Exploring the relationship between melanopsin gene variants, sleep, and markers of brain health.

Introduction: Melanopsin is a photopigment with roles in mediating sleep and circadian-related processes, which are often disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Melanopsin also impacts cognition and synaptogenesis. This study investigated the associations between melanopsin genetic variants, sleep, and markers of brain health.

Evolution in Response to Management Increases Invasiveness Among Experimental Populations of Duckweed ().

Numerous management methods are deployed to try to mitigate the destructive impact of weedy and invasive populations. Yet, such management practices may cause these populations to inadvertently evolve in ways that have consequence on their invasiveness. To test this idea, we conducted a two-step field mesocosm experiment; we evolved genetically diverse populations of the duckweed to targeted removal management and then tested the impact of that evolution in replicated invasions into experimental resident communities.

Worse survival and higher rates of relapse in U.S. Armenians with papillary thyroid cancer.

Objectives: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most frequent subtype of thyroid cancer with overall favorable survival. Currently, little is known about the PTC experience within the United States (U.S.

Investigating protein degradability through site-specific ubiquitin ligase recruitment.

We report targeted protein degradation through the site-specific recruitment of native ubiquitin ligases to a protein of interest conjugation of E3 ligase ligands. Direct comparison of degradation ability of proteins displaying the corresponding bioconjugation handle at different regions of protein surfaces was explored. We demonstrate the benefit of proximal lysine residues and investigate flexibility in linker length for the design of optimal degraders.

SOPRANO: Macitentan in patients with pulmonary hypertension following left ventricular assist device implantation.

Macitentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). SOPRANO evaluated the efficacy and safety of macitentan versus placebo in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. SOPRANO was a phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

Everyday functioning as a predictor of cognitive status in a group of community-dwelling, predominantly Black adults.

Introduction: We examined whether the Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS) and Everyday Cognition Scale-12 (ECog-12) dichotomized cognitive groups in a sample of predominantly Black adults.

Methods: Two hundred forty-six community-dwelling adults (95% Black, age 50+) completed cognitive testing, the PASS, and the ECog. Cognitive groups (probable vs unlikely cognitive impairment) were determined by performance on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination.

Exploring patient perspectives on shared decision making about bariatric surgery in two healthcare systems.

Objective: To assess patient perspectives on the level of shared decision making (SDM) experienced related to bariatric surgery.

Background: Severe obesity is common and has serious health implications. Yet, few eligible patients pursue bariatric surgery.

Lipoprotein (a) Testing in Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 5 Large US Health Systems.

Background: Lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, lipoprotein (a) testing remains variable and it is unclear what factors influence testing and if testing changes clinical management.

Methods And Results: A retrospective study using electronic medical record data from 5 health systems identified an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease cohort divided into those with and without a lipoprotein (a) test between 2019 and 2021.

Treatment of Unruptured Small and Medium-Sized Wide Necked Aneurysms Using the 64-Wire Surpass Evolve: A Subanalysis From the SEASE International Registry.

Background: Flow diversion has revolutionized the management of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the new generation 64-wire Surpass Evolve for the treatment of unruptured small/medium-sized IAs.

Methods And Results: This is a subanalysis from the SEASE (Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of the Surpass Evolve) registry, an observational cohort study including 15 academic institutions in North America and Europe between July 2020 and October 2022.

Evaluating the current breadth of randomized control trials on cardiac arrest: A scoping review.

Objectives: Despite the significant disease burden due to cardiac arrest, there is a relative paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to inform definitive management. We aimed to evaluate the current scope of cardiac arrest RCTs published between 2015 and 2022.

Methods: We conducted a search in October 2023 of MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science for cardiac arrest RCTs.

Disentangling the genetic underpinnings of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project: Study design and methodology.

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are highly prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are no effective treatments targeting these symptoms.

Methods: To facilitate identification of causative mechanistic pathways, we initiated an effort (NIH: U01AG079850) to collate, harmonize, and analyze all available NPS data (≈ 100,000 samples) of diverse ancestries with whole-genome sequencing data from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP).

Periconceptional Dietary Quality and Metabolic Syndrome at 3 Years Postpartum.

Background: The period around pregnancy is a critical window in the primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease, but little is known about the role of dietary patterns in cardiometabolic health. Our objective was to determine the association between alignment of periconceptional diet with the 2020 to 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Methods And Results: We used data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: monitoring mothers-to-Be Heart Health Study, a pregnancy cohort study that followed pregnant participants to a median of 3 years postpartum (n=4423).

Central Hemodynamics in African American Women: Examining the Role of Superwoman Schema Endorsement.

Background: African American women bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular diseases, potentially due to altered central hemodynamics. Racism and sexism often lead to African American women taking on numerous caretaking roles and overall increases their use of the Strong Black Woman (ie, Superwoman) mindset, which may have negative health consequences. We hypothesized that endorsing the Superwoman role and its Obligation to Help Others dimension would be associated with a deleterious central hemodynamics profile in African American women.

Small cell lung cancer associated small bowel obstruction, a diagnostic conundrum: A case report.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a neuroendocrine aggressive subtype of lung cancer, is associated with paraneoplastic disorders in about 9% of patients. In this report, we describe a middle-aged man who presented with chronic bowel obstruction caused by chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) due to SCLC.

Circulating sphingolipids in relation to cognitive decline and incident dementia: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

Introduction: Whether circulating levels of sphingolipids are prospectively associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk is uncertain.

Methods: We measured 14 sphingolipid species in plasma samples from 4488 participants (mean age 76.2 years; 40% male; and 25% apolipoprotein E ( ε4 allele carriers).

Association of Race and Ethnicity and Social Factors With Postpartum Primary Care or Cardiology Follow-Up Visits Among Individuals With Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and death. Primary care or cardiology follow-up, in complement to routine postpartum obstetric care, provides an essential opportunity to address cardiovascular risk. Prior studies investigating racial differences in the recommended postpartum follow-up have incompletely assessed the influence of social factors.

Building Digital Twins for Cardiovascular Health: From Principles to Clinical Impact.

The past several decades have seen rapid advances in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, enabled by technological breakthroughs in imaging, genomics, and physiological monitoring, coupled with therapeutic interventions. We now face the challenge of how to (1) rapidly process large, complex multimodal and multiscale medical measurements; (2) map all available data streams to the trajectories of disease states over the patient's lifetime; and (3) apply this information for optimal clinical interventions and outcomes. Here we review new advances that may address these challenges using digital twin technology to fulfill the promise of personalized cardiovascular medical practice.