Search Results (1,665)

In August 2022, the Pearl River flooded portions of Jackson, Mississippi and temporarily closed the city’s water treatment plant, leaving most citizens without access to safe drinking and potable water for more than a month. This event punctuated an ongoing water crisis that had lingered for decades in this predominately African American city. We employ a social production of disaster approach to reveal aspects of slow violence perpetrated against disadvantaged peoples that increased their collective vulnerability to flood risks and limited their access to safe water. Using survey data collected one year after the flood, we examine event-related psychosocial stress as measured by the Impact of Event Scale and associated risk factors related to Conservation of Resources Theory. Multivariate analysis indicates that resource losses from the flood, health concerns about water quality, and trust in government were significantly related to elevated levels of psychosocial stress. Although the 2022 Pearl River flood can be treated as a discrete event, a social production of disaster perspective situates the flood in terms of its cascading effects and cumulative impacts on the city’s water infrastructure and citizens who depend on it. Full article

This study presents the first dedicated bibliometric analysis of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning applications in pediatric radiology and medical imaging, mapping the intellectual structure of a rapidly evolving field. A total of 2688 articles and conference proceedings published between 2005 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed using Bibliometrix R and VOSviewer. The findings reveal exponential growth in publications, from 7 papers in 2005 to 559 in 2025, with journal articles dominating the corpus (85.9%). The most-cited contributions, led by Kermany et al. (2018) with 2886 citations, are predominantly technical feasibility studies rather than clinical outcome trials, indicating a field that has advanced methodologically but remains in early stages of clinical translation. Thematic mapping identifies convolutional neural networks, pneumonia, and transfer learning as Motor Themes representing methodological maturity in chest imaging, while neuroimaging and image segmentation clusters occupy Niche Themes, reflecting insular development with limited cross-field connectivity. Geographic analysis reveals concentrated co-authorship along US–China and US–Europe corridors, with African, Latin American, and Southeast Asian institutions largely absent from knowledge production networks. Eight of the ten most productive affiliations are North American, highlighting structural inequities that risk producing AI tools optimized for high-resource settings rather than the global pediatric population. This analysis provides an empirical foundation for reorienting the field toward clinical validation, geographic inclusion, and methodological integration across isolated research communities. Full article

Background: Ecuador is a genetically diverse population setting shaped by long-term interactions among Native American, European, and African populations across distinct ecological regions. Although multiple studies have examined ancestry patterns in Ecuadorian populations, the available evidence remains fragmented and methodologically heterogeneous. Objective: To systematically identify, critically appraise, and synthesize published studies on genetic ancestry and population structure in Ecuador. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, SciELO, and Google Scholar through 31 January 2026. Eligible studies reported extractable ancestry-related data from Ecuadorian populations using autosomal, mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosomal, or other ancestry-relevant genetic markers. Methodological quality was assessed using an adapted Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Owing to substantial heterogeneity across marker systems, sampling strategies, and ancestry inference methods, findings were synthesized qualitatively rather than by meta-analysis. Results: Of 1243 records identified, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Across marker systems, the evidence consistently supported a three-way admixture framework involving Native American, European, and African ancestry components, together with substantial regional and population-specific heterogeneity. Autosomal studies generally showed higher Native American ancestry in Highland and Native American populations, whereas African ancestry was more prominent in Afro-Ecuadorian and some Coastal populations. Uniparental markers further supported persistent sex-biased admixture, with predominant Native American maternal lineages and comparatively greater European or African paternal contributions depending on region and population history. Conclusions: Ecuadorian populations share a broad three-way admixture framework, but with marked internal heterogeneity across regions and population groups. These findings highlight the importance of geographic and demographic context in ancestry interpretation and the need for larger, more balanced, and methodologically standardized genomic studies in Ecuador. Full article

Background/Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant and prevalent cardiovascular complication in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, yet its specific predictors within this population are not well understood. This study aimed to identify the predictors of new-onset AF in ESRD patients undergoing dialysis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study within the Northwell Health System, analyzing data from 5326 ESRD patients on dialysis between 2017 and 2019. The mean age was 64.2 ± 13.1 years, with 48.3% females. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was used to identify predictors of new-onset AF, the primary outcome. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for potential risk factors. Results: Of the 5326 patients, 1564 (29.4%) developed new-onset AF. Significant predictors included increasing age (OR 1.038 per year, 95% CI 1.032–1.044, p < 0.0001), obesity (BMI > 30 vs. BMI 20–25: OR 1.208, 95% CI 1.026–1.422, p = 0.023), and coronary artery disease (OR 1.678, 95% CI 1.466–1.920, p < 0.0001). African American patients had lower odds of developing AF compared to White patients (OR 0.578, 95% CI 0.494–0.676, p < 0.0001). Hypertension, sex, diabetes, and tobacco use were not significantly associated with AF risk. Conclusions: Age, obesity, and coronary artery disease are significant predictors of new-onset AF in ESRD patients on dialysis. Notable racial disparities exist, with African American patients having a lower risk. These findings may inform targeted prevention strategies and guide future research into the mechanisms underlying AF in ESRD patients. Full article

Most of the Peruvian inquisitorial processes from the 17th and 18th centuries in the Americas addressed love spells, and not the crimes of heresy they were originally meant to adjudicate. Thanks to the records that have been preserved from the Court of the Peruvian Inquisition, we know that many of the women in the Andes habitually resorted to the practice of witchcraft, divination and prognostication, and that it played an important cultural and social role searching for an update in the future in loving terms. From aristocrats to the displaced, whether European immigrants, Native Americans, or enslaved Africans, witchcraft connected all these female groups in such colonial cities. What were their sorcery practices? What were they trying to achieve with their doings? What does a study of the inquisitorial processes allow us to understand about the social and cultural function of female sorcery? These are some of the questions we answer in this article. Full article

Background: Studies on the clinical presentation of eosinophilic esophagitis and its outcome in children in the Middle East and North African region are scarce. The aim of this 10-year retrospective study was to describe the common clinical manifestations, endoscopic and histological findings, and the response to medication and dietary intervention in children and adolescents with eosinophilic esophagitis. Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients aged 6 months to 18 years who attended the Pediatric Gastroenterology clinic at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2023 and who were diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. Results: A total of 15 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age at diagnosis was 9 years. Male patients accounted for 73% of our cohort. The most frequent presenting symptoms were dysphagia (80%) and choking (47%). The esophagus appeared normal in 33% of subjects despite histologic confirmation of disease, highlighting the importance of routine biopsies. Adherence to therapy was variable, with 73% of subjects reporting symptom improvement following initial therapy, even in cases where histology remained active. This pattern suggests that symptomatic improvement alone may not reliably reflect disease control and underscores the importance of objective monitoring through follow-up biopsy. Conclusions: The recognition of manifestations of eosinophilic esophagitis in children, early diagnosis, and strict adherence to the diet and medication are essential to prevent long-term complications. In a resource-constrained country like Lebanon, the management remains challenging in view of the burden of dietary restrictions and high cost of procedures and biologics. Socioeconomic feasibility and long-term adherence to diet and medication is as critical as pharmacologic efficacy in determining outcomes in pediatric patients. Full article

The discovery of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk polymorphisms has significantly changed our knowledge of kidney disease susceptibility and development in African American populations. Several non-diabetic kidney disorders, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), collapsing glomerulopathy, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), and accelerated chronic kidney disease (CKD) development, are significantly more likely to occur in people with two coding variations, G1 and G2. The significance of context-dependent pathogenic processes is highlighted by the poor penetrance and remarkable phenotypic variety of APOL1-associated kidney disease, despite its substantial impact. This review synthesizes current knowledge of APOL1 biology through a molecular framework, emphasizing gain-of-toxic-function effects of risk variants in podocytes, dysregulated ion fluxes, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis, and activation of innate immune and inflammatory signaling pathways. We describe how the well-recognized “second-hit” paradigm has a biological basis, driven by strong inducibility by interferons and immunological activation, as well as strict basal regulation of APOL1 expression. Lastly, we explore future approaches to precision nephrology and highlight translational advancements, such as APOL1 gene-silencing techniques. This review provides a mechanistic roadmap for translating APOL1 biology into targeted therapeutic strategies by integrating genetics, cell biology, immunology, and systems-level approaches. Full article

Background: Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) and idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) have transformed the treatment landscape of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Given their recent regulatory approval and limited availability, mainly due to logistical issues, real-world data remain scarce. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the TriNetX database, identifying adult patients with RRMM treated with either cilta-cel or ide-cel. The clinical outcomes evaluated included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), as well as the safety profile. Results: A total of 697 patients treated with cilta-cel and 575 with ide-cel were identified. The median age was 65 and 67 years, with ~16% being Black/African American. The 12-month OS was 89.6% for cilta-cel and 86.0% for ide-cel. In a descriptive subgroup analysis, renal impairment (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) seemed to be associated with significantly inferior OS in both cohorts (HR = 3.66, p < 0.001 for cilta-cel; HR = 1.73, p = 0.003 for ide-cel). Conversely, prior anti-CD38 exposure did not seem to impact survival in any of the two treatment groups. Any-grade CRS occurred in 45.9% (cilta-cel) and 41.8% (ide-cel), while any-grade ICANS was observed in 15.4% and 11.8%, respectively. Severe (grade ≥ 3) ICANS remained rare (<3%) in both cohorts. Hematologic toxicity was prevalent, with grade ≥ 3 neutropenia occurring in 76.0% (cilta-cel) and 68.0% (ide-cel). Notably, any-grade infections (28.5–40.1%) and hypogammaglobulinemia (41.1–43.1%) were frequent, highlighting a significant long-term immunosuppressive burden. Conclusions: In these real-world cohorts, both approved CAR T-cell therapies demonstrated favorable survival outcomes. While the incidence of severe hematologic and immune-related toxicities was high, these findings are compatible with published data from clinical trials and it seems that the clinical utility of these drugs overcomes the adverse safety profile. Full article

This study investigated the genetic regulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression in monocytes and its potential role in musculoskeletal diseases. We mapped expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for miRNAs using data from 281 Caucasian (CAU) and 170 African American (AA) individuals, constructed ancestry-specific models to impute miRNA expression from genotype data, and applied these models to test associations with osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Analysis identified 468 and 2653 independent eQTLs for 61 miRNAs in CAU and 25 in AA, respectively, the majority of which were ancestry-specific. Association analyses identified 22 and 26 miRNAs associated with osteoporosis and sarcopenia, respectively, in the CAU population; corresponding findings in the African American population were 26 and 14 miRNAs. Analysis of their target genes revealed 1238 and 741 genes that were nominally associated with osteoporosis and sarcopenia in CAU; with 524 genes associated with osteoporosis and 891 associated with sarcopenia in AA. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the target genes of the identified miRNAs are involved in disease-relevant biological processes—cell migration and motility in osteoporosis, and immune/cytokine responses in sarcopenia. This work provides insights into the genetic architecture of miRNA expression and implicates monocyte miRNAs in musculoskeletal diseases, underscoring the importance of including diverse ancestral backgrounds in genomic studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: African American (Black) prostate cancer (PCa) patients have a higher risk of dying from the disease and are less likely to undergo radical treatment than European Americans (White). The disparities in PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) and mortality rate (PCSMR) vary geographically. This study investigated the impact of treatments on PCSM, PCSMR and the relevant disparities. Methods: Using the Cox PH model and other statistical methods, we analyzed two datasets extracted from the SEER and PLCO databases. The SEER dataset contains 637,093 White patients and 110,839 Black patients. The PLCO dataset included 7463 Whites and 495 Blacks, and supplemented the SEER data with information on PCa family history (pros_fh). Results: Analysis of SEER data showed that the relative mortality risk (RR) of patients undergoing surgery alone was significantly lower than that of patients receiving radiotherapy alone or a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Black patients’ RR estimated by the model including treatment was substantially smaller than that estimated by the reduced model excluding treatment. The differences between Black and White in the three-nine-year PCSMR of patients with high-grade or non-localized cancer were significantly correlated with the differences in surgery alone rate (r < −0.65, p < 0.001). Regression-based mediation analysis indicated that treatment disparity had a significant direct effect on mortality disparity and did not mediate the effect of age disparity. Analysis of PLCO data showed that pros_fh had no significant effect on survival but confirmed the survival advantage of surgery over radiotherapy. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that, for PCa patients in the United States, geographical variation in treatment disparity partially explains variation in mortality disparity. Full article

Jewish thinkers and artists have used Midrash as a framework for exploring the entanglement of cultural inheritance and social justice projects. Marian D. Moore’s (1956–) poetry collection Louisiana Midrash (2019) exemplifies this dynamic. It blends Moore’s cultural landscape, Shreveport and New Orleans, Louisiana, African History and the Biblical and Midrashic literary traditions. Moore’s unique poetic voice, in the context of twenty-first century Midrash grounded in Jewish tradition, explores the intersection of African American history and Jewishness. Moore’s Midrashic poetry integrates African American and Jewish traditional biblical interpretation with the cultural reality of post—Katrina Louisiana. This article will discuss several of Moore’s poems in the context of her Black poetic Midrashic framework. The analysis illustrates how Louisiana Midrash shows the flexibility of Midrash as a creative genre and literary form, as it grows beyond a normative Jewish framework and becomes open to a multitude of voices and perspectives. Full article

Background: Keloid scarring is a fibroproliferative disorder driven by a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, resulting in significant cosmetic and functional impairment. Despite its high prevalence in African, Asian, and Hispanic populations, the molecular mechanisms underlying ancestry-dependent susceptibility remain incompletely understood. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes current genomic, epigenetic, and multi-omic evidence related to keloid scarring. Relevant literature was identified through a targeted, structured, non-systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar up to August 2025, focusing on genetic susceptibility loci, epigenetic regulation, and ancestry-related differences. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were used as a reporting framework to enhance transparency, without implying a formal systematic review methodology. Results: This synthesis identifies recurrent susceptibility loci at 1q41, 3q22.3, and 15q21.3 across multiple populations. Variants in NEDD4 and regulatory regions near BMP2 emerge as key modulators of profibrotic signaling pathways, including TGF-β/SMAD and NF-κB. Additionally, epigenetic reprogramming and long non-coding RNA networks, such as CACNA1G-AS1, appear to sustain fibroblast hyperactivation. A persistent limitation is the marked underrepresentation of Latin American populations in current genomic studies. Conclusions: Integrating ancestry-specific genomic variation with epigenetic markers is essential for advancing precision diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in keloid scarring. Future research should prioritize diverse, multicenter cohorts and integrative multi-omics approaches to improve risk stratification and enable targeted interventions for this disfiguring condition. Full article

The Earth’s lithosphere, the rigid outermost layer of the planet, is composed of numerous tectonic plates of varying sizes that move over the underlying asthenosphere. The motion and interaction of these plates give rise to a wide range of geodynamic processes. Accurate monitoring of these processes is essential for maintaining a stable, up-to-date, and reliable terrestrial reference frame. This study investigates the horizontal and vertical motions of the Antarctic Plate resulting from its interactions with adjacent plates. Tectonic plate movements can be determined using several space-geodetic techniques, including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). Among these methods, GNSS is currently the most widely used, as plate motions can be derived from continuous observations recorded at permanent stations and processed using scientific or commercial software. Within the scope of this research, GNSS data collected between 2020 and 2023 were processed using the GAMIT/GLOBK V.10.7 software package to estimate the coordinates and velocities of stations located on the Antarctic, South American, African, and Australian Plates in the ITRF14 reference frame. Furthermore, plate-fixed solutions were generated to analyze the relative motion of the Antarctic Plate with respect to neighboring plates. The results indicate that the Antarctic Plate moves at an average velocity of approximately 4–18 mm/year in the ITRF14 frame. The plate diverges from both the African and Australian Plates and exhibits predominantly strike-slip motion relative to the South American Plate. A comparison with existing global plate motion models demonstrates that the obtained velocities are consistent within 0–5 mm/year. Full article

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is associated with cytokine storm, an excessive immune response. Interleukin-6, a multifunctional cytokine, is involved in the COVID-19 immune response. Functional polymorphisms in the interleukin-6 gene promoter, namely rs1800796, rs1800797, and rs2069845, may contribute to individual susceptibility to or severity of COVID-19. In this study, 106 healthy SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals (controls) and 106 patients with severe COVID-19 (COVID-19 group), confirmed by qPCR or rapid antigen tests, were genotyped using fluorescent probes for polymorphisms. All participants were from southern Brazil. Groups were matched for sex and body mass index, with a median age of 56–57 years. The COVID-19 group exhibited blood biomarker concentrations consistent with severe disease. No significant differences were detected in genotypic or allelic frequencies between groups, and all polymorphisms conformed to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The control group minor allelic frequencies for rs1800796 (allele C, 11.3%; 95% CI, 7–16), rs1800797 (allele A, 28.3%; 95% CI, 22–34), and rs2069845 (allele G, 36.8%; 95% CI, 30–50) were similar to those of African, American, and European populations. The polymorphisms investigated were not associated with severe COVID-19 in this cohort. Full article