Cognitive benefits of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy track with epigenetic changes at an imprint regulator.

Background: The human ZFP57 gene is a major regulator of imprinted genes, maintaining DNA methylation marks that distinguish parent-of-origin-specific alleles. DNA methylation of the gene itself has shown sensitivity to environmental stimuli, particularly folate status. However, the role of DNA methylation in ZFP57's own regulation has not been fully investigated.

Synergistic-like decreases in alcohol intake following combined pharmacotherapy with GLP-1 and amylin in male rats.

Background And Purpose: The limited effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) highlights the need for novel therapies. These may involve the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor or the amylin receptor, as treatment with agonists targeting either of these receptors lowers alcohol intake. The complexity of the mechanisms underlying AUD indicates that combining agents could enhance treatment efficacy.

B-vitamins and one-carbon metabolism during pregnancy: health impacts and challenges.

Folate, vitamin B, vitamin B and riboflavin interact by functioning as cofactors within one-carbon metabolism (OCM), a network of interrelated cellular pathways essential for numerous biological processes, including the biosynthesis of DNA, amino acid interconversions and methylation reactions. The pathways of OCM are influenced by endocrine signals and genetic polymorphisms and are particularly responsive to relevant B-vitamin intakes. Physiological changes in healthy pregnancy, leading to a steady decline in B-vitamin status, add another layer of complexity to the regulation of OCM.

Identification of nutrition factors in the metabolic syndrome and its progression over time in older adults: analysis of the TUDA cohort.

Background: Nutrition is recognized as playing an important role in the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the dietary components involved are unclear. We aimed to investigate nutrition factors in relation to MetS and its progression in older adults over a follow-up period of 5.4 years.

Exploring variations in recommended first-choice therapy for complicated urinary tract infections in males: Insights from outpatient settings across age, race, and ethnicity.

Introduction: There are known disparities in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, disparities in treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are largely uninvestigated.

Objectives: We characterized UTI treatment among males in Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient settings by age, race, and ethnicity and identified demographic characteristics predictive of recommended first-choice antibiotic therapy.

Real-world utilization of ceftazidime/avibactam among inpatients in the national Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

Purpose: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections are challenging to treat due to underlying patient conditions, pathogen characteristics, and high antibiotic resistance rates. As newer antibiotic therapies come to market, limited data exist about their real-world utilization.

Methods: This was a national retrospective cohort study of ceftazidime/avibactam (approved in 2015) utilization among inpatients from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, from 2015 through 2021.

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Utilization for the Treatment of Non-hospitalized Adults with COVID-19 in the National Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System.

Introduction: Limited data exist regarding real-world utilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. We identified predictors of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use among Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients nationally.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who were eligible to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between January and December of 2022, to identify factors associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use (i.

Low-Grade systemic inflammation is associated with domain-specific cognitive performance and cognitive decline in older adults: Data from the TUDA study.

Studies examining the relationships between chronic inflammation, cognitive function and cognitive decline in older adults have yielded conflicting results. In a large cohort of older adults free from established dementia (n = 3270; 73.1 ± 7.

Exploring apprentice nursing associates' experiences of their home placements in primary care or social care.

Background: An increasing number of apprentice nursing associates undertake their home placement in primary care or social care, but there is limited understanding of apprentice nursing associates' experiences in these settings.

Aim: To explore apprentice nursing associates' experiences of a home placement in primary care or social care and provide initial insight into what may support or hinder their professional development in these settings.

Method: A mixed-methods study design was used with qualitative interviews complemented by a quantitative survey.

Student nurses' experiences of discrimination and racism on work placements: What can higher education institutions do?

Background: There is persistent interpersonal, institutional and structural racism within the health sector and higher education. Such anti-Black and anti-Brown racisms are experienced by nursing students, nursing apprentices and fully qualified nurses. This discrimination intersects with other characteristics, namely gender and student status, which can make the nursing profession an unsafe environment for many.

Prenatal Exposure to Opioids and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: A Bayesian Mediation Analysis.

This study explores natural direct and joint natural indirect effects (JNIE) of prenatal opioid exposure on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children mediated through pregnancy complications, major and minor congenital malformations, and adverse neonatal outcomes, using Medicaid claims linked to vital statistics in Rhode Island, United States, 2008-2018. A Bayesian mediation analysis with elastic net shrinkage prior was developed to estimate mean time to NDD diagnosis ratio using posterior mean and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) from Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms. Simulation studies showed desirable model performance.

PYY infused systemically or directly into the VTA attenuates fentanyl seeking in male rats.

More effective treatments for fentanyl use disorder are urgently needed. An emerging literature indicates that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists attenuate voluntary opioid taking and seeking in rodents. However, GLP-1R agonists produce adverse malaise-like effects that may limit patient compliance.

Decreasing Antibiotic Resistance Trends Nationally in Gram-Negative Bacteria Across United States Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, 2011-2020.

Introduction: Gram-negative resistance is a well-acknowledged public health threat. Surveillance data can be used to monitor resistance trends and identify strategies to mitigate their threat. The objective of this study was to assess antibiotic resistance trends in Gram-negative bacteria.

Association of dietary flavan-3-ol intakes with plasma phenyl-γ-valerolactones: analysis from the TUDA cohort of healthy older adults.

Background: Dietary polyphenols, including flavan-3-ols (F3O), are associated with better health outcomes. The relationship of plasma phenyl-γ-valerolactones (PVLs), the products of colonic bacterial metabolism of F3O, with dietary intakes is unclear.

Objectives: To investigate whether plasma PVLs are associated with self-reported intakes of total F3O and procyanidins+(epi)catechins.

Contribution of folic acid to human health and challenges of translating the science into effective policy: a call to action for the implementation of food fortification in Ireland.

Over 30 years ago it was proven beyond doubt that folic acid supplementation of mothers in early pregnancy protects against neural tube defects (NTD) in their babies. Such conclusive scientific evidence led to clear recommendations for women worldwide to take 0⋅4 mg/d folic acid before conceiving and in early pregnancy, but implementing these into effective policy has been problematic. As a result, there has been no change in the incidence of NTD in Ireland, the UK or any other European country over the 25-year period that the current strategy, recommending periconceptional folic acid supplements to women, has been in place.

Comparative effectiveness and complications of intravenous ceftriaxone compared with oral doxycycline in Lyme meningitis in children: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in the Northern hemisphere with more than 400 000 new cases in the USA annually. Lyme meningitis is an uncommon but potentially serious clinical manifestation of Lyme disease. Intravenous ceftriaxone had been the first-line treatment for Lyme meningitis, but is associated with a high rate of complications.

Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Settings: Rural Patients Are More Likely to Receive Fluoroquinolones and Longer Antibiotic Courses.

Suboptimal antibiotic prescribing may be more common in patients living in rural versus urban areas due to various factors such as decreased access to care and diagnostic testing equipment. Prior work demonstrated a rural health disparity of overprescribing antibiotics and longer durations of antibiotic therapy in the United States; however, large-scale evaluations are limited. We evaluated the association of rural residence with suboptimal outpatient antibiotic use in the national Veterans Affairs (VA) system.

Epigenetic effects of folate and related B vitamins on brain health throughout life: Scientific substantiation and translation of the evidence for health improvement strategies.

Suboptimal status of folate and/or interrelated B vitamins (B , B and riboflavin) can perturb one-carbon metabolism and adversely affect brain development in early life and brain function in later life. Human studies show that maternal folate status during pregnancy is associated with cognitive development in the child, whilst optimal B vitamin status may help to prevent cognitive dysfunction in later life. The biological mechanisms explaining these relationships are not clear but may involve folate-related DNA methylation of epigenetically controlled genes related to brain development and function.

Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Pharmacist-Administered Pediatric Influenza Immunization.

Pediatricians' offices are primary locations for pediatric influenza vaccination; however, pharmacists are also well-positioned as immunizers. Considering the current COVID-19 pandemic and Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, pharmacists' authority to vaccinate children has been recently expanded. We used the de-identified Optum Clinformatics Data Mart database to identify demographic and clinical predictors of pharmacist-administered pediatric influenza vaccination compared with influenza vaccination in pediatricians' offices.

Treatment, clinical outcomes, and predictors of mortality among a national cohort of hospitalized patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection.

Objectives: To analyze treatment, clinical outcomes, and predictors of inpatient mortality in hospitalized patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We included patients admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals nationally with S.

Trends in antibiotic resistance rates in the United States Veterans Affairs Health System.

. is an important multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen. While largely a hospital-acquired pathogen, there have been increasing reports of the pathogen in the community.

Pediatric influenza vaccination rates lower than previous estimates in the United States.

Background: Annually, pediatric influenza vaccination coverage estimates are ascertained from health surveys, such as the National Immunization Survey (NIS-Flu). From 2010 to 2017, vaccination coverage among children ranged from 51 to 59 %. Recognizing the limitations of national health survey data, we sought to describe temporal trends in pediatric influenza vaccination coverage, and demographic differences among a commercially insured large national cohort from 07/01/2010 to 06/30/2017.

Pharmacist-Administered Influenza Vaccination in Children and Corresponding Regulations.

In our retrospective cohort study, we evaluated trends in pharmacist-administered pediatric influenza vaccination rates in the United States and corresponding state-level pharmacist pediatric vaccination authorization models, including minimum age requirements, vaccination protocols, and/or prescription requirements. An administrative health claims database was used to capture influenza vaccinations in children less than 18 years old with 1 year of continuous enrollment and joinpoint regression was used to assess trends. Of the 3,937,376 pediatric influenza vaccinations identified over the study period, only 3.