Butyrate attenuates cold-induced hypertension via gut microbiota and activation of brown adipose tissue.

Objective: Chronic exposure to cold temperature is known to elevate blood pressure, leading to a condition known as cold-induced hypertension (CIH). Our previous research suggested correlations between alterations in gut microbiota, decrease in butyrate level, and the onset and progression of CIH. However, the role of butyrate in CIH and the underlying mechanisms need further investigation.

Management of a metacarpal oblique fracture in an elite cyclist.

Metacarpal fractures are common in contact sports but are not often seen in elite cyclists. This case report depicts a 32-year-old elite cyclist injured when forced into a race course metal barricade. The diagnosis was an oblique fracture of the third metacarpal.

Association between trajectories of systolic blood pressure and frailty outcome in middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: The association between blood pressure and frailty outcome in the middle-aged and older population remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the relationship between trajectories of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and new-onset frailty.

Design: Cohort study with a 7-year follow-up.

An interdisciplinary course on computer-aided drug discovery to broaden student participation in original scientific research.

We present a new highly interdisciplinary project-based course in computer aided drug discovery (CADD). This course was developed in response to a call for alternative pedagogical approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of a face-to-face summer research program sponsored by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN). The course integrates guided research and educational experiences for chemistry, biology, and computer science students.

Race and ethnic differences in physical activity, osteopenia, and osteoporosis: results from NHANES 2009-2010, 2013-2014, 2017-2018.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to determine current physical activity trends association with bone density in a racial and ethnically diverse sample of older adults. We found that those engaged in no and some physical activity had lower femoral BMD when compared to those that met the physical activity recommendation.

Purpose: Most older adults do not engage in the recommended levels of physical activity to improve health, and there are racial and ethnic differences in physical activity participation.

An Exploratory Study of Physical Therapists From High-Income Countries Practising Outside of Their Scope in Low and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose: To quantify how often physical therapists from high-income countries (HIC) travelling to low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) practise outside their scope of practice, in what circumstances, and their likelihood of doing the same in the future.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive study using a survey.

Results: One hundred and twenty-six licensed physical therapists from around the world participated.

Associations of PM composition and green space with metabolic syndrome in a Chinese essential hypertensive population.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has emerged as a significant global public health concern. While environmental factors, including PM, have been identified as important risk factors for MetS in the general population, limited studies have investigated their impact on individuals with essential hypertension. Therefore, our study aims to explore the relationship between PM composition, green space, and their combined effects on MetS among a Chinese essential hypertensive population.

Weathering the Storm of Caregiving for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive incurable disease affecting an individual's cognitive, behavioral, and physical systems. As individuals become more impaired, assistance is required and care may be provided by spouses, family members, or other close companions who serve as informal caregivers. To examine the perceptions and meaning of caring for a person with AD an interpretive descriptive study was used.

Understanding the Mechanism for Adsorption of Pb(II) Ions by Cu-BTC Metal-Organic Frameworks.

With the growing population, industrialization, and agriculture, water contamination not only affects people but entire ecosystems. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), because of their large surface area and porosity, show great potential as adsorbents for removing pollutants, such as heavy metals, from contaminated water. The current research aims at examining copper (II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC) MOFs and understanding the mechanism for their adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution.

Novice nurse practitioners' employment decisions and role transition experiences during COVID-19.

Background: While it is known how the COVID-19 pandemic affected providers already employed and working in health care settings, there is little data about the effect it may have had on novice nurse practitioners (NPs).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe novice NPs' employment decisions and role transition experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Via an online survey, novice NPs were asked open-ended questions about how the pandemic influenced the decision to take their first position and their role transition experience, as well as what employers did well or could have done better to facilitate this transition.

Prenatal exposure to PM and its constituents with children's BMI Z-score in the first three years: A birth cohort study.

Background: Limited studies evaluated the effect of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) on childhood growth and no consensus reached yet. No study explored the effect of prenatal exposure to PM and its constituents on childhood growth in a region with high PM levels (>50 μg/m). The present study aimed to examine the association of prenatal exposure to PM and its constituents with children's BMI Z-score in the first three years.

The dose-response association between LEAP 1000 and birthweight - no clear mechanisms: a structural equation modeling approach.

Background: Birthweight is an important indicator of maternal and fetal health globally. The multifactorial origins of birthweight suggest holistic programs that target biological and social risk factors have great potential to improve birthweight. In this study, we examine the dose-response association of exposure to an unconditional cash transfer program before delivery with birthweight and explore the potential mediators of the association.

Impact of COVID-19 on percutaneous coronary intervention utilization and mortality in New York.

Background: COVID-19 has disrupted the care of all patients, and little is known about its impact on the utilization and short-term mortality of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients, particularly nonemergency patients.

Methods: New York State's PCI registry was used to study the utilization of PCI and the presence of COVID-19 in four patient subgroups ranging in severity from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to elective patients before (December 01, 2018-February 29, 2020) and during the COVID-19 era (March 01, 2020-May 31, 2021), as well as to examine the impact of different COVID severity levels on the mortality of different types of PCI patients.

Results: Decreases in the mean quarterly PCI volume from the prepandemic period to the first quarter of the pandemic ranged from 20% for STEMI patients to 61% for elective patients, with the other two subgroups having decreases in between these values.

Impacts of thermal acclimatization on fish skeletal muscle.

Thermal acclimation allows ectotherms to maintain physiological homeostasis while occupying habitats with constantly changing temperatures. This process is especially important in skeletal muscle which powers most movements necessary for life. We aimed to understand how fish skeletal muscle is impacted by acclimatization in the laboratory.

Factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among Burmese refugees.

Objective: The Burmese population is one of the fast-growing refugee populations in the USA. This study investigated behavioural and environmental factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among Burmese refugees.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional interview survey in 2018-2019.

Effect of alanine versus serine at position 88 of human transthyretin mutants on the protein stability.

Human transthyretin (TTR) is a homo-tetrameric plasma protein associated with a high percentage of β-sheet forming amyloid fibrils. It accumulates in tissues or extracellular matrices to cause amyloid diseases. Free energy simulations with thermodynamic integration based on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to analyze the effects of the His88 → Ala and Ser mutations on the stability of human TTR.

Exosomes and exosome-loaded scaffolds: Characterization and application in modern regenerative medicine.

Exosomes (EXOs) are extracellular vesicles derived from the endosome. These heterogeneous nanoparticles (30-150 nm) are secreted from various cells and play important biological roles in intercellular communication. EXOs have received much attention for application in regenerative therapies and tissue repair due to their stability, biosafety, and functional versatility.

Thermal acclimation in brook trout myotomal muscle varies with fiber type and age.

As climate change alters the thermal environment of the planet, interest has grown in how animals may mitigate the impact of a changing environment on physiological function. Thermal acclimation to a warm environment may, for instance, blunt the impact of a warming environment on metabolism by allowing a fish to shift to slower isoforms of functionally significant proteins such as myosin heavy chain. The thermal acclimation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was examined by comparing swimming performance, myotomal muscle contraction kinetics and muscle histology in groups of fish acclimated to 4, 10 and 20 °C.

Exploring the driving factors of haze events in Beijing during Chinese New Year holidays in 2020 and 2021 under the influence of COVID-19 pandemic.

Unexpected outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has profoundly altered the way of human life and production activity, which posed visible impacts on PM and its chemical species. The abruptly emergency reduction in human activities provided an opportunity to explore the synergetic impacts of multi-factors on shaping PM pollution. Here, we conducted two comprehensive observation measurements of PM and its chemical species from 1 January to 16 February in Beijing 2020 and the same lunar date in 2021, to investigate temporal variations and reveal the driving factors of haze before and after Chinese New Year (CNY).