In vitro-in vivo Validation of Stimulatory Effect of Oat Ingredients on Lactobacilli.

The prebiotic activity of a commercially available oat product and a novel oat ingredient, at similar β-glucan loads, was tested using a validated in vitro gut model (M-SHIME). The novel oat ingredient was tested further at lower β-glucan loads in vitro, while the commercially available oat product was assessed in a randomised, single-blind, placebo-controlled, and cross-over human study. Both approaches focused on healthy individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia.

Contribution of 100% Fruit Juice to Micronutrient Intakes in the United States, United Kingdom and Brazil.

The contribution of 100% fruit juice (FJ) to the total daily intakes of energy, sugars, and select vitamins and minerals and to the recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) or adequate intake (AI) of these micronutrients was assessed in individuals reporting the consumption of 100% FJ in the national dietary intake surveys of the United States (U.S.; = 8661), the United Kingdom (UK; = 2546) and Brazil ( = 34,003).

Limitations in Using Multiple Imputation to Harmonize Individual Participant Data for Meta-Analysis.

Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis is a meta-analysis in which the individual-level data for each study are obtained and used for synthesis. A common challenge in IPD meta-analysis is when variables of interest are measured differently in different studies. The term harmonization has been coined to describe the procedure of placing variables on the same scale in order to permit pooling of data from a large number of studies.

Relationship between obesity and anti-Müllerian hormone in reproductive-aged African American women.

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between obesity and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) among reproductive-aged African American women (AAW).

Methods: From the women participating in an ongoing National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences study, 1,654 AAW aged 23 to 35 were included in this study. Anthropometric measurements, personal health information, and serum AMH and adipokine levels were analyzed.

An Exercise Intervention for South Asian Mothers with Risk Factors for Diabetes.

Purpose: South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Nepalis, and Bhutanese) in the United States have a very high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This pilot study evaluated a culturally-tailored exercise intervention among South Asian immigrant mothers with DM risk factors.

Methods: Through an academic-community partnership, South Asian women with risk factors for DM and who had at least one child between 6-14 years were enrolled into this single-arm study.

A Longitudinal Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Development of Metabolic Syndrome: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study.

Objective: Despite variability in the burden of elevated depressive symptoms by sex and race and differences in the incidence of metabolic syndrome, few prior studies describe the longitudinal association of depressive symptoms with metabolic syndrome in a diverse cohort. We tested whether baseline and time-varying depressive symptoms were associated with metabolic syndrome incidence in black and white men and women from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

Methods: Participants reported depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale at four examinations between 1995 and 2010.

Alcohol, cigarette smoking, and ovarian reserve in reproductive-age African-American women.

Background: Although alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are common behaviors in reproductive-age women, little is known about the impact of consumption patterns on ovarian reserve. Even less is known about the effects of smoking and alcohol use in reproductive-age African-American women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the impact of the patterns of alcohol intake and cigarette smoking on anti-Müllerian hormone levels as a marker of ovarian reserve in African-American women.

Novel correlates between antimüllerian hormone and menstrual cycle characteristics in African-American women (23-35 years-old).

Objective: To characterize normative antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels and ascertain which factors are associated with AMH in a large cohort of reproductive-age women.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Not applicable.

The Effect of Changes in Physical Activity on Sedentary Behavior: Results From a Randomized Lifestyle Intervention Trial.

Purpose: To investigate whether changes in physical activity (PA) have an impact on sedentary behavior (SB) during a lifestyle intervention.

Design: Study design was a randomized trial.

Setting/subjects: Participants (n = 204) were individuals with low PA and high sedentary leisure screen time from the Chicago area.

Translating a heart disease lifestyle intervention into the community: the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study; a randomized control trial.

Background: South Asians (Asian Indians and Pakistanis) are the second fastest growing ethnic group in the United States (U.S.) and have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Disparities in sleep characteristics by race/ethnicity in a population-based sample: Chicago Area Sleep Study.

Background: Prior studies report less favorable sleep characteristics among non-Whites as compared with non-Hispanic Whites. However, few population-based studies have used objective measures of sleep duration, especially in more than two racial/ethnic groups. We tested whether objectively estimated sleep duration and self-reported sleep quality varied by race and whether differences were at least partially explained by the variability in clinical, psychological, and behavioral covariates.

Neighborhood-level racial/ethnic residential segregation and incident cardiovascular disease: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Background: Previous research suggests that neighborhood-level racial/ethnic residential segregation is linked to health, but it has not been studied prospectively in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods And Results: Participants were 1595 non-Hispanic black, 2345 non-Hispanic white, and 1289 Hispanic adults from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis free of CVD at baseline (aged 45-84 years). Own-group racial/ethnic residential segregation was assessed by using the Gi* statistic, a measure of how the neighborhood racial/ethnic composition deviates from surrounding counties' racial/ethnic composition.

The association between sleep characteristics and prothrombotic markers in a population-based sample: Chicago Area Sleep Study.

Background And Aim: Short sleep duration and poor quality sleep are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality; however, the underlying pathophysiologic process remains unclear. Sleep apnea may confound the association because of its relationship with formation of thrombi, the vascular occlusive process in CHD. We tested whether sleep duration and quality were associated with prothrombotic biomarkers in adults with a low probability of apnea.