April 2026-March 2027 Member Publications

Tomlinson CA, Abell T, Bridges A, Antle B, Brown SM. Associations Between Patterns of Sleep Disturbances and Mental Health Among Child Welfare-Involved Adolescents. Children (Basel). 2026 Mar 24;13(4):441. doi: 10.3390/children13040441. PMID: 42073019.  
Impact Statement: This study reveals that distinct patterns of sleep disturbances—rather than overall sleep quality alone—are strongly linked to differences in mental health outcomes among adolescents involved in the child welfare system. Identifying these subgroups can help target interventions more effectively, improving support for youth at greatest risk of persistent mental health challenges. Read the full publication.

Earl SR, Ward RG, Klotz RE, Abolins-Abols M, Lackey ACR. Temperature variation and average temperature differ in their effects on body size and corticosterone across development in larval salamanders. J Therm Biol. 2026 Apr 14;139:104463. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2026.104463. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41996902. 
Impact Statement: Even moderate shifts in temperature averages and variability can alter growth and stress hormone levels in larval spotted salamanders, demonstrating that amphibian development is highly sensitive to increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. These findings highlight the potential for climate-driven temperature changes to disrupt amphibian populations by influencing both physical development and physiological stress across critical life stages.  Read the full publication.

Cai L, Holm RH, Biddle DJ, Zhang CH, Talley D, Smith T, States JC. Wastewater-based surveillance for community exposome surveillance, Louisville, Kentucky. Discov Water. 2026;6(1):57. doi: 10.1007/s43832-026-00376-5. Epub 2026 Mar 12. PMID: 42022032; PMCID: PMC13095899. 
Impact Statement: This work showed the feasibility of using wastewater surveillance in defined geographic area for community exposome monitoring. We identified an area with high levels of lead and widespread presence of barium in the wastewater. The barium suggests widespread contamination with coal ash from the power plants on the west side of town. The approach is easily scalable for other environmental contaminants. Read the full publication.

Wang X, Chen SY. Molecular Networks of Redox Dysregulation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects. Antioxidants (Basel). 2026 Apr 10;15(4):470. doi: 10.3390/antiox15040470. PMID: 42072111. 
Impact Statement: This review highlights current advances in understanding the molecular networks that drive redox imbalance in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It also explores emerging antioxidant and dietary strategies with promising therapeutic potential. By integrating these underlying mechanisms, the article provides important insight into the pathogenesis of FASD and offers new opportunities for prevention and treatment. Read the full publication.

Hendriks MG, Pauwels CGGM, Conklin DJ, Lorkiewicz P, Boots AW, Talhout R, Winkens B, Opperhuizen A, van Schooten FJ, Remels AHV. Effect of Cigarette Type and Smoking Behavior on Urinary Metabolite Levels of Tobacco-Associated Toxicants. Chem Res Toxicol. 2026 Apr 20;39(4):584-595. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5c00480. Epub 2026 Apr 1. PMID: 41921978; PMCID: PMC13100950. 
Impact Statement: Filter ventilation in cigarettes does not reduce toxicant exposure, as smokers adjust their puffing behavior in ways that maintain similar intake of harmful chemicals. These findings challenge the perceived safety of “low tar” cigarettes and underscore the need for regulatory strategies that address product design features that can mislead consumers and sustain health risks. Read the full publication.

Vielee ST, Meaza I, Buchanan WJ, Roof SH, Lu H, Diven SS, Guo L, Easley J, Kouokam JC, Wise JL, Brownell AR, Wise JP Sr, Wise JP Jr. Hexavalent Chromium Oropharyngeal Aspiration Induced Behavior Effects and Essential Metal Dyshomeostasis in Young Hartley Guinea Pigs. Appl Sci (Basel). 2026 Jan;16(1):59. doi: 10.3390/app16010059. Epub 2025 Dec 20. PMID: 42023055; PMCID: PMC13099238. 
Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that chronic exposure to occupationally relevant levels of hexavalent chromium can lead to measurable behavioral and neurochemical changes, providing stronger evidence for its neurotoxic effects. By using a vitamin C–dependent animal model more comparable to humans, the findings improve the relevance of experimental data for assessing neurological risks in exposed workers. Read the full publication.

Lu H, Meaza I, Wise RM, Wise JTF, Diven SS, Croom-Pérez TJ, Toyoda JH, Wise JP Sr. A Survey of DNA Damage in American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2026 Mar;67(3):e70047. doi: 10.1002/em.70047. PMID: 42033008; PMCID: PMC13109689. 
Impact Statement: Using a One Environmental Health approach, this study demonstrates that American alligators serve as powerful sentinel species for detecting environmental toxicant exposure, revealing significantly elevated DNA damage in populations from Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. These findings highlight location-specific and age-related vulnerability to heavy metal pollution, underscoring potential risks to ecosystem integrity and human health while reinforcing the value of wildlife-based monitoring for environmental protection. Read the full publication.

Piell KM, Vallarta A, Wilt AE, Avila-Valdes BL, Sumlut MH, Goli N, Petri BJ, He L, Zhang X, Clem BF, Klinge CM. Regulation of PSAT1 and PHGDH by m6A in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2026 Apr 15:168266. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2026.168266. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41997307. 
Impact Statement: This study reveals that m6A regulation differentially controls key metabolic genes in endocrine therapy–resistant breast cancer, showing that reducing METTL3 expression versus inhibiting its activity produces opposing effects on serine synthesis pathway activation. By identifying an indirect, miRNA-mediated mechanism linking m6A signaling to tumor metabolism, these findings highlight potential targets for overcoming therapy resistance. Read the full publication.

Monreal G, Koenig SC, Kelley MS, Crane JG, Lytle IR, Huang J, Slaughter MS, White DG, Tamez D, Kelley JF. Feasibility Testing of the 2nd Generation Inspired Therapeutics NeoMate System for Paracorporeal Support of Neonates and Infants in Heart Failure. Artif Organs. 2026 Apr 28. doi: 10.1111/aor.70155. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42049685. 
Impact Statement: The next-generation NeoMate mechanical circulatory support system demonstrates strong hydrodynamic performance and low blood trauma across computational, benchtop, and animal models, exceeding key design targets for flow and pressure. Its compact, low-cost, and reusable design advances the feasibility of providing effective mechanical circulatory support for neonates and infants with heart failure, addressing a critical unmet need in pediatric care. Read the full publication.

Huntington-Moskos L, Bimbi O, Cramer E, Eldeirawi K, Nyenhuis SM, Krueger K, Polivka B. Acceptability and usability of a brief video report-back to share individualized residential indoor air quality data. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2026 Apr 29. doi: 10.1038/s41370-026-00908-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42056445. 
Impact Statement: A brief, personalized video report-back of indoor air quality data was highly usable and acceptable among adults with uncontrolled asthma, with most participants reporting the information as useful and actionable. These findings support video-based report-back as an effective strategy to promote participant understanding and encourage behavior change in environmental health research. Read the full publication.

Jin S, Singhal R, Luo J, Higgins YH, Cooper KN, Terekhova M, Carey KA, Duff AF, Artyomov MN, Jala VR, Idol RA, Bailey MT, Dinauer MC, Lamont RJ, Bagaitkar J. The Nox2 NADPH oxidase regulates neutrophilic inflammation in the oral cavity. Mucosal Immunol. 2026 Apr 8:S1933-0219(26)00039-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2026.04.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41962901. 
Impact Statement: This study reveals that loss of Nox2 drives severe oral inflammation not through impaired antimicrobial defense, but via intrinsic dysregulation of neutrophil inflammatory responses linked to reduced Nrf2 activity. These findings identify Nrf2 activation as a potential therapeutic strategy to restore immune balance and prevent tissue damage in chronic granulomatous disease and related inflammatory conditions. Read the full publication.

Kahloon L, Ishteiwy R, Gupta T, Albert C, Crawford D, Liu Z, Kong M, Dunlap N, Cash E, Townsend M. Head and Neck Mucosal Melanoma in the Era of Immunotherapy: A National Cancer Database Review. Head Neck. 2026 Apr 8. doi: 10.1002/hed.70270. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41948797. 
Impact Statement: This large national analysis demonstrates that surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for head and neck mucosal melanoma, with significantly improved survival when incorporated into care. The findings further highlight the added benefit of immunotherapy in multimodal regimens, underscoring the need for standardized treatment strategies and prospective studies to optimize sequencing and outcomes in this aggressive disease. Read the full publication.

Xu Q, Yan X, Zheng J, Kong M. Two equivalent formulations of conditional power and predictive probability of success in interim monitoring. Contemp Clin Trials. 2026 Apr 23;165:108310. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2026.108310. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42034266. 
Impact Statement: This study demonstrates that traditional and post-interim-data-based formulations of conditional power and predictive probability of success yield equivalent results under a normal model with aligned priors, resolving ambiguity between commonly used approaches in clinical trial monitoring. By providing practical guidance on effect size specification, prior selection, and interpretation, the work strengthens the reliability and transparency of interim decision-making in adaptive clinical trial design. Read the full publication.

Habil MR, Stephens MA, Cass AA, Mittlestat EM, Kwon D, Ellison A, Kouokam JC, Hein DW. Impact of N-Acetylation on DNA Damage and Oxidative Stress Responses in Mammalian Cells and Human Hepatocytes Treated with Hydralazine. Biomolecules. 2026 Apr 10;16(4):562. doi: 10.3390/biom16040562. PMID: 42072683. 
Impact Statement: Hydralazine induces a concentration-dependent DNA damage response in human hepatocytes and metabolically engineered cell models, with enhanced effects driven by CYP1A2-mediated N-hydroxylation and modulated by NAT2 genetic variation. These findings highlight a gene–environment interaction that may influence individual susceptibility to hydralazine-associated genotoxicity, informing safer use in pregnancy and precision medicine approaches. Read the full publication.

Shakib SH, Little BB, Goldsby M, Karimi SM, Siddique F, McKinney WP. Risk factors for mechanical ventilation and mortality among hospitalized Medicaid patients with COVID-19 in Kentucky, 2020-2021. Sci Rep. 2026 May 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-51132-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42067570.  
Impact Statement: Among 28,128 hospitalized Kentucky Medicaid adults with COVID-19, nearly one in five required mechanical ventilation and 8.4% died, with significantly higher risk observed among adults aged 45–64, men, rural residents, and those with pulmonary, renal, and cardiac comorbidities. These findings identify priority populations for targeted primary care and risk mitigation strategies, offering actionable insights to reduce severe outcomes and strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies. Read the full publication.

Ford EE, Smith ML. B cells gone broad: A deep dive into SARS-CoV-2 antibody breadth. Sci Immunol. 2026 May;11(119):eaei2832. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aei2832. Epub 2026 May 1. PMID: 42066060. 
Impact Statement: This paper provides an overview of a new study, published in Science Immunology, providing one of the most comprehensive single-cell maps linking B cell subsets, receptor genetics, and antibody breadth, revealing that vaccination preferentially induces IgG1+ memory B cells and IGHV gene usage patterns associated with broad protection against viral variants. By introducing a scalable multiplexed antigen platform, it establishes a powerful framework for rational vaccine design aimed at eliciting broadly protective antibodies against rapidly evolving pathogens. Read the full publication.

Yeager R, Tuholske C, Browning MHEM, Mattingly C, Olmsted S, Ossola A, Locke DH. Association Between Observed Climate Change and Cardiovascular Disease in the United States. Geohealth. 2026 Apr 13;10(4):e2025GH001588. doi: 10.1029/2025GH001588. PMID: 41982799; PMCID: PMC13071862. 
Impact Statement: Our findings support the hypothesis that the impacts of climate change on human health are much larger than previously recognized. As such, the potentially large, costly, and irreversible impacts of climate change on planetary health should be weighed carefully. Read the full publication.