Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Spending on tobacco products may exacerbate health-related financial hardship experienced by low-income older adults. This study examined tobacco spending and the relationship between tobacco use and non-tobacco spending among low-income older adults in the U.S. METHODS:Using pooled 2021-2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey data, 1,983 single-person households (aged ≥65, with income <200% of the federal poverty level) were analyzed. Descriptive statistics summarized quarterly expenditures and budget shares for tobacco and non-tobacco goods. Generalized linear and fractional logit models compared non-tobacco expenditures and budget shares between people who use (versus do not use) tobacco, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. RESULTS:Overall, 10.6% of respondents reported tobacco spending. Respondents who used tobacco spent an average of $305.0 (SD = 303.4) per quarter on tobacco (7.8% of their total budget). Compared to respondents that did not use tobacco, respondents that used tobacco spent significantly more per quarter on alcohol ($54.8 vs. $22.0, P<0.001) and significantly less per quarter on food ($783.9 vs. $837.0, P<0.01), housing ($1,754.5 vs. $2,189.7, P<0.05), health care ($564.0 vs. $720.2, P<0.05), and clothing ($47.8 vs. $64.7, P<0.05). Similarly, respondents that used tobacco spent a significantly greater portion of their budget on alcohol (1.3% vs. 0.4%, P<0.001) and a significantly lower portion on food (19.6% vs. 19.7%, P<0.05), housing (38.8% vs. 43.4%, P<0.01), health care (14.7% vs. 16.8%, P<0.01), and other expenses (2.0% vs. 3.9%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Tobacco spending and its complementary alcohol spending may reduce low-income older adults' expenditures on food, housing and health care.

BACKGROUND:Eleven years have passed since the 2014 Flint water crisis (FWC), yet many voices still go unheard. There is limited evidence of the impact of the FWC on maternal health. This paper used a cross-sectional study design to survey 152 women enrolled in the Supporting Parents and Raising Resilient Kids (SPARRK) study in Flint, Michigan to examine racial differences in women's perceptions of their overall health pre- and post-FWC, perceived maternal health services, and explore the interaction of race and living in Flint on maternal morbidity. METHODS:Perceived maternal health was defined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 21 Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) diagnosis codes. SMM were obtained via questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with SMM within two domains: (1) overall health pre- and post-FWC and (2) perceived maternal health care received during birth. RESULTS:There were 17 cases of SMM in which Black women accounted for 62.5% of these cases. Perceived quality of care was overall positive; yet, perceived overall health decreased post-FWC for all women. The odds of SMM were 6 times higher for those who had a college degree or higher. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:In the predominately Black city of Flint, race was not a significant factor in the perception of health and quality of care. Surprisingly, educational attainment was significantly associated with a 6-time increase in odds of experiencing an SMM. More research is needed to examine the association of patient-provider perception of quality care and education on maternal health outcomes.

Germline Testing (GT) for prostate cancer (PCA) is now central to PCA care and hereditary cancer assessment, with a rising role in PCA screening approaches. Guidelines have significantly expanded to include testing patients with metastatic PCA, advanced PCA or with high-risk features, and for males with or without PCA with a strong family cancer history to identify hereditary cancer syndromes for patients and their families. However, the expansion of GT has overwhelmed genetic counselling programs, necessitating the development and evaluation of alternate genetic delivery models. Furthermore, disparities in engagement in PCA GT are of major concern for impacting PCA-related and overall cancer-related outcomes for patients and their families. This review focuses on integrating PCA GT guidelines with implementation strategies and addressing PCA GT disparities to help inform current and future strategies to enhance the benefits of GT across populations.

There is extensive system-wide evidence of disparities in access to organ transplantation in the US based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. However, little information is available regarding care disparities among US organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Commissioned by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), we studied racial/ethnic disparities in organ donation and transplantation across and within OPOs. Based on the 2020 CMS final rule, we calculated OPO donation and organ transplantation rates with 95% confidence intervals for racial (Black, White, and Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI) and ethnic (Hispanic and non-Hispanic) groups. OPOs were ranked with national rates as references and classified according to the CMS 3-tier system. Of the 58 OPOs, 8 and 4 had donation rates lower for Black and AAPI donors than for White donors; 21 and 18 had organ transplantation rates lower for Black and AAPI donors than for White donors; 1 and 1 had a donation rate or organ transplantation rate lower for Hispanic donors than for non-Hispanic donors. Significant racial/ethnic disparities in organ donation and transplantation exist among many OPOs, whereas the overall OPO performance is dominated by White and non-Hispanic donors. These disparities may be influenced by variations and structural barriers in resource access, donor identification, transplantation referral, and waitlisting processes-some of which lie partially outside the direct control of OPOs and disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations. Results support equitable organ donation and allocation through enhanced awareness of health care disparities, increased accountability of OPOs, and informed policies and interventions.

Humans are widely exposed to synthetic chemicals, especially via food. The types of chemical contaminants in food (including food contact chemicals) are diverse, and many of these are known to be hazardous, with mounting evidence that some contribute to noncommunicable diseases. The increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, which contain synthetic chemicals, also contributes to adverse health. If the chemical contamination of foods were better characterized, then this issue would likely receive more attention as an important opportunity for disease prevention. In this Review, we discuss types and sources of synthetic food contaminants, focusing on food contact chemicals and their presence in ultra-processed foods. We outline future research needs and highlight possible responses at different food system levels. A sustainable transition of the food system must address the health impacts of synthetic chemicals in food; we discuss existing solutions that do justice to the complexity of the issue while avoiding regrettable substitutions and rebound effects.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common female endocrinologic condition that affects both the metabolic and reproductive systems and is the most frequent cause of anovulatory infertility. It is also associated with a range of psychiatric outcomes in individuals, including bulimia nervosa, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. At the same time, evidence suggests that hyperandrogenism, the characteristic trait of PCOS, may impair fetal neurodevelopment. Epidemiological studies have linked maternal PCOS with a variety of behavioral and psychiatric conditions in offspring including autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this review, we explore evidence for potential underlying biological mechanisms that might explain these observed associations, discuss the complex interplay between genetics and various environmental factors across generations, and highlight avenues for future research.

BACKGROUND:Personalized therapeutic approaches for localized prostate cancer have evolved significantly, with tissue-based biomarker tests supplementing traditional risk stratification tools. However, national testing patterns and geographic variability remain limited a decade after coverage implementation. We aimed to assess current nationwide utilization and urban-rural differences in tissue-based biomarker testing. METHODS:Using full Medicare claims data, we retrospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and tissue-based biomarker testing claims from 2019 to 2023. Patients' county of residence was categorized as metro, urban, or rural. Regional testing rates were further assessed across hospital referral regions. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the effect of residence on test receipt. RESULTS:Our final cohort included 749,202 patients, of whom 79.5% lived in metro, 11.4% in urban and 8.00% in rural counties. Overall, 86,908 (11.6%) patients underwent tissue-based biomarker tests. Hospital referral region-level testing rates ranged from 2.4% to 42.7%. Rural patients were 18% less likely to undergo testing compared to metro patients (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.82 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.73-0.91). Independently, the odds of undergoing testing were lower among Black (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.77-0.88) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.88) compared to White patients. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:This study reveals high geographic variability in tissue-based biomarker testing for prostate cancer. Further, Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to receive testing. Our findings highlight regional practice variation in the use of advanced, not routinely recommended tests and underscore the need to minimize disparities in diagnostic access.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The Family-centered Adolescent Sperm banking values clarification Tool (FAST) was developed to facilitate sperm banking communication and decision-making pre-cancer treatment. The FAST was tested in a pilot parallel randomized controlled trial (Fertility Preservation Discussions And Decisions: "FP-DAD"-NCT04268004), aiming to (i) assess feasibility/acceptability of FP-DAD; and (ii) examine efficacy regarding banking attempts (yes/no) and decision quality. Differences in decision quality by banking attempt were explored. DESIGN/METHODS/METHODS:Males (12-25 years, new cancer diagnosis) and caregivers were randomized to standard of care (fertility consult) or FP-DAD (fertility consult + FAST + interventionist-led discussion). One month later, FP-DAD participants completed acceptability surveys. Both arms completed the Brief Subjective Decision Quality measure. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and independent samples t-tests/mixed-models examined relationships between variables. RESULTS:Acceptability ratings of FP-DAD were high (88%-100%). Recruitment and participation challenges limited the final sample size (21 adolescents and 32 caregivers). Banking attempts (67% in standard of care vs. 82% in FP-DAD) did not differ by arm. While decision quality was not significantly different between groups, effect sizes were medium-large for four of six items for adolescents (d = 0.6 to -0.90) and two of six for caregivers (d = 0.36 to -0.78). Decision quality was significantly higher across several domains among those who banked. CONCLUSIONS:FP-DAD had high acceptability, though feasibility challenges (e.g., time contraints) limited full family participation. Findings showed limited efficacy, but effect sizes suggest this may be due to sample size. Relationships between banking attempts and decision quality emphasize banking benefits. Findings will inform adaptations to the FAST for clinical implementation.