Characterization of sleep apnea among a sample of adults from Samoa.

Sleep apnea is a global public health concern, but little research has examined this issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. The purpose of this study was to examine the sample prevalence and characteristics of sleep apnea using a validated home sleep apnea device (WatchPAT, Itamar) and explore factors that may influence sleep health in the Samoan setting. This study used data collected through the ("Good Health") study, which investigated the impact of the body mass index (BMI)-associated genetic variant rs373863828 in on metabolic traits in Samoan adults (sampled to overrepresent the obesity-risk allele of interest).

Maternal immune activation by toll-like receptor 7 agonist during mid-gestation increases susceptibility to blood-brain barrier leakage after puberty.

Maternal immune activation (MIA), a maternal stressor, increases risk for neuropsychiatric diseases, such as Major Depressive Disorder in offspring. MIA of toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) initiates an immune response in mother and fetuses in a sex-selective manner. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), a brain region that is sexually dimorphic and regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress responses, have been tied to stress-related behaviors (i.

Education Research: The Neurohumanities in Training: Integrating a Humanities Curriculum Within Neurology Residency Programs.

Background And Objectives: Perhaps stemming from the central role of detailed examinations and a focus on the subjective sphere that grounds their clinical practice, neurologists have frequently opined on experiences traditionally a province of humanities. The increasingly technological focus on medical education and care can be seen to devalue the subjective aspects of medicine. As a counter to this, we report on the existence of neurohumanities curricula within neurology residency training.

Molecular and spatial analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures in Sjogren's syndrome.

Tertiary lymphoid structures play important roles in autoimmune and non-autoimmune conditions. While many of the molecular mechanisms involved in tertiary lymphoid structure formation have been identified, the cellular sources and temporal and spatial relationship remain unknown. Here we use combine single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics of minor salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's disease and Sicca Syndrome, with ex-vivo functional studies to construct a cellular and spatial map of key components involved in the formation and function of tertiary lymphoid structures.

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of State-Level Protections, Medical Debt, and Deferred Care Among Sexual and Gender Minority People.

Background: Millions of Americans have medical debt and/or defer care due to cost. Few studies have examined the association of such health-related financial problems with sexual orientation or gender identity, and whether state-level policies protecting sexual and gender minority (SGM) people affect disparities in such problems.

Objective: To examine the relationships between SGM status, state-level SGM protections, and health-related financial problems.

The impact of common and rare genetic variants on bradyarrhythmia development.

To broaden our understanding of bradyarrhythmias and conduction disease, we performed common variant genome-wide association analyses in up to 1.3 million individuals and rare variant burden testing in 460,000 individuals for sinus node dysfunction (SND), distal conduction disease (DCD) and pacemaker (PM) implantation. We identified 13, 31 and 21 common variant loci for SND, DCD and PM, respectively.

Maternal and Infant Predictors of Human Milk Macronutrient and Energy Concentrations in Rural Bangladesh: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Human milk macronutrient (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) and energy concentrations vary based on maternal and infant factors and time postpartum.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the change in milk macronutrient and energy concentrations from ∼2 to 5 mo postpartum and identify factors associated with this variation among a lactation cohort in Bangladesh.

Methods: In this prospective observational lactation cohort in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh, we collected hand-expressed mid-feed human milk samples and analyzed macronutrient concentrations using mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Composite Hyaluronic Acid Gas-Entrapping Materials to Promote Wound Healing.

Tissue repair is often impaired in pathological states, highlighting the need for innovative wound-healing technologies. This study introduces composite hyaluronic acid gas-entrapping materials (GEMs) delivering carbon monoxide (CO) to promote wound healing in pigs. These composite materials facilitate burst release followed by sustained release of CO over 48 h.

Prescribing Trends of Antidiabetes Medications Near End-of-Life Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess prescribing trends of antidiabetes medications in the last year of life among older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and explore whether frailty is associated with differential prescribing.

Research Design And Methods: In this observational cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥67 years (2015-2019) with T2D, we assessed temporal trends in prescribing an antidiabetes medication, stratified by frailty. The main outcome included antidiabetes medication fills within 1 year of death.

Nomadic Nanomedicines: Medicines Enabled by the Paracrine Transfer Effect.

In nanomedicine, the cellular export of nanomaterials has been less explored than uptake. Traditionally viewed in a negative light, recent findings highlight the potential of nanomedicine export to enhance therapeutic effects. This Perspective examines key pathways for export and how nanomaterial design affects removal rates.

Prospective pooled analyses of ambient ultraviolet radiation levels and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Case-control studies of sun exposure and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) have consistently reported inverse associations with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk, but prospective studies have yielded mixed results. Few studies have explored these exposures in relation to multiple myeloma (MM) risk. To further evaluate these associations with NHL and MM risk and identify etiologically relevant exposure timing, we pooled data on 566,693 individuals from 6 United States (U.

Human intraepithelial mast cell differentiation and effector function are directed by TGF-β signaling.

Mast cells (MCs) expressing a distinctive protease phenotype (MCTs) selectively expand within the epithelium of human mucosal tissues during type 2 (T2) inflammation. While MCTs are phenotypically distinct from subepithelial MCs (MCTCs), signals driving human MCT differentiation and this subset's contribution to inflammation remain unexplored. Here, we have identified TGF-β as a key driver of the MCT transcriptome in nasal polyps.

Melanoma toolkit for early detection for primary care clinicians: a 1-year follow-up on outcomes.

Introduction: Primary care providers or clinicians (PCPs) have the potential to assist dermatologists in screening patients at risk for skin cancer, but require training to appropriately identify higher-risk patients, perform skin checks, recognize and biopsy concerning lesions, interpret pathology results, document the exam, and bill for the service. Very few validated dermatology training programs exist for PCPs and those that are available focus primarily on one emphasis area, which results in variable efficacy and single-topic limited scope.

Methods: We have created a free, online, continuing education program (Melanoma Toolkit for Early Detection, MTED) that allows learners to choose from a variety of multimedia tools (image recognition, videos, written material, in-person seminars, self-tests, etc.

Long-term impact of Diabetes Prevention Program interventions on walking endurance.

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes are associated with poor walking endurance, a marker of physical function. We aimed to examine the long-term effects of metformin or intensive lifestyle intervention in adults at high risk of T2D on their 6-min walk test (6MWT) performance.

Methods: Participants were randomized in the 3-year Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to one of the three groups: lifestyle intervention, metformin, or placebo, and were subsequently followed in the DPP Outcomes Study.

Dysregulation of mTOR signalling is a converging mechanism in lissencephaly.

Cerebral cortex development in humans is a highly complex and orchestrated process that is under tight genetic regulation. Rare mutations that alter gene expression or function can disrupt the structure of the cerebral cortex, resulting in a range of neurological conditions. Lissencephaly ('smooth brain') spectrum disorders comprise a group of rare, genetically heterogeneous congenital brain malformations commonly associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability.

Associations of Pesticide Residue Exposure from Fruit and Vegetable Intake with Ovarian Reserve.

Background: We previously reported that the intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) known to have high-pesticide contamination in the United States food supply is related to lower sperm counts. Whether the same is true for ovarian reserve is unknown.

Methods: Participants were 633 females, 21-45 y, presenting to an academic fertility center.