Lifestyle Factors and Heart Health: Exploring Effect Modification Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data.

This study examined the potential relationship between sleep, exercise, and depression with coronary heart disease (CHD) using the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 391 750) during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHD was defined as the presence of self-reported CHD or myocardial infarction (MI). Descriptive statistics were used to report variable frequencies and percentages.

The impact of green space on nonaccidental and cause-specific mortality in the Adventist Health Study-2 population.

Background: There is growing interest in evaluating the long-term health effects of neighborhood environments, particularly green space. However, only a limited body of research further incorporates multiple ambient air pollutants.

Methods: This study looked at the relationship between green space, as measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and mortality adjusted by key confounders in the Adventist Health Study-2, a longitudinal cohort study from 2002 to 2015, across the contiguous United States (N = 67,400).

Prevalence of Burnout Among Public Health Professionals: A Systematic Review.

Context: Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, health professionals-both clinical health care, as well as public health concentrations-have faced tremendous pressures. A growing body of literature indicates the pandemic has magnified already prevalent burnout rates among clinical health professionals and to what extent for public health professionals remains to be determined.

Objective: This study purpose is to conduct a systematic review of literature examining burnout prevalence among public health professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic-nationally and internationally-with identification of potential risk factors.

The Association Between Lifestyle Factors and COVID-19 Among Older Adults in Southern California: The Loma Linda Longevity Study.

Amid a global aging trend, particularly notable in the U.S., there is a growing focus on achieving enhanced longevity and well-being.

Mosquito control exposures and breast cancer risk: analysis of 1071 cases and 2096 controls from the Ghana Breast Health Study.

Epidemiologic data on insecticide exposures and breast cancer risk are inconclusive and mostly from high-income countries. Using data from 1071 invasive pathologically confirmed breast cancer cases and 2096 controls from the Ghana Breast Health Study conducted from 2013 to 2015, we investigated associations with mosquito control products to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria. These mosquito control products were insecticide-treated nets, mosquito coils, repellent room sprays, and skin creams for personal protection against mosquitos.

The Relationship Between Face Mask Use and Face-Touching Frequency in Public Areas: Naturalistic Study.

Background: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, a major public health goal has been reducing the spread of the virus, with particular emphasis on reducing transmission from person to person. Frequent face touching can transmit viral particles from one infected person and subsequently infect others in a public area. This raises an important concern about the use of face masks and their relationship with face-touching behaviors.

Plant-based dietary intake moderates adverse childhood experiences association with early mortality in an older Adventist cohort.

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) consistently predict poor mental and physical health as well as early all-cause mortality. Much work examines health harming behaviors that may be used to cope with ACEs associated stress responses and dysregulation. Limited research has been conducted assessing plant-based dietary intake on the ACEs and mortality relationship.

Racial Difference in the Association of Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter (PM) and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality among Renal Transplant Recipients.

Ambient air pollutants are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality with significant racial disparities. However, few studies have explored racial differences among highly susceptible subpopulations, such as renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Despite improvements in quality of life after transplantation, CVD remains the major cause of mortality, especially among Black recipients.

Health-Predictive Social-Environmental Stressors and Social Buffers Are Place Based: A Multilevel Example From San Bernardino Communities.

Significant evidence demonstrates the powerful effects social determinants have on health-related perceptions, behaviors, and health outcomes. However, these factors are often studied out of context, despite the acknowledgement that social determinants of health are place based. This research aimed to demonstrate that health-related perceptions are dependent on where one lives.

Impact of Heart Disease Risk Factors, Respiratory Illness, Mastery, and Quality of Life on the Health Status of Individuals Living Near a Major Railyard in Southern California.

The potential health risks for communities that surround railyards have largely been understudied. Mastery and quality of life (QoL) have been associated with self-reported health status in the general population, but few studies have explored this variable among highly vulnerable low-income groups exposed to harmful air pollutants. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported health status and correlates of Heart Disease Risk Factors (HDRF) and Respiratory Illness (RI) with mastery and QoL acting as potential protective buffers.

Are perceptions of community safety associated with respiratory illness among a low-income, minority adult population?

Background: Growing evidence suggests social disadvantage magnifies the harmful health effects of environmental hazards; however, there is limited research related to perceptions of risk among individuals who live near such environmental hazard sites. We explored the association between individual-level perception of community safety and respiratory illness among low-income, minority adults who live in a region with routine poor air quality exacerbated by the emissions of a nearby freight railyard.

Methods: Interview-administered household surveys were collected (87% response rate; n = 965) in English/Spanish from varying distances surrounding a freight railyard (analytic total n = 792: nearest region n = 215, middle n = 289, farthest n = 288).

Adverse Childhood Experiences among a Community of Resilient Centenarians and Seniors: Implications for a Chronic Disease Prevention Framework.

Context: Research has linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with chronic disease in adults and diminished life span. Adverse biological embedding of ACEs potentially occurs through inflammatory mechanisms; inflammatory marker alterations are identified as candidate biomarkers for mediating health consequences. Lifestyle practices of residents of California's Loma Linda Blue Zone, one of five worldwide longevity hotspots, may provide insight into inflammation remediation and chronic disease prevention.

Gender Differences in Respiratory Health of School Children Exposed to Rail Yard-Generated Air Pollution: The ENRRICH Study.

Studies about environmental burdens often explore overall community risk. Increasing evidence suggests, however, differential burdens by gender and age. The purpose of the authors' research was to determine if gender-related difference exists among children in a region plagued with poor air quality and if increased exposure to pollutants from a major goods movement rail yard influences the relationship.

Strategic Partnerships for Change in an Environmental Justice Community: The ENRRICH Study.

Background: San Bernardino, California, is home to the San Bernardino Railyard (SBR), a major commerce hub with high associated air-pollution, identified as an environmental justice (EJ) issue by local community and air quality agencies. Alarmingly, one elementary school is located only a few hundred yards from SBR.

Methods: The school, university researchers, and a local community-based organization (CBO) established a partnership to assess potential adverse health impacts in the children and develop interventions and mitigation plans.

Respiratory Health Risks for Children Living Near a Major Railyard.

Inland southern California is a region of public health concern, especially for children, given the area's perennially poor air quality and increasing sources of local pollution. One elementary school specifically is located only a few hundred yards from the San Bernardino Railyard, one of the busiest goods movement facilities in California, potentially increasing respiratory problems. Through ENRRICH (Environmental Railyard Research Impacting Community Health) Project, we assessed association of proximity to a major freight railyard on adverse respiratory health in schoolchildren.

Experiences of a rail yard community: life is hard.

Community groups and local air pollution control agencies have identified the San Bernardino Railyard (SBR) as a significant public health and environmental justice issue. In response, the authors conducted a comprehensive study with community members living in close proximity to the rail yard. The purpose of this article is to share the community's perceptions about the rail yard and ideas on sustainable change.

Making human subject protection training community responsive: experiences delivering on the community-based participatory research promise.

Background: A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used by the California-based Environmental Railyard Research (ENRRICH) Study, a partnership between scientists from Loma Linda University (LLU) and a local community organization, with the aim of assessing the health effects of exposure to emissions from a rail yard on a community.

Methods/results: To allow meaningful community participation in all study activities and comply with institutional review board (IRB) requirements, all participants involved needed to be properly trained and certified in the ethical conduct of human subjects (HS) research. Existing IRB training materials and the conventional certification methods designed for university scientists are not well-suited for community members who often face educational as well as language barriers.

Ambient air pollutants and risk of fatal coronary heart disease among kidney transplant recipients.

Background: There is increasing evidence that specific ambient air pollutants are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality. Because kidney transplant recipients have prevalent traditional and nontraditional risk factors, they may constitute a sensitive subgroup.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.