1,191 results match your criteria: "The University of Texas at Brownsville & Texas Southmost College[Affiliation]"

Article Synopsis
  • Obesity poses a significant public health challenge and is linked to high mortality rates, with prior studies focusing mostly on European populations.
  • This research utilized whole-genome sequencing data from a diverse group of 88,873 individuals, finding 18 new signals associated with body mass index (BMI) and highlighting a novel SNP prevalent among people of African descent.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of diverse genetic data in identifying new obesity-related variants, moving us closer to personalized medical interventions for this crisis.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores how different adipokines (like leptin and adiponectin) are related to subclinical atherosclerosis, a precursor to cardiovascular diseases, specifically in a Hispanic population.
  • Using data from 624 Hispanic participants, the research found that the relationships between these adipokines and carotid-intima media thickness (cIMT) varied by sex, with significant associations in males for leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) and in females for adiponectin and adiponectin-resistin index (ARI).
  • The results highlighted that males at metabolic risk showed a stronger interaction with LAR and cIMT, suggesting that metabolic health status can impact the relationship
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  • The study investigates the role of CCR2, a receptor for CCL2 involved in monocyte movement, in the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, particularly through examining genetic variants in a large population sample from the UK Biobank.
  • Researchers identified 45 harmful genetic variants linked to lower monocyte counts, finding that carriers had a reduced risk of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, especially the M249K variant.
  • The M249K variant was associated with significantly lower risks for heart issues without increasing infection risk, suggesting its potential protective role against cardiovascular diseases.
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The Monod equation has been used to represent the relationship between growth rate and the environmental nutrient concentration under the limitation of this respective nutrient. This model often serves as a means to connect microorganisms to their environment, specifically in ecosystem and global models. Here, we use a simple model of a marine microorganism cell to illustrate the model's ability to capture the same relationship as Monod, while highlighting the additional physiological details our model provides.

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The survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and invasive form of malignant brain tumors, remains poor despite advances in current treatment methods including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Minocycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline derivative that has been widely used as an antibiotic and more recently, it has been utilized as an antiangiogenic factor to inhibit tumorigenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the utilization of electrospraying process to fabricate minocycline-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles with high drug loading and loading efficiency and to evaluate their ability to induce cell toxicity in human glioblastoma (i.

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A bidirectional communication exists between the brain and the gut, in which the gut microbiota influences cognitive function and vice-versa. Gut dysbiosis has been linked to several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, the relationship between gut dysbiosis and markers of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), a major contributor to ADRD, is unknown.

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Endothelial dysfunction assessed by impaired brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) predicts incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have previously shown that clustering of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in young Hispanic patients was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. This study aimed to assess determinants of impaired FMD response (%FMD), an earlier marker of atherosclerosis, in a population-based sample of asymptomatic Mexican Americans.

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Steady-state expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) explain only a fraction of disease-associated loci identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), while eQTLs involved in gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions have rarely been characterized in humans due to experimental challenges. Using a baboon model, we found hundreds of eQTLs that emerge in adipose, liver, and muscle after prolonged exposure to high dietary fat and cholesterol. Diet-responsive eQTLs exhibit genomic localization and genic features that are distinct from steady-state eQTLs.

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Aquatic organisms are frequently exposed to various environmental stressors. Thus, the effects of high temperatures and herbicides on aquatic organisms are a major subject of interest. In this study, we studied the effects of short-term exposure (1 week) to Roundup®, a glyphosate-based herbicide (concentrations: 0.

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Editorial: Physiology and pathology of neuroglia.

Front Cell Neurosci

July 2023

The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Communication, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States.

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Roundup® disrupts tissue architecture, attenuates Na/K-ATPase expression, and induces protein oxidation/nitration, cellular apoptosis, and antioxidant enzyme expressions in the gills of goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol

October 2023

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA; School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA; School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Extensive agricultural activities to feed the growing population are one major driving force behind aquatic pollution. Different types of pesticides are used in farmlands to increase crop production and wash up into water bodies. Glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup® is one of the most used pesticides in the United States; however, its effects on teleost species are still poorly understood.

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Minority populations are largely absent from clinical research trials. The neglect of these populations has become increasingly apparent, with escalating cancer burdens and chronic disease. The challenges to recruitment of minorities in the United States are multiple including trust or lack thereof.

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Increased vascular permeability is a frequent outcome of viperid snakebite envenomation, leading to local and systemic complications. We reported that snake venom cysteine-rich secretory proteins (svCRiSPs) from North American pit vipers increase vascular permeability both in vitro and in vivo. They also induce acute activation of several adhesion and signaling molecules that may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of snakebites.

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Article Synopsis
  • Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in regulating biological functions, and new genomic studies allow researchers to explore their connection to complex traits, like blood lipid levels.
  • This research involved high-coverage whole genome sequencing from over 66,000 participants, focusing on the influence of rare variants in 165,375 lncRNA genes on lipid variability.
  • The study found 83 rare lncRNA variant sets linked to blood lipid levels, with many of these associations being independent of common variants, suggesting potential new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
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Mapping Lesion-Related Epilepsy to a Human Brain Network.

JAMA Neurol

September 2023

Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Importance: It remains unclear why lesions in some locations cause epilepsy while others do not. Identifying the brain regions or networks associated with epilepsy by mapping these lesions could inform prognosis and guide interventions.

Objective: To assess whether lesion locations associated with epilepsy map to specific brain regions and networks.

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Evidence for myelin regulating higher-order brain function and disease is rapidly accumulating; however, defining cellular/molecular mechanisms remains challenging partially due to the dynamic brain physiology involving deep changes during development, aging, and in response to learning and disease. Furthermore, as the etiology of most neurological conditions remains obscure, most research models focus on mimicking symptoms, which limits understanding of their molecular onset and progression. Studying diseases caused by single gene mutations represents an opportunity to understand brain dys/function, including those regulated by myelin.

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Hierarchical Wilson-Cowan Models and Connection Matrices.

Entropy (Basel)

June 2023

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, One West University Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520, USA.

This work aims to study the interplay between the Wilson-Cowan model and connection matrices. These matrices describe cortical neural wiring, while Wilson-Cowan equations provide a dynamical description of neural interaction. We formulate Wilson-Cowan equations on locally compact Abelian groups.

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A Comprehensive Program to Improve Treatment of Precancerous Cervical Lesions in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

J Public Health Manag Pract

November 2023

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Drs Varon, Salcedo, Baker, and Schmeler, and Mr Fellman); The University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston, Texas (Drs Troisi, Fernandez, and Ruosha); The University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus, Brownsville, Texas (Ms Gasca, Drs Gowen, Fisher-Hoch, and Reininger); Harris Health, Houston, Texas (Ms Daheri); The University of Texas Medical Branch, Houston, Texas (Dr Rodriguez); McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas (Mr Toscano) Su Clinica, Harlingen, Texas (Mss Guerra and Cavazos, and Dr Marin).

Article Synopsis
  • A study aimed to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive cervical cancer prevention program on women with cervical dysplasia treated with LEEP, analyzing the duration between their colposcopy and treatment.
  • The multicomponent intervention included outreach, patient navigation, and provider training, and it was assessed through a retrospective cohort study that reviewed medical records over multiple years.
  • Results showed a significant increase in women receiving treatment within 90 days, rising from 76.2% at baseline to 92.9% by year 4, and the average wait time for treatment decreased from 62 days to 45 days.
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Measuring Ethnic Diversity.

Annu Rev Sociol

July 2022

Department of Political Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • - Researchers are examining how ethnic diversity impacts various social and economic factors, but methods for measuring this diversity differ significantly across and within academic disciplines.
  • - The review analyzes several measurement methods, highlighting both similarities and differences, especially in how racial and ethnic groups are defined and the geographical context of the analysis.
  • - The findings suggest a preference for specific measurement techniques based on the outcome being studied and propose two innovative measures of diversity for future research.
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(the laboratory opossum) is a marsupial native to South America. At birth, these animals are developmentally equivalent to human embryos at approximately 5 weeks of gestation, which, when coupled with other characteristics including the size of the animals, the development of a robust immune system during juvenile development, and the relative ease of experimental manipulation, have made a valuable model in many areas of biomedical research. However, their suitability as models for infectious diseases, especially neurotropic viruses such as Zika virus (ZIKV), is currently unknown.

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Objective: To describe COVID-19 illness characteristics, risk factors, and SARS-CoV-2 serostatus by variant time period in a large community-based pediatric sample.

Design: Data were collected prospectively over four timepoints between October 2020 and November 2022 from a population-based cohort ages 5 to 19 years old.

Setting: State of Texas, USA.

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Creating Case Studies for Digital Health and Technology Competency in Nursing.

Nurse Educ

December 2023

Clinical Associate Professor (Dr Kunkel), School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Myrna Pickard Endowed Professor (Dr Tietze), College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington; Associate Professor (Dr Wilson), The University of Alabama, Birmingham; Contributing Faculty (Dr Fant), College of Nursing, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Clinical Assistant Professor (Dr Rivard), College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; Clinical Assistant Professor (Dr Belchez), School of Nursing, The University of Kansas, Kansas City; Assistant Professor (Dr Forman), College of Health Professions, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville; and Clinical Assistant Professor (Dr Husson), School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.

Background: Nursing programs and their faculty must ensure that graduates have the informatics, digital health, and health care technologies competencies needed by health systems.

Problem: A gap exists in nursing faculty knowledge, skills, and abilities for incorporating informatics, digital health, and technologies across curricula because of low focus on this area in faculty development initiatives and rapid adoption and evolution of technologies in health care systems.

Approach: The Nursing Knowledge Big Data Science initiative Education Subgroup used a process to create case studies for including informatics, digital health, and the concomitant clinical reasoning/critical thinking competencies across curricula.

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Pharmacy faculty experiences and perceptions of academic dishonesty.

Curr Pharm Teach Learn

May 2023

West Coast University School of Pharmacy, 590 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004, United States. Electronic address:

Introduction: Academic dishonesty (AD) continues to be an area of concern in pharmacy education. While studies have been conducted evaluating various forms and interventions to address AD, few have looked at faculty experiences and perceptions of AD in doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs in the United States.

Methods: A 52-item survey was distributed electronically to pharmacy faculty at 129 colleges of pharmacy (COP).

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Few studies have focused on sleep apnea and substance use disorders with co-occurrence of anxiety disorder and depression. This study included a total of 270,227 adults, 9268 with co-occurrence of anxiety disorder and depression in the past year, from the combined 2008-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data, which are the latest datasets with measures of anxiety disorder and sleep apnea. Weighted multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between anxiety disorder and depression and their co-occurrence.

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Background: Diabetes is considered one of the most prevalent and preventable chronic health conditions in the United States. Research has shown that evidence-based prevention measures and lifestyle changes can help lower the risk of developing diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based program recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it is designed to reduce diabetes risk through intensive group counseling in nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral management.

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