The Indian Health Service and American Indian/Alaska Native Health Outcomes.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) has made huge strides in narrowing health disparities between American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations and other racial and ethnic groups. Yet, health disparities experienced by AI/AN people persist, with deep historical roots combined with present-day challenges. Here we review the history of the IHS from colonization to the present-day system, highlight persistent disparities in AI/AN health and health care, and discuss six key present-day challenges: inadequate funding, limited human resources, challenges associated with transitioning services from federal to Tribal control through contracting and compacting, evolving federal and state programs, the need for culturally sensitive services, and the promise and challenges of health technology.

Comprehensive molecular characterization of pediatric radiation-induced high-grade glioma.

Radiation-induced high-grade gliomas (RIGs) are an incurable late complication of cranial radiation therapy. We performed DNA methylation profiling, RNA-seq, and DNA sequencing on 32 RIG tumors and an in vitro drug screen in two RIG cell lines. We report that based on DNA methylation, RIGs cluster primarily with the pediatric receptor tyrosine kinase I high-grade glioma subtype.

Simultaneous measurement of biochemical phenotypes and gene expression in single cells.

Methods to measure heterogeneity among cells are rapidly transforming our understanding of biology but are currently limited to molecular abundance measurements. We developed an approach to simultaneously measure biochemical activities and mRNA abundance in single cells to understand the heterogeneity of DNA repair activities across thousands of human lymphocytes, identifying known and novel cell-type-specific DNA repair phenotypes.

Case report of a paraganglioma arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms derived from sympathetic or parasympathetic paraganglia and have the ability to secrete catecholamines. We present the case of a 37-year-old asymptomatic female who underwent right ovarian cystectomy for a mature cystic teratoma and was found to have an intra-tumoral paraganglioma. More research is needed to determine metastatic potential as well as the likelihood of recurrence of these unique neoplasms.