Vision Deficit Due to Pituitary Apoplexy.

Pituitary apoplexy means "sudden death" of the pituitary gland, usually caused by hemorrhage or infarction and often occurring in a pre-existing pituitary adenoma. In many cases, pituitary apoplexy is a medical and surgical emergency. Fast, efficient diagnosis and treatment are important in many cases.

Association of active coping to unfair treatment with perceived stress and depressive symptoms in African Americans: mh-grid study.

Background: Unfair treatment such as discrimination and racism contribute to depression and perceived stress in African Americans. Although studies have examined how responding to such treatment is associated with ameliorating depressive symptoms and levels of perceived stress, most do not focus on African Americans. The purpose of this study is to assess how talking to others in response to unfair treatment is associated with self-reported depressive symptoms and perceived stress levels in African Americans.

Association of Childhood Socioeconomic Status with Leukocyte Telomere Length Among African Americans and the Mediating Role of Behavioral and Psychosocial Factors: Results from the GENE-FORECAST Study.

Purpose: We examined if childhood socioeconomic status (SES) was related to adult leucocyte telomere length (TL) using the data of 361 African American (AA) participants from the GENE-FORECAST Study. We also assessed the mediating role of behavioral and psychosocial factors in the association between childhood SES and adult TL.

Methods: Childhood SES was assessed individually by using participant's mother's education and occupation, father's education and occupation, parental home ownership, and family structure.

Adiposity and Leukocyte Telomere Length in US Adults by Sex-Specific Race/Ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: Little is known about the relationship between adiposity and telomere length in the United States population. The objective of our research was to examine this relationship in a representative, socioeconomically and sex-specific, diverse racial/ethnic population in the United States.

Methods: Body mass index (BMI), % total body fat (TBF) and waist circumference (WC) with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) were examined according to sex-specific race/ethnicity using separate adjusted multivariate linear regressions on a sample of 4,919 respondents aged 20-84 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's 1999-2002 data.

Modifiable mediators associated with the relationship between adiposity and leukocyte telomere length in US adults: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Obesity is associated with age-related health conditions and telomere attrition - a marker of cellular aging. Obesity is attributable to adverse modifiable lifestyle factors. Little is known about the mediation effect of lifestyle factors associated with the relationship between obesity and telomere length.

Associations of smoking indicators and cotinine levels with telomere length: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The influence of smoking exposure on telomere length with a focus on the impact of race has rarely been discussed. We performed a cross sectional analysis into the associations of smoking indicators with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) by race among 5864 nationally representative sample of US adults (≥20 years). Data from 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for the analysis.

Depression, anxiety, stress and stigma in informal caregivers of People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

Informal caregivers are unpaid individuals who help friends or family members who cannot fully care for themselves. However fulfilling the act of helping debilitated individuals, exposure to another person's traumatic experiences often results in psychological distress. Caregiver's stigma towards HIV worsens this.

Differentially conserved transcriptomic response to adversity related to self-rated health in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Self-rated health (SRH) is considered a strong indicator of well-being and clinical health status and has been linked to inflammatory markers. The objective of this work was to examine how self-rated physical health (SRPH) and mental health (SRMH) influence the immune system through the regulation of a stress-related gene expression profile known as the 'conserved transcriptional response to adversity' (CTRA), which involves the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes and down-regulation of genes involved in type I interferon (IFN) response and antibody synthesis. CTRA expression data were derived from genome-wide transcriptional data on purified monocytes in 1264 adult participants from the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Circadian CLOCK gene polymorphisms in relation to sleep patterns and obesity in African Americans: findings from the Jackson heart study.

Background: Circadian rhythms regulate key biological processes and the dysregulation of the intrinsic clock mechanism affects sleep patterns and obesity onset. The CLOCK (circadian locomotor output cycles protein kaput) gene encodes a core transcription factor of the molecular circadian clock influencing diverse metabolic pathways, including glucose and lipid homeostasis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between CLOCK single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and body mass index (BMI).

Race-specific associations between health-related quality of life and cellular aging among adults in the United States: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Purpose: Poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) could lead to higher morbidity and mortality through telomere attrition or accelerated cellular aging. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to examine the relationship between four dimensions of HRQOL and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) among a nationally representative sample of 3547 US adults (≥20 years) using the data from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Method: We used HRQOL survey information collected on individuals' self-rated general health, recent physical health, recent mental health, and recent activity limitation.

Less Than Ideal Cardiovascular Health Is Associated With Shorter Leukocyte Telomere Length: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999-2002.

Background: The associations between individual cardiovascular disease risk factors and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) have been inconclusive. We investigated the association between LTL and overall cardiovascular health (CVH) as defined by the American Heart Association and whether the association is modified by sex and race/ethnicity.

Methods And Results: We included 5194 adults (aged ≥20) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk and leukocyte telomere length in African Americans from the MH-GRID study.

Purpose: Shorter telomere length and obstructive sleep apnea are associated with increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which are both considered leading causes of age-related diseases. Different forms of sleep disordered breathing have been linked to telomere length although their relationship remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and telomere length in African Americans.

Associations between Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in African Americans Are Partly Explained by Circulating Adipokines and C-Reactive Protein: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Although it is recognized that vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and is more common in African Americans (AAs), the pathologic mechanisms by which vitamin D may influence these risk factors are poorly understood.

Objectives: We explored the association between vitamin D status, as reflected by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, and CVD risk factors including mean arterial pressure (MAP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), plasma HDL cholesterol, and waist circumference (WC) in adult AAs. We also tested whether plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), and aldosterone mediated the associations between 25(OH)D and these risk factors.

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Abdominal Visceral Adipose Tissue Volume and Serum Adipokine Concentrations but Not with Body Mass Index or Waist Circumference in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background: The biological actions of vitamin D are mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VDR gene have been previously associated with adiposity traits. However, to our knowledge, few studies have included direct measures of adiposity and adipokine concentrations.

Association of adiponectin and socioeconomic status in African American men and women: the Jackson heart study.

Background: Recent emphasis has been placed on elucidating the biologic mechanism linking socioeconomic status (SES) to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Positive associations of inflammatory biomarkers provide evidence suggestive of a biologic pathway by which SES may predispose to CVD. African Americans have disproportionately lower SES and have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors compared to most ethnic/racial groups.

Cost of management of severe pneumonia in young children: systematic analysis.

Background: Childhood pneumonia is a major cause of childhood illness and the second leading cause of child death globally. Understanding the costs associated with the management of childhood pneumonia is essential for resource allocation and priority setting for child health.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting data on the cost of management of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years old.

Perceived neighborhood problems are associated with shorter telomere length in African American women.

Objectives: African Americans (AA) experience higher levels of stress related to living in racially segregated and poor neighborhoods. However, little is known about the associations between perceived neighborhood environments and cellular aging among adult AA. This study examined whether perceived neighborhood environments were associated with telomere length (TL) in AA after adjustment for individual-level risk factors.

Association of ADIPOQ gene with type 2 diabetes and related phenotypes in African American men and women: the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: African Americans experience disproportionately higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and related risk factors. Little research has been done on the association of ADIPOQ gene on type 2 diabetes, plasma adiponectin, blood glucose, HOMA-IR and body mass index (BMI) in African Americans. The objective of our research was to assess such associations with selected SNPs.

Relationship between obesity and coronary heart disease among urban Bangladeshi men and women.

The aim of the study was to examine the association of different measures of obesity (body mass index or BMI, waist circumference or WC, waist to hip ratio or WHR and waist height ratio or WHtR) with coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Bangladeshi population. The study included 189 hospitalized CHD cases (133 men and 52 women) and 201 controls (137 men and 68 women). Logistic regression was done to assess the associations between obesity and CHD.

Prevalence, associated factors and heritabilities of metabolic syndrome and its individual components in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: Both environmental and genetic factors play important roles in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Studies about its associated factors and genetic contribution in African Americans (AA) are sparse. Our aim was to report the prevalence, associated factors and heritability estimates of MetS and its components in AA men and women.

Gender-specific associations between ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms and adiponectin levels and obesity in the Jackson Heart Study cohort.

Background: Despite the important role of adiponectin in regulating general metabolic homeostasis, analysis of genetic determinants of adiponectin and the related cardio-metabolic traits in African American population has been limited and inconsistent. Considering the high genetic admixture of African Americans and thus the important population stratification that may confound the genetic-trait associations, the objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the associations between ADIPOQ variants and adiponectin levels and obesity phenotypes in a large African American population from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) cohort.

Methods: Genotype data was available for 2968 JHS participants (1131men; 1837women).

The risk and burden of smoking related heart disease mortality among young people in the United States.

Purpose: Although cigarette smoking remains the most common risk factor for heart disease among the young, few studies have explored the relationship of smoking with heart disease mortality risk among young people. This prospective study assesses the risk and burden of all heart disease (HD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality associated with smoking among younger adults from a nationally representative sample of the United States.

Method: National Health Interview Survey respondents' data from 1997-2004 were linked to their death records through 2006.

Association of adiponectin with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in African American men and women: the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Adiponectin is a biomarker that is associated with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Lower circulating level is a risk factor. Higher levels are protective.

Genetic ancestry is associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: To determine whether genetic ancestry was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis measures after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammatory marker, socioeconomic status, and psychosocial factors in a large admixed African American population.

Approach And Results: Participants were drawn from the Jackson Heart Study. Participant's percent of European ancestry (PEA) was estimated based on 1747 genetic markers using HAPMIX.

Parent-offspring association of metabolic syndrome in the Framingham Heart Study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of five metabolic risk factors including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and impaired fasting glucose. Few studies have fully reported the strength of clustering of these risk factors in a parent-offspring relationship. This analysis describes the associations between parents and their adult offspring in regard to MetS.