FAF2 is a bifunctional regulator of peroxisomal homeostasis and saturated lipid responses.

Exposure to saturated fatty acids (SFAs), such as palmitic acid, can lead to cellular metabolic dysfunction known as lipotoxicity. Although canonical adaptive metabolic processes like lipid storage or desaturation are known cellular responses to saturated fat exposure, the link between SFA metabolism and organellar biology remains an area of active inquiry. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in human epithelial cells to identify modulators of SFA toxicity.

Development of a physical performance summary score in middle age: Findings from the CARDIA Function study.

Few physical performance batteries exist that appropriately evaluate physical limitations in middle-aged adults. We aimed to develop a physical performance summary score that is appropriate for use in epidemiology studies of middle-aged adults using data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Function study, which assessed self-reported function (PROMIS-SF20a) and physical performance measures (gait speed, balance, lower-body strength, grip strength, and cardiovascular endurance). The CARDIA Physical Performance (CAPP) score was developed using sex-specific quartiles, assigning points based on these quartiles (0 for not attempted, 1-4 for each quartile), and summing points across all performance measures (0-20, higher scores reflect greater performance).

Community-Engaged Development of a Nutrition Curriculum: The Go Healthy Indigenous-Supported Agriculture Study.

Objective: To understand how Osage Nation community members define healthy eating and develop a corresponding nutrition curriculum through community engagement.

Design: This project comprised a concurrent embedded mixed methods group concept mapping (GCM) study followed by focus group discussions (FGD) to provide feedback on a nutrition curriculum.

Setting: Osage Nation, Oklahoma.

Associations of adverse childhood experiences with blood pressure among early adolescents in the United States.

The associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with blood pressure in adulthood are inconclusive. Similarly, the association between ACEs and blood pressure earlier in the life course is understudied. This study aims to assess the associations of ACEs with blood pressure among early adolescents.

Theoretical Behavior Substitutions during the 24-Hour Day in Pregnancy and Infant Growth Outcomes.

Purpose: To assess associations of theoretically reallocating time from sleep, sedentary behavior, or light intensity physical activity (LPA) to moderate/vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) during pregnancy with infant growth outcomes.

Methods: We used data from a cohort of pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity (n = 116). At 9-15 and 30-36 weeks gestation, waking movement was measured using wrist-worn accelerometers and sleep duration was self-reported.

Predictors of Utilization Frequency of and Expenditure Amount for Chiropractic Care in U.S. Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prospective associations of baseline personal characteristics with utilization frequency and expenditure of chiropractic care in US adults (≥18 years).

Methods: Data are from the 1358 respondents to the 2014 to 2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey who utilized chiropractic care. Individual, familial, health-related, and behavioral factors were included as covariates in the multivariate analytic model.

National Trends in the Utilization and Expenditure of Chiropractic Care in U.S. Adults: Analysis of the 2007-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the trends in the utilization and expenditure of chiropractic care in a representative sample of US adults, aged ≥18 years.

Methods: Serial cross-sectional data (2007-2016) from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were examined. Weighted descriptive statistics were analyzed to obtain national estimates of chiropractic utilization and expenditure, and time-series linear regression was used to assess trends over time.

The relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and coronary artery calcification to cardiovascular disease events in CARDIA participants.

Aims: Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. While a U-shaped relationship between CRF or MVPA and CAC has been reported, the presence of CAC among highly fit individuals might be benign. We examined interactive associations of CRF or MVPA and CAC with outcomes and evaluated the relationship of CRF and MVPA to CAC incidence.

Associations of Urban Blue and Green Spaces With Coronary Artery Calcification in Black Individuals and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.

Background: Proximity to urban blue and green spaces has been associated with improved cardiovascular health; however, few studies have examined the role of race and socioeconomic status in these associations.

Methods: Data were from the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). We included longitudinal measurements (1985-1986 to 2010-2011) of blue and green spaces, including percentage of blue space cover, distance to the nearest river, green space cover, and distance to the nearest major park.

Inhibiting spinal cord-specific hsp90 isoforms reveals a novel strategy to improve the therapeutic index of opioid treatment.

Opioids are the gold standard for the treatment of chronic pain but are limited by adverse side effects. In our earlier work, we showed that Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) has a crucial role in regulating opioid signaling in spinal cord; Hsp90 inhibition in spinal cord enhances opioid anti-nociception. Building on these findings, we injected the non-selective Hsp90 inhibitor KU-32 by the intrathecal route into male and female CD-1 mice, showing that morphine anti-nociceptive potency was boosted by 1.

Large language models reshaping molecular biology and drug development.

The utilization of large language models (LLMs) has become a significant advancement in the domains of medicine and clinical informatics, providing a revolutionary potential for scientific breakthroughs and customized therapies. LLM models are trained on large datasets and exhibit the capacity to comprehend and analyze intricate biological data, encompassing genomic sequences, protein structures, and clinical health records. With the utilization of their comprehension of the language of biology, they possess the ability to reveal concealed patterns and insights that may evade human researchers.

Proteomic analysis of cardiorespiratory fitness for prediction of mortality and multisystem disease risks.

Despite the wide effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on metabolic, cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological health, challenges in the feasibility and reproducibility of CRF measurements have impeded its use for clinical decision-making. Here we link proteomic profiles to CRF in 14,145 individuals across four international cohorts with diverse CRF ascertainment methods to establish, validate and characterize a proteomic CRF score. In a cohort of around 22,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, a proteomic CRF score was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (unadjusted hazard ratio 0.

Association of Cardiovascular Health in Young Adulthood With Long-Term Blood Pressure Trajectories.

Background: Cardiovascular health (CVH) in young adulthood (YA) has been associated with cardiovascular outcomes in older age. However, little is known about the relationship between YA CVH and mid-life blood pressure (BP) trajectories.

Methods: Baseline CVH (defined by 7 of the American Heart Association's [AHA] Life's Essential 8 [LE8] metrics, excluding BP) was measured in YA with individual metrics scored and averaged as a composite LE8 score.

Multimorbidity trajectories in early adulthood and middle age: Findings from the CARDIA prospective cohort study.

Background: Multimorbidity research has focused on the prevalence and consequences of multimorbidity in older populations. Less is known about the accumulation of chronic conditions earlier in the life course.

Methods: We identified patterns of longitudinal multimorbidity accumulation using 30 years of data from in-person exams, annual follow-ups, and adjudicated end-points among 4,945 participants of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Transforming Big Data into AI-ready data for nutrition and obesity research.

Objective: Big Data are increasingly used in obesity and nutrition research to gain new insights and derive personalized guidance; however, this data in raw form are often not usable. Substantial preprocessing, which requires machine learning (ML), human judgment, and specialized software, is required to transform Big Data into artificial intelligence (AI)- and ML-ready data. These preprocessing steps are the most complex part of the entire modeling pipeline.

Validation of a Zio XT Patch Accelerometer for the Objective Assessment of Physical Activity in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Background: Combination devices to monitor heart rate/rhythms and physical activity are becoming increasingly popular in research and clinical settings. The Zio XT Patch (iRhythm Technologies, San Francisco, CA, USA) is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for monitoring heart rhythms, but the validity of its accelerometer for assessing physical activity is unknown.

Objective: To validate the accelerometer in the Zio XT Patch for measuring physical activity against the widely-used ActiGraph GT3X.

Behavior reallocations within 24-h movement profiles and change in cardiometabolic biomarkers during pregnancy.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate associations of reallocations within 24-h movement profiles and changes in cardiometabolic biomarkers from early to late pregnancy.

Methods: In 137 individuals with prepregnancy overweight/obesity, waking movement was measured using wrist-worn accelerometers, sleep was self-reported, and biomarkers were measured in fasting serum samples at 12 and 32 weeks' gestation. We used compositional isotemporal substitution models.

Chronic Stress and Cardiovascular Events: Findings From the CARDIA Study.

Introduction: Higher levels of perceived stress are associated with adverse cardiovascular health. It is plausible that these associations are attenuated among individuals with positive psychological factors such as social support and health-enhancing behaviors. Therefore, this study examined longitudinal associations of chronic stress with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, and whether social support and physical activity (PA) modify these associations.

Breaking Up Sedentary Time Reduces Recurrent Fall Risk, but Not Incident Fracture Risk in Older Men.

Apart from physical activity volume, frequent breaks from sedentary bouts and active bouts may differentially reduce fall and fracture risk. We assessed the longitudinal relationship between frequency of breaks from time spent sedentary and frequency of active bouts with recurrent falls and fractures. The sample included 2918 men aged 79.

Social and Behavior Factors of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: A National Study in the U.S.

Introduction: Considerable research has linked many risk factors to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Without a clear etiology of ADRD, it is advantageous to rank the known risk factors by their importance and determine if disparities exist. Statistical-based ranking can provide insight into which risk factors should be further evaluated.

Plasma Neuronal Growth Regulator 1 May Link Physical Activity to Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Proteome-Wide Study of ARIC Participants.

Habitual physical activity (PA) impacts the plasma proteome and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using a large-scale proteome-wide approach in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants, we aimed to identify plasma proteins associated with PA and determine which of these may be causally related to lower T2D risk. PA was associated with 92 plasma proteins in discovery (P < 1.