Food Shopping Strategies Among a Diverse Sample of East Harlem Residents: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: To inform food retail interventions, this study explored food shopping strategies employed by people constrained by limited budgets but residing in an urban environment offering numerous retail options.

Approach: Qualitative study incorporating semi-structured interviews and shop-alongs.

Setting: East Harlem, New York City.

Impact of probiotic supplementation on exercise endurance among nonelite athletes: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel trial investigated whether generally healthy adult, nonelite runners would have a greater time-to-exhaustion during submaximal treadmill running with probiotic versus placebo supplementation. It was hypothesized that the probiotic would impact training progression by reducing gastrointestinal (GI) and cold/flu symptoms. Participants who typically ran ≥24 km/week, ran or cross-trained 3-5 days per week, and had a maximal oxygen intake (V̇O max) in the 60-85th percentile were enrolled.

Evolutionary insights into the emergence of virulent spirochetes.

Pathogenic are spirochete bacteria which cause leptospirosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease of global importance. Here, we use a recently described lineage of environmental-adapted leptospires, which are evolutionarily the closest relatives of the highly virulent species, to explore the key phenotypic traits and genetic determinants of virulence. Through a comprehensive approach integrating phylogenomic comparisons with and phenotyping studies, we show that the evolution towards pathogenicity is associated with both a decrease of the ability to survive in the environment and the acquisition of strategies that enable successful host colonization.

Inter-species Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Constitutive Adaptation Against Oxidative Stress for the Highly Virulent Leptospira Species.

Transcriptomic analyses across large scales of evolutionary distance have great potential to shed light on regulatory evolution but are complicated by difficulties in establishing orthology and limited availability of accessible software. We introduce here a method and a graphical user interface wrapper, called Annotator-RNAtor, for performing interspecies transcriptomic analysis and studying intragenus evolution. The pipeline uses third-party software to infer homologous genes in various species and highlight differences in the expression of the core-genes.

The effect of an acute aspirin challenge on intestinal permeability in healthy adults with and without prophylactic probiotic consumption: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

Background: Healthy individuals may experience increases in intestinal permeability after chronic or acute use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may be attenuated by probiotics. This study investigates the effects of an acute aspirin challenge on gastroduodenal barrier function with or without prophylactic probiotic consumption.

Methods: Twenty-nine generally healthy participants (26 ± 6 years) completed a 14-week randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.

"Be honest and gain trust": a population health study to understand the factors associated with building trust in local government related to COVID-19 and vaccination in three historically disinvested neighborhoods in New York City.

Background: Distrust in government among people of color is a response to generations of systemic racism that have produced preventable health inequities. Higher levels of trust in government are associated with better adherence to government guidelines and policies during emergencies, but factors associated with trust and potential actions to increase trust in local government are not well understood.

Methods: The COVID-19 Community Recovery study sampled participants from the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's NYC Health Panel, a probability-based survey panel who complete health surveys periodically.

Phylogenomics of Leptospira santarosai, a prevalent pathogenic species in the Americas.

Background: Leptospirosis is a complex zoonotic disease mostly caused by a group of eight pathogenic species (L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L.

Disruption of Healthcare in New York City During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From Residents Living in North and Central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and East and Central Harlem.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected some New York City (NYC) neighborhoods that primarily consist of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx residents. In comparison to the rest of NYC, these neighborhoods experienced high hospitalization and COVID-related death rates, which has been attributed to a longstanding history of structural racism and disinvestment. While stay-at-home orders were implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, this may have also affected access and utilization of non-COVID related healthcare services.

Intersectional inequities in the birthweight gap between twin and singleton births: A random effects MAIHDA analysis of 2012-2018 New York City birth data.

Birthweight is a widely-used biomarker of infant health, with inequities patterned intersectionally by maternal age, race/ethnicity, nativity/immigration status, and socioeconomic status in the United States. However, studies of birthweight inequities almost exclusively focus on singleton births, neglecting high-risk twin births. We address this gap using a large sample (N = 753,180) of birth records, obtained from the 2012-2018 New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Vital Statistics, representing 99% of all births registered in NYC, and a novel random coefficients intersectional MAIHDA (Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy) model.

The application of intersectional multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) to examine birthweight inequities in New York City.

Exploring the intersection of dimensions of social identity is critical for understanding drivers of health inequities. We used multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) to examine the intersection of age, race/ethnicity, education, and nativity status on infant birthweight among singleton births in New York City from 2012 to 2018 (N = 725,875). We found evidence of intersectional effects of various systems of oppression on birthweight inequities and identified U.

Horizontal transfer of the cluster in is a genetic determinant of serovar identity.

bacteria comprise numerous species, several of which cause serious disease to a broad range of hosts including humans. These spirochetes exhibit large intraspecific variation, resulting in complex tabulations of serogroups/serovars that crisscross the species classification. Serovar identity, linked to biological/clinical phenotypes, depends on the structure of surface-exposed LPS.

Adverse birth outcomes in New York City women: Revisiting the Hispanic Paradox.

In the United States, African American or non-Hispanic Black infants experienced worst birth outcomes whereas Hispanic and Asian infants have intermediate or similar outcomes compared with non-Hispanic white infants. The findings of better birth outcomes for Hispanic women have been coined the "Hispanic Paradox" given their low education, income, and access to care. New York City (NYC) has a great racial/ethnic diversity with implications for neighborhood racial/ethnic composition on birth outcomes by protecting women from psychosocial stress via social support that may buffer against racial/ethnic discrimination and/or racism.

Use of High Oleic Palm Oils in Fluid Shortenings and Effect on Physical Properties of Cookies.

Quality characteristics of bakery products rely partially on the amount and type of fats in their formulation. This study focused on producing emulsified shortenings with high oleic palm oil fractions to be thermo-mechanically characterized and used in the baking of high-fat cookies. Palm oil and hydrogenated fats were commonly used in bakery shortenings to achieve texture and flavor.

Evolution of longitudinal division in multicellular bacteria of the Neisseriaceae family.

Rod-shaped bacteria typically elongate and divide by transverse fission. However, several bacterial species can form rod-shaped cells that divide longitudinally. Here, we study the evolution of cell shape and division mode within the family Neisseriaceae, which includes Gram-negative coccoid and rod-shaped species.

Validation of a novel quality of life questionnaire: the Digestion-associated Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQLQ).

Background: Few health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaires are designed specifically for healthy populations and are specific to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms even though healthy individuals may frequently experience gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a tool that could assess the impact of GI symptoms on digestion-associated QOL in otherwise healthy individuals.

Methods: After a review of current literature and with input from experienced GI researchers, a 24-item questionnaire was created.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence in People With Parkinson's Disease Reduces Constipation Symptoms and Changes Fecal Microbiota After a 5-Week Single-Arm Pilot Study.

Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) such as gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction are common, yet little is known about how modifying dietary intake impacts PD symptoms. The aim of this study in individuals with PD was to determine whether a Mediterranean diet intervention is feasible and affects GI function, intestinal permeability and fecal microbial communities. A single-arm, 5-week Mediterranean diet intervention study was conducted in eight people with PD.

Building El Barrio Bikes: Lessons from a Community Bicycling Collaborative.

Background: Community collaboratives have been shown to be effective in changing environments and systems to promote health by facilitating and coordinating programs, services, and practices. East Harlem, a New York City neighborhood, recently experienced a growth in bicycling infrastructure and resources. However, community concerns raised about safety, equity, and inclusion highlighted the need for a coordinated effort to reduce barriers to biking.

Teriflunomide Inhibits JCPyV Infection and Spread in Glial Cells and Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells.

Several classes of immunomodulators are used for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Most of these disease-modifying therapies, except teriflunomide, carry the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a severely debilitating, often fatal virus-induced demyelinating disease. Because teriflunomide has been shown to have antiviral activity against DNA viruses, we investigated whether treatment of cells with teriflunomide inhibits infection and spread of JC polyomavirus (JCPyV), the causative agent of PML.

Effect of a Mediterranean diet intervention on gastrointestinal function in Parkinson's disease (the MEDI-PD study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Constipation is a common and sometimes debilitating non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that can result in intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis. The Mediterranean diet, rich in fermentable fibres and anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds, is associated with reduced risk of developing PD and slower progression of parkinsonism. The Mediterranean diet is often recommended for people with PD; however, no studies to date examine this diet as a therapeutic intervention to modulate gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction.

"Come with us for a week, for a month, and see how much food lasts for you:" A Qualitative Exploration of Food Insecurity in East Harlem, New York City.

Background: Food insecurity refers to uncertain access to food on a consistent basis and the stress experienced by families who worry about having sufficient resources to provide balanced meals in their households. Food insecurity has a disproportionate influence on people of color. A robust body of evidence links food insecurity to poor health outcomes.

RskA Is a Dual Function Activator-Inhibitor That Controls SigK Activity Across Distinct Bacterial Genera.

It has been previously shown that RskA, the anti-Sigma factor K of , inhibits SigK and that mutations in RskA promote high expression of the SigK regulon. The latter observation led us to hypothesize that RskA mutations lead to loss of the anti-Sigma factor function. In this report, we used natural and artificial mutations in RskA to determine the basis of the SigK-RskA partnership.