Demographic, clinical, and social characteristics of anal cancer among patients stratified by age (<50 and ≥50 years) in Alabama between 2012 and 2018.

Background: Anal cancer is increasing globally, with a high number of new cases occurring in highly developed countries, including the U.S. The incidence of anal cancer is higher among people living with HIV (PLHIV), and the U.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Using 3 Definitions Among Women in the US and Canada.

Importance: The prevalence of iron deficiency varies widely according to how it is defined.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of iron deficiency among women using 3 different definitions.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The cross-sectional Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening Study (HEIRS; 2000-2006) evaluated the prevalence, determinants, and outcomes of hemochromatosis and other iron-related disorders.

Pharmacogenomics of coronary artery response to intravenous gamma globulin in kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystem inflammatory illness of infants and young children that can result in acute vasculitis. The mechanism of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in KD despite intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) treatment is not known. We performed a Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) association analysis in a racially diverse cohort of KD patients treated with IVIG, both using AHA guidelines.

Socio-demographic and comorbid risk factors for poor prognosis in patients hospitalized with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in southeastern US.

Background: How socio-demographic characteristics and comorbidities affect bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) prognosis during/after hospitalization is important in disease management.

Objectives: To identify predictors of medical intensive care unit (MICU) admission, length of hospital stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, and bacterial CAP readmission in patients hospitalized with bacterial CAP.

Methods: ICD-9/10 codes were used to query electronic medical records to identify a cohort of patients hospitalized for bacterial CAP at a tertiary hospital in Southeastern US between 01/01/2013-12/31/2019.

Sexual risk characteristics, social vulnerability, and anal cancer screening uptake among men living with HIV in the deep south.

Without standard guidelines, there is a critical need to examine anal cancer screening uptake in the South which has the highest HIV incidence in the U.S. We identified factors associated with screening among men living with HIV (MLHIV) at a large academic HIV outpatient clinic in Alabama.

Pharmacogenomics of intravenous immunoglobulin response in Kawasaki disease.

Introduction: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a diffuse vasculitis in children. Response to high dose intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG), the primary treatment, varies according to genetic background. We sought to identify genetic loci, which associate with treatment response using whole genome sequencing (WGS).

and Select Neighboring HLA Variants Predict Chlamydia Reinfection Risk.

Associations of HLA class II alleles with genital chlamydial infection outcomes have been reported, especially . However, the potential role of in influencing reinfection risk has still not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the association of with chlamydia reinfection was impacted by any other nearby HLA class II variants that were also associated with reinfection.

Seasonality and geographical distribution of Kawasaki disease among Black children in the Southeast United States.

Introduction: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a leading cause of pediatric acquired heart disease in the United States, affecting up to 7,000 children annually. Seasonal variation, an epidemiological characteristic of KD, has previously been reported predominantly among Asian children; however, little is known about the epidemiology and seasonality of KD of Black children within the U.S.

Variations in Genes Encoding Human Papillomavirus Binding Receptors and Susceptibility to Cervical Precancer.

Background: Cervical cancer oncogenesis starts with human papillomavirus (HPV) cell entry after binding to host cell surface receptors; however, the mechanism is not fully known. We examined polymorphisms in receptor genes hypothesized to be necessary for HPV cell entry and assessed their associations with clinical progression to precancer.

Methods: African American women (N = 1,728) from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study were included.

RNA-seq analysis identifies transcriptomic profiles associated with anal cancer recurrence among people living with HIV.

Background: Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is the standard of care for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA), the most common type of anal cancer. However, approximately one fourth of patients still relapse after CRT.

Methods: We used RNA-sequencing technology to characterize coding and non-coding transcripts in tumor tissues from CRT-treated SCCA patients and compare them between 9 non-recurrent and 3 recurrent cases.

Obesity-Associated Dyslipidemia Is Moderated by Habitual Intake of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Yup'ik Alaska Native People: A Cross-Sectional Mediation-Moderation Analysis.

Background: Obesity leads to insulin resistance, altered lipoprotein metabolism, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. The relationship between long-term intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and prevention of cardiometabolic disease remains unresolved.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore direct and indirect pathways between adiposity and dyslipidemia, and the degree to which n-3 PUFAs moderate adiposity-induced dyslipidemia in a population with highly variable n-3 PUFA intake from marine foods.

Traditional risk factors and cancer-related factors associated with cardiovascular disease risk in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is under-reported. We assessed the association of HNSCC-related factors and traditional risk factors with 1- and 5-year CVD risk in HNSCC patients without prevalent CVD at cancer diagnosis.

Methods: A clinical cohort of 1,829 HNSCC patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2018, at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center was included.

Clinical risk factors for admission with Pseudomonas and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Microbial etiology for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is evolving with pathogens known for high CAP mortality e.g., Pseudomonas species.

Racial and rural-urban disparities in cardiovascular risk factors among patients with head and neck cancer in a clinical cohort.

Background: Evidence on distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is limited. We assessed disparities in prevalence and incidence of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC.

Methods: Electronic health records (EHR) data on 2262 patients with HNSCC diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 at a NCI-designated cancer center were included.

Estimates of West African Ancestry in African Americans Using Alleles of Iron-Related Genes , , and .

Few studies have estimated African ancestry of African Americans (AA). In sub-Saharan West African (WA) Blacks, some nonancestral alleles of iron-related genes , , and are common, whereas in European Americans (EA) the same alleles are rare. These alleles have not been used to estimate WA Black ancestry in AA.

Habitual Intake of Marine-Derived n-3 PUFAs is Inversely Associated with a Cardiometabolic Inflammatory Profile in Yup'ik Alaska Native People.

Background: The relationship between dietary n-3 PUFAs and the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, is unresolved. Examination of the association between n-3 PUFAs and chronic low-grade inflammation in a population where many individuals have had an extremely high intake of marine mammals and fish throughout their lifespan may provide important clues regarding the impact of n-3 PUFAs on health.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore associations between concentrations of n-3 PUFAs resulting from habitual intake of natural food sources high in fish and marine mammals with immune biomarkers of metabolic inflammation and parameters of glucose regulation.

Changes in lipidomic profile by anti-retroviral treatment regimen: An ACTG 5257 ancillary study.

High cardiovascular disease risk in people living with HIV is partly attributed to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Lipid response to ART has been extensively studied, yet, little is known how small molecule lipids respond to Integrase inhibitor-based (INSTI-based) compared to Protease inhibitor-based (PI-based) ART regimens.Ancillary study to a phase 3, randomized, open-label trial [AIDS Clinical Trial Group A5257 Study] in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r), ritonavir-boosted darunavir (DRV/r) (both PI-based), or raltegravir with Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate-TDF plus emtricitabine (RAL, INSTI-based).

How fluoroquinolone preauthorization affects third- and fourth-generation cephalosporin use and resistance in a large academic hospital.

Objective: We observed an overall increase in the use of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins after fluoroquinolone preauthorization was implemented. We examined the change in specific third- and fourth-generation cephalosporin use, and we sought to determine whether there was a consequent change in non-susceptibility of select Gram-negative bacterial isolates to these antibiotics.

Design: Retrospective quasi-experimental study.

Immunophenotype-associated gene signature in ductal breast tumors varies by receptor subtype, but the expression of individual signature genes remains consistent.

Background: In silico deconvolution of invasive immune cell infiltration in bulk breast tumors helps characterize immunophenotype, expands treatment options, and influences survival endpoints. In this study, we identify the differential expression (DE) of the LM22 signature to classify immune-rich and -poor breast tumors and evaluate immune infiltration by receptor subtype and lymph node metastasis.

Methods: Using publicly available data, we applied the CIBERSORT algorithm to estimate immune cells infiltrating the tumor into immune-rich and immune-poor groups.

Estimates of European American Ancestry in African Americans Using p.C282Y.

p.C282Y (chromosome 6p22.2; exon 4, c.

CD4 Trajectory Models and Onset of Non-AIDS-Defining Anal Genital Warts, Precancer, and Cancer in People Living With HIV Infection-1.

Background: It is unclear how the characteristics of CD4 counts predict non-AIDS-defining human papillomavirus-related anogenital warts (AGWs) and anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions/cancer (HSIL) in people living with HIV infection-1 (PLWH). We compared the associations between 3 CD4 counts measures and these disease outcomes in the study.

Methods: Retrospective sociobehavioral and clinical data from electronic health records of 4803 PLWH from 2006 to 2018 were included.

Geographical and Racial Disparities in Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis in South-Eastern United States: Using Real-World Electronic Medical Records Data.

Rurality, race, and age at diagnosis are important predictors in head and neck cancer (HNC) prognosis. However, literature on the associations of rurality and race with age at HNC diagnosis is limited. Data on geographical, racial, and gender disparities in young HNC patients (diagnosed ≤45 years) are also scarce.

Comorbidities associated with HPV infection among people living with HIV-1 in the southeastern US: a retrospective clinical cohort study.

Background: The southeastern US is an epicenter for incident HIV in the US with high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) co-infections. However, epidemiologies of HPV-associated clinical conditions (CC) among people living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH) are not fully known.

Methods: Electronic medical records (EMR) of PLWH attending one of the leading HIV clinics in the southeastern US between 2006 and 2018 were reviewed and analyzed.