Can allostatic load in pregnancy explain the association between race and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk: A cohort study.

Objective: To assess the relationship between allostatic load, a measure of cumulative chronic stress in early pregnancy and cardiovascular disease risk, 2-7 years postpartum, and pathways contributing to racial disparities in cardiovascular disease risk.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Setting Multicenter Population: Pregnant women.

Expanding the Treatment Team: What Is the Role for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Wound Care, and Nutritional Support in Systemic Sclerosis?

The optimal systemic sclerosis (SSc) care plan includes an occupational therapist and physical therapist as well as wound care experts and a registered dietitian if indicated. Screening instruments for functional and work disability, hand and mouth limitations, malnutrition, and dietary intake can identify the need for ancillary support services. Telemedicine can assist in developing effective ancillary treatment plans.

Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess the Effect of Probiotics on Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Veterans With Gulf War Illness.

Background: Many veterans who served in Operation Desert Storm (August 1990 to March 1991) experienced a complex of symptoms of unknown etiology called Gulf War illness (GWI), which significantly impacts the health and quality of life (QOL) and may have contributed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: We performed a prospective, double-blind placebocontrolled study to determine the efficacy of the multistrain De Simone Formulation probiotic containing 8 strains of bacteria on symptoms of IBS and GWI. Veterans of Operation Desert Storm who had IBS and ≥ 2 nonintestinal symptoms of GWI were included.

Allostatic Load and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

Objective: To assess the association between allostatic load, as an estimate of chronic stress, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of nuMoM2b (Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be), a prospective observational cohort study. Our primary exposure was dichotomous high allostatic load in the first trimester, defined as 4 or more of 12 biomarkers in the "worst" quartile.

Pelvic Floor Support and Symptoms 1 Year Postpartum in Relation to Excess Body Habitus Before, During and After First Vaginal Birth.

Importance: Obesity may be a modifiable risk factor for pelvic floor disorders.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine associations between weight, weight changes, and cumulative exposure to excess body mass index (BMI) from prepregnancy to 1 year postpartum on pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year after first vaginal birth.

Study Design: In 645 primiparous women who gave birth vaginally, we assessed anatomic pelvic floor support, pelvic floor symptoms and BMI at the third trimester, 5 - 10 weeks, and 1 year postpartum; we also assessed BMI prepregnancy and predelivery.

The frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon, very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis, and systemic sclerosis in a large Veteran Health Administration database.

Background: We describe Raynauds phenomenon (RP), potential very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (VEDOSS), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Veterans deployed in support of Post-9/11 operations. We sought to describe the military occupation specialty, clinical features, and vasodilator use across the three diagnoses.

Methods: Individual Veterans medical records were assessed for RP (ICD-9443.

The possible impact of increased physical intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic on ocular health.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, sheltering at home has led to an increase in physical intimate partner violence cases. Intimate partner violence-sustained ocular injuries may be higher during the pandemic due to the increase in physical intimate partner violence. Left untreated, intimate partner violence-related ocular or orbital trauma can lead to permanent vision loss.

Pseudoexfoliation and Cataract Syndrome Associated with Genetic and Epidemiological Factors in a Mayan Cohort of Guatemala.

The Mayan population of Guatemala is understudied within eye and vision research. Studying an observational homogenous, geographically isolated population of individuals seeking eye care may identify unique clinical, demographic, environmental and genetic risk factors for blinding eye disease that can inform targeted and effective screening strategies to achieve better and improved health care distribution. This study served to: (a) identify the ocular health needs within this population; and (b) identify any possible modifiable risk factors contributing to disease pathophysiology within this population.

Habitus and Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support 1 Year Postpartum.

Objective: To estimate the association between habitus measures and pelvic floor support and symptoms in primiparous women 1 year after term vaginal delivery.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study including women enrolled at seven academic and community sites, we assessed pelvic floor support, weight, height, waist circumference, and percent fat using air displacement plethysmography and participants completed questionnaires, all at one year postpartum. We tested the association of quintiles of habitus measure, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, percent body fat, and waist/height ratio, with the primary outcomes: anatomic support, dichotomized as maximal vaginal descent less than 0 cm (better support) compared with 0 cm or more (worse support) per the pelvic organ prolapse quantification examination and symptom burden (positive with bothersome symptoms in two or more of six symptom domains), and on five secondary outcomes.

Systemic Disease and Ocular Comorbidity Analysis of Geographically Isolated Federally Recognized American Indian Tribes of the Intermountain West.

Background: The American Indian Navajo and Goshute peoples are underserved patient populations residing in the Four Corners area of the United States and Ibupah, Utah, respectively.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of epidemiological factors and lipid biomarkers that may be associated with type II diabetes, hypertension and retinal manifestations in tribal and non-tribal members in the study areas (n = 146 participants). We performed multivariate analyses to determine which, if any, risk factors were unique at the tribal level.

Metabolic Syndrome in Commercial Truck Drivers: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Comparison With the General Population.

Introduction: Commercial motor vehicle drivers, such as truck drivers, experience unique health, lifestyle, and occupational challenges directly associated with their profession.

Methods: All participants in this multistate cross-sectional study completed questionnaire measurements. Participants were categorized with metabolic syndrome (MetS) if they had at least three of the five modified criteria used in the joint scientific statement on metabolic syndrome.

Psychosocial Factors and Tobacco Use Among Commercial Truck Drivers.

Objectives: To explore the relationships between tobacco, social support, job satisfaction, and depression among truck drivers.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 797 truck drivers in six US states. Data collected included self-reported medical history and biological samples.

Non-invasive digital thermal monitoring and flow-mediated dilation in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: The fingers, toes, and tips of the nose and ears have specialised structural and functional features for thermoregulation, and are the most common areas of Raynaud's phenomenon in systemic sclerosis. Digital thermal monitoring (DTM) of vascular reactivity assesses Doppler ultrasound hyperemic, low frequency, blood velocity of radial artery and fingertip vascular function. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) is an indirect measure of endothelial function, perfusion, and vasodilator ability.

Relationships Between Poor Health and Calories From Fat Among Commercial Truck Drivers.

Objective: Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers face many challenges to their health, including poor diet, disease, and crash risk. This study quantifies relationships between the percentage of calories from fat (PCF) and markers of poor health, many of which are associated with increased crash risk.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from 790 CMV drivers were analyzed.

Using Temporal Features to Provide Data-Driven Clinical Early Warnings for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma Care Management: Protocol for a Secondary Analysis.

Background: Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma incur heavy health care burdens. To support tailored preventive care for these 2 diseases, predictive modeling is widely used to give warnings and to identify patients for care management. However, 3 gaps exist in current modeling methods owing to rarely factoring in temporal aspects showing trends and early health change: (1) existing models seldom use temporal features and often give late warnings, making care reactive.

Implications of endothelial shear stress on systemic sclerosis vasculopathy and treatment.

There are no Federal Drug Administration approved drugs for the treatment of systemic sclerosis vascular digital ulcers (DU) in the United States, which are thought to be an end-stage result of prolonged ischaemia due to severe, prolonged Raynaud's phenomenon. Most therapeutics for vasodilation used in SSc work different pathways to target the smooth muscle to induce vessel relaxation. Longitudinal studies of vascular function allow insight into the effects of medications used for Raynaud's phenomenon in the SSc patient population.

A normal diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide is rare in incidental pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: Data from the Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma cohort.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the frequency of normal diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide defined as ⩾70% predicted, in those diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension in the Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma cohort. We compared those with normal diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide to those with reduced diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide <70% in order to better clarify the role of pulmonary function testing as a screening test for pulmonary arterial hypertension and to better understand this population.

Methods: Entry criteria included a right heart catheterization with mean pulmonary artery pressure ⩾25 mm Hg and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ⩽15 mm Hg.

Developing sustainable research careers for KL2 scholars: The importance of an inclusive environment and mentorship.

Introduction: The National Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium 2.0 has developed common metrics as a collaborative project for all participating sites. Metrics address several important aspects and functions of the consortium, including workforce development.

Relationship of Sodium Intake and Blood Pressure Varies With Energy Intake: Secondary Analysis of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)-Sodium Trial.

Dietary Na recommendations are expressed as absolute amounts (mg/d) rather than as Na density (mg/kcal). Our objective was to determine whether the strength of the relationship of Na intake with blood pressure (BP) varied with energy intake. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)-Sodium trial was a randomized feeding trial comparing 2 diets (DASH and control) and 3 levels of Na density.

Evaluation of childhood nutrition by dietary survey and stable isotope analyses of hair and breath.

Objectives: The natural abundances of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes in hair, and of carbon isotopes in breath serve as quantitative biomarkers of protein and carbohydrate sources, but applicability of isotopes for evaluating children's diet has not been demonstrated. In this study, we sought to describe the stable isotope patterns observed in the hair and breath of children and to assess dietary variations in relation to age and ethnicity, hypothesizing that these would reflect dietary differences across age and ethnic groups and would correlate with intake variables derived from a Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study of non-Hispanic white (N = 115) and Hispanic (N = 97) children, aged 9-16 years, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Associations of Dietary Protein and Energy Intakes With Protein-Energy Wasting Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients.

Introduction: The associations of dietary protein and/or energy intakes with protein or energy wasting in patients on maintenance hemodialysis are controversial. We examined these in the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study.

Methods: In 1487 participants in the HEMO Study, baseline dietary protein intake (grams per kilogram per day) and dietary energy intake (kilocalories per kilograms per day) were related to the presence of the protein-energy wasting (PEW) syndrome at month 12 (defined as the presence of at least 1 criteria in 2 of the 3 categories of low serum chemistry, low body mass, and low muscle mass) in logistic regression models.

Associations of Protein-Energy Wasting Syndrome Criteria With Body Composition and Mortality in the General and Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease Populations in the United States.

Introduction: It is unknown whether the criteria used to define Protein-energy wasting (PEW) syndrome in dialysis patients reflect protein or energy wasting in the general and moderate CKD populations.

Methods: In 11,834 participants in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, individual PEW syndrome criteria and the number of PEW syndrome categories were related to lean body and fat masses (measured by dual-energy absorptiometry) using linear regression in the entire cohort and CKD sub-population.

Results: Serum chemistry, body mass and muscle mass PEW criteria tended to be associated with lower lean body and fat masses, but the low dietary protein and energy intake criteria were associated with significantly protein and energy stores.

The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Motor Vehicle Crashes Among Professional Truck Drivers.

Objective: This study assesses relationships between the Framingham cardiovascular disease risk (CVD risk) score and prevalence of US Department of Transportation (DOT)-reportable crashes in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, after controlling for potential confounders.

Methods: Data were analyzed from CMV drivers (N = 797) in a large cross-sectional study. CVD risk was calculated for each driver.

Bone Mineral Density in Navajo Men and Women and Comparison to Non-Hispanic Whites from NHANES (2005-2008).

Purpose: To describe bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and spine and prevalence of low bone mass and osteoporosis in Navajo men and women across age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) compared with non-Hispanic (NH) Whites from NHANES (2005-2008).

Methods: Cross-sectional dual energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements at the hip and spine in 1,097 participants from the Education and Research Towards Health study.

Results: Bone mineral density was lower among younger Navajo than NH-Whites at lower BMI, and in overweight, younger men at lumbar spine and total hip.