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BackgroundEpigenetic changes link medical, social, and environmental factors with cardiovascular and kidney disease and, more recently, with cancer. The mechanistic link between metabolic health and epigenetic changes is only starting to be investigated. In our in vitro and in vivo studies, we performed a broad analysis of the link between hyperinsulinemia and chromatin acetylation; our top "hit" was chromatin opening at H3K9ac.MethodsBuilding on our published preclinical studies, here, we performed a detailed analysis of the link between insulin resistance, chromatin acetylation, and inflammation using an initial test set of 28 women and validation sets of 245, 22, and 53 women.ResultsChIP-seq identified chromatin acetylation and opening at the genes coding for TNFα and IL6 in insulin-resistant women. Pathway analysis identified inflammatory response genes, NFκB/TNFα-signaling, reactome cytokine signaling, innate immunity, and senescence. Consistent with this finding, flow cytometry identified increased senescent circulating peripheral T-cells. DNA methylation analysis identified evidence of accelerated aging in insulin-resistant vs. metabolically healthy women.ConclusionsThis study shows that insulin-resistant women have increased chromatin acetylation/opening, inflammation, and, perhaps, accelerated aging. Given the role that inflammation plays in cancer initiation and progression, these studies provide a potential mechanistic link between insulin resistance and cancer.

The categorization of predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and minority serving institutions (MSIs) affects the distribution of resources, privileges, and inequities in higher education. As PWIs increasingly tout having "majority-minority" student bodies and take on enrollment-based MSI statuses due to demographic shifts, it remains unclear how these institutions will disrupt the dominant ideologies of privilege and whiteness that have been pervasive throughout their history in order to create positive campus environments for people of color. Using Ray's ("American Sociological Review," 84(1), 26-53, 2019) theory of racialized organizations as a sociological framework to test these dynamics, we aimed to interrogate the organizational identity of PWIs transitioning to MSI. Through a comparative content analysis of existing PWI and MSI literature, we established the dominant features of each institution type and provided implications of the power dynamics as PWIs increasingly take on MSI characteristics. Given that enrollment-based MSIs gain eligibility to apply for federal grant funding, regardless of intentions to better serve students of color, the ways that PWIs are privileged throughout the literature have implications for institutional actors, policymakers, and scholars alike.

Background: Sacituzumab govitecan (sacituzumab) emerged as an important agent in metastatic and locally recurrent HER2‐negative breast cancer treatment. UGT1A1 polymorphisms have also been shown to predict sacituzumab toxicity. Methods: In this retrospective study, we sought to evaluate the associations between UGT1A1 status, toxicity, and therapeutic outcomes in sacituzumab recipients with advanced breast cancer who underwent genotype testing for UGT1A1 alleles (N = 68). Results: We found 17 (25%) of our patients to be homozygous for UGT1A1*28 and 24 (35.3%) were heterozygous. Of seven African American patients with triple‐negative breast cancer, five were homozygous for UGT1A1*28 and two were heterozygous. Patients with a homozygous UGT1A1*28 genotype were significantly more likely to have treatment terminated because of adverse effects. However, the polymorphism was not associated with treatment discontinuation because of disease progression. Conclusion: This retrospective, real‐world analysis suggests potential clinical utility in UGT1A1 testing for patients receiving sacituzumab, but future trials are needed to confirm the association between genotypes and treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Program directors at community colleges must navigate institutional rhetoric to effectively support Men of Color. This study considers how administrators often exhibit a non-performative commitment to diversity, in that stated commitment might not equate to action. Utilizing a framework grounded in critical race theory and cognitive frames regarding diversity, deficit, and equity, the authors of the study interviewed directors of men of color programs to explore their administrators' commitments to support the work. They also explored the ways that diversity rhetoric affected the success of their programs. Findings revealed that rhetoric often took the place of tangible action, that diversity rhetoric might contradict directors' experiences, and that directors regularly acted as commodities to do the work of diversity with little support. Through this research, the authors offer several implications related to the need for more explicit institution-wide practices that center on equity-mindedness and move past generic frames about diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tooth loss is associated with suboptimal nutrient intake and greater risk of malnutrition. Objective: To develop and field‐test a stakeholder‐informed diet education tool that addresses the unique needs of older adults with tooth loss who do not wear dentures. Methods: An iterative user‐centered approach was used. Initial content was developed based on findings from previous research. Stakeholder panels of older adults with 20 or fewer teeth, and dentists, were conducted at two time points to obtain feedback on the tool, which was revised following each panel. The tool was field‐tested in a dental school clinic and evaluated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; it was further revised based on feedback. Results: A diet education tool entitled "Eating Healthier With Tooth Loss" was developed. Sections for fruits and vegetables, grains, and proteins food groups, and one addressing socioemotional aspects of eating with missing teeth were included. Panel members provided constructive, positive feedback; recommendations for editing text, images, design, and content were integrated. Field‐testing in the dental clinic with 27 pairs of student dentists and their patients resulted in scores of 95.7% for understandability and 96.6% for actionability, with over 85% agreement with each item. The tool was revised based on field‐testing feedback. Conclusion: A diet education tool for older adults with tooth loss was developed using a user‐centered approach, integrating the 'patient voice' and patient experiences with US dietary guidelines. Use of this tool is feasible in a dental clinic setting. Future research should explore usage in larger settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-critical race theory movement has caused educators strife and fear nationally. In these current socio-political times, faculty are navigating unprecedented experiences of racism as they teach and research critical race theory. Through our work, we examined 40 faculty experiences challenging legislation at a national, state, and institutional level. We present recommendations for practice and policy that resist the surveillance experienced during this socio-political backlash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the dual identity of Hispanic-serving research institutions (HSRIs) by highlighting how employees at four HSRIs perceived how both Hispanic-Serving Institutions and research-intensive statuses are reflected in the organization. Using the theory of racialized organizations (Ray, 2019), findings revealed how racialization occurs when research prestige becomes the dominant status, and certain individuals take on additional labor. Participants discussed ways that servingness can bridge the statuses by providing research opportunities for underrepresented populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer inequity is one of the most critical public health issues faced by ethnic minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status. The disparate burden of cancer is caused by poor access to care and inadequate delivery of cancer treatment, as well as comorbid and co-occurring conditions. Diabetes is a common and serious comorbid condition of cancer. Methods: To better understand diabetes prevalence among diverse cancer patients, this study analyzed and described characteristics of cancer patients with diabetes from local-level Service Planning Area (SPA) data using City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center data, and United States national-level data from The National Health Interview Survey. Results: Findings from national level data showed that patients in racial/ethnic minority groups had a higher occurrence of being diagnosed with diabetes, especially for non-Hispanic Blacks (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.51, 2.03) and Hispanic/ Latino individuals (OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.18, 1.52). Cancer patients who are older, ethnic minority, overweight/obese and with lower educational levels were more likely to have co-occurring diabetes. SPA-level patient data found similar results. Discussion: In response to our findings and other reports, clinicians and health system including health coverage organizations should routinely assess cancer patients for cooccurring chronic illnesses, in particular diabetes. Interventions improving coordinated care that integrates oncology, endocrinology and primary care, targeting cancer patients -especially racial/ethnic minorities, overweight/obese, and older patients who are at increased risk for diabetes - ought to be considered as best practice Whole Person care. With coordinated care management, ethnic disparities in cancer may be better addressed and reduced. Additionally, policymakers can contribute by enacting policies improving access to and coverage of integrated oncology, chronic disease prevention, and associated specialty care i.e., endocrinology to equalize quality care for ethnic minority, lower educated, overweight/obese and older cancer patients who are more likely to suffer greater comorbidity, and inadequate oncology and coordinated care to reduce disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a key driver of global biodiversity loss. Reducing their spread and impact is a target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG target 15.8) and of the EU IAS Regulation 1143/2014. The use of citizen science offers various benefits to alien species' decision-making and to society, since public participation in research and management boosts awareness, engagement and scientific literacy and can reduce conflict in IAS management. We report the results of a survey on alien species citizen science initiatives within the framework of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Alien-CSI. We gathered metadata on 103 initiatives across 41 countries, excluding general biodiversity reporting portals, spanning from 2005 to 2020, offering the most comprehensive account of alien species citizen science initiatives on the continent to date. We retrieved information on project scope, policy relevance, engagement methods, data capture, data quality and data management, methods and technologies applied and performance indicators such as the number of records coming from projects, the numbers of participants and publications. The 103 initiatives were unevenly distributed geographically, with countries with a tradition of citizen science showing more active projects. The majority of projects were contributory and were run at a national scale, targeting the general public, alien plants and insects, and terrestrial ecosystems. These factors of project scope were consistent between geographic regions. Most projects focused on collecting species presence or abundance data, aiming to map presence and spread. As 75% of the initiatives specifically collected data on IAS of Union Concern, citizen science in Europe is of policy relevance. Despite this, only half of the projects indicated sustainable funding. Nearly all projects had validation in place to verify species identifications. Strikingly, only about one third of the projects shared their data with open data repositories such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility or the European Alien Species Information Network. Moreover, many did not adhere to the principles of FAIR data management. Finally, certain factors of engagement, feedback and support, had significant impacts on project performance, with the provision of a map with sightings being especially beneficial. Based on this dataset, we offer suggestions to strengthen the network of IAS citizen science projects and to foster knowledge exchange among citizens, scientists, managers, policy-makers, local authorities, and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to examine the association between percentage African ancestry and breast cancer incidence, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) incidence, breast cancer mortality, and mortality after breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It mentions among African American study participants, the incidence of breast cancer did not differ by percentage African ancestry.