May 2025 Member Publications

  1. Zierold KM, Smith MJ, Xu J, Cai L, Sears L. Distinct Features of Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) When Used for Elemental Analysis of Nail Samples. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2025 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s12012-025-10011-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40377879.
    Impact Statement: This study compared Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) in measuring metal(loids) in toenails. Both analytic methods have been used to evaluate environmental exposures however it is not known how outcomes may differ based on the chosen analytic method. Results demonstrated similar median concentrations for calcium, copper, potassium, and nickel, however, there were stark differences between other elements. In many studies, scholars want to evaluate how well one measurement can reproduce another, and our paper used several elements to show the degree of reproducibility between the two analytical methods. This can be useful when scholars are determining methods to assess biomarkers in health-related studies. 
  2. Chen JY, Sutaria SR, Xie Z, Kulkarni M, Keith RJ, Bhatnagar A, Sears CG, Lorkiewicz P, Srivastava S. Simultaneous profiling of mercapturic acids, glucuronic acids, and sulfates in human urine. Environ Int. 2025 May;199:109516. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109516. Epub 2025 May 4. PMID: 40344875; PMCID: PMC12090840.
    Impact Statement: This study advanced individual-level exposure assessment by profiling over 400 urinary phase II metabolites using a high-resolution mass spectrometry approach integrated with structural libraries and in-silico analysis. Findings revealed distinct metabolic patterns linked to environmental and endogenous sources, with associations to demographic factors such as age, sex, and tobacco use, offering insights into population-level exposure variability. 
  3. Halder S, Reed E, Xie Z, Nantz MH, Fu XA. Analysis of a broad range of volatile organic compounds in environmental air with dual-compartment micropreconcentrators. J Chromatogr A. 2025 May 20;1756:466071. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2025.466071. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40424978.
    Impact Statement: This study presents a novel dual-compartment micropreconcentrator that enables simultaneous sampling and analysis of BTEX and aldehydes in air using a single GC-MS run. By achieving over 90% capture efficiency and low detection limits, this technology offers a significant advancement for comprehensive monitoring of hazardous air pollutants. 
  4. Feng J, He L, Ma X, Yin X, Mueller EG, Zhou Z, Feng W, McClain CJ, Zhang X. Comparison of liver bile acid profiles in chronic alcohol feeding and NIAAA binge-on-chronic alcohol feeding mouse models. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2025 Aug 1;1262:124650. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2025.124650. Epub 2025 May 22. PMID: 40413821.
    Impact Statement: This study reveals that while total bile acid (BA) levels remain stable in early-stage alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), the composition of BAs differs significantly between two widely used mouse models. These findings underscore the importance of model selection in ALD research, as distinct BA metabolic profiles may reflect divergent disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses.
  5. Zhong Y, He L, Yin X, Mazik L, Zhang X, Guo D. Stable 13C-glutamine Tracing Resolved Metabolomics for Cancer Metabolism Study. Bio Protoc. 2025 May 20;15(10):e5322. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5322. PMID: 40432761; PMCID: PMC12104877.
    Impact Statement: This study presents a detailed 13C-glutamine tracing protocol combined with untargeted metabolomics to uncover glutamine-derived polar metabolites and long-chain fatty acids in human glioblastoma cells. The method enables isomer-specific lipid analysis and reveals previously unrecognized metabolic shifts following lysosome inhibition, offering new insights into cancer cell metabolism. 
  6. Gouwens KR, Pena Calderin E, Okhiria J, Nguyen DC, Schulman-Geltzer EB, Martinez-Ondaro Y, De Silva M, Collins HE, Nong Y, Sears SM, Nystoriak MA, Hill BG. Cardiac Ketone Body Oxidation Enhances Exercise Performance. Circ Res. 2025 May 28. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.125.326414. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40433703.
    Impact Statement: This publication suggests that understanding and leveraging cardiac ketone body metabolism could enhance exercise performance in healthy individuals and improve physical activity for those who are exercise-intolerant, potentially leading to broader public health benefits. 
  7. Mittnacht AJC, Garcia CSR, Cadwell JB, Huang J, Sofjan I, ElTahan MR, Liu H, Mukherjee C, Guarracino F, Shaw A, Motta P; International Academy of Cardiac Anaesthesiologists (IACA) Global Survey Team. Global Cardiac Anesthesia Workforce Assessment: A Cross-Sectional Observational Survey Study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2025 Mar 4:S1053-0770(25)00187-9. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2025.02.042. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40318984.
    Impact Statement: A global survey of the cardiac anesthesia workforce found inconsistency in the training, job satisfaction, and daily practice of cardiac anesthesiologists. The rate of burnout was high, and many respondents would like to make work-related changes to improve work-life balance 
  8. Ursoleo JD, Bottussi A, Erdoes G, Huang J, Monaco F. Remimazolam for anesthesia in cardiac and noncardiac surgery. A narrative literature review and synthesis. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2025 May 27:101555. doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2025.101555. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40441485.
    Impact Statement: An overview of remimazolam potential benefits and inherent challenges in surgery, while identifying current knowledge gaps that warrant future research.
  9. Li G, Yan H, Li W, Li A, Zhu Y, Huang J, Cang J, Fang F. Nalmefene effectively relieves thoracic epidural opioid-induced pruritus without affecting analgesia: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J Thorac Dis. 2025 Apr 30;17(4):2028-2037. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-1455. Epub 2025 Apr 23. PMID: 40400984; PMCID: PMC12090119.
    Impact Statement: A single dose of intravenous #nalmefene could relieve postoperative pruritus from epidural opioid without affecting analgesic effects. 
  10. Ekuban FA, Gripshover TC, Ames P, Biswas K, Bolatimi OE, Abramson J, Iyer M, Luo J, Ekuban A, Hwang JY, Park JW, Banerjee M, Watson WH, Wahlang B, Bello D, Schlezinger JJ, McClain CJ, Cave MC. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure and alcohol-associated liver disease severity in a mouse chronic-binge ethanol feeding model. Toxicol Sci. 2025 May 10:kfaf066. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf066. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40347464.
    Impact Statement: This study is the first to demonstrate that exposure to the "forever chemical" PFOS worsens alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) by disrupting liver metabolism and activating pathways linked to fat accumulation, fibrosis, and liver cancer. These findings reveal a critical interaction between environmental pollution and alcohol use, underscoring the need to consider pollutants like PFOS as potential risk modifiers in liver disease progression. 
  11. Harder JW, Ma J, Collins J, Alard P, Jala VR, Bodduluri H, Kosiewicz MM. Characterization of Sex-Based Differences in Gut Microbiota That Correlate with Suppression of Lupus in Female BWF1 Mice. Microorganisms. 2025 Apr 29;13(5):1023. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13051023. PMID: 40431196; PMCID: PMC12113952.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that the protective effect of male gut microbiota against lupus-like disease in female mice is dependent on specific bacterial populations, including a high Bacteroides/Clostridium ratio and the presence of Alistipes. These findings highlight the potential for targeted microbiota-based interventions in autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus. 
  12. Earl NO, de Klein JJM, Mehring AS. Black and White Fire Ash Alters Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Temporarily Reverses Carbon Source-Sink Status in Aquatic Mesocosms. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 May 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.4c10046. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40436645.
    Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that wildfire ash can significantly alter greenhouse gas fluxes in aquatic ecosystems by changing pH and influencing both abiotic and biotic processes. The findings highlight that post-fire ash inputs may trigger substantial, but often overlooked, pulses of CO₂ and CH₄ emissions or uptake, with important implications for carbon cycling in lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands. 
  13. Singal AK, Wong RJ, Dasarathy S, Abdelmalek MF, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Limketkai BN, Petrey J, McClain CJ. ACG Clinical Guideline: Malnutrition and Nutritional Recommendations in Liver Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 May 1;120(5):950-972. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000003379. Epub 2025 May 2. PMID: 40314389.
    Impact Statement: Malnutrition is defined as deficiency, excess, or imbalance of nutrients and is a common complication in patients with liver disease, especially those with cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis and/or alcohol-associated hepatitis should be assessed for malnutrition because it adversely affects patient outcomes including mortality, as well as waitlist and posttransplant outcomes among liver transplant candidates. These guidelines present current knowledge concerning malnutrition in liver diseases and practice recommendations for the provider. 
  14. Tu W, Gawrieh S, Nephew L, McClain C, Tang Q, Dasarathy S, Vatsalya V, Simonetto DA, Kettler C, Szabo G, Barton B, Yu Y, Kamath PS, Sanyal AJ, Nagy L, Mitchell MC, Liangpunsakul S, Shah VH, Chalasani N, Bataller R; AlcHepNet Investigators. Parental liver disease mortality is associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis. Hepatol Commun. 2025 May 23;9(6):e0666. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000666. PMID: 40408279; PMCID: PMC12106198.
    Impact Statement: It is unknown as to how parental alcohol use disorder and liver disease-related mortality influence the risk and the outcomes of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) in the children of these subjects. We analyzed data from 2 prospective observational studies of AH cases and heavy drinking controls (HDCs). We showed that parental liver disease-related mortality was associated with more than a doubled risk of AH development in the offspring after controlling for their demographic characteristics and drinking behavior. This study highlights the influences of parental death due to liver disease on AH development and mortality. Identifying patients at risk of AH through family history might help facilitate discussions on reducing alcohol consumption. 
  15. Pena Calderin E, Zheng JJ, Boyd NL, Lynch W, Sansbury B, Spite M, Hill BG, Hellmann J. Exercise-Stimulated Resolvin Biosynthesis in the Adipose Tissue Is Abrogated by High-Fat Diet-Induced Adrenergic Deficiency. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.322234. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40336478.
    Impact Statement: These findings in mice suggest that pro-resolving lipid mediator signaling pathways in adipose tissue are stimulated by exercise and are sensitive to high-fat diet-induced changes in adrenergic signaling. More broadly, they highlight that exercise-induced enhancements in pro-resolving pathways are likely dependent on dietary context. 
  16. Jeboda D, Shackelford BB, Chigwechokha P, Chunga BA, Ercumen A, Workman C, Hart JL, Smith T, Holm RH. Public Opinions from Malawian and Malawi Refugee Camp Residents of Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2025 May 13:tpmd240759. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0759. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40359918.
    Impact Statement: This publication builds on previous Envirome research conducted across the United States, once again demonstrating public support for wastewater-based epidemiology in Malawi, Africa. This research highlights the importance of considering privacy thresholds, participant autonomy in public health surveillance tools, and cultural relevance, key factors for shaping future policy development and investment in this public health field. 
  17. Zhao J, Hong H, Zhai J, Poudel R, Srivastava S, Stokes AC, Lorkiewicz PK, Jiang T, Robertson RM, Bhatnagar A, Hall JL, Hamburg NM, Keith RJ. Clustering analysis of volatile organic compound biomarkers with tobacco exposure and the association with cardiovascular health outcomes in an observation study cohort. Tob Induc Dis. 2025 May 16;23. doi: 10.18332/tid/200649. PMID: 40386170; PMCID: PMC12083078.
    Impact Statement: This study identified distinct patterns of volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure among users of different tobacco products, with combustible cigarette users showing the highest levels of harmful VOC metabolites. Findings suggest that evaluating exposure profiles, rather than just product type, may provide more meaningful insights into cardiovascular risk and guide tobacco regulation efforts. 
  18. Ritzenthaler JD, Torres-Gonzalez E, Janssen-Heininger Y, Watson WH, Roman J. Role of Slc7a11 in Bleomycin-Induced Lung Injury. Lung. 2025 May 26;203(1):64. doi: 10.1007/s00408-025-00818-2. PMID: 40419688.
    Impact Statement: This study investigated the role of the cystine/glutamate exchanger Slc7a11 in regulating oxidative stress during lung injury. Despite previous in vitro findings linking Slc7a11 to pro-fibrotic changes, in vivo experiments showed that altering Slc7a11 expression did not affect bleomycin-induced lung injury, suggesting its role in lung repair may be more complex or context-dependent. 
  19. Lo BW, Martinez Real F, Magg A, Wise JP Sr, Mundlos S, Franchini P. Genome-Wide Demographic Analyses of Balaenid Whales Revealed Complex History of Gene Flow Associated with Past Climate Oscillation. Genome Biol Evol. 2025 Apr 30;17(5):evaf081. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evaf081. PMID: 40323022; PMCID: PMC12082451.
    Impact Statement: This study used whole-genome analyses to uncover a complex evolutionary history of balaenid whales, revealing historical gene flow events, including transequatorial migration and introgression from bowhead to North Atlantic right whales, shaped by ancient climate fluctuations. These findings enhance our understanding of species connectivity, adaptation, and conservation needs within this critically endangered marine mammal lineage.