Improving the asthma disparity gap with legal advocacy? A qualitative study of patient-identified challenges to improve social and environmental factors that contribute to poorly controlled asthma.

Objective: To identify challenges that disadvantaged adults with asthma face in mitigating social and environmental factors associated with poor symptom control.

Methods: Using a community-engaged approach, we partnered with a community health center in New Haven, CT to conduct in-person interviews and a written survey of asthmatic adults with poor symptom control. Using the constant comparative method, we analyzed participant interviews to establish emerging themes and identify common barriers to improved outcomes.

Frequencies of mtDNA mutations in primary tissues of colorectal adenopolyps.

To investigate the potential role of mtDNA alterations during the onset of colorectal cancer, the occurrence of mtDNA variants in colorectal adenomatous (Tubular, Tubulovillous, and Villous) polyps, were studied. High resolution endonucleases and PCR-based sequence were applied to examine mtDNA variants in the ND and ATPase genes of 64 primary tissues of colorectal adeno-polyps and their matched normal controls. Forty-two variants were observed and 57% (24/42) were not previously reported in the MITODAT reference.