Quantification of Myocardial Biomarkers in Sudden Cardiac Deaths Using a Rapid Immunofluorescence Method for Simultaneous Biomarker Analysis.

Background/objectives: Differential diagnosis of sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains challenging, particularly in cases lacking evident structural abnormalities. Cardiac markers have been proposed as useful tools for this differentiation in forensic contexts. However, key issues include the influence of postmortem interval (PMI) on marker stability and the limitations of traditional approaches that focus on pericardial fluid, which requires invasive sampling compared to peripheral blood.

Magnetoelectric Extracellular Vesicle Latency-Targeting (MELT) Nanotherapeutic for the Block-Lock-and-Kill HIV Eradication Strategy.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establishes latent infections in cellular reservoirs, including microglia. HC69 cells, a microglial model of HIV latency, contain an HIV promoter long terminal repeat (LTR)-GFP reporter and were used for testing the efficacy of a two-step magnetoelectric nanoparticle (MENP) and extracellular vesicle (xEV) latency-targeting (MELT) nanotherapeutic. GFP expression in HC69 at rest is low (GFP), and upon exposure to LTR, transcription-activating agents (i.

Dysregulation of Metabolic Peptides in the Gut-Brain Axis Promotes Hyperinsulinemia, Obesity, and Neurodegeneration.

Metabolic peptides can influence metabolic processes and contribute to both inflammatory and/or anti-inflammatory responses. Studies have shown that there are thousands of metabolic peptides, made up of short chains of amino acids, that the human body produces. These peptides are crucial for regulating many different processes like metabolism and cell signaling, as they bind to receptors on various cells.

Optimized Method to Generate Well-Characterized Macrophages from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

: Macrophages play a pivotal role in various pathogenic processes, necessitating the development of efficient differentiation techniques to meet the high demand for these cells in research and therapy. Human macrophages can be obtained via culturing peripheral blood monocytes; however, this source has limited yields and requires patient contact for each proposed use. In addition, it would be difficult to perform gene editing on peripheral blood monocytes.

Novel Role of Pin1-Cis P-Tau-ApoE Axis in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia and Its Connection with Dementia.

Preeclampsia (preE) is a severe multisystem hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy associated with ischemia/hypoxia, angiogenic imbalance, apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-mediated dyslipidemia, placental insufficiency, and inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. Our recent data further suggest that preE is associated with impaired autophagy, vascular dysfunction, and proteinopathy/tauopathy disorder, similar to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), including the presence of the cis stereo-isoform of phosphorylated tau (cis P-tau), amyloid-β, and transthyretin in the placenta and circulation. This review provides an overview of the factors that may lead to the induction and accumulation of cis P-tau-like proteins by focusing on the inactivation of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (Pin1) that catalyzes the cis to trans isomerization of P-tau.

Extracellular Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein and Hemorrhagic Shock: Mechanisms and Therapeutics.

Hemorrhagic shock is a type of hypovolemic shock and a significant cause of trauma-related death worldwide. The innate immune system has been implicated as a key mediator in developing severe complications after shock. Inflammation from the innate immune system begins at the time of initial insult; however, its activation is exaggerated, resulting in early and late-stage complications.

Elderhood and Healthy Aging from an Indigenous Perspective.

Researchers have outlined the components of healthy aging, and a 2022 scoping review by Quigley et al. examined healthy aging from Indigenous perspectives. Quigley's review reinforced the notion that Indigenous health, and thus healthy aging, is a holistic concept.

County-Level Food Insecurity and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Food insecurity (FI) is associated with several known hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk factors, but few studies have directly examined FI in association with HCC risk. We aimed to investigate whether county-level FI is associated with HCC risk. We used data from 21 registries in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database to obtain county-level counts of HCC cases from 2018 to 2021.

"Lack" and "Finally": A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators in Rare Disease Healthcare.

This study explored the experiences of adults with diverse rare diseases (RDs) and RD caregivers with barriers and facilitators to healthcare access in the United States (US), including during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their recommendations for improving access. Adults with RDs and parents/caregivers to children with RDs (N = 1128) completed open-ended survey items. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.

A Retrospective Analysis Evaluating the Impact of Neighborhood Deprivation on Birth Weight in Phoenix, Arizona.

Background: Health inequities begin before birth and are influenced by pregnancy conditions, race/ethnicity, social class, and environment. Research indicates that, in the United States, Black women are significantly more likely to have low-birth-weight babies compared to White women. Interestingly, Hispanic women in the United States do not experience this birth weight inequity.

Associations Between Daily-Use Products and Urinary Biomarkers of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Adults of Reproductive Age.

Background: Daily-use products, including personal care products, household products, and dietary supplements, often contain ingredients that raise concerns regarding harmful chemical exposure. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in daily-use products are associated with numerous adverse health effects.

Methods: This pilot study explores the relationship between concentrations of EDCs in urine samples and products used 24 h prior to sample collection, and ingredients of concern in those products, in 140 adults of reproductive age in Northern Nevada.

Explaining the Correlates of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change in Visual (Structural) Colorectal Cancer Screening Examinations.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of global cancer prevalence and is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality. Although CRC rates are decreasing in the United States, inequalities still exist despite the effectiveness of invasive screening methods, such as colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and computed tomography (CT) colonography in detecting colorectal cancer. Many current interventions promoting CRC screening do not utilize a modern theory-based approach, which has led to the low utilization of these screening methods.

Physicians' Intentions to Recommend Influenza Vaccine: A Multi-Centered Hospital-Based Study Using the Theory of Planned Behavior in Bangladesh.

Background: Influenza remains a significant public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Bangladesh, where vaccine uptake remains low despite the substantial disease burden. Physicians play a vital role in promoting vaccination, yet their intentions and influencing factors are not well understood.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from June to October 2022 across four tertiary-level hospitals in Bangladesh using a questionnaire grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Patterns of Change in Athletic Identity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Changes in athletic identity have been documented after injury and other sport transitions in nomothetic investigations. Patterns of change in athletic identity after injury have not been examined systematically at the individual level. In the current study, secondary analyses were performed on two data sets ( = 43 and = 80) in which athletic identity values were available for before and at least six months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Exploring Trusted Sources of HPV Vaccine Information Among Mexican American Parents in El Paso, Texas.

Hispanic populations are disproportionately impacted by HPV-associated cancers. An HPV vaccine is available that protects against 90% of HPV-associated cancers. Understanding the factors associated with HPV vaccine uptake, including identifying whom individuals trust to recommend the HPV vaccine, is an important step toward developing public health interventions for promoting the HPV vaccine among Hispanic people.

Cumulative Exposure to Unconventional Natural Gas Development and the Risk of Childhood Cancer: A Registry-Based Case-Control Study.

The rapid growth of unconventional natural gas development (UNGD), also known as hydraulic fracturing, has raised concerns of potential exposures to hazardous chemicals. Few studies have examined the risk of childhood cancer from exposure to UNGD. A case-control study included 498 children diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, central nervous system neoplasms, and malignant bone tumors during the period 2010-2019 identified through the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry.

Using a Safe System Framework to Examine the Roadway Mortality Increase Pre-COVID-19 and in the COVID-19 Era in New York State.

Roadway mortality increased during COVID-19, reversing a multi-decade downward trend. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was used to examine contributing factors pre-COVID-19 and in the COVID-19 era using the five pillars of the Safe System framework: (1) road users; (2) vehicles; (3) roadways; (4) speed; and (5) post-crash care. Two study time periods were matched to control for seasonality differences pre-COVID-19 ( = 1725, 1 April 2018-31 December 2019) and in the COVID-19 era ( = 2010, 1 April 2020-31 December 2021) with a three-month buffer period between the two time frames excluded.

Diabetes Management Using a Patient Navigator in a Native Hawaiian Population: Experiences and Perceptions of the Kilolani Project.

Native Hawaiians (NHs) are a historically oppressed population disproportionately burdened by diabetes and related complications. The Kilolani Project, a patient navigator-centered, chronic disease management program, targets upstream drivers of health among vulnerable NH adult patients with diabetes within an urban academic safety-net clinic. To investigate the impact of the Kilolani Project, we performed a qualitative study to examine patient perspectives.

Health Associations of Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

We report the results of a scoping review of the literature investigating associations between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and selected health outcomes to identify which have the highest level of research activity based on the indexed academic literature. Yielded articles underwent title/abstract (Ti/Ab) and full text screening utilizing inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review was guided by PCE categories from the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences framework: relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth.

Exploring the Roles of Trust, Attitudes, and Motivations in COVID-19 Decision-Making and Vaccination Likelihood: Insights from the Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance (LA-CEAL) Community-Academic-Public Health-Practice (CAPP) Partnership.

Given the increasing integration of trusted leaders in public health science, including vaccination programs, context-specific understandings of community perceptions and levels of trust are critical to intervention. This study aimed to understand the perspectives and attitudes of the southeastern Louisiana community and inform the development of a community-engaged action plan. A cross-sectional survey of 555 southeastern Louisianans-including faith-based organization (FBO) members, community pharmacy (CommRx) customers, community-based organization (CBO) contacts, and Louisiana community-dwelling residents-was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021.

Athletes' Perceived Team Climate, Social Support, and Optimistic Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the Spring of 2020, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was officially declared a global pandemic, which prompted an unprecedented number of changes to societal functioning. Amongst those who experienced significant life alterations were collegiate athletes within the United States (US). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between US athletes' perceptions of their team motivational climate, perceived support from coaches and teammates, and their optimistic thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Understanding Multi-Level Factors Impacting Digital Health Literacy in the Deep South of the United States.

As healthcare and health services become increasingly digitized, individuals with low digital health literacy (DHL) may experience inequitable care and outcomes. We explored factors impacting DHL and recommendations for improvement from community health coordinators and advisors (CHAs) in Alabama and Mississippi in United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with CHAs to gather insights on their perspectives on and experiences with DHL.

Stress Due to Inflation and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression Among Working-Age Adults in the United States.

Inflation generates stress, which may lead to high rates of anxiety and depression. Given the recent surge and subsequent decline in the inflation rate in the United States, the prevalence of stress due to inflation may vary, as well as its relationship with anxiety and depression. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of stress due to inflation and its association with anxiety and depression over time among working-age adults in the United States.

Supporting Holistic Health and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk Reduction Among Young Native Females Prior to Pregnancy: A Qualitative Exploration.

AI/AN communities are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Decreasing the risk of GDM can interrupt the intergenerational cycle of diabetes in AI/AN families, and can decrease diabetes-related health disparities. The goal of this study was to explore ways of supporting holistic health and reducing the risk of GDM among young American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) females prior to pregnancy.

Visualizing Parcel-Level Lead Risk Using an Exterior Housing-Based Index.

Pediatric lead poisoning remains a persistent public health problem. Children in the US spend the preponderance of their time at home; thus, housing is an important social determinant of health. Improving health outcomes derived from housing-based sources involves differentiating the risks posed by the existing housing stock.