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Health inequity drives disease biology to create disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
Nelson, WG, Brawley, OW, Isaacs, WB, Platz, EA, Yegnasubramanian, S, Sfanos, KS, Lotan, TL, De Marzo, AM
The Journal of clinical investigation. 2022;(3)
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Abstract
Prostate cancer exerts a greater toll on African American men than on White men of European descent (hereafter referred to as European American men): the disparity in incidence and mortality is greater than that of any other common cancer. The disproportionate impact of prostate cancer on Black men has been attributed to the genetics of African ancestry, to diet and lifestyle risk factors, and to unequal access to quality health care. In this Review, all of these influences are considered in the context of the evolving understanding that chronic or recurrent inflammatory processes drive prostatic carcinogenesis. Studies of inherited susceptibility highlight the contributions of genes involved in prostate cell and tissue repair (BRCA1/2, ATM) and regeneration (HOXB13 and MYC). Social determinants of health appear to accentuate these genetic influences by fueling prostate inflammation and associated cell and genome damage. Molecular characterization of the prostate cancers that arise in Black versus White men further implicates this inflammatory microenvironment in disease behavior. Yet, when Black and White men with similar grade and stage of prostate cancer are treated equally, they exhibit equivalent outcomes. The central role of prostate inflammation in prostate cancer development and progression augments the impact of the social determinants of health on disease pathogenesis. And, when coupled with poorer access to high-quality treatment, these inequities result in a disparate burden of prostate cancer on African American men.
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Racial disparity in prostate cancer in the African American population with actionable ideas and novel immunotherapies.
Dovey, ZS, Nair, SS, Chakravarty, D, Tewari, AK
Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.). 2021;(5):e1340
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BACKGROUND African Americans (AAs) in the United States are known to have a higher incidence and mortality for Prostate Cancer (PCa). The drivers of this epidemiological disparity are multifactorial, including socioeconomic factors leading to lifestyle and dietary issues, healthcare access problems, and potentially tumor biology. RECENT FINDINGS Although recent evidence suggests once access is equal, AA men have equal outcomes to Caucasian American (CA) men, differences in PCa incidence remain, and there is much to do to reverse disparities in mortality across the USA. A deeper understanding of these issues, both at the clinical and molecular level, can facilitate improved outcomes in the AA population. This review first discusses PCa oncogenesis in the context of its diverse hallmarks before benchmarking key molecular and genomic differences for PCa in AA men that have emerged in the recent literature. Studies have emphasized the importance of tumor microenvironment that contributes to both the unequal cancer burden and differences in clinical outcome between the races. Management of comorbidities like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes will provide an essential means of reducing prostate cancer incidence in AA men. Although requiring further AA specific research, several new treatment strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors used in combination PARP inhibitors and other emerging vaccines, including Sipuleucel-T, have demonstrated some proven efficacy. CONCLUSION Genomic profiling to integrate clinical and genomic data for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment will allow physicians to plan a "Precision Medicine" approach to AA men. There is a pressing need for further research for risk stratification, which may allow early identification of AA men with higher risk disease based on their unique clinical, genomic, and immunological profiles, which can then be mapped to appropriate clinical trials. Treatment options are outlined, with a concise description of recent work in AA specific populations, detailing several targeted therapies, including immunotherapy. Also, a summary of current clinical trials involving AA men is presented, and it is important that policies are adopted to ensure that AA men are actively recruited. Although it is encouraging that many of these explore the lifestyle and educational initiatives and therapeutic interventions, there is much still work to be done to reduce incidence and mortality in AA men and equalize current racial disparities.
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Contemporary and Future Concepts on Hypertension in African Americans: COVID-19 and Beyond.
Ferdinand, K, Batieste, T, Fleurestil, M
Journal of the National Medical Association. 2020;(3):315-323
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BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease related mortality is the leading cause of death in the United States, with hypertension being the most prevalent and potent risk factor. For decades hypertension has disproportionately affected African Americans, who also have a higher burden of associated comorbidities including diabetes and heart failure. METHODS Current literature including guideline reports and newer studies on hypertension in African Americans in PubMed were reviewed. We also reviewed newer publications on the relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease. FINDINGS While APOL1 has been theorized in the epidemiology of hypertension, the increased prevalence and associated risks are primarily due to environmental and lifestyle factors. These factors include poor diet, adverse lifestyle, and social determinants. Hypertension control can be achieved by lifestyle modifications such as low sodium diet, weight loss, and adequate physical activity. When lifestyle modifications alone do not adequately control hypertension, a common occurrence among African Americans who suffer with greater prevalence of resistant hypertension, pharmacological intervention is indicated. The efficacy of renal denervation, and the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 and aminopeptidase A inhibitors, have been studied for treatment of resistant hypertension. Furthermore, the recent COVID-19 crisis has been particularly devastating among African Americans who demonstrate increased incidence and poorer health outcomes related to the disease. CONCLUSION The disparities in outcomes, which are largely attributable to a greater prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension and obesity, in addition to adverse environmental and socioeconomic factors, highlight the necessity of specialized clinical approaches and programs for African Americans to address longstanding barriers to equitable care.
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Genetics of Hypertension in African Americans and Others of African Descent.
Zilbermint, M, Hannah-Shmouni, F, Stratakis, CA
International journal of molecular sciences. 2019;(5)
Abstract
Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease in the United States, affecting up to one-third of adults. When compared to other ethnic or racial groups in the United States, African Americans and other people of African descent show a higher incidence of hypertension and its related comorbidities; however, the genetics of hypertension in these populations has not been studied adequately. Several genes have been identified to play a role in the genetics of hypertension. They include genes regulating the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system (RAAS), such as Sodium Channel Epithelial 1 Beta Subunit (SCNN1B), Armadillo Repeat Containing 5 (ARMC5), G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 (GRK4), and Calcium Voltage-Gated Channel Subunit Alpha1 D (CACNA1D). In this review, we focus on recent genetic findings available in the public domain for potential differences between African Americans and other populations. We also cover some recent and relevant discoveries in the field of low-renin hypertension from our laboratory at the National Institutes of Health. Understanding the different genetics of hypertension among various groups is essential for effective precision-guided medical therapy of high blood pressure.
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Colorectal Cancer Disparity in African Americans: Risk Factors and Carcinogenic Mechanisms.
Augustus, GJ, Ellis, NA
The American journal of pathology. 2018;(2):291-303
Abstract
African Americans have the highest incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) of any ethnic group in the United States. Although some of these disparities can be explained by differences in access to care, cancer screening, and other socioeconomic factors, disparities remain after adjustment for these factors. Consequently, an examination of recent advances in the understanding of ethnicity-specific factors, including genetic and environmental factors relating to risk of CRC, the biology of CRC progression, and the changes in screening and mortality, is important for evaluating our progress toward eliminating the disparities. An overarching limitation in this field is the number and sample size of studies performed to characterize the etiological bases of CRC incidence and mortality in African Americans. Despite this limitation, significant differences in etiology are manifest in many studies. These differences need validation, and their impacts on disparities need more detailed investigation. Perhaps most heartening, improvements in CRC screening can be attributed to the smallest difference in CRC incidence between African Americans and whites since the late 1980s. Cancer mortality, however, remains a persistent difference.
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African Americans in Standard Behavioral Treatment for Obesity, 2001-2015: What Have We Learned?
Goode, RW, Styn, MA, Mendez, DD, Gary-Webb, TL
Western journal of nursing research. 2017;(8):1045-1069
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African Americans (AAs) bear a disproportionate burden of the obesity epidemic, yet have historically been underrepresented in weight loss research. We conducted a narrative review of large ( N > 75) randomized prospective clinical trials of standard behavioral treatment for weight loss that reported results in the past 15 years (2001-2015) to (a) determine the rates of inclusion and reported results for AAs and (b) further identify strategies that may result in improved outcomes. Of the 23 trials reviewed, 69.6% of the studies met or exceeded population estimates for AAs in the United States. However, only 10 reported outcomes and/or considered race in the analytic approach. At 6 months, AA participants consistently lost less weight than White participants. The use of culturally tailored intervention materials and monthly personal telephone calls were reported as factors that may have enhanced treatment response. Future behavioral weight loss trials should also increase reporting of outcomes by race.
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Interventions Promoting Physical Activity in African American Women: An Integrative Review.
Jenkins, F, Jenkins, C, Gregoski, MJ, Magwood, GS
The Journal of cardiovascular nursing. 2017;(1):22-29
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BACKGROUND Physical inactivity significantly impacts mortality worldwide. Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. African American women in the United States have the highest rates of physical inactivity when compared with other gender/ethnic groups. A paucity of research promoting physical activity (PA) in African American women has been previously identified. The purpose of this review was to identify intervention strategies and outcomes in studies designed to promote PA in African American women. METHODS Interventions that promoted PA in African American women published between 2000 and May 2015 were included. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed in Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, and MEDLINE Complete databases. Data were abstracted and synthesized to examine interventions, study designs, theoretical frameworks, and measures of PA. RESULTS Mixed findings (both significant and nonsignificant) were identified. Interventions included faith-based, group-based, and individually focused programs. All studies (n = 32) included measures of PA; among the studies, self-report was the predominant method for obtaining information. Half of the 32 studies focused on PA, and the remaining studies focused on PA and nutrition. Most studies reported an increase in PA or adherence to PA. This review reveals promising strategies for promoting PA. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should include long-term follow-up, larger sample sizes, and objective measures of PA. Additional research promoting PA in African American women is warranted, particularly in studies that focus on increasing PA in older African American women.
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Enhancing breastfeeding rates among African American women: a systematic review of current psychosocial interventions.
Johnson, A, Kirk, R, Rosenblum, KL, Muzik, M
Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. 2015;(1):45-62
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The goals of this article are to provide a review of key interventions and strategies that impact initiation and duration of breastfeeding with particular focus on low-income African American mothers' maternal psychological vulnerabilities during the early postpartum period using a social ecological perspective as a guiding framework. Although modest gains have been achieved in breastfeeding initiation rates in the United States, a projected gap remains between infant feeding practices and national Healthy People breastfeeding goals set for 2020, particularly among African Americans. These disparities raise concerns that socially disadvantaged mothers and babies may be at increased risk for poor postnatal outcomes because of poorer mental health and increased vulnerability to chronic health conditions. Breastfeeding can be a protective factor, strengthening the relationship between mother and baby and increasing infant health and resilience. Evidence suggests that no single intervention can sufficiently address the multiple breastfeeding barriers faced by mothers. Effective intervention strategies require a multilevel approach. A social ecological perspective highlights that individual knowledge, behavior, and attitudes are shaped by interactions between the individual woman, her friends and family, and her wider historical, social, political, economic, institutional, and community contexts, and therefore effective breastfeeding interventions must reflect all these aspects. Current breastfeeding interventions are disjointed and inadequately meet all African American women's social and psychological breastfeeding needs. Poor outcomes indicate a need for an integrative approach to address the complexity of interrelated breastfeeding barriers mothers' experience across layers of the social ecological system.
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Current approaches to support the psychosocial care of African American adults with diabetes: a brief review.
Mitchell, JA, Hawkins, J
Social work in public health. 2014;(6):518-27
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African Americans are disproportionately affected by Type 2 diabetes and experience significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of the disease. Psychosocial support, material resources, and education can have a significant impact on successful diabetes management, particularly among populations with diabetes-related psychological distress such as African Americans. This brief review of the literature identifies and synthesizes current evidence on faith-based, community-based, empowerment-based, strength-based, and culturally competent strategies that may be particularly relevant for social work practitioners supporting African American adults at risk for or diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Discussion focuses on multiple influences on the self-determination of clients working to manage their condition.
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Acute heart failure in the African American patient.
Cuyjet, AB, Akinboboye, O
Journal of cardiac failure. 2014;(7):533-40
Abstract
BACKGROUND African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected by acute heart failure (AHF) compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Disparities in AHF risk factors among AAs are attributed to higher rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, lower socioeconomic status, higher dietary caloric and salt intake, and biologic/genetic differences. However, AAs are frequently underrepresented in AHF clinical trials, and race-related differences in risks and clinical outcomes are not well understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to review published data on AHF in the AA population, including management strategies that may differ based on race and common barriers to optimal care. METHODS Publications were identified in Pubmed (through June 10, 2013) with the use of the search strategy terms (acute heart failure) AND (black OR African American OR racial). RESULTS Racial disparities in the quality of AHF care are relatively uncommon; however, racial differences in pathophysiology have resulted in differing pharmacologic recommendations (eg, isosorbide dinitrate plus hydralazine is indicated only in AAs). Various socioeconomic factors influence disease progression, treatment compliance, and hospitalization/rehospitalization rates. CONCLUSIONS Further research would enhance understanding of pathophysiologic heart failure differences between racial groups. Programs are needed that incorporate known clinical and cultural differences to improve quality of care and reduce the disease burden of AHF for all patients.