Hawai‘i Journal Watch
Karen Rowan MS

Highlights of recent research from the University of Hawai‘iand the Hawai‘i State Department of Health
New Compounds Identified in Mauna Kea Soil

Soil from the top of Mauna Kea contains fungi that may produce
anti-cancer or cancer preventative compounds. Researchers including Shugeng Cao PhD, of the Daniel K. Inouye College ofPharmacy, studied a fungal strain called Aspergillus terreus FS107
from a soil sample using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Six compounds were isolated, including 2 new compounds
that the researchers named tryptoquivaline W and tryptoquivaline
X. Their structures were determined using mass spectrometry andnuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The researchers then tested
the activity of the compounds against human cancer cells. Amongthe 4 known compounds, 2 inhibited the activity of NF-κB, atranscription factor involved in the cellular response to stress. The
researchers concluded these compounds may potentially mediatea cancer chemopreventive response in human cells.
•Zaman KAU, Hu Z, Wu X, Cao S. Tryptoquivalines W and X, two new compounds from aHawaiian fungal strain and their biological activities. Tetrahedron Lett. 2020;61(14):151730.
doi:10.1016/j.tetlet.2020.151730

Factors Associated with Survival of Rare Liver
CancerCancer of the liver and bile ducts, called combined hepatocellularand cholangiocarcinoma (HCC/CC), is an aggressive cancer withgenerally poor prognosis. Researchers including Eric Wien MD,of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, examined data from theSurveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on
497 patients with HCC/CC from 2004 to 2015. Results showed
median survival was 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression
showed that tumor size of less than 50 mm, undergoing surgical resection, and undergoing liver transplant were associatedwith 5-year survival. Patients in the Asian/Pacific Islander group
had a significantly higher rate of surgical resection comparedwith non-Asians (35.7% vs 21.1%), and a higher rate of 5-year
survival (15.4% vs 8.0%). The greater prevalence of hepatitis B
in Asia may play a role – it may prompt surveillance and earlier
detection, or the virus may lead to cancers that develop without
co-occurring cirrhosis, allowing for more surgical management.
The researchers concluded that further study is needed to explain
racial/ethnic differences and the role of underlying liver diseasein patients with HCC/CC.
•Sempokuya T, Wien EA, Pattison RJ, Ma J, Wong LL. Factors associated with 5-year survivalof combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. World J Hepatol. 2020;12(11):1020-1030.
doi:10.4254/wjh.v12.i11.1020

An App Can Facilitate HPV Vaccination

Young men who have sex with men (MSM) face a higher prevalenceof human papillomavirus (HPV) related diseases. Researchers
led by Holly Fontenot PhD, of the School of Nursing and Dental
Hygiene, developed an app to reach young MSM, deliver HPV

information, and facilitate vaccination. Participants ages 18-26 wererecruited over 6 months via ads on an MSM dating app. Among
338 potential participants who accessed the study web page, 42
downloaded the app. Usage data showed participants primarily
accessed the app’s educational components and the app’s functions
to book appointments, set reminders, or access directions to clinics.
Of the 35 participants who were unvaccinated, not up-to-date, ornot reporting status, 8 (23%) used the app to facilitate receiving
the HPV vaccine. The findings show that an app can help youth
develop action plans and facilitate health behaviors.
•Fontenot HB, White BP, Rosenberger JG, et al. Mobile app strategy to facilitate human papillomavirus vaccination among young men who have sex with men: Pilot intervention study. JMed Internet Res. 2020;22(11):e22878. doi:10.2196/22878

Bile Acid Metabolism May Play a Rolein Alzheimer’s Disease

Many metabolic processes are altered in people with Alzheimer’s
disease (AD). Researchers including Wei Jia PhD, of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, used data from post-mortem brain
samples to create transcription profiles of genes involved in themetabolism of cholesterol and bile acids. From the profiles, theresearchers analyzed metabolic activity in various brain regions.
Results showed that the transport of the amino acid taurine, thesynthesis of bile acids, and the metabolism of cholesterol differedsignificantly between the brains of people with AD compared withcognitively normal individuals. Moreover, the researchers identified transcription factors that interact with these genes. They also
found evidence suggesting bile acids from the gut are transported
to the brain. The researchers concluded more research is neededon bile acid metabolism in AD.
•Baloni P, Funk CC, Yan J, et al. Metabolic network analysis reveals altered bile acid synthesis
and metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. Cell Rep Med. 2020;1(8):100138. doi:10.1016/j.
xcrm.2020.100138

More Frequent Visits to a Chiropractor May
Help with Chronic Pain

For patients with chronic low back or neck pain who are under
the care of a chiropractor, visits more than once per week may
be linked with better improvement. Researchers including Eric
Hurwitz DC, PhD, with the Office of Public Health Studies,
conducted a prospective study with 1665 patients over a 3-month
period. Results showed patients’ ratings of pain decreased slightly
but significantly over the study period. Those with higher levelsof pain and disability had more frequent visits, and those who saw
their chiropractor more than once weekly showed significantly
faster improvement. The findings suggest that patients may reacha plateau, or level of maximum therapeutic improvement, and that
visits more often than once weekly are needed to maintain thatlevel of improvement.
•Herman PM, Edgington SE, Sorbero ME, Hurwitz EL, Goertz CM, Coulter ID. Visit frequency
and outcomes for patients using ongoing chiropractic care for chronic low-back and neck pain:
An observational longitudinal study. Pain Physician. 2021;24(1):E61-E74.

HAWAI‘I JOURNAL OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE, FEBRUARY 2021, VOL 80, NO 223