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We evaluated the impact of reimbursement for non-face-to-face chronic care management (NFFCCM) on healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes in Louisiana.We implemented group-based trajectory balancing and propensity score matching to obtain comparable treatment (with NFFCCM) and control (without NFFCCM) groups at baseline. Patients with diabetes with Medicare as their primary payer at baseline were extracted using electronic health records of 3 health systems from Research Action for Health Network, a Clinical Research Network. The study period is from 2013 to early 2020. Our outcomes include general healthcare utilization (outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient encounters) and health utilization related to diabetic complications. We tested each of these outcomes according to multiple treatment definitions and different subgroups.Receiving any NFFCCM was associated with an increase in outpatient visits of 657 (95% confidence interval [CI] 626-687; P.001) per 1000 patients per month, a decrease in inpatient admissions of 5 (95% CI 2-7; P.001) per 1000 patients per month, and a decrease in emergency department visits of 4 (95% CI 1-7; P = .005) per 1000 patients per month after 24-month follow-up from initial NFFCCM encounter. Both complex and noncomplex NFFCCM significantly increased visits to outpatient services and inpatient admissions per month. Receiving NFFCCM has a dose-response association with increasing outpatient visits per month.Patients with diabetes in Louisiana who received NFFCCM had more low-cost primary healthcare and less high-cost healthcare utilization in general. The cost savings of NFFCCM in diabetes management could be further explored in the future.

Individual inflammation biomarkers are associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events. However, there is limited research on whether the risk for incident CHD is progressively higher with a higher number of inflammation biomarkers in abnormal levels.We used data from 15,758 Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants aged ≥45 years without a history of CHD at baseline in 2003-2007. Abnormal levels of baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, leukocyte count and serum albumin were defined as ≥3.8 mg/L (3rd tertile), ≥6.3 x 10Overall, 38.9% (n = 6,123) had 0, 36.6% (n = 5,774) had 1, 19.8% (n = 3,113) had 2 and 4.7% (n = 748) had 3 biomarkers of inflammation in abnormal levels. Over a median follow-up of 11.4 years, 954 (6.1%) participants had incident CHD. The rate of incident CHD per 1000 person-years for individuals with 0, 1, 2, and 3 biomarkers of inflammation in abnormal levels was 4.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.9-5.0), 6.3 (95% CI: 5.6-6.9), 8.8 (95% CI: 7.8-9.9), and 10.6 (95% CI: 8.1-13.1), respectively. Multi-variable adjusted hazard ratios for incident CHD associated with 1, 2 and 3 versus no inflammation biomarker in abnormal levels were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.07-1.49), 1.72 (95% CI: 1.43-2.07), and 1.84 (95% CI: 1.37-2.47), respectively (P-trend.001).The number of inflammation markers in abnormal levels was associated with increased risk of incident CHD after multi-variable adjustment.

Background & Aims: A genome-wide significant association between anti–Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) IgG titers and Toll-like receptor (TLR1/6/10) locus on 4p14 was demonstrated for individuals of European ancestry, but not uniformly replicated. We re-investigated this association in an updated genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis for populations with low gastric cancer incidence, address potential causes of cohort heterogeneity, and explore functional implications of genetic variation at the TLR1/6/10 locus. Methods: The dichotomous GWAS (25% individuals exhibiting highest anti–H pylori IgG titers vs remaining 75%) included discovery and replication sampls of, respectively, n = 15,685 and n = 9676, all of European ancestry. Longitudinal analysis of serologic data was performed on H pylori–eradicated subjects (n = 132) and patients under surveillance for premalignant gastric lesions (n = 107). TLR1/6/10 surface expression, TLR1 mRNA, and cytokine levels were measured in leukocyte subsets of healthy subjects (n = 26) genotyped for TLR1/6/10 variants. Results: The association of the TLR1/6/10 locus with anti–H pylori IgG titers (rs12233670; β = −0.267 ± SE 0.034; P = 4.42 × 10−15) presented with high heterogeneity and failed replication. Anti–H pylori IgG titers declined within 2–4 years after eradication treatment (P = 0.004), and decreased over time in patients with premalignant gastric lesions (P < 0.001). Variation at the TLR1/6/10 locus affected TLR1-mediated cytokine production and TLR1 surface expression on monocytes (P = 0.016) and neutrophils (P = 0.030), but not mRNA levels. Conclusions: The association between anti–H pylori IgG titers and TLR1/6/10 locus was not replicated across cohorts, possibly owing to dependency of anti–H pylori IgG titers on therapy, clearance, and antibody decay. H pylori–mediated immune cell activation is partly mediated via TLR1 signaling, which in turn is affected by genetic variation.

Introduction: Inflammation biomarkers have been individually associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, little is known of the association between multiple inflammation biomarker counts in the high-risk category and incident CHD risk. Methods: We used data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study, an ongoing national cohort of 30,239 Black and White US adults aged ≥45 years recruited in 2003-2007. Baseline levels of C-reactive protein (hsCRP), white blood cell count (WBC) and serum albumin were divided into tertiles. High-risk categories of hsCRP and WBC were defined as levels above the 3 rd tertile (3.75 mg/dL and 6.31 x 10 9 cells/L, respectively) and albumin levels below the 1 st tertile (4.0 g/dL). Four mutually exclusive groups were derived corresponding to having 0, 1, 2 or 3 biomarkers in the high-risk category. Outcome was a composite of incident non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal CHD. Results: Of 15,738 participants free of CHD at baseline (mean age 63.1 years, 65.3% female, 40.8% black), 38.9% (n = 6,121) had 0, 36.6% (n = 5,765) had 1, 19.7% (n = 3,107) had 2, 4.7% (n = 745) had 3 inflammation biomarkers in the elevated levels. With median follow-up of 10.5 years, 902 (5.7%) participants had incident CHD. The rates of incident CHD and 95% confidence intervals (CI) per 1000 person years increased progressively for individuals with 0, 1, 2, and 3 inflammation biomarkers in the high-risk category: 4.4 (95% CI: 3.9-5.0), 6.3 (95% CI: 5.7-7.0), 8.9 (95% CI: 7.8-10.0), and 10.3 (95% CI: 7.7-12.8), respectively. The fully adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident CHD associated with 1, 2 and 3 versus no inflammation biomarker in the high-risk category were 1.28 (1.08-1.51), 1.71 (1.42-2.06), and 1.90 (1.43-2.54), respectively (P trend < 0.001) (Table). Conclusions: The count of inflammation biomarkers in the high-risk category is associated with increased risk of CHD independent of traditional risk factors.

Consistent with previous cross-sectional studies, in the Southern Community Cohort Study, the largest cohort for Black Americans conducted in a predominantly low-income population with 81,694 participants, we found that moderate alcohol drinking was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality due to liver disease in Black Americans (hazard ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-3.94) but not in White Americans (hazard ratio = 0.87; 95% confidence interval: 0.52-1.44). We found that heavy drinking was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality due to liver disease in both Black and White Americans. Future studies are warranted to understand the mechanism involving such racial disparity.

Background Following the high morbidity and mortality due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in New Orleans, Louisiana, we sought to assess progress toward herd immunity. Methods Ochsner Health employees and patients who volunteered for Abbott SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody test between March 1 and May 1, 2020 were included. We estimated IgG prevalence and used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for variables associated with IgG test status. Results Of the 13,343 participants with IgG test results, 78.6% were women, 70.6% were non-Hispanic White, 21.1% non-Hispanic Black, 2.9% Hispanic Americans and 5.4% belonged to other races. Overall, 7.99% (95% CI: 7.53-8.45%) of the participants tested IgG positive. In age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted analyses, non-Hispanic Blacks were 2.7-times more likely to test positive than non-Hispanic Whites (OR=2.72; 95% CI: 2.33-3.19). Corresponding ORs (95% CIs) were 1.29 (0.84-1.99) for Hispanic Americans and 1.22 (0.85-1.75) for Other race/ethnicities. Compared to participants in administrative occupations, physician assistants (OR=7.14; 95% CI: 1.72-29.6) and therapists (OR=4.74; 95% CI: 1.49-15.03) were significantly more likely to have IgG antibodies while the association among nurses was not significant (OR=2.35; 95% CI: 0.96-5.77). Relative to 1.40, the test threshold for positivity, our measurements indicate a strong immune response (5.38±1.69), especially among those with a higher BMI. Conclusions SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies were prevalent only in 8% of the participants. IgG prevalence was highest among non-Hispanic Blacks and participants with higher BMI but was lower among older participants.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data on the relation of egg consumption with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary heart disease (CHD) are limited and inconsistent. Few studies have controlled for overall dietary patterns in egg-T2D or egg-CHD analyses, and it is unclear whether any observed elevated risks of T2D and CHD with frequent egg consumption is real or due to confounding by dietary habits. We tested the hypothesis that frequent egg consumption is associated with a higher risk of T2D and CHD risk after adjustment for overall dietary patterns among adults. DESIGN: We used prospective cohort design to complete time-to-event analyses. METHODS: We pooled de novo, harmonized, individual-level analyses from nine US cohorts (n=103,811). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios separately in each cohort adjusting for age, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and dietary patterns. We pooled cohort-specific results using an inverse-variance weighted method to estimate summary relative risks. RESULTS: Median age ranged from 25 to 72 years. Median egg consumption was 1 egg per week in most of the cohorts. While egg consumption up to one per week was not associated with T2D risk, consumption of ≥2 eggs per week was associated with elevated risk [27% elevated risk of T2D comparing 7+ eggs/week with none (95% CI: 16% to 37%)]. There was little evidence for heterogeneity across cohorts and we observed similar conclusions when stratified by BMI. Overall, egg consumption was not associated with the risk of CHD. However, in a sensitivity analysis, there was a 30% higher risk of CHD (95% CI: 3%-56%) restricted to older adults consuming 5-6 eggs/week. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed an elevated risk of T2D with egg consumption of ≥2 eggs per week but not with

Although many loci have been associated with height in European ancestry populations, very few have been identified in African ancestry individuals. Furthermore, many of the known loci have yet to be generalized to and fine-mapped within a large-scale African ancestry sample. We performed sex-combined and sex-stratified meta-analyses in up to 52,764 individuals with height and genome-wide genotyping data from the African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium (AAAGC). We additionally combined our African ancestry meta-analysis results with published European genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. In the African ancestry analyses, we identified three novel loci (SLC4A3, NCOA2, ECD/FAM149B1) in sex-combined results and two loci (CRB1, KLF6) in women only. In the African plus European sex-combined GWAS, we identified an additional three novel loci (RCCD1, G6PC3, CEP95) which were equally driven by AAAGC and European results. Among 39 genome-wide significant signals at known loci, conditioning index SNPs from European studies identified 20 secondary signals. Two of the 20 new secondary signals and none of the 8 novel loci had minor allele frequencies (MAF) < 5%. Of 802 known European height signals, 643 displayed directionally consistent associations with height, of which 205 were nominally significant (p < 0.05) in the African ancestry sex-combined sample. Furthermore, 148 of 241 loci contained ≤20 variants in the credible sets that jointly account for 99% of the posterior probability of driving the associations. In summary, trans-ethnic meta-analyses revealed novel signals and further improved fine-mapping of putative causal variants in loci shared between African and European ancestry populations.

Background Copy number variation (CNV) in the salivary amylase gene (AMY1) modulates salivary α-amylase levels and is associated with postprandial glycemic traits. Whether AMY1-CNV plays a role in age-mediated change in insulin resistance (IR) is uncertain. Methods We measured AMY1-CNV using duplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in two studies, the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS, n = 749) and the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drug and Diet Network study (GOLDN, n = 980), and plasma metabolomic profiles in the BPRHS. We examined the interaction between AMY1-CNV and age by assessing the relationship between age with glycemic traits and type 2 diabetes (T2D) according to high or low copy numbers of the AMY1 gene. Furthermore, we investigated associations between metabolites and interacting effects of AMY1-CNV and age on T2D risk. Results We found positive associations of IR with age among subjects with low AMY1-copy-numbers in both studies. T2D was marginally correlated with age in participants with low AMY1-copy-numbers but not with high AMY1-copy-numbers in the BPRHS. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis identified the pentose metabolic pathway based on metabolites that were associated with both IR and the interactions between AMY1-CNV and age. Moreover, in older participants, high AMY1-copy-numbers tended to be associated with lower levels of ribonic acid, erythronic acid, and arabinonic acid, all of which were positively associated with IR. Conclusions We found evidence supporting a role of AMY1-CNV in modifying the relationship between age and IR. Individuals with low AMY1-copy-numbers tend to have increased IR with advancing age.

OBJECTIVE To compare presenting characteristics of patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), ADSD with laryngeal tremor (ADSD + LT), and laryngeal tremor without ADSD (LT). DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis. METHODS Patients treated for laryngeal movement disorders (1990-2016) were included. Analysis of variance and chi square tests measured differences in patient characteristics across the three disease groups. Using ADSD as the referent, multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine whether potential risk factors including patient demographics, family history, presence of potential inciting events prior to disease onset, and coprevalent movement disorders were associated with ADSD + LT or LT. RESULTS In all, 652 patients with ADSD (n = 377), ADSD + LT (n = 98), and LT (n = 177) were included. ADSD patients were significantly younger than those with ADSD + LT and LT (52.5 ± 13.4, 63.9 ± 11.3, and 69.3 ± 10.5 years, respectively; P

Objectives/hypothesis Intubation is an essential component of intensive care, yet it does have potential complications. Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is among the most severe sequela. Risk factors are poorly understood. One hypothesis is that large endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in smaller airways may increase risk. Because tracheal diameter is proportional to height, we designed a case-control study to evaluate the association between intensive care unit (ICU)-patient height (proxy for tracheal diameter) and their risk of postintubation PGS. Study design Retrospective case-control study METHODS: Among patients who underwent intubation in an ICU at a single tertiary care medical center between 2001 and 2015, a convenience sample of all patients with confirmed PGS (cases) were enrolled. Cases were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and race with intubated non-PGS controls chosen from the same population of ventilated patients. Data on height, weight, comorbidities, size of ETT, and duration of intubation were abstracted from the medical record. Multivariate models were used to test the association between patient height and risk of PGS development. Results In all, 106 PGS cases (mean age 48.9 years, 50.7% female, 79.2% Caucasian) were identified; 77 met inclusion criteria. Compared to matched controls, cases were significantly shorter (mean 166 cm vs. 173 cm, P = .001). Height and PGS showed an inverse relationship in multivariate models. Specifically, odds of PGS decreased 9% (95% confidence interval: 0.01%-16%) for each centimeter increase in height. Conclusions Shorter height is independently associated with increased odds of having PGS. Further work should consider whether height should be incorporated into ETT selection algorithms. Level of evidence 3b Laryngoscope, 128:2811-2814, 2018.

ObjectiveObesity and insulin resistance play important roles in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Mg intake is linked to a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance; people with NAFLD or alcoholic liver disease are at high risk of Mg deficiency. The present study aimed to investigate whether Mg and Ca intakes were associated with risk of fatty liver disease and prediabetes by alcohol drinking status.DesignWe analysed the association between Ca or Mg intake and fatty liver disease, prediabetes or both prediabetes and fatty liver disease in cross-sectional analyses.SettingThird National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) follow-up cohort of US adults.SubjectsNationally representative sample of US adults in NHANES (n 13 489).ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, Mg intake was associated with approximately 30 % reduced odds of fatty liver disease and prediabetes, comparing the highest intake quartile v. the lowest. Mg intake may only be related to reduced odds of fatty liver disease and prediabetes in those whose Ca intake is less than 1200 mg/d. Mg intake may also only be associated with reduced odds of fatty liver disease among alcohol drinkers.ConclusionsThe study suggests that high intake of Mg may be associated with reduced risks of fatty liver disease and prediabetes. Further large studies, particularly prospective cohort studies, are warranted to confirm the findings.

People with fatty liver disease are at high risk of magnesium deficiency. Meanwhile, low magnesium status is linked to both chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. However, no study has investigated the association between intake of magnesium and risk of mortality due to liver diseases. We evaluated the association between total magnesium intake and mortality due to liver diseases in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES III) cohort, which included 13,504 participants who completed liver ultrasound examination for hepatic steatosis. Overall magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to liver disease at borderline significance (P = 0.05). In fully-adjusted analyses, every 100 mg increase in intake of magnesium was associated with a 49% reduction in the risk for mortality due to liver diseases. Although interactions between magnesium intake and alcohol use and hepatic steatosis at baseline were not significant (P > 0.05), inverse associations between magnesium intake and liver disease mortality were stronger among alcohol drinkers and those with hepatic steatosis. Our findings suggest higher intakes of magnesium may be associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to liver disease particularly among alcohol drinkers and those with hepatic steatosis. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings.

Background and objectives Prognostic uncertainty is one barrier that impedes providers in engaging patients with CKD in shared decision making and advance care planning. The surprise question has been shown to identify patients at increased risk of dying. Design, setting, participants, & measurements In our prospective observational study, 488 patients ≥60 years of age with CKD stage 4 or 5 were enrolled. Binary surprise question (i.e., “Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next 12 months?”) responses were recorded, and dialysis planning preferences, presence of advance care planning documentation, and care preceding death were abstracted. Results The median patient age was 71 (65–77) years old. Providers responded no and yes to the surprise question for 171 (35%) and 317 (65%) patients, respectively. Median follow-up was 1.9 (1.5–2.1) years, during which 18% of patients died (33% of surprise question no, 10% of surprise question yes; P Conclusions Nephrologists’ prognostic perceptions were associated with modest changes in care, highlighting a critical gap in conservative management discussions, advance care planning, and end of life care among older adults with CKD stages 4 and 5 and high-risk clinical characteristics. Podcast This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2017_09_18_CJASNPodcast_17_11.mp3

The SLC8A1 (solute carrier family 8, member 1) gene, encoding Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, is essential in regulating calcium reabsorption and homeostasis. Calcium homeostasis plays a key role in cell proliferation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in five calcium-regulating genes (SLC8A1, ATP2B1, CALB1, CALB2, and CABP1) interact with calcium intake in relation to the risk of colorectal neoplasia. A two-phase (discovery and replication) study was conducted within the Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study, including a total of 1275 cases and 2811 controls. In Phase I, we identified six out of 135 SNPs that significantly interacted with calcium intake in relation to adenoma risk. In Phase II, the calcium intake by rs4952490 (SLC8A1) interaction was replicated (P interaction = 0.048). We found an inverse association between calcium intake (1000-2000 mg/day) and colorectal adenomas, particularly for multiple/advanced adenomas, among the G-allele carriers but not among homozygous carriers of the common variant (A) in rs4952490. In the joint analysis of SLC8A1, KCNJ1 and SLC12A1 SNPs, carriers of variant alleles in at least two genes and with calcium intake above the DRI (1000 mg/day) were approximately 30-57% less likely to have adenomas than those whose calcium intake was below the DRI. The association was stronger for multiple/advanced adenomas. No association was found among those who did not carry any variant alleles in these genes when calcium intake was below 2500 mg per day. These findings, if confirmed, may provide a new avenue for the personalized prevention of colorectal adenoma and cancer. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Objectives This study sought to assess whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in African-American individuals. Background Higher BMI is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart failure. Obesity disproportionately affects African Americans; however, the association between higher BMI and LV function in African Americans is not well understood. Methods Peak systolic circumferential strain (ECC) was measured by tagged cardiac magnetic resonance in 1,652 adult African-American participants of the Jackson Heart Study between 2008 and 2012. We evaluated the association between BMI and ECC in multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline analyses adjusted for prevalent cardiovascular disease, conventional cardiovascular risk factors, LV mass, and ejection fraction. In exploratory analyses, we also examined whether inflammation, insulin resistance, or volume of visceral adipose tissue altered the association between BMI and ECC. Results The proportions of female, nonsmokers, diabetic, and hypertensive participants rose with increase in BMI. In multivariate-adjusted models, higher BMI was associated with worse ECC (β = 0.052; 95% confidence interval: 0.028 to 0.075), even in the setting of preserved LV ejection fraction. Higher BMI was also associated with worse ECC when accounting for markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, E-selection, and P-selectin), insulin resistance, and volume of visceral adipose tissue. Conclusions Higher BMI is significantly associated with subclinical LV dysfunction in African Americans, even in the setting of preserved LV ejection fraction.

ObjectiveTo examine whether lifestyle factors, including sedentary time and physical activity, could independently contribute to risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Study designCase-cohort study.SettingSouth-eastern USA.ParticipantsThe Southern Community Cohort Study recruited ~86 000 black and white participants from 2002 to 2009. We assembled a case cohort of 692 incident ESRD cases and a probability sample of 4113 participants.PredictorsSedentary time was calculated as hours/day from daily sitting activities. Physical activity was calculated as metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours/day from engagement in light, moderate and vigorous activities.OutcomesIncident ESRD.ResultsAt baseline, among the subcohort, mean (SD) age was 52 (8.6) years, and median (25th, 75th centile) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 102.8 (85.9–117.9) mL/min/1.73 m2. Medians (25th–75th centile) for sedentary time and physical activity were 8.0 (5.5–12.0) hours/day and 17.2 (8.7–31.9) MET-hours/day, respectively. Median follow-up was 9.4 years. We observed significant interactions between eGFR and both physical activity and sedentary behaviour (p2. The inverse association is most pronounced at physical activity levels >27 MET-hours/day. High levels of sitting time were associated with increased ESRD risk only among those with reduced kidney function (eGFR ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2); this association was attenuated after excluding the first 2 years of follow-up.ConclusionsIn a population with a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, physical activity appears to be associated with reduced risk of ESRD among those with preserved kidney function. A positive association between sitting time and ESRD observed among those with advanced kidney disease is likely due to reverse causation.

People with fatty liver disease are at high risk of magnesium deficiency. Meanwhile, low magnesium status is linked to both chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. However, no study has investigated the association between intake of magnesium and risk of mortality due to liver diseases. We evaluated the association between total magnesium intake and mortality due to liver diseases in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES III) cohort, which included 13,504 participants who completed liver ultrasound examination for hepatic steatosis. Overall magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to liver disease at borderline significance (P = 0.05). In fully-adjusted analyses, every 100 mg increase in intake of magnesium was associated with a 49% reduction in the risk for mortality due to liver diseases. Although interactions between magnesium intake and alcohol use and hepatic steatosis at baseline were not significant (P 0.05), inverse associations between magnesium intake and liver disease mortality were stronger among alcohol drinkers and those with hepatic steatosis. Our findings suggest higher intakes of magnesium may be associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to liver disease particularly among alcohol drinkers and those with hepatic steatosis. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings.

Objectives This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and incident stroke among older adults and tests whether alcohol consumption contributes to observed race and sex differences in stroke. Method Data are from a U.S. national cohort of black and white adults aged 45 and older, the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Current and past drinking levels were reported at baseline (2003-2007). Participants who had never had a stroke were followed for adjudicated stroke events through September 2015 (n = 27,265). We calculated Cox proportional hazard models for stroke, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and health characteristics. Results Participants, mean age 64.7 years, consumed on average 2.2 drinks/week and experienced 1,140 first-time stroke events over median 9.1 years follow-up. Nondrinkers had a 12% higher risk of stroke than current drinkers; the risk of stroke among nondrinkers largely reflected high risks among past drinkers; these differences were explained by socioeconomic characteristics. Among current drinkers, light drinkers had significantly lower stroke risks than moderate drinkers after accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and health characteristics. Implications of alcohol did not differ between blacks and whites but did differ by sex: Especially among women, nondrinkers, and specifically past drinkers, had higher risks; these differences were largely explained by health characteristics and behaviors. Alcohol did not explain race and sex differences in stroke incidence. Discussion Among older adults, those who used to, but no longer, drink had higher risks of stroke, especially among women; current light drinkers had the lowest risk of stroke.

Impaired hematologic status (IHS) was investigated as a determinant of immune function defined as cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T-helper cell count, quality of life (QOL) weight and hospitalization/mortality over 18-months among 398 adult persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) on anti-retroviral therapy. IHS was defined as having anemia at baseline (Hemoglobin: 200 μg/L for men and >150 μg/L for women) ferritin levels at baseline. Months-to-hospitalization/death or study-end (if no event) was calculated from enrollment. Multivariable linear-mixed models quantified associations between IHS and changes in CD4 cell-count, weight gain and QOL. Cox proportional hazards models calculated hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for IHS-related differences in time-to-hospitalization/death. The prevalences of anemia and high and low ferritin levels at baseline were 48.7% (n = 194), 40.5% (n = 161) and 17% (n = 68), respectively. Most patients (63.4%, n = 123) remained anemic during follow-up. Weight gained (ferritin-time interaction, p < 0.01) and QOL (anemia-time interaction, p = 0.05; ferritin-time interaction, p = 0.01) were lower for PLWHA with versus without IHS. Relative to anemia-free/normal ferritin, the risk of hospitalization/death was elevated for PLWHA with anemia (HR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.6), low or high ferritin (HR: 1.8–1.9, 95% CI: 0.9–4.1) and those that developed new/persistent/progressive anemia (HR: 2.3–6.7, 95% CI: 1.0–12.7). Among PLWHA, IHS predicted deficits in QOL, low weight gain and a high risk of hospitalization/death. Intervention to mitigate persistent IHS may be warranted among PLWHA on long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to improve health outcomes.

Background and aims Consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially the n3-series, may protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD), but recent randomized studies have failed to demonstrate these benefits. One of the prevailing hypotheses is that PUFA intake may not confer benefits beyond those provided by statins, but studies comparing statin users to non-users with regard to effects of PUFA are lacking. Methods and results Black and white men and women (n = 69,559) in the Southern Community Cohort Study were studied. Cox regression models adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, recruitment site, education, income, smoking, diabetes, and dietary variables were used. Results At baseline the mean ± SD age was 52 ± 9 years, 60% of participants were women, 54% had hypertension and 16% used statins. We observed modest inverse associations between n3-PUFA and n6-PUFA intake with mortality among non-statin users but not among statin users. In adjusted analyses, the HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality (6,396 deaths over a median of 6.4 years) comparing the highest to the lowest quintile were 0.90 (0.82–1.00) for n3-PUFA and 0.80 (0.70–0.92) for n6-PUFA among non-statin users, whereas they were 1.06 (0.87–1.28) and 0.96 (0.78–1.19) for n3-PUFA and n6-PUFA, respectively, among statin users. Conclusions Our results suggest potential benefits of PUFA consumption on mortality which are only apparent in the absence of statin therapy. It seems prudent to consider the potential benefit of PUFA consumption in the primary prevention of CVD among patients who are not candidates for statin therapy but are at increased risk for CVD and mortality.

Some studies suggest that the calcium to magnesium ratio intakes modify the associations of calcium or magnesium with risk of colorectal adenoma, adenoma recurrence, and cancer. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a key role in the regulation of homeostasis for both calcium and magnesium. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in PTH and 13 other genes may modify the association between the calcium/magnesium intake ratio and colorectal neoplasia risk. We conducted a two-phase study including 1336 cases and 2891 controls from the Tennessee Colorectal Polyp Study. In Phase I, we identified 19 SNPs that significantly interacted with the calcium/magnesium intake ratio in adenoma risk. In Phase II, rs11022858 in PTH was replicated. In combined analysis of phases I and II, we found high calcium/magnesium intake ratio tended to be associated with a reduced risk of colorectal adenoma (P for trend, 0.040) among those who carried the TT genotype in rs11022858. In stratified analyses, calcium intake (≥ 1000 mg/d) was significantly associated with 64% reduced adenoma risk (OR = 0.36 (95% CI : 0.18-0.74)) among those homozygous for the minor allele (TT genotype) (P for trend, 0.012), but not associated with risk in other genotypes (CC/TC). Conversely, we found that highest magnesium intake was significantly associated with 27% reduced risk (OR = 0.73 (95% CI : 0.54-0.97)) of colorectal adenoma (P for trend, 0.026) among those who possessed the CC/TC genotypes, particularly among those with the TC genotype, whereas magnesium intake was not linked to risk among those with the TT genotype. These findings, if confirmed, will help for the development of personalized prevention strategies for colorectal cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

AMH is associated with menopausal timing in several studies. In contrast to prior studies that were restricted to women with regular cycles, our objective was to examine this association in women with either regular or irregular menstrual cycles.CARDIA is a longitudinal, population-based study that recruited adults ages 18-30 when it began in 1985-1986. AMH was measured in serum stored in 2002-2003. Natural menopause was assessed by survey in 2005-2006 and 2010-2011.Among 716 premenopausal women, median [25th, 75th] AMH was 0.77 [0.22-2.02]ng/dL at a median age of 42 [39-45] years. Twenty-nine percent of the women (n=207) reported natural menopause during 9 years of follow up. In fully adjusted discrete-time hazard models, a 0.5 ng/dL AMH decrement was associated with higher risk of menopause (p0.001). Hazard ratios varied with time since AMH measurement. The HR (95% CI) for menopause was 8.1 (2.5-26.1) within 0-3 years and 2.3 (1.7-3.3) and 1.6 (1.3-2.1) for 3-6 and 6-9 years, respectively. When restricted to women with regular menses, results were similar (e.g., HR=6.1; 95% CI: 1.9-20.0 for 0-3 years).AMH is independently associated with natural menopause. AMH appears most useful in identifying women at risk of menopause in the near future (within 3 years of AMH measurement).

Background— Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and cardiovascular disease share risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) predicts events in those with and without diabetes mellitus. T2D genetic risk may predict both T2D and SCA. We hypothesized that greater T2D genetic risk is associated with higher extent of SCA. Methods and Results— In a cross-sectional analysis, including ≤9210 European Americans, 3773 African Americans, 1446 Hispanic Americans, and 773 Chinese Americans without known cardiovascular disease and enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy studies, we tested a 62 T2D-loci genetic risk score for association with measures of SCA, including coronary artery or abdominal aortic calcium score, common and internal carotid artery intima-media thickness, and ankle-brachial index. We used ancestry-stratified linear regression models, with random effects accounting for family relatedness when appropriate, applying a genetic-only (adjusted for sex) and a full SCA risk factors–adjusted model (significance, P P =0.004) and with common carotid artery intima-media thickness in the Framingham Heart Study ( P =0.009) was not confirmed in other study cohorts, either separately or in meta-analysis. Secondary analyses showed no consistent associations with β-cell and insulin resistance genetic risk sub-scores in the Framingham Heart Study and in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults. Conclusions— SCA does not have a major genetic component linked to a burden of 62 T2D loci identified by large genome-wide association studies. A shared T2D-SCA genetic basis, if any, might become apparent from better functional information about both T2D and cardiovascular disease risk loci.

Scope Tissue concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cardiovascular disease risk, and genetic variants are associated with circulating fatty acids concentrations. Whether dietary fatty acids interact with genetic variants to modify circulating omega-3 fatty acids is unclear. We evaluated interactions between genetic variants and fatty acid intakes for circulating alpha-linoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid. Methods and results We conducted meta-analyses (N = 11 668) evaluating interactions between dietary fatty acids and genetic variants (rs174538 and rs174548 in FADS1 (fatty acid desaturase 1), rs7435 in AGPAT3 (1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate), rs4985167 in PDXDC1 (pyridoxal-dependent decarboxylase domain-containing 1), rs780094 in GCKR (glucokinase regulatory protein), and rs3734398 in ELOVL2 (fatty acid elongase 2)). Stratification by measurement compartment (plasma versus erthyrocyte) revealed compartment-specific interactions between FADS1 rs174538 and rs174548 and dietary alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid for docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid. Conclusion Our findings reinforce earlier reports that genetically based differences in circulating fatty acids may be partially due to differences in the conversion of fatty acid precursors. Further, fatty acids measurement compartment may modify gene–diet relationships, and considering compartment may improve the detection of gene–fatty acids interactions for circulating fatty acid outcomes.

Objective To investigate race-sex associations with risk among whites and blacks in the southeastern United States. The relationship between race, sex, and kidney stone risk is poorly understood. Methods Participants were 42,136 black and white adults enrolled in the Southern Community Cohort Study between 2002 and 2009, with no history of kidney stones and receiving Medicare or Medicaid services. Incident kidney stone diagnoses through December 2014 were determined via linkage with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services research files. Hazard ratios (HRs) for associations with race and sex were computed from multivariable Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for baseline characteristics, comorbid diseases, and dietary intakes. Results During 116,931 and 270,917 person-years of follow-up for whites and blacks, respectively, age-adjusted incidence rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 5.98 (4.73-7.23) and 4.50 (3.86-5.14) per 1000 person-years for white men and women, respectively, while corresponding rates among blacks were 2.19 (1.71-2.67) and 2.47 (2.19-2.75) per 1000 person-years. Risk was higher among whites compared to blacks (HR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.97-2.53). Male sex was significantly associated with risk among whites (HR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.20-1.75), but not among blacks (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.75-1.07). Formal tests of interaction by race and sex were statistically significant for all models (P = .01 for fully adjusted model). Conclusion The association of incident kidney stones with sex differs between whites and blacks. White men have the highest risk, while no difference in risk is observed between black men and women.

Background Odd-numbered chain saturated fatty acids (OCSFA) have been associated with potential health benefits. Although some OCSFA (e.g., C15:0 and C17:0) are found in meats and dairy products, sources and metabolism of C19:0 and C23:0 are relatively unknown, and the influence of non-dietary determinants, including genetic factors, on circulating levels of OCSFA is not established. Objective To elucidate the biological processes that influence circulating levels of OCSFA by investigating associations between genetic variation and OCSFA. Design We performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of plasma phospholipid/erythrocyte levels of C15:0, C17:0, C19:0, and C23:0 among 11,494 individuals of European descent. We also investigated relationships between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the lactase (LCT) gene, associated with adult-onset lactase intolerance, with circulating levels of dairy-derived OCSFA, and evaluated associations of candidate sphingolipid genes with C23:0 levels. Results We found no genome-wide significant evidence that common genetic variation is associated with circulating levels of C15:0 or C23:0. In two cohorts with available data, we identified one intronic SNP (rs13361131) in myosin X gene (MYO10) associated with C17:0 level (P = 1.37×10−8), and two intronic SNP (rs12874278 and rs17363566) in deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 1 (DLEU1) region associated with C19:0 level (P = 7.07×10−9). In contrast, when using a candidate-gene approach, we found evidence that three SNPs in LCT (rs11884924, rs16832067, and rs3816088) are associated with circulating C17:0 level (adjusted P = 4×10−2). In addition, nine SNPs in the ceramide synthase 4 (CERS4) region were associated with circulating C23:0 levels (adjusted P

Circulating trans fatty acids (TFAs), which cannot be synthesized by humans, are linked to adverse health outcomes. Although TFAs are obtained from diet, little is known about subsequent influences (e.g., relating to incorporation, metabolism, or intercompetition with other fatty acids) that could alter circulating concentrations and possibly modulate or mediate impacts on health.The objective was to elucidate novel biologic pathways that may influence circulating TFAs by evaluating associations between common genetic variation and TFA biomarkers.We performed meta-analyses using 7 cohorts of European-ancestry participants (n = 8013) having measured genome-wide variation in single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and circulating TFA biomarkers (erythrocyte or plasma phospholipids), including trans-16:1n-7, total trans-18:1, trans/cis-18:2, cis/trans-18:2, and trans/trans-18:2. We further evaluated SNPs with genome-wide significant associations among African Americans (n = 1082), Chinese Americans (n = 669), and Hispanic Americans (n = 657) from 2 of these cohorts.Among European-ancestry participants, 31 SNPs in or near the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 and 2 cluster were associated with cis/trans-18:2; a top hit was rs174548 (β = 0.0035, P = 4.90 × 10(-15)), an SNP previously associated with circulating n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations. No significant association was identified for other TFAs. rs174548 in FADS1/2 was also associated with cis/trans-18:2 in Hispanic Americans (β = 0.0053, P = 1.05 × 10(-6)) and Chinese Americans (β = 0.0028, P = 0.002) but not African Americans (β = 0.0009, P = 0.34); however, in African Americans, fine mapping identified a top hit in FADS2 associated with cis/trans-18:2 (rs174579: β = 0.0118, P = 4.05 × 10(-5)). The association between rs174548 and cis/trans-18:2 remained significant after further adjustment for individual circulating n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, except arachidonic acid. After adjustment for arachidonic acid concentrations, the association between rs174548 and cis/trans-18:2 was nearly eliminated in European-ancestry participants (β-coefficient reduced by 86%), with similar reductions in Hispanic Americans and Chinese Americans.Our findings provide novel evidence for genetic regulation of cis/trans-18:2 by the FADS1/2 cluster and suggest that this regulation may be influenced/mediated by concentrations of arachidonic acid, an n-6 polyunsaturated fat.

Very long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLSFAs) are saturated fatty acids with 20 or more carbons. In contrast to the more abundant saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, there is growing evidence that circulating VLSFAs may have beneficial biological properties. Whether genetic factors influence circulating levels of VLSFAs is not known. We investigated the association of common genetic variation with plasma phospholipid/erythrocyte levels of three VLSFAs by performing genome-wide association studies in seven population-based cohorts comprising 10,129 subjects of European ancestry. We observed associations of circulating VLSFA concentrations with common variants in two genes, serine palmitoyl-transferase long-chain base subunit 3 (SPTLC3), a gene involved in the rate-limiting step of de novo sphingolipid synthesis, and ceramide synthase 4 (CERS4). The SPTLC3 variant at rs680379 was associated with higher arachidic acid (20:0 , P = 5.81 × 10(-13)). The CERS4 variant at rs2100944 was associated with higher levels of 20:0 (P = 2.65 × 10(-40)) and in analyses that adjusted for 20:0, with lower levels of behenic acid (P = 4.22 × 10(-26)) and lignoceric acid (P = 3.20 × 10(-21)). These novel associations suggest an inter-relationship of circulating VLSFAs and sphingolipid synthesis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To identify factors associated with plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels among 3-month-old Tanzanian infants. SUBJECTS/METHODS Infants (n = 238) and mothers (n = 193) randomly selected from participants in the neonatal vitamin A supplementation randomized controlled trial. A cross-sectional study of maternal-infant pairs at 3 months postpartum. RESULTS All infant total, n-3, n-6, and individual PUFA levels were correlated with maternal levels. Infant plasma n-3 PUFA levels were higher when maternal n-3 PUFA levels were higher (mean difference in infant % fatty acid per unit increase in maternal levels ± standard error: 0.79 ± 0.08; P

Objective Dietary protein intake could have deleterious renal effects in populations at risk for chronic kidney disease. Here, we examined whether higher protein intake (≥80th percentile of energy from protein) is associated with decline in kidney function and whether this decline varies by diabetes status. Design Observational cohort study. Subjects and Settings Participants were African-Americans (n = 5,301), who enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study between 2000 and 2004. Methods Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire at baseline, and serum creatinine was measured at baseline (visit 1) and 8 years later (visit 3). Estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) at baseline and follow-up were computed using the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equation. Main Outcome Measure The change in eGFR was computed by subtracting eGFR at visit 1 from that at visit 3. Results Of 3,165 participants with complete data, 64% were women, 57% had hypertension, and 19% had diabetes. The median (25th, 75th percentile) percent energy intake from protein was 14.3 (12.4, 16.4), comparable to that reported for the general US population (15% of energy). During a median (25th, 75th percentile) follow-up of 8.0 (7.4, 8.3) years, eGFR declined by 10.5% from a mean (SD) of 97.4 (17.5) to 86.9 (21.3) mL/min/1.73 m 2 . In the fully adjusted model, consumption of protein as percent of energy intake in lowest and highest quintiles was associated with decline in eGFR among diabetic subjects. The analysis of variance with a robust variance estimator was used to determine whether long-term change in eGFR significantly varies by protein intake. Conclusions Our results show that, among African-Americans with diabetes, higher protein intake as a percent of total energy intake is positively associated with greater decline in eGFR in analyses that accounted for risk factors for kidney disease.

Intubation is an essential component of intensive care, yet it does have potential complications. Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is among the most severe sequela. Risk factors are poorly understood. One hypothesis is that large endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in smaller airways may increase risk. Because tracheal diameter is proportional to height, we designed a case-control study to evaluate the association between intensive care unit (ICU)-patient height (proxy for tracheal diameter) and their risk of postintubation PGS.Retrospective case-control study METHODS: Among patients who underwent intubation in an ICU at a single tertiary care medical center between 2001 and 2015, a convenience sample of all patients with confirmed PGS (cases) were enrolled. Cases were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and race with intubated non-PGS controls chosen from the same population of ventilated patients. Data on height, weight, comorbidities, size of ETT, and duration of intubation were abstracted from the medical record. Multivariate models were used to test the association between patient height and risk of PGS development.In all, 106 PGS cases (mean age 48.9 years, 50.7% female, 79.2% Caucasian) were identified; 77 met inclusion criteria. Compared to matched controls, cases were significantly shorter (mean 166 cm vs. 173 cm, P = .001). Height and PGS showed an inverse relationship in multivariate models. Specifically, odds of PGS decreased 9% (95% confidence interval: 0.01%-16%) for each centimeter increase in height.Shorter height is independently associated with increased odds of having PGS. Further work should consider whether height should be incorporated into ETT selection algorithms.3b Laryngoscope, 128:2811-2814, 2018.

Background Recent data suggest that neighborhood socioeconomic environment predicts heart failure (HF) hospital readmissions. We investigated whether neighborhood deprivation predicts risk of incident HF beyond individual socioeconomic status in a low-income population. Methods and Results Participants were 27 078 whites and blacks recruited during 2002 to 2009 in the SCCS (Southern Community Cohort Study), who had no history of HF and were using Centers for Medicare or Medicaid Services. Incident HF diagnoses through December 31, 2010, were ascertained using International Classification of Diseases , Ninth Revision, codes 428.x via linkage with Centers for Medicare or Medicaid Services research files. Participant residential information was geocoded and census tract determined by a spatial join to the US Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles. The neighborhood deprivation index was constructed using principal components analysis based on census tract-level socioeconomic variables. Cox models with Huber–White cluster sandwich estimator of variance were used to investigate the association between neighborhood deprivation index and HF risk. The study sample was predominantly middle aged (mean, 55.5 years), black (69%), female (63%), low income (70% earned 50% of participants lived in the most deprived neighborhoods (third neighborhood deprivation index tertile). Over median follow-up of 5.2 years, 4300 participants were diagnosed with HF. After adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors, a 1 interquartile increase in neighborhood deprivation index was associated with a 12% increase in risk of HF (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.18), and 4.8% of the variance in HF risk (intraclass correlation coefficient, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.6–6.4) was explained by neighborhood deprivation. Conclusions In this low-income population, scant neighborhood resources compound the risk of HF above and beyond individual socioeconomic status and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Improvements in community resources may be a significant axis for curbing the burden of HF.

To compare presenting characteristics of patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), ADSD with laryngeal tremor (ADSD + LT), and laryngeal tremor without ADSD (LT).Cross-sectional analysis.Patients treated for laryngeal movement disorders (1990-2016) were included. Analysis of variance and chi square tests measured differences in patient characteristics across the three disease groups. Using ADSD as the referent, multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine whether potential risk factors including patient demographics, family history, presence of potential inciting events prior to disease onset, and coprevalent movement disorders were associated with ADSD + LT or LT.In all, 652 patients with ADSD (n = 377), ADSD + LT (n = 98), and LT (n = 177) were included. ADSD patients were significantly younger than those with ADSD + LT and LT (52.5 ± 13.4, 63.9 ± 11.3, and 69.3 ± 10.5 years, respectively; P 0.001). Coprevalent movement disorders were more common in ADSD + LT (38.7%) and LT (57.1%) groups than in the ADSD group (11.5%; P 0.001). Compared to ADSD, patients with ADSD + LT and LT were more likely to develop an additional movement disorder during follow-up. In multivariable analyses, increasing age, female gender, and having a movement disorder at presentation were associated with significantly greater odds of having ADSD + LT or LT when compared to ADSD.ADSD + LT patients demonstrate intermediate gender composition and age distributions between those with ADSD and LT. These findings suggest that ADSD + LT may be a distinct phenotype in the spectrum of laryngeal movement disorders.4 Laryngoscope, 129:170-176, 2019.

Background: Glagov identified cross-sectional enlargement and maintenance of the lumen of the coronary artery (CA) in post-mortem studies as an early feature of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) that precedes the development of stenosis, coronary artery calcium (CAC) and plaque rupture. This structural change in the CA wall has been termed positive remodeling. We hypothesized that larger CA cross-sectional areas, consistent with positively remodeled CA, is associated with prevalent or soon-to-be incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Methods: In 2946 black and white male and female CARDIA participants aged 42-56 years, who had thin-slice (CSA_all ). We performed logistic regression with medical-record adjudicated CVD prevalence (n=96) or incidence in the following 3 years (n=27) as the outcome, predicted from this estimate of positive remodeling adjusting for age, race, sex, presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), and amount of pericardial fat as covariates. Results: CA CSA_all had a mean ± SD 21.2 ± 6.7 mm 2 . The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for having any CVD was 1.06 (95% CI 1.03-1.09, p2 (Table). ORs for CVD increased across quartiles of CA CSA_all . Corresponding OR for any coronary heart disease (n=66) was not significant, but was significant for stroke (n=42) and for heart failure (n=27). Further adjustment for traditional risk factors assessed in 2010-2011 did not alter these estimates substantially. Conclusion: Individuals with larger CA cross-sectional areas had increased odds of CVD, stroke, and heart failure, but not CHD, independent of CAC and pericardial fat. CA CSA_all may be an imaging biomarker of coronary positive remodeling and provide new insight into progression from subclinical to premature clinical CVD.

Background— There is a paucity of data on heart failure (HF) incidence among low-income and minority populations. Our objective was to investigate HF incidence and post-HF survival by race and sex among low-income adults in the southeastern United States. Methods and Results— Participants were 27 078 white and black men and women enrolled during 2002 to 2009 in the SCCS (Southern Community Cohort Study) who had no history of HF and were receiving Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Incident HF diagnoses through December 31, 2010 were ascertained using International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision codes 428.x via linkage with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services research files. Most participants were black (68.8%), women (62.6%), and earned Conclusions— In this low-income population, HF incidence was higher for all race–sex groups than previously reported in other cohorts. The SCCS is a unique resource to investigate determinants of HF risk in a segment of the population underrepresented in other existing cohorts.

Use of statins significantly lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, resulting in substantial reduction in cardiovascular event rates. Despite this great achievement, cardiovascular risk remains high, especially among the elderly (>65 years) and those with conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. It is thus crucial to identify variables that modulate effectiveness and efficacy of statin therapy. Alcohol, a common dietary component, is widely consumed at varying amounts and often concomitantly with statin therapy. Since moderate alcohol consumption is associated with cardiovascular benefits while heavy intake increases risk for ill health, it is possible that moderate alcohol may enhance benefits from statins while heavy alcohol could diminish or even abrogate such benefits. Whether this is true remains unknown. In this commentary we present pathways through which alcohol may impact use and response to statins and suggest that enhancing screening for alcohol abuse among patients slated for statin therapy may improve therapeutic outcomes.

Background: Whether elevated intakes of trans fatty acids (TFAs) increase the risk of stroke remains unclear. Except for the Women's Health Initiative–Observational Study, most studies that directly assessed the association between TFA intake and stroke yielded null results. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between TFA intake and stroke incidence. Design: We prospectively investigated the association between TFA intake and stroke incidence in black and white men and women (n = 17,107) from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Participants were recruited between 2003 and 2007 from the continental United States and followed for incident stroke. Diet was assessed by using the Block 1998 food-frequency questionnaire. Cox regression was used to test whether energy-adjusted TFA intake in 1-SD increments was associated with incident stroke. Results: During a median follow-up of 7 y, 479 strokes were identified, including 401 ischemic strokes. Sex modified the association between TFA intake and stroke (P-interaction = 0.06), and thus the results were stratified by sex. In fully adjusted models, a 1-SD (2-g/d) increase in TFA intake was associated with an increased risk of any stroke in men (HR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.28) but not in women (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.11). Similarly, our results showed an increased risk of ischemic stroke in men (HR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.28) but not in women (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.77, 1.12). Conclusions: We show that sex modifies the association between TFA intake and stroke; for every 2-g/d increase in TFA intake, there was a 14% increase in the risk of stroke in men but not in women. Our findings provide further evidence to support the concerted effort to minimize TFAs in the diet.