A5091092497- Oral Health Pathology and Treatment
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Cleft Lip and Palate Research
- Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Genital Health and Disease
- Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid
- Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
- Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- School Health and Nursing Education
- Global Health and Surgery
- Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Occupational Health and Performance
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Resilience and Mental Health
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Public Health Policies and Education
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
University of Guam
2014-2025
Cancer Research Center
2008-2023
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2007-2014
Honolulu University
2008-2009
University of Hawaii System
2007-2009
Cancer Center of Hawaii
2008
Oral cancers are attributed to a number of causal agents including tobacco, alcohol, human papillomavirus (HPV), and areca (betel) nut. Although betel nut chewing has been established as an independent cause oral cancer, the mechanisms carcinogenesis poorly understood. An investigation was undertaken evaluate influence on microbiome premalignant lesions. Study participants were recruited from dental clinic in Guam. Structured interviews examinations performed. swabbing saliva samples...
Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis disease, and hyperuricaemia onset are influenced by environmental genetic factors. We sought to investigate these factors in an Indigenous community Guam. In this feasibility study, University of Guam led qualitative inquiry with native community, training (pre-screening participants, data collection methods, biospecimen handling), study implementation (outreach recruitment, collection, DNA extraction quantification), epidemiologic analyses....
Although surveillance data are limited in the US Affiliated Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii, existing suggest that prevalence of childhood obesity is similar to or excess other minority groups contiguous US. Strategies for addressing epidemic region support use community-based, environmentally targeted interventions. The Children's Healthy Living Program a partnership formed across institutions Hawaii design community randomized environmental intervention trial survey address through affecting...
We estimated overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence of children in US-Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions (USAP) the Children's Healthy Living Program compared with contiguous United States. searched peer-reviewed literature government reports (January 2001-April 2014) for OWOB aged 2 to 8 years USAP found 24 sources. used 3 articles from National Health Nutrition Examination Surveys comparison. Mixed models regressed on an age polynomial compare trends (n = 246 data points). In USAP,...
Abstract Objectives Anthropometric standardization is essential to obtain reliable and comparable data from different geographical regions. The purpose of this study describe anthropometric procedures findings the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program, a on childhood obesity in 11 jurisdictions US‐Affiliated Pacific Region, including Alaska Hawai‘i. Methods Zerfas criteria were used compare measurement components (height, waist, weight) between each trainee single expert anthropometrist....
Areca nut/betel quid (AN/BQ) chewing, a prevalent practice in parts of the Pacific and Asia, is an independent cause cancers oral cavity esophagus may be linked to liver cancer. The mechanisms AN/BQ-associated carcinogenesis are unclear. In Guam population, we previously demonstrated that AN/BQ chewing alters bacterial microbiome including chewers with premalignant lesions. Enrichment specific taxa, Cyanobacteria, was observed. We undertook investigation evaluate catechu and/or Piper betle...
The Mariana Islands, including Guam and Saipan, are home to many ethnic subpopulations of Micronesia. Oral cancer incidence rates vary among subpopulations, areca (betel) nut chewing, a habit with carcinogenic risks, is common. Our objectives were conduct screening program detect oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) in betel chewers, measure their chewing practices, assess the prevalence human papillomavirus (HPV) infection subset chewers these islands.A cross-section 300 ≥18 years...
The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) has been used in various countries to assess the mental states of individuals. objectives this study were validate DASS-21 for use Guam, an island that endures a high burden health challenges, such as suicide, examine predictive impact selected indicators on variables. Three years data (2017–2019) pooled from Pacific Islands Cohort College Students (PICCS) conducted annually at University Guam. In total, 726 students included secondary...
Background: Areca nut and betel quid (ANBQ) chewing is a widespread carcinogenic habit. The BENIT (ClinicalTrials—NCT02942745) the first known randomized trial designed for ANBQ chewers. Methods: We compared intensive behavioral treatment intervention condition (IC) with control (CC) in included 5-stage early stopping rule. report primary analysis at stage 3. English-literate adults Guam Saipan who self-identified as chewers tobacco were enrolled between August 2016 2020. IC participants (n...
Background: Areca nut (AN) is a carcinogenic substance consumed by roughly 600 million individuals worldwide with increasing popularity in Guam. In response, cessation program was developed and implemented Guam Saipan. However, to improve its delivery, it necessary understand the reasons influencing recruitment participation, such as why chewer may not want quit or join program. Objective: To explore barriers inhibiting chewers from quitting AN chewing participating Methods: Nine individual...
Areca nut (AN) is the seed endosperm of
This study is part of the Children's Healthy Living program in U.S. Affiliated Pacific region. The objectives were to estimate overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence identify possible related risk factors among ethnic groups Guam. In 2013, 865 children (2-8 years) recruited via community-based sampling from select communities demographic health behavior information; dietary intake; anthropometric measurements collected. Logistic regression, odds ratio, t-tests, chi-square tests used...
The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability timeliness useable health data.The purpose this paper share lessons learnt from three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed respond these challenges. built on further developed existing for staff.The delivered in country by epidemiologists working Public Health Surveillance Network...
The Government of Guam passed Public Law 28-87, which established the collection child Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements in Department Education (GDOE). This paper aimed to analyze BMI data and report childhood obesity prevalence on Guam.
(1) Background: Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tumor-promoting hepatotoxins. We recently reported evidence an independent association between oral cyanobacteria and hepatocellular carcinoma in U.S. population. sought to characterize the nature, sources, health correlates cyanotoxin exposure Pacific Island territory Guam, which has high incidence liver cancer. (2) Methods: Seventy-four adult males females were enrolled cross-sectional study quantify...