Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Abstract P3112: OBESITY RELATED CARDIOVASUCLAR MORTALITY IN ASIAN AMERICANS
Introduction: The Global Burden of Disease Study suggested 80% of obesity&overweight (OOW) related deaths in US have an underlying cause of either type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidaemias&hypertensive heart disease (DKOLH). Studying OOW related cardiovascular deaths (CVD) in Asian Americans (AA), a population known to have heterogeneous risk CVD by nation of origin has not been well studied. Methods: National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) mortality data extracted (2005-2019) for 6 AA subgroups and non-Hispanic Whites between 35-74 years of age (premature). Identified OOW-related CVD with one or more of DKOLH by using ICD.10 coding. Population estimates from American Community Survey (ACS). Age and sex specific mortality rates calculated using negative binomial regression. Weighted average rates calculated for premature deaths in RStudio and Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) calculated using Joinpoint Regression Program. Results: For OOW related premature mortality - significant increase in AAPC across all subgroups of AA males (p<0.05), AAPC for Japanese (-3.4%, 95%CI -5.1 to -1.7) females significantly decreased, AAPC for Chinese and Asian Indian females has not shown any significant change over the years, highest AAPC for Koreans and Vietnamese over years for both males (7.01%, CI 4.6-9.5%; 6.88% CI 5.4-8.4%) and females (3.62% CI 1.3-5.9% ; 3.82% CI 1.7-6%). Trends for mortality rates across years remain highest for Filipinos for both genders. The rise in premature OOW related CVD for all AA males is disproportionately higher than the change in their respective all-cause premature mortality over years, for females it is disproportionately higher only for Filipinos (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a novel way to use NVSS mortality data for estimating premature OOW related CVD rate using reliable population estimates. Decline in Japanese and Chinese female OOW related premature CVD needs to be appreciated and factors leading to the same need to explored, while disproportionate rise in amongst all AA males particularly Koreans and Vietnamese when compared to their respective all-cause mortality is alarming and warrants further direct targeted interventions, while persistently high and rising mortality rates amongst Filipinos demonstrate ineffectiveness of current strategies at various levels of prevention.
Phase transitions in the rolling of irregular cylinders and spheres
When placed on an inclined plane, a perfect 2D disk or 3D sphere simply rolls down in a straight line under gravity. But how is the rolling affected if these shapes are irregular or random? Treating the terminal rolling speed as an order parameter, we show that there are qualitative transitions in the speed as a function of the dimension of the state space and inertia. We calculate the scaling exponents and the macroscopic lag time associated with the presence of first- and second-order transitions and describe the regimes of coexistence of stable states and the accompanying hysteresis. Experiments with rolling cylinders corroborate our theoretical results on the scaling of the lag time. Experiments with spheres reveal closed orbits and their period-doubling in the overdamped and inertial limits, respectively, providing visible manifestations of the hairy ball theorem and the doubly connected nature of S O ( 3 ) , the space of 3D rotations. Going beyond simple curiosity, our study might shed light on a number of natural and artificial systems that involve the rolling of irregular objects, ranging from nanoscale cellular transport to robotics.
Abstract 025: Quantifying the association between gentrification and hypertension risk: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Introduction: Static neighborhood-level factors, such as access to healthcare and the physical environment, are associated with hypertension (HTN) risk. Less is known on how dynamic neighborhood changes (e.g. gentrification) impact HTN risk. We tested the hypothesis that individuals living in gentrified neighborhoods, compared to non-gentrified neighborhoods, have a decreased risk of HTN. Methods: We quantified the association of living in a gentrified neighborhood with HTN status among 6260 participants from Visit 5 (2011-13) of the ARIC Study. A composite z-score was calculated from 2010 Census measures of median household income and gross rent, proportion of adults with a bachelor’s degree, and proportion living above the poverty level. The z-score was used in two frameworks to quantify gentrification: 1) a relative spatial comparison between a geocoded participant address-centric 0.5 mile radius and a surrounding 20-mile radius, and 2) temporal change in the spatial comparison between the 1990 and 2010 Census measures. The outcome was defined as no HTN (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <130 mmHg), controlled HTN (SBP <130 mmHg on medication), unmedicated HTN (SBP ≥130 mmHg), or medicated and uncontrolled HTN (SBP ≥130 mmHg on medication). Adjusted multinomial logistic regression quantified the odds of HTN. Models were further stratified by ARIC study site. Results: Among the 6260 participants (mean age 76 years, 59% female, 22% Black), 843 (13%) had no HTN, 2387 (38%) had controlled HTN, 674 (11%) had unmedicated HTN, and 2356 (38%) had medicated and uncontrolled HTN. Compared to participants with no HTN, a one unit increase in the 2010 spatial gentrification z-score was associated with lower odds of controlled HTN and medicated and uncontrolled HTN, but not unmedicated HTN ( Figure ). There was a strong protective association of gentrification on HTN among White participants living in Forsyth County, NC and Washington County, MD. Among Black participants in Jackson, MS, living in a gentrified neighborhood was associated with increased odds of unmedicated HTN only. The pattern of associations was similar but attenuated for spatial and temporal gentrification z-score from 1990 to 2010. Conclusions: Living in neighborhoods with higher spatial gentrification z-scores is associated with lower odds of HTN. Black and White participants in ARIC may have experienced gentrification differently, potentially alluding to long-term structural factors that impact health.
Abstract P3137: Psychological Factors and Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Background: Psychological distress increases the risk of acute cardiac events, but studies are conflicting on whether it causes atherosclerotic progression. In previous longitudinal studies, missing outcome measures across time may have resulted in selection bias. Objective: To estimate the longitudinal association of psychological factors with coronary atherosclerotic burden. Methods: In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), we examined psychological exposures via validated scales (anger trait, anxiety trait, chronic stress, lifetime discrimination, everyday discrimination, and depression) and subclinical atherosclerosis with coronary artery calcium (CAC) at baseline for all participants, who were invited to repeat their CAC scores at four subsequent visits. Linear mixed models tested the association of psychological scales with atherosclerosis progression by the slope of log-transformed CAC score over time, accounting for confounders in the causal model (age, gender, race, income, work status, neighborhood). As a sensitivity analysis to adjust for selection bias, we ran the model after multiple imputations by chain equations of the missing CAC scores at the follow-up visits. Results: The 6,814 MESA participants had a median age of 62 years (IQR53-70), and 47% were males. All participants had a baseline CAC Score measurement: 746 had only the baseline, 2452 participants had two CAC scores, 2831 had three, and 785 had four. The mean time between the baseline and the last CAC score was 6.5 ± 3.5 years. For a standard deviation (SD) increase in each psychological scale, the change in CAC score per visit was estimated to be near zero (Figure 1 shows the 95% confidence intervals of the percent change in CAC Score by SD increment in each scale). The number of missing CAC scores was associated with a more adverse socioeconomic and cardiometabolic risk profile and higher baseline CAC Scores, suggesting selection bias. The analysis performed after imputing missing CAC scores showed consistent associations between higher levels of psychological scales and progression of the CAC scores over time (Figure 1). Conclusion: While no association was found in the analysis of observed outcomes, associations emerged after outcome imputation to account for selection bias due to missing data. Future studies should minimize missing values of the outcome to avoid biased results.
Phased ERK responsiveness and developmental robustness regulate teleost skin morphogenesis
Elongation of the vertebrate embryonic axis necessitates rapid expansion of the epidermis to accommodate the growth of underlying tissues. Here, we generated a toolkit to visualize and quantify signaling in entire cell populations of the periderm, the outermost layer of the epidermis, in live developing zebrafish. We find that oriented cell divisions facilitate growth of the early periderm during axial elongation rather than cell addition from the basal layer. Activity levels of Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a downstream effector of the MAPK pathway, gauged by a live biosensor, predict cell cycle entry, and optogenetic ERK activation regulates cell cycling dynamics. As development proceeds, rates of peridermal cell proliferation decrease, and ERK activity becomes more pulsatile and functionally transitions to promote hypertrophic cell growth. Targeted genetic blockade of cell division generates animals with oversized periderm cells, yet, unexpectedly, development to adulthood is not impaired. Our findings reveal stage-dependent differential responsiveness to ERK signaling and marked developmental robustness in growing teleost skin.
Abstract 014: Healthy sleep score, plasma metabolome, and subclinical cardiovascular risk factors: the Bogalusa Heart Study
Introduction: A healthy sleep pattern (HSP) has been related to lower risks of cardiovascular diseases. However, sleep behaviors are usually self-reported, which introduces bias. While metabolomics provides an objective method and complements traditional biomarkers, the underlying metabolomic mechanisms linking a comprehensive sleep pattern and subclinical cardiovascular risk factors are not well known. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that an HSP is associated with metabolites, which may subsequently influence subclinical cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: A total of 1032 participants from the Bogalusa Heart Study who underwent untargeted metabolomics profiling and had existing sleep data were included in the current analysis. HSP was estimated using information on sleep duration, chronotype, insomnia, snoring, and daytime sleepiness. Elastic net regularized regression was applied to generate an HSP-related metabolomic signature. Subclinical cardiovascular risk factors were measured by echocardiography and ultrasonography, including left ventricular mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular geometry, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Results: The HSP was inversely associated with subclinical cardiovascular risk factors [LVMI (β: -0.88, SE: 0.29; p=0.002), RWT (β: -0.004, SE: 0.002; p=0.03), IMT (β: -0.02, SE: 0.01; p=0.018), and concentric LV hypertrophy (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59 – 0.88; p=0.001)]. Using elastic net regularized regression, we identified a metabolomic signature ( Figure ), comprised of 44 metabolites, robustly associated with the HSP (r=0.22; p<0.001). In multivariable regression models, the metabolomic signature showed significant inverse associations with LVMI (β: -2.5, SE: 0.77; p=0.001), RWT (β: -0.016, SE: 0.006; p=0.004), IMT (β: -0.09, SE: 0.02; p<0.001), and lower odds of concentric remodeling (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33 – 0.82; p=0.005), eccentric LV hypertrophy (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.09 – 0.69; p=0.007), and concentric LV hypertrophy (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19 – 0.76; p=0.007) ( Figure, Model 2 ). The associations persisted after further adjustment for the HSP ( Figure, Model 3 ). Conclusion: We identified a metabolomic signature that robustly reflected the HSP, and was associated with lower subclinical cardiovascular risk factors, independent of traditional risk factors and phenotypic sleep measurements.
Abstract P3156: Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome Stage Prevalence varies by Asian Subgroup
Introduction: Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome characterizes the interplay of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disorders with five progressive stages. Prior data have shown that CKM syndrome is lower among aggregated Asian people when compared to Non-Hispanic White (NHW) people. However, when disaggregated, some Asian groups have a greater burden of CKM-related conditions (e.g., diabetes) compared to NHW people. We examined CKM prevalence among Asians compared to NHW people using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Hypothesis: We hypothesize that CKM syndrome prevalence will be higher in Asian subgroups compared to NHWs. Methods: Using 2015-2018 NHIS data, we estimated the prevalence of CKM Stages among Asian Indians, Chinese, and Filipinos compared to NHW people. Variables included obesity, using Asian-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) values, diabetes status, hypertension, cholesterol, and the presence of cardiovascular symptoms to distinguish CKM stages. Kidney function was unavailable in NHIS. Stages were defined as: 0 (BMI <23), 1 (BMI ≥23 or prediabetes), 2/3 (BMI ≥23, prediabetes, hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol), or 4 (established cardiovascular disease). Associations between level of physical activity, access to care, socioeconomic status, and CKM stages were tested using bivariate (ANOVA, Pearson’s chi-squared) and regression analysis. Results: We examined 86,762 adults aged 20-80 (mean = 45.8). Prevalence of stages varied by race, with CKM being highest in Chinese (45.7%) for Stage 0, Asian Indians (53.8%) for Stage 1, and Filipinos (29.6%) for Stage 2/3 (Figure 1). The prevalence of CKM in the aforementioned groups was significantly higher compared to NHW, with Stage 0 prevalence being 15.2% higher in Chinese, Stage 1 prevalence being 19.0% among Asian Indians, and Stage 2/3 prevalence being 3.7% higher among Filipinos (Figure 1). Conclusions: When disaggregated, Asian Americans experience a different burden of CKM syndrome when compared to NHW people. Factors such as the prevalence of prediabetes, diabetes, high cholesterol, and higher BMI values undoubtedly contribute to the disparities that are noted. The different burden of CKM stage by race highlights the need for culturally appropriate interventions to reduce racial disparities in CKM syndrome. Further research is warranted on the impact of demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors on CKM in Asian Americans.
Nanoscale distribution of bioactive ligands on biomaterials regulates cell mechanosensing through translocation of actin into the nucleus
Cells respond to adhesive ligands such as arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) through integrins, which regulates cellular activities via influencing cytoskeleton assembly. Herein, we report that the nanoscale distribution of active ligands on biomaterials regulates cells through not only cytoplasmic tension but also nuclear tension. This is particularly related to translocation of actin into nucleus and highlighted in our interpretation of an “abnormal” phenomenon that large RGD nanospacing (>70 nm) disassembles integrin clusters, inhibits cell adhesion, but promotes osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Our studies reveal that the unstable adhesion at the 150 nm RGD distance increases actin dynamics, resulting in the nuclear translocation of globular (G) actin. The compartment polymerization of more G-actins to filamentous actins in nucleus increases nuclear tension, facilitating transcription activity and releasing calcium ions from the endoplasmic reticulum. This noncanonical mechanotransduction process sheds insight into mechanotransduction pertinent to cell–material interactions.
Abstract P2094: Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Incident Cognitive Impairment: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cognitive impairment are expected to double in prevalence over the next 20 years. While most literature on AF and risk of cognitive disorders is focused on dementia, there is little evidence on cognitive impairment or non-stroke populations. We addressed this question in the REGARDS cohort. Hypothesis: Baseline AF is associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment (ICI) in REGARDS participants with and without prevalent stroke. We tested for differences in this association by prevalent stroke, race (Black and White), and oral anticoagulant use, and for the attenuating effect of selected biomarkers on associations. Methods: REGARDS enrolled 30,239 persons > 45 years old in 2003-07. AF was defined by self-report or ECG. ICI was defined during follow-up by robust cognitive norms based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Six-Item Screener. HRs of time to ICI with AF were calculated by Cox proportional hazards models (Table footnote), with censoring at death or last follow-up. Considered individually, interaction terms for prevalent stroke, race, and oral anticoagulant use with AF were assessed. Results: Among 23,638 participants with mean follow-up 12.8 years (mean age 64.3 years, 56.3% women, 37.6% Black), the association of AF with ICI was modest (HR 1.21; see Table). The adjusted HR was greater in those with prevalent stroke than without stroke (1.69 vs. 1.05). Among those with prevalent stroke, there was little impact of added adjustment for anticoagulant use; with added adjustment for each biomarker individually, there was small-modest attenuation by each biomarker. HRs did not differ by race or oral anticoagulant use (both p interactions >0.4). Conclusion: Independent of other factors including anticoagulant use, AF was associated with ICI in those with prevalent stroke, but not in those without prevalent stroke. Biomarkers had modest attenuating effects on the association among those with prevalent stroke. Results underscore the importance of considering cognitive impairment after stroke in those with AF and identifying underlying causes, which could involve inflammation.
Abstract P3158: Sex-specific association patterns of childhood maltreatment across TyG and TyG-BMI indices in young adults
Background: There is a high prevalence of childhood maltreatment (CM) among adults with cardiometabolic diseases. However, there is limited information available on the specific patterns of association between CM (cumulative CM, subtype, threat- and deprivation-based CM and co-occurrence) with cardiometabolic health indicators in young adults. Aims: To investigate the patterns of association between CM and cardiometabolic health indicators, including the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), in a sex-specific manner among young adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 817 young adults from the University Student Cohort in Anhui Province, conducted in September 2022. Spearman correlations and linear regressions were used to test the association of cumulative CM, five subtypes of CM - physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect - as well as the threat- and deprivation-based CM and co-occurrence (two or more subtypes of CM) with respect to the TyG index and the TyG-BMI index, in a sex-specific analysis. Results: Cumulative CM was associated with TyG index ( β = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.00 - 0.12). In contrast, none of the CM variables was associated with TyG-BMI index. We revealed profound sex-specific differences, with associations between cumulative CM and TyG index ( β = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.18), between emotional neglect and TyG index ( β = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.00 - 0.20), and between deprivation-based CM and TyG index ( β = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.00 - 0.18) in men only. Also, only men showed an association between deprivation-based CM and TyG-BMI index ( β = 3.06, 95% CI = 0.35 - 5.77). Conclusions: This study indicates that cumulative CM, emotional neglect and deprivation-based CM may be associated with poorer cardiometabolic health in young adults, with these associations being much stronger in men than in women.
A general framework for interpretable neural learning based on local information-theoretic goal functions
Despite the impressive performance of biological and artificial networks, an intuitive understanding of how their local learning dynamics contribute to network-level task solutions remains a challenge to this date. Efforts to bring learning to a more local scale indeed lead to valuable insights, however, a general constructive approach to describe local learning goals that is both interpretable and adaptable across diverse tasks is still missing. We have previously formulated a local information processing goal that is highly adaptable and interpretable for a model neuron with compartmental structure. Building on recent advances in Partial Information Decomposition (PID), we here derive a corresponding parametric local learning rule, which allows us to introduce “infomorphic” neural networks. We demonstrate the versatility of these networks to perform tasks from supervised, unsupervised, and memory learning. By leveraging the interpretable nature of the PID framework, infomorphic networks represent a valuable tool to advance our understanding of the intricate structure of local learning.
Abstract P2170: Mortality Rates Vary for Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes among Adults in Disaggregated Asian Groups—United States, 2018–2022
Background: Although Asian adults have the lowest cardiovascular disease (CVD) death rate in the US, prior research has shown important within-group variability for Asian subgroups through 2017. Recent data that examine death rates across CVD subtypes for Asian subgroups are needed to inform clinical and public health practice. Methods: We identified CVD deaths among US adults aged ≥18 years from the National Vital Statistics System using International Classification of Diseases, 10 th Revision codes and classified them into 7 non-mutually exclusive CVD subtypes listed as the underlying or contributing cause of death. Annual age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) from 2018 to 2022 were calculated using U.S. Census 2000 standard population. Rate ratios (RRs) compared ASMR for adults in 6 non-Hispanic Asian subgroups to non-Hispanic Asian adults overall. Results: From 2018 to 2022, 123,566 CVD deaths occurred among Asian adults overall (79% heart disease, 29% stroke). Filipino adults had higher ASMR than Asian adults overall for all CVD subtypes (Figure), with RRs ranging from 1.09 for ischemic heart disease to 1.42 for valvular heart disease. Asian Indian adults had higher ASMR than Asian adults overall for all CVD subtypes except valvular heart disease and stroke, with RRs ranging from 1.08 for arrhythmia to 1.45 for heart failure. Japanese adults had ASMR that exceeded Asian adults overall for 2 CVD subtypes, with RRs of 1.06 for heart failure and 1.55 for valvular heart disease. Vietnamese adults had a stroke ASMR that was 1.24 times higher than Asian adults overall. Chinese adults and Korean adults had ASMRs that were similar to or lower than Asian adults overall for all CVD subtypes. Conclusions: CVD ASMRs for Asian adults in aggregate obscure important within-group variability across CVD subtypes, which have different implications for prevention and clinical management. Disaggregating CVD ASMR can identify subpopulations that might benefit from focused strategies to prevent, detect, and manage leading causes of death.
Abstract P3172: Type A Behavior Pattern and Incident Stroke: REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the 5th leading cause of death in the United States. Both women and Black Americans have a higher lifetime risk of stroke. With stroke playing an important role in morbidity and mortality, there is a need for investigation of risk factors to aid in prevention. Type A behavior pattern (TABP) is characterized by certain behavioral tendencies and is categorized by time urgency/impatience (TUI) and achievement striving/competitiveness (ASC) components. Hypertension is a stroke risk factor and TABP is a risk factor for hypertension. Whether TABP is also a risk factor for stroke is unclear. Objective and Hypothesis: We sought to estimate the risk of incident stroke among adults without prior stroke by the level of TABP. We hypothesized that TABP will be associated with greater stroke risk. Methods: REGARDS enrolled 30,239 White and non-Hispanic Black participants aged ≥45 years in 2003-2007. Participants were contacted every 6 months through structured phone calls, medical records were obtained, and possible stroke events were adjudicated by experts. TUI and ASC (TABP components) were assessed with the Framingham Type A scale at baseline. Those with prior strokes or missing TABP were excluded. Cox proportional hazard models estimated the adjusted relative hazard of stroke by level of TUI and ASC scores separately. Because of significant TUI*race and TUI*sex interactions on incident stroke, TUI was stratified by race and sex. There were no significant ASC*race or ASC*race interactions on incident stroke, so ASC was not stratified. Results: There were 16,982 participants with TUI responses and 16,606 participants with ASC responses; baseline demographics, follow-up, and stroke incidence were similar in both TUI and ASC groups (mean [SD] 64 [10] years old, 65% women, 60% White race, median follow-up 11 years; 5.1 strokes/1000 person-years). As shown in Figure , higher levels of TUI for Black participants and men were associated with greater adjusted stroke risk. Higher ASC levels were associated with greater adjusted stroke risk overall. Conclusions: Higher scores in the TUI component of TABP in Black participants and men and the ASC component of TABP in all were associated with greater stroke risk. Screening and aggressive management of stroke risk factors like hypertension that are also associated with TABP might attenuate some of the excess burden of stroke among persons with greater TABP.
Giant quantum oscillations in thermal transport in low-density metals via electron absorption of phonons
Oscillations of conductance observed in strong magnetic fields are a striking manifestation of the quantum dynamics of charge carriers in solids. The large charge carrier density in typical metals sets the scale of oscillations in both electrical and thermal conductivity, which characterize the Fermi surface. In semimetals, thermal transport at low-charge carrier density is expected to be phonon dominated, yet several experiments observe giant quantum oscillations in thermal transport. This raises the question of whether there is an overarching mechanism leading to sizable oscillations that survives in phonon-dominated semimetals. In this work, we show that such a mechanism exists. It relies on the peculiar phase-space allowed for phonon scattering by electrons when only a few Landau levels are filled. Our measurements on the Dirac semimetal ZrTe 5 support this counterintuitive mechanism through observation of pronounced thermal quantum oscillations, since they occur in similar magnitude and phase in directions parallel and transverse to the magnetic field. Our phase-space argument applies to all low-density semimetals, topological or not, including graphene and bismuth. Our work illustrates that phonon absorption can be leveraged to reveal degrees of freedom through their imprint on longitudinal thermal transport.
Abstract P3047: Consumption of Ultra-processed Food and Risk of Major Complications in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Background: The consumption of ultra-processed food may increase the risk of complications by adversely affecting cardiometabolic health. However, in persons with cardiometabolic disease such as type 2 diabetes, it is unclear whether ultra-processed food is associated with adverse outcomes. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis in middle-aged adults with type 2 diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, with follow-up from 1987-1989 until December 31, 2021. Diabetes was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL, non-fasting blood glucose ≥200 mg/dL, self-reported physician diagnosed diabetes, or use of diabetes medication. Ultra-processed food was defined according to the NOVA classification from a 66-item food frequency questionnaire. We used Cox models to examine the association between residual-adjusted quartiles of ultra-processed food consumption and incident cardiovascular outcomes (coronary heart disease, stroke, or heart failure), incident chronic kidney disease, and all-cause mortality. Results: Among 1,624 participants (mean age of 56 years, 42% Black, 55% female), there were 1,398 deaths, 750 incident cardiovascular events, and 793 cases of incident chronic kidney disease over a median follow-up of 20 years. There were no significant differences in the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (overall and across subtypes), or chronic kidney disease across residual-adjusted quartiles of ultra-processed food consumption after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle characteristics (Table) . Conclusion: Among middle-aged adults with type 2 diabetes, higher levels of ultra-processed food consumption was not associated with higher risk of incident cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or mortality. In persons with cardiometabolic disease, consumption of ultra-processed food may not confer additional risk for major complications.
Abstract P2019: Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Health: A Target Trial Emulation
Background: Observational studies on the cardiometabolic effects of alcohol are inconsistent. Long-term randomized trials on alcohol use are currently unavailable, and trials on increasing intake are unlikely. Methods: We emulated a target trial using data from the UK Biobank cohort (502,178 individuals aged 40–69). Eligible participants were all stable current drinkers, irrespective of intake level, who had no myocardial infarction, revascularization procedure, stroke, or liver disease in the past six months, no history of heart failure, cancer (breast, colon, or liver), dementia, or alcohol-related conditions, and were not on antithrombotic drugs or reporting poor health. Alcohol use was assessed at baseline (2006–2010) and again during follow-up (2012–2022). The primary endpoint was time to death or first cardiovascular disease (CVD) event (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, angina hospitalization, or coronary revascularization). Secondary endpoints were CVD, type 2 diabetes, and alcohol-related disease or death. We used clone-censor-weighting to estimate risks of endpoints, comparing participants who were moderate drinkers (>0–16g alcohol daily or almost daily) during follow-up with those who were social drinkers (>0–16g on 1–3 days/week or only monthly), adjusting for potential baseline confounders. We chose appendicitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as negative control outcomes to assess unmeasured confounding. Results: Of the 65,594 eligible participants at baseline, 12,470 were moderate drinkers during follow-up and 53,124 were social drinkers, with 1,041 and 4,224 CVD events or deaths, respectively. Moderate drinkers had a 14% lower risk of CVD or death compared to social drinkers (adjusted risk ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–0.97). Negative control outcome results indicated similar relative risks for appendicitis (0.87; 0.70–1.08) and RA (0.80; 0.67–0.97) comparing moderate to social drinkers, indicating strong potential for unmeasured confounding. Relative risks for CVD, type 2 diabetes, and alcohol-related disease or death did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Our analyses suggest that moderate alcohol use was associated with a lower risk of CVD or death compared to social drinking. However, even after comprehensively accounting for potential biases, unmeasured confounding may explain this lower risk, highlighting the need for trials to assess the health impacts of reducing intake. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06583161).
Bioinspired ion-shuttling memristor with both neuromorphic functions and ion selectivity
The fluidic memristor has attracted growing attention as a promising candidate for neuromorphic computing and brain–computer interfaces. However, a fluidic memristor with ion selectivity as that of natural ion channels remains a key challenge. Herein, inspired by the structure of natural biomembranes, we developed an ion-shuttling memristor (ISM) by utilizing organic solvents and artificial carriers to emulate ion channels embedded in biomembranes, which exhibited both neuromorphic functions and ion selectivity. Pinched hysteresis I-V loop curve, scan rate dependency, and distinctive impedance spectra confirmed the memristive characteristics of the as-prepared device. Moreover, the memory mechanism was discussed theoretically and validated by finite-element modeling. The ISM features multiple neuromorphic functions, such as paired-pulse facilitation, paired-pulse depression, and learning–experience behavior. More importantly, the ion selectivity of the ISM was observed, which allowed further emulation of ion-selective neural functions like resting membrane potential. Benefiting from the structural similarity to membrane-embedded ion channels, the ISM opens the door for ion-based neuromorphic computing and sophisticated chemical regulation by manipulating multifarious ions with neuromorphic functions.
Abstract P3028: Dietary patterns, serum metabolites and risk of cardiovascular disease in the US Hispanic/Latino adults: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Objective: Healthy dietary patterns are recommended to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between dietary patterns and CVD are not well-understood. We aimed to assess the associations of healthy dietary patterns and related serum metabolites with incident CVD in US Hispanics/Latinos. Methods: The study included 13,922 participants free of CVD at baseline aged 18-74 years from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Dietary pattern scores, including Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, healthful Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI), and alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), were constructed at baseline (2008-2011) using two 24-hour dietary recalls data. The primary outcome was incident CVD, encompassing myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke. Dietary-pattern-associated metabolite scores were calculated based on 40 serum metabolites measured in a subsample of baseline participants (n=5,154). Associations of dietary pattern scores, individual metabolites and metabolite scores with incident CVD were evaluated using multivariable Cox regression. Results: After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors, a 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in dietary pattern scores was associated with a lower risk of CVD with hazard ratios of 0.68 (95% confidential interval [CI], 0.47-0.98), 0.71 (0.58-0.88), and 0.69 (0.47-1.02) for HEI-2015, hPDI, and aMED, respectively. A negative metabolite score derived from 8 dietary-pattern-inverse metabolites showed a strong inverse association with three dietary scores, while a positive metabolite score based on 32 dietary-pattern-positive metabolites exhibited a robust positive association with three dietary scores (Figure 1A). The metabolite scores were significantly associated with risk of CVD, with hazard ratios of 1.44 (95% CI, 1.19, 1.75) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.65, 0.97) for the negative and positive metabolite scores (per SD increase in metabolites scores), respectively (Figure 1B). Conclusion: Healthier diet patterns and related serum metabolite profiles were associated with lower risk of CVD in US Hispanic/Latino adults.
Abstract P2062: Differences in Social Determinants of Health among African American, African, and Caribbean participants in the Groceries for Black Residents of Boston to Stop Hypertension (GoFresh) Trials
Background: While it is known that adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) disproportionately affect Black persons in the United States (US), it is increasingly recognized that this group is heterogeneous. Nevertheless, there is limited research characterizing differences in SDOH across distinct Black heritage groups, specifically, those that report African American, African, and Afro Caribbean heritage. Greater understanding of these differences is critical for the development of effective interventions to address adverse SDOH. Objective: To characterize differences in SDOH across three Black ethnic groups using screening data from two community-based trials. Methods: The GoFresh Trials are two randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern on blood pressure after 12 weeks in adults with and without treated hypertension living in Boston. SDOH characteristics in GoFresh were assessed in the following categories: demographics characteristics (including car and home ownership, income, educational levels), social needs (via the AHC Health-Related Social Needs Scale), perceived stress levels (via the PSS-4 instrument), and discrimination (via the Krieger Discrimination Scale). We used age- and sex- adjusted models to compare SDOH across the three ethnic heritage groups. Results: Of 1,600 screened participants; 72% were female. The mean age (±SD) was 45 years (±16). Persons identifying as African American were 4.65 times more likely to report discrimination at school and 0.2 times less likely to face discrimination when receiving services compared to Africans. Africans were 0.39 (0.18, 0.78) and 0.57(0.35, 0.95) less likely to have a PCP compared to African Americans and Afro Caribbeans respectively. There were no differences in food security and income levels among the three groups. Conclusion: Persons identifying as African American are more likely to report experiences of discrimination at schools compared to African and Caribbean persons. Discrimination affects the different Black ethnic heritage groups to varying degrees. These differences in SDOH highlight the importance of awareness of these differences as they have implications to provision of care.
The neural bases of the reach–grasp movement in humans: Quantitative evidence from brain lesions
Visually guided grasping is a fundamental building block of animal behavior, the specific neural mechanisms of which remain poorly documented in the human brain. We have mapped the causal contribution of different brain parts to grasping behavior by studying the kinematic parameters of 33 patients with brain tumors, engaged in actions directed toward objects of different sizes. Using motion capture techniques, we analyzed the dynamics of grip aperture and wrist transport. Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping analysis was applied to correlate lesion volumes with specific behavioral deficits. Results showed that lesions in the anterior and lateral bank of the intraparietal sulcus produced impaired finger scaling related to object size. Conversely, impaired velocity of finger aperture was associated with lesions in the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd). Grip aperture deficits following dominant hemisphere lesions were bilateral and were unilateral when following nondominant hemisphere lesions. Impaired wrist transport during reaching was associated with lesions in the first segment of the superior longitudinal fasciculus. Our work highlights an architecture of the grasping network in humans, with unique species-specific features. We hypothesize a model of human neural architecture in which object geometry for hand preshaping is first coded in the left anterior intraparietal cortex and then shared with the right hemisphere. Execution of the motor program of hand preshaping is then performed by the PMd on the corresponding side.