Disrupted Maternal Behavior in Morphine-Dependent Pregnant Rats and Anhedonia in their Offspring.

It is currently estimated that every 15 minutes an infant is born with opioid use disorder and undergoes intense early life trauma due to opioid withdrawal. Clinical research on the long-term consequences of gestational opioid exposure reports increased rates of social, conduct, and emotional disorders in these children. Here, we investigate the impact of perinatal opioid exposure (POE) on behaviors associated with anhedonia and stress in male and female Sprague Dawley rats.

Metabolomic signatures of ideal cardiovascular health in black adults.

Plasma metabolomics profiling is an emerging methodology to identify metabolic pathways underlying cardiovascular health (CVH). The objective of this study was to define metabolomic profiles underlying CVH in a cohort of Black adults, a population that is understudied but suffers from disparate levels of CVD risk factors. The Morehouse-Emory Cardiovascular (MECA) Center for Health Equity study cohort consisted of 375 Black adults (age 53 ± 10, 39% male) without known CVD.

MicroRNAs and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Purpose Of Review: MicroRNAs (miRNAs)-short, non-coding RNAs-play important roles in almost all aspects of cardiovascular biology, and changes in intracellular miRNA expression are indicative of cardiovascular disease development and progression. Extracellular miRNAs, which are easily measured in blood and can be reflective of changes in intracellular miRNA levels, have emerged as potential non-invasive biomarkers for disease. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding miRNAs as biomarkers for assessing cardiovascular disease risk and prognosis.

Perigestational Opioid Exposure Alters Alcohol-Driven Reward Behaviors in Adolescent Rats.

Every fifteen minutes, a baby is born in the U.S. experiencing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

Increased LPS-Induced Fever and Sickness Behavior in Adult Male and Female Rats Perinatally Exposed to Morphine.

As a result of the current opioid crisis, the rate of children born exposed to opioids has skyrocketed. Later in life, these children have an increased risk for hospitalization and infection, raising concerns about potential immunocompromise, as is common with chronic opioid use. Opioids can act directly on immune cells or indirectly via the central nervous system to decrease immune system activity, leading to increased susceptibility, morbidity, and mortality to infection.

Perinatal opioid exposure leads to decreased social play in adolescent male and female rats: Potential role of oxytocin signaling in brain regions associated with social reward.

Over the last two decades, the number of infants exposed to opioids in utero has quadrupled in the United States, with some states reporting rates as high as 55 infants per 1000 births. Clinical studies report that children previously exposed to opioids during gestation show significant deficits in social behavior, including an inability to form friendships or other social relationships. To date, the neural mechanisms whereby developmental opioid exposure disrupts social behavior remain unknown.

Perinatal Opioid Exposure Leads to Decreased Social Play in Adolescent Male and Female Rats: Potential Role of Oxytocin Signaling in Brain Regions Associated with Social Reward.

Over the last two decades, the number of infants exposed to opioids has quadrupled in the United States, with some states reporting rates as high as 55 infants per 1000 births. Clinical studies report that children previously exposed to opioids during gestation show significant deficits in social behavior, including an inability to form friendships or other social relationships. To date, the neural mechanisms whereby developmental opioid exposure disrupts social behavior remain unknown.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-Threatening Diseases (VA SHIELD): A Biorepository Addressing National Health Threats.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has demonstrated the need to share data and biospecimens broadly to optimize clinical outcomes for US military Veterans.

Methods: In response, the Veterans Health Administration established VA SHIELD (Science and Health Initiative to Combat Infectious and Emerging Life-threatening Diseases), a comprehensive biorepository of specimens and clinical data from affected Veterans to advance research and public health surveillance and to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.

Results: VA SHIELD now comprises 12 sites collecting de-identified biospecimens from US Veterans affected by SARS-CoV-2.

Association of physical activity with arterial stiffness among Black adults.

Arterial stiffness is a precursor for the development of hypertension and premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Physical activity has been associated with lower arterial stiffness among largely White populations, but the types of activity required and whether these findings apply to Black adults remain unknown. We examined whether physical activity levels were associated with arterial stiffness among Black adults in two independent cohorts.

Association Between Early Trauma and Ideal Cardiovascular Health Among Black Americans: Results From the Morehouse-Emory Cardiovascular (MECA) Center for Health Equity.

Background: Early trauma (general, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse before age 18 years) has been associated with both cardiovascular disease risk and lifestyle-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Despite higher prevalence, the association between early trauma and cardiovascular health (CVH) has been understudied in Black Americans, especially those from low-income backgrounds, who may be doubly vulnerable. Therefore, we investigated the association between early trauma and CVH, particularly among low-income Black Americans.

Experience With Cardiology-Oriented Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 is associated with high mortality rates and multiple organ damage. There is increasing evidence that these patients are at risk for various cardiovascular insults; however, there are currently no guidelines for the diagnosis and management of such cardiovascular complications in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. We share data and recommendations from a multidisciplinary team to highlight our institution's clinical experiences and guidelines for managing cardiovascular complications of coronavirus disease 2019.

Neighborhood characteristics and ideal cardiovascular health among Black adults: results from the Morehouse-Emory Cardiovascular (MECA) Center for Health Equity.

Purpose: Neighborhood environment is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of cardiovascular health (CVH) among Black adults. Most research to date has focused on negative aspects of the neighborhood environment, with little attention being paid to the specific positive features, in particular the social environment, that promote cardiovascular resilience among Black adults.We examined whether better neighborhood physical and social characteristics are associated with ideal CVH among Black adults, as measured by Life's Simple 7 (LS7) scores.

Individual Psychosocial Resilience, Neighborhood Context, and Cardiovascular Health in Black Adults: A Multilevel Investigation From the Morehouse-Emory Cardiovascular Center for Health Equity Study.

Background: Despite well-documented cardiovascular disparities between racial groups, within-race determinants of cardiovascular health among Black adults remain understudied. Factors promoting cardiovascular resilience among Black adults in particular warrant further investigation. Our objective was to examine whether individual psychosocial resilience and neighborhood-level cardiovascular resilience were associated with better cardiovascular health in Black adults, measured utilizing Life's Simple 7 (LS7) scores.

Cardiovascular Risk and Resilience Among Black Adults: Rationale and Design of the MECA Study.

Background Cardiovascular disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality have declined in the past several decades; however, disparities persist among subsets of the population. Notably, blacks have not experienced the same improvements on the whole as whites. Furthermore, frequent reports of relatively poorer health statistics among the black population have led to a broad assumption that black race reliably predicts relatively poorer health outcomes.

MicroRNA Detection Using a Double Molecular Beacon Approach: Distinguishing Between miRNA and Pre-miRNA.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and are recognized for their roles both as modulators of disease progression and as biomarkers of disease activity, including neurological diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Commonly, miRNA abundance is assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), however, qRT-PCR for miRNA can be labor intensive, time consuming, and may lack specificity for detection of mature versus precursor forms of miRNA. Here, we describe a novel double molecular beacon approach to miRNA assessment that can distinguish and quantify mature versus precursor forms of miRNA in a single assay, an essential feature for use of miRNAs as biomarkers for disease.

Pleomorphic Structures in Human Blood Are Red Blood Cell-Derived Microparticles, Not Bacteria.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are a common, life-saving therapy for many patients, but they have also been associated with poor clinical outcomes. We identified unusual, pleomorphic structures in human RBC transfusion units by negative-stain electron microscopy that appeared identical to those previously reported to be bacteria in healthy human blood samples. The presence of viable, replicating bacteria in stored blood could explain poor outcomes in transfusion recipients and have major implications for transfusion medicine.

Platelets confound the measurement of extracellular miRNA in archived plasma.

Extracellular miRNAs are detectable in biofluids and represent a novel class of disease biomarker. Although many studies have utilized archived plasma for miRNA biomarker discovery, the effects of processing and storage have not been rigorously studied. Previous reports have suggested plasma samples are commonly contaminated by platelets, significantly confounding the measurement of extracellular miRNA, which was thought to be easily addressed by additional post-thaw plasma processing.

Individual risk factors for physician boundary violations: the role of attachment style, childhood trauma and maladaptive beliefs.

Objective: The assessment and remediation of boundary-challenged healthcare professionals is enhanced through examination of individual risk factors. We assessed three such factors--attachment style, childhood trauma and maladaptive beliefs--in 100 attendees (mostly physicians) of a CME professional boundaries course. We propose a theoretical model which draws a causal arc from childhood maltreatment through insecure attachment and maladaptive beliefs to elevated risk for boundary violations.

An accurate, precise method for general labeling of extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular, membrane vesicles (microvesicles, exosomes) are secreted by cells and may serve as mediators of intercellular communication. Methods for detecting them by flow cytometry have included the use of agents that fluorescently stain vesicle membrane, or fluorescent antibodies that target specific cell-of-origin antigens. However, these methods may falsely detect cell debris or require prior cell-of-origin knowledge.

PPARγ Ligands Attenuate Hypoxia-Induced Proliferation in Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells through Modulation of MicroRNA-21.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive and often fatal disorder whose pathogenesis involves pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. Although modern PH therapies have significantly improved survival, continued progress rests on the discovery of novel therapies and molecular targets. MicroRNA (miR)-21 has emerged as an important non-coding RNA that contributes to PH pathogenesis by enhancing vascular cell proliferation, however little is known about available therapies that modulate its expression.