treating GBM. 
  9. Salazar-González RA, Wise JTF, Doll MA, Hein DW. Metabolism and genotoxicity of 4,4'-oxydianiline is dependent on N-acetyltransferase 2 genetic polymorphism. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2025 Apr 15:104699. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2025.104699. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40246217.
    Impact Statement: We investigated 4,4’-oxydianiline (ODA) genotoxicity and oxidative stress modified by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) genetic polymorphism in yeast and DNA repair deficient (UV5) Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) expressing human NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator allele) or human NAT2*5B (slow acetylator allele) and in cryopreserved human hepatocytes from rapid, intermediate, or slow NAT2 acetylator genotypes. Our findings have important implications for precision risk assessments following exposures to ODA and azo dye precursors. 
  10. Stephan JK, Knerr T, Wells CK, Gu Z, Johnson S, Jobe TK, Isaacs WS, Hill BG, Wysoczynski M. G-CSF-Induced Emergency Granulopoiesis Modulates Neutrophil Effector Function in Mice. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2025 Apr 29. doi: 10.1007/s12015-025-10885-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40299198.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals that neutrophils produced during emergency granulopoiesis exhibit altered functionality, including impaired ROS production and NETosis but increased cytokine expression and neutrophil elastase secretion. These changes enhance neutrophil-driven immunomodulation, leading to greater macrophage recruitment during inflammation. 
  11. Grell R, Paul J, Gupta K, Chawla N, Deshpande R, De Marchi L, Huang J. Perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound Utilization in Abdominal Organ Transplantation. Part I: Preoperative and Intraoperative Care. Clin Transplant. 2025 Apr;39(4):e70153. doi: 10.1111/ctr.70153. PMID: 40245256; PMCID: PMC12005607.
    Impact Statement: In this Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia (SATA) white paper, experts in abdominal transplant anesthesia and critical care reviewed the current literature and practice behaviors to create a comprehensive review of the utilization of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in abdominal organ transplantation (AOT) and to provide evidenced-based recommendations for clinicians to utilize perioperative PoCUS to improve patient outcomes in real time. 
  12. Kavalukas S, Jin A, Babarinde O, Lorkiewicz P, Adhikari J, Xu J, Cai L, DuPre N. Environmental Exposures to Metal Toxins as a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study. J Surg Res. 2025 Apr 24;309:269-276. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.03.017. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40279913.
    Impact Statement: This pilot study is the first to examine the relationship between individual-level exposure to cadmium and arsenic and colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, using biospecimens from blood and urine. While findings were not statistically significant, observed positive associations suggest that environmental metal exposure may contribute to CRC risk and warrant further investigation in larger studies. 
  13. Singal AK, Zhang W, Shetty A, Patel A, Mohammed S, Bhandari P, Abdallah M, Vatsalya V, Leggio L, Kong M. Treatment of alcohol use disorder in alcohol-associated liver disease: A meta-analysis. Hepatol Commun. 2025 Apr 30;9(5):e0686. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000686. PMID: 40304585; PMCID: PMC12045530.
    Impact Statement: Twenty-five eligible studies, using meta-analysis, have been used to examine alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) on alcohol relapse and liver-related outcomes. We conclude that AUD treatment in patients with ALD improves abstinence and liver-related outcomes.
  14. Ramalingam AR, Kucera C, Srivastava S, Paily R, Stephens D, Lorkiewicz P, Wilkey DW, Merchant M, Bhatnagar A, Carll AP . Acute and Persistent Cardiovascular Effects of Menthol E-Cigarettes in Mice. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Apr 25:e037420. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.037420. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40281649.
    Impact Statement: Repeated e-cigarette exposure transiently evokes arrhythmias via the beta1 adrenoceptor, consistently increases BP, changes the cardiac proteome, and persistently depresses HR and ventricular repolarization. These original research findings demonstrate biological plausibility for recent clinical associations between vaping and arrhythmogenic events, including sudden cardiac death, while also revealing that e-cigarette use may promote hypertension during use and persistently alter the heart’s electrical function even after cessation.
  15. Sheneman KR, Cummins TD, Merchant ML, Hood JL, Uriarte SM, Lawrenz MB. Yersinia pestis Actively Inhibits the Production of Extracellular Vesicles by Human Neutrophils. J Extracell Vesicles. 2025 Apr;14(4):e70074. doi: 10.1002/jev2.70074. PMID: 40240908; PMCID: PMC12003101.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals that Yersinia pestis alters the composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by neutrophils, suppressing their antimicrobial and inflammatory properties. These findings highlight a novel mechanism by which Y. pestis evades the immune response, advancing our understanding of bacterial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions. 
  16. Sears CG, Buckley JP, Cecil KM, Kalkwarf HJ, Xu Y, Chen A, Yolton K, Braun JM. Prenatal and childhood phthalate mixtures and adolescent sleep health in The HOME Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2025 Apr 3. doi: 10.1289/EHP15221. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40179323.
    Impact Statement: The majority of adolescents in the US do not get adequate sleep for optimal health. There is a need to identify modifiable risk factors for poor sleep during this critical period of growth. Our research suggests that exposure to phthalates may be one of these modifiable risk factors. People are frequently exposed to mixtures of phthalates through everyday activities including use of personal care products and consumption of packaged foods. 
  17. Madden PJ, Marina-Zárate E, Rodrigues KA, Steichen JM, Shil M, Ni K, Michaels KK, Maiorino L, Upadhyay AA, Saha S, Pradhan A, Kalyuzhiny O, Liguori A, Lopez PG, Phung I, Flynn C, Zhou A, Melo MB, Lemnios A, Phelps N, Georgeson E, Alavi N, Kubitz M, Lu D, Eskandarzadeh S, Metz A, Rodriguez OL, Shields K, Schultze S, Smith ML, Healy BS, Lim D, Lewis VR, Ben-Akiva E, Pinney W 3rd, Gregory J, Xiao S, Carnathan DG, Pai Kasturi S, Watson CT, Bosinger SE, Silvestri G, Schief WR, Irvine DJ, Crotty S. Diverse priming outcomes under conditions of very rare precursor B cells. Immunity. 2025 Apr 8;58(4):997-1014.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2025.03.003. Epub 2025 Mar 31. PMID: 40168992.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that an escalating dose immunization strategy with the SMNP adjuvant is uniquely effective at priming rare BG18-like broadly neutralizing antibody precursor B cells in non-human primates. The findings highlight how vaccine dosing and adjuvant selection critically shape the immune response, with implications for HIV vaccine development. 
  18. Lu H, Delnicki M, Griffin G, Wise JL. Current Understanding of Sex Differences in Metal-Induced Diseases. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2025 Apr 9;12(1):18. doi: 10.1007/s40572-025-00482-x. PMID: 40202678.
    Impact Statement: A better understanding of how metal-induced diseases manifest differently in males and females will allow for the development of novel biomarkers and targeted, more effective therapies. This review provides a summary of where the research is now and where it needs to go in order for us to more effectively detect and treat metal-induced diseases in males and females. 
  19. Zelko IN, Hussain A, Malovichko MV, Wickramasinghe NS, Srivastava S. Benzene metabolites increase vascular permeability by activating heat shock proteins and Rho GTPases. Toxicol Sci. 2025 Apr 29:kfaf055. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf055. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40300100.
    Impact Statement: This research highlights how benzene, a widespread environmental pollutant, can directly impair blood vessel function by increasing vascular permeability through specific molecular pathways. These findings deepen our understanding of how chronic benzene exposure contributes to cardiovascular disease, adding to the already well-established risks of cancer, bone marrow failure, and immune system damage, and underscore the urgent need for stricter regulation, workplace protections, and community monitoring to mitigate the significant public health risks associated with benzene exposure. 
  20. Mo Y, Nie J, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yuan J, Zhang Q. HDAC6-Mediated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Is Involved in Nickel Nanoparticle-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis. Chem Res Toxicol. 2025 Apr 29. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00551. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40298147.
    Impact Statement: Nickel nanoparticles (Nano-Ni) are increasingly utilized in industrial and biomedical applications, drawing growing attention to their potential adverse health effects. Our studies demonstrate that exposure to Nano-Ni causes NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β production via Nano-Ni-induced upregulation of HDAC6 in both in vitro and in vivo models, which plays a key role in Nano-Ni-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Our findings enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Nano-Ni-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.