Asian Ethnicity Research Articles

NeuroBehcet’s-related intracranial hypertension without cerebral venous thrombosis: case report and review of literature

BackgroundWe present a rare case of NeuroBehcet’s-related intracranial hypertension without cerebral venous thrombosis (NBrIHwCVT), occurring as the first presentation of NeuroBehcet’s. In addition, we describe the novel use of subcutaneous tocilizumab for this indication. This is followed by a review of the literature on this topic.CaseThe patient was a 28-year-old lady of Southern Chinese origin with a known history of Behcet’s disease with oral ulcers and ocular findings for which she was on mycophenolate mofetil and adalimumab. She presented with a headache and bilateral disc swelling associated with an intracranial pressure (ICP) of > 40cmH20. There were no structural lesions or cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) on imaging. Initial lumbar puncture had raised leucocytes and protein. We discuss diagnostic challenges given persistently elevated ICP despite subsequent non-inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profiles and non-response to acetazolamide. She eventually showed a response to immunosuppressant therapy in the form of pulsed methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and subsequently subcutaneous tocilizumab, supporting the diagnosis of NBrIHwCVT. Complete normalization of ICP remains challenging. Her disease course was severe, unusual for her ethnicity.Literature reviewWe identified 34 patients (including ours) from 14 publications. We found that the majority of NBrIHwCVT patients were young (average age of 34 years), with a slight female preponderance. Of the 17 cases in the literature with available data on CSF profile, none had raised leucocytes whilst one patient had elevated protein. Patients were generally treated with steroids and occasionally azathioprine, in line with the suspected autoimmune pathophysiology. Of 22 patients with data on outcome, six (27%) were noted to have recurrence of symptoms generally occurring a few months later.ConclusionAs demonstrated by this case, NBrIHwCVT can present with BD with raised ICP even if there is no prior history of NB, central Asian ethnicity, cerebral venous thrombosis or features of inflammation on the CSF. We demonstrated how novel use of Tocilizumab may have a role in the management of NBrIHwCVT. Based on our literature review, patients were more likely to be young, female, display a non-inflammatory CSF picture, be treated with steroids and harbour a possibility of recurrence.

Effectiveness of a Population Health Intervention on Disparities in Hypertension Control: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Disparities in hypertension control across race, ethnicity, and language have been a long-standing problem in the United States. To assess whether a multi-pronged intervention can improve hypertension control for a target population and reduce disparities. This stepped wedge cluster randomized trial was conducted at 15 adult primary care clinics affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. PCPs were randomized to receive the intervention in twelve groups. The target population was patients who met one of the following criteria based on self-identification: (1) Asian, Black, Indigenous, multi-racial, or other race; (2) Hispanic ethnicity; or (3) preferred language other than English. Reference population was White, English-speaking patients. PCPs were given access to an online equity dashboard that displays disparities in chronic disease management and completed an equity huddle with population health coordinators (PHCs), which involved reviewing target patients whose hypertension was not well controlled. In addition, community health workers (CHWs) were available in some practices to offer additional support. The primary outcome was change in the proportion of target patients meeting the hypertension control goal when comparing intervention and control periods. Of the 365 PCPs who were randomized, 311 PCPs and their 10,865 target patients were included in the analysis. The intervention led to an increase in hypertension control in the target population (RD 0.9%; 95% CI [0.3,1.5]) and there was a higher intervention effect in the target population compared to the reference population (DiD 2.1%; 95% CI [1.1, 3.1]). Utilizing data on disparities in quality outcome measures in routine clinical practice augmented by clinical support provided by PHCs and CHWs led to modest, but statistically significant, improvement in hypertension control among BIPOC, Hispanic, and LEP patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05278806.

Association of sustained lupus low disease activity state with improved outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: a multinational prospective cohort study

Validation of protective associations of the lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) against flare, irreversible damage, health-related quality of life, and mortality has enabled the adoption of treat-to-target strategies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Previous validation studies were of short duration, limiting the ability to detect longer term signals in flare rate and irreversible damage. In addition, previous studies have focused on percent time at target, rather than actual periods of time that are more useful in clinical practice and trials. We assessed long-term protective associations of LLDAS and remission, and specifically examined protective thresholds of sustained LLDAS and remission. Patients aged 18 years or older with SLE were followed up from May 1, 2013, to Dec 31, 2020 in a prospective, multinational, longitudinal cohort study. Patients were recruited from 25 centres in 12 countries. Multi-failure time-to-event analyses were used to assess the effect of sustained LLDAS on irreversible damage accrual (primary outcome; measured with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index) and flare (key secondary outcome; measured with the SELENA Flare Index), with dose exposure and threshold effects studied. Sustained LLDAS or remission were defined as two or more consecutive visits over at least 3 months in the respective state. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03138941. 3449 patients were followed up for a median of 2·8 years (IQR 1·1-5·6), totalling 37 662 visits. 3180 (92·2%) patients were women, and 3031 (87·9%) were of Asian ethnicity. 2506 (72·7%) patients had sustained LLDAS at least once. Any duration of sustained LLDAS or remission longer than 3 months was associated with reduced damage accrual (LLDAS: hazard ratio 0·60 [95% CI 0·51-0·71], p<0·0001; remission: 0·66 [0·57-0·76], p<0·0001) and flare (LLDAS: 0·56 [0·51-0·63], p<0·0001; remission: 0·66 [0·60-0·73], p<0·0001), and increasing durations of sustained LLDAS corresponded to increased protective associations. Sustained DORIS remission or steroid-free remission were less attainable than LLDAS. We observed significant protective associations of LLDAS and remission against damage accrual and flare, establish a threshold of 3 months sustained LLDAS or remission as protective, and demonstrate deepening protection with longer durations of sustained LLDAS or remission. The Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration receives project support grants from AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD Sereno, GSK, Janssen, Eli Lilly, and UCB.

Satisfaction with Breasts Following Autologous Reconstruction: Assessing Associated Factors and the Impact of Revisions.

Autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) may confer higher patient reported outcomes than implant breast reconstruction, but an in-depth examination of factors associated with satisfaction after ABR is lacking. We aimed to determine independent predictors of 1-year Satisfaction with Breasts after ABR and assess the importance of elective procedures on satisfaction. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent abdominal-based ABR between 2010 and 2021 and completed the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breasts module at 1-year was performed. Elective procedures comprised of breast revision and nipple areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction. 959 patients were included. Satisfaction with Breasts score improved from 53 (IQR: 44 to 64) preoperatively to 64 (53 to 78) at 1-year postoperatively (p<0.001). Factors significantly associated with decreased postoperative score included lower preoperative scores (β=0.19 [95% CI: 0.08, 0.31], p=0.001), older age (β=-0.17 [-0.34, -0.01], p=0.042), Asian race (versus White, β=-6.7 [-12, -1.7], p=0.008), and a history of psychiatric diagnoses (β=-3.4 [-6.2, -0.66], p=0.015). Patients who received radiation (β=-5.6 [-9.0, -2.3], p=0.001) or had mastectomy skin flap/nipple necrosis (β=-3.8 [-7.6, -0.06], p=0.046) also had significantly decreased scores. Satisfaction with Breasts significantly improved after breast revision procedures (54 [42 to 65] to 65 [54 to 78], p<0.001) and NAC reconstruction (58 [47 to 71] to 67 [57 to 82], p<0.001). Multiple independent patient and treatment level factors are associated with lower 1-year Satisfaction with Breasts following ABR. Elective procedures have the potential to improve satisfaction. Understanding these findings is imperative for optimizing clinical decision making and managing expectations.

Risk of Recurrence in Acute Anterior Uveitis

PurposeTo examine the frequency of recurrence and identify risk factors for recurrence in patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU). DesignRetrospective cohort study from a single tertiary ophthalmic clinical centre. ParticipantsAll subjects with AAU identified from a database of Inflammatory Eye Disease presenting to Te Whatu Ora (Auckland, New Zealand) between 2008 and 2021. MethodsData was collected retrospectively from chart review and electronic patient records for all patients during the study period. Rates of recurrence were reported using Kaplan Meier estimator. Multivariate analysis of risk factors for recurrence were calculated using a marginal Cox regression model. Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary outcome measure was disease recurrence. Secondary outcome measure was moderate vision loss (≤20/50). Results2763 eyes of 2092 subjects with AAU were studied, with a median follow up time of 8.9 years, and a total follow up of 19,794.9 eye-years. Recurrence occurred in the ipsilateral eye in 1258 eyes (45.5%) and in the contralateral eye in 522 eyes (27.3%). Rates of ipsilateral recurrence over ten years were 38.1% for idiopathic disease, 43.2% for HLAB27/inflammatory arthritis, and 44.9% for viral uveitis. On multivariate analysis the following were associated with increased risk of ipsilateral recurrence: older age (p<0.001); Māori ethnicity (p=0.006); Asian ethnicity (p<0.001); HLA-B27/inflammatory arthritis (p<0.001); viral uveitis (p=0.018). There was no association with gender, smoking, bilateral disease, or hypertensive uveitis. Rates of contralateral eye involvement were significantly lower than ipsilateral eye recurrence. Contralateral recurrence at ten years was 15.2% in idiopathic uveitis, 37.6% in HLAB27/inflammatory arthritis, and 2.0% in viral uveitis. Risk factors identified for contralateral eye involvement were Māori ethnicity (p=0.003), Pasifika (Pacific Islanders) ethnicity (p=0.021), HLAB27/inflammatory arthritis (p<0.001). Moderate vision loss (≤20/50) was present in 411 eyes (14.9%) at final follow up and was more common if time to first recurrence was shorter (p<0.001). ConclusionsApproximately half of patients with AAU will develop recurrence in the ipsilateral eye and a quarter will have recurrence in the contralateral eye. Patients with viral disease have the highest risk of ipsilateral recurrence and lowest risk of contralateral recurrence. Patients with risk factors for recurrence should be managed and counselled appropriately to minimise the risk of visual loss and complications of uveitis.

Stroke in Qatar: a decade of insights from a national registry

ABSTRACT Background Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide and presents a significant burden on healthcare systems. This retrospective study aims to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of stroke patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital (HGH) stroke service in Qatar from January 2014 to July 2022. Methods The medical records of 15,859 patients admitted during the study period were analyzed. The data collected included patient demographics, stroke types, admission location, procedures performed, mortality rates, and other clinical characteristics. Results Of the total cohort, 70.9% were diagnosed with a stroke, and 29.1% were diagnosed with stroke mimics. Of the stroke patients, 85.3% had an ischemic stroke, and 14.7% had a hemorrhagic stroke. Male patients below 65 years old (80.2%) and of South Asian ethnicity (44.6%) were the most affected. The mortality rate was 4.6%, significantly higher for hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke (12.6% vs. 3.2%). Female patients had a higher stroke-related mortality rate than male patients (6.8% vs. 4%). The thrombolysis rate was 9.5%, and the thrombectomy rate was 3.4% of the ischemic stroke cohort. The mean door-to-needle time for thrombolysis was 61.2 minutes, and the mean door-to-groin time for thrombectomy was 170 minutes. Stroke outcomes were good, with 59.3% of patients having favorable outcomes upon discharge (mRS ≤2), which improved to 68.2% 90 days after discharge. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into stroke characteristics and outcomes in Qatar. The findings suggest that stroke mortality rates are low, and favorable long-term disability outcomes are achievable. However, the study identified a higher stroke-related mortality rate among female patients and areas for improvement in thrombolysis and thrombectomy time.

HyperArcTM volumetric modulated arc therapy for hypopharyngeal cancer with solitary recurrence in the cervical vertebra: A case report and literature review.

It is difficult to reirradiate head and neck cancers because of the toxicity from previous radiation dose delivery. Conventional volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy often have poor target coverage. The new HyperArcTM VMAT (HA-VMAT) planning approach reportedly has better target coverage, higher conformity, and can spare normal organs compared to conventional VMAT; however, research on recurrent head and neck cancers is limited. Here, we report the clinical outcomes of HA-VMAT for previously irradiated hypopharyngeal cancer with solitary recurrence in the first cervical vertebra (C1). A 52-year-old Asian male was diagnosed with a hypopharyngeal cancer. The patient received concurrent chemoradiotherapy with a radiation dose of 70 Gy in 33 fractions and achieved complete clinical response. Two years later, solitary recurrence was observed in the C1 vertebra. Solitary recurrence in the C1 vertebra. Owing to concerns regarding the toxicity to adjacent organs, we decided to use HA-VMAT to achieve better tumor coverage and critical organ sparing. Tumor regression was observed on the imaging. At 9 months follow-up, the patient was disease-free and had no late toxicities. This is the first report regarding the clinical outcomes of HA-VMAT for previously irradiated hypopharyngeal cancer with solitary recurrence over the C1 vertebra. HA-VMAT achieves highly conformal dose distribution and excellent sparing of critical organs. There was a favorable initial clinical response with no toxicity. Long-term follow-up is essential in such cases.

Vascular regenerative cell content in South Asians: the key learnings.

We aim to provide a comprehensive examination of the literature linking elevated rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals of South Asian ethnicity with the severity of circulating vascular regenerative cell exhaustion. Recent findings have demonstrated reduced bioavailability of pro-vascular progenitor cell subsets in individuals with T2D and obesity. Depletion of vascular regenerative cells in the bone marrow - coupled with decreased mobilization into circulation - can negatively impact the capacity for vascular repair and exacerbate CVD risk. Several recent studies have established that although South Asian individuals possess similar inflammatory cell burden compared with other ethnicities, they exhibit marked decreases in vessel regenerative hematopoietic progenitor cells and monocyte subsets. Validation of these findings and investigation the functional capacity of vascular regenerative cell subsets to mediate vessel repair is highly warranted. Vascular regenerative cells play a key role coordinating angiogenic and arteriogenic vessel remodelling. Recent studies have demonstrated that South Asian individuals with T2D show severe depletion in circulating vascular regenerative cell subsets. Because the reversal of vascular regenerative cell exhaustion by current glucose-lowering pharmaceutical agents has recently been documented, early intervention to bolster vascular regenerative cell content may prevent CVD co-morbidities in South Asian individuals with cardiometabolic disease.

Temporal Trends in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Risk Factors in Ontario, Canada, 2012–2020: A Population-Based Cohort Study

ObjectivesThe prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been increasing globally over recent decades; however, underlying reasons for the increase remain unclear. We analyzed trends in GDM rates and evaluated risk factors associated with the observed trends in Ontario, Canada. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using the Better Outcomes Registry and Network Ontario, linked with the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database. All pregnant individuals who had a singleton hospital delivery from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2020 were included. We calculated rates and 95% CIs for GDM by year of delivery and contrasted fiscal year 2019/20 with 2012/13. Temporal trends in GDM were quantified using crude and adjusted risk ratios by modified Poisson regression. We further quantified the temporal increase attributable to changes in maternal characteristics by decomposition analysis. ResultsAmong 1 044 258 pregnant individuals, 82 896 (7.9%) were diagnosed with GDM over the 8 years. GDM rate rose from 6.1 to 10.4 per 100 deliveries between fiscal years 2012/13 and 2019/20. The risk of GDM in 2019/20 was 1.53 times (95% CI 1.50-1.56) higher compared with 2012/13. 27% of the increase in GDM was due to changes in maternal age, 8 BMI, and Asian ethnicity. ConclusionsThe GDM rate has been consistently increasing in Ontario, Canada. The contribution of increasing maternal age, pre-pregnancy obesity, and Asian ethnicity to the recent increase in GDM is notable. Further investigation is required to better understand the contributors to increasing GDM.

Kikuchi disease complicated with aseptic meningitis following COVID-19 Vaccination: a case report

BackgroundKikuchi Fujimoto disease is a rare self-limiting disorder mainly affecting young Asian females. The typical presentation is unexplained fever with associated cervical lymphadenopathy. It can mimic many sinister diseases such as lymphoma, tuberculosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Aseptic meningitis due to Kikuchi disease is extremely rare, and majority were reported from Japan. There have been no published cases of aseptic meningitis due to Kikuchi disease in Sri Lanka.Case presentationA 29 years old Sri Lankan female presented with a prolonged fever for three weeks with an associated headache for five days duration. She developed painful cervical lymphadenopathy during the hospital stay. She has been previously well and had been vaccinated against COVID-19 six weeks before. Her lumbar puncture showed lymphocytic pleocytosis with marginally elevated protein levels and reduced ratio of serum to CSF sugar. Lymph node biopsy was consistent with necrotizing lymphadenitis. She was subsequently diagnosed with Kikuchi disease complicated with aseptic meningitis. She responded to corticosteroids well and had an uneventful recovery.ConclusionKikuchi disease is a rare self-limiting disorder that can be complicated with aseptic meningitis on infrequent occasions. Other conditions such as tuberculosis, lymphoma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and adult-onset Still’s disease should be considered as differential diagnoses. Knowledge of Kikuchi disease and its complications will prevent unnecessary investigations which delay the early diagnosis and treatment.

The association between smoking exposure and endothelial function evaluated using flow-mediated dilation values: a meta-analysis

BackgroundTobacco use is recognized as a major cause of cardiovascular disease, which is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial function is evaluated using flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which is a noninvasive method. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between smoking exposure and endothelial function evaluated using FMD values.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for cohort studies of smokers or passive smokers that used FMD to assess endothelial function. The primary outcome of the study was the change in the rate of FMD. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Further, the weighted mean difference was used to analyze the continuous data.ResultsOverall, 14 of 1426 articles were included in this study. The results of these articles indicated that smoking is a major cause of endothelial dysfunction and altered FMD; a pooled effect size of − 3.15 was obtained with a 95% confidence interval of (− 3.84, − 2.46). Notably, pregnancy status, Asian ethnicity, or health status did not affect heterogeneity.ConclusionsWe found that smoking has a significant negative impact on FMD, and measures such as medication or education for smoking cessation may improve endothelial function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.Trial RegistrationThe meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO on April 5th, 2023 (CRD42023414654).

Receipt of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration: Comparison of Rates at the Intersections of Racialized and Ethnic Identity With Both Sex and Transgender Status.

Medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUDs) are recommended for patients with alcohol use disorder yet are underprescribed. Consistent with Minority Stress and Intersectionality theories, persons with multiple sociodemographically marginalized identities (eg, Black women) often experience greater barriers to care and have poorer health outcomes. We use data from the Veterans Health Administration to assess disparities in Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MAUDs and all effective MAUDs between the following groups: racialized and ethnic identity, sex, transgender status, and their intersections. Among all Veterans Health Administration outpatients between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2017, with documented alcohol screenings and an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis for alcohol use disorder in the 0-365 days prior (N = 308,238), we estimated the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of receiving FDA-approved MAUDs and any MAUDs in the following year and compared them using χ2 or Fisher's exact test. Analyses are unadjusted to present true prevalence and group differences. The overall prevalence for MAUDs was low (FDA-MAUDs = 8.7%, any MAUDs = 20.0%). Within sex, Black males had the lowest rate of FDA-MAUDs (7.3%, [7.1-7.5]), whereas American Indian/Alaskan Native females had the highest (18.4%, [13.8-23.0]). Among those identified as transgender, Asian and Black transgender persons had the lowest rates of FDA-MAUDs (0%; 4.3%, [1.8-8.5], respectively), whereas American Indian/Alaskan Native transgender patients had the highest (33.3%, [2.5-64.1]). Similar patterns were observed for any MAUDs, with higher rates overall. Substantial variation exists in MAUD prescribing, with marginalized veterans disproportionately receiving MAUDs at lower and higher rates than average. Implementation and quality improvement efforts are needed to improve MAUD prescribing practices and reduce disparities.

Analysis of knee-bending motion through three-dimensional scanning for advanced brace design

Knee braces have been increasing in popularity as a means to support joint stability and promote the healing process. In order to enhance the fit, comfort, and design of knee braces, this study investigates knee shape deformations across four knee-bending angles from 0° to 90°. Using three-dimensional (3D) scanning technology, the knee contours of 50 Asian males aged between 22 and 33 were examined. The reliability of the 3D measurements was validated through comparisons with tape measurements on the actual body. The analysis revealed a stretch of the skin covering the patella bone with a notable vertical strain of 19% and horizontal stretching of 7%. The circumference along the muscle belly at the thigh (15 cm above the center of the patella) and at the calf (7.5 cm below the center of the patella) showed no significant changes with different bending angles, and can be used as an indicator for sizing of knee braces. However, at the patella bone level, the bending of the knee from 0° to 90° increased the knee circumference by 6.4%. The results from sectional analysis showed the asymmetry and the lateral shifting of the knee joint during bending. The findings offer guidelines for the design and optimization of knee braces to address knee deformations and individual body shape variations.

Cervical Cancer Screening Rates Among Rural and Urban Females, From 2019 to 2022

Little nationally representative research has examined Papanicolaou testing rates from before the pandemic in 2019 through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Papanicolaou testing rates among rural females are a concern as they have historically had lower screening rates than their urban counterparts. To examine the receipt of a Papanicolaou test in the past year among US females overall and females residing in rural and urban areas in 2019, 2020, and 2022. This repeated cross-sectional study used data from 3 years of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a nationally representative survey that asks respondents about cancer screenings, sources of health information, and health and health care technologies. Study participants were females aged 21 to 65 years. Individuals who received a Papanicolaou test more than 1 to 3 years prior to a HINTS interview were excluded as they were likely not due for a Papanicolaou test. Survey year (2019, 2020, and 2022) and rural or urban residence were the main exposure variables. Self-reported receipt of a Papanicolaou test within the past year. Among the 188 243 531 (weighted; 3706 unweighted) females included in the analysis, 12.5% lived in rural areas and 87.5% in urban areas. Participants had a mean (SE) age of 43.7 (0.27) years and were of Hispanic (18.8%), non-Hispanic Asian (5.2%), non-Hispanic Black (12.2%), non-Hispanic White (59.6%), or non-Hispanic other (4.1%) race and ethnicity. In 2022, unadjusted past-year Papanicolaou testing rates were significantly lower among rural vs urban residents (48.6% [95% CI, 39.2%-58.1%] vs 64.0% [95% CI, 60.0%-68.0%]; P < .001). Adjusted odds of past-year Papanicolaou testing were lower in 2022 than 2019 (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.95; P = .02). This repeated cross-sectional study found that past-year Papanicolaou testing rates were lower in 2022 than 2019, pointing to a need to increase access to screenings to prevent an uptick in cervical cancer incidence. Rural-vs-urban differences in 2022 indicate a need to specifically target rural females.

Post-Soviet Civilizational Transit in Central Asia

The relationship between politics and history is becoming complex and tense in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. The history of the countries and peoples of the region becomes the subject of an intense ideological struggle, during which Soviet historiography is partially, and sometimes completely, rejected, and new ideological myths are created that have no real historical basis. Not only historiography is being rethought, but also its context – historical memory, the historical culture of the new states of Central Asia. On the one hand, the ruling elites seek to place the historical memory of the Central Asian peoples under strict state control, affirming the ideology of state nationalism and referring to it not only political doctrines, but also traditions, religion, philosophy, social and human sciences. The rejection of society from cultural memory is typical for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. On the other hand, historical memory becomes an ideological tool of intra-elite political struggle and society (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan). This is the essence of the post-Soviet civilizational transit in Central Asia.

Racial/ethnic differences in incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in California.

11139 Background: Squamous cell lung carcinoma is strongly associated with a history of smoking. Typically, no actionable mutations are found, and treatment options are more limited. It is not known if race has any impact on the incidence of squamous cell cancers, especially for Asian ethnicities since most studies combine multiple Asian populations in an Asian/Pacific Islander (API) category. The purpose of this study was to compare the odds of squamous cell carcinoma versus adenocarcinoma in Hispanic, American Indian, Middle Eastern, and 7 Asian ethnicities when compared with both Black and White men and women. Methods: We accessed 211,987 cases of invasive lung cancer with either squamous cell or adenocarcinoma from the California Cancer Registry 2000-2020. Race was categorized as White, African American/Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Southeast Asian (SEA), Pacific Islander, or Asian Indian. Separate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the odds of squamous cell versus adenocarcinoma for each race/ethnicity using White and Black as the reference categories. Analyses were conducted separately for males and females and adjusted for age, smoking status, socioeconomic status, marital status, and Charlson Comorbidity Score. Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. Results: When compared with White men, American Indian men had increased odds (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.88) and Black, Hispanic, Chinese, Filipino, SEA men had decreased odds of squamous cell carcinoma. Japanese women had increased odds (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.07) while Black, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Filipino, and SEA women had decreased odds of squamous cell carcinoma when compared with White women. When compared with Black men, White men, (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.24) American Indian, (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.13) and Korean (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.73) men had increased odds and Chinese, Filipino, and SEA men had decreased odds of squamous cell carcinoma. White, (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.28) Japanese, (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.28, 2.39) and Korean (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.42) women had increased odds and Southeast Asians had decreased odds when compared with Black women. Conclusions: Some Asian ethnicities have a higher risk for squamous cell lung cancer than both Black and White men and women even after adjusting for smoking. This is not apparent when the Asian ethnicities are classified as API. Examining individual Asian ethnicities is important since they have little to no shared genetic or cultural variables and are grouped together for convenience rather than any scientifically plausible reason.

Revisiting the Association of ECOG Performance Status With Clinical Outcomes in Diverse Patients With Cancer.

The ECOG performance status (PS) scale was developed to support national clinical trials, but the degree to which ECOG PS predicts clinical outcomes in patient subgroups outside of clinical trials is relatively unknown. This study examined associations between ECOG PS and adverse outcomes in a diverse community oncology population. In this retrospective cohort study, demographic and clinical characteristics, including the most recent ECOG PS between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were examined for patients receiving cancer treatment within Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). Proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the effect of ECOG PS on adverse outcomes. A total of 21,730 patients were identified. Overall, most patients had an ECOG PS of 0 (42.5%) or 1 (42.5%). In multivariable analysis, an ECOG PS of 3 or 4 was associated with higher risk of 30-day emergency department visits (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.85; 95% CI, 3.47-4.26), 30-day hospitalizations (aHR, 4.70; 95% CI, 4.12-5.36), and 6-month mortality (aHR, 7.34; 95% CI, 6.64-8.11) compared with an ECOG PS of 0. Additionally, we found that upper gastrointestinal and stage IV cancers were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes compared with breast and stage I cancers, respectively. When adjusted for ECOG PS, African American race, Asian race, and female sex were associated with a lower risk of mortality than White race and male sex. An ECOG PS of 3 or 4 was more predictive of mortality in younger patients and those with breast cancer (P<.001). ECOG PS and upper gastrointestinal and stage IV cancers were independently associated with increased risk of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality, whereas African American and Asian race and female sex were associated with decreased risk of mortality. An ECOG PS of 3 or 4 was more predictive of an increased risk of mortality in younger patients and patients with breast cancer. These findings can enhance the use of ECOG PS for clinical decision-making and defining eligibility for clinical trials.

Nasopharyngeal cancer mortality in disaggregated Asian and non-Asian Americans.

e18074 Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common forms of head and neck cancer with an overall five-year survival rate of 63%. In Asian populations, NPC prevalence is 50 times the global rate and early detection has been shown to reduce mortality. NPC survival and mortality rates are influenced by risk factors including Epstein-Barr virus exposure, human papillomavirus infection, human leukocyte antigen genotype, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, diet, age, sex, nativity, and race/ethnicity. Male NPC mortality is more than double females, and mortality is highest in individuals over 80 years old (y/o). Geographic differences abound. In Asia, Vietnam has one of the highest NPC mortality rates, nearly 5 times the global rate. While China and the Philippines report NPC mortality rates 2 times higher than the global rate, South Korea, India, and Japan all report rates significantly lower. In the United States (US), most studies on NPC mortality have not disaggregated Asian subgroups to examine within group variation. A 25-year study of NPC in Asians ending in 2009 found Asian Americans to have a 5.6 times higher age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR per 100,000 person-years) than Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), 6.7 times higher than Hispanic Whites (HW), and 3.3 times higher than Blacks. US death certificate standardization started in 2005, making disaggregated Asian mortality information available. One study reported NPC mortality rates for Chinese, Korean, Filipinos, and Asian Indians living in New York City disaggregated by sex but did not account for nativity or age. Another group generated hazard ratios for NPC mortality, disaggregated by Asian race, age, and sex but similarly did not account for nativity. With the Asian population becoming the fastest growing racial group in the US, there is a corresponding need for disaggregated mortality data, essential for analyzing specific diseases that affect particular Asian races and subpopulations at higher rates. Methods: Using the 2005-2020 National Vital Statistics System and American Community Survey, we examined NPC mortality by age, race (Black, HW, NHW, Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese), sex, and nativity (US or foreign-born). Results: Upon disaggregation, Chinese (1.96 [CI: 1.78-2.16]), Filipino (0.68 [0.68-1.11]), and Vietnamese Americans (0.68 [0.52-1.10]) had the top three AAMR. Foreign-born Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Asian Indians, and NHW had higher AAMRs compared to US-born persons. Males had higher AAMR compared to females for all groups. All races except for Blacks had the highest NPC mortality rate among 80+ y/o. Stratifying for race, nativity, and sex, foreign-born Chinese males (4.09 [3.79-4.40]) had the highest AAMR. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the importance of disaggregating NPC mortality data by Asian subgroups, providing valuable insights for targeted public health interventions in the US.

Impact of cardiac arrhythmias on in-hospital mortality in patients with cytokine release syndrome: Insights from National Inpatient Sample.

e24017 Background: Cytokine release syndrome (CSR) is a pervasive inflammatory response characterized by elevated body temperature and multi-organ dysfunction. This syndrome is linked to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, various immunotherapies, or haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). It can manifest as a fever, fatigue, headache, rash, diarrhea, arthralgia, and myalgia. In some cases, it can progress to hypotension, hypoxia, and an uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response leading to circulatory collapse, pulmonary edema, renal damage, and multi-organ failure. Cardiac evaluation in the context of CSR is crucial for assessing these manifestations, but little is known about the arrhythmias associated with this therapy, and there is limited information in the literature. Methods: A retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample to identify patients diagnosed with CRS, and the arrhythmias they experienced during their hospitalizations between January and December 2020. The primary endpoint was the incidence of various arrhythmias. Furthermore, Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were analyzed, with p values, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and confidence intervals (CI) calculated for each variable. Results: A total of 4675 patients were diagnosed with CRS in 2020, 39% of whom were females. The mortality rate of patients with CRS was 22%. In addition, the mortality rate of patients who developed arrhythmias was 43% while that of patients who did not was 17% (p &lt; 0.01). The mean age was higher in the arrhythmia cohort compared with the non-arrhythmia cohort (70 vs 60.7 years, p &lt; 0.01). Predictive factors associated with increased mortality included development of arrhythmias, age, hispanic race, asian or pacific islander race, obesity, previous myocardial infarction, and electrolyte abnormalities with an aOR of 2.22 (P &lt; 0.01, CI 1.51-3.28), 1.03 (P &lt; 0.01, CI 1.01-1.05), 1.85 (P = 0.04, CI 1.02-3.34), 2.57 (P = 0.014, CI 1.02-3.34), 1.72 (P = 0.018, CI 1.09-2.69), 3.26 (P = 0.008, CI 1.36-7.8), and 4.19 (P &lt; 0.01, CI 2.7-6.4) respectively. Female sex was found to be protective against mortality with an aOR of 0.5 (P = 0.004, CI 0.31-0.8). Conclusions: Our study reveals that developing arrhythmias is more common in older patients with CRS. Patients diagnosed with arrhythmias during their hospitalization experienced poorer outcomes. Adjusted predictors of mortality include the development of arrhythmias during hospitalization, age, hispanic race, asian or pacific islander race, obesity, previous myocardial infarction, and electrolyte imbalances. Additionally, female sex was found to be a protective against mortality. Given these findings, physicians should strive to be more vigilant when treating patients with CRS who have any of these predictors of mortality until further data is available.

A bird's-eye view of disparity from public historic cancer mortality data in the US: Advocacy for gastrointestinal cancers and for inter-agency data harmonization.

e13723 Background: We searched into public datasets released by CDC to answer a question raised during an NCI Health Disparity Workshop: "Can we have a bird’s-eye view of health disparity in cancer care in the US?" By looking into the historic data reported, we hope to identify not only health disparity reflected by the different cancer mortality rates for major cancer types, but also what might be missing from the data-reporting. Methods: We analyzed 2016-2020 US Cancer Statistics (USCS) cancer burden data to assess cancer disparity as reflected by rates of death in different races or ethnicities. We then looked into the recently available “Single Race 15” grouping for the underlying cause-of-death data in WONDER@CDC to count cancer deaths 2018-2021 in California comparing cancer mortality among 7 Asian minority groups, including Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asians. We then matched census data for these Asian minority groups published by Census 2020. Results: We identified gastrointestinal (GI) cancers as an area of cancer health disparity. 5 GI cancers (colon and rectum, pancreas, liver and bile duct, stomach, and esophagus) contributed to a quarter of cancer deaths, and cancers in the pancreas, liver and bile duct, and esophagus still have very poor outcomes. Based on USCS data, Black non-Hispanic Americans are more likely to die from cancers of colon/rectum or pancreas. All minority races or ethnicities are more likely to die from cancers in liver and bile duct, or stomach than white non-Hispanic Americans. Cancers in colon and rectum, liver and bile duct, or stomach also cause high numbers of death in the under-50 US population. Since the 2022 AACR report on cancer in Asian Americans raised concerns on liver and stomach cancers, we counted cancer deaths in recent 4 years for different Asian groups in California that numbered about 7 million (alone or in combination) in 2020 Census. This includes 1.8 million Chinese, 1.7 million Filipino, 900k Asian Indian, 800k Vietnamese, 560k Korean, 470k Japanese, and other Asian ethnicities. Chinese has the highest numbers of deaths (2.8k) in 4 years from these 5 GI cancers followed by Filipino (2k), Vietnamese (1.2k), Korean (1.1k), Japanese (800), other Asians (1.1k), and Asian Indian (&lt; 400). The lower cancer deaths in Asian Indians may be associated with their younger median age based on Census. With anecdotal stories suggesting immigrants may seek end-of-life care in their birth country to access more culture-concordant services, we looked into how cancer deaths abroad were reported. The data appeared missing. Conclusions: We identified gastrointestinal cancers as focuses for cancer health disparity advocacy. Harmonized consulate report of death abroad to include detailed race/ethnicity information will complete view of cancer mortality data in the US.