Genetics, Epidemiology, and Cancer Disparities: Is it Black and White?

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (14) ◽  
pp. 2164-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Rebbeck ◽  
Chanita Hughes Halbert ◽  
Pamela Sankar
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Cancer Disparities ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Epidemiologic Research ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Race Ethnicity

Epidemiologic studies attempt to understand the distribution and determinants of human disease. Epidemiologic research often incorporates information about race, ethnicity, or ancestry, usually as a self-identified race or ethnicity (SIRE) variable. Differences in the distribution and determinants of disease on the basis of SIRE may be identified in these studies. In addition, genetic and other biologic differences according to SIRE are frequently reported. If these differences are real and meaningful, they may have value in identifying disease-causative or -preventive factors, and thus may be beneficial to human health. However, the concepts of race, ethnicity, or ancestry are often poorly considered or crudely applied, particularly in genetic studies of disease etiology or outcome. Consequently, results suggesting genetic differences with respect to disease etiology or outcome across SIRE groups may not be meaningful; in fact, these differences may prove harmful if they propagate stereotypes or spurious differences. Therefore, it is critical to properly consider the meaning, definitions, and use of race, ethnicity, or ancestry in molecular epidemiologic studies.

scholarly journals Digitalizing the Microbiome for Human Health

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirti Nath ◽  
Christoph A. Thaiss
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Host Physiology ◽  
Host Metabolism

ABSTRACT The microbiome has recently joined the club of endocrine entities of the human body that are involved in homeostasis and disease. Microbiome characterizations are now typically included in longitudinal and cross-sectional population studies, associations with microbiome features have been made for almost any human disease, and the molecules by which the microbiome functionally contributes to host physiology are being elucidated. The leverage of these efforts for human health, however, is still rather modest. In this Perspective, we summarize some of the challenges that need to be overcome in order to make microbiome studies as informative for human health as genetic studies. Focusing on the role of the microbiome in host metabolism and inflammation, we also outline potential strategies that can be employed to achieve the next milestones in the journey toward microbiome-informed human health assessment and action.

scholarly journals Multi-ethnic Investigation of Risk and Immune Determinants of COVID-19 Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi Jun ◽  
Divij Mathew ◽  
Navya Sharma ◽  
Sharon Nirenberg ◽  
Hsin-Hui Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Black Population ◽  
P Value ◽  
Interleukin 1 Beta ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Study Setting ◽  
Hispanic White ◽  
White Patients

Objectives: To compare risk factors for COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black, and White patients. Design: Retrospecitve cohort study Setting: Five hosptials within a single academic health system Participants: 3,086 adult patients with self-reported race/ethnicity information presenting to the emergency department and hospitalized with COVID-19 up to April 13, 2020. Main outcome measures: In-hospital mortality Results: While older age (multivariable OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05-1.07) and baseline hypoxia (multivariable OR 2.71, 95% CI 2.17-3.36) were associated with increased mortality overall and across all races/ethnicities, Non-Hispanic Black (median age 67, IQR 58-76) and Hispanic (median age 63, IQR 50-74) patients were younger and had different comorbidity profiles compared to Non-Hispanic White patients (median age 73, IQR 62-84; p<0.05 for both comparisons). Among inflammatory markers associated with COVID-19 mortality, there was a significant interaction between the Non-Hispanic Black population and interleukin-1-beta (interaction p-value 0.04). Conclusions: This analysis of a multi-ethnic cohort highlights the need for inclusion and consideration of diverse popualtions in ongoing COVID-19 trials targeting inflammatory cytokines.

scholarly journals Post–Modern Epidemiology: When Methods Meet Matter

2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (8) ◽  
pp. 1410-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Davey Smith
Keyword(s):  
Causal Inference ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
High Income ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Major Progress

Abstract In the last third of the 20th century, etiological epidemiology within academia in high-income countries shifted its primary concern from attempting to tackle the apparent epidemic of noncommunicable diseases to an increasing focus on developing statistical and causal inference methodologies. This move was mutually constitutive with the failure of applied epidemiology to make major progress, with many of the advances in understanding the causes of noncommunicable diseases coming from outside the discipline, while ironically revealing the infectious origins of several major conditions. Conversely, there were many examples of epidemiologic studies promoting ineffective interventions and little evident attempt to account for such failure. Major advances in concrete understanding of disease etiology have been driven by a willingness to learn about and incorporate into epidemiology developments in biology and cognate data science disciplines. If fundamental epidemiologic principles regarding the rooting of disease risk within populations are retained, recent methodological developments combined with increased biological understanding and data sciences capability should herald a fruitful post–Modern Epidemiology world.

Frequent police stops, parental incarceration and mental health: results among US non-Hispanic Black and White adolescent girls and boys

2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-214578
Author(s):  
Jaquelyn L Jahn ◽  
Madina Agenor ◽  
Jarvis T Chen ◽  
Nancy Krieger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Parental Incarceration ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Black And White ◽  
National Monitoring ◽  
White Girls ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
And Gender

BackgroundNational monitoring of police–public contact does not extend below age 16 and few studies have examined associations with adolescent mental health.MethodsWe describe the distribution of police stops in a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of adolescents ages 12 to 18 years in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement 2002 and 2007 (n=2557). We used survey-weighted race/ethnicity-stratified and gender-stratified regression models to examine associations between the frequency of police stops and both depressive symptoms and subjective well-being (emotional, psychological and social). We adjusted for several socioeconomic covariates and evaluated effect modification by parental incarceration.ResultsWe estimated that 9.58% of adolescents were stopped two or more times. Despite fewer police stops compared with boys, Black and White girls who were stopped at least two times in the last 6 months had higher average depression scores relative to girls who were not stopped (Black: 2.13 (95% CI: 0.73 to 3.53), White: 2.17 (95% CI: 1.07 to 3.27)) and these associations were stronger among girls whose parents had been incarcerated. Police stops were significantly associated with higher depressive scores for White, but not Black, boys (2+ vs 0 stops: White: 1.33 (95% CI: 0.31 to 2.36, Black: 0.53 (95% CI: –0.28 to 1.34)). Associations between subjective well-being and police stops were stronger among non-Hispanic Black relative to White girls, whereas for boys, associations varied across subjective well-being subscales.ConclusionNational monitoring data and public health research should examine adolescent police contact at younger ages stratified by both race/ethnicity and gender in order to better understand its relationship with adolescent mental health.

The role of lycopene in human health as a natural colorant

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azadeh Ranjbar Nedamani ◽  
Elham Ranjbar Nedamani ◽  
Azadeh Salimi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Food Products ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Chemical Additives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Natural Colorant ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Purpose Human health is strongly affected by diet. By the increased use of food industries products, public knowledge about health factors and side effects of chemical additives, the concepts of human health founded an important aspect during past years, and application of natural-based ingredients such as coloring, flavoring, texturizing and anti-oxidative agents was increased. Design/methodology/approach The aim of the present paper is to review the published scientific research studies about lycopene health benefits in different human disease or disorders and bold the necessity of study the health effects of lycopene after its formulation in food industrial products. About 190 papers were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science databases and 72 relevant papers were used. It was found that in medical studies, the lycopene oleoresin or powder is used directly to the subjects. However, it is necessary to study the effectiveness of lycopene in diet food products. Findings According to the literature, it has beneficial effects on cancers, glands, reproductive system, bone, gastric system, liver and fat reduction in the body. Also, it was concluded from the literature that lycopene oxidative cleavages make also its chemo protective effects which is a lost key element to study different food processing on lycopene products or its isomers in final food products and on human health. Originality/value Many ingredients in food formulations are substituted by natural products. Lycopene is a colorant but also, according to the literature, has a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect to reduce the risk of most important human disease and disorders. Future research in food science can emphasize the effect of different unit operations or formulations on lycopene effects on human health.

Arsenic and breast cancer: a systematic review of epidemiologic studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Khanjani ◽  
Abu-Bakr Jafarnejad ◽  
Leila Tavakkoli
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Group 1

AbstractIntroduction:Arsenic is one of the heavy metals known to be a cause of cancer and many other serious human health problems. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified arsenic as a Group 1 carcinogen. Studies were performed in different populations to investigate the association between arsenic and breast cancer and the present paper attempts to review these studies.Methods and materials:Accessible electronic resources including, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and Scopus and Google Scholar were searched, with relevant phrases up to October 30, 2016. All articles were reviewed by two people separately and among them, original epidemiologic studies that investigated the association between breast cancer and exposure to arsenic were included.Results:Eventually seven articles were selected from 126 retrieved articles. Although three studies (one case-control and two ecological) were not able to show a significant affect, others provide some evidence of a relation between arsenic and breast cancer in specific subgroups.Conclusion:Exposure to arsenic may increase the risk of breast cancer. The strength of this relation can vary due to regional and individual differences.

The Articulation of Difference: White Preoccupation with the Question of Racially Linked Genetic Differences among Athletes

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel R. Davis
Keyword(s):  
White Male ◽  
Racial Formation ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Genetic Differences ◽  
The Political ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Biological Determinism ◽  
Racial Categories ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Political Processes

This paper focuses on the contemporary white public and scientific preoccupation with the question of racially linked genetic differences between black and white male athletes. It is argued that the preoccupation itself is racist because it is founded on and naturalizes racial categories as fixed and unambiguous biological realities, thus obscuring the political processes of racial formation. The biological determinism underlying the preoccupation conceals both human agency and sociopolitical forces, including racism. NBC Television, by legitimating the preoccupation itself, helped to produce consent for the racial status quo. Strategies that are used to naturalize the preoccupation are exposed.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Carcinogenic Outcomes and Potential Mechanisms from Exposure to 2,4-D and MCPA in the Environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine von Stackelberg
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Modes Of Action ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Bioassay Data ◽  
2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

Chlorophenoxy compounds, particularly 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), are amongst the most widely used herbicides in the United States for both agricultural and residential applications. Epidemiologic studies suggest that exposure to 2,4-D and MCPA may be associated with increased risk non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin’s disease (HD), leukemia, and soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). Toxicological studies in rodents show no evidence of carcinogenicity, and regulatory agencies worldwide consider chlorophenoxies as not likely to be carcinogenic or unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity. This systematic review assembles the available data to evaluate epidemiologic, toxicological, pharmacokinetic, exposure, and biomonitoring studies with respect to key cellular events noted in disease etiology and how those relate to hypothesized modes of action for these constituents to determine the plausibility of an association between exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of 2,4-D and MCPA and lymphohematopoietic cancers. The combined evidence does not support a genotoxic mode of action. Although plausible hypotheses for other carcinogenic modes of action exist, a comparison of biomonitoring data to oral equivalent doses calculated from bioassay data shows that environmental exposures are not sufficient to support a causal relationship. Genetic polymorphisms exist that are known to increase the risk of developing NHL. The potential interaction between these polymorphisms and exposures to chlorophenoxy compounds, particularly in occupational settings, is largely unknown.

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