The Role of Intersectional Stigma in Coronary Artery Disease Among Cisgender Women Aging with HIV.

Cisgender women living with HIV experience elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk that increases with age, a concern given extended life expectancies for people living with HIV. The CVD risk disparity among cisgender women aging with HIV is understudied and remains unclear. Taking a psychoneuroimmunology approach, given this group's intersecting marginalized identities, one potential driver of the disparity is intersectional stigma.

Developing a stress induction tool relevant to relationships in a health context.

Concerns pertaining to health and to problems in close relationships are both known to be major stressors, yet existing tools are inadequate to assess individual reactions to such stressors. Thus, we sought to develop and preliminarily validate a stress-inducing task for use in a laboratory setting that pertains to the sorts of health-related concerns people face in close relationships. Heterosexual dating couples (44 individuals: mean age 22) were randomized to be paired with their own partner or a stranger and to play a role of speaker or listener.

Circulating endothelial and angiogenic cells predict hippocampal volume as a function of HIV status.

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and myeloid angiogenic cells (MACs) have the capacity to stabilize human blood vessels in vivo. Evidence suggests that these cells are depleted in dementia and in persons living with HIV (PWH), who have a higher prevalence of dementia and other cognitive deficits associated with aging. However, the associations of CECs and MACs with MRI-based measures of aging brain health, such as hippocampal gray matter volume, have not been previously demonstrated.

Sex differences in the association of vital exhaustion with regional fat deposition and subclinical cardiovascular disease risk.

Objective: Vital exhaustion (VE) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk for women than men. This study examined whether sex differences in associations of VE with CVD risk markers are accounted for by unique associations of VE with regional adiposity.

Methods: The study enrolled 143 persons (18-55 years) without diagnosed conditions.

Abacavir antiretroviral therapy and indices of subclinical vascular disease in persons with HIV.

Objective: Indices of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, vascular endothelial dilation, arterial stiffness and endothelial repair were examined in persons with HIV (PWH) on an antiretroviral therapy (ART) that included abacavir (ABC+) in comparison with PWH on ART without abacavir (ABC-), and with HIV seronegative (HIV-) individuals.

Approach: The 115 participants (63% men), aged 30-50 years, did not have CVD, metabolic, endocrine, or chronic renal conditions. PWH were on stable ART for six-months or more.

Hepatic FoxOs link insulin signaling with plasma lipoprotein metabolism through an apolipoprotein M/sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway.

Multiple beneficial cardiovascular effects of HDL depend on sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P associates with HDL by binding to apolipoprotein M (ApoM). Insulin resistance is a major driver of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk.

Predicting cardiovascular risk using a novel risk score in young and middle-age adults with HIV: associations with biomarkers and carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

Background: Traditional risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) include older age, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and family history. Young-to-middle age adults (YMAA) are less often identified as being at risk of CVD, but traditional risk scores primarily target older adults and do not accurately estimate risk among YMAA.

Methods: This study examined biomarkers associated with CVD risk in YMAA in the context of HIV and cocaine use; risk was assessed by two methods: (1) a relative cardiovascular (CV) risk score that includes several factors and (2) carotid atherosclerotic plaque.

Systemic Inflammation and Cognitive Decrements in Patients With Stage B Heart Failure.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of systemic inflammation in reduced cognitive functioning in patients with early-stage heart failure (HF) while determining associations with other cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Patients with stage B HF (n = 270; mean [standard deviation] age = 66.1 [10.

Associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and left ventricular structure and function from the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (ECHO-SOL).

Objective: The cross-sectional association between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and cardiac structure and function is less well described. This study's primary aim was to compare echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function with accelerometer measured PA and SB.

Methods: Participants included 1206 self-identified Hispanic/Latino men and women, age 45-74 years, from the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos.

Cardiovascular disease and prevention among people living with HIV in South Florida.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved survival of patients living with HIV (PLWH); however, this has been accompanied by an increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although preventative measures for CVD among the general population are well described, information is limited about CVD prevention among PLWH. The goal of this study was to characterize the prevalence of CVD in our population and to assess the use of primary and secondary prevention.

Occupational Exposures and Cardiac Structure and Function: ECHO-SOL (Echocardiographic Study of Latinos).

Background Our objective was to determine associations of occupational exposures with cardiac structure and function in Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods and Results Employed participants were included (n=782; 52% women, mean age 52.9 years).

Association Between Sleep Disordered Breathing and Left Ventricular Function: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the ECHO-SOL Ancillary Study.

Background: Prior studies have found that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common among those with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and heart failure. Few epidemiological studies have examined this association, especially in US Hispanic/Latinos, who may be at elevated risk of SDB and heart failure.

Methods: We examined associations between SDB and LV diastolic and systolic function using data from 1506 adults aged 18 to 64 years in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos ECHO-SOL Ancillary Study (2011-2014).

The contribution of syndemic conditions to cardiovascular disease risk.

The syndemic conditions of low education, childhood maltreatment, depression, HIV, alcohol and cocaine use, and obesity have been established as independent risk factors for cardiovascular risk, but research examining the association between syndemic conditions and cardiovascular risk in high-risk populations is lacking. A total of  = 503 participants underwent an ultrasound of the carotid artery to assess for atherosclerotic plaque. Participants, HIV-infected ( = 202) and HIV-uninfected ( = 301) with and without a history of cocaine use, were a mean age of 36.

The Effect of Transendocardial Stem Cell Injection on Erectile Function in Men With Cardiomyopathy: Results From the TRIDENT, POSEIDON, and TAC-HFT Trials.

Background: Despite limited human data, there is a growing interest in the use of stem cell therapy (SCT) for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim: To determine the effect of transendocardial stem cell injection on erectile function on men with cardiomyopathy and ED.

Methods: We used International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores collected from men enrolled in 3 separate randomized controlled trials: Comparison of Allogeneic vs Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered by Transendocardial Injection in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (POSEIDON), Transendocardial Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Mononuclear Bone Marrow Cells for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (TAC-HFT), and Dose Comparison Study of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (TRIDENT).

Early Insights into COVID-19 in Persons Living with HIV and Cardiovascular Manifestations.

Persons living with HIV-1 (PLHIV) are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications in part due to the persistent inflammatory state despite viral suppression. SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, was declared a pandemic virus in March 2020, and caused over 30 million cases and 900,000 deaths worldwide to date. Individuals with COVID-19 are manifesting acute cardiovascular complications because of the inflammatory response associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

An exploratory randomized sub-study of light-to-moderate intensity exercise on cognitive function, depression symptoms and inflammation in older adults with heart failure.

Objective: Almost half of patients with heart failure (HF) have cognitive impairment. While exercise relates to better cognitive health, a hallmark of HF is exercise intolerance. The study objective was to explore whether light-to-moderate exercise improves cognitive function in patients with HF.

HIV and carotid atherosclerosis: a mediational model.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the US and is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined the association between HIV infection, cocaine usage, and inflammatory markers, and their combined association with carotid atherosclerosis among young and middle-aged adults with HIV. Participants ( = 494) were enrolled based on HIV status and cocaine use.

Gender Identity, Hormone Therapy, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Transgender individuals represent a medically underserved and under researched population. There is a growing number of studies illustrating the importance of hormone therapy treatments in transgender men and women to assist ameliorating gender dysphoria and promoting well-being. However, the cardiovascular effects of these hormones are controversial.

Cardiac structure and function with and without metabolic syndrome: the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (Echo-SOL).

Objective: We assessed the hypothesis that metabolic syndrome is associated with adverse changes in cardiac structure and function in participants of the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (Echo-SOL).

Methods: Non-diabetic Echo-SOL participants were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 2009 Joint Scientific Statement.

Sleeping oxygen saturation, rapid eye movement sleep, and the adaptation of postprandial metabolic function in insulin sensitive and resistant individuals without diabetes.

Aims: Sleeping oxygen saturation (SaO) and sleep stage duration have been linked with prediabetic alterations but the pathogenic pathways are not well understood. This study of insulin sensitive and resistant adults examined the effect on postprandial metabolic regulation of repeated mixed-meal challenges of different carbohydrate loading. The aim was to examine whether the relationship between lower sleeping oxygen saturation (SaO) and poorer fasting and postprandial metabolic function may be linked with reduced slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) duration, independent of age, sex and total adiposity.

GLP-1 response to sequential mixed meals: influence of insulin resistance.

Previous work has shown that potentiation of insulin release is impaired in non-diabetic insulin resistance; we tested the hypothesis that this defect may be related to altered glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release. On consecutive days, 82 non-diabetic individuals, classified as insulin sensitive (IS, =41) or insulin resistant (IR, =41) by the euglycaemic clamp, were given two sequential mixed meals with standard (75 g, LCD) or double (150 g, HCD) carbohydrate content. Plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and GLP-1 concentrations were measured; β-cell function (glucose sensitivity and potentiation) was resolved by mathematical modelling.