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MicroRNA as Biomarker for Neuroprognostication following Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review
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Challenges in Post-Operative Peritoneal Dialysis Management for Neonates: A Case Report of an Infant With Cardiac Surgery and AKI
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Temporal Trends of Obesity Among Nebraska Adults: EMR Data Shows a More Rapid Increase Than Projected
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The Association Between Economic Outcomes and Abortion: A Scoping Review
No full textBackground: Abortion access is not just an issue of autonomy, but an economic issue as well. Evidence of the intersectionality of abortion health care and economics has endured due to the financial cascading effects a denial of an abortion, or the inability to access an abortion, has on one’s personal, professional, and economic upward mobility. A change in recent policies impacting access to abortion warrants an updated synthesis examining the relationships between economic outcomes and abortion access for people of reproductive age in the United States (U.S.).
Aim: This scoping review summarizes evidence pertaining to the association between economic outcomes--such as individual and family income, poverty, and subjective poverty—and abortion access to identify gaps which future research studies could address.
Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review methodological framework was used to conduct a comprehensive literature search of four electronic databases for peer reviewed articles from 1967-2024. The long timeframe provided a full landscape of research regarding the association of economics and abortion access in the U.S., aiding in answering the research questions of this scoping study. Duplicates were removed and results were screened at the title and abstract level before the full text analysis. English-language articles were included if they addressed abortion, if participants were women of reproductive age (15-44 years) in the U.S., and if they examined financial outcomes including individual income, family income, poverty, subjective poverty, or upward mobility. Publications were excluded if they did not address abortion.
Results: 2,412 titles and abstracts were screened. Nine studies were included in this scoping review which showed both positive and negative associations between abortion access and different economic indicators such as individual income (n = 6), subjective poverty (n = 8), poverty (n = 6) and family/household income (n = 7).
Discussion: Prior to seeking an abortion, the financial characteristics are often similar for women of reproductive age. However, women denied an abortion experience higher financial distress due to lack of employment, a decrease in personal income, and an increase in subjective poverty. This contributes to lower household income and possibly increases the percentage of living below the federal poverty level (FPL) compared to women who receive a wanted abortion and were similar socioeconomically at the time of seeking an abortion
Formative Research Study: Investigating the African American Community Perspective of Prostate Cancer by Triangulating the Association of Marital Status Within a Prostate Cancer Staging From a Population Approach
No full textAfrican American men (AAM) experience the highest rates of prostate cancer (CaP) incidence and mortality in the United States. This three-manuscript dissertation is guided by Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the Socioecological Model (SEM), and the Marriage Protection Hypothesis. Collectively, these frameworks explore how individual, social, and structural factors influence cancer screening behaviors and outcomes among AAM. This work captures the lived experiences and perspectives of the African American community in Omaha, Nebraska, and examines the biological and social determinants that shape CaP outcomes—such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, and cancer stage at diagnosis.
The first manuscript presents a systematic review of cancer prevention interventions informed by PMT. The findings reveal that coping appraisal constructs—especially self-efficacy and response efficacy—are stronger predictors of screening behaviors across cancer types than threat appraisal constructs like fear and perceived vulnerability. Notably, six of the seven studies reviewed focused on women, with none addressing prostate cancer or targeting AAM. Additionally, the studies were primarily conducted in the Middle East, with only one U.S.-based study involving White women in Washington state. These findings highlight a critical gap in the literature regarding race, geography, and gender and call for expanded research focused on racially diverse populations, particularly in the Midwestern United States.
The second manuscript qualitatively assesses community readiness to address CaP and explores perceptions of the disease among AAM and African American women (AAW) in North Omaha. Participants identified medical mistrust, stigma, and masculinity norms as key barriers to screening. Both AAM and AAW emphasized the importance of trusted relationships and community-based health advocates, with women playing a pivotal role in supporting men’s engagement with the healthcare system. They also highlighted culturally meaningful settings—such as barbershops, churches, and social media—as critical spaces for enhancing awareness and health communication.
The third manuscript uses Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data from 2010 to 2021 to examine how marital status influences CaP outcomes among AAM. The analysis reveals that married men are more likely to be diagnosed at earlier stages and have better survival outcomes, reinforcing the protective role of interpersonal support.
Taken together, these three manuscripts emphasize the importance of multilevel, culturally responsive interventions that leverage trusted social relationships and community spaces to reduce prostate cancer disparities among AAM
Decoding IPMN: Exploring the Molecular Bridges of Pancreatic Cancer Progression
Get PDFIntraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs) are the most common cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and have a significant potential to progress into invasive cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite their clinical importance, the molecular mechanisms driving the progression from benign IPMNs to invasive PDAC remain poorly understood. This gap in knowledge limits our ability to develop effective strategies for early detection, targeted therapies, and patient risk stratification. One factor implicated in IPMN progression is mucin overproduction, particularly the overexpression of MUC4, which has been linked to high-grade lesions and poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the role of MUC4 in IPMN progression using a human MUC4 transgenic mouse model with an oncogenic KrasG12Dbackground, recapitulating key features of human IPMN. Our results demonstrated that MUC4 overexpression accelerates cyst formation, mimicking various human IPMN subtypes, including gastric, pancreatobiliary, and intestinal types. Histological analysis showed increased cellular proliferation and stromal fibrosis, indicating that MUC4 promotes progression toward invasive disease. Global transcriptome analysis further identified the upregulation of immune-related genes and factors within the tumor microenvironment (TME), suggesting that MUC4 plays a pivotal role in modulating the TME and promoting PDAC development from IPMN. Further, our transcriptomic analysis of PDAC lesions identified KLF15 as a key regulator of IPMN development, with its expression significantly elevated in IPMN lesions. Functional studies revealed that KLF15 promotes tumorigenesis by enhancing cell proliferation and colony formation. In vivo inhibition of KLF15 resulted in a marked reduction in tumor growth, underscoring its critical role in IPMN progression. Moreover, we identified the oncogenic GNAS/PKA/CREB signaling axis as a key pathway regulating KLF15 expression in IPMN, suggesting that targeting this pathway could offer a novel therapeutic strategy. Additionally, we explored the therapeutic potential of Delta-tocotrienol (DTT), a vitamin E derivative. DTT demonstrated significant antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in vitro in IPMN-derived cells. In vivo, DTT treatment markedly suppressed tumor growth in IPMN xenograft models by modulating mucin. Our findings shed light on the molecular drivers of IPMN progression, particularly the roles of MUC4 and KLF15, and suggest promising targets for therapeutic intervention to prevent progression to PDAC
A Case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in Texas, United States
Get PDFKikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) commonly presents with lymphadenopathy, with a third of cases presenting with fevers. It is seen in young female patients of Asian descent, with Taiwan accounting for most of the reported cases. It is imperative to consider KFD in an individual presenting with fever and lymphadenopathy. While it might not be common in the United States, there is an increasing number of cases being reported. Histologic features in KFD are unique, and a lymph node biopsy determines the diagnosis. We outline a case of KFD in the United States and describe histologic details that resulted in the diagnosis
Mucin4 (MUC4) Antibody Labeled with an NIR Dye Brightly Targets Pancreatic Cancer Liver Metastases and Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Get PDFBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of deaths related to cancer. It is a highly aggressive malignancy and often metastasizes quickly to other parts of the body and organs. The most effective cure is surgical resection, which also is limited by tumor identification and clear tumor margin visualization. Previously, we used MUC4 antibodies labeled with IRDye800CW (anti-MUC4-IR800) to target primary human pancreatic cancer in orthotopic cell line mouse models.
METHODS: In the present study, we established a pancreatic cancer liver metastasis mouse model by implanting a tumor fragment in the liver and a peritoneal carcinomatosis mouse model by injecting pancreatic cancer cells interperitoneally. Once the tumors were established, anti-MUC4-IR800 was administered to the mice by tail vein injection. Laparotomy was performed and tumors were imaged under white-light and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence with the Pearl Small Animal Imaging System.
RESULTS: NIR imaging after 72 h shows the bright targeting of pancreatic cancer metastasis in both mouse models with high tumor-to-background ratios.
CONCLUSIONS: Anti-MUC4-IR800 was able to successfully target and brightly label metastatic pancreatic cancer as small as 1 mm. Future clinical applications of the results of the present study are discussed