Associations Between Visceral Fat, Abdominal Muscle, and Coronary Artery Calcification: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

The associations of body composition components, including muscle and adipose tissue, and markers of subclinical coronary artery disease are unclear. We examined the relation between abdominal computed tomography (CT)-derived measures of the area and density of fat and muscle with coronary artery calcification (CAC), using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). A total of 1,974 randomly selected MESA participants free of coronary heart disease underwent abdominal CT scans at examinations 2 or 3, with the resulting images interrogated for abdominal body composition.

Interventions for Optimization of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in real-world practice remains suboptimal. It is unclear which interventions are most effective at addressing current barriers to GDMT in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Objective: To perform a systematic review to identify which types of system-level initiatives are most effective at improving GDMT use among patients with HFrEF.

Obesity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Cardiovascular Disease.

Purpose Of Review: Obesity, generally defined by body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), while cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) decreases risk. In chronic CVD, an obesity survival paradox in which higher BMI is associated with improved prognosis has been reported. This paper will examine the effect of obesity on CVD risk, explore obesity as a risk factor in patients with established CVD, and investigate the relationship between CRF, obesity, and CVD.

Strategies for Imaging Metabolic Remodeling of the Heart in Obesity and Heart Failure.

Purpose Of Review: Define early myocardial metabolic changes among patients with obesity and heart failure, and to describe noninvasive methods and their applications for imaging cardiac metabolic remodeling.

Recent Findings: Metabolic remodeling precedes, triggers, and sustains functional and structural remodeling in the stressed heart. Alterations in cardiac metabolism can be assessed by using a variety of molecular probes.

Central line associated bloodstream infection caused by in a young child.

Introduction: , a yeast frequently mistaken for , has emerged in recent years as an opportunistic fungal pathogen, showing a predilection towards patients with immunosuppression, or those with long-term central venous access. This report describes a central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) due to , in a young child, which was successfully treated.

Case Report: The patient is a 5-year-old male with a history of short gut syndrome, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) dependence who presented to the emergency room with a two-day history of productive-cough, rhinorrhea, and fever.

Aortic root dilatation and dilated cardiomyopathy in an adult with Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome.

Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome is an autosomal dominant overgrowth syndrome caused by pathogenic DNMT3A variants in the germline. Clinical findings of tall stature due to postnatal overgrowth, intellectual disability, and characteristic facial features, are the most consistent findings observed in patients with Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS). Since the syndrome was first described in 2014, an expanding spectrum of neuropsychiatric, musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular manifestations have been reported.

Innovative Partnerships to Address Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Brighter Bites Produce Voucher Program.

The purpose of this communication is to describe the Brighter Bites produce voucher program, and its implementation and utilization across Brighter Bites families in four cities in the U.S., during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-Sectional Relationship between Regular Bedtime and Weight Status and Obesity-Related Behaviors among Preschool and Elementary School Children: TX CORD Study.

This study examines the relations between a regular weekday bedtime with weight status, diet quality, physical activity, wellbeing, and parental rules among children 2 to 12 years of age from low-income populations. The study used baseline data collected in 2012, as part of a larger quasiexperimental study design. A convenience sample of parents of children in preschools, second, or fifth grade attending Head Start centers or elementary schools located in low-income catchment areas, in Houston and Austin, TX, were recruited to participate in the study ( = 32 elementary schools;  = 12 Head Start centers).

Community-Academic Partnerships to Promote Health Literacy and Address Social Needs Among Low-Income Families During COVID-19.

Brighter Bites is a school-based health promotion program that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children and their families across 6 locations in the US. This article provides a perspective on how, despite coronavirus disease 2019-related school closures, Brighter Bites pivoted rapidly to collaborate with medical and public health institutions to improve health and food literacy among their families. Through these partnerships, Brighter Bites was able to rapidly provide accurate, evidence-based information related to coronavirus disease 2019 and other social needs, including food, housing, transportation, and access to health care, to help fill a needed gap in vulnerable communities.

Using a rapid assessment methodology to identify and address immediate needs among low-income households with children during COVID-19.

Objective: Brighter Bites is a school-based health promotion program that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children and families. Due to COVID-19-related school closures, states were under "shelter in place" orders, and Brighter Bites administered a rapid assessment survey to identify social needs among their families. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the methodology used to identify those with greatest social needs during this time ("high risk"), and to describe the response of Brighter Bites to these "high risk" families.

Medical Students' Participation in Longitudinal Community Service During Preclerkship Years: A Qualitative Study on Experiences and Perceived Outcomes.

The aim of this study was to qualitatively evaluate medical students perspectives of the benefits of a longitudinal volunteering experience compared with a 1-day community service experience. Fifteen medical students participated in 2 types of community service: (1) longitudinal, weekly volunteering from February to April of 2019 and (2) a single day of community service in March of 2019. Semistructured interviews were conducted to identify medical students perspectives of the impact of volunteering.

Parental and peer social support is associated with healthier physical activity behaviors in adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis of Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (TX SPAN) data.

Background: Parental and peer support can influence children's physical activity; however, these associations have not been fully examined in a multi-ethnic population across early and late adolescence. The objective of this study was to examine associations between perceived parental/peer social support, perceived parental disapproval for not exercising, and physical activity/screen time behaviors among a multi-ethnic sample of adolescents.

Methods: The Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition (TX SPAN) survey is a cross-sectional statewide probability-based survey, used to assess obesity-related behaviors such as diet and physical activity.

Perceived Parental and Peer Social Support Is Associated With Healthier Diets in Adolescents.

Objective: Investigate associations between perceived parental/peer support for a healthy diet and adolescent dietary behaviors using data from the 2009-2011 School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey.

Design: A secondary analysis of SPAN, a cross-sectional statewide study using a validated self-administered questionnaire, assessed obesity-related behaviors.

Setting: Probability-based sample of Texas 8th- and 11th-grade students.

Self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents.

Objective: The study aimed to examine nutrition label use and dietary behaviours among ethnically diverse middle- and high-school students, in Texas, USA.

Design: The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey is a cross-sectional statewide study using a self-administered questionnaire to assess nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Height and weight measurements were used to determine BMI.