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    University - Student Department: Bioengineering Position: Graduate

All Publications

  • Acoustically targeted measurement of transgene expression in the brain. Science advances Seo, J. P., Trippett, J. S., Huang, Z., Lee, S., Nouraein, S., Wang, R. Z., Szablowski, J. O. 2024; 10 (32): eadj7686

    Abstract

    Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a major challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called recovery of markers through insonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are produced in neurons but exit into the brain's interstitium. When ultrasound is applied to targeted brain regions, it opens the blood-brain barrier and releases these markers into the bloodstream. Once in blood, the markers can be readily detected using biochemical techniques. REMIS can noninvasively confirm gene delivery and measure endogenous signaling in specific brain sites through a simple insonation and a subsequent blood test. REMIS is reliable and demonstrated consistent improvement in recovery of markers from the brain into the blood. Overall, this work establishes a noninvasive, spatially specific method of monitoring gene delivery and endogenous signaling in the brain.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/sciadv.adj7686

    View details for PubMedID 39110811

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11305388

  • Acoustically-Targeted Measurement of Transgene Expression in the Brain. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology Seo, J. P., Trippett, J. S., Huang, Z., Wang, R. Z., Lee, S., Szablowski, J. O. 2023

    Abstract

    Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology and activity, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a significant challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called Recovery of Markers through InSonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell-type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are designed to be expressed in neurons and exit into the interstitium. By applying ultrasound to targeted brain regions, these markers are released into the bloodstream, where they can be readily detected using biochemical techniques. REMIS can noninvasively confirm gene delivery and measure endogenous signaling in specific brain sites through a simple insonation and a subsequent blood test. Using REMIS, we successfully measured chemogenetic induction of neuronal activity in ultrasound-tar-geted brain regions. REMIS recovery of markers is reliable and demonstrated improved recovery of markers from the brain into the blood in every tested animal. Overall, our work establishes a noninvasive, spatially-specific means of monitoring gene delivery outcomes and endogenous signaling in mammalian brains, opening up possibilities for brain research and noninvasive monitoring of gene therapies in the brain.

    View details for DOI 10.1101/2023.05.23.541868

    View details for PubMedID 37292585

  • Toward precision sleep medicine: variations in sleep outcomes among disaggregated Asian Americans in the National Health Interview Survey (2006-2018). Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Wang, R. Z., Jamal, A., Wang, Z., Dan, S., Srinivasan, M., Kim, G., Long, J., Palaniappan, L., Singh, J., Eggert, L. E. 2023

    Abstract

    STUDY OBJECTIVES: Asian Americans (AAs) report higher rates of insufficient sleep than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). It is unclear how sleep outcomes differ among disaggregated Asian subgroups.METHODS: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (2006-2018) was used to analyze self-reported sleep duration and quality measures for AA subgroups (Chinese [n=11,056], Asian Indian [n=11,249], Filipino [n = 13,211], and other Asians [n = 21,767]). Outcomes included hours of sleep per day, the number of days reporting trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up rested, and taking sleep medication in the past week. Subsetted multivariate logistic regression was used to assess factors impacting sleep outcomes by ethnicity.RESULTS: 29.2% of NHWs, 26.4% of Chinese, 24.5% of Asian Indians, and 38.4% of Filipinos reported insufficient sleep duration. Filipinos were less likely to report sufficient sleep duration (OR 0.58, [CI95% 0.53-0.63]) and more likely to report trouble falling asleep (1.19, [1.04-1.36]) than NHWs. Chinese and Asian Indians had less trouble staying asleep ((0.66, [0.57-0.76]), (0.50, [0.43-0.58])) and falling asleep ((0.77, [0.67-0.90]), (0.71, [0.61-0.81]) than NHWs, and Asian Indians were more likely to wake feeling well rested (1.71, [1.51-1.92]). All Asian subgroups were less likely to report using sleep medications than NHWs. Foreign-born status had a negative association with sufficient sleep duration in Filipinos, but a positive association in Asian Indians and Chinese.CONCLUSIONS: Filipinos report the highest burden of poor sleep outcomes and Asian Indians report significantly better sleep outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of disaggregating Asian ethnic subgroups to address their health needs.

    View details for DOI 10.5664/jcsm.10558

    View details for PubMedID 36883375

  • Disparities and Trends in Routine Adult Vaccination Rates Among Disaggregated Asian American Subgroups, National Health Interview Survey 2006-2018. AJPM focus Wang, Z., Jamal, A., Wang, R., Dan, S., Kappagoda, S., Kim, G., Palaniappan, L., Long, J., Singh, J., Srinivasan, M. 2023; 2 (1): 100044

    Abstract

    Vaccination rates may be improved through culturally tailored messages, but little is known about them among disaggregated Asian American subgroups. We assessed the vaccination rates for key vaccines among these subgroups.Using the National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed recent vaccination rates (2015-2018, n=188,250) and trends (2006-2018) among Asians (Chinese [n=3,165], Asian Indian [n=3,525], Filipino [n=3,656], other Asian [n=5,819]) and non-Hispanic White adults (n=172,085) for 6 vaccines (the human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, influenza, tetanus-diphtheria [tetanus], and shingles vaccines). We controlled demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables in multivariable logistic regression and predicted marginal modeling analyses. We also computed vaccination rates among Asian American subgroups on the 2015-2018 National Health Interview Survey data stratified by foreign-born and U.S.-born status. We used Joinpoint regression to analyze trends in vaccination rates. All analyses were conducted in 2021 and 2022.Among Asians, shingles (29.2%; 95% CI=26.6, 32.0), tetanus (53.7%; 95% CI=51.8, 55.6), and pneumococcal (53.8%; 95% CI=50.1, 57.4) vaccination rates were lower than among non-Hispanic Whites. Influenza (47.9%; 95% CI=46.2, 49.6) and hepatitis B (40.5%; 95% CI=39.0, 42.7) vaccination rates were similar or higher than among non-Hispanic Whites (48.4%; 95% CI=47.9, 48.9 and 30.7%; 95% CI=30.1, 31.3, respectively). Among Asians, we found substantial variations in vaccination rates and trends. For example, Asian Indian women had lower human papillomavirus vaccination rates (12.9%; 95% CI=9.1, 18.0) than all other Asian subgroups (Chinese: 37.9%; 95% CI=31.1, 45.2; Filipinos: 38.7%; 95% CI=29.9, 48.3; other Asians: 30.4%; 95% CI=24.8, 36.7) and non-Hispanic Whites (36.1%; 95% CI=34.8, 37.5). Being male, having lower educational attainment and income, having no health insurance or covered by public health insurance only, and lower frequency of doctor visits were generally associated with lower vaccine uptakes. Foreign-born Asian aggregate had lower vaccination rates than U.S.-born Asian aggregate for all vaccines except for influenza. We also found subgroup-level differences in vaccination rates between foreign-born and U.S.-born Asians. We found that (1) foreign-born Chinese, Asian Indians, and other Asians had lower human papillomavirus and hepatitis B vaccination rates; (2) foreign-born Chinese and Filipinos had lower pneumococcal vaccination rates; (3) foreign-born Chinese and Asian Indians had lower influenza vaccination rates; and (4) all foreign-born Asian subgroups had lower tetanus vaccination rates.Vaccination rates and trends differed among Asian American subgroups. Culturally tailored messaging and interventions may improve vaccine uptakes.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.focus.2022.100044

    View details for PubMedID 37789943

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10546520

  • Precision Sleep Medicine: Variations in Sleep Quality Among Asian Americans in the National Health Interview Survey (2006-2018) Wang, R., Wang, Z., Jamal, A., Dan, S., Srinivasan, M., Eggert, L. AMER THORACIC SOC. 2022

    View details for Web of Science ID 000792480403643

  • Vaccination patterns, disparities, and policy among Asian-Americans and Asians living in the USA Jamal, A., Wang, R., Wang, Z., Dan, S., Srinivasan, M., Kim, G., Palaniappan, L., Singh, J., Kappagoda, S. ELSEVIER SCI LTD. 2022: 27

    View details for Web of Science ID 000779259700028