Browse Articles

Abstract TU217: Self-Reported Environmental Support and Device-Measured Physical Activity During Pregnancy: Evidence from the Pregnancy 24/7 Cohort

Background: Adequate physical activity and limited sedentary time during pregnancy reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications. This study examined associations between self-reported environmental support and device-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior across pregnancy, and whether these associations differed between rural and urban women in the Pregnancy 24/7 Multisite Cohort Study. Methods: PA was measured by a thigh-worn activPAL each trimester. Participants completed an Environmental Support Survey at baseline and after any address change. Environmental support scores were categorized into tertiles (high, mid, low). Multivariable linear regression models examined associations between environmental support and PA, adjusted for pre-pregnancy BMI, socioeconomic status, age, and rurality. Rurality was formally tested as an effect measure modifier and confounder, in both crude and adjusted models. Results: Compared to women reporting low-support environments, those with high-support engaged in 8.76 (p<0.001), 6.68 (p<0.001), and 5.86 (p=0.001) more minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and 820 (p=0.0.2), 663 (p=0.04), and 658 (p=0.01) more steps/day in trimesters 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Compared to low-support environments, women with mid-support engaged in 6.31 (p<0.001) and 4.44 (p=0.003) more minutes/day of MVPA in trimesters 2 and 3 and 697 (p=0.01) more steps/day in trimester 3. Environmental support level was not associated with sedentary time or light physical activity. Associations between environmental support and PA were similar in urban and rural areas. Conclusions: Findings underscore the role of supportive environments in fostering physical activity during pregnancy. Future studies using GIS-based environmental measures may reduce bias from self-reported environmental assessment.

Abstract MPTU02: Wearable Data Sharing Preferences for Research Purposes Among U.S. Adults: From Attribute Development to Interactive Dashboard for Research Study Design Optimization

Background: Consumer wearables such as Fitbit and Apple Watch are increasingly used in health research. Although surveys show high willingness among U.S. adults to share wearable data, actual participation is limited and skewed. Study design factors, such as wear-time requirements, consent formats, and data handling, may influence participation, yet little is known about how the general public prioritizes these features. We aim to assess U.S. adults’ priorities and preferences for study features influencing willingness to share wearable device data for health research. Methods: We conducted a web survey of U.S. adults from ResearchMatch.org, using literature review, clarity ratings, and expert input to refine 16 study attributes from 26 (Figure 1). Participants rated attribute importance and ranked preferences within levels. We used ordinal regressions to identify factors linked to higher importance ratings and rank-ordered logit models for preference predictors. The Johns Hopkins Medicine IRB approved the study (IRB00409571). Results: From the responses of 476 participants (median age 56; 27% racial/ethnic minority; 84% prior wearable users) and 11 domain experts who completed the survey, seven attributes emerged as key: level of identification, data ownership, research purpose, wear duration, device source, technical assistance, and data-sharing mode. Highest importance was assigned to data de-identification (median rating 9; 64% top score). Participants preferred de-identified data (92%), self-owned data (66%), receiving a device to keep (62%), remote human support (73%), and automatic sharing (80%). Importance varied by demographics: device source was more important for Hispanic (odds ratio 3.18 [95% confidence interval 1.05-9.67]) and Black participants (1.96 [1.03-3.75]). Preference for receiving a device to keep was stronger among lower-income participants (<$25k: 3.50 [1.33-9.25]; $25–50k: 2.88 [1.44-5.80]) and those without prior wearable use (4.51 [2.10-9.71]). Conclusion: Focusing on seven participant-prioritized attributes can simplify study design while improving inclusion. Recommendations include emphasizing de-identification, participant data ownership, and translational impact in recruitment, and tailoring engagement for underrepresented and lower-income groups (Table 1). A stage-based framework and interactive dashboard (https://wearhub.shinyapps.io/dashboard_shiny_wearpref/; Figure 2) provide actionable tools to support these strategies.

Abstract MPWE28: Metabolomic Pathway Alterations in Serum of Postmenopausal Women with Stroke

Background: Among postmenopausal women, stroke is a major contributor to death and disability, yet the biological pathways influencing risk and outcomes remain largely unknown. Objective: This pilot study aims to: (1) compare metabolomic profiles between postmenopausal women with acute stroke and controls; and (2) assess longitudinal metabolic changes in stroke patients from the acute phase (24–72 hours post-stroke) to follow-up (~six months post-stroke). Methods: We conducted a pilot, case-control study comparing postmenopausal women with acute ischemic stroke (cases) to healthy women (controls), all recruited from a single healthcare system. Using high resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), we conducted untargeted metabolomics analysis on 20 serum samples at baseline (drawn 24-72 hours post-stroke) and at the time of enrollment for 25 healthy controls. Thirteen cases had a second specimen drawn at approximately 6 months post-stroke. The resulting metabolite feature tables were analyzed using principal component analysis, followed by multivariable linear regression to compare cases with controls and mixed-effects models for longitudinal comparisons. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed with MetaboAnalyst using the Mummichog algorithm. Models were adjusted for age at enrollment, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, history of coronary artery disease, body mass index, age at menopause, and smoking status. Results: Of the 384 metabolites, 285 were upregulated and 99 downregulated, with their patterns differing significantly (FDR<20%) between cases and controls at baseline. Pathway enrichment analysis identified 10 altered metabolic pathways (Figure 1), mainly related to lipid metabolism and carbohydrate processing. In contrast, 19 pathways were enriched after stroke (Figure 2), including amino acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, vitamin B3 metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and xenobiotic detoxification. Conclusions: This pilot study identifies pronounced metabolic alterations in postmenopausal women with stroke. Baseline differences between cases and controls were largely associated with lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways, while post-stroke changes involved amino acid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. These findings may inform the development of biomarkers for stroke risk and recovery monitoring.

The contextual self: object ownership modulates neural encoding across peripersonal and extrapersonal spaces

Abstract A crucial aspect of interacting with objects in our environment lies in determining whether they are located within peripersonal space (PPS) - where immediate action is possible- or extrapersonal space (EPS), where objects are out of reach. Importantly, social context often prompts additional consideration of object ownership, which may interfere with spatial localization. Although previous research has demonstrated that both spatial and social contexts influence object processing, the neural networks subtending their interaction remains largely unexplored. To address this issue, the present fMRI study investigated the neural correlates of object ownership as a function of spatial location (PPS vs EPS). While facing a virtual character, 22 participants judged the reachability of self-owned or other-owned objects placed at varying distances. Results showed that objects located in the PPS activated parietal regions implicated in the sensorimotor coding of near-space stimuli, with enhanced parietal responses observed for self-owned objects, particularly in the right hemisphere. Conversely, objects in EPS engaged prefrontal regions, especially when they were self-owned. Multivariate analyses further revealed that both the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) reliably distinguished self-owned objects, with the vmPFC selectively encoding self-ownership in the PPS. These findings highlight how spatial and social dimensions jointly shape object representations in the brain, with self-relevance modulating action-related processing even in tasks focusing on spatial processing.

Liquid anomalies and fragility of supercooled antimony

Phase-change materials (PCMs) based on group IV, V, and VI elements, such as Ge, Sb, and Te, exhibit distinctive liquid-state features, including thermodynamic anomalies and unusual dynamical properties, which are believed to play a key role in their fast and reversible crystallization behavior. Antimony (Sb), a monoatomic PCM with ultrafast switching capabilities, stands out as the only elemental member of this group for which the properties of the liquid and supercooled states have so far remained unknown. In this work, we use large-scale molecular dynamics simulations with a neural network potential trained on first-principles data to investigate the liquid, supercooled, and amorphous phases of Sb across a broad pressure–temperature range. We uncover clear signatures of anomalous behavior, including a density maximum and nonmonotonic thermodynamic response functions, which are described by a two-state model based on the structural evolution of the liquid. Moreover, extrapolation of the viscosity to the glass transition, based on configurational and excess entropies, indicates that Sb is a highly fragile material. Our results present a compelling case for the connection between the liquid-state properties of PCMs and their unique ability to combine high amorphous-phase stability with ultrafast crystallization.

Abstract TU218: Are U.S. Women Meeting Nutritional Guidelines Across Pregnancy? Data from a Multicenter National Cohort

Introduction: Optimal nutrition during pregnancy is essential to support maternal health and fetal development. Although the 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines include specific nutritional goals for pregnancy, it is unclear if pregnant women are meeting those goals. Purpose: To assess nutritional intake and dietary quality in early and late pregnancy and compare with US Dietary Guidelines. Methods: Pregnant women enrolled in the prospective multicenter GO MOMs study completed three non-consecutive 24-hr dietary recalls using the Automated Self- Administered Dietary Assessment tool (ASA24) in early (10 - 21wks) and again in late pregnancy (24 - 37wks). Daily macronutrient and micronutrient intakes from food sources, adjusted for kcal, were compared with nutritional guidelines for pregnant women ages 19 - 50yrs. Percent of recommended intake and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores (0 - 100) were calculated. Results: Among 542 pregnant women (mean 32yrs, mean BMI, 26.6kg/m 2 ), 99% in early pregnancy and 92% in late pregnancy completed at least one dietary recall. Mean energy intake increased from early to late pregnancy (2004 to 2172kcals). Mean differences from early to late pregnancy in percentage of energy from protein, fat, and saturated fat increased while carbohydrate intake decreased (Table 1). Despite increases in energy intake, fiber density and percent of energy from added sugars remained unchanged. Dietary quality remained low throughout pregnancy (average HEI scores of 53). Key micronutrient intake including folate, iron, choline, potassium, calcium, sodium and vitamin D increased significantly over time. Both in early and late pregnancy, 98% met the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for protein, and 61% vs. 53% (early vs. late) met the recommended AMDR for carbohydrate intakes. Dietary fiber intake was low overall with 9% vs. 8% meeting recommended levels and added sugar intake exceeded guidelines in 44% vs. 48% of women. More than 50% consumed below recommended levels for key micronutrients and 3% met the recommended 27 mg of iron/day throughout pregnancy. Sodium intake exceeded the recommended intake in 86% vs. 92% of women in early vs. late pregnancy. Conclusion: Pregnant women did not meet recommended intake for several key nutrients and exceeded limits for sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars throughout pregnancy. Dietary quality remained low across gestation, highlighting the need for nutrition interventions during pregnancy.

Abstract TU139: Demographic and Regional Burden of Opioid Dependence Disorder in the All of Us Cohort

Background: Opioid dependence disorder is a top row public health concern in the United States. Large electronic health record data from the All of Us Research Program allow measurement of demographic and geographic burden. This study analysis describes the prevalence of opioid dependence with the condition 438120 by age, sex and location patterns among participants and summarizes coding practices of health system. Methods: We identified participants with opioid dependence (condition 438120) using the All of Us Public Data Browser. We extracted aggregated counts and proportions by age, sex and state or region. Diagnoses came from EHR condition codes by partner health systems. We summarized participants within each stratum. Results: A total of 11,600 participants (3.27% of 354,400) had an EHR-documented diagnosis of opioid dependence. The maximum burden snapping in adults aged 50–59 years at 3,000 cases with diagnoses age groups 18–89+. Males were more prevalence than females across age groups in between 30–59. Cases noticed nationwide particularly highest concentrations in Arizona, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. Diagnoses were coded mainly with ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM with contributions from SNOMED. Subtypes included remission (2,500), continuous dependence (2,080) and combining opioids with other drug dependence with smaller counts for episodic and heroin dependence. Conclusions: In this cohort opioid dependence is concentrated in middle-aged adults and more common in men. Geographic clustering is evident in several states. Coding variation reflects documentation differences. Large EHR datasets are useful for monitoring disparities and guiding targeted public health action and policy.

Abstract TU224: Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Blood Pressure Variability, and Depression Among Pregnant Women in Georgia

Background: Maternal health is critical in the U.S., especially in Georgia, with the second-highest maternal mortality rate. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including early life trauma such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, have been associated with adverse cardiovascular and mental health outcomes in adulthood. This study examined the relationships among ACEs, blood pressure variability (BPV), and depression among pregnant women in Georgia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study (Dec 2024 – Jun 2025). Forty-four pregnant women (43% Blacks, 41% Whites and 16% others) aged ≥18 years in their 2nd or 3rd trimester were recruited. Validated questionnaires assessing ACEs, depressive symptoms, and general self-efficacy (GSE) were collected. ACEs were measured using 28 items, and categorized into four classes. BPV was evaluated using the average real variability (ARV) of SBP and DBP. Associations were examined using linear regression models, adjusting for covariates including maternal age, gestational week, socioeconomic status (SES), race, and body mass index (BMI). Results: Over 36% of participants had elevated BP (≥120/80 mmHg). Over 40% had moderate and severe ACE scores, and about 32% had moderate or severe depression (14-30). There was no significant correlation between ACE scores and SBP or DBP. However, severe ACEs appeared to be positively correlated with SBPV (β = 2.1, p = 0.058). Higher ACE scores were significantly associated with moderate (β = 0.51, p = 0.041), and higher depression (β = 0.40, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.75, p = 0.024) scores after adjusting for age, gestational age in weeks, race, SES and BMI. Having severe ACE scores, depression scores increased by 49.2%, after controlling for covariates. Lower general self-efficacy (GSE) score was significantly associated with higher depression scores (β = –3.59, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Greater exposures to ACEs and lower self-efficacy are significantly associated with greater depressive symptoms during pregnancy, suggesting that early life adversity may have lasting effects on mental health during pregnancy. Findings aligned with prior studies show that childhood adversity increases adult mental health risk, but self-efficacy buffers against stress. Moreover, the trend toward higher ACE scores being associated with higher SBPV warrants further investigation in larger studies.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the kidney regulates metabolic cross-talk with the liver and gut microbiome

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is central to inter-organ and inter-organismal crosstalk along the gut microbiome-liver-kidney axis. Studies in the kidney indicate this is due its regulation of transporter-mediated "remote sensing and signaling" via small molecules derived from the gut microbiome. These include gut microbiome-derived uremic toxins (e.g., indoxyl sulfate) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which are transported by OAT1 and other SLC transporters. However, how kidney AHR regulates gut microbiome-liver-kidney crosstalk is largely unexplored. Here, we applied formal multi-organ metabolic reconstruction to multiomics data from the kidney of AHR knockout mouse and contextualized it with systemic metabolic changes. Consistent with the Remote Sensing and Signaling Theory, the explicit and quantitative multi-organ host and microbe network reconstruction revealed that kidney AHR regulates correlated sets of biochemical reactions at the organ, cellular, and organellar levels. In the absence of kidney AHR, there is up-regulation of polyamine related metabolism and down regulation of pathways involving organic acids (oxalate), thiamine, and amino-, methyl-, and phospho-transferases. Importantly, these AHR-dependent changes in correlated reaction sets occur not only in the kidney but also in the liver and microbiome. The normal inter-organ and inter-organismal (host-microbe) communication via these biochemical pathways between the kidney and other organs is disrupted when AHR function is lost. Thus, the incorporation of tissue and plasma metabolomics with kidney and liver transcriptomics in a biologically coherent framework provides a novel view into the metabolic relationships across the gut microbiome-liver-kidney axis. Through a concordance–discordance assessment of the transcriptome and metabolome, we were able to identify potential metabolic regulatory hubs dependent upon kidney AHR, a uremic toxin sensor and drug target. This included observed up-regulation of urea cycle enzymes with down-regulation of more distant enzymes (that are not directly involved with nitrogen handling). The results show how AHR-dependent remote sensing and signaling can involve interactions via biochemical reaction sub-networks between distinct organellar compartments of the communicating kidney and liver.

Quantitative system drift

We consider a biological system composed of multiple genetically variable components, the combined result of which is a quantitative trait under stabilizing selection for an optimal value. We show mathematically that, while the mean value of the system is ultimately constrained to remain near its optimum, the mean contributions of individual components are free to drift far from their initial values. Each component’s drift, though qualitatively identical to neutral drift, is slower by a factor that depends on the fraction of the system’s genetic variance contributed by the component. We further show that symmetric mutation between alleles that increase and decrease components’ contributions to the system imposes a weak long-term brake on components’ drift. Our results provide a population-genetic basis for “system drift,” the concept that individual components of a biological system can evolve despite selective constraint on their combined product. A special case is a single polygenic trait under stabilizing selection, where our results predict that the mean contributions to the trait of different subregions of the genome, such as the chromosomes, can drift despite constraint on the genome-wide value. To indicate the broad applicability of our results, we explore their implications for the evolution of gene expression, selection against interspecific hybrids, selection against turnovers of sex-determining systems, and the division of labor in mutualisms.

Abstract WE560: Civic Engagement Disparities among Adults with Cardiovascular Disease in the United States

Background: Civic engagement including voting, volunteering, and participating in public meetings is essential for shaping community priorities and health policy. Individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may experience physical and psychosocial limitations that reduce their civic participation. However, nationally representative evidence on this topic remains limited. Hypothesis: Cardiovascular disease was hypothesized to be associated with lower rates of civic activity compared to those without cardiovascular disease, after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. Methods: We used data from 27,631 adults in the 2022 National Health Interview Survey, a cross-sectional survey of the non-institutionalized US population. Cardiovascular disease was defined as self-reported coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, or stroke. Civic engagement outcomes included voting in local elections, attending public meetings, and volunteering. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between cardiovascular disease and civic engagement, adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, income, region, and other chronic conditions. Sampling weights were applied to produce nationally representative estimates. Results: Cardiovascular disease was reported by 2,916 individuals (10.6%). After applying survey weights, respondents with CVD were more likely to be older, male, and have lower educational attainment and household income compared to those without CVD. In adjusted models, individuals with CVD had significantly lower odds of civic engagement: voting (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70–0.96), attending public meetings (aOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.61–0.99), and volunteering (aOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61–0.88). Among subtypes, coronary heart disease (aOR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58–0.94) and heart attack (aOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.94) were associated with lower volunteering. Stroke was associated with lower voting (aOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56–0.93). Conclusions: Cardiovascular disease is associated with reduced civic engagement across multiple domains. Barriers may include physical limitations and competing care needs. Strategies such as virtual participation and accessible civic programming may help promote inclusion and support patient-centered advocacy.

Abstract 42: Opportunistic Screening versus Population-Wide for Hypertension: A Microsimulation Study

Background: To massively scale up efforts to diagnose and treat hypertension, different screening strategies have been proposed (population-wide screening campaigns and healthcare facility-based “opportunistic” screening). However, no studies have compared their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in low-resource settings. Objective: To compare hypertension treatment coverage, CVD events, and CVD deaths in Bangladesh from three different screening strategies. Methods: We developed a discrete-time microsimulation model populated with data from the 2018 Bangladesh WHO STEPS survey. Over 10 years, hypertension diagnosis and treatment, CVD events (strokes and ischemic heart disease), and deaths were estimated for a model population (100,000 adults without hypertension diagnosis or CVD history) under 3 scenarios: (1) current practice of limited opportunistic screening in public healthcare facilities (20% of patients screened); (2) extended opportunistic screening in public healthcare facilities (80% of patients screened); and (3) one-time population-wide screening targeting 80% population coverage over 5 years. In (1) and (2), patients visiting public healthcare facilities (30% of population) could be screened multiple times over the 10 years. Ten-year CVD risk was calculated using WHO CVD prediction models recalibrated with country-specific Global Burden of Disease data. Results: Under current practice, 22,129 adults (out of N=100,000) could be screened over 10 years and 2,002 would start treatment ( Figure, Panels A and B ); in this scenario, 12,117 CVD events and 1,548 deaths would occur. In the extended opportunistic screening scenario, 62,680 adults would be screened and 6,222 would initiate treatment. With population-wide screening, 79,482 would be screened, and treatment would begin in 3,171 adults. Compared to current practice ( Panels C and D ), extended opportunistic screening and population-wide screening could prevent 65 and 46 more CVD events, and 33 and 22 CVD deaths per 100,000 over 10 years, respectively. Among adults aged ≥40 years (40% of the total population), the estimated impact on CVD burden was doubled (e.g., 65-70 averted CVD deaths per 100,000). Conclusion: Despite the intuitive appeal of population-wide screening, the most effective screening strategy to increase screening yield and prevent CVD events in Bangladesh and likely other low-resource settings is extended opportunistic screening in public health care facilities.

Abstract TH924: Associations Between a Validated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Screener Score and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHAHES), 2009-2014

Introduction: Despite being recognized as a critical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, diet is rarely comprehensively measured due to cost and time constraints. A valid tool with predictive validity would be helpful for providing dietary guidance in clinical settings. Objective: This study aimed to determine the predictive validity of a previously validated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet screener by exploring the associations between the DASH screener score and CVD biomarkers in 3 two-year cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2009-2014). Hypothesis We hypothesized that higher screener scores were associated with higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein (HDL), and glycohemoglobin (HbA1c). Methods: Created from 8 questions used in the Stenting vs. Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis trial, the DASH screener scores were calculated in a subset of 14651 adults ≥20 years of age with ≥1 reliable 24-h diet recall and plausible energy intakes. Briefly, each of the 8 DASH components was multiplied by a corresponding weight and summed to obtain an overall score (0-100), with higher values indicating better adherence. CVD biomarkers were measured following the NAHNES procedures. Associations between the DASH screener score and CVD biomarkers were evaluated using survey weighted multivariable linear regressions, with a significance threshold of 0.05. Results: Participants were on average 47.6(±16.9) years-of-age, 68% Non-Hispanic White, 53% female, and with a BMI of 28.9 kg/m 2 . The mean (SD) of the DASH screener score was 47.0 (14.7). The DASH screener score was associated with lower SBP (ß=-0.028, p=0.038) and higher HDL (ß=0.063, p<0.001), after adjusting for age, sex, race, income level, total energy intake, smoking status, physical activity level, BMI status, and diabetes. No associations were detected between DASH screener score and DBP or LDL, although the association between the score and HbA1c approached significance (ß=-0.001, p=0.051). Conclusions: The DASH screener score demonstrated predictive validity with some CVD biomarkers including SBP and HDL among a cross-sectional sample of a generally healthy adult population. Future research is needed to evaluate the predictive validity of the DASH diet screener in high-risk populations with longitudinal design.

Dietary quercetagetin enhances antioxidant capacity and modulates intestinal microbiota in dexamethasone-challenged broilers

Identification of somatostatin ⁺ inhibitory engrams for extinction in the basolateral amygdala

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a key structure for processing threat and emotional information, and plays a key role in controlling the fear memory. Previous research has suggested that the extinction procedure generates a new memory that coexists with the original fear memory, and that interneurons play an important role in this process. However, the mechanisms that control the competing extinction and fear memories in BLA are not yet fully understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we developed a chemogenetic strategy that offers improved sensitivity and specificity for tagging neurons during defined behavioral epochs. This was achieved by genetically targeting GABAergic interneurons for activity-dependent manipulation, allowing us to directly probe the functional role of inhibitory ensembles recruited during fear extinction. We found that silencing extinction-tagged BLA neurons or stimulating fear acquisition-tagged BLA neurons, led to a relapse of fear memory. Additionally, we observed that silencing BLA GABAergic neurons, or more specifically, silencing the extinction-tagged BLA GABAergic neurons, restored fear expression after extinction, while inhibiting acquisition-tagged BLA GABAergic neurons did not impair fear memory retrieval. Our results indicate that specific inhibitory GABAergic BLA engrams are established during fear extinction, which interfere with existing fear memory-related neural circuits and suppress conditioned fear memory. These findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying fear extinction and suggest that BLA GABAergic neurons are potential targets for therapeutic interventions in cognitive disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Abstract WE519: Association between Dynapenic Obesity and Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Dynapenic obesity (DAO) is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) disease. However, its impact on CV events and mortality remains underexplored. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the association between DAO and CV outcomes, including major CV events and CV-specific mortality. Methods: Literature search was conducted through May 2025 using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with terms related to dynapenia, obesity, and CV outcomes. Eligible studies were observational cohort studies reporting adjusted effect sizes (e.g. odds ratios [ORs] or hazard ratios [HRs]) for DAO and CV events (e.g., heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction [MI], heart failure [HF]) or CV mortality. DAO was consistently defined as reduced handgrip strength (<26 kg for men, <16 kg for women) combined with obesity, assessed by body mass index (BMI >25 or >30 kg/m 2 ) or abdominal obesity (waist circumference >102 cm for men, >88 cm for women, or ≥85 cm and ≥80 cm in some studies). Random-effects meta-analysis calculated pooled ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic, and leave-one-out sensitivity analyses tested result robustness. Results: 5 studies, involving over 45,000 participants, provided data on composite CV events, showing a significant association with DAO (pooled OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.31–1.53, p<0.01). Similarly, the association with CV mortality was significant, with a pooled OR of 1.52 (95% CI: 1.34–1.73, p< 0.01). Heterogeneity across studies was low. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses confirmed that no single study disproportionately influenced the pooled estimates. Incident heart disease risk was higher in women (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.07–2.24) than men (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.60–1.88), with middle-aged adults showing elevated risks (HR 1.74–2.46). In a Japanese cohort, DAO increased CV event risk (HR 1.66), particularly for stroke (HR 1.65). Another study reported a modest CV event association (HR 1.23), most notably for HF (HR: 1.42). A Chinese cohort showed strong associations with heart disease (OR: 1.58) and stroke (OR: 2.44). Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that DAO is associated with significantly higher CV events and mortality risk. Unlike BMI alone, DAO reflects both metabolic and functional decline, capturing inflammation, insulin resistance, and frailty. These findings support DAO as a stronger cardiometabolic risk marker than obesity alone.

Abstract WE571A: Psychosocial Stressors Linking Perceived Neighborhood Physical Disorder to Stroke Risk Among U.S. Adults

Introduction: Neighborhood disorder, defined as adverse physical features of neighborhoods (e.g., vandalism, vacant houses), has been linked to elevated risks of chronic diseases, such as stroke. Adverse neighborhoods may elevate psychosocial stressors related to stroke. However, the relationship between perceived neighborhood physical disorder and stroke, and the psychosocial pathways that may drive the association, remains understudied. Hypothesis: Greater neighborhood physical disorder is associated with higher odds of stroke, mediated by higher levels of perceived stress and anxiety, and these relationships are moderated by sex and racial and/or ethnic groups. Methods: Cross-sectional data came from the nationally representative sample of middle-aged-to-older adults in the 2022 Health and Retirement Study (n=3,755; mean age=69.1 years; female=54.1%; White adults=84.6%). Stroke status (yes/no) was assessed by self-reported physician diagnosis. Respondents reported their perceived neighborhood physical disorder on four items: vandalism/graffiti, safety after dark, litter, and vacant houses. Using multivariable regressions, we tested perceived stress and anxiety as mediators in the association between neighborhood physical disorder and stroke, adjusting for all covariates. Bootstrap resampling (k=5000) with 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals (BC CIs) for the indirect effects was used to assess mediated associations. Analyses were stratified by sex and racial and/or ethnic groups. Results: Overall, neighborhood physical disorder was directly associated with higher odds of stroke (OR=1.16, 95% CI=1.01–1.33), with an indirect effect via perceived stress (OR=1.04, 95% BC CI=1.00–1.08; Table 1, Figure 1). Similarly, neighborhood physical disorder was directly related to stroke (OR=1.15, 95% CI=1.00–1.31), with an indirect effect via anxiety (OR=1.03, 95% BC CI=1.00–1.07; Table 2). In sex-stratified analyses, the observed association was mediated by anxiety only in females (OR=1.04, 95% BC CI=1.01–1.08, all p<.05), with neither significant results in males nor by racial and/or ethnic groups. Conclusions: Individuals living in neighborhoods with greater physical disorder had higher odds of stroke, and elevated levels of perceived stress and anxiety may be important drivers of this association. Local efforts to improve adverse neighborhood contexts, which in turn could ease psychological stress, may help lower stroke risk.

Abstract TU271: Sleep Duration and Mental Health Among Women: Evidence from the SAFE HEART Study Supporting Life’s Essential 8

Background: Sleep, a key component of the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), influences both cardiovascular and mental health. However, its relationship with stress, depression, and anxiety among women remains uncertain. Objective: Examine associations between subjective sleep duration and mental health outcomes in adult women. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that both short and long sleep would be linked to poorer mental health. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 711 women aged ≥18 years enrolled in the SAFE HEART Study. Participants were recruited from community sites in Baltimore and Washington Counties (MD) and through the American Heart Association’s Research Goes Red registry. Sleep duration was categorized as short (<7 h), optimal (7–9 h), or long (≥9 h). Mental health was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-2). Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using optimal sleep as referent: Model A unadjusted; Model B adjusted for sociodemographic factors (age, race, education, employment, marital status); Model C further adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, obesity). Results: Among 711 participants (mean age 40.2 ± 14.9 years), 29% were Black, 47.8% White, and 18.6% Hispanic. Over one-third reported short sleep (37.9%), 55.1% optimal, and 7.0% long sleep. Women with short or long sleep were more likely to have lower education, be unmarried or unemployed, and exhibit higher physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes (all p < 0.05). Overall, 73.8% had high perceived stress, 20.0% screened positive for depression, and 25.9% for anxiety. Long sleep (≥9 h) was associated with higher odds of depression in unadjusted models (OR 3.99; 95% CI 2.16–7.37) and showed borderline, non-significant association after full adjustment (OR 2.02; p = 0.06). It was also related to greater anxiety risk in unadjusted analyses (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.20–4.07), though this attenuated after adjustment. While not statistically significant, the consistency and magnitude of these findings suggest that longer sleep may be linked to poorer mental health. Short sleep (<7 h) was not associated with stress, depression, or anxiety. Conclusion: Longer sleep may signal poorer mental health, emphasizing sleep's role in women's CVH.

Impact of agricultural insurance on farmers’ adoption of green production technologies: evidence from vegetable growers in China

Young children understand how social connections affect what people know about each other

An unwritten expectation in our everyday social interactions is that intimate personal information about someone—“insider knowledge”—is usually confined within close relationships. For example, it would be odd, or even unsettling, if a stranger knew about your favorite movie. Such expectations about who knows what about whom constitute a cornerstone of complex social behavior, but much remains unknown about their cognitive underpinnings and developmental origins. Drawing on parental report (Study 1) as well as a novel experimental approach using controlled but naturalistic videochat conversations (Study 2 & 3), we find that 4- to 5-y-old children have an abstract, theory-like understanding of how social connections give rise to interpersonal knowledge. Self-report, facial expressions, and memory errors provide converging evidence that children were surprised when someone possessed insider knowledge that is misaligned with their relationships, such as a stranger knowing their favorite food (Study 2a) or their own parent knowing a stranger’s favorite movie (Study 2b). Children also generated coherent ad-hoc explanations about how someone might have acquired that knowledge, appealing to either first-hand observations or second-hand sources (Study 3). These findings demonstrate an early-emerging understanding of how individual minds are shaped in the context of their social networks, supporting a precocious ability to detect and explain anomalies in what people know about each other in real-time conversations. The current work also opens possibilities for leveraging open-ended online interactions to study social cognition without compromising experimental control.