The diversity of bacterial species in the oral cavity makes it a key site for research. The close proximity of the oral cavity to the brain and the blood brain barrier enhances the interest to study this site. Changes in the oral microbiome are linked to multiple systemic diseases. Alcohol is shown to cause a shift in the microbiome composition. This change, particularly in the oral cavity, may lead to neurological diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that may cause irreversible memory loss. This study uses the meta-analysis method to establish the link between binge drinking, the oral microbiome and AD. The QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) shows that high levels of ethanol in binge drinkers cause a shift in the microbiome that leads to the development of AD through the activation of eIF2, regulation of eIF4 and p70S6K signaling, and mTOR signaling pathways. The pathways associated with both binge drinkers and AD are also analyzed. This study provides a foundation that shows how binge drinking and the oral microbiome dysbiosis lead to permeability changes in the blood brain barrier (BBB), which may eventually result in the pathogenesis of AD.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. CRC frequently metastasizes to the liver and these patients have a particularly poor prognosis. The infiltration of immune cells into CRC tumors and liver metastases accurately predicts disease progression and patient survival. Despite the evident influence of immune cells in the CRC tumor microenvironment (TME), efforts to identify immunotherapies for CRC patients have been limited. Here, we argue that preclinical model systems that recapitulate key features of the tumor microenvironment—including tumor, stromal, and immune cells; the extracellular matrix; and the vasculature—are crucial for studies of immunity in the CRC TME and the utility of immunotherapies for CRC patients. We briefly review the discoveries, advantages, and disadvantages of current in vitro and in vivo model systems, including 2D cell culture models, 3D culture systems, murine models, and organ-on-a-chip technologies.
Background: Black cancer patients face significant disparities in medical care throughout the cancer care continuum. While multilevel factors contribute to these disparities including access to care, socioeconomic status and cultural factors, overt and perceived discrimination in the health care setting may likely exacerbate disparities for black cancer patients. However, little is known about how experiences of racial discrimination unfold for Black cancer patients when navigating care and the consequences of such treatment. Purpose: To explore how experiences of racial discrimination in the health care setting manifests for Black cancer patients and to understand how these experiences might contribute to disparities. Methods: We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 18 Black cancer survivors, lasting between 45 – 60 minutes from 2019-20. All interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and uploaded into Dedoose software for analysis. Two independent coders met regularly and analyzed the interview transcripts using a deductive constant comparison approach to establish and modify codes based on facets of the biopsychosocial model of stress. Results: Participants included breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors aged 29 to 88 years old. Most patients expressed experiencing some form of racial discrimination, perceived more than overt when receiving medical care. Participants experienced instances of perceived discrimination from their interactions with healthcare staff, medical assistants, front desk staff, health insurance administrators, or other staff within the facility. Instances of perceived discrimination resulted in patients expressing that they did not trust their provider or was a stressor contributing to their mental well-being. Patients who experienced perceived discrimination noted “walking out” of their visit and not having their health issues addressed, demonstrating a broader link between the two factors. Patients internalized experiences of perceived discrimination, resulting in behavior changes in subsequent visits to mitigate the effects. Overt discrimination in the health care setting was rooted in stereotypes and manifested through verbal microaggressions such recollections of physicians using phrases such as “you people”. Patients still sought care when they experienced discrimination out of necessity and believing it was an inevitable part of the Black experience. Patients who had positive experiences navigating care expressed a personal relationship and emotional connection characterized by mutual respect and compassion between them and their provider. Conclusion: Themes identified in this study support possible mechanisms for discrimination in the health care setting contributing to racial health disparities in cancer care such that discrimination serves as a stressor for Black cancer patients and impacts health-seeking behaviors. Future recommendations for healthcare staff should focus on ensuring patient-centered communication and care to support this vulnerable population. Citation Format: Elleyse Garrett, Albert Farias, Carol Ochoa, Cindy Ma, Stephanie Navarro, Paul Yoon. “You people”- A qualitative analysis of black cancer patients navigating a healthcare system of discrimination [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-007.
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