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Identifying biomarkers is essential to obtain the optimal therapeutic benefit while treating patients with late-life depression (LLD). We compare LLD patients with healthy controls (HC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging data to identify neuroimaging biomarkers that may be potentially associated with the underlying pathophysiology of LLD. We implement a Bayesian multimodal local false discovery rate approach for functional connectivity, borrowing strength from structural connectivity to identify disrupted functional connectivity of LLD compared to HC. In the Bayesian framework, we develop an algorithm to control the overall false discovery rate of our findings. We compare our findings with the literature and show that our approach can better detect some regions never discovered before for LLD patients. The Hub of our discovery related to various neurobehavioral disorders can be used to develop behavioral interventions to treat LLD patients who do not respond to antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between discrimination in healthcare settings and psychological distress. This study utilized a retrospective cross-sectional study design. The dataset was obtained from 2015-2017 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Healthcare discrimination experience (yes, no) was measured using the following question "Over your entire lifetime, how often have you been treated unfairly when getting medical care (never, rarely, sometimes, often)?". Psychological distress was the study outcome and was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. A composite score (0-24) was created for psychological distress for the prior 30 days and for the worse most in the past 12 months. A hierarchical multivariate linear regression was conducted to examine the influence of healthcare discrimination experience on psychological distress after adjusting for other covariates. Study participants (weighted N = 1,360,487) had a mean age of 64.35 years (SD = 0.61), were primarily female (54.93%), heterosexual (96.61%), and married or living with a partner (73.37%). About 10.00% of older Asian Americans ever perceived healthcare discrimination over their entire lifetime. Perceived discrimination was associated with higher levels of psychological distress for the past 30 days (beta= 2.107, SE = 0.662, p < 0.05) and for the worst month in the past year (beta= 2.099, SE = 0.697, p < 0.05) after controlling for covariates. Self-reported discrimination was relatively low in this sample of older Asian American adults. However, consistent with prior research, perceived discrimination in the healthcare setting was associated with increased psychological distress. The findings have implications for improving the quality of health care services received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a new quasi-crystalline approach, combined Pauling Bond Valence-Modified Morse Potential (PBV-MMP), in which the Pauling’s classical relationship between bond valence (BV) and bond length (BL) is incorporated within a modified Morse Potential (MMP) description of the potential energy of interaction between two metal atoms in the bulk, along with the assumption that these interactions are limited to the nearest neighbours with a coordination number. This semi-theoretical approach only needs metal–metal bond energy for a specified valence to provide predictions. For the kinetic and diffusion steps, we utilise Eyring’s transition-state theory and free volume model to estimate entropy changes. The PBV-MMP approach for bulk liquid metals is in the spirit of Unity Bond Index-Quadratic Exponential Potential (UBI-QEP), which has been successful in predicting thermodynamics and kinetics of solid metal surface catalysed reactions. Our model reliably predicts self-diffusivity, viscosity, surface tension that agrees with experimental results for several liquid metals, including gallium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Study Objectives: Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea reduces blood pressure (BP). Retrospective data suggest that African Americans (AA), a group at high-risk for hypertensive organ dysfunction, may have a greater BP response to PAP therapy than European Americans (EA). We examined the difference in 24-hour BP response to 3 months of PAP treatment between AA and EA., Methods: Participants (n = 259, 161 AA and 98 EA) with apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15 events/h from 2 prospective cohorts were included. t -Tests and multiple linear regression were used to examine BP outcomes in AA vs EA, adjusting for PAP adherence, socioeconomic status, and baseline characteristics., Results: Participants were middle aged (mean ± SD, 53.8 ± 9.3 years), 86% (227) men, apnea-hypopnea index 35.6 ± 19.2 events/h, and PAP adherence of 3.36 ± 2.24 h/day. The reductions in 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP (mm Hg) were not different in AA vs EA (systolic = -1.13 ± 12.1 vs -0.61 ± 12.8, P  = .80 and diastolic = -0.74 ± 7.9 vs -0.80 ± 7.4, P  = .96), and race was not a predictor of 24-hour systolic or diastolic BP reduction ( P  = .75 and 0.54). Socioeconomic status and PAP adherence demonstrated a significant interaction; low socioeconomic status was associated with an increase in 24-hour systolic BP (β = 19.3, P  = .03) in the absence of PAP use but a greater reduction in 24-hour systolic BP with higher PAP adherence (β = -3.96, P  = .03)., Conclusions: Twenty-four hour BP response to PAP treatment is similar in AA and EA. Adherence to PAP treatment is more effective in improving 24-hour systolic BP in those with low SES., Clinical Trial Registration: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Race and CPAP Effectiveness (RACE); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01960465; Identifier: NCT01960465 and Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: The Effects of Treating Obese and Lean Patients with Sleep Apnea (PISA); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01578031; Identifier: NCT01578031., Citation: Imayama I, Gupta A, Yen PS, et al. Socioeconomic status impacts blood pressure response to positive airway pressure treatment. J Clin Sleep Med . 2022;18(5):1287-1295., (© 2022 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)