Impact of social connectedness on weight loss outcomes in an online program.

Obesity is linked to many negative health consequences. While online behavioral weight loss programs (BWL) are an effective treatment for obesity, weight losses are modest. Social connectedness has been found to improve weight loss outcomes and previous findings suggests that it may be especially important for people of color.

Abdominal Obesity Genetic Variants Predict Waist Circumference Regain After Weight Loss.

Unlabelled: Although many individuals are able to achieve weight loss, maintaining this loss over time is challenging. We aimed to study whether genetic predisposition to general or abdominal obesity predicts weight regain after weight loss. We examined the associations between genetic risk scores for higher BMI and higher waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI) with changes in weight and waist circumference up to 3 years after a 1-year weight loss program in participants (n = 822 women, n = 593 men) from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study who had lost ≥3% of their initial weight.

Psychological resilience in older adults with type 2 diabetes from the Look AHEAD Trial.

Background: There is growing interest in identifying factors associated with healthy aging. This cross-sectional study evaluated associations of psychological resilience with factors associated with aging in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Participants were 3199 adults (72.

Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Gene Deletions and Relatedness to Other Global Isolates, Djibouti, 2019-2020.

Deletions of pfhrp2 and paralogue pfhrp3 (pfhrp2/3) genes threaten Plasmodium falciparum diagnosis by rapid diagnostic test. We examined 1,002 samples from suspected malaria patients in Djibouti City, Djibouti, to investigate pfhrp2/3 deletions. We performed assays for Plasmodium antigen carriage, pfhrp2/3 genotyping, and sequencing for 7 neutral microsatellites to assess relatedness.

Low Prevalence of Deletions of the pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Genes in Plasmodium falciparum Parasites in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2015.

Sierra Leone relies heavily on histidine-rich protein 2-based diagnostics for malaria because of the high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum. During the 2015 recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-Zaire Ebola virus envelope glycoprotein (GP) vaccine trial, 77 participants with asymptomatic Plasmodium infection were enrolled, with all but four having P. falciparum malaria.

Development of a Taqman Real-Time PCR for the Identification of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, a vector of various pathogens with medical and veterinary importance, is a recent invasive species in the United States. Like many tick species, discerning H. longicornis from congeners can be a challenge.

The use of a chimeric antigen for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax seroprevalence estimates from community surveys in Ethiopia and Costa Rica.

Background: In low-transmission settings, accurate estimates of malaria transmission are needed to inform elimination targets. Detection of antimalarial antibodies provides exposure history, but previous studies have mainly relied on species-specific antigens. The use of chimeric antigens that include epitopes from multiple species of malaria parasites in population-based serological surveys could provide data for exposure to multiple Plasmodium species circulating in an area.

Uric acid as a predictor of weight gain and cardiometabolic health in the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) study.

Young adulthood is often a period of substantial weight gain increasing risk for obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Uric acid (UA), a clinical marker of oxidative stress, is associated with cardiometabolic dysfunction in established CVD, type 2 diabetes, and CKD. Yet, few trials have examined UA as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk in young, healthy populations, particularly in the context of weight gain prevention intervention.

Affective response to physical activity as a deep phenotype in a non-randomized pilot study.

Large-scale genomic studies are beginning to identify genetic predictors of physical activity (PA). For those genetically predisposed to engage in low PA, a behavioral intervention may target a malleable factor that mediates genetic predisposition to low PA (i.e.

Impact of COVID-19 on life experiences reported by a diverse cohort of older adults with diabetes and obesity.

Objective: This study aimed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported life experiences in older adults with diabetes and obesity.

Methods: Participants were surveyed in 2020 regarding negative and positive impacts of the pandemic across domains of personal, social, and physical experiences. A cumulative negative risk index (a count of all reported negative impacts of 46 items) and a positive risk index (5 items) were characterized in relation to age, sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, and multimorbidity.

Investigation of Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions and performance of a rapid diagnostic test for identifying asymptomatic malaria infection in northern Ethiopia, 2015.

Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used for malaria diagnosis of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. Although RDTs are a reliable and practical diagnostic tool, the sensitivity of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based RDTs can be reduced if pfhrp2 or pfhrp3 (pfhrp2/3) gene deletions exist in the Plasmodium falciparum parasite population. This study evaluated dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected from a national household survey to investigate the presence of pfhrp2/3 deletions and the performance of the RDT used in the cross-sectional survey in a low transmission setting.

Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Gene Deletions from Persons with Symptomatic Malaria Infection in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Rwanda.

Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests detect Plasmodium falciparum malaria and are used throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, deletions in the pfhrp2 and related pfhrp3 (pfhrp2/3) genes threaten use of these tests. Therapeutic efficacy studies (TESs) enroll persons with symptomatic P.

Symptomatic Infection in Rwanda.

We report a infection in a Rwandan child misdiagnosed with and administered artemether-lumefantrine. Antigen detection revealed an absence of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and presence of lactate dehydrogenase. Nested and real-time polymerase chain reactions verified that the sample only contained deoxyribonucleic acid.

Genetic Predictors of Change in Waist Circumference and Waist-to-Hip Ratio With Lifestyle Intervention: The Trans-NIH Consortium for Genetics of Weight Loss Response to Lifestyle Intervention.

Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) adjusted for BMI (WCadjBMI and WHRadjBMI), but it remains unclear whether these SNPs relate to change in WCadjBMI or WHRadjBMI with lifestyle intervention for weight loss. We hypothesized that polygenic scores (PS) comprised of 59 SNPs previously associated with central adiposity would predict less of a reduction in WCadjBMI or WHRadjBMI at 8-10 weeks in two lifestyle intervention trials, NUGENOB and DiOGenes, and at 1 year in five lifestyle intervention trials, Look AHEAD, Diabetes Prevention Program, Diabetes Prevention Study, DIETFITS, and PREDIMED-Plus. One-SD higher PS related to a smaller 1-year change in WCadjBMI in the lifestyle intervention arms at year 1 and thus predicted poorer response (β = 0.

Missed Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Mixed Infections in Ethiopia Threaten Malaria Elimination.

Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are co-endemic in Ethiopia. This study investigated whether mixed infections were missed by microscopy from a 2017 therapeutic efficacy study at two health facilities in Ethiopia. All patients (N = 304) were initially classified as having single-species P.

Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions among patients in the DRC enrolled from 2017 to 2018.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) detecting histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and HRP3 are widely used throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to diagnose Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, multiple SSA countries have reported pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 (pfhrp2/3) gene deletions. Blood samples (n = 1109) collected from patients with P.

Changes in the Prevalence of Symptoms of Depression, Loneliness, and Insomnia in U.S. Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Look AHEAD Study.

Objective: To evaluate changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms, loneliness, and insomnia among older adults with type 2 diabetes from 2016 to 2020 and to assess risk factors for these conditions including demographics, multimorbidity, BMI, treatment group, and pre-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) measure scores.

Research Design And Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of participants from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) cohort study. Data were from two assessments before COVID-19 (visit 1: April 2016-June 2018 and visit 2: February 2018-February 2020) and one assessment during COVID-19 (visit 3: July-December 2020).

Purification of native histidine-rich protein 2 (nHRP2) from Plasmodium falciparum culture supernatant, infected RBCs, and parasite lysate.

Background: Despite the widespread use of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), purified native HRP2 antigen is not standardly used in research applications or assessment of RDTs used in the field.

Methods: This report describes the purification of native HRP2 (nHRP2) from the HB3 Plasmodium falciparum culture strain. As this culture strain lacks pfhrp3 from its genome, it is an excellent source of HRP2 protein only and does not produce the closely-related HRP3.

Home environmental assessments and modification delivered by occupational therapists to reduce falls in people aged 65 years and over: the OTIS RCT.

Background: Falls and fall-related fractures are highly prevalent among older people and are a major contributor to morbidity and costs to individuals and society. Only one small pilot trial has evaluated the effectiveness of a home hazard assessment and environmental modification in the UK. This trial reported a reduction in falls as a secondary outcome, and no economic evaluation was undertaken.

Study protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial of pramipexole in addition to mood stabilisers for patients with treatment resistant bipolar depression (the PAX-BD study).

Background: Treatment Resistant Bipolar Depression (TRBD) is a major contributor to the burden of disease associated with Bipolar Disorder (BD). Treatment options for people experiencing bipolar depression are limited to three interventions listed by National Institute for Health and Care: lamotrigine, quetiapine and olanzapine, of which the latter two are often not well tolerated. The majority of depressed people with BD are therefore prescribed antidepressants despite limited efficacy.

Does the impact of intensive lifestyle intervention on cognitive function vary depending baseline level of frailty? An ancillary study to the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) Trial.

Aims: To assess whether there is an opportune window when intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) benefits cognitive function.

Methods: Standardized cognitive assessments were collected following ≥8 years of either ILI or a control condition of diabetes support and education (DSE) in 3708 individuals, ages 45-76 years at enrollment, with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. Frailty index (FI) scores were used to group individuals at baseline into tertiles according to their age-related health status.

Natural infections with different Plasmodium species induce antibodies reactive to a chimeric Plasmodium vivax recombinant protein.

Background: As malaria incidence and transmission in a region decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify areas of active transmission. Improved methods for identifying and monitoring foci of active malaria transmission are needed in areas of low parasite prevalence in order to achieve malaria elimination. Serological assays can provide population-level infection history to inform elimination campaigns.

Mitochondrial fission factor (Mff) is required for organization of the mitochondrial sheath in spermatids.

Background: Mitochondrial fission counterbalances fusion to maintain organelle morphology, but its role during development remains poorly characterized. Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process involving several drastic changes to mitochondrial shape and organization. Mitochondria are generally small and spherical in spermatogonia, elongate during meiosis, and fragment in haploid round spermatids.

Loneliness Relates to Functional Mobility in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: The Look AHEAD Study.

Objective: Little is known about the impact of loneliness on physical health among elderly individuals with diabetes. Here, we examined the relationship of loneliness with disability, objective physical function, and other health outcomes in older individuals with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity.

Method: Data are drawn from the Look AHEAD study, a diverse cohort of individuals (ages 61-92) with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes measured 5-6 years after a 10-year weight loss randomized, controlled trial.

Membrane dynamics and protein targets of lipid droplet microautophagy during ER stress-induced proteostasis in the budding yeast, .

Our previous studies reveal a mechanism for lipid droplet (LD)-mediated proteostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) whereby unfolded proteins that accumulate in the ER in response to lipid imbalance-induced ER stress are removed by LDs and degraded by microlipophagy (µLP), autophagosome-independent LD uptake into the vacuole (the yeast lysosome). Here, we show that dithiothreitol- or tunicamycin-induced ER stress also induces µLP and identify an unexpected role for vacuolar membrane dynamics in this process. All stressors studied induce vacuolar fragmentation prior to µLP.