Public Health.

Background: Evidence from diverse fields implicates lipid dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, lipid consumption at the individual level does not vary greatly within most study cohorts, and multiple lipids are rarely well-measured concurrently. In contrast, mean lipid intakes at the country-level can be precisely estimated and can vary substantially across countries.

Developing Topics.

Background: A significant proportion of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) develop dementia, with annual conversion rates exceeding 10%. Earlier dementia diagnosis and intervention can improve outcomes, and new disease-modifying drugs are being repositioned for the preclinical stages of illness. Identifying individuals at risk for conversion from MCI to dementia could offer substantial benefits to public healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

RNA sensing at the crossroads of autoimmunity and autoinflammation.

Immune-mediated diseases are common in humans. The immune system is a complex host defense system that evolved to protect us from pathogens, but also plays an important role in homeostatic processes, removing dead or senescent cells, and participating in tumor surveillance. The human immune system has two arms: the older innate immune system, and the newer adaptive immune system.

Diversity and Characteristics of the Oral Microbiome Associated with Self-Reported Ancestral/Ethnic Groups.

Periodontitis disproportionately affects genetic ancestral/ethnic groups. To characterize the oral microbiome from different genetic ancestral/ethnic groups, we collected 161 dental plaque samples from self-identified African Americans (AAs), Caucasian Americans (CAs), and Hispanic Americans (HAs) with clinical gingival health or biofilm-induced gingivitis on an intact periodontium. DNA was extracted from these samples, and then DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced using an Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencer.