Body composition estimates from bioelectrical impedance and its association with cardiovascular risk.

Background:  Screening for traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease is well known in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. However, other risk factors through newer tools (such as bioelectrical impedance analysis [BIA]) could also be predictors of increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). Body composition estimates (body fat percentage, body water percentage, body lean mass) by BIA and its association to CVR have been studied with variable results.

A rapid assessment of depressive and anxious symptoms among university students during the COVID-19 public health emergency: A repeated cross-sectional analysis.

Objectives: To identify potential associations between student characteristics and mental health symptoms during the early parts of the pandemic.

Participants: 3,883 students at a large public university on the West Coast of the United States.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional survey to assess health-protective behaviors, mental health, social support, and stigma resistance.

Geographic Variation of Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Central Appalachia.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) prevalence varies geographically in the United States.

Objective: To assess whether the geographic variation of ADRD in Central Appalachia is explained by county-level sociodemographics or access to care.

Methods: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Public Use Files from 2015- 2018 were used to estimate county-level ADRD prevalence among all fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries with≥1 inpatient, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, hospital outpatient or Carrier claim with a valid ADRD ICD-9/10 code over three-years in Central Appalachia (Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia).

Silent Struggles: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health in Law Enforcement.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of head injuries (HIs), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms in law enforcement officers (LEOs) and (2) the association between HIs and psychological health conditions.

Setting: County-level survey administered via Research Electronic Data Capture.

Participants: A total of 381 LEOs completed the survey (age = 43 ± 11 years; 40 [11%] females; time as LEO = 1-50 years, median = 15 years).

Adolescent maternal mortality at a district health services over a five year period in South Africa: A retrospective study.

Objective: To determine the trend in adolescent maternal deaths and deliveries over a period of 5 years and 9 months (July 2014-March 2020) at the Ekurhuleni Health District in South Africa.

Methods: The present study was a retrospective review and secondary data analysis using data from the District Health Information System and clinical oversight data from the District Clinical Specialist Team. The study population was adolescent pregnant women aged 10-19 years who died at health facilities.

Changes in Hydroxyurea Use Among Youths Enrolled in Medicaid With Sickle Cell Anemia After 2014 Revision of Clinical Guidelines.

Importance: Youths with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are at risk of pain crises, stroke, and early death. Complications can be reduced by the oral disease-modifying medication hydroxyurea, and in 2014, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute published revised guidelines that hydroxyurea should be offered to youths aged 9 months and older with SCA regardless of disease severity.

Objective: To describe changes in hydroxyurea use among youths with SCA before and after release of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines.

Examining trends in health care access measures among low-income adult smokers in Ohio: 2012-2019.

Smokers are more likely to be low-income with limited access to health services. Although Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act improved access to care for low-income adults, long-term trends in health care access among low-income smokers remain uncharacterized. The study evaluated changes in five access measures among low-income nonelderly (19-64) adults (N = 28976) across smoking status using pooled data from a statewide survey in Ohio covering pre- (i.

Relation Between Smoking Status and Subjective Cognitive Decline in Middle Age and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data.

Background: Smoking status may influence subjective cognitive decline (SCD); however, few studies have evaluated this association.

Objective: To assess whether smoking status is associated with SCD among middle age and older adults, and to determine if this association is modified by sex at birth.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey to analyze the relationship between SCD and smoking status (current, recent former, and remote former).

Historic redlining in Columbus, Ohio associated with stroke prevalence.

Background: Racial disparities exist in stroke and stroke outcomes. In an ecologic study, using the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) "redlining" scores, as indicator of historic racialized lending practices, we hypothesized that census tracts with high historic redlining are associated with higher stroke prevalence.

Methods: Weighted historic redlining scores (HRS) were calculated using the proportion of 1930s HOLC residential security grades contained within 2010 census tract boundaries of Columbus, Ohio.

Transferrin predicts trimethylamine-N-oxide levels and is a potential biomarker of cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a circulating biomarker associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Production of TMAO is facilitated by gut microbiota and dependent on micronutrients such as choline, betaine, and L-carnitine, present in foods such as red meat and eggs.

Hypothesis: We sought to predict serum TMAO quartile levels among healthy individuals at increased risk of CVD using clinical data via an ordinal logistic model.

Motor vehicle-related electric scooter injuries in the US: A descriptive analysis of NEISS data.

Introduction: The introduction of scooter-share programs across the United States has led to an increased incidence of electronic scooter (e-scooter) injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs). As legislation begins to push scooters from the sidewalk to the street, injuries resulting from collisions between e-scooters and motor vehicles are an important, but poorly characterized consideration. This study leverages data from a national injury surveillance system to characterize e-scooter versus motor vehicle collisions resulting in ED presentation.

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Prevalence Differs by Appalachian Residence in Ohio.

Background: Areas within the Appalachian region may have a greater burden of under diagnosed Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD).

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of ADRD in the Appalachian counties of Ohio, and to determine if differences exist by geographic location (Appalachian/non-Appalachian and rural/urban) and across time among Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Public Use Files from 2007-2017 were used to estimate county-level ADRD prevalence among all fee-for-service beneficiaries in Ohio.

Review of Ongoing Activities and Challenges to Improve the Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Across Africa and the Implications for the Future.

Background: There has been an appreciable increase in the number of people in Africa with metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in recent years as a result of a number of factors. Factors include lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and the growing consumption of processed foods coupled with increasing levels of obesity. Currently there are 19 million adults in Africa with diabetes, mainly T2DM (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045 unless controlled.

Ongoing and planned activities to improve the management of patients with Type 1 diabetes across Africa; implications for the future.

Background: Currently about 19 million people in Africa are known to be living with diabetes, mainly Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045. However, there are concerns with early diagnosis of patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as often patients present late with complications. There are also challenges with access and affordability of insulin, monitoring equipment and test strips with typically high patient co-payments, which can be catastrophic for families.

Synergism of Short-Term Air Pollution Exposures and Neighborhood Disadvantage on Initial Stroke Severity.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the relation between environment and stroke severity. We investigated associations between environmental exposures, including neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and short-term exposure to airborne particulate matter <2.5 μm and ozone, and their interactions with initial stroke severity.

The role of the environment in falls among stroke survivors.

Background: Stroke survivors' risk of falls may be particularly sensitive to the environment due to deficits such as visuospatial neglect or homonymous hemianopia. We sought to identify the prevalence of falls among stroke survivors and investigate the possible role of the environment in falling.

Materials And Methods: Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative population of community-dwelling adults over 65, were used.

Short-term exposures to ambient air pollution and risk of recurrent ischemic stroke.

Objective: To investigate the association between short-term changes in ambient pollution (particulate matter <2.5µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM) and ozone (O)) and the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke among individuals living in a bi-ethnic community.

Methods: We identified recurrent ischemic stroke cases from the population-based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) project between 2000 and 2012.

Change in Neighborhood Characteristics and Change in Coronary Artery Calcium: A Longitudinal Investigation in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) Cohort.

Background: Although some evidence shows that neighborhood deprivation is associated with greater subclinical atherosclerosis, prior studies have not identified what aspects of deprived neighborhoods were driving the association.

Methods: We investigated whether social and physical neighborhood characteristics are related to the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in 5950 adult participants of the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) during a 12-year follow-up period. We assessed subclinical disease using coronary artery calcium (CAC).

Effect of Sitagliptin and Metformin on Prediabetes Progression to Type 2 Diabetes - A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Arm, Multicenter Clinical Trial: Protocol for the Sitagliptin and Metformin in PreDiabetes (SiMePreD) Study.

Background: The high prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and its associated morbidity and mortality, has prompted growing international interest and effort in the primary prevention of this disease. Primary prevention is possible since type 2 DM is preceded by prediabetes, offering a window opportunity to treat patients, and prevent the emergence of advanced disease. Sitagliptin is an oral dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor that preserves existing beta cell function and increases beta cell mass.

Care Received by Elderly US Stroke Survivors May Be Underestimated.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies exploring stroke-related caregiving focused solely on informal caregiving and a relatively limited set of activities. We sought to determine whether, and at what cost, stroke survivors receive more care than matched controls using an expanded definition of caregiving and inclusion of paid caregivers.

Methods: Data were drawn from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries.

Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure for Sleep Apnea after Stroke: A Randomized, Crossover Trial.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common after stroke and predicts poor outcomes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treats OSA but is generally poorly tolerated by stroke patients. We assessed whether nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), an alternative to CPAP, may be an effective option after acute stroke.

Mexican Americans are Less Likely to Return to Work Following Stroke: Clinical and Policy Implications.

Background: Greater poststroke disability and U.S. employment policies may disadvantage minority stroke survivors from returning to work.

Targeting composite treatment of type 2 diabetes in middle-income countries--walking a tightrope between hyperglycaemia and the dangers of hypoglycaemia.

Middle-income countries need a rational and cost-effective approach to optimise management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is a paucity of data from such countries on the extent of hypoglycaemia and its consequences for their healthcare systems. This review provides the context for health policy change and evaluates available data on diabetes complications, focusing on hypoglycaemia in T2DM patients in non-Western countries.