Twenty-Four-Hour Cardiovascular Effects of Electronic Cigarettes Compared With Cigarette Smoking in Dual Users.

Background Cardiovascular safety is an important consideration regarding the benefits versus risks of electronic cigarette use (EC) for public health. The single-use cardiovascular effects of EC have been well studied but may not reflect effects of ad libitum use throughout the day. We aimed to compare the circadian hemodynamic effects as well as 24-hour biomarkers of oxidative stress, and platelet aggregation and inflammation, with ad libitum cigarette smoking (CS) versus EC versus no tobacco product use.

Air Quality Response in China Linked to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lockdown.

Efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 in China hinged on severe restrictions to human movement starting 23 January 2020 in Wuhan and subsequently to other provinces. Here, we quantify the ancillary impacts on air pollution and human health using inverse emissions estimates based on multiple satellite observations. We find that Chinese NOx emissions were reduced by 36% from early January to mid-February, with more than 80% of reductions occurring after their respective lockdown in most provinces.

Use of Cardiac Noninvasive Testing After Emergency Department Discharge: Association of Hospital Network Testing Intensity and Outcomes in Ontario, Canada.

Background The relationship between noninvasive cardiac diagnostic testing intensity and downstream clinical outcomes is unclear. Our objective was to examine the relationship between hospital network noninvasive cardiac diagnostic testing intensity and downstream clinical outcomes in patients who were discharged from the emergency department after assessment for chest pain. Methods and Results We employed a retrospective cohort study design of 387 809 patients evaluated for chest pain in the emergency department between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2016.

GISS-E2.1: Configurations and Climatology.

This paper describes the GISS-E2.1 contribution to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 6 (CMIP6). This model version differs from the predecessor model (GISS-E2) chiefly due to parameterization improvements to the atmospheric and ocean model components, while keeping atmospheric resolution the same.

Visual perception of light organ patterns in deep-sea shrimps and implications for conspecific recognition.

Darkness and low biomass make it challenging for animals to find and identify one another in the deep sea. While spatiotemporal variation in bioluminescence is thought to underlie mate recognition for some species, its role in conspecific recognition remains unclear. The deep-sea shrimp genus, sensu lato (s.

Plant science decadal vision 2020-2030: Reimagining the potential of plants for a healthy and sustainable future.

Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020-2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far-reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education.

Practice Pattern, Diagnostic Yield, and Long-Term Prognostic Impact of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography.

Background Although guidelines recommend the use of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in patients with stable pain syndromes, the clinical benefits of the use of coronary CTA in a broad spectrum of patients is unknown. We evaluated the contemporary practice pattern and diagnostic yield of coronary CTA and their impact on the subsequent diagnostic-therapeutic cascade and clinical outcomes. Methods and Results We identified 39 906 patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary CTA between January 2007 and December 2013.

Robust age estimation of southern sea otters from multiple morphometrics.

Reliable age estimation is an essential tool to assess the status of wildlife populations and inform successful management. Aging methods, however, are often limited by too few data, skewed demographic representation, and by single or uncertain morphometric relationships. In this study, we synthesize age estimates in southern sea otters from 761 individuals across 34 years of study, using multiple noninvasive techniques and capturing all life stages from 0 to 17 years of age.

Clinical Associations of Vascular Stiffness, Microvascular Dysfunction, and Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease in a Black Cohort: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Measures of vascular dysfunction are related to adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in non-Hispanic, White populations; however, data from Black individuals are limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between novel hemodynamic measures and prevalent CVD in a sample of Black individuals. Methods and Results Among older Black participants of the Jackson Heart Study, we assessed noninvasive vascular hemodynamic measures using arterial tonometry and Doppler ultrasound.

Perceptions on Diversity in Cardiology: A Survey of Cardiology Fellowship Training Program Directors.

Background The lack of diversity in the cardiovascular physician workforce is thought to be an important driver of racial and sex disparities in cardiac care. Cardiology fellowship program directors play a critical role in shaping the cardiology workforce. Methods and Results To assess program directors' perceptions about diversity and barriers to enhancing diversity, the authors conducted a survey of 513 fellowship program directors or associate directors from 193 unique adult cardiology fellowship training programs.

Effect of a Triage-Based Screening Protocol on Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Tanzanian Emergency Department: A Prospective Pre-Post Study.

Background Evidence suggests that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is underdiagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa. Triage-based interventions have improved ACS diagnosis and management in high-income settings but have not been evaluated in sub-Saharan African emergency departments (EDs). Our objective was to estimate the effect of a triage-based screening protocol on ACS diagnosis and care in a Tanzanian ED.

Highest Obesity Category Associated With Largest Decrease in N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) constitutes half of hospitalized heart failure cases and is commonly associated with obesity. The role of natriuretic peptide levels in hospitalized obese patients with HFpEF, however, is not well defined. We sought to evaluate change in NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels by obesity category and related clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Cardio-Oncology in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global pandemic and public health crisis. Increasing waves of intermittent infectious outbreaks have dramatically influenced care among broad populations. Over the past 2 decades, there has been a rapid increase in cancer survival, with >400 000 new survivors each year.

Influence of Sex on Platelet Reactivity in Response to Aspirin.

Background There are sex differences in the efficacy and safety of aspirin for the prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke. Whether this is explained by underlying differences in platelet reactivity and aspirin response remains poorly understood. Methods and Results Healthy volunteers (n=378 208 women) and patients with coronary artery disease or coronary artery disease risk factors (n=217 112 women) took aspirin for 4 weeks.

Clinical Effectiveness of Cardiac Noninvasive Diagnostic Testing in Outpatients Evaluated for Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

Background Despite more than 4 million cardiac noninvasive diagnostic tests (NIT) being performed annually for stable coronary artery disease in the United States, it is unclear whether they are associated with downstream improvements in outcomes when compared with no testing. We sought to determine whether NIT was associated with reduced downstream major adverse cardiovascular events when compared with not testing. Methods and Results We conducted a population-based study of ≈1.

Association Between Blood Lead Level and Uncontrolled Hypertension in the US Population (NHANES 1999-2016).

Background This study aims to explore whether higher blood lead levels (BLL) may be associated with failure to control blood pressure and subsequent uncontrolled hypertension. Methods and Results We used serial cross-sectional waves of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2016. 30 762 subjects aged 20 years and above were included.

A Droplet Microfluidic System to Fabricate Hybrid Capsules Enabling Stem Cell Organoid Engineering.

Organoids derived from self-organizing stem cells represent a major technological breakthrough with the potential to revolutionize biomedical research. However, building high-fidelity organoids in a reproducible and high-throughput manner remains challenging. Here, a droplet microfluidic system is developed for controllable fabrication of hybrid hydrogel capsules, which allows for massive 3D culture and formation of functional and uniform islet organoids derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs).

Elevated Hair Mercury Levels Are Associated With Neurodevelopmental Deficits in Children Living Near Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Peru.

Children living near artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) are at risk of exposure to mercury, a neurotoxicant. It is not certain whether such exposures are harming development, as they occur in underresourced contexts entwined with other stressors, such as malnutrition and enteric infection. This study sought to investigate the association between hair-mercury levels and visual-motor, cognitive, and physical development among children living near ASGM in the Peruvian Amazon.

Mitral Valve Surgical Volume and Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair Outcomes: Impact of a Proposed Volume Requirement on Geographic Access.

Background There is an open Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National Coverage Decision for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVr) and a recent multisociety consensus document suggesting that TMVr centers should achieve prespecified mitral valve replacement or repair (MVRr). Yet, little is known about the MVRr volume-TMVr outcome relationship. Methods and Results Using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrative claims from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, we computed the Pearson correlation coefficient and performed multivariable hierarchical modeling to estimate the MVRr volume to TMVr outcome relationship for mortality and heart failure hospitalization.

Prediction of Residual Risk by Ceramide-Phospholipid Score in Patients With Stable Coronary Heart Disease on Optimal Medical Therapy.

Background Identification of patients with stable coronary heart disease who are at significant residual risk could be helpful for targeted prevention. Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of the recently introduced ceramide- and phospholipid-based risk score, the Cardiovascular Event Risk Test (CERT2), in patients with stable coronary heart disease on optimal medical therapy and to identify biological processes that contribute to the CERT2 score. Methods and Results Plasma samples (n=11 222) obtained from the STABILITY (Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaque by Initiation of Darapladib Therapy) trial were analyzed using a tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method.

Sleep Characteristics and Measures of Glucose Metabolism in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Characterizing associations of sleep characteristics with blood-glucose-level factors among blacks may clarify the underlying mechanisms of impaired glucose metabolism and help identify treatment targets to prevent diabetes mellitus in blacks. Methods and Results Cross-sectional analyses were conducted in 789 blacks who completed home sleep apnea testing and 7-day wrist actigraphy in 2012-2016. Sleep-disordered breathing measurements included respiratory event index associated with 4% oxygen desaturation and minimum oxygen saturation.

Goal-Striving Stress and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Goal-striving stress (GSS), the stress from striving for goals, is associated with poor health. Less is known about its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and Results We used data from the JHS (Jackson Heart Study), a study of CVD among blacks (21-95 years old) from 2000 to 2015.