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Mlakar V, Akkouh I, Halff EF, Srivastava DP, Birkenæs V, Ueland T, Quintana DS, Ormerod MBEG, Steen NE, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA, Aas M. Telomere biology and its maintenance in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Exploring links to cognition. Schizophr Res 2024; 272:89-95. [PMID: 39208769 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Contemporary research suggests reduced telomere length in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SZ) compared to age-adjusted non-affected individuals. However, the role of telomere maintenance and telomere repair in SZ is poorly understood as well as the involvement of telomere biology in cognitive abnormalities in SZ. METHODS The study consisted of 758 participants (SZ [n = 357] and healthy controls, HC [n = 401]) collected as part of the Norwegian TOP study. Participants were assessed with standardized neuropsychological tests measuring five cognitive domains. Leucocyte telomere length (TL) was measured via blood and determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) providing a telomere to single copy ratio (T/S ratio), used to estimate the mean telomere length. Telomerase activity was assessed by the expression levels of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) and Telomerase RNA Component (TERC) genes. To assess telomere maintenance and telomere repair we calculated the telomerase expression to TL ratio (TERT/TL and TERC/TL respectively). RESULTS Patients had reduced TERT (F = 5.03, p = 0.03), but not TERC expression (F = 1.04, p = 0.31), and higher TERT/TL (F = 6.68, p = 0.01) and TERC/TL (F = 6.71, p = 0.01), adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. No statistically significant association was observed between any of the telomere biology markers and the cognitive domains (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Our study shows changes in TERT expression and telomere maintenance and telomere repair in SZ compared HC. However, the role of telomere biology in the mechanism underlying cognitive impairment in psychosis seems limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vid Mlakar
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Ibrahim Akkouh
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Els F Halff
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Deepak P Srivastava
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Viktoria Birkenæs
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Torill Ueland
- Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica B E G Ormerod
- Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Nils Eiel Steen
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway; Section for Clinical Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica Aas
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, England, UK
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Hailu EM, Gao X, Needham BL, Seeman T, Lewis TT, Mujahid MS. Associations between historical and contemporary measures of structural racism and leukocyte telomere length: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Soc Sci Med 2024; 360:117229. [PMID: 39303531 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We assessed the link between two manifestations of structural racism-historical redlining and contemporary racial residential segregation-and baseline and 10-year changes in leukocyte telomere length (LTL). METHODS We used data on Black and Hispanic/Latinx participants from Exams I and V of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Stress Ancillary Study (N = 741, age range = 45-84 years). LTL was defined as the ratio of telomeric DNA to a single copy gene (T/S), and 10-year changes were adjusted for regression to the mean. We used 1930s Home Owners' Loan Corporation maps to assign three historical redlining grades (A&B: best/still desirable, C: declining, D: hazardous/redlined) to participants' neighborhoods (census-tracts) at baseline. The Getis-Ord Gi∗ statistic was used to evaluate census-tract level baseline residential segregation (low/moderate/high). RESULTS In mixed-effects regression models accounting for neighborhood clustering, individual characteristics, and current neighborhood environments, those living in highly segregated Black neighborhoods had 0.08 shorter baseline LTL (95% CI: -0.13, -0.04), than those residing in the least segregated neighborhoods. We did not find a relationship between residing in segregated neighborhoods and 10-year LTL changes, and associations between residing in historically redlined neighborhoods and both baseline LTL and 10-year changes in LTL were null. Across discriminatory disinvestment trajectories examined, individuals residing in highly segregated but non-redlined neighborhoods had 0.6 shorter baseline LTL than individuals residing in non-redlined neighborhoods with low/moderate segregation (95% CI: -0.12, -0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the impact of racial segregation on cellular aging and underscore the need to ameliorate structural inequities within segregated neighborhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elleni M Hailu
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Xing Gao
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Belinda L Needham
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA
| | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Tené T Lewis
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, USA
| | - Mahasin S Mujahid
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way #5302, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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Macamo ED, Mkhize-Kwitshana ZL, Duma Z, Mthombeni J, Naidoo P. Telomere Length in a South African Population Co-Infected with HIV and Helminths. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:6853-6867. [PMID: 39057051 PMCID: PMC11276263 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46070409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological ageing refers to the gradual decrease in physiological functions, resulting in immune senescence, cellular damage and apoptosis. Telomere length is a biomarker of biological ageing. Limited studies have associated shorter telomere length with HIV and parasite single infections, with no studies reporting the association of HIV and parasite co-infection with telomere length. The study aimed to investigate whether telomere length shortening is accelerated in a South African population co-infected with HIV and helminths compared to participants singly infected with either HIV or helminths. Additionally, telomere length data were compared with participants' biochemical and full blood count parameters. A total of 200 participants were in groups of uninfected control, HIV single infection, helminth single infection and HIV and helminth co-infection groups. Relative telomere length (RTL) was determined using Real-Time PCR and associated with biochemical and full blood count parameters using multivariate regression analysis models that were adjusted for confounders. The uninfected control group was used as a reference group. The uninfected control group had the highest mean RTL (1.21 ± 0.53) while the HIV-infected (0.96 ± 0.42) and co-infected (0.93 ± 0.41) groups had similar RTLs, and lastly, the helminth-infected group (0.83 ± 0.33) had the lowest RTL (p = 0.0002). When compared to the uninfected control group, a significant association between RTL and biochemical parameters, including blood iron (β = -0.48), ferritin (β = -0.48), transferrin saturation (β = -0.57), transferrin (β = -0.57), phosphate (β = -0.47), vitamin A (β = -0.49) and C-reactive protein (β = -0.52) were noted in the co-infected group (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant association between RTL and full blood count, including (β = -0.47), haematocrit (β = -0.46), mean corpuscular volume (β = -0.47), lymphocytes (β = -0.45), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (β = -0.45), red cell distribution width (β = -0.47), monocytes (β = -0.45), eosinophils (β = -0.45), basophils (β = -0.44) and transferrin saturation (β = -0.57) were also noted in the co-infected group (p < 0.05). Accelerated biological ageing, as indicated by telomere length shortening, is associated with HIV and helminth co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engelinah D. Macamo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R. Mandela Medical School Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (E.D.M.); (Z.D.)
- Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Zilungile L. Mkhize-Kwitshana
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R. Mandela Medical School Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (E.D.M.); (Z.D.)
- Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Doorfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
- Biomedical Sciences Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa
| | - Zamathombeni Duma
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R. Mandela Medical School Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (E.D.M.); (Z.D.)
- Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Julian Mthombeni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Doorfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
| | - Pragalathan Naidoo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R. Mandela Medical School Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa; (E.D.M.); (Z.D.)
- Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
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Neagu AN, Bruno P, Johnson KR, Ballestas G, Darie CC. Biological Basis of Breast Cancer-Related Disparities in Precision Oncology Era. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4113. [PMID: 38612922 PMCID: PMC11012526 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision oncology is based on deep knowledge of the molecular profile of tumors, allowing for more accurate and personalized therapy for specific groups of patients who are different in disease susceptibility as well as treatment response. Thus, onco-breastomics is able to discover novel biomarkers that have been found to have racial and ethnic differences, among other types of disparities such as chronological or biological age-, sex/gender- or environmental-related ones. Usually, evidence suggests that breast cancer (BC) disparities are due to ethnicity, aging rate, socioeconomic position, environmental or chemical exposures, psycho-social stressors, comorbidities, Western lifestyle, poverty and rurality, or organizational and health care system factors or access. The aim of this review was to deepen the understanding of BC-related disparities, mainly from a biomedical perspective, which includes genomic-based differences, disparities in breast tumor biology and developmental biology, differences in breast tumors' immune and metabolic landscapes, ecological factors involved in these disparities as well as microbiomics- and metagenomics-based disparities in BC. We can conclude that onco-breastomics, in principle, based on genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, hormonomics, metabolomics and exposomics data, is able to characterize the multiple biological processes and molecular pathways involved in BC disparities, clarifying the differences in incidence, mortality and treatment response for different groups of BC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Narcisa Neagu
- Laboratory of Animal Histology, Faculty of Biology, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași, Carol I bvd. 20A, 700505 Iasi, Romania
| | - Pathea Bruno
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Kaya R Johnson
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Gabriella Ballestas
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
| | - Costel C Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699-5810, USA
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Huang R, Bornman MSR, Stricker PD, Simoni Brum I, Mutambirwa SBA, Jaratlerdsiri W, Hayes VM. The impact of telomere length on prostate cancer aggressiveness, genomic instability and health disparities. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7706. [PMID: 38565642 PMCID: PMC10987561 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57566-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The telomere repetitive TTAGGG motif at the ends of chromosomes, serves to preserve genomic integrity and chromosomal stability. In turn, genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer-implicating telomere disturbance. Prostate cancer (PCa) shows significant ancestral disparities, with men of African ancestry at the greatest risk for aggressive disease and associated genomic instability. Yet, no study has explored the role of telomere length (TL) with respect to ancestrally driven PCa health disparities. Patient- and technically-matched tumour-blood whole genome sequencing data for 179 ancestrally defined treatment naïve PCa patients (117 African, 62 European), we assessed for TL (blood and tumour) associations. We found shortened tumour TL to be associated with aggressive PCa presentation and elevated genomic instabilities, including percentage of genome alteration and copy number gains, in men of African ancestry. For European patients, tumour TL showed significant associations with PCa driver genes PTEN, TP53, MSH2, SETBP1 and DDX11L1, while shorter blood TL (< 3200 base pairs) and tumour TL (< 2861 base pairs) were correlated with higher risk for biochemical recurrence. Concurring with previous studies linking TL to PCa diagnosis and/or prognosis, for the first time we correlated TL differences with patient ancestry with important implications for future treatments targeting telomere dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruotian Huang
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - M S Riana Bornman
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084, South Africa
| | - Phillip D Stricker
- Department of Urology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Ilma Simoni Brum
- Endocrine and Tumor Molecular Biology Laboratory, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Shingai B A Mutambirwa
- Department of Urology, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Medunsa, 0208, South Africa
| | - Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Vanessa M Hayes
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0084, South Africa.
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M20 4GJ, UK.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Sovenga, 0727, Limpopo, South Africa.
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Goyne CE, Fair AE, Sumowski PE, Graves JS. The Impact of Aging on Multiple Sclerosis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2024; 24:83-93. [PMID: 38416310 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-024-01333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Age is one of the most important factors in determining MS phenotype. This review provides an overview of how age influences MS clinical characteristics, pathology, and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS New methods for measuring aging have improved our understanding of the aging process in MS. New studies have characterized the molecular and cellular composition of chronic active or smoldering plaques in MS. These lesions are important contributors to disability progression in MS. These studies highlight the important role of immunosenescence and the innate immune system in sustaining chronic inflammation. Given these changes in immune function, several studies have assessed optimal treatment strategies in aging individuals with MS. MS phenotype is intimately linked with chronologic age and immunosenescence. While there are many unanswered questions, there has been much progress in understanding this relationship which may lead to more effective treatments for progressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Goyne
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9452 Medical Center Drive, Ste 4W-222, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ashley E Fair
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9452 Medical Center Drive, Ste 4W-222, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Paige E Sumowski
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9452 Medical Center Drive, Ste 4W-222, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jennifer S Graves
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9452 Medical Center Drive, Ste 4W-222, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
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Hamlat EJ, Neilands TB, Laraia B, Zhang J, Lu AT, Lin J, Horvath S, Epel ES. Early life adversity predicts an accelerated cellular aging phenotype through early timing of puberty. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7720-7728. [PMID: 37325994 PMCID: PMC11131158 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723001629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study examined if early adversity was associated with accelerated biological aging, and if effects were mediated by the timing of puberty. METHODS In early mid-life, 187 Black and 198 White (Mage = 39.4, s.d.age = 1.2) women reported on early abuse and age at first menstruation (menarche). Women provided saliva and blood to assess epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein. Using structural equation modeling, we created a latent variable of biological aging using epigenetic aging, telomere length, and C-reactive protein as indicators, and a latent variable of early abuse using indicators of abuse/threat events before age 13, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. We estimated the indirect effects of early abuse and of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche. Race was used as a proxy for adversity in the form of systemic racism. RESULTS There was an indirect effect of early adversity on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03-0.44), in that women who experienced more adversity were younger at menarche, which was associated with greater accelerated aging. There was also an indirect effect of race on accelerated aging through age at menarche (b = 0.25, 95% CI 0.04-0.52), in that Black women were younger at menarche, which led to greater accelerated aging. CONCLUSIONS Early abuse and being Black in the USA may both induce a phenotype of accelerated aging. Early adversity may begin to accelerate aging during childhood, in the form of early pubertal timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa J. Hamlat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Torsten B. Neilands
- Division of Prevention Science | Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Barbara Laraia
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Zhang
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ake T. Lu
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Ross EJ, Williams RS, Viamonte M, Reynolds JM, Duncan DT, Paul RH, Carrico AW. Overamped: Stimulant Use and HIV Pathogenesis. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:321-332. [PMID: 37971597 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00672-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In the era of HIV treatment as prevention (TasP), more clarity is needed regarding whether people with HIV who use stimulants (i.e., methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine) display elevated HIV viral load and greater immune dysregulation. RECENT FINDINGS Although rates of viral suppression have improved in the TasP era, stimulant use was independently associated with elevated viral load in 23 of 28 studies included in our review. In the 12 studies examining other HIV disease markers, there was preliminary evidence for stimulant-associated alterations in gut-immune dysfunction and cellular immunity despite effective HIV treatment. Studies generally focused on documenting the direct associations of stimulant use with biomarkers of HIV pathogenesis without placing these in the context of social determinants of health. Stimulant use is a key barrier to optimizing the effectiveness of TasP. Elucidating the microbiome-gut-brain axis pathways whereby stimulants alter neuroimmune functioning could identify viable targets for pharmacotherapies for stimulant use disorders. Examining interpersonal, neighborhood, and structural determinants that could modify the associations of stimulant use with biomarkers of HIV pathogenesis is critical to guiding the development of comprehensive, multi-level interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Ross
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Renessa S Williams
- University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | | | - John M Reynolds
- Calder Memorial Library, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Dustin T Duncan
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Robert H Paul
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Adam W Carrico
- Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, AHC5, #407, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
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Prasad A, Lin J, Jelliffe-Pawlowski L, Coleman-Phox K, Rand L, Wojcicki JM. Sub-optimal maternal gestational gain is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length at birth in a predominantly Latinx cohort of newborns. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol 2023; 9:14. [PMID: 37919818 PMCID: PMC10623801 DOI: 10.1186/s40748-023-00167-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess in utero exposures associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at birth and maternal LTL in a primarily Latinx birth cohort. STUDY DESIGN Mothers and newborns were recruited postnatally before 24 h of life. Newborn LTL was collected via heelstick at birth and maternal LTL was collected postnatally. LTL was determined by quantitative PCR. Using a longitudinal design, we evaluated associations between neonatal and maternal LTL and appropriate maternal gestational gain as indicated by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). RESULT Mean infant LTL was 2.02 ± 0.30 T/S (n = 386) and maternal LTL was 1.54 ± 0.26 T/S (n = 58). Independent risk factors for shorter LTL at birth included longer gestational duration (Coeff:-0.03, 95%CI: -0.05-0.01;p < 0.01) and maternal gestational weight gain below ACOG recommendations (Coeff:-0.10, 95%CI: -0.18 - -0.02; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Gestational weight gain below ACOG recommendations may adversely impact neonatal health in Latinx infants as indicated by shorter LTL at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Prasad
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski
- Preterm Birth Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Kimberley Coleman-Phox
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Larry Rand
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Janet M Wojcicki
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
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Neighborhood deprivation, racial segregation and associations with cancer risk and outcomes across the cancer-control continuum. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1494-1501. [PMID: 36869227 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02006-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The racial/ethnic disparities in cancer incidence and outcome are partially due to the inequities in neighborhood advantage. Mounting evidences supported a link between neighborhood deprivation and cancer outcomes including higher mortality. In this review, we discuss some of the findings related to work on area-level neighborhood variables and cancer outcomes, and the potential biological and built/natural environmental mechanisms that might explain this link. Studies have also shown that residents of deprived neighborhoods or of racially or economically segregated neighborhoods have worse health outcomes than residents of more affluent neighborhoods and/or less racially or economically segregated neighborhoods, even after adjusting for the individual-level socioeconomic status. To date, little research has been conducted investigating the biological mediators that may play roles in the associations of neighborhood deprivation and segregation with cancer outcomes. The psychophysiological stress induced by neighborhood disadvantage among people living in these neighborhoods could be a potential underlying biological mechanism. We examined a number of chronic stress-related pathways that may potentially mediate the relationship between area-level neighborhood factors and cancer outcomes, including higher allostatic load, stress hormones, altered epigenome and telomere maintenance and biological aging. In conclusion, the extant evidence supports the notion that neighborhood deprivation and racial segregation have unfavorable impacts on cancer. Understanding how neighborhood factors influence the biological stress response has the potential to inform where and what types of resources are needed within the community to improve cancer outcomes and reduce disparities. More studies are warranted to directly assess the role of biological and social mechanisms in mediating the relationship between neighborhood factors and cancer outcomes.
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Roberts EK, Boss J, Mukherjee B, Salerno S, Zota A, Needham BL. Persistent organic pollutant exposure contributes to Black/White differences in leukocyte telomere length in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19960. [PMID: 36402910 PMCID: PMC9675834 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24316-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite racial disparities in diseases of aging and premature mortality, non-Hispanic Black Americans tend to have longer leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biomarker of cellular aging, than non-Hispanic White Americans. Previous findings suggest that exposure to certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is both racially-patterned and associated with longer LTL. We examine whether Black/White differences in LTL are explained by differences in exposure to 15 POPs by estimating the indirect effect (IE) of self-reported race on LTL that is mediated through nine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), three furans, and three dioxins, as well as their mixtures. Our study population includes 1,251 adults from the 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 cycles of the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We characterized single-pollutant mediation effects by constructing survey-weighted linear regression models. We also implemented various approaches to quantify a global mediation effect of all POPs, including unpenalized linear regression, ridge regression, and examination of three summary exposure scores. We found support for the hypothesis that exposure to PCBs partially mediates Black/White differences in LTL. In single-pollutant models, there were significant IEs of race on LTL through six individual PCBs (118, 138, 153, 170, 180, and 187). Ridge regression (0.013, CI 0.001, 0.023; 26.0% mediated) and models examining summative exposure scores with linear combinations derived from principal components analysis (0.019, CI 0.009, 0.029; 34.8% mediated) and Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ) scores (0.016, CI 0.005, 0.026; 28.8% mediated) showed significant IEs when incorporating survey weights. Exposures to individual POPs and their mixtures, which may arise from residential and occupational segregation, may help explain why Black Americans have longer LTL than their White counterparts, providing an environmental explanation for counterintuitive race differences in cellular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Roberts
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
| | - Jonathan Boss
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, 4659 SPH Tower, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
| | - Stephen Salerno
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
| | - Ami Zota
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University Milken School of Public Health, Washington, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Belinda L Needham
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, 4659 SPH Tower, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
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Kertes DA, Leri J, Duan K, Tarrence J, Browning C, Pickler R, Ford J. Demographic and health predictors of telomere length during adolescence. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22311. [PMID: 36282763 PMCID: PMC9749139 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is proposed to play a mechanistic role in how the exposome affects health outcomes. Little is known about TL during adolescence, a developmental period during which precursors of adult-onset health problems often emerge. We examined health and demographic sources of variation in TL in 899 youth aged 11-17. Demographic and health information included age, sex, race, household income, caregiver age and marital status, youth tobacco exposure, body mass index, pubertal status, health problems, medication use, and season of data collection. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva, and T/S ratios were computed following qPCR. Age, race, season of data collection, and household income were associated with the telomere to single copy (T/S) ratio. We found that T/S ratios were larger at younger ages, among Black youth, for saliva collected during autumn and winter, and among households with higher income. Analyses stratified by race revealed that the association between age and T/S ratio was present for Black youth, that season of collection was present across races, but that family demographic associations with T/S ratio varied by race. The results provide information for future telomere research and highlight adolescence as a potentially important developmental phase for racial disparities in telomere shortening and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlene A. Kertes
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John Leri
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ke Duan
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jake Tarrence
- Department of Sociology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Rita Pickler
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jodi Ford
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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13
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Phillips AR, Andraska EA, Reitz KM, Habib S, Martinez-Meehan D, Dai Y, Johnson AE, Liang NL. Association between neighborhood deprivation and presenting with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm before screening age. J Vasc Surg 2022; 76:932-941.e2. [PMID: 35314299 PMCID: PMC9482667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent data indicate social determinants of health (SDOH) have a great impact on prevention and treatment outcomes across a broad variety of disease states, especially cardiovascular diseases. The area deprivation index (ADI) is a validated measure of neighborhood level disadvantage capturing key social determinate factors. Abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture (rAAA) is highly morbid, but also preventable through evidence-based screening. However, the association between rAAA and SDOH is poorly characterized. Our objective is to study the association of SDOH with rAAA and screening age. METHODS This retrospective study included patients who underwent operative repair of a rAAA at a multihospital healthcare system (2003-2019). Deprivation was measured by the ADI (scale 1-100), grouped into quintiles for simplicity, with higher quintiles indicating greater deprivation. Patients with the highest quintile ADI (89-100) were categorized as the most deprived. We investigated the association between neighborhood deprivation with the odds of (i) undergoing repair for rAAA before screening age 65 and (ii) undergoing endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) using logistic regression, sequentially modeling nonmodifiable then both nonmodifiable and modifiable confounding variables. RESULTS There were 632 patients who met the inclusion criteria (aged 74.2 ± 9.4 years; 174 women [27.6%]; 564 White [89.2%]; ADI 66.8 ± 22.3). Those from the most deprived neighborhoods (n = 118) were younger (71.7 ± 10.0 years vs 74.8 ± 9.2 years; P = .002), more likely to be female (36% vs 26%; P = .031), more likely to be Black (5.9% vs 0.4%; P = .007), and fewer underwent EVAR (28% vs 39.5%; P = .020) compared with those from other neighborhoods. On sequential modeling, residing in the most deprived neighborhoods was associated with undergoing rAAA repair before age 65 after adjusting for nonmodifiable factors (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.95; P < .001), and nonmodifiable as well as modifiable factors (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.56-3.16; P < .001). Those in the most deprived neighborhoods had a lower odds of undergoing EVAR compared with open repair after adjusting for nonmodifiable factors (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98; P = .042), and nonmodifiable as well as modifiable factors (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37-0.99; P = .047). CONCLUSIONS Among patients who underwent rAAA, residing in the most deprived neighborhoods was associated with greater adjusted odds of presenting under age 65 and undergoing an open repair. These neighborhoods represent tangible geographic targets that may benefit from a younger screening age, enhanced education, and access to care. These findings stress the importance of developing strategies for early prevention and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases among patients with disadvantageous SDOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Phillips
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA.
| | | | - Katherine M Reitz
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Salim Habib
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Yancheng Dai
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Amber E Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Nathan L Liang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Bassey GB, Clarke AIL, Elhelu OK, Lee CM. Trichomoniasis, a new look at a common but neglected STI in African descendance population in the United States and the Black Diaspora. A review of its incidence, research prioritization, and the resulting health disparities. J Natl Med Assoc 2022; 114:78-89. [PMID: 35042602 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Structural racism plays a significant role in limited access to higher education, financial resources, employment opportunities, and high-quality healthcare for African Americans. The lack of healthcare equity and infrastructure has directly contributed to overall poor healthcare outcomes for the Black community. Studies have shown that adverse health outcomes such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more prevalent in African Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. For example, trichomoniasis, transmitted sexually by its etiological agent, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), predisposes those infected to co-infections with other STDs, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, and other related infections. Our review showcases the impact of trichomoniasis on the health of the Black community with an emphasis on African American women. A critical examination of the socio-demographic history of Black people in the United States (US) is vital to illustrate the origin of past and current racial health disparities. Further, we expand the complex and nuanced conversation on the intersectionality of racism, health equity, and innovative epidemiological and biomedical research strategies needed to eradicate this global public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Clarence M Lee
- Howard University, Department of Biology, Washington, DC, USA
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Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Jackson CL, Ottinger MA, Cardenas A, James KA, Malecki KM, Chen JC, Geller AM, Mitchell UA. Adopting a "Compound" Exposome Approach in Environmental Aging Biomarker Research: A Call to Action for Advancing Racial Health Equity. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:45001. [PMID: 33822649 PMCID: PMC8043128 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In June 2020, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a virtual workshop focused on integrating the science of aging and environmental health research. The concurrent COVID-19 pandemic and national attention on racism exposed shortcomings in the environmental research field's conceptualization and methodological use of race, which have subsequently hindered the ability of research to address racial health disparities. By the workshop's conclusion, the authors deduced that the utility of environmental aging biomarkers-aging biomarkers shown to be specifically influenced by environmental exposures-would be greatly diminished if these biomarkers are developed absent of considerations of broader societal factors-like structural racism-that impinge on racial health equity. OBJECTIVES The authors reached a post-workshop consensus recommendation: To advance racial health equity, a "compound" exposome approach should be widely adopted in environmental aging biomarker research. We present this recommendation here. DISCUSSION The authors believe that without explicit considerations of racial health equity, people in most need of the benefits afforded by a better understanding of the relationships between exposures and aging will be the least likely to receive them because biomarkers may not encompass cumulative impacts from their unique social and environmental stressors. Employing an exposome approach that allows for more comprehensive exposure-disease pathway characterization across broad domains, including the social exposome and neighborhood factors, is the first step. Exposome-centered study designs must then be supported with efforts aimed at increasing the recruitment and retention of racially diverse study populations and researchers and further "compounded" with strategies directed at improving the use and interpretation of race throughout the publication and dissemination process. This compound exposome approach maximizes the ability of our science to identify environmental aging biomarkers that explicate racial disparities in health and best positions the environmental research community to contribute to the elimination of racial health disparities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8392.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamaji C. Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Chandra L. Jackson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. HHS), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Intramural Program, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIH, U.S. HHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Ann Ottinger
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Katherine A. James
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristen M.C. Malecki
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jiu-Chiuan Chen
- Departments of Preventive Medicine and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew M. Geller
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Uchechi A. Mitchell
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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