Identification of a SGCD × Discrimination Interaction Effect on Systolic Blood Pressure in African American Adults in the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: In the United States, hypertension disproportionately afflicts over half of African American adults, many of whom also experience racial discrimination. Understanding gene × discrimination effects may help explain racial disparities in hypertension.

Methods: We tested for the main effects and interactive effects of 5 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: rs2116737, rs11190458, rs2445762, rs2597955, and rs2416545) and experiences of discrimination on blood pressure (BP) in African Americans not taking antihypertensive medications in the Jackson Heart Study from Mississippi (n = 2,933).

β1-receptor polymorphisms and junctional ectopic tachycardia in children after cardiac surgery.

Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a potentially life-threatening postoperative arrhythmia in children with specific congenital heart defects and can contribute significantly to postoperative morbidity for at-risk populations. In adults, β1-adrenergic receptor (ADRB1) and β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) genotypes have been associated with increased risk for arrhythmias. However, their association with arrhythmia risk in children is unknown.

Genetic polymorphisms in ADRB2 and ADRB1 are associated with differential survival in heart failure patients taking β-blockers.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with differential beta-blocker (BB) effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and left ventricular ejection fraction in various patient populations. This study aimed to determine if SNPs previously associated with BB response are also associated with differential survival in heart failure (HF) patients receiving BBs. HF patient data were derived from electronic health records and the Social Security Death Index.

NR3C2 genotype is associated with response to spironolactone in diastolic heart failure patients from the Aldo-DHF trial.

Study Objective: This study aimed to determine if variants in NR3C2, which codes the target protein of spironolactone, or CYP11B2, which is involved in aldosterone synthesis, were associated with spironolactone response, focused on the primary end point of diastolic function (E/e'), in Aldosterone Receptor Blockade in Diastolic Heart Failure (Aldo-DHF) participants.

Design: Post-hoc genetic analysis.

Data Source: Data and samples were derived from the multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Aldo-DHF trial.

Obesity and STING1 genotype associate with 23-valent pneumococcal vaccination efficacy.

BACKGROUNDObesity has been associated with attenuated vaccine responses and an increased risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia, but no study to our knowledge has assessed the impact of obesity and genetics on 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23) efficacy. We assessed the relationship of obesity (primary analysis) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING1) genotype (secondary analysis) on PPSV23 efficacy.METHODSNonobese (BMI 22-25 kg/m2) and obese participants (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) were given a single dose of PPSV23.

Training methods that improve MD-PhD student self-efficacy for clinical research skills.

Introduction: MD-PhD training programs train physician-scientists to pursue careers involving both clinical care and research, but decreasing numbers of physician-scientists stay engaged in clinical research. We sought to identify current clinical research training methods utilized by MD-PhD programs and to assess how effective they are in promoting self-efficacy for clinical research.

Methods: The US MD-PhD students were surveyed in April-May 2018.

Health insurance literacy and health service utilization among college students.

Health literacy and health insurance literacy affect healthcare utilization. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between health insurance knowledge, self-efficacy, and student healthcare utilization in the past year. A random sample of 1,450 respondents, over the age of 18, attending a public university in the southeastern United States completed a survey in March 2017.

Genome Wide Association Study Identifies the Locus to be Associated With Chlorthalidone Induced Glucose Increase in Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics are first-line medications for treating uncomplicated hypertension. However, their use has been associated with adverse metabolic events, including hyperglycemia and incident diabetes mellitus, with incompletely understood mechanisms. Our goal was to identify genomic variants associated with thiazide-like diuretic/chlorthalidone-induced glucose change.

Hemodynamic Influence on Smooth Muscle Cell Kinetics and Phenotype During Early Vein Graft Adaptation.

Pathologic vascular adaptation following local injury is the primary driver for accelerated intimal hyperplasia and an occlusive phenotype. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation within the wall, and migration into the developing intima, is a major component of this remodeling response. The primary objective in the current study was to investigate the effect of the local biomechanical forces on early vein graft adaptation, specifically focusing on the spatial and temporal response of SMC proliferation and conversion from a contractile to synthetic architecture.