Ultrasonic Healing of Plastrons.

Superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) exhibit a pronounced ability to resist wetting. When immersed in water, water does not penetrate between the microstructures of the SHS. Instead, a thin layer of trapped gas remains, i.e., plastron. This fractional wetting is also known as the Cassie-Baxter state (CB). Impairment of superhydrophobicity occurs when water penetrates the plastron and, when complete wetting is achieved, a Wenzel state (W) results. Subsequent recovery back to CB state is one of the main challenges in the field of SHS wetting. Current methods for plastron recovery require complex mechanical or chemical integration, are time-consuming or lack spatial control. Here an on-demand, contact-less approach for performing facile transitions between these wetting states at micrometer length scales is proposed. This is achieved by the use of acoustic radiation force (ARF) produced by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Switching from CB to W state takes <100 µs, while the local recovery back to CB state takes <45 s. To the best of authors knowledge, this is the first demonstration of ARF-induced manipulation of the plastron enabling facile two-way controlled switching of wetting states.

Effect of compound treatments on mouse lens viscoelasticity.

Previous studies have shown that pharmaceutical agents such as lipoic acid have the ability to soften the lens, presenting a promising avenue for treating presbyopia. One obstacle encountered in the preclinical stage of such agents is the need for precise measurements of lens elasticity in experimental models. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 25-hydroxycholesterol, lipoic acid, and obeticholic acid on the viscoelastic properties of mouse lenses using a custom-built elastometer system. Data were acquired on lenses from C57BL/6J female mice from two age groups: young (age: 8-10 weeks) and old (age: 32-43 weeks). OD lenses were used as the control and OS lenses were treated. Control lenses were immersed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and treatment lenses were immersed in a compound solution containing 25-hydroxycholesterol (5 young and 5 old), lipoic acid at 2.35 mM (5 young and 5 old), lipoic acid at 0.66 mM (5 old), or obeticholic acid (5 old) at 37 °C for 18 h. After treatment, the mouse lenses were placed in a DMEM-filled chamber within a custom-built elastometer system that recorded the load and lens shape as the lens was compressed by 600 µm at a speed of 50 µm/s. The load was continuously recorded during compression and during stress-relaxation. The compression phase was fit with a linear function to quantify lens stiffness. The stress-relaxation phase was fit with a 3-term exponential relaxation model providing relaxation time constants (t1, t2, t3), and equilibrium load. The lens stiffness, time constants and equilibrium load were compared for the control and treated groups. Results revealed an increase in stiffness with age for the control group (young: 1.16 ± 0.11 g/mm, old: 1.29 ± 0.14 g/mm) and relaxation time constants decreased with age (young: t1 = 221.9 ± 29.0 s, t2 = 24.7 ± 3.8 s, t3 = 3.12 ± 0.87 s, old: t1 = 183.0 ± 22.0 s, t2 = 20.6 ± 2.6 s and t3 = 2.24 ± 0.43 s). Among the compounds tested, only 25-hydroxycholesterol produced statistically significant changes in the lens stiffness, relaxation time constants, and equilibrium load. In conclusion, older mouse lenses are stiffer and less viscous than young mouse lenses. Notably, no significant change in lens stiffness was observed following treatment with lipoic acid, contrary to previous findings.

Enhancing Rose Bengal penetration in ex vivo human corneas using iontophoresis.

Aim: Rose Bengal photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (RB-PDAT) has poor corneal penetration, limiting its efficacy against acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Iontophoresis enhances corneal permeation of charged molecules, piquing interest in its effects on RB in ex vivo human corneas. Methods: Five donor whole globes each underwent iontophoresis with RB, soaking in RB, or were soaked in normal saline (controls). RB penetration and corneal thickness was assessed using confocal microscopy. Results: Iontophoresis increased RB penetration compared with soaking (177 ± 9.5 µm vs. 100 ± 5.7 µm, p < 0.001), with no significant differences in corneal thickness between groups (460 ± 87 µm vs. 407 ± 69 µm, p = 0.432). Conclusion: Iontophoresis significantly improves RB penetration and its use in PDAT could offer a novel therapy for acanthamoeba keratitis. Further studies are needed to validate clinical efficacy.

The study aimed to improve a new treatment for eye infections known as photodynamic antimicrobial therapy. It investigated whether the use of electricity through a technique called iontophoresis could help a chemical called Rose Bengal go deeper into the eye in order to target more severe infections. The iontophoresis machine was custom built, with patient-contacting components 3D printed. The experiments were performed using donated human eye tissue and found that iontophoresis significantly improved the penetration depth of Rose Bengal as compared with the current technique of only soaking the eye in Rose Bengal.

Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistance Antarctic Pseudomonas That Produce Bacteriocin-like Compounds.

In this study, bacterial isolates C1-4-7, D2-4-6, and M1-4-11 from Antarctic soil were phenotypically and genotypically characterized, and their antibacterial spectrum and that of cell-free culture supernatant were investigated. Finally, the effect of temperature and culture medium on the production of antimicrobial compounds was investigated. The three bacteria were identified as different strains of the genus Pseudomonas. The three bacteria were multi-drug resistant to antibiotics. They exhibited different patterns of growth inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. M1-4-11 was remarkable for inhibiting the entire set of pathogenic bacteria tested. All three bacteria demonstrated optimal production of antimicrobial compounds at 15 °C and 18 °C. Among the culture media studied, Nutrient broth would be the most suitable to promote the production of antimicrobial compounds. The thermostability exhibited by the antimicrobial molecules secreted, their size of less than 10 kDa, and their protein nature would indicate that these molecules are bacteriocin-like compounds.

Importance of Probiotics in Fish Aquaculture: Towards the Identification and Design of Novel Probiotics.

Aquaculture is a growing industry worldwide, but it faces challenges related to animal health. These challenges include infections by parasites, bacteria, and viral pathogens. These harmful pathogens have devastating effects on the industry, despite efforts to control them through vaccination and antimicrobial treatments. Unfortunately, these measures have proven insufficient to address the sanitary problems, resulting in greater environmental impact due to the excessive use of antimicrobials. In recent years, probiotics have emerged as a promising solution to enhance the performance of the immune system against parasitic, bacterial, and viral pathogens in various species, including mammals, birds, and fish. Some probiotics have been genetically engineered to express and deliver immunomodulatory molecules. These promote selective therapeutic effects and specific immunization against specific pathogens. This review aims to summarize recent research on the use of probiotics in fish aquaculture, with a particular emphasis on genetically modified probiotics. In particular, we focus on the advantages of using these microorganisms and highlight the main barriers hindering their widespread application in the aquaculture industry.

Using Plantain Rachis Fibers and Mopa-Mopa Resin to Develop a Fully Biobased Composite Material.

A completely biobased composite material was developed using a matrix of natural resin extracted from the Elaegia pastoensis Mora plant, commonly known as Mopa-Mopa or "Barniz de Pasto", reinforced with fibers extracted from plantain rachis agricultural residues. A solvent process, involving grinding, distillation, filtration, and drying stages, was implemented to extract the resin from the plant bud. To obtain the resin from the plant bud, the vegetable material was ground and then dissolved in a water-alcohol blend, followed by distillation, filtration, and grinding until the powdered resin was ready for use in the preparation of the biocomposite. Likewise, using mechanical techniques, the plantain rachis fibers were extracted and worked in their native condition and with a previous alkalinization surface treatment. Finally, the biocomposite material was developed with and without incorporating stearic acid, which was included to reduce the material's moisture absorption. Ultimately stearic acid was used as an additive to reduce biocomposite moisture absorption. The tensile mechanical results showed that the Mopa-Mopa resin reached a maximum strength of 20 MPa, which decreased with the incorporation of the additive to 12 MPa, indicating its plasticization effect. Likewise, slight decreases in moisture absorption were also evidenced with the incorporation of stearic acid. With the inclusion of rachis plantain fibers in their native state, a reduction in the tensile mechanical properties was found, proportional to the amount added. On the other hand, with the alkalinization treatment of the fibers, the behavior was the opposite, evidencing increases in tensile strength, indicating that the fiber modification improved the interfacial adhesion with the Mopa-Mopa matrix. On the other hand, the evaluation of the moisture absorption of the biocomposite material evidenced, as expected, that the absorption level was favored by the relative humidity used in the conditioning (47, 77, and 97%), which also had an impact on the decrease of the mechanical tensile properties, being this was slightly counteracted by the inclusion of stearic acid in the formulation of the material.

Conformational Changes of Poly(Maleic Anhydride-alt-styrene) Modified with Amino Acids in an Aqueous Medium and Their Effect on Cytocompatibility and Hemolytic Response.

The conformational changes of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-styrene) (PSMA) modified with different amino acids (PSMA-Aa) were studied in an aqueous medium as a function of ionic strength and pH. The specific viscosity of PSMA-Aa decreased with increasing salt concentration due to a more compact conformation. There was a decrease in surface tension with increasing concentrations of the modified polyelectrolyte having a greater effect for the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine at pH 7.0, demonstrating a greater surface-active character. The conformational changes were also confirmed by molecular dynamics studies, indicating that PSMA-Aa exhibits a compact structure at pH 4.0 and a more extended structure at pH 7.0. On the other hand, the conformational changes of PSMA-Aa were related to its biological response, where the higher surface-active character of the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine correlates very well with the higher hemolytic activity observed in red blood cells, in which the surface-active capacity supports lytic potency in erythrocytes. The cytocompatibility assays indicated that there were no significant cytotoxic effects of the PSMA-Aa. Additionally, in solvent-accessible surface area studies, it was shown that the carboxylate groups of the PSMA modified with l-phenylalanine are more exposed to the solvent at pH 7.0 and high salt concentrations, which correlates with lower fluorescence intensity, reflecting a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. It is concluded that the study of the conformational changes in PE modified with amino acids is essential for their use as biomaterials and relevant to understanding the possible effects of PE modified with amino acids in biological systems.

Decreased Anogenital Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in Transgender and Gender Diverse Primary Care Patients Receiving Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults in the U.S. experience health disparities, including in anogenital sexually transmitted infections (STI). Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is known to be medically necessary and improve health. Few studies have assessed the effect of GAHT on STI diagnoses. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of GAHT delivered in primary care as an intervention to improve STI outcomes for TGD adults. DESIGN: LEGACY is a longitudinal, multisite cohort study of adult TGD primary care patients from two federally qualified community health centers in Boston, MA, and New York, NY. PARTICIPANTS: Electronic health record data for eligible adult TGD patients contributed to the LEGACY research data warehouse (RDW). A total of 6330 LEGACY RDW patients were followed from 2016 to 2019, with 2555 patients providing STI testing data. MAIN MEASURES: GAHT exposure was being prescribed hormones, and the clinical outcome was anogenital gonorrhea or chlamydia diagnoses. Log-Poisson generalized estimating equations assessed the effect of prescription GAHT on primary outcomes, adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, poverty level, health insurance, clinical site, and cohort years. KEY RESULTS: The median age was 28 years (IQR = 13); the racial breakdown was 20.4% Black, 8.1% Multiracial, 6.9% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1.8% Other; 62.8% White; 21.3% Hispanic/Latinx; 47.0% were assigned female at birth, and 16.0% identified as nonbinary. 86.3% were prescribed hormones. Among those tested, the percentage of patients with a positive anogenital STI diagnosis ranged annually from 10.0 to 12.5% between 2016 and 2019. GAHT prescription was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of anogenital STI diagnosis (aRR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.59-0.96) over follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: GAHT delivered in primary care was associated with less STI morbidity in this TGD cohort over follow-up. Patients may benefit from individualized and tailored clinical care alongside GAHT to optimize STI outcomes.

Assessing the Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystal Content on the Biodegradation Kinetics of Multiscale Polylactic Acid Composites under Controlled Thermophilic Composting Conditions.

This work studied the effect of cellulose nanocrystal (NCC) content on the biodegradation kinetics of PLA-based multiscale cellulosic biocomposites (PLAMCBs). To facilitate biodegradation, the materials were subjected to thermo-oxidation before composting. Biodegradation was carried out for 180 days under controlled thermophilic composting conditions according to the ASTM D 5338 standard. A first-order model based on Monod's kinetics under limiting substrate conditions was used to study the effect of cellulose nanocrystal (NCC) content on the biodegradation kinetics of multiscale composite materials. It was found that thermo-oxidation at 70 °C for 160 h increased the biodegradability of PLA. Also, it was found that the incorporation of cellulosic fibrous reinforcements increased the biodegradability of PLA by promoting hydrolysis during the first stage of composting. Likewise, it was found that partial substitution of micro cellulose (MFC) by cellulose nanocrystals (NCCs) increased the biodegradability of the biocomposite. This increase was more evident as the NCC content increased, which was attributed to the fact that the incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals facilitated the entry of water into the material and therefore promoted the hydrolytic degradation of the most recalcitrant fraction of PLA from the bulk and not only by surface erosion.

Analysis of microbiota-host communication mediated by butyrate in Atlantic salmon.

Butyrate is a microbiota-produced metabolite, sensed by host short-chain fatty acid receptors FFAR2 (Gpr43), FFAR3 (Gpr41), HCAR2 (Gpr109A), and Histone deacetylase (HDAC) that promotes microbiota-host crosstalk. Butyrate influences energy uptake, developmental and immune response in mammals. This microbial metabolite is produced by around 79 anaerobic genera present in the mammalian gut, yet little is known about the role of butyrate in the host-microbiota interaction in salmonid fish. To further our knowledge of this interaction, we analyzed the intestinal microbiota and genome of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), searching for butyrate-producing genera and host butyrate receptors. We identified Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria as the main butyrate-producing bacteria in the salmon gut microbiota. In the Atlantic salmon genome, we identified an expansion of genes orthologous to FFAR2 and HCAR2 receptors, and class I and IIa HDACs that are sensitive to butyrate. In addition, we determined the expression levels of orthologous of HCAR2 in the gut, spleen, and head-kidney, and FFAR2 in RTgutGC cells. The effect of butyrate on the Atlantic salmon immune response was evaluated by analyzing the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines response in vitro in SHK-1 cells by RT-qPCR. Butyrate decreased the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß and increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 and TGF-ß cytokines. Butyrate also reduced the expression of interferon-alpha, Mx, and PKR, and decreased the viral load at a higher concentration (4 mM) in cells treated with this molecule before the infection with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) by mechanisms independent of FFAR2, FFAR3 and HCAR2 expression that probably inhibit HDAC. Moreover, butyrate modified phosphorylation of cytoplasmic proteins in RTgutGC cells. Our data allow us to infer that Atlantic salmon have the ability to sense butyrate produced by their gut microbiota via different specific targets, through which butyrate modulates the immune response of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the antiviral response.

Standards of Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse People.

This article summarizes the recent update of guidelines on health care for transgender and gender diverse people, including primary care, gender-affirming care, mental health care, and education of the clinical workforce.

Investigating the genetic contribution in febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome and refractory status epilepticus.

Introduction: Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a severe childhood epilepsy with refractory status epilepticus after a typically mild febrile infection. The etiology of FIRES is largely unknown, and outcomes in most individuals with FIRES are poor. Methods: Here, we reviewed the current state-of-the art genetic testing strategies in individuals with FIRES. We performed a systematic computational analysis to identify individuals with FIRES and characterize the clinical landscape using the Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Among 25 individuals with a confirmed FIRES diagnosis over the last decade, we performed a comprehensive review of genetic testing and other diagnostic testing. Results: Management included use of steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in most individuals, with an increased use of immunomodulatory agents, including IVIG, plasma exchange (PLEX) and immunosuppressants such as cytokine inhibitors, and the ketogenic diet after 2014. Genetic testing was performed on a clinical basis in almost all individuals and was non-diagnostic in all patients. We compared FIRES with both status epilepticus (SE) and refractory status epilepticus (RSE) as a broader comparison cohort and identified genetic causes in 36% of patients with RSE. The difference in genetic signatures between FIRES and RSE suggest distinct underlying etiologies. In summary, despite the absence of any identifiable etiologies in FIRES, we performed an unbiased analysis of the clinical landscape, identifying a heterogeneous range of treatment strategies and characterized real-world clinical practice. Discussion: FIRES remains one of the most enigmatic conditions in child neurology without any known etiologies to date despite significant efforts in the field, suggesting a clear need for further studies and novel diagnostic and treatment approaches.

GWAS Explorer: an open-source tool to explore, visualize, and access GWAS summary statistics in the PLCO Atlas.

The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial is a prospective cohort study of nearly 155,000 U.S. volunteers aged 55-74 at enrollment in 1993-2001. We developed the PLCO Atlas Project, a large resource for multi-trait genome-wide association studies (GWAS), by genotyping participants with available DNA and genomic consent. Genotyping on high-density arrays and imputation was performed, and GWAS were conducted using a custom semi-automated pipeline. Association summary statistics were generated from a total of 110,562 participants of European, African and Asian ancestry. Application programming interfaces (APIs) and open-source software development kits (SKDs) enable exploring, visualizing and open data access through the PLCO Atlas GWAS Explorer website, promoting Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable (FAIR) principles. Currently the GWAS Explorer hosts association data for 90 traits and >78,000,000 genomic markers, focusing on cancer and cancer-related phenotypes. New traits will be posted as association data becomes available. The PLCO Atlas is a FAIR resource of high-quality genetic and phenotypic data with many potential reuse opportunities for cancer research and genetic epidemiology.

Outcomes for critical illness in children with cancer: Analysis of risk factors for adverse outcome and resource utilization from a specialized center in Mexico.

Introduction: Children with cancer have a higher risk of adverse outcomes during critical illness than general pediatric populations. In Low- and middle-income countries, lack of resources can further negatively impact outcomes in critically ill children with cancer. Methods: In this study, we describe the outcomes of a large cohort of children with cancer including mortality and resource utilization. We performed a retrospective review of all patients admitted to our PICU between December 12th, 2013 and December 31st, 2019. Outcomes were defined as recovery or death and resource utilization was described via use of critical care interventions, Length of stay as well as PICU- and Mechanical Ventilation- free days. Results: Overall mortality was 6.9% while mortality in the unplanned admissions was 9.1%. This remained lower than expected mortality based on PIM2 scoring. Type of PICU admission, Neurological Deterioration as a cause of PICU admission, and PIM2 were significant as risk factors in univariate analysis, but only PIM2 remained significant in the multivariate analysis. Discussion: Our Study shows that high survival rates are achievable for children with cancer with critical illness in resource-limited settings with provision of high-quality critical care. Organizational and clinical practice facilitating quality improvement and early identification and management of critical illness may attenuate the impact of known risk factors for mortality in this population.

Cognate RNA-Binding Modes by the Alternative-Splicing Regulator MBNL1 Inferred from Molecular Dynamics.

The muscleblind-like protein family (MBNL) plays a prominent role in the regulation of alternative splicing. Consequently, the loss of MBNL function resulting from sequestration by RNA hairpins triggers the development of a neuromuscular disease called myotonic dystrophy (DM). Despite the sequence and structural similarities between the four zinc-finger domains that form MBNL1, recent studies have revealed that the four binding domains have differentiated splicing activity. The dynamic behaviors of MBNL1 ZnFs were simulated using conventional molecular dynamics (cMD) and steered molecular dynamics (sMD) simulations of a structural model of MBNL1 protein to provide insights into the binding selectivity of the four zinc-finger (ZnF) domains toward the GpC steps in YGCY RNA sequence. In accordance with previous studies, our results suggest that both global and local residue fluctuations on each domain have great impacts on triggering alternative splicing, indicating that local motions in RNA-binding domains could modulate their affinity and specificity. In addition, all four ZnF domains provide a distinct RNA-binding environment in terms of structural sampling and mobility that may be involved in the differentiated MBNL1 splicing events reported in the literature.

Tensile Behavior of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) Based Composites Reinforced with Natural Fiber.

Natural fiber-reinforced composite (NFRC) filaments for 3D printing were fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with 1-5 wt% henequen flour comprising particles with sizes between 90-250 µm. The flour was obtained from natural henequen fibers. NFRCs and pristine PLA specimens were printed with a 0° raster angle for tension tests. The results showed that the NFRCs' measured density, porosity, and degree of crystallinity increased with flour content. The tensile tests showed that the NFRC Young's modulus was lower than that of the printed pristine PLA. For 1 wt% flour content, the NFRCs' maximum stress and strain to failure were higher than those of the printed PLA, which was attributed to the henequen fibers acting as reinforcement and delaying crack growth. However, for 2 wt% and higher flour contents, the NFRCs' maximum stress was lower than that of the printed PLA. Microscopic characterization after testing showed an increase in voids and defects, with the increase in flour content attributed to particle agglomeration. For 1 wt% flour content, the NFRCs were also printed with raster angles of ±45° and 90° for comparison; the highest tensile properties were obtained with a 0° raster angle. Finally, adding 3 wt% content of maleic anhydride to the NFRC with 1 wt% flour content slightly increased the maximum stress. The results presented herein warrant further research to fully understand the mechanical properties of printed NFRCs made of PLA reinforced with natural henequen fibers.

Metabolic Advantage of 25(OH)D3 versus 1,25(OH)2D3 Supplementation in Infantile Nephropathic Cystinosis-Associated Adipose Tissue Browning and Muscle Wasting.

Manifestations of infantile nephropathic cystinosis (INC) often include cachexia and deficiency of circulating vitamin D metabolites. We examined the impact of 25(OH)D3 versus 1,25(OH)2D3 repletion in Ctns null mice, a mouse model of INC. Six weeks of intraperitoneal administration of 25(OH)D3 (75 µg/kg/day) or 1,25(OH)2D3 (60 ng/kg/day) resulted in Ctns-/- mice corrected low circulating 25(OH)D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations. While 25(OH)D3 administration in Ctns-/- mice normalized several metabolic parameters characteristic of cachexia as well as muscle function in vivo, 1,25(OH)2D3 did not. Administration of 25(OH)D3 in Ctns-/- mice increased muscle fiber size and decreased fat infiltration of skeletal muscle, which was accompanied by a reduction of abnormal muscle signaling pathways. 1,25(OH)2D3 administration was not as effective. In conclusion, 25(OH)D3 supplementation exerts metabolic advantages over 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation by amelioration of muscle atrophy and fat browning in Ctns-/- mice.

COVID-19 risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and prevention behaviors among California undergraduate students.

OBJECTIVE: College students play a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent responsible for COVID-19. We aim to understand risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and adoption of prevention behaviors in this population to inform prevention strategies. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate students attending a large public university. METHODS: A convenience sample of students were surveyed (April-June 2020). Participants self-reported risk perceptions, perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, self-efficacy, and prevention behavior engagement. RESULTS: A total of 1,449 students were included in the analysis. The majority were women (71.2%) and aged 18-24 (86.6%). Freshmen had the lowest risk and threat perceptions, as did men; men also had lower self-efficacy. Women engaged significantly more in prevention behaviors compared to men. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 was low, but overall adoption of prevention behaviors was high due to local mandates. Freshmen men were identified as having the greatest need for changing perceptions and behaviors.

Sex differences in the association of vital exhaustion with regional fat deposition and subclinical cardiovascular disease risk.

OBJECTIVE: Vital exhaustion (VE) is more strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk for women than men. This study examined whether sex differences in associations of VE with CVD risk markers are accounted for by unique associations of VE with regional adiposity. METHODS: The study enrolled 143 persons (18-55 years) without diagnosed conditions. VE was assessed by the Maastricht questionnaire. CVD indices were measured using the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemia clamp, resting blood pressure, and blood draws. Regional adiposity was measured using computed tomography and 2-D echocardiography. This cross-sectional study employed a path analysis approach, including relevant covariates. RESULTS: Of the cohort, aged 38.7 ± 8.4 years, 65% were men, and 41% were obese. The final model had excellent fit (χ2(36) = 36.5, p = .45; RMSEA = 0.009, CFI = 0.999). For women, but not men, the model indicated paths from VE to: 1) lower insulin sensitivity (B = -0.10, p = .04), and higher total cholesterol to HDL ratio (B = 0.12, p = .09), triglycerides (B = 0.10, p = .08), and C-reactive protein (B = 0.08, p = .09) through visceral adiposity; 2) higher mean arterial pressure (B = 0.14, p = .04), lower insulin sensitivity (B = -0.09, p = .08), and higher C-reactive protein (B = 0.12, p = .07) through subcutaneous adiposity; 3) lower insulin sensitivity (B = -0.07, p = .08) and higher total cholesterol to HDL ratio (B = 0.16, p = .03) through liver adiposity; and 4) higher C-reactive protein (B = 0.08, p = .09) through epicardial adiposity. CONCLUSION: Results extend prior evidence by showing that the association of VE with CVD risk in women is linked with specific regional adiposity elevation. Further study of adiposity-related mechanisms in women who experience early decline in vitality may inform clinical targets for CVD prevention.

Abacavir antiretroviral therapy and indices of subclinical vascular disease in persons with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: Indices of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, vascular endothelial dilation, arterial stiffness and endothelial repair were examined in persons with HIV (PWH) on an antiretroviral therapy (ART) that included abacavir (ABC+) in comparison with PWH on ART without abacavir (ABC-), and with HIV seronegative (HIV-) individuals. APPROACH: The 115 participants (63% men), aged 30-50 years, did not have CVD, metabolic, endocrine, or chronic renal conditions. PWH were on stable ART for six-months or more. Vascular assessments included flow-mediated dilation (FMD), aortic, radial and femoral arterial stiffness (cAIx, crPWV, cfPWV), and thigh and calf arterial compliance (Vmax50). Endothelial repair was indexed by endothelial progenitor cell colony forming units (EPC-CFU). Traditional CVD risk measures included blood pressure, central adiposity, lipids, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), CRP and ASCVD score. Analyses controlled for demographics (age, sex, education), medications (antihypertensive, statin/fibrate, antipsychotic), and substance abuse (ASSIST). RESULTS: No group differences were observed in central adiposity, HOMA-IR, CRP, or ASCVD risk score. However, the ABC- group displayed greater dyslipidemia. The ABC+ group displayed no difference on FMD, cAIx, cfPWV or calf Vmax50 compared with other groups. When CD4 count and viral load were controlled, no additional differences between the ABC+ and ABC- groups emerged. Analyses of crPWV and thigh Vmax50 suggested supported by a trend toward lower EPC-CFU in the HIV+ groups than the HIV- group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that ABC treatment of 30-50 year-old PWH on stable ART is not likely to contribute in a robust way to higher CVD risk.