The Val66Met variant of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is linked to reduced telomere length in a military population: a pilot study.

In military populations, gene-environment interactions can influence performance and health outcomes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a central nervous system protein that is important for neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. A BDNF single nucleotide polymorphism, rs6265, leads to an amino acid substitution of valine (Val) with methionine (Met) at codon 66 (Val66Met), which may influence an individual's response to occupational stress, and predispose military members to psychological disorders.

Salivary C-reactive protein exhibits a diurnal pattern and relates to biobehavioral health in military men.

C-reactive protein is a systemic inflammatory biomarker that is positively associated with the development of disease. Salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP) has previously been reported to have a diurnal rhythm with higher levels upon awakening and lower levels thereafter. The aims of this study were to evaluate the stability of sCRP across two days, characterize the daily sCRP pattern, compute morning sCRP parameters, and evaluate associations with biobehavioral health in US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians.

A Novel Scale to Assess Psychological Strategies in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.

Purpose: This report describes the development and validation of the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Combat Mindset Scale-Training (CMS-T), a population-specific measure of psychological strategy use in EOD training environments.

Military Exposures Predict Mental Health Symptoms in Explosives Personnel but Not Always as Expected.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the unique and combined associations of various military stress exposures with positive and negative mental health symptoms in active duty service members.

Materials And Methods: We investigated 87 male U.S.

Combat and blast exposure blunt sympathetic response to acute exercise stress in specialised military men.

Electrodermal activity (EDA)-a measure of electrical skin conductance reflecting (exclusive) sympathetic control of the eccrine sweat gland-holds promise as an indicator of central sympathetic activation. The aim of this study was to determine whether combat and blast exposure modulate the EDA response to acute exercise stress in specialised military men. Fifty-one men (age M = 36.

Post-awakening Cortisol in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians: A Replication Study in a Novel Population.

Introduction: Amassing evidence suggests that post-awakening salivary cortisol rhythms (changes in cortisol throughout the day) may indicate health status. We previously established summary parameters for salivary cortisol in U.S.

Toward a "Dashboard" Indicator of Retention in U.S. Navy Personnel.

Introduction: Retention is a top priority for the U.S. Navy.

Greater Fitness Is Associated With Improved Functional Movement Characteristics in Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.

Hernández, LM, Coffin, SD, and Taylor, MK. Greater fitness is associated with improved functional movement characteristics in explosive ordnance disposal technicians. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1731-1737, 2022-Low fitness and poor functional movement (FM) have been linked to higher musculoskeletal injury risk.

Trauma Exposure and Functional Movement Characteristics of Male Tactical Athletes.

Context: Tactical athletes commonly experience high levels of physical stress, which may increase their risk of musculoskeletal injury. It is critical to understand psychological predictors of functional movement (FM), which may help prevent musculoskeletal injury in this population.

Objective: To determine the associations of combat and trauma exposure with FM characteristics of male tactical athletes.

Blast exposure interacts with genetic variant 5HTTLPR to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms in military explosives personnel.

The first of its kind, this study determined whether blast exposure interacts with genetic variant 5HTTLPR to predict posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in 78 military explosives operators. In all models, blast-exposed 5HTTLPR S carriers registered definitively higher PTS symptoms in comparison to non-exposed S carriers, as well as exposed and non-exposed LL carriers (all p < 0.01).

Psychological Strategies During Military Training Are Linked to Resilience in US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operators.

Purpose: We describe the psychological strategies (PS) used by a specialized military population, US Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), during training and military operations. We also aim to establish the relationship between PS and resilience.

Methods: The Test of Performance Strategies was adapted to the military environment and subsequently was administered to 58 EOD Operators in conjunction with the 10-item Connor- Davidson Resilience Scale.

Genetic, Physiologic, and Behavioral Predictors of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Specialized Military Men.

Introduction: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a crucial performance requirement of specialized military occupations. Age and physical activity are established predictors of CRF, but it is not clear how these predictors combine with each other and/or with genetic predisposition. The goal of this study was to derive inclusive explanatory models of CRF in US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operators, synthesizing conventional (e.

Functional Characterization of Abicipar-Pegol, an Anti-VEGF DARPin Therapeutic That Potently Inhibits Angiogenesis and Vascular Permeability.

Purpose: DARPin molecules are a novel class of small proteins that contain engineered ankyrin repeat domain(s) and bind to target proteins with high specificity and affinity. Abicipar-pegol (abicipar), a DARPin molecule targeting vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), is currently under evaluation in patients with age-related macular degeneration. The pharmacodynamic properties of abicipar were characterized using in vivo and in vitro assays.

Morning Cortisol Is Associated With Stress and Sleep in Elite Military Men: A Brief Report.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence suggests that trends in salivary cortisol after awakening may be reliable biological predictors of morbidity and mortality. In a sample of elite military men, our lab recently established summary parameters of morning cortisol as well as their stability across 2 d of repeated sampling.

Materials And Methods: In this follow-on study, we evaluated summary parameters and their relationships to theoretically relevant demographic (i.

The "yin and yang" of the adrenal and gonadal systems in elite military men.

We recently established daily, free-living profiles of the adrenal hormone cortisol, the (primarily adrenal) anabolic precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and the (primarily gonadal) anabolic hormone testosterone in elite military men. A prevailing view is that adrenal and gonadal systems reciprocally modulate each other; however, recent paradigm shifts prompted the characterization of these systems as parallel, cooperative processes (i.e.

Anabolic hormone profiles in elite military men: Robust associations with age, stress, and fatigue.

We recently established stable daily profiles of the anabolic hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone in 57 elite military men. In this follow-on study, we explored associations of salivary anabolic hormone profiles with demographic (i.e.

Cortisol Awakening Response in Elite Military Men: Summary Parameters, Stability Measurement, and Effect of Compliance.

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) holds promise as a clinically important marker of health status. However, CAR research is routinely challenged by its innate complexity, sensitivity to confounds, and methodological inconsistencies. In this unprecedented characterization of CAR in elite military men (N = 58), we established summary parameters, evaluated sampling stability across two consecutive days, and explored the effect of subject compliance.

Anabolic hormone profiles in elite military men.

We recently characterized the awakening responses and daily profiles of the catabolic stress hormone cortisol in elite military men. Anabolic hormones follow a similar daily pattern and may counteract the catabolic effects of cortisol. This companion report is the first to characterize daily profiles of anabolic hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone in this population.

Genetic and environmental modulation of neurotrophic and anabolic stress response: Counterbalancing forces.

The serotonin transporter genetic variant 5HTTLPR influences activation and feedback control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and has been shown to influence the effect of stressful life events on behavioral health. We recently reported that 5HTTLPR modulates cortisol response in healthy military men exposed to intense stress. Less is known of its combined effects with environmental factors in this context, or of its effect on neuroprotective stress responses.

Influence of resistance training combined with daily consumption of an egg-based or bagel-based breakfast on risk factors for chronic diseases in healthy untrained individuals.

Objective: Egg consumption is often discouraged due to cholesterol content; however, recent studies have not demonstrated a clear adverse influence of eggs on blood lipids. Furthermore, exercise training promotes improved lipids and blood pressure. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of eating an isoenergetic (400 kcal) egg-based (including two eggs per day) versus bagel-based breakfasts, daily, combined with resistance training three times per week, prior to breakfast, on plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in untrained individuals.

Effects of dark chocolate on azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci.

Epidemiologic evidence supports that diets rich in polyphenols promote health and may delay the onset of colon cancer. Cocoa and chocolate products have some of the highest polyphenolic concentrations compared to other polyphenolic food sources. This study tested the hypothesis that a diet including dark chocolate can protect against colon cancer by inhibiting aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, downregulating gene expression of inflammatory mediators, and favorably altering cell kinetics.

Identification of a novel selective H1-antihistamine with optimized pharmacokinetic properties for clinical evaluation in the treatment of insomnia.

Analogs of the known H(1)-antihistamine R-dimethindene with suitable selectivity for key GPCRs, P450 enzymes and hERG channel were assessed for metabolism profile and in vivo properties. Several analogs were determined to exhibit diverse metabolism. One of these compounds, 10a, showed equivalent efficacy in a rat EEG/EMG model to a previously identified clinical candidate and a potentially superior pharmacokinetic profile as determined from a human microdose study.

Novel benzothiophene H1-antihistamines for the treatment of insomnia.

SAR of lead benzothiophene H(1)-antihistamine 2 was explored to identify backup candidates with suitable pharmacokinetic profiles for an insomnia program. Several potent and selective H(1)-antihistamines with a range of projected half-lives in humans were identified. Compound 16d had a suitable human half-life as demonstrated in a human microdose study, but variability in pharmacokinetic profile, attributed to metabolic clearance, prevented further development of this compound.

Characterization of novel selective H1-antihistamines for clinical evaluation in the treatment of insomnia.

Analogues of the known H(1)-antihistamine R-dimethindene were profiled as potential agents for the treatment of insomnia. Several highly selective compounds were efficacious in rodent sleep models. On the basis of overall profile, indene 1d and benzothiophene 2a had pharmacokinetic properties suitable for evaluation in night time dosing.