Trang Vopham

Fred Hutch Cancer Center | Fred Hutch

Background: Circadian misalignment may increase the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to examine the association between distance from time zone meridian, a proxy for circadian misalignment, and HCC risk in the U.S. adjusting for known HCC risk factors. Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Resul...

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most commonly occurring type of primary liver cancer, has been increasing in incidence worldwide. Vitamin D, acquired from sunlight exposure, diet, and dietary supplements, has been hypothesized to impact hepatocarcinogenesis. However, previous epidemiologic studies examining the associations between...

Background Radon and its decay products, a source of ionizing radiation, are primarily inhaled and can deliver a radiation dose to breast tissue, where they may continue to decay and emit DNA damage-inducing particles. Few studies have examined the relationship between radon and breast cancer. Methods The Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) includes U...

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, is associated with low survival. U.S. studies examining self-reported pesticide exposure in relation to HCC have demonstrated inconclusive results. We aimed to clarify the association between pesticide exposure and HCC by implementing a novel data linkage betw...

Background: Ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation plays a multifaceted role in human health, inducing DNA damage and representing the primary source of vitamin D for most humans; however, current U.S. UV exposure models are limited in spatial, temporal, and/or spectral resolution. Area-to-point (ATP) residual kriging is a geostatistical method that can be...

Background: Certain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) are known or suspected to pose immunological or cancer risk to humans, but evidence is limited from the general population. Methods: We assessed associations between residential exposure to HAPs at the Census tract level and incident non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM) in the N...

Geospatial science is the science of location or place that harnesses geospatial tools, such as geographic information systems (GIS), to understand the features of the environment according to their locations. Geospatial science has been transformative for cancer epidemiologic studies through enabling large-scale environmental exposure assessments....

Background Light exposure is the most powerful resetting signal for circadian rhythms. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a high-resolution geospatial light exposure model that measures environmental circadian misalignment (or solar jetlag) as the mismatch between the social clock and sun clock, which occurs from geographic var...

Background and aims Tea and coffee are widely consumed beverages worldwide. We evaluated their association with biliary tract cancer (BTC) incidence. Methods We pooled data from 15 studies in the Biliary Tract Cancers Pooling Project to evaluate associations between tea and coffee consumption and BTC development. We categorized participants as non...

Background Aircraft noise is a key concern for communities surrounding airports, with increasing evidence for health effects and inequitable distributions of exposure. However, there have been limited national-scale assessments of aircraft noise exposure over time and across noise metrics, limiting evaluation of population exposure patterns. Objec...

Importance: Approximately 65% of adults in the US consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily. Objective: To study the associations between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and incidence of liver cancer and chronic liver disease mortality. Design, setting, and participants: A prospective cohort with 98 786 pos...

Background and aim: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and in the serum of the U.S. Population: We sought to evaluate the association of PFAS independently and jointly with alcohol intake on liver function biomarkers in a sample of the U.S. general population. Methods: Using data from the National Heal...

HCC, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. HCC disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. A practical framework is needed to organize the complex patient, provider, health system, and societal factors that drive these racial and ethn...

Unlabelled: There is limited research examining aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of aircraft noise with CVD among two US cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII). Methods: Between 1994 and 2014, we followed 57,306 NHS and 60,058 NH...

Background: Among cirrhosis patients, it remains unclear whether there are racial/ethnic differences in cirrhosis complications and mortality. We examined the associations between race/ethnicity and risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis decompensation, and all-cause mortality overall and by cirrhosis etiology. Methods: US Veterans d...

Background: There is emerging evidence that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing liver cancer. To date, there have been four epidemiologic studies conducted in the United States, Taiwan, and Europe showing generally consistent positive associations between ambient exposure to air pollutants, including particulate matter <2.5 μm...

Background: Animal and experimental studies suggest circadian disruption increases colorectal cancer risk, but evidence in humans is limited. We examined night shift work, chronotype, and residential position within a time zone, proxies for circadian disruption, in relation to colorectal cancer risk. Methods: Participants in the Black Women's He...

Objectives: We aimed to combine the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and fibroscan-derived liver stiffness (LS) into a single score (FIB-5) that predicts incident complications of portal hypertension (PH) in persons with compensated liver disease. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we identified 5849 US veterans who underwent LS measurement fr...

Inverse associations between natural vegetation exposure (i.e., greenness) and breast cancer risk have been reported; however, it remains unknown whether greenness affects breast tissue development or operates through other mechanisms (e.g., body mass index [BMI] or physical activity). We examined the association between greenness and mammographic...

Objectives Intake of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB), a postulated risk factor for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, may drive insulin resistance and inflammation which are strongly implicated in liver carcinogenesis. However, evidence on the association between SSB intake and liver cancer is scarce. We hypothesized that higher SSB inta...

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Particulate matter air pollution <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) is a ubiquitous exposure primarily produced from fossil fuel combustion. Previous epidemiologic studies have been mixed. The objective of this study was to examine the association betwee...

Objective Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is associated with photosensitivity, rashes, and flares in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it is not known whether UV exposure increases risk of developing SLE. We examined UV exposure and SLE risk in a large prospective cohort. Methods The Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) enrolled 121,700 US fe...

Background: In the United States liver cancer is the 5th and 7th most common cause of cancer related-death among men and women, respectively. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Asian and Pacific Islander populations experience the highest incidence rates of liver cancer, but little is known about disparities in risk of advanced sta...

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a health crisis of which older adults are a high-risk group for severe illness and mortality. The objectives of this paper are to describe the methods and responses to a COVID-19 survey administered by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) to assess the impact of the pandemic on older women. Methods WHI is an ongo...

Background: Communities with lower socioeconomic status and higher prevalence of racial/ethnic minority populations are often more exposed to environmental pollutants. Although studies have shown associations between aircraft noise and property values and various health outcomes, little is known about how aircraft noise exposures are sociodemograp...

Background Ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been increasing due to climate change. While this may result in adverse health consequences such as an increased incidence of skin cancer, UV radiation is also a source of vitamin D, which has been hypothesized to be protective for breast cancer risk. Methods Using a spatiotemporal kriging model, w...

Ambient dioxin exposure from industrial sources, excluding exposures from occupations and accidental releases/contamination, may be associated with risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of this study was to examine the association between county-level ambient dioxin air emissions from industrial sources and HCC risk in th...

Background: Aircraft noise can affect populations living near airports. Chronic exposure to aircraft noise has been associated with cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. However, previous studies have been limited in their ability to characterize noise exposures over time and to adequately control for confounders. Objectives: The aim o...

Background Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a critical environmental factor for dermal conversion of vitamin D, which is suggested to support reproductive health. However, current epidemiological studies have reported conflicting results on the associations between vitamin D levels and ovarian reserve. Further, few studies have considered UV exp...

This study examines geographic variations of HPV vaccine uptake, the most significant disparity in HPV vaccination, in Washington State. We evaluated Washington State Immunization Information System (WA-IIS) data on target age (11–12 year old adolescents) between 2008 and 2018. A Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis was conducted to examine uptake at...

Given the continued burden of COVID-19 worldwide, there is a high unmet need for data on the effect of social distancing and face mask use to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. We examined the association of community-level social distancing measures and individual face mask use with risk of predicted COVID-19 in a large prospective U.S. cohort study o...

Objective To examine the association between ambient temperature and antral follicle count (AFC), a standard measure of ovarian reserve. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Fertility center at an academic hospital in the northeastern United States. Patient(s) 631 women attending the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center (2005–2015...

Research into the potential impact of the food environment on liver cancer incidence has been limited, though there is evidence showing that specific foods and nutrients may be potential risk or preventive factors. Data on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registrie...

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a public health emergency. Social distancing is a key approach to slowing disease transmission. However, more evidence is needed on its efficacy, and little is known on the types of areas where it is more or less effective. We obtained county-level data on COVID-19 incidence and mortality during the first wave, smartphone-ba...

STUDY QUESTION Is recreational and residential sun exposure associated with risk of endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Tanning bed use in early adulthood, sunscreen use and history of sunburns were associated with a greater risk of endometriosis; however, higher residential UV exposure was associated with a lower endometriosis risk. WHAT IS KNOWN ALRE...

Given the continued burden of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) across the U.S., there is a high unmet need for data to inform decision-making regarding social distancing and universal masking. We examined the association of community-level social distancing measures and individual masking with risk of...

Background The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radon and its decay-products as Group-1-human-carcinogens, and with the current knowledge they are linked specifically to lung cancer. Biokinetic models predict that radon could deliver a carcinogenic dose to breast tissue. Our previous work suggested that low-dose radon was asso...

Background: Differences in multiple sclerosis (MS) risk by latitude have been observed worldwide; however, the exposures driving these associations are unknown. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) has been explored as a risk factor, and ambient temperature has been correlated with disease progression. However, no study has examined the impact of all three...

Social distancing policies were implemented in most US states as a containment strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The effectiveness of these policy interventions on morbidity and mortality remains unknown. Our analysis examined the associations between statewide policies and objective measures of social d...

Vetter et al. respond to Martín-Olalla's comment about their study linking motor vehicle fatalities to the transition to Daylight Saving Time.

Background Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants generated from industrial combustion processes such as waste incineration. To date, results from epidemiologic studies of dioxin exposure and breast cancer risk have been mixed. Objectives To prospectively examine the association between ambient dioxin exposure using a nationwide spatial databas...

Background and aims: Little is known about the role of low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We prospectively evaluated the associations between plant-based and animal-based LCDs and risk of HCC in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). Approach and results...

Precis: In a cohort study of 120,307 participants with 25+ years of follow-up, a history of non-melanoma skin cancer was associated with a 40% higher exfoliation glaucoma risk. Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between non-melanoma skin cancer (a marker of ultraviolet radiation exposure) and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Methods: We performe...

Background: Evidence of geographic disparities in breast cancer incidence within the U.S. and spatial analyses can provide insight into the potential contribution of environmental exposures or other geographically-varying factors to these disparities. Methods: We applied generalized additive models (GAMs) to smooth geocoded residential coordinat...

There is evidence that the spring Daylight Saving Time (DST) transition acutely increases motor vehicle accident (MVA) risk ("DST effect"), which has been partly attributed to sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment [1-6]. Because spring DST also shifts clock time 1 h later, mornings are darker and evenings brighter, changing illumination cond...

Objective: To examine the association between ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in 3 prospective cohorts. Patients and methods: We included 205,756 participants from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; 1986-2008), Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1996-2012), and Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II; 1991-20...

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions from industrial sources contaminate the surrounding environment. Proximity-based exposure surrogates assume accuracy in the location of PCDD/F sources, but locations are not often verified. We manually reviewed locations (i.e., smokestack geo-coordinates) in a historical database...

Although adherence to healthy dietary guidelines has been associated with a reduced risk of several health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, little is known about the role of dietary patterns in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. We prospectively assessed the associations of 3 key commonly used...

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, the primary source of vitamin D for most people, may reduce breast cancer risk. To date, epidemiologic studies have shown inconsistent results. Methods: The Nurses' Health Study II is a U.S. nationwide prospective cohort of female registered nurses. A UV exposure model was linked with geocoded res...

International Journal of Health Geographics. 2019; 18:7. Abstract: The moulding together of artificial intelligence (AI) and the geographic/GIS (geographic information systems) dimension creates GeoAI. There is an emerging role for GeoAI in health and healthcare, as location is an integral part of both population and individual health. This articl...

Purpose of Review The objective of this review was to summarize recent epidemiologic research examining the associations between environmental exposures and liver cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent Findings There were 28 liver cancer studies showing positive associations for exposures to aflatoxin, air pollution, polycycli...

Geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI) is an emerging scientific discipline that combines innovations in spatial science, artificial intelligence methods in machine learning (e.g., deep learning), data mining, and high-performance computing to extract knowledge from spatial big data. In environmental epidemiology, exposure modeling is a commonl...

Background Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) exposure may lead to worsened photosensitivity, rashes, and systemic flares among SLE patients. Although UV-B radiation damages keratinocytes and may result in production of novel forms of autoantigens, it remains unknown whether UV-B exposure increases the risk of developing SLE. We aimed to examine the as...

Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In the U.S., the incidence rate of HCC has tripled since 1975. Although preliminary evidence suggesting a biological impact of diet on multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis, the most c...

Purpose: To conduct the first epidemiologic study prospectively examining the association between particulate matter air pollution < 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in the U.S. Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) provided information on HCC cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2014...

Background: Findings from a recent prospective cohort study in California suggested increased risk of breast cancer associated with higher exposure to certain carcinogenic and estrogen-disrupting hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). However, to date, no nationwide studies have evaluated these possible associations. Our objective was to examine the imp...

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is unknown whether T2D duration or additional metabolic comorbidities further contribute to HCC risk. Methods: From the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), 120,826 women were enrolled in 1980, and from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), 50,28...

Background: Tetracycline is a photosensitising medication that increases skin vulnerability to UV-related damage. Methods: We prospectively examined tetracycline use and risk of incident melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) based on 213 536 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHS2, and Health Prof...

Background: Urban sound levels are a ubiquitous environmental stressor and have been shown to be associated with a wide variety of health outcomes. While much is known about the predictors of A-weighted sound pressure levels in the urban environment, far less is known about other frequencies. Objective: To develop a series of spatial-temporal so...

Purpose: To review the epidemiologic literature examining pesticide exposure and liver cancer incidence. Methods: A search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted in October 2015. Eligibility criteria included examining hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer, pesticides as an exposure of interest, and individual-level i...