Characterization of sleep apnea among a sample of adults from Samoa.

Sleep apnea is a global public health concern, but little research has examined this issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. The purpose of this study was to examine the sample prevalence and characteristics of sleep apnea using a validated home sleep apnea device (WatchPAT, Itamar) and explore factors that may influence sleep health in the Samoan setting. This study used data collected through the ("Good Health") study, which investigated the impact of the body mass index (BMI)-associated genetic variant rs373863828 in on metabolic traits in Samoan adults (sampled to overrepresent the obesity-risk allele of interest).

A genome-wide association study of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in Samoan women.

Study Question: Can a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) help identify genetic variation or genes associated with circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in Samoan women?

Summary Answer: We identified eleven genome-wide suggestive loci (strongest association signal in 19-946163-G-C [ = 2.32 × 10⁻⁷]) and seven transcriptome-wide significant genes ( [all with a < 2.50 × 10⁻⁶]) associated with circulating AMH levels in Samoan women.

Associations between DNA methylation and cognitive function in early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients.

Background: Approximately one-third of breast cancer (BC) patients show poorer cognitive function (CF) before receiving adjuvant therapy compared with age-matched healthy controls. However, the biological mechanisms driving CF variation in the context of BC remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify genes and biological pathways associated with CF in postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+) BC using DNA methylation (DNAm) data, a dynamic regulator of gene activity.

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial of blue light versus red light for improving sleep, fatigue, and cognition following stroke: Pilot results and recommendations for further study.

Background: Disordered sleep and fatigue are common in the acute phase of stroke and can impede recovery.

Objective: A randomized parallel group placebo-controlled pilot study compared daily morning exposure to blue light or red light (placebo) for improving daytime sleepiness, fatigue, nocturnal sleep, and cognition in patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation for acute stroke.

Methods: 43 patients with disordered sleep secondary to first episode stroke (n = 34 ischemic, n = 9 hemorrhagic; aged 66.

Covid-19 vaccination status and beliefs of individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and alcohol use disorder.

Objective: The study objective was to determine factors associated with obtaining COVID-19 vaccination in people with co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) and serious mental illness (SMI).

Methods: Survey responses were obtained from 135 adults with SMI seeking community-based AUD treatment about their primary series vaccination status, COVID-19 preventative practices, vaccination motivators, reasons for vaccine hesitancy, and strategies to increase vaccination uptake. Vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were compared.